[It's so dumb how easily his reply brings a soft smile to her face, how Barry just gives her exactly what she's asking for, even as he's questioning it at the same time.
She just loves that about him.]
Well - [And already Lup is taking Barry's jacket and crushing it against her chest.] I'm fuckin' frozen. So you can either give me your jacket before you make the long, freezing trudge back to the ship without it. Or you can keep me company for my shift and stop me from going full popsicle. Your choice, Bar.
[Barry watches her hug his jacket tightly against her chest, staring up at him expectantly, and he's about to ask her why on earth she showed up to her night shift outside without her own jacket--
but the look on her face stops him. Though her tone is teasing, there's something about the smile she's wearing that makes Barry's insides feel like hot goo. It's kind, warm, making the corners of her eyes crinkle sweetly in a way he doubts is intentional. She looks like the thought of Barry spending time with her makes her really happy.
Nothing would make Barry happier.]
W-Well. Um. When y'put it like that. [Slowly, like he's worried any sudden movements would dispel this sweet dream he's having, Barry sits down next to Lup again, handing her the binoculars. Then, awkwardly, he takes his jacket back and drapes it over Lup's skinny shoulders.]
[Not that Lup had any doubts, but there's no missing the swell of warmth inside of her when Barry takes his rightful spot next to her on the ground, shifting around only for a moment to take his jacket back and drape it over her shoulders. The action makes Lup's freckled cheeks darken just slightly, lips pinching together like she's trying to hold back a much bigger smile.]
Dope.
[Not her usual witty word play, but it's all that she can manage without giggling like a schoolgirl. She feels so light all of the sudden, her heart stuck in her throat with her fingers tingling, the chill of the night air completely unnoticable. Lup tugs the jacket a little tighter over her shoulders, then leans into Barry like it's all casual and cool, letting the man carry the full of her weight, trusting that he won't let her drop.
It's cool. Casual. Normal. Friends do this all the time. Yep.]
Night shifts are so boring anyway, right? Better to double up. Keep each other company.
[Okay, Barry. This is your shot. This is your chance to prove you're not a total idiot around women (well, around a woman). He's so dead-focused on playing it cool and calm and collected that he doesn't really notice Lup's face flushing darker, her voice lower than normal, her breathing going a little funny. It's all happening in the periphery. Just far enough away for it to maybe not be real.
If he lets it dawn on him that Lup is blushing just as hard as he is right now, he might not make it through the night.]
Oh yeah. Dirt boring. [Slowly, deliberately, he drapes an arm over her shoulder, not necessarily squeezing her closer, but sorta just. holding her there. Feeling her weight sinking into his soft side.
She was totally lying. She's really warm.] See any uh, movement over there? Anything of note?
[That's her secret, of course. Lup is always burning up.]
Uh -
[Even through his jacket, Barry feels nice, his body soft and steady, the perfect cushion to rest herself against, Lup content to push just a little closer when the man's arm comes up around her. It's not her fault that Barry feels like safety, even out here in the middle of nowhere, on some plane they've only barely just started to discover. The inhabitants here could be vicious and feral, could want absolutely nothing to do with the crew trying to save them - but pressed there right against Barry's side, Lup's never felt safer.
Her eyes close, just for a moment, dark lashes splaying against her cheeks, before his question finally connects and she's looking out from where they're seated.]
Nope! Not a thing yet. Or ever, knowing our luck. [Night shifts are notoriously boring.] I'm bettin' everyone's all tucked up in their beds right about now, while we are freezing our asses off for nothing.
[Maybe not nothing, Lup adds to herself, gaze flicking up to Barry, still trying to contain her smile.]
I'm gonna fall dead ass asleep if you don't keep me up. Let's play a game.
[Barry feels her pressing closer against him, sinking into his plush side with barely any hesitation, his arm around her enough invitation. It's really nice. It's easy. Things are so rarely easy that whenever moments like these come around, when he can just put his arm around a gorgeous woman and hold her close without dying, he'll take it running.
Even though Lup is taller than him and has a way of making him feel really small, Barry can't help but think how tiny she feels against him. Her slender shoulders, her slight frame pressing into him... it makes something hot and protective flutter to life inside him. Something that makes him want to shield her from harm for as long as he lives.
He knows she's damn capable of taking care of herself. That's not the point. He knows, in this moment, that he'd take a bolt for her.]
Uh... [Barry's no good on the spot, and certainly not with entertaining games. The only one he can think of is...] ... I spy with my little eye, somethin'... green.
