(Untitled)

[i_spoiled_it]

Winter may still think it is dragging itself out, and it may have these ideas about how it's going to stay cold and crisp, but Steph knows better.

The sky is blue today and there's a hint of warmth in the sun and that means it is properly spring and therefore nobody can complain if she stretches out on a lawn chair in the lawn with a book and

Comments

[no_guardian_i]

Ichigo is, in a word, upset. His special night-time friend didn't want to let go of their shared living space at the agreed time, and Ichigo spent half his morning fighting for control of his own body. More than once he found himself back in control, ready to head back to the farm, when another transformation hit him and sent him right back to square one. Thankfully he was a long ways from the farm at the time

[i_spoiled_it]

Oh, he's brilliant. Just brilliant.

Steph, quite masterfully, keeps her face straight and pretends not to notice him. She's very tactful like that. Not so young, either, up close - she'll be twenty in a few months. (It did take her, yes, that long to learn some sembleance of tact.)

"There's spare clothes in the bunker," she remarks, apparently to her book, when he's at optimal hearing distance. "If you're cold."

[no_guardian_i]

Lovely. Just...just lovely.

"Me?" He acts innocent, as if she might be talking to the other half-dressed young man out in the cold. He's nervous (always is these days) because his stomach is still all flipped around from the changes, and he thinks he can still hear a bone shift and pop every couple of minutes. He's still getting used to being this...thing, and he doesn't like it one bit.

"I'm just out for a jog," he explains, ignoring the fact that nobody in their right mind would job dressed in jeans and no shirt in this weather. Also, she probably would have seen him as he jogged past her at the start. "The cold doesn't really bother me. I just don't notice it."

Why is he stopping to talk? Why not run for clothing?

Because he is dumb, that's why.

[i_spoiled_it]

"That must be handy, in winter," Steph remarks, looking up from her book to regard him with curiousity. "I'm freezing my ass off."

She's seen him around but hasn't managed to get around to introducing herself. Usually she's covered in twins and Sokka, though, which is her excuse.

[notanoptimist]

"What are you doing?!"

Concerned Boyfriend Time in 3... 2... 1...

WHUMP.

Sokka frowns at her, hands now free of the down comforter he'd brought out from their bed and dumped on top of her. "It's cold out here!"

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph snuggles into it, because she likes warm things. But she's also giggling up at him from beneath the pile of comforter.

"Yes, Mommy. You know, I think you're spending way too much time with the girls."

[notanoptimist]

"Apparently! Since I didn't notice my crazy girlfriend wandering outside to freeze!"

It should be noted that Sokka isn't anymore dressed than she is, in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. But he can take it! He is MANLY.

Or something.

Also eyeing her all cuddled up there, slightly jealous of the blanket.

[i_spoiled_it]

"I'm not freezing," Steph protests, "I'm challenging the universe. I think winter's gone on for long enough, so I've decided it's summer now."

Her logic is infallible! She looks quite happy under the blanket, though, and not in any terrible hurry to let anyone else in with her. (Because it's funny.)

"Besides, I can't read in the bunker right now - Mel and Dean are in there."

[mark_of_samael]

You know that feeling when there's someone looming over your shoulder?

Yeah.

You know that feeling when there's someone looming over your shoulder who wasn't there a second ago?

Yeah.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Hi, Batman," Steph drawls, deliberately not looking up. (She totally didn't tense up and will deny it forever, if you were interested. Totally not.)

" --- wait, you're not Bats!"

[mark_of_samael]

"sorry..." SORRY FOR NOT BEING THE PERSON YOU NAMED PLEASE FORGIVE HER!!!

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph blinks. Oh it's the tiny scaredy girl! That's OK, then, Steph has significant Motherly Feelings towards the tiny scaredy girl.

"Don't apologise, sweetheart, you're much better than Batman. How's it going?"