if once was great, why not a second time through?

[called_lioness]

It's warm--well, hot, really--and Lucy's been tree climbing again.

Some things you don't get tired of, and hanging from a limb like a monkey is apparently one of them.

She's terribly mature, really, but she's also enjoying the pull under the knees and the rush of blood to her head.

Maybe not terribly mature.

Comments

[last_adam]

He doesn't look up at her right away. It's slow and it's painful, and he has his eyes half shut, as if he expects her to look like a zombie or something.



...she doesn't. You know. For the record.



"Don't pass out. You might hit your head again, and I'll turn you into a fucking angel."

[called_lioness]

"Wings would be exciting?" she tries, and half smiles, unsteadily.

"It's--it's okay. I'm not--I don't know. It's okay. You know?" Lucy's not sure that she knows, but she's talking, and talking means she's not passed out. Right? Right.

[last_adam]

"It's NOT okay. God, Lucy, what'll people do when they find out? This isn't exactly..."

His hands flail around a bit, trying to explain words he hasn't even brought into his head.

[called_lioness]

"--Oh bugger," the terrified look back on her face, "Caspian."

[last_adam]

"Caspian. Alanna. AZIRAPHAEL."

He nearly shrieks the last, and is suddenly utterly and completely glad that this happened here, and not back in his world.

[called_lioness]

"Can we go back to Caspian? Personally, Aziaraphael can go molt for all I care right now! I'm not s--in--I'm not dating Aziraphael!"

[last_adam]

"Right. Right."

Adam physically makes himself focus.

"Caspian. Won't he-








oh."

[called_lioness]

Lucy proceeds to bury her face in her hands.

"Oh."

[last_adam]

"Um."

[called_lioness]

"How do you bring this topic up, Adam?"

[last_adam]

"Surprise!?"







"Please let me fix it, Lucy."

[called_lioness]

She should, Lucy knows, as she lifts her head.

She obviously should. And then no one will know. And it can be over.

And she opens her mouth to say, "Yes," and says, "No," instead, staring straight out at the lake.

[last_adam]

And Adam opens his mouth, and then closes it again, and then opens and closes it once more.






. . .

Yeah, he has no idea what to say.

[called_lioness]

"No," she says again, and still doesn't look back at him.

"I won't."

[last_adam]

"Why?"

[called_lioness]

"Because assisted suicide doesn't appeal to me today?" she says lightly.

[last_adam]

"That's not FUNNY."

[called_lioness]

"Who said I was joking?" Lucy asks, looking back at him finally out of the corner of her eye.

[last_adam]

"It's not-

I mean, you weren't-







it's how you ARE. were."

[called_lioness]

"I know." Sharply.

"Do you think I ever get to forget that? I know, Adam. But I'm--I'm not."

[last_adam]

"But that's MY FAULT and-"






He just shakes his head.

[called_lioness]

"I'll forgive you that fault."

[last_adam]

His head goes back into his hands, and he rocks, slightly.

[called_lioness]

"I'm sorry, Adam."

[last_adam]

"I'm-"


He's not even sure what. Sorry? Yes, in some ways. And so very much not in others. He lets out a deep sigh and stands.

"I should..."