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[crowsicle]

[There isn't even an answering machine message here, only some horrible recreation of the theme from that one SBaHJ video he did made completely of clips of different bird calls.]

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[crowsicle]

[It's not the mirroring of the hand-holding, so obviously affectionate now that he sees her do it, that makes his stomach--or whatever--flip stumblingly inside him. It's the way she handles him like he's something valuable and dear.

No one is ever so careful with him.

He turns his hand to hold her fingers in his palm, then closes his hand gently around hers. His voice is hushed and shorn completely of any of his usual fronting.]

I let someone go off alone, once, and he died.

[ceded]

[ ... his face.

His voice.

Unthinking, she tugs their joined hands a little closer to her chest in a protective motion, and her face is full of sympathy. ]

... a friend?

[crowsicle]

My best friend.

[He's spoken about this before, but not so barely. In other retellings he shielded himself by digging into how stupid it was, the ridiculous trappings of his ridiculous world; here, the details feel too raw. He skims over them, leaves them unstated.]

It happened a lot, after that.

[ceded]

... Dave ...

[ Now she understands. She isn't going to ask about his best friend; he's mentioned it before, and the way he's always couched it has made her think he probably doesn't really want to talk about it. But she gets why he's telling her the story now, without the usual obfuscating sarcasm.

Xion sighs through her nose, indecisive for just a moment before she shifts her body -- closer. Leaning forward, she bumps her forehead gently against his. ]

I'm not going to get killed. I promise. I wouldn't ever leave intending to fight him. And if I did, I'd tell you or Dirk first. I'm just saying that... if it came down to a fight, I could handle myself, and I don't want you to get hurt for my sake.

[crowsicle]

[She's too close. He doesn't say anything about it, because he can't. He just closes his eyes, lowers his forehead against hers, and lets pieces fall off his heart.]

I don't want you to get hurt at all.

[He lifts his head then so he can look at her, squeezing her hand gently.]

I don't want any of my friends to get hurt. That's what I'm here for. So it doesn't happen.

[ceded]

... no. [ She says, quiet and firm and just a little fond. ] You don't have to be here to protect me, Dave. You just have to be my friend. That's all I want. [ She huffs out a sigh, shutting her eyes. ] That's all I need, too.

[ For a moment she says there, leaning against him and drinking in his warmth. His solidity calms the anxiety she's been feeling in the restless, blurry hours since she left Xigbar on the clock tower. ]

I don't want to get hurt. And maybe... maybe if I could just keep talking to him, I wouldn't have to. No one would have to. Maybe he'll listen to me. [ She leans back, sitting up straight, though their hands remain linked. ] ... I don't know for sure, but I think I have to try.

[crowsicle]

[None of that is anything he wants to hear, but there's something about "I think I have to try" that he can't argue with. He breathes out through his nose and lowers his gaze--it's a concession, but he's not exactly happy about it.]

All right. If that's what you've got to do.

[He sets his jaw stubbornly.]

You can't tell me not to keep an eye on him, though. I'm not undoing two years of neurotic jackassery just 'cause you asked me nice.

[ceded]

[ She huffs a quiet laugh through her nose, her smile going fond and warm and crooked. ]

That's okay. Just don't get caught. Hehe.

[crowsicle]

[He shrugs and sniffs in mock scorn, though his grip remains firm. He's still taking her problem seriously.]

He'd have to be one hell of a hound dog to catch me.

[ceded]

[ Her smile flickers and fades, though does not disappear entirely. ]

... I don't know yet. I guess I'm hoping... that all of this will be pointless.

[ Still. She sighs out, then squirms a little, trying to get comfier on the cold, hard roof. Once that's done, she adjusts their hands, too - letting go with one, but using the other to thread her fingers through his, and holding tight.

Then she leans on his shoulder and watches the sky. ]

... thank you, Dave. For listening. And ... being here for me.

[crowsicle]

[He isn't thrown until he feels her weight against him. Davesprite's gotten used to the intimacy of so much counsel and hand-holding, but the easy way Xion leans on him, her unassuming closeness--she just bypasses all his usual locks and hits him at his core. It jars him because she always strikes him exactly where he needs it.

Xion trusts him. Xion relies on him.

Slowly, carefully, because she has his hand, Davesprite spreads his wing behind her so it covers her back. It's a cloak, perhaps--or a shield. A comfort.]

Of course.

[His voice is as light and gentle as it ever gets, and quietly fond.]

Where else would I ever want to be?

