She watches him carefully, focusing so that she can pay attention past the blurry parts of her brain, worried about how his leg is and how he walks and how frozen he might have become, over there in his corner alone where she couldn't see him as clearly. He settles down again though without falling over and it's closer to the stove. She does notice that he takes the other side of her and again, there's a little spark of pure like that flares up inside her. He's really not a bad guy after all and she really was wrong about him. She'll have to find a way to apologize without actually saying anything at some point. At the moment though, she catches his shiver and, already doing it continuously herself, she knows she made the right decision. Careful, with numb fingers that fumble too much for her liking, she manages to feed some more wood into the stove, careful not to smother the fire and then she shifts over to where he's sitting.
Slim brows come down and she frowns but it's not at him so much as gearing herself up to be brave enough to do this. The longer she hesitates the more awkward it's going to be when she does it and so the only thing to do is simply take the plunge. She's got a couple of ideas about how this will work but - he's a stranger. They're both freezing, what she's going to do is sensible, he even seems like a nice enough guy (now) but - he's still a stranger.
If he wasn't a stranger though... if he was someone blond and blue eyed she's been waiting for... someone who made her a promise and is going to keep it (somehow. impossibly.)... It makes her brave enough to drop down next to him and begin the process of scooting closer.
If she pretends he's not Clyde but another boy she's had her stubborn heart set on for two years now - and it's easy to pretend when he's wearing a helmet that hides his face - if she pretends than it's easier for her to be brave. Her back bumps up against his side first and then she shifts, turning sideways to lean a shoulder carefully into his chest, avoiding bandages as her body settles against his.
It's awkward but she's determined - even if her face is bright red and she's staring fixedly at his suspender strap so there's no possible way to catch eyes.
"You have to put your arms around me." Because you should have years ago, Cloud. Heroes aren't supposed to make promises and then leave without a kiss. Even little kids could have shared a cheek kiss. She can pretend, can't she?
no subject
Slim brows come down and she frowns but it's not at him so much as gearing herself up to be brave enough to do this. The longer she hesitates the more awkward it's going to be when she does it and so the only thing to do is simply take the plunge. She's got a couple of ideas about how this will work but - he's a stranger. They're both freezing, what she's going to do is sensible, he even seems like a nice enough guy (now) but - he's still a stranger.
If he wasn't a stranger though... if he was someone blond and blue eyed she's been waiting for... someone who made her a promise and is going to keep it (somehow. impossibly.)... It makes her brave enough to drop down next to him and begin the process of scooting closer.
If she pretends he's not Clyde but another boy she's had her stubborn heart set on for two years now - and it's easy to pretend when he's wearing a helmet that hides his face - if she pretends than it's easier for her to be brave. Her back bumps up against his side first and then she shifts, turning sideways to lean a shoulder carefully into his chest, avoiding bandages as her body settles against his.
It's awkward but she's determined - even if her face is bright red and she's staring fixedly at his suspender strap so there's no possible way to catch eyes.
"You have to put your arms around me." Because you should have years ago, Cloud. Heroes aren't supposed to make promises and then leave without a kiss. Even little kids could have shared a cheek kiss. She can pretend, can't she?