023 - Out in the darkness the whippets will cry

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She's at the batting cages, setting up one of the machines. There's something off about it, though--in the way she moves, so tense it's almost jittery. In the way she looks--pale and drawn, only her cheeks flushed with feverish color. She nearly drops the bucket of balls when she goes to fill the machine.

Swing, miss.

Swing, miss.

Swing, swing, swing. Missing every time.

Eventually the machine runs out of things to throw at her. She leans on the bat for a moment, eyes closed, and then thumps back against the side of the cage, sliding down into a sitting position. Knees to chest, arms crossed over them, head resting on her arms. She's chewing her lip now, thoughtful and still so tense she looks like a spring about to snap.]

Comments

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Rests her other hand on top of his for a moment before writing her reply, thinking about Sam and about the Doctor's help with her memories.] However well trouble might be hidden, it's not easy. Trust me.

[contract_star]

No. I know it wouldn't have been easy, for any of you.

But...I'm used to being better at hiding things, too. [Glances at her.] You can probably understand that.

1/2

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Yes. I can.

[contract_star]

[Searches her face for a moment, but eventually his gaze drops to their hands. He hesitates, then slowly twines his fingers in hers.]

It's okay.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Soft smile]

Thank you.

[contract_star]

[Smiles back.]

[After awhile,] You know, ah...I didn't really think about it until recently, but...I'm sorry, that I'm not the Hei you remember. It must have been hard.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She looks startled.]

It... maybe at first. But I know you better than I ever knew him.

[contract_star]

[Chuckles a little and rubs the back of his head.]

Sorry. That was sort of out of nowhere, wasn't it? I've been talking to Mu--and Shion.

...Really?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Not looking at you and blushing PERHAPS A LITTLE GRUDGINGLY.]

Ah.

Well, yes.

[contract_star]

[If it helps any, Hei is blushing a bit now too.]

W-well, that's...that's something...I guess...

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Oh undefined something. It's like everything else in their relationship, then. Still not taking her hand away, though.]

There hasn't been any trace of him for almost a year now, either.

[She's not trying to reassuring him. It's just a fact that seems relevant to the conversation. :| ]

[contract_star]

[He nods.] I'm good at going unnoticed.

[Though now he's wondering if he could do the same at this point; if he could just leave Tokyo--and the Misaki in his own world, and his team--the way that other Hei did.]

[But, of course he could. He is himself, after all. He's not sure how he feels about that.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Hei?

[contract_star]

Hm?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Doodle for your thoughts?

[contract_star]

[Small smile.] Thinking about my future, I guess. [The smile broadens.] It's a bit weird to think about, considering.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

I suppose it would be.

[contract_star]

Misaki...

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

?

1/3

[contract_star]

I, um...

2/3

[contract_star]

Ah...

3/3

[contract_star]

[Screw it.]

[He kisses her.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[For some reason the only thing she can think are the words 'scrambled eggs'. And then she's kissing back, hard and warm.]

[contract_star]

[His free hand comes to rest on her upper arm as he leans forward, deepening the kiss. This is one of the few times in his life that he has simply acted without thinking.]