[ceded]

[ A soft sound escapes her - almost, but not quite, a gasp - when his wing envelops her. She looks around and up in wonder, and then huffs the quietest of laughs as she lifts her free hand to brush at his downy inside feathers. Then she smiles up at him, broad and warm, and her cheeks are noticeably pink. ]

Hehe. I don't know! But... I like it here, too.

[crowsicle]

[His wing twitches a little and he lets out a little laugh through his nose--almost all his laughter is like that, unvoiced and breathless and brief--because he isn't used to being touched on that side of his wings, and it tickles. He bumps her shoulder gently with his.]

Good. 'Cause you see, you passed the Strider pad endurance test, and first prize is getting pretty much stuck with us for the rest of forever. Sorry about it.

[ceded]

[ That gets a real giggle, one that makes her use her free hand to loosely cover her mouth - not that doing so hides her grin. ]

You know, you'd only have to apologize if there was something to really be sorry about. And there isn't. I really like living here. I'm happy. You make me happy. [ She beams at him. ] You, and Dirk, and Dave, and everyone. So don't say sorry! [ Sticks her tongue out at him. Nyeh. ]

[crowsicle]

[XION used BLINDING SINCERITY! It was super effective! Wild DAVESPRITE took 74 damage!

After staring for a moment, he laughed again and lifted his hand--the wrong one first, the one she was holding, and then he switched to the other so he could brush his hair back. He then propped his chin on his fist, smiling slightly.]

You should come with a warning label, you know.

[ceded]

[ DAVESPRITE used MODERN LINGO. XION became CONFUSED! ]

A warning label? [ Her mouth makes a little o of thoughtfulness. ] Why?

[crowsicle]

"Caution: Hazardous levels of cute. May pose a health risk if you are pregnant, nursing, or susceptible to kittens and fluffy ducklings."

[God he's glad she's selectively sheltered or he'd never be able to get away with this shit without getting called out for flirting.]

[ceded]

Hey! [ She elbows him in the ribs, though in so doing is careful to make sure their hands remain linked. She's giggling, even if she's pretending to be indignant. ] I'm not that bad, am I? Wait, does that mean I'm like a kitten? Or a duckling? [ THOUGHTFUL SUDDENLY. ] Those are pretty cute.....

[crowsicle]

[He thinks about it, too, casting his eyes skyward as his tail flicks lazily.]

Huh, I dunno, maybe not a bird. Birds are total dickosaurs.

[He grins and elbows her back.]

Maybe a baby bunny.

[ceded]

[ SCRUNCHES UP HER NOSE AT HIM ]

I'm not like a bunny at all! I'd need the ears, you know. [ Lifts two fingers up behind her head and wiggles them in a V shape. BUNNY EARS. ]

And anyway, I don't know about you, but I think birds are nice!

[ Mischievous little smile. LET'S ALL REMEMBER SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT FLIRTING IS. ]

[crowsicle]

[And since he does remember that, he just scoffs and makes a bird head with his free hand.]

Shows what you know. Birds are basically airborne rats, minus the black plague but plus avian influenza. Caw, caw.

[He reaches across to mime dive-bombing her bunny ears hand, making "pchoooo" and "nyeeeooowww" airplane sound effects that aren't actually appropriate for either a bird or a flying rat, but, y'know, give him some artistic license.]

[ceded]

[ Xion starts to laugh and just doesn't stop, ducking her head and trying to retaliate with her bunny ears. ]

Stop! Those aren't the sounds birds make at all!!!

[ Her bunny ears turn into a puppy instead, because a puppy is much more effective at attacking, and goes "bark bark!" and growls unconvincingly to return his assault. ]

[crowsicle]

Oh noooo, a puppy, my mortal weakness. I must fly away to my arboreal abode and think of a new plan of attack, probably involving crapping in someone's water bowl and eating all the kibble in the morning. Prometheus-style.

[He raises his hand high.]

Off I go flapping the feathery piece of gargbage I call my ass into the sun. Which I guess is over there.

[He corrects his imaginary trajectory, then turns to look at Xion. Very seriously, he says:]

Pchoo.

[ceded]

[ Narrows her eyes at him. Also very seriously.

Then she disentangles their hands so she can tackle him, instead. ]

Gotcha! No "pchoo" for you!

[crowsicle]

[He caws for real but then he's down in a rush of feathers, and then he's genuinely laughing even as he tries (not very hard) to push at her.]

Oh fuck, I'm crushed, I've been flattened by a giant baby bunny suffering a doggy identity crisis, this is exactly the kind of health hazard the attorney general needs to start putting on adorable teenage girls, democratic government has personally failed me. Help help, save me, dramatic swoon.