alwaysroomforhope | (no subject)

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Steph is, in fact, sleeping. She spends a lot of time sleeping, because it's significantly easier than spending time thinking seriously about her life as it stands.

Today, the couch is the lucky host to Steph's sleeping. The TV is still on and the edge of the cushion has made a square red pattern in her cheek. She doesn't even hear the door open.

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Bluntly, Mel simply says,

"Then stop."

Glancing back at Mel again, Katara takes a chance, putting her hand tentatively over Steph's as she nods, unsure how the contact will be taken.

"If you stop now, it hurts a lot. But it'll stop hurting faster than if you keep this going on and on and on. We just..." her voice drops, quiet as her fingers start to slip away, "don't like seeing you hurt."

Steph lets the hand slip away only for a moment, and then she turns hers upwards to hold Katara's, looking up at her.

... she really wishes she remembered if they'd gone any further than serious making out that night.

"I'm sorry," she says, twisting her ankle fretfully. "I'm all. I dunno. I'd be okay with it if it was only gonna hurt me, but what do I tell him? ... he must, he must want me a bit, he'd tell me if he didn't, right?"

"Guys do that in your time?" Mel asks, sort of kind of loaded with sarcasm.

Now Katara's glance back is reprimanding, frowning at Mel. It's Steph's hand in hers that gets her gaze back, smiling hopefully - if sadly - at the other girl.

It'd be nice if she could remember to. Jet's going to have some questions asked of him.

...if she ever sees him again.

"Why would you wait for him to hurt you again before leaving? He shouldn't want you a bit, he should want you completely."

Mel is talking entirely too much sense for Steph's liking. She curls her hand around Katara's smooth one, looking down at their hands for a moment, sighing.

"...I know," she admits, sinking a little further down in her seat. And sighs again, because now she's admitted it out loud and that means she has to do something about it.

She doesn't want to.

"...hafta talk to him, don't I?" she asks, sadly.

Mel reaches out for Steph's shoulder, but stops on the way there, looking at Katara's hand instead.

She pulls back and pulls out the alchol instead.

When Mel reaches out, Katara leans back a little, holding Steph's hand but giving the older woman room. She blinks when Mel stops-

And smiles. It would be a smirk if it didn't have that touch of sadness to it, looking back at Steph and squeezing her hand.

"And we have chocolate."

That fixes everything.

Steph groans, and lets herself slip right off the couch, ending up flopped on the carpet, free hand over her face, other one still in Katara's.

"Stupid Zuko ... stupid me."

She sighs, leaving her arm over her eyes, and mumbles "I don't want to. Break up with him, I mean. I mean, just 'cos ... just 'cos he doesn't care, doesn't mean I don't."

Mel rolls forward to lie on her chest in the spot Steph vacated, pulling the cap off the bottle and handing it forward, a hand on Steph's shoulder. And this time, she does let flame slide out, just reassurance for her sister.

"That's kinda why we're here talking to you," she says.

Quiet for a moment, Katara moves over to sit beside Steph, careful of Mel's hand, and squeezes Steph's. "You're kind of the-- well, not the problem, but... Zuko wouldn't listen to us."

And hasn't.

"But you know we wouldn't lie to you and you know we love you and we just hate seeing you get hurt."

Steph peers up over her arm.

"...yeah, I know. Otherwise I'd just kick you out and have a tantrum. And set fire to stuff. ... it'd probably be fun."

She sighs, and sits up to lean against Katara, putting her other hand over Mel's. Friends and sisters, Steph is sure, are the best things in the world sometimes.

"Will you put up with me pitching a total fit and demanding ice cream and crappy movies after I ... tell him?"

"Course we will," Mel says. "You play it right, there coudl even be pie."

"And more chocolate," Katara adds, smiling hopefully. "And bubble gum."

"Pie," Steph agrees, sadly. "And chocolate." She tries a smile for Katara, but it wavers.

"...I don't wanna break up with him. Can I just ... think about it a bit?"

"You think that's a good idea?" Mel asks, nudging Steph with the bottle again.

Face falling with Steph's question, Katara glances to Mel before looking back at her friend. "Do you want time to think about whether or not you should break up with him... or how to get rid of me and Mel so we'll stop asking you?"

"I don't want to get rid of you!" Steph says, and grabs both of their hands tighter.

"...don't want to get rid of anyone. 's the problem."

Mel squeezes Steph's hand but pokes her with the bottle again.

"Difference is, we're good for you."

Another glance at Mel - to make sure she should say this. And once she has any vague sign of approval, Katara puts both hands around Steph's, leaning in to speak softly.

"And we love you back."

Steph is about to accept the bottle Mel's so patiently offering, but Katara has her hands and Steph blinks at her, surprised and a little unsure. Because there was That Night, and ... are you still allowed to be as comfortable as before with your best friends when there's That Night sitting there?

"...even though I'm pretty much an idiot ... with terrible taste in men-and-don't-you-dare-say-told-you-so-Mel-Fray?"

"Y'know I wouldn't," Mel protests despite all evidence to the contrary.

But she shrugs, pulls the bottle back and takes a healthy swig herself, watching the two girls.

"All my family are idiots. It's why they need me."

"Besides, you have really good taste in sisters and friends," Katara adds, grinning hopefully.

"...y'know, apart from me."

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