That's... kind of perfect. Well, it would be more perfect if she was taking the tie off, but all in good time. Some day.
He can wait.
"Thanks."
Settling in on the forest floor right next to her, he wraps an arm around her and tugs her toward his body. There's no law that says they can't cuddle, all three of them, while they have the chance. It's the next best thing to normal in this fucked-up world of hers. And this is really nice: at night he wishes he could hold her without having to hide under the cloak, but that's kind of a necessary sacrifice to have to make. He'd rather not find himself suddenly on the wrong end of that rifle Natalya totes with her everywhere.
He's acutely aware of every noise. The rain's largely stopped, leaving that crisp smell the air gets on this planet after a rainstorm. He never noticed that same thing on Mars in all the years he lived there, but he does here every single time. There are no sounds of approaching footsteps or women talking in that soft hush they get; he can't hear Vlad running around. It means they still have a few precious minutes to themselves; he rocks Beth and Junior in his arms so very slightly, and without any noise.
This has all been really difficult. It'll continue to be difficult; there's no simple way to suddenly make his presence known, get the whole story told. But as long as Beth knows where he is, it's okay. They have a little system evolving: he'll brush her hand, or give it a little squeeze when no one else is around, or lift up the back of that baby backpack when he's behind her so she knows he's still there. It's... survival at its strangest, if he stops to think about it: they've all taken on that lean, determined look Beth and Hero had the first time they came back to the bar.
But for now -- just for this moment -- they damn well ought to be allowed to relax. It won't last long; he'll have to disappear back under the cloak, but that's okay. This is good: he'll take it.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 11:19 pm (UTC)He can wait.
"Thanks."
Settling in on the forest floor right next to her, he wraps an arm around her and tugs her toward his body. There's no law that says they can't cuddle, all three of them, while they have the chance. It's the next best thing to normal in this fucked-up world of hers. And this is really nice: at night he wishes he could hold her without having to hide under the cloak, but that's kind of a necessary sacrifice to have to make. He'd rather not find himself suddenly on the wrong end of that rifle Natalya totes with her everywhere.
He's acutely aware of every noise. The rain's largely stopped, leaving that crisp smell the air gets on this planet after a rainstorm. He never noticed that same thing on Mars in all the years he lived there, but he does here every single time. There are no sounds of approaching footsteps or women talking in that soft hush they get; he can't hear Vlad running around. It means they still have a few precious minutes to themselves; he rocks Beth and Junior in his arms so very slightly, and without any noise.
This has all been really difficult. It'll continue to be difficult; there's no simple way to suddenly make his presence known, get the whole story told. But as long as Beth knows where he is, it's okay. They have a little system evolving: he'll brush her hand, or give it a little squeeze when no one else is around, or lift up the back of that baby backpack when he's behind her so she knows he's still there. It's... survival at its strangest, if he stops to think about it: they've all taken on that lean, determined look Beth and Hero had the first time they came back to the bar.
But for now -- just for this moment -- they damn well ought to be allowed to relax. It won't last long; he'll have to disappear back under the cloak, but that's okay. This is good: he'll take it.