restinglichface

[And that's the look that does Lup in over and over again. The adorable flush to Lucretia's cheeks, the widening of her eyes, the soft 'o' she makes with her mouth at the elf's boldness. It had started out as a fun game to pass the time way back in Cycle One, to tease both of the ship's nerds until they all but imploded. But somewhere along the way, they both fell in love with her and Lup, for all of the distance she tried to keep in the beginning, had fallen for them both too. Barry's the love of her life, her everything, the other half of her soul that she'd never known was missing in the first place. But Lucretia is quickly becoming the best friend she'd never had, the emotional anchor that Lup so desperately needs in her life.

She'd be endlessly happy being with Barry for the rest of her life, to one day do the whole sappy wedding thing and throw a stupid bouquet of flowers, and fight with Taako over whether he cried or not despite the evidence against him. But just because she's got her future on lock doesn't mean the pair can't experiment a little. They are completely comfortable with one another, why not see just how far that comfort extends?

Lup meets Barry's gaze and smiles, her expression all the affirmation he needs.]

The only place Lucy needs to go-- [And here Lup makes a show of kissing Barry right there in front of the younger woman, letting her touch linger on just a little too long, before she's pulling away to shoot a slow wink in Lucretia's direction.] Is out with us. You know you wanna, girl. I'm pretty damn hot under Barold's geeky shirts. [she plucks at the oversized shirt she's wearing and laughs.]

We were gonna go swimming. You in?

We. Swimming? In? Am I in? [Lucretia knows she sounds like a broken record, like a busted machine, like an idiot, just repeating what they're saying over and over. She doesn't have to imagine them kissing, because they just did. Right in front of her. And yes, Barry and Lup are completely into the whole "gross PDA" (as Taako calls it), but she'd expected them to be...embarrassed. Awkward.

They're not. They're treating this with a bold, casual honesty that she hadn't expected a bit. Lup just winked at her, and Barry might be blushing, but his hand is tangled with Lup's and his eyes are on Lucretia and Lucretia can barely breathe.]

Yes.

[This is after her year alone, after the judges left her and Fisher and the ship, running for months and months, all by themselves, after she spent hours talking aloud to the friends who weren't alive anymore, and if that year taught her anything, it's that she doesn't want to lose them. Not a single one of them. She doesn't want to lose Davenport's bossiness or Magnus's loudness or Merle's stupid arts and crafts or Taako's stuck-up prickly brand of affection. She doesn't want to lose the way Barry and Lup are looking at her right then, hopeful and shy and open.

So she says it again.]

Yes. I am.

[Lup kisses him, slow and warm, the way she usually only kisses him when they're alone, and Barry becomes intensely aware of Lucretia's eyes on them. This is different from their usual "gross PDA" (loud but tiny pecks and hand-holding, that's it, God Taako). This is Lup enticing the young woman, showing what she can have and gauging her reaction, getting a read on what she wants.

Apparently what she wants is to go with them. Barry feels his face heating up, pale skin flushing with color at the decisive tone in Lucretia's voice when she agrees. She really wants this. This is really happening, then.]

Uh. W-Well. [He clears his throat, fingers tightening around Lup's hand. His chest feels tight and tingly with excitement, but despite his nerves, he's smiling.] I guess we, uh... Guess we head out, then. You know the way, right Lup? Think y'can get us all there before the rest notice we're missin'?

[A strange kind of boldness possesses him then, Lup's encouragement and Lucretia's open curiosity spurring him on. So he pulls Lup closer, slips his around her waist, not once taking his eyes off the young human watching them.] I don't wanna share this with anyone but you two.

[Barry and Lucretia may be losing their damn minds, but Lup just laughs, easy and amused, like this isn't at all out of the ordinary.]

Atta girl. [And she loves Barry dearly but he gets a pointy elbow to the side for that one.] Excuse you? What kinda amateur do you think I am, Bluejeans? Of course I got it. I'm offended you even have to ask, boyfriend.

