Suite 138

[alwaysroomforhope]

Even in April, the lake's cold, and so it's a slightly blue-lipped Steph who pushes open the Batflat door and gestures Billy inside. "You wanna go first in the bath, or me?"

Comments

[withamagicword]

He smiles at her and nods. He munches more pizza and watches her, and thinks about the way she moves and ... he sighs.

::You are gorgeous::

[alwaysroomforhope]

::I can't see it myself,:: Steph confesses honestly - not that she has an option, if it's true they can't lie telepathically. ::But thank you.::

[withamagicword]

he raises an eyebrow and thinks.

"I think it is safe enough... would you like to see yourself as I see you?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

"How do you mean?" She looks at him, confused.

[withamagicword]

He chews his lip for a moment.

"It's like... everyone sees each other different, not just with the eyes but with the ehart and mind. All of thta together makes up a picture, how you see someone... I am offering to let you see how I see you."

[alwaysroomforhope]

::I think you only see the good in me,:: Steph tells him quietly, smiling. ::But it helps me see the good in myself too.::

"Okay. Show me."

[withamagicword]

he closes his eyes, resting against her for a long moment and then opening his mind slightly to her.

The images flow out as he looks at her. The light she has, the sheer beauty, the shadows that lurk in her and the joys, and over it all a sheer rightness that makes him ache to see her and hold her.

he breathes and closes his eyes again. Sometimes looking at her almost hurts for how much he loves her. He kisses her then.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph's wordless, taken absolutely by surprise. She holds him tight and sinks into the kiss, and tries to pretend she's not near tears.

[withamagicword]

He holds her gently, kissing her then just holding her.

::I see the darkness and the light in you, but in you, they are both beautiful.::

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph bites her lip, and holds on to him, shaking a little and stifling a sniffle. It's overwhelming and terrifying, and it's left her completely wrong-footed, unable to understand how he can still think she deserves this unconditional love. Guilt, that she is so shadowed; fear that he hasn't seen the worst; incomprehension of how anyone, anyone at all, could feel that way about her.

She tries to shield this, to block off the bond, but she's unpracticed.

[withamagicword]

"Steph? I'm sorry..."

he hugs her close.

"I didnt mean to overwhelm you. Can you... talk about it? I can feel a little of it, but... I dont want to read you wrong and ... I love you. If you want to talk, I am here, and I am ready to listen and to tell you... whatever i can."

he holds her close as he speaks.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I'm just - it's - I don't -"

Words almost fail her. She drops her mental barriers, a little, enough to let him in. It's easier than finding words. And his presence in her head is reassuring, too.

This is so right it can't be real. I don't deserve this. Something must be wrong.

::kind of like that.::

[withamagicword]

He responds gently.

Sometimes I am afraid that evertything I do is wrong, but I believe... I believe in both of us.

::I dont have any true answers, Stephanie, just... I believe in redemption, and hope, and trust. I believe in love and in new beginnings, and in that idea that we all deserve better. And I believe in you. I know you have been through badness and evil, I know you have done things and experienced things that make you feel tainted and alone and wrong, but... I believe in you. I am no great wise man, and I dont have all the answers, but for what it is worth, I love you, and I believe you are worthy of love and life and joy.::

He hugs her close, letting her just feel some of his confidence in her.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph squeezes her eyes shut, and tells him ::These are happy tears, I think.:: She kisses him, lightly, and then sighs.

"And now that I've had my emotional flip-out for today..." Her tone is wry, self-mocking. "There's a movie wants watching, and pizza."

[withamagicword]

He kisses her softly and grins a little.

"Number two next? and Pizza is always good, even thought I think I have discovered a new way to taste it."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Oh, yeah? You ought to teach that to me, then. And practice it. Lots."

[withamagicword]

he grins.

"I couldnt agree more."

He kisses her again, the taste of pizza lingering on lips. The kiss is long and lingering.

"Mmmmnn. They do say practice makes perfect... Should start the movie though."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph nods, and does so, even though it means getting up and away. It's only for a second, and then the by-now familiar theme music blares, and she skips back to snuggle close to him again.

Night's fallen properly now, so the room's considerably darker, but she makes no move to turn a light on.

"Hey," she says, a thought striking her, "what about when I'm asleep, or you are? Will we, like, get each other's dreams, or does the connection just not work when one of us is unconscious?"

She really, really hopes it's the latter. Billy does not deserve her dreams.

[withamagicword]

He blinks.

"I have uh... never tested it before with someone I cared about... I honestly dont know. It isnt supposed to work except when we are concentrating on it... but I dont know, Steph."

He snuggles her as the movie starts.

"Hoth looks colddd."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Oh."

She rests her head on his shoulder and watches the movie sideways like that, thinking anxiously.

"Well, you're sleeping with me tonight anyway, right? I mean, not sleeping with sleeping with, but, uh. You're staying. So I guess we'll find out. And if things leak you'll know, and you'll be able to turn it off or something, right?"

[withamagicword]

He hugs her close.

"There is no place I would rather be. And yes."

He gently kisses her.

"I wont let it hurt you."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"'s not me I'm worried about," Steph says, with a rueful grin. "Just - I don't always sleep so well. Don't wanna wake you up with my nightmares. That'd just be harsh."

She kisses him again, lightly, and snuggles into him, drawing her legs up in front of her. On the screen, the wampa roars, and she giggles.

[withamagicword]

He buts his head gently against hers.

"I remember the last one I heard... dont worry, Steph. I will do my best."

He watches the movie too, holding her and laughs.

When Han has to cut open the Tauntaun to keept hem warm, he grimaces.

"Dude... that is just... gross."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"You are so not wrong. Ew."

She snorts. "Remind me never to get caught in frozen tundras without a dead animal to keep me warm. Or, y'know. A live one. Or you. Only if I was with you we wouldn't get caught out there."

[withamagicword]

He laughs.

"Yup. "

he grins at her and smooches her before turning back to the screen. There is mayhem and evil things stalking towards the rebel base.

"Why do the evil things always stalk? Why cant they casually saunter?"

It is possible Billy is high on sugar and life.