for Sherry

[formoftherapy]

Kite made it to Christmas break alive, which still feels like an accomplishment. (Sunnydale habits are hard to break.)

She's using the time to get through the rest of her grandmother's journals and the bar seemed like as good a reading room as any. Kite has laid claim to one of the couches, legs sprawled across the cushions and a coffee mug on the floor beside her.

Comments

[if_inconvenient]

"All right, then, I am not remotely okay but I don't see any point in worrying about it further since there is very little about the situation I can change without making something worse."

[formoftherapy]

The corner of her mouth lifts.

"That's more like it."

[if_inconvenient]

"I am glad you think so," he says dryly.

[formoftherapy]

She rolls her eyes.

"You know what I mean."

[if_inconvenient]

"Yes. It is reasonable to appreciate honest news even when it is unpleasant."

[formoftherapy]

"And I have my moments of reasonableness."

[if_inconvenient]

"Only moments?"

[formoftherapy]

"I'm hesitant to claim more than that."

[if_inconvenient]

"Wise of you."

[formoftherapy]

She grins.

"I have moments of that, too."

[if_inconvenient]

"So I am beginning to understand."

[formoftherapy]

"Hang out with you too much and a girl's bound to learn a few things."

[if_inconvenient]

"Empty flattery. I am the furthest thing from wise."

[formoftherapy]

"You're too hard on yourself. So flattery gets me nowhere, huh?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Well, I did not say I minded."

[formoftherapy]

"Ah. Good to know."

[if_inconvenient]

He raises his eyebrows slightly.

[formoftherapy]

She blinks innocently.

"What?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Nothing," he says, with no expectation of being believed.

[formoftherapy]

Now it's her turn for the skeptical eyebrow raise.

[if_inconvenient]

"What am I like?" he asks, which is a complete non sequitur unless you know how Sherlock's mind works, and a bit of a leap even then.

[formoftherapy]

"Not afraid of a complicated question, for one thing."

She pauses, gathering her answer.

"Infuriating," is how she decides to start. (She can't quite say it without grinning, though.)

"Private. Ten steps ahead of everybody. You make me worry and you make me laugh. You're one of my best friends."

That's about all there is to it.

[if_inconvenient]

"That sounds about right," he murmurs.

[formoftherapy]

Kite grins.

"I did good, then."

[if_inconvenient]

Slowly, thoughtfully, he grins back.