The House In Limbo City, Limbo City, Wednesday Evening

[spin_kick_snap]

It had been ten days since the kids had left and Kathy was mostly back to normal. The fact that it was the end of the semester had probably helped a bit in that regard - it was possible to be maudlin and to study your ass off, but it took a lot more energy than Kathy really had to spare.

Her immediate plans for the evening - more studying, finals started on Monday - had been immediately derailed when Dante had declared it a night off, carrying her downstairs to a pillow pile, made from what looked to be every pillow in the damn house. As if that wasn't dirty enough, he plied her with a mixing bowl full of ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce, a similar-sized sundae for him on the other side of the nest.

Ice cream, blankets, pillows, and boyfriend. The perfect recipe to get rid of post-kid and pre-finals blues.


[Dante modded with permission!]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

"Not with that attitude," Kathy sniffed.

Then winked at him over her ice cream.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante laughed, sliding his fingers into her hair. "Have I told you you are an awesome girlfriend?" he teased.

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"I thought that this was your way of saying so," Kathy said, smiling up at him with her eyes bright.

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"Maybe," Dante said, grinning. "Feel like I should be maybe amping it up more than just pillows and ice cream, though."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I mean, you wanna let me know what you had in mind..." Kathy invited.

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"Hey, hey, I didn't say I had ideas," Dante said, amused. "This is my idea, right here."

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"The absolute worst," Kathy said, setting her empty bowl aside and rolling back over to cuddle up against him, snuggling against his side not unlike Ronin in when he was feeling particularly affectionate. "Hey. I have an idea. You know where the markers are?"

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"Yeah, in the dresser," Dante said, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Want me to go get 'em?"

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"Oh you are spoiling me," Kathy said with a sigh. She bent. Kissed him, tongue tracing the fullness of his lips. "Lose your shirt while you're up, okay?"

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante laughed softly. "'Cause you asked so nicely," he said. Kissed her again, just the once, and then scrambled upright.

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Kathy watched him go, lazy and easy on the pillows, already trying to figure out what and where she should start working, watching him with drowsy eyes.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante stripped off his shirt on the way to the dresser, tossing it carelessly at the bed. He pulled open a drawer and rummaged through it until he found the markers, holding them up triumphantly. "There we are."

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Kathy grinned at him and made grabby hands, for him and the markers both. "How do you want to lay?" she asked. "Back or stomach?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"That's what she said," Dante said cheerfully, holding out the markers for her. "Hm... stomach."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy shifted, giving Dante room to lay and get comfortable, before rolling over onto him, straddling his hips. This at least, made it easy for her to figure out what she wanted to draw. The first few lines were broad and sweeping from his shoulders down to his waist, ending in tapered points.

Wings. Feathered wings, lying folded along his spine.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante chuckled, cushioning his chin on his hands. "Got inspired?"

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"Yup," Kathy said, setting aside the black for the metallic silver and gold markers instead. "You're the most beautiful canvas."

She hadn't quite meant to say that aloud, but--not wrong.

Her hand arced over his skin, touch light and gentle, a whisper with every color stroke.

[rebelseekspizza]

Her fingers felt nice. Almost on the edge of ticklish, but not quite.

He felt a sigh escape from his mouth. "You say the prettiest things..."

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"Not soppy?" Kathy teased. "I used to get accused of being soppy all the time."

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"Yeah, but not usually with your hands all over me," Dante teased gently.

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"Mmmhmm," Kathy teased, bending over so her lips brushed against his spine. "I must be misremembering."

A flash of teeth, a flare of pain, and then Kathy was back to drawing, just as sweet as you please.

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante gasped softly, dropping his forehead onto the pillow in front of him.

"Not fair."

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"Stay still," Kathy chided, like it wasn't her fault. "You don't wanna mess me up, do you?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"I don't even know what you're drawing," Dante protested, laughing softly.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Wings for now," Kathy said, adding quick lines with her marker to indicate feathers. "And probably a sword down your spine."