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?"

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[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.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph's just high on Billy.

"It destroys the look, don'chaknow. Being evil is all about style." She giggles.

[withamagicword]

Not yet she isnt, she hasnt mainlined him yet. wait.... nevermind

He snickers.

"Right. This is why I could never be evil. I would be sauntering and skipping all the time."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Also, nobody would believe you. You're too nice to be evil."

[withamagicword]

"Hey!"

He pokes her.

"I could do evil! Really."

He looks grumpy for a moment, but there is Steph and he cant stay grumpy near Steph. So he kisses her and goes back to watching. Ther eis much fighter action and AttAtts falling and canons firing and ships escaping.

"Man, those Rebels really go through bases fast..."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"See, that's not the sign of a dark lord, one who worries about bases," Steph says, grinning. "Sign of a good man. Hey, where's Luke going?"

[withamagicword]

He sticks out a tongue but grins.

"Hmmm, must be a spirit quest thing... oh yeah... he gets to go to Captain Obscure!"

He giggles.

"Just watch, you''ll see!"

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph watches, obediently.

An arm sneaks around his waist to tickle his ribs.



A real live Billy is just more interesting than a hypothetical space adventure. She can't help it.

[withamagicword]

he chuckles and pokes her.

"No tickling, you!"

Then he kisses her.

A real live Steph is way more interesting than a space adventure thingy. Especially when the effects are cheesy.

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph yawns. "We could finish this tomorrow?" she suggests, sleepily. "I've got no plans. Unless you have to go back to the Rock."