[England, 1949, before Milliways, for Pevensies only]

[called_lioness]

Coffee.

Lucy needs coffee, because last night was one of Those Nights, and it was a particularly Bad One, at that, and she'd been up til 4. And Edmund's still sleeping, but Lucy needs to be up, because she'd promised someone--who? Oh, hell, she'll figure it out later--that she'd meet them for lunch, and she has French verbs to go over before she can do that, and--

Coffee.

Lucy needs coffee, and that is why she's cursing under her breath, words that most of her family would rather pretend she doesn't know, as she attempts to find some amidst the tea.

Comments

[called_lioness]

She might roll her eyes, but just slightly, as she drops into the seat, resting her chin on her hand. "What would we all do without Peter the Magnificent to rescue us from attack cupboards, after all?" The teasing's faint, and a bit sleepy, as she yawns. "The ride home was good?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Mmmm," he says noncommittally, his attention on the coffee and a pot of water he's boiling for tea.

He pauses for long enough for the question to sound casual to the outside observer, although not nearly long enough for it to pass Lucy's notice.

"Late night?"

[called_lioness]

"...Rather."

It's the things that aren't said, here, that matter, not the ones that are spoken.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter's back tenses ever so slightly.

"Right," he responds shortly. "Poor kid."

It's unclear who he's referring to.

[called_lioness]

"Not a kid, Peter." And it's unclear who she's referring to, too, for that matter, but it applies either way.

And if she sounds tired, it's only partially from the lack of sleep.

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know." He doesn't sound particularly convincing, but he offers coffee (with just a little bit of milk and sugar) and shortbread in atonement.

[called_lioness]

She smiles crookedly. "I know you know. You just don't like it." The smile's genuine, anyway, along with her thanks as she sips the drink.

[highking.livejournal.com]

He sits down next to her with his tea, his smile a tiny bit sad.

"You'd think I'd be used to you growing up. Second time around and all."

[called_lioness]

She rests her head on his shoulder. "Well, it works both ways, really. I don't suppose it was easy even once, anyway, and twice could be that much worse."

[highking.livejournal.com]

He strokes her hair gently. "Something like that, maybe. I'm missing more of it this time around, you know."

[called_lioness]

"A bit," she allows, since saying otherwise wouldn't convince either of them. "Does it matter much that you are?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"I don't know." He sips his tea.

"Depends on how much it matters to you."

[called_lioness]

"You can't be here." Simply. "Not all the time. And I understand that. Doesn't mean I don't miss you, mind." Another yawn before she takes a long drink of her coffee. "But I've already grown up once, and doing it again is different, here, but no harder than it was before. I don't need you to be here." She lifts her head enough to smile at him. "I do like it when you are, though."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"And I like being here," he replies simply. "I suppose Narnia wasn't as idyllic as I like to remember it - I was away on campaigns so often."

He smiles at that. "Last week I actually wrote two whole pages about the giant wars in an essay before I realised I couldn't use it."

[called_lioness]

"You were, yes. But again, you had to be."

She laughs at that. "No, I suppose you couldn't." The coffee's gone, but she doesn't feel that much more awake than she did before she drank it. Drat. One hand rubs at her face as she tries not to yawn again. "I hope your essay turned out well, though?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Well enough." He shrugs, more concerned with Lucy's exhaustion. "Any reason you aren't in bed, Lu?"

[called_lioness]

"Hmm? Oh. Things to do. I've an exam I mean to study for, and I told--oh, drat, I told Susan I'd meet her for lunch, that's who I'm supposed to meet." She doesn't feel like dealing with her sister today, really.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter grimaces but covers it quickly. "Oh, come on, Lucy, you don't need to know the latest fashion news? I thought every well-brought-up young lady cared deeply about the length of sleeves in Paris."

His sarcasm is perhaps worse than his grimace.

[called_lioness]

She just rests her forehead against the edge of the table. Or perhaps thunks it, really. "I can't deal with her after a night of dealing with him. I need at least six hours of sleep before I can cope with Susan without us arguing."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Don't we all," Peter grumbles, but he stands up and heads into the hallway. He can be heard dialing the telephone.

"Susan Pevensie, please... Hello, Su? It's Peter... I'm fine, how are you?... No, I'm at home... Yes... Oh, really?... I'm sure... Well, listen, Su... Mmhmm... Yes... Of course... Listen, Su... Right... Right... Okay, listen, Susan, Lucy isn't feeling well... No, she'll be fine, just a little under the weather... Of course... Right, I'll tell her... Can you come around for dinner tomorrow night?... Right... Okay... Well, see you later... Mmhmm... Okay, bye... Yes, Su... Love you too... Bye, Susan."

He comes back into the kitchen and winks at Lucy.

[called_lioness]

Lucy does not wink back. She crosses her arms and looks at him.

Or, perhaps, Looks.

"I could have done that on my own, you know, Peter." And then her face softens. "But thank you."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"You could have," he agrees amiably. "But first you would have agonised over what you should do, and if you even managed to decide before it was too late to cancel anyway, there's a good chance you would've felt too guilty once you had her on the phone to actually go through with it anyway."

He grins. "What's this exam you're studying for, then?"

[called_lioness]

"I would not have." She would have just...not called at all. Damn.

"Oh, something in French." And Lucy detests French. "Ed was going to go over it with me, but..." Shrugs, then, "I don't really need him to, anyway. I just hate doing it at all."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"If it were History, or Physics, or possibly Rugby... but you know I'm useless at languages. Sorry, Lu."

He looks up, in the direction of Edmund's bedroom. "How long has he been in bed? We could get the blighter up, pour some coffee down his throat. It would be good for him."

[called_lioness]

"Ah, yes. My feared rugby final. I'll consult you before that one." Though really, girl's field hockey is probably worse, though she doubts Peter would ever believe that.

"What time is it, nine?" She glances at the clock. "He's only been asleep about five hours." The slightest pause. "It was...a very bad night."