[Barry has one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, so Lup returns the favor, sliding her own hand down to stick into the back pocket of his jeans--Disgusting PDA--before she's moving forward, tugging the man along with her. As they step forward to pass by Lucretia, Lup grabs the younger woman's hand and drags her along with, linking their fingers.] Time to get this party started. C'mon, nerds. You're both mine tonight.

[And as promised, Lup manages to lead the pair through the Starblaster without attracting any further attention, only having to untangle her hand from Lucretia's when met with a door she couldn't kick open. But she always snapped up the younger woman's hand again when done, grinning over at her every time their fingers twined together again. Once outside, Lup sets them on the quickest path to the swimming hole she found, which isn't too far a walk from the ship.]

[Lucretia would protest that she's not a nerd, that she simply enjoys a very specific set of things and some of those things are exceptionally academic in nature. But then Lup is tangling their fingers together and promising -- you're both mine tonight -- and it's like she forgets to breathe. She forgets to do anything but tag along, glancing over at Barry periodically with wide doe-eyes.

It's warm outside, warm enough that Lucretia's curls stick to her forehead after only a couple minutes of walking, warm enough that sweat pools at the back of her neck and where her and Lup's palms meet. She'd rather die than let go, though, she wishes she could reach out and grab Barry's hand too, but a) that would be counterproductive to walking and b) she doesn't have that kind of bravery.

Also, she remembers suddenly, with a quick, panicked gasp:] I. Can't swim.

[Barry occasionally catches Lucretia's eyes as they walk, making their way out of the ship, down the ramp, and into the forest. It strikes him then how young she really is. Sure, age and time is all... weird to the crew by now. They've all lived to see and do and feel a lot more than any of them had thought possible. But Lucretia is still the youngest of them all, and even though she's brilliant, blazingly smart, effortlessly beautiful, even though she's more perceptive than anyone Barry's ever met, sometimes her youth shows.

Specifically in those huge, curious eyes. The way she looks at Lup, almost every time he catches her staring. The way she's looking at him now. It's exciting, a thrill rushing through him like electricity up his spine every time their eyes meet across from Lup. But he feels the need to stay rational. To not get too swept away by temptation and emotion.]

You don't have t'do anything you don't want to. Got it? [And Barry holds the young woman's gaze then, makes sure she sees, makes sure she understands. Nothing happens unless Lucretia wants it to. She's smart enough to know on her own, he's certain, but Barry needs to make sure she knows she's not pressured here.]

We can just wade. Right, Lup? [He gives Lup's waist a little squeeze, delighting in the feeling of her body pressed against his. Given her dig at him earlier, he feels comfortable teasing her a little.] I mean, y'spent so long doin' your hair this mornin'. Would be a shame to get it wet and let it go t'waste.

[Stop making eyes over Lup's head, nerds, or a girl is gonna get jelly real fast.

It's not exactly what she wanted--the elf was looking forward to getting her swim on and to playfully dunking some cuties in the lake--but Lup isn't the type to get herself wound up in little changes to plans. She rolls with it like a champ, sticking her tongue up at Barry before she's laughing along with his teasing, giving her messy braid a flick over her shoulder before her arm is slipping back snuggly around the man's waist.

She turns her smile on Lucretia, squeezing at her hand, not seeming to mind the sweat there. Sweaty little humans are too cute.] That gonna be chill, Luce? We could just do something else too, y'know. Point out dick constellations in the stars or hit that town that's to the north and get trashed at the tavern there. As long as we're out, it's whatever.

[Honestly, if she'd known Lucretia couldn't swim, she would have just dragged her up to their room instead, but now that they've already snuck outside, may as well make the most of it. But really, girl. Lup's gonna tease you about forgetting that for at least the next ten years, so best prepare yourself.]

Edited 2017-11-06 23:01 (UTC)

secrets

@ barold & nerdlette

Re: @ barold & nerdlette

no subject

no subject

a million years too late bUT

<3 <3 my dearest <3 <3

ALSO ADDING ITS COOL, BABE