flourish_or_perish | MHA #8

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MHA #8 | Morning

So. Last night had happened.

There had been no pollen involved. Just a little breaking and entering (and a silly neighbor who Faye hadn't really minded seeing shirtless, but she wished had left earlier. Or not come at all, since he was the cops.) But it had, ultimately, turned out pretty well.

Meaning that Faye had woken up being...held. One might even call it cuddled. And -- this was now Faye's deepest secret. Deeper even than her debt or her real age or her identity -- she had liked it. And cuddled back, however briefly.

So, naturally, she'd kicked Stark out of his own bed and sent him off to the kitchen to make breakfast, before she could get too used to how much she'd liked it. And now, having taken her sweet time to get out of bed, she padded out to the kitchen in what was definitely Stark's shirt, because she wasn't just going to put on her own clothes again, okay? Not before breakfast.

"Are you actually making pancakes?"

[for the glowy guy. NO LIAM, NOT YOU, YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE YESTERDAY]

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"It's not usually a problem except at paintball," Stark said. "Usually there isn't anyone trying to sneak up on me."

Of course, usually nobody broke in either. Anything could happen!

"Why?"

"Because," Faye told her pancakes, "I would make a point to cover your right side next time there's crazy shit on the island, if you were worried about it."

Stop it, no one here was protective. Crazy talk.

Faye’s pancakes were probably very interested to hear that. The alien who made them certainly was.

He was also growing ever more confused about where he stood.

"Thank you," Stark said softly. "I'd like that."

God, Stark, it's like you weren't used to dealing with someone who refused to be emotionally honest with herself under any circumstances. What could possibly be confusing about that?

"I mean, ideally, it's not necessary," Faye added, a little extra flip as she looked up again just because ugh, she'd almost been kind of vulnerable there. "Though I still think I have to figure out a way to help with this Anakin thing."

Everything was confusing about that, Faye!

"Well, life's never ideal. There's always something to go wrong. Sometimes that needs backup. Or someone to watch out for you. For me."

And aside from Liam who came running at the sounds of screams, Stark hadn't really had that in a long time.

"Anakin I'll do my best to shoot later."

Edited 2021-06-04 18:53 (UTC)

"Well. I'll watch out for you, when things aren't ideal." Said very matter-of-fact, and Faye immediately shoved a super impolite amount of pancakes into her mouth so he couldn't ask her any immediate follow-up questions.

Strategy.

"Thank you," Stark said again. "I appreciate it."

He was feeling very appreciative right now, Faye.

"Did you... want more pancakes?"

Faye chewed thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing enough to curiously ask, "If I say yes, would you actually make me more?"

This was a test, Stark! Better pass!

"Why wouldn't I?"

Faye, stop being so confusing!

Never. Get used to it.

"I don't know," Faye said slowly. "But you're way too nice. I'm probably good on pancakes."

And that was the most honest Faye had been about her feelings regarding Stark this entire time.

"I'm not," Stark said. "But I try. Usually."

He just tried to be kind when he could. Because the universe wasn't.

"You are, and I'm willing to fight over this," Faye warned, setting her plate aside so she could hop down from the counter.

Because Faye, notably, was not very nice to almost anyone.

Almost.

"I don't want to fight you." Stark said, taking a step back.

He really didn't.

Surely they could find another activity.

Faye actually blinked in mild surprise at that step back, then her expression settled into something more like gentle amusement.

"Argue," she amended, holding her hands up placatingly. "I'm willing to argue with you about this. Is that better? And I'm kidding, anyway."

She really didn't like how quick he'd been to assume she was going to hurt him. Not because her feelings were bruised or anything, but because she wanted to take the Red Tail's ion cannons to whoever had made him so jumpy.

Not enough cannons for that, Faye.

"You can argue," he allowed. "You don't need to."

"I'm not really going to." Ugh, Stark, look what you had done: made Faye back down from an entirely theoretically argument. About whether he was too nice. Because she thought he was nice and didn't want to freak him out.

"I'm also not going to hurt you," she added, taking a careful step towards him. "Ever. Okay?"

Look at that, Stark: blanket immunity from being thrown over balconies forever, right there.

Immunity from balcony throwing could come in handy since there was a balcony in this very apartment.

"Okay." Stark nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "I didn't really... it's habit."

Nobody in Fandom had ever done anything terrible to him! But sometimes he still worried.

"I just don't want you getting freaked out any time I make any sudden moves," Faye teased, taking another step closer so she could reach out to wrap an arm around his waist. "See?"

"I try not to freak out. Usually."

It didn't always work but Stark tried.

Look at him not freaking out right now! Why, he was even leaning into that touch!

"Are you planning sudden moves?"

"Maybe."

That seemed like a really good cue to kiss him, actually.

But hopefully he saw that coming. It wasn't all that sudden, really.

Edited 2021-06-04 21:16 (UTC)

If all sudden moves in his direction were that sort, Stark might be less jumpy. The narrative was right though, it wasn't all that sudden. It was, maybe, exactly the sort of reaction he'd been hoping for.

"Not freaking out," he said very softly. "See?"

If he were freaking out he wouldn't be pulling her a little closer.

Faye was more than happy to let herself be pulled closer, yes, and her free arm was just going to go right up so she could wrap it around Stark's shoulders.

This was normal and not at all like stand-up cuddling, in case anyone was curious.

"I do see," she agreed softly. "Back to bed?"

The fact that it was a question and not an order said a lot about where Faye was right now, which was also why Faye was steadfastly refusing to think.

Right. Absolutely nothing like vertical cuddling. Don't worry, Faye. Stark would never tell.

"Won't freak out there either," he promised. "Yes."

"I mean, you can freak out a little," Faye said, untangling herself just enough to snag one of Stark's hands so she could lead the way back to the bedroom. "As long as it's good freaking out."

And she was much better at this than at this weird thing where maybe she had feelings, so she was confident that there would be some good freaking out.

Stark was quite happy to be led away, even if that meant the not-cuddling had to end. Look, sometimes he was cuddly, ok?

"I..." He ducked his head, something he did so often around Faye, then looked back up. "I don't see how it wouldn't be."

Unless something went very wrong.

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