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

[rebelseekspizza]

"Yeah, it did," Dante said, wrapping his arms around her tighter. "Took a punch to an open wound."

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"I just--I want to be done crying about this. I want to be done talking about this. I just--I want to be done."

No more needing to run away. No more needing Dante to swoop in and make her feel better. She used to be so fucking independent! She took care of other people, not the other way around.

"I'm so tired of being the way I am."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Too bad," Dante said.

He'd never liked being the person anybody tried to take care of, least of all her. But he was used to it; his own dysfunction had turned into such a thick fucking layer of calluses he'd been downright surprised when part of it had been stripped away and exposed skin to air for the first time in years.

But she had no such calluses, and he didn't want her to grow any.

"You're not going to be done until it's done."

[spin_kick_snap]

And Kathy was discovering she didn't like being taken care of. No, that wasn't quite right--she didn't like needing to be taken care of. She wanted to be a partner, an equal, not someone's fucking responsibility.

"I feel pathetic," she said and this time when she looked up at him, anger flashed in her eyes. "And I hate it."

No, she didn't feel pathetic. She was pathetic. This whole 'crying in the shower' bullshit? Was pathetic.

[rebelseekspizza]

"You wanna punch me?" Dante asked.

Look, there were limited amount of ways he knew about to handle anger.

[spin_kick_snap]

Well, it helped in that her anger was at least momentarily transmuted into confusion. "Why would I want to hit you?"

Kathy's anger was most often directed inwards. Why be angry at the world when you could enjoy a nice, healthy dose of self-loathing instead?

[rebelseekspizza]

"You seem angry," Dante said, shrugging. "Figured you might wanna have it out."

[spin_kick_snap]

"But I'm not angry at you," Kathy said.

Her feelings towards Dante were complicated and confusing, sometimes even bordering on frustration, but she wasn't angry at him. When everything went to shit, he was usually the first one there to pick up the pieces.

"Either way, I probably shouldn't attack you in the shower. We could--okay, I could hurt myself."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante sucked in a deep breath. "Okay," he said, pulling away. "Shower done?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Let me just--" Kathy ducked her head under the spray, letting the last of the conditioner rinse away. She did feel marginally better at least, cried out and clean. "Okay," she said, shutting off the taps. "Shower done."

[rebelseekspizza]

"All right."

Dante - and his wet jeans - maneuvered out of the shower so she could get out, too.

[spin_kick_snap]

Which was about when Kathy consciously noticed that Dante had still been wearing jeans. Ugh, soaked jeans were the fucking worst, too. She looked down at them and then back up to him, raising an eyebrow. "Afraid I was gonna jump you as soon as you got in the shower and figured that might help?" she asked, voice dry as she wrapped herself in a towel.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante snorted. "Taking off my pants takes too long," he said.

Though he was reaching down to do just that.

[spin_kick_snap]

"It's gonna take even longer now," Kathy said, with a small shake of her head. "I--I wasn't gonna do anything stupid," she added quietly, in case that had been why he'd rushed.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Didn't think you would," Dante said, peeling the jeans down his legs. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy patted herself dry and then ran the towel over her hair before passing it over to Dante so he could dry off, too.

"Pretty sure that 'okay' isn't gonna be on the docket for a little while," she said. "I'm--"

She knew Dante didn't want another apology from her. Or her gratitude. But what was left to say? 'I hope seeing to my constant emotional needs doesn't cause you to resent me'?

Hmm, actually maybe that one.

[rebelseekspizza]

"I know." Dante threw his wet jeans in the corner and reached for a towel.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy had everything and nothing to say. The things that came too mind all seemed too stupid or shallow or self-indulgent. Or they were things she already knew what his answer would be, so why say them?

"What next?" she asked instead.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Up to you," Dante said lightly. "Not here to tell you what to do."

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"I'll take suggestions," Kathy said, attempting to match his tone. Hers took a lot more effort though. "Left to my own devices, I'll probably go with something thrilling like comb my hair."

Oh god, that was going to take forever.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Could also just go to bed, let the hair sort itself out later," Dante suggested casually.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Volunteering to come with me?" Kathy asked carefully. "I mean, I can understand if you have other plans for the day than babysitting me and my sad feelings or whatever."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Babysitting? Fuck, I just want a nap too," Dante said, smirking.

And he'd feel better with her back in his bed.

[spin_kick_snap]

Her face didn't change, but something in it lightened, relaxed. "Well, if you're sleepy, I guess we can go crash out for awhile," she said. "Though if I'm taking a nap with damp hair, you're helping me comb it out later."

Her hair was inching towards her hips these days. An extra hand would be nice.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante grinned. "How about we talk about that later?" he asked, pushing open the bathroom door and stepping out into the next room.