[It's enough to make the woman laugh again, a barking too-loud-but-so-very-Lup kind of laugh, the kind that shakes her whole body against his, leaves her skinny shoulders trembling with aftershocks.]
Lemme guess - [She giggles out between words, still pressed up to his side, completely refusing to budge.] It's the grass, right? I'm bettin' it's the damn grass.
[Her hand snakes out from beneath his jacket to tap out a quick rhythm against his wrist, glittering nails flashing in the low light left between them. The giggling finally dies down and there's nothing but complete confidence left in Lup's tone.]
I totally win. [Lup doesn't need to hear if she's actually right. They both know there's nothing else to look at out here in the middle of nowhere.]
I was thinking more of a game that wasn't made for actual infants. Like, a story telling game. Best day, worst day.
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She just loves that about him.]
Well - [And already Lup is taking Barry's jacket and crushing it against her chest.] I'm fuckin' frozen. So you can either give me your jacket before you make the long, freezing trudge back to the ship without it. Or you can keep me company for my shift and stop me from going full popsicle. Your choice, Bar.
[Smooth.]
no subject
but the look on her face stops him. Though her tone is teasing, there's something about the smile she's wearing that makes Barry's insides feel like hot goo. It's kind, warm, making the corners of her eyes crinkle sweetly in a way he doubts is intentional. She looks like the thought of Barry spending time with her makes her really happy.
Nothing would make Barry happier.]
W-Well. Um. When y'put it like that. [Slowly, like he's worried any sudden movements would dispel this sweet dream he's having, Barry sits down next to Lup again, handing her the binoculars. Then, awkwardly, he takes his jacket back and drapes it over Lup's skinny shoulders.]
no subject
Dope.
[Not her usual witty word play, but it's all that she can manage without giggling like a schoolgirl. She feels so light all of the sudden, her heart stuck in her throat with her fingers tingling, the chill of the night air completely unnoticable. Lup tugs the jacket a little tighter over her shoulders, then leans into Barry like it's all casual and cool, letting the man carry the full of her weight, trusting that he won't let her drop.
It's cool. Casual. Normal. Friends do this all the time. Yep.]
Night shifts are so boring anyway, right? Better to double up. Keep each other company.
no subject
If he lets it dawn on him that Lup is blushing just as hard as he is right now, he might not make it through the night.]
Oh yeah. Dirt boring. [Slowly, deliberately, he drapes an arm over her shoulder, not necessarily squeezing her closer, but sorta just. holding her there. Feeling her weight sinking into his soft side.
She was totally lying. She's really warm.] See any uh, movement over there? Anything of note?
no subject
Uh -
[Even through his jacket, Barry feels nice, his body soft and steady, the perfect cushion to rest herself against, Lup content to push just a little closer when the man's arm comes up around her. It's not her fault that Barry feels like safety, even out here in the middle of nowhere, on some plane they've only barely just started to discover. The inhabitants here could be vicious and feral, could want absolutely nothing to do with the crew trying to save them - but pressed there right against Barry's side, Lup's never felt safer.
Her eyes close, just for a moment, dark lashes splaying against her cheeks, before his question finally connects and she's looking out from where they're seated.]
Nope! Not a thing yet. Or ever, knowing our luck. [Night shifts are notoriously boring.] I'm bettin' everyone's all tucked up in their beds right about now, while we are freezing our asses off for nothing.
[Maybe not nothing, Lup adds to herself, gaze flicking up to Barry, still trying to contain her smile.]
I'm gonna fall dead ass asleep if you don't keep me up. Let's play a game.
no subject
Even though Lup is taller than him and has a way of making him feel really small, Barry can't help but think how tiny she feels against him. Her slender shoulders, her slight frame pressing into him... it makes something hot and protective flutter to life inside him. Something that makes him want to shield her from harm for as long as he lives.
He knows she's damn capable of taking care of herself. That's not the point. He knows, in this moment, that he'd take a bolt for her.]
Uh... [Barry's no good on the spot, and certainly not with entertaining games. The only one he can think of is...] ... I spy with my little eye, somethin'... green.
no subject
Lemme guess - [She giggles out between words, still pressed up to his side, completely refusing to budge.] It's the grass, right? I'm bettin' it's the damn grass.
[Her hand snakes out from beneath his jacket to tap out a quick rhythm against his wrist, glittering nails flashing in the low light left between them. The giggling finally dies down and there's nothing but complete confidence left in Lup's tone.]
I totally win. [Lup doesn't need to hear if she's actually right. They both know there's nothing else to look at out here in the middle of nowhere.]
I was thinking more of a game that wasn't made for actual infants. Like, a story telling game. Best day, worst day.