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

[formoftherapy]

"Probably afraid of wearing out his welcome with Tony."

And simple lack of opportunity has probably contributed.

[if_inconvenient]

"Ah, yes. That."

Half a beat.

"I am not entirely willing to believe it would stop him."

[formoftherapy]

She nods.

"It may not, but we'll jump off that bridge when we come to it."

[if_inconvenient]

"Quite."

[formoftherapy]

Something occurs to her.

"Was this your Obadiah? Or someone else's?" She gestures to his throat, stops short of actually touching him.

[if_inconvenient]

"A different one. Via that New York timeline I mentioned." Offhandedly, "Mine is in Hell."

[formoftherapy]

"Lucky.

And his Tony and Sherry, how are they?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Living."

[formoftherapy]

She sighs.

"Thank heaven for small favors."

[if_inconvenient]

"In his own way, Obadiah was quite noble about it."

[formoftherapy]

Smirk.

"There's a first time for everything."

[if_inconvenient]

"Apparently so."

[formoftherapy]

Kite lapses into silence, companionable more than awkward.



Her eyes flick back to the bruises at his throat.

"Did you get what you wanted?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Oh, yes. Unfortunately, so did he."

[formoftherapy]

"He wouldn't have gone through with it if he didn't think he could."

She scrubs a hand through her hair.

"I'll still take that as my cue not to worry too much."

The operative words being 'too much.'

[if_inconvenient]

"Delighted to hear it."

[formoftherapy]

"Do try and contain yourself."

[if_inconvenient]

He snorts.

[formoftherapy]

"You big ball of emotion, you."

She kisses his cheek.

[if_inconvenient]

He blushes.

[formoftherapy]

She grins--small, quick, and just a little self-satisfied.

(She will never get tired of seeing him blush.)

[if_inconvenient]

"Hush, you."

[formoftherapy]

"My lips are sealed."

[if_inconvenient]

He smiles.