goneawaycomms | Agent South Dakota

[ He muffles some laughter. ]

Thank the cupids, I guess?

I mean, I don't, because their bites fucking hurt and they're going to scar, but...

[ There's a flash of worry on her face before she rolls her eyes. ]

Nah, I'll take their half of the credit back for that.

I can't believe you went up against a fuckin' shapeshifter unarmed and come out with pissy little burns, then get bitten by some demon babies hard enough to scar. What the fuck, Drew. What. the. fuck.

[ This is ridiculous. She has to bite back another laugh with a forkful of food, but it's still there in her eyes. ]

Okay, we're fuckin' eating, then we're going somewhere I don't have to keep muffling my laughter at your dumb ass and you can actually tell me shit.

[ This brings his laughter out full force. The color is starting to leave his face now that he's told the news. ]

This place is ridiculous, I'll give you that.

And yeah. We'll go to that shitty lounge where we talked last time.

Absolutely fucking ridiculous.

[ She kicks his shin lightly under the table and digs back into her food, periodically glancing at him and having to stop herself laughing again, like she's got herself caught in a laughter loop.

Once they're done, they head back to the lounge. True to what South said last time they were here, no one is ever around and so there's no one to hear her laugh as she flops onto one of the couches. ]

I should have fucking known with that look on your face when you came over but the fuckin' idea you would figure out that you actually had those fucking feelings in less than a day just— nope. Fucking impossible. Didn't even cross my fucking mind.

[ That's his cue to actually eat, though he keeps smiling to himself while he's doing it. Yeah, he's got it bad, even worse than South had even realized.

Once they reach the lounge he picks a chair placed catty-corner to the couch, so they can look in each other's faces while they talk. ]

What can I say, this place does things to ya.

I didn't even notice the fuckin' usual signs you give off until recently. You wanna know when I started wondering? Right after the fuckin' babadon't shit. Literally, that night. When you were talking about him being a good nurse.

[ It's more of a snicker than an outright laugh, this time. ]

Yeah, that was...

[ He considers it for a moment, smiling gently. ]

...pretty fucking obvious, wasn't it.

God.

[ She rolls her eyes, affectionately for once, and lightly kicks him again. ]

Fuckin' hell you have it bad, don't you? Your face, Drew. Your face.

[ He tries to compose his face into something less lovey-dovey, a more plain smile. ]

We just...we're so close already, and we know so much about each other's habits and like, goals and shit...

He already said it, you know. I just told him how I felt and he said it.

[ He has his hand on his other forearm and he rubs it a little. He always considered saying 'I love you' to be a big deal and he hadn't felt able to say it to York when York said it. He feels slightly...something...about that. Guilty? ]

What, the big L? Y'know, off him, that doesn't fuckin' surprise me. He's a real heart on his sleeve kinda guy, even I know that and everything I know about the guy I know against my will.

[ She raises a brow slightly at him and sits up, gently punches his arm. ]

...is that a good thing? Or are you freaking out in there?

[ He rubs his chin with one hand. ]

Kind of both. I wanted to be able to say it back, but we just started it like ten minutes before that.

[ She lets out a low whistle. ]

Fuckin' hell, yeah that's quick. I mean, assuming he wasn't bothered you didn't... [ she shrugs ] You have it bad, Drew. Whether you're ready to say 'it' or not. You seem... really fuckin' happy.

[ Something pangs in her chest, and she ignores it. ]

[ That smile again. ]

Yeah...I am.

[ And then the smile goes a bit wry. ]

You think I should have, then?

[ She gives another affectionate eye-roll and kicks him lightly in the shin again, this time. ]

Oh no, you're not tricking me into giving that kind of advice. I just know what you're like, and look... [ she huffs, playfully ] of all the people, at least York's only annoying, not a fucking total asshole, so...

I'm happy for you. Fuckin', genuinely.

[ He laughs. ]

Glad you have such a high opinion of my boyfriend.

[ There's a twinkle in his eye as he uses that word—it feels good to say. He reaches to pat her on the hand. ]

It's good that you're happy for me, though. Thank you.

[ There's that stupid pang in her chest again. She ignores it more aggressively, focuses on North's stupid smiling face, because it is good to see him this happy. Whatever stupid emotions she's feeling don't matter right now. ]

[ She flashes him a grin and teases: ] Even I'm not such a bitch I can't be happy for my brother.

I called you on your shit for a reason. I wasn't just being a pain in the ass, even if I am that.

[ He snickers. ]

Both seems legit.

[ She leans to give him a playful shove and snorts a laugh, shaking her head at him. Then sits there silently, just for the briefest moment, still smiling, before she asks: ]

You, uh— gonna be spending more time in his bunk, then? More than already, I mean. I can cover, since, y'know, stupid rules and all.

[ She ignores how the idea of even more nights in an empty room makes her chest tighten. Tries to, anyway. Keeps it away from the surface because he always picks up on these things and she's not the point, right now; this isn't about her. ]

Probably, yeah. I can stay with you whenever you need a hand or whatever, though.

[ He tilts his head just slightly, but doesn't ask about whether she's okay. She seems just slightly, slightly off, but not enough to bring up at this point. ]

Funny how you can think to yourself that a guy is hot all the time and not realize you have a crush on him.

[ His demisexuality sometimes does a huge number on him. ]

[ She nods, as if she'll ever ask; the times she admits she needs North around have always been the exception, even if the times she's needed him at all are more frequent than she'll ever admit. ]

But she isn't thinking about that. She can't. Instead, South snickers. ]

I have never related less to a sentence in my fuckin' life.

[ Guys? Nope. Not realising she's into someone? Nope. ]

You're lucky you have me around. How fuckin' long have you been thinking about him as hot and it not clicked, Drew? How long?

Oh, god.

[ He laughs, and laughs. He doesn't even know. ]

Few...years? At this point?

I mean, he's nice to look at. It's not like he's modest.

Oh my god.

[ She's laughing again, too, dropping her head into her hands. Her shoulders keep shaking with it even after the laughter stops so she can talk. ]

Once again: cannot fuckin' relate. But— fucking hell, Drew. A few years. I shouldn't even be surprised! I know this shit about you! But a few years?

[ He's laughing now, too. ]

It was just so nice to see him again, here. It kicked off a crush, I guess! What the hell do I know?!

[ He leans toward her, reaching for her hand again. ]

I swear, at least...75% of my crushes I don't even notice before you do.

[ There's that stupid pang again. He got so... lucky, York turning up here. And here she is, surrounded by no one but people she's pissed off or hurt or— nope. Nope. Can't do that. Not right now.

She lifts her head so he can get at her hand, blowing her hair out of her face and grinning at him. ]

Oh, yeah, at least that many. At least. It's like I said when we were texting, I'm right more than I'm wrong. I know you too fuckin' well! Your behaviour towards people shifts just slightly and I can just tell. You're so predictable. To me, anyway.

[ He continues to grin, wrapping her hand in his. ]

You're so much better at that than me. Love is just...it eludes me.

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