creator_raven | (no subject)

Entry tags:

ace,
oom

(no subject)

Long after Raven has finished his cigarette, he returns to his room.

It should be a quiet space.

Things should be messy, but just as he left them.

Instead, there is the sound of breathing, and a pyro/cheetah curled in the middle of his bed.

He is less surprised than he should be.

"Ace."

She can probably hear the smile in his voice.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Raven just watches her, quietly.

"Well, then."

The thing about the Cheetah is she can seem mindless and animalistic, but she can put up a good argument when she wants to.

"But... I..." Her shoulders slump. "But I love him." She decides to sit down before she falls down, 'cause that'd be a good deal more painful.

"I... don't..."

Doesn't know what to do next. Doesn't know how to reconsile these two facts. Doesn't want to have to. Doesn't know why she's such a horrible person. Horrible wife.

He settles next to her, gaze level.

"Contradictions are difficult. This does not mean they are wrong."

"But... I love him. An' I expect him t'trust me. So. I should trust him. Should. DO. Don't. Stoppit!" She looks more than a touch frantic at this seeming betrayal by what is, by last count, another part of her.

One that's annoyingly outspoken, it seems.

"Do you make an effort to be trustworthy?"

There is a pause.

It is a long one.

"Does he do the same?"

"I do, at least, as best I can, don't even flirt with other guys, always tell him where I'll be..."

And then she's very quiet.

Very very quiet.

Remembering being told that Tim came back to Milliways during the honeymoon without telling her.

Remembering finding out that he had given guns to Tonks' enemies without saying a word until Tonks was kidnapped.

Remembering...

The Other it was the Other why didn't he do something to make sure he couldn't come back he is magic can't he doesn't he want to protect us protect me?

And she stays quiet.

"He is young, Ace, and very silly."

His voice is gentle, but implacable.

"And still this is no excuse."

Ace gives him a faintly wild-eyed look.

"What am I supposed t'do?" she asks, floundering.

Raven shrugs, slightly.

"I have never been married. I do not know."

He tilts his head, considering.

"Decide if love is enough, and work from there, perhaps."

There is a pause.

"Speak to him, when he returns. I do not know if he will understand. Still."

"I... Yes. When he comes home."

When.

Not if.

She's just got to remember that.

And suddenly she feels very small and lost. And very silly for feeling like that. And righteously angry, but that part has the good sense not to start up an argument again.

"It will, I hope, be soon."

He shifts, a little, and wraps an arm around her shoulders.

It's all he can do, really.

There are things he will not help.

Perhaps, if one subsitutes 'fix' for 'help', habitually, then no, he does not help.

However, if one puts 'is there to comfort and listen', then he helps quite a bit, and Ace, no matter what sort of mood (or personality) she's in, is grateful for it. She curls up against him.

"I hope so too."

He holds her more tightly, and says nothing.

He is not fond of lying, in truth. Particularly not to her.

So.

"You will sleep here? It is safe enough, I think."

"Don't want t'go back in a cage." She meant to say 'cell', but she can't get up the will to start an argument to fix it, so she lets it go.

And if she was hugging him before, now she's clinging.

"Well enough."

He lets her cling, and his hold tightens a little in return.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only