Barry's Old Warehouse, Warehouse District, Sunday Afternoon

[spin_kick_snap]

So. The island could turn her back into an ex at literally any moment. That was not a thought that was good for Kathy's peace of mind. Being an ex again, for however short a time, had not been good for Kathy's peace of mind. She hadn't been a mindless husk that had seen everything that moved as 'prey,' no, but that was cold comfort when she had spent the day eating brains.

Sharing brains with other people.

Hunting small creatures to get--

Her stomach lurched again, just thinking about it. She hadn't eat much this past week just for that reason. It felt like February all over again, when eating had been a struggle, the very act bringing up memories she didn't want to relive.

Distantly, Kathy knew she should go home, deal with the mess left in her room, deal with the mess that was her life. And she would! She just--couldn't yet. Not while she still felt like this, ten pounds of crazy in a four pound bag. She just needed to get a handle on it--was trying to get a handle on it--and when she did, she'd go home. She'd apologize for worrying everyone, she'd clean up, she'd be okay.

Soon. Just not now.

[Open]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

She didn't deserve him. She'd known that for awhile now, but this was just making it that much more certain. Kathy nearly laughed at what her mother would have said if she'd ever learned that this rough and tumble guy who'd grown up on the streets was genuinely and without exaggeration too good for her daughter.

"Why are you so good to me?" she murmured, burying her face in his shoulder again, more talking to herself than him.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante blinked. Hadn't seen that question coming, somehow.

"'Cause I care about you?" he said, his voice managing a little amused lilt at the end in a desperate attempt to inject some cheer into the situation.

[spin_kick_snap]

It had mostly been a rhetorical question at that.

"I know," she told him. "It's just..." She shrugged and shook her head. "Anything I say is going to come out corny and sentimental," she told him. "So I guess just--thank you. For all the ways you've been there for me. For always being the one to lead me home."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Aw, don't get soft on me now, Kat," Dante said. He kissed the top of her head. "You're my girl, that's all."

[spin_kick_snap]

"He says, like he's not fully aware I'm a goddamned marshmallow," Kathy said, giving him a small smile. See look, no uncomfortable further outpourings of emotions or tears from her. It was the least she could do.

[rebelseekspizza]

"But a hot marshmallow," Dante teased back.

And leaned in to kiss her quickly.

[spin_kick_snap]

Her smile was a little brighter when he pulled away, fingers coming up to brush her lips. "Makes sense," she said, dropping her hand as soon as she realized what she was doing. "I'm feeling pretty toasted."

When in doubt, pun.

[rebelseekspizza]

"You keep this up, I'm gonna carry you home," Dante said, winking at her.

He tugged her towards the door.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Which part exactly do I have to keep up to earn a ride home," Kathy asked, letting herself be tugged. "Is it puns? Cause I can make s'more marshmallow puns if that's what you need."

She paused in the doorway, blinking at the bright light of the sun. She closed her eyes and tilted her face up to it, taking a moment to appreciate the warmth.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Puns, yeah," Dante said. He paused, glancing back at her.

He was happy to wait a little if it brightened her up like that.

[spin_kick_snap]

Just for a minute. Locking herself away in a windowless warehouse for several days had not been Kathy's brightest decision ever. She needed sunshine.

And then she started walking again, feeling a tiny fraction better, her head coming to rest on Dante's shoulder. Didn't make for a fast walk, but she liked it there, so, whatever.

"Let me know when I've hit the right number of puns," she said. "Marshmallow jokes are my lucky charms."

[rebelseekspizza]

That one drew a real snicker out of Dante. "Heading in the right direction," he said, "But you gotta puff that number up some."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Not too far," Kathy cautioned. "I don't wanna get burned out. But I do it right and we'll be golden."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante tilted his head, considering it.

...and then lifted her right up off the ground. "Done."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy didn't let out a sigh of relief, but it was a near thing. Okay, she needed to get back into shape if just a short walk through town was going to wind her.

She opened the pizza box again, grabbed a slice, meticulously picked all the veggies off of it, and then held it up to Dante's mouth. "I appreciate the ride," she said.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante took a bite, nice and easy. Mmm. Melted cheese. "And I appreciate the pizza," he said, throwing her a wink.

Wasn't that far back home.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Thought you might," Kathy said, taking a meditative bite of her own. "Hey. How did Anders--is he okay? He didn't--"

You know, he'd been a demon. And had eaten brains. Two not-great things there.

[rebelseekspizza]

"I think he's all right," Dante said, as they approached the house. "Not as much trauma about this one as you've got."

He set her down on the steps.

[spin_kick_snap]

For a moment, they were equal in height and Kathy smiled into his blue, blue eyes before ducking her head and getting a firmer grip on the pizza box.

"Guess we should head in." She felt oddly reticent about it, like she was a stranger entering a house without permission. Brain, why were you like this?

[rebelseekspizza]

"After you," Dante said, patting her hips.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy nodded, squared her shoulder, lifted her chin, and marched into the house. That impressive show of house-entering bravado lasted roughly until she passed the lintel and then it all slid away, leaving her sagging a little, even as she stood upright.

It looked--felt, smelled--exactly the same, so she couldn't figure out why she was feeling so anxious about being inside. You know, other than because she'd turned into a zombie right here and now it was as if there was a bit of that lingering still.

...oh.

"I should go get changed," she said. "Take a shower. Comb my hair. Shave. Figure out a better order to do all that in."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante nodded.

He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Shower seems like a good place to start," he offered. "Not that I'm complaining."

[spin_kick_snap]

"That's cause you're too nice," Kathy told him, setting the pizza box down on a table before heading to her room. Her voice floated back down the hall. "I know, that's probably something you hear all the time, right?"

A tease, but she did mean it. Dante was a good guy. Sometimes too good, honestly.

She stood outside her room, visibly steeling herself before going it. But like he'd promised, he'd gotten rid of...that, the window open to let light and fresh air spill inside. Her room might not be as tidy as she'd kept it in high school, but it was clean. Uncontaminated.

Stripping off her pjs and honestly unsure if she'd ever be able to bring herself to wear them again, Kathy tossed them into the hamper, snagging her towel and heading for the shower.

Surprised by how grateful she was to be home.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante stayed in the living room, his feet propped up on the table as he leaned his chair back at a nigh-impossible diagonal angle.

He wasn't heading in after her, but he was alert, listening for anything unusual.

He'd dealt with traumatized people before. Not just himself, either. You never knew.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy honestly thought she was okay again. She'd eaten, she was back home, she should be okay. So she was probably more surprised than Dante when she burst into tears while washing her hair.