MHA #6 Sunday

[arboreal_priestess]

As much as Verity wanted to be out there, dealing with tremens herself, her first priority had been getting Liam safely home. She went with her home over his, since he still didn't have a real bed, though considering the state of her cupboards, maybe his place would have been the better idea after all.

But hey, this was Fandom. Takeout during an invasion was a thing, wasn't it? Especially if she tipped really well?

Whatever, they could make it work. Maybe Liam would believe that stale tortilla omelettes were a common Pacific Northwest breakfast food.

...She needed to go grocery shopping like whoa.

[For the guy!]

Comments

[firstofitskind]

"That what they're calling it now, huh?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"I taught high schoolers for a semester," Verity informed him. "I am hip to every lingo."

Verity, you were twenty-two, god.

[firstofitskind]

"Oh good, so since I'm teaching this semester, I can come to you if I have any questions about... teenagers."

Yes, he said that last word as if it was an entirely foreign concept. Mostly because it was.

[arboreal_priestess]

She laughed. "Absolutely," she promised. "I'll be here to translate all your teen-to-human speech, anytime you have trouble. Maybe I'll even stop by and watch your class sometime."

[firstofitskind]

"So long as it's not to judge the fact that I'm making them use safety equipment as we jump from high places," Liam replied. Caving didn't exactly lend itself to free-running, after all. Lots of rappelling, though.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Well, that takes all the fun out of it," Verity pouted.

[firstofitskind]

"So do broken bones," Liam pointed out.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Pffft, you only break something if you're doing it wrong!"

Very helpful, Very.

[firstofitskind]

Liam's expression shifted at that statement, traces of playful banter disappearing as something more solemn took over.

"Even experienced cavers can have accidents," he replied, his tone clipped.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity's brows contracted together. "Hey, hey, I'm just teasing," she said, leaning over to pat his knee. "You know the only reason I take those risks is because I've spent years preparing and practicing."

[firstofitskind]

"So did my mother," Liam said quietly.

It hadn't helped her, in the end.

[arboreal_priestess]

Oh. Oh shit.

Verity leaned over and just pulled him into a deep hug.

[firstofitskind]

It was a long few moments before Liam felt like saying anything again. "Sorry," he said finally, head still buried in her shoulder. "You had no way of knowing."

[arboreal_priestess]

"It's okay," she murmured. "I get it. I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't be flippant."

[firstofitskind]

"No, I like when you're flippant, most of the time," Liam admitted, a trace of a smile in his tone. "Just maybe not about this topic in particular."

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity nodded. "I've got plenty of stuff to be flippant about," she said. "I won't miss this one."

[firstofitskind]

"Thanks," Liam said softly. "I appreciate it."

[arboreal_priestess]

"Hey," she said, nudging him lightly in the side. "If this weekend's proven anything, it's that I got you, you know? I got you."

[firstofitskind]

"I do know," Liam said, lifting his head back up and meeting Verity's gaze. "And you know that works the other way around too, right?"

This was dangerously approaching mushy-stuff territory again.

[arboreal_priestess]

Uh-oh. Mushy stuff was dangerous territory. It could lead to words...feelings...all that stuff.

"I'd say I'd go pick a fight with a skinless monster-thing to make you prove it, but that's kind of my job anyway," Verity chuckled. "But I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of it anyway."