gonna_live | (no subject)

Simon's idea of making up for missing a week is for the two of them to pick something they want to do the next week. Something special. And they each get to pick something.

When you think of something you want us to do, name it and we'll do it, he tells her. Absolutely anything.

Kaylee doesn't know what she wants to pick.

Simon's pick is a fancy dinner out at some restaurant that's apparently got to be serving edible gold on a plate for how hard it is to get a reservation. And they have a dress code.

One problem at a time.

At their appointment, Diana suggests a trip to the formal boutique within the Galeries Lafayette, saying that they're known for being helpful and discreet.

What if they laugh, Kaylee says, and Diana shakes her head, and tells her they won't: the store is old, really old, and one of their business tenets since their reformation after the exodus is to be all things to everyone, no exceptions, no matter the event. One of the benefits of jamming everyone from Earth-that-was together -- some of us did learn how to get along, she says, and smiles.

Thus it is that Kaylee enters a small showroom within a ten-story department store, looking nervous, and almost hellaciously awkward.

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He follows her gaze, and tilts his head consideringly.

"I've got some reviewing to do," he says, "but ... probably not more than an hour's worth."

She nods. "Okay." Soft. "I think... I think I'll just be on the couch."

Beat.

"All right if I come join you there?" His hand finds hers, fingers twining. "For a little while?"

Kaylee raises her head, and looks at him gravely.

"How much room you gonna take up?"

He tries to deadpan, and doesn't quite make it; there's a grin.

"Not too much. I promise."

"You gonna let me sprawl all over you?"

"I think I could be talked into that."

They're drifting slowly in the direction of the couch, by this time.

"Yeah?"

Kaylee takes a sip of cocoa. "And what's that gonna take?"

"...Probably not all that much," he says as they sit down.

The rain's picking up; they can hear it, drumming faintly on the windows.

"It ain't fair to leave me in suspense," Kaylee says. She pulls up her bare feet on the couch, and leans (heavily) against his shoulder.

The chenille throw Kaylee bought their first week there is draped a little haphazardly over the arm of the couch. Simon extricates it from behind his back, and drapes it over their legs.

"Just about this will do it, I think."

"...not exactly this?"

Kaylee eyes him warily over the top of her mug.

"Well," he points out, taking another sip of his own cocoa, "it's working already."

"This ain't me sprawlin' all over you," Kaylee points out. "That's gonna happen after I'm done with this nice drink somebody made me."

"I think by this time it's inevitable, though."

Simon's half-cradling his own mug close to his chest, for the warmth as well as for the sake of not having to repeatedly lean forward to pick it up.

"Oh."

Pause.

(Cocoa.)

"Does that make me wily?"

Simon turns his head and drops a kiss on her temple.

Solemnly: "I think we can't rule it out."

"Mm."

She can feel herself relaxing -- almost like she's some kind of mechanical toy, coming slowly unwound.

"You okay with that?"

Softly: "Oh yes."

Kaylee tilts her head just enough to look up. Suspiciously: "You're not gettin' all sentimental, are you?"

"Perish the thought," he murmurs, and bends his head to kiss the corner of her mouth, lightly.

I don't deserve this, she thinks, I don't --

Yes I do.

The firmness with which she corrects herself almost gets a smile out of her. I do. It's okay.

She leans forward to balance her mug on the table, then slips back, working her arms around Simon and letting her head rest against his chest. It wasn't a great day. But I can be happy now.

Eventually, they're going to have to get up.

The cocoa will be finished. And they'll talk about dinner, and debate a few possibilities before deciding to order in (and there will be a small extra gratuity for the deliverer, for having to come out in the pouring rain). And Simon will take the hour after dinner to study, and by the time he comes to bed they'll both be half asleep.

Eventually they'll have to get up. But for right now, there's this.