239/240, Tuesday night

[can_be_more]

After Flight Club, Aeryn returns to her room, obstensibly just to check up on the sea monkeys. She's decided that they can't be actual monkeys because they in no way resemble primates on this planet, and whoever named this species was clearly very stupid.

For some reason, she decides to stay in for a while, pulling out the book John gave her. It's got to be due soon, and it's a huge book, and she's a slow reader. She's determined to get through it, though. Even if she has to bribe the library staff to let her keep it for a while.

Comments

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Not having seen Aeryn for a while, John grabs the list of sea monkey names and, hoping that she's back from Flight Club, knocks on the door to her room.

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"Come in," she calls.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John opens the door, slips inside and shuts it behind him. "Hey." Notcing the book he'd given her in her hands, he smiles. "Reading?"

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More or less. She nods. "It's a big book," she reminds him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"It is." He walks over and drops the list of names beside her. "Your list of names for your pets."

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She picks up the list, looking at it. "How did you come up with all of these?" she asks, though considering he named her weapons, she can't be too surprised.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He shrugs. "Baby name website. Just picked the oddest ones I could find and wrote them down." John looks at the list again and laughs before putting it back down. "How're you doin?"

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Aeryn smiles, pushing the book away. She knows she's not getting any reading done now. "I'm fine. You?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Tired." He picks up the book himself and leafs through it briefly. "Got a small headache. Avoiding stuff." He shrugs and drops the book again. "Flight Club all right?"

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"Went back in the sim," she says, watching him. "Avoiding stuff?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He half shrugs and rubs at the spot above his eye. "Homework, personal things, thinking too much. Just trying not to think about anything tonight."

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"All right," she says, and isn't about to push anything. "Everything all right otherwise?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Sure." He's not lying but he's not telling the truth. He really needs to stop thinking. "If you wanna read, I can go. I don't mind or anything. I just wanted to see you."

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"Do you see me kicking you out?" she asks. "I want to see you, too. And, I wanted to apologize for the other night."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He frowns at her. "Apologize for what?"

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"The, um." She searches for a word, and the only one she can come up with is the one she hears everyone else use. "Emo."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Why in the heck are you apologizing for that?" He makes a face at her. "You can do that in front of me. You can be mad or upset or anything in front of me."

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"I know. I just don't like being upset. And I didn't want to put everything on you. Even though I know I can," she says quickly, because she's pretty sure she knows his next response.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He reaches out to cup her face, stroking thumbs along her cheeks. "I know you don't. And you can put everything on me if you need to. I can handle it. And I know I could do the same to you." He won't though. "That you do that in front of me makes me feel special."

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She smiles despite herself. "It's probably the mark of a strong relationship."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"We have that," he says softly. "Whatever happens, we'll be okay." He hadn't meant to allude to *that* again. "Sorry."

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Aeryn leans forward to kiss him lightly. "It's fine. I'm ignoring that bit. Didn't even hear it," she assures him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John wraps his arms around her waist, keeping her close. He buries his face in the curve of neck and shoulder, sighing quietly. It helps his headache, being close to her.

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She runs a hand over his back and says, "I don't think anyone will mind if you stay here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He laughs lightly into her shoulder. "Sorry. I've just got a headache and this helps. You help." He turns his head a bit so his breath skims across her neck.

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She closes her eyes briefly, and her hand comes to rest on the back of his neck. "Good."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I think about things too much," he confesses. "When I'm with you, it's just you and I'm happy and that's all there is. That's all I need."

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She doesn't know what to say to that, because she knows the feeling but doesn't want to admit it out loud. Instead of finding words for it, her other hand finds his, twining their fingers together.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He squeezes their joined hands and sighs. "Do I tell you that I love you too much? Does it get annoying?"

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There's a part of Aeryn that thinks she may have to get violent if anyone else comes into the room during this. This is just too nice to ruin, and she doesn't know when she started thinking like that. "No. Never." And the emphasize, "I love you."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I love you too." He nods and lifts his head just enough so that he can kiss their joined hands. "I can stay here? Your bed looks soft."

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"I don't mind. And if anyone else says anything, I'll kill them," she says.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He laughs and lifts his head to kiss her cheek and temple. "Now that's love." John looks back towards her bed. "Will you keep me warm?"

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She pulls away just enough to reach for the book on the list, placing them safely out of the way on the floor. Pulling back the covers, she says, "I can manage that."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John climbs under the covers, snuggling down and pressing against her. "You feel good," he murmurs.

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She pulls the covers up over them, settling in. Someone else can get the light. "Not too bad yourself," she tells him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He laughs again, feeling better already. Moving slowly, he scoots down and presses his head against her chest. Smiling, he says, "I can hear your heart."

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Aeryn laughs. "I think that's the first time anyone's ever told me that."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Good. I like being the first at things." He yawns hugely but doesn't move. Her heart is strong and steady. "It's a nice heart." He drapes an arm across her waist. "Thanks, Aeryn."

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"What for?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Because you're here and you're with me. Thank you." He closes his eyes, almost asleep. "Because you're here."

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She watches him a moment, and murmurs, "Go to sleep, John."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

The hand across her waist tightens. "I am. I love you. You sleep too." His breathing evens out a bit but he still manages to tangle his legs with hers.

[[And I'm about out too. OMG. I love you so much. I've got this huge grin on my face right now because of this scene now.]]

[can_be_more]

"Okay," she agrees, and for some reason she makes sure he's asleep before she even closes her eyes.

((It's so sappy and yet I'm smiling. What the hell is wrong with me?! I blame you. *g*))

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

[[I will gladly take the blame. I'm sure they'll step into angst again. It's inevitable. Until then, night!]]

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

_Awwwwww!

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

((Whoot!))