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]

"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."

[spin_kick_snap]

"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.

[spin_kick_snap]

"This is going to end with me breaking a comb off in my hair and you laughing at me, I just know it," she said, following him out. "But that's a post-nap worry."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Post-nap is when we cover everything," Dante agreed.

He slid into the bed.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy wasn't going to say it, but she was glad they'd gone to his room and not hers. She wouldn't feel comfortable climbing into her bed until she changed the sheets and washed all the blankets.

Sure, zombieism wasn't like cooties, but she still knew she'd be unable to sleep otherwise.

She waited for him to get comfortable, then climbed in after him, snuggling down under the blankets and tucking them beneath her chin.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante smiled at her, his hand seeking out hers under the blankets.

[spin_kick_snap]

That--that was unexpected, her eyes shooting up to his before shyly smiling at him and twining her fingers through his. Might be a little awkward to sleep like this, but Kathy didn't care. Right now, that handhold meant everything.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante gave her hand a squeeze - and wagged his eyebrows, a silent request for a bigger smile.

[spin_kick_snap]

Which she complied with, unable to not.

"When did you become such a giant fucking nerd anyway?" she asked with genuine fondness.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante rolled his eyes. "I'm just too cool for you to understand."

[spin_kick_snap]

That actually earned him a laugh. More of a chuckle, really, but it still counted. "That is some straight-up bullshit."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Oh please, like the Queen of all Nerds can tell," Dante scoffed.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Which means I have extraordinary nerd-spotting powers and guess what, babe." Kathy squeezed his hand. "You're a pretty big spot on my nerd-dar."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Nuh uh," Dante said.

And kissed her. That was sure to shut her up.

[spin_kick_snap]

In fairness, he wasn't wrong. Though she did have a habit of talking after the kiss ended.

This time, however, she didn't. She kissed him back, eyes closed and lips sweet, free hand resting on his shoulder. When he did finally pull away, her eyes opened, warm and soft, and just looked at him.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante smiled back at her, his hand moving up to cup her cheek.

"You know this isn't babysitting, right?"

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy bit her lip and looked away. "I--I'm not sure," she said honestly. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I feel like...I worry I depend on you too much. And that you'll start to resent me for being so damn needy. I don't want you to feel like you have to take care of me. Like you're trapped."

[rebelseekspizza]

"You ever know me to do something I didn't wanna do?" Dante asked.