(no subject)

[last_adam]

Maybe it's that Adam's not used to it. Maybe it's just that he's getting to old for this shit.

Either way, after his confrontation with the weird guy, he's retreated to their rooms in the bar. Grace ensconced happily in a playpen, Adam's on the bed with a wet cloth over his face.

Comments

[the_lioness]

Time passes, as it is wont to do, and his wife arrives for a security shift. They aren't in the main bar, and she decides to check the room before going outside; it's cold. She moves quietly through the flat, but Grace ruins it with her coo of greeting.

Alanna sighs.

"I thought we discussed stealth when you were in the womb."

[last_adam]

Grace giggles, and reaches her arms up for her mother.

Adam, on the other hand, rolls to his side, and his arms go out into the air.

"Is that you? I can't seeeeeeee, I'm bliiiiiiiiiiiind."

[the_lioness]

With a snort, she bends to pick up Grace and moves to the end of the bed, looking down at Adam.

"Pity. I wore a dress today and everything."

Lies.

[last_adam]

Adam would look, but much as he jokes, his head is still killing him.

"Oh? What colour?"

[the_lioness]

Hmph. That was supposed to make him look. She must be losing her touch.

"Vaguely... dirt colored? Okay, so I'm not wearing a dress. But I look quite cute in dirt!"

And really, it's just her boots and pants that are dusty with road dirt. She sits down on the edge of the bed, Grace in her lap, and attempts to kick off her boots.

[last_adam]

The bed dips only slightly when she sits on it, and he reaches out, running his hand along her thigh.

"Are the boys driving Myles mad yet?"

[the_lioness]

"He says not, but even his patience will crack someday," she answers, sounding a bit bemused. It's still hard to believe he's so willing to do all he does for them. "Grace looks content."

She looks sleepy. Smiling fondly, Alanna shifts her daughter into a more comfortable position and turns so she can better see Adam.

"You don't."

[last_adam]

"My head's absolutely aching."

The cloth (though now dry) attests to that fact, as it remains resolutely over his eyes.



"Grace has been fantastic, though."

[the_lioness]

"I taught her well," Alanna jokes, but there's concern in her voice. Setting the baby between them, she gently touches Adam's temple. "Want me to help?"

She knows he can, but maybe it's different if she does it.

[last_adam]

Adam nods, but then just reaches out for her hand.


"Lay with me a moment? Until you have to work."

[the_lioness]

"Of course."

Careful of Grace, Alanna settles herself on her side, one hand in her red hair and the other gently tracing lines of purple light along his forehead.

"Is it your powers?"

[last_adam]

Grace manages to flop not at ALL gracefully on her father's stomach, and he reaches an arm up to steady her, while reaching out for Alanna with the other one.


"That's all I can figure. With the last one, as well."

Though the last one wasn't nearly so bad.

[the_lioness]

She does what she can and then drops her head to bed, watching him.

"The boy... You met someone," she concludes.

[last_adam]

Adam nods, and then thinks better of it, and just leans into her hand.

"Grace spat on him. And he impugned your beauty."


Okay, it wasn't quite her beauty. But close enough.

[the_lioness]

"Beauty?"

It's skeptical.

"Good girl, Grace," she croons. "Perhaps you should start at the beginning."

[last_adam]

"Well, he was drunk, he was new, and he was more than interested in the brothel rates."

Adam coughs a little, and relaxes into her.

"I didn't get his name."


pause

"Oh, and he's got a room for a night on our dime."

And that's all that happened. Really.

[the_lioness]

"I see."

Frowning, she rolls closer.

"How did you get from the brothel to me? Or was it the other way around?"

She bites her lip to keep from asking if he knew the answer to that question.

[last_adam]

"He asked if the rates were reasonable. I told him that I didn't have any reason to know that."

The headache's gone enough now that he pulls the cloth from his eyes, and he looks over at her and runs a thumb along her cheek.

"I think he assumed that children mean an unexciting sex life."

Almost an afterthough, Adam covers Grace's ears with his hands when he says this last.

[the_lioness]

Grace gives him a level look and yawns, turning her head.

Alanna, awfully glad she didn't ask, snorts derisively.

"Then he's a fool." She gives him a knowing smile, nipping delicately at his thumb when it comes near her mouth. "I mean, you practically have to be more inventive by definition!"

[last_adam]

Adam laughs, and leans forward to kiss her, exhaling his stress as he does.

His hands FIRMLY cupped around Grace's ears, "I don't need to be inventive; you give me everything I need."

Another kiss, and he brings the little girl up to be held between them.


"I just need to get used to being back here again."

[the_lioness]

Alanna isn't nearly so concerned about Grace's powers of retention.

"Well. Inventive as to where and when, perhaps."

Her wicked smile settles into easy contentment, and she nods.

"Is it more difficult with some people than others?"

[last_adam]

"I don't know. It's... when you're not here..."

But just because x->y, that doesn't necessarily mean that y->x.

"Or the new people... or... I don't know."

[the_lioness]

"I help?"

She sounds quietly pleased that she might. It's been so long that she's almost forgotten how it works: the headaches and other... problems.

[last_adam]

His voice is quiet, grainy. "Of course you help. It's just been a long time."


That's all. He hopes.

[the_lioness]

"I know," she whispers, trying to reassure him. "I can only imagine it would be easier around people you know. You've built trust, or at least dealt with any surprises. New people, here-"

Alanna smiles wryly, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

"We both know far too much to be well at ease around them. So maybe that makes it harder for you."

Another touch to his forehead.

[last_adam]

"Maybe. yeah."

He swallows, and lets her take care of him. It's what they both need. He leans into her hand, giving it a light kiss.

"you ought to get to work. No good, being late."

[the_lioness]

"Listen to him, lass."

She smiles at Grace, wondering if Adam realizes she's drooling all over his shirt.

"I'm barely here a quarter hour and already he's trying to get rid of me." But it's not serious, and she leans over for a soft kiss. "It's an adjustment, Adam, but it will get easier. And you can always go home."

[last_adam]

Adam nods, and there's a slight laugh. The drool hasn't gotten old yet.

"I think I can last through your shift. And this way, you'll know where to find us."

He runs a hand over Grace's head. "Maybe we'll just camp out in a corner and watch you."

[the_lioness]

"Oh?"

Alanna extricates herself and rolls to a sitting position, making a face at her dirty boots.

"I rather like that idea." A grin, and she pulls the first boot over her calf. "I could step in if anyone gave you a hard time, watch Grace spit up on people..."

[last_adam]

"Sounds like a deal to me."

He leans forward to give her a kiss, and gathers Grace up in his arms.

"Shall we?"

[the_lioness]

Alanna looks around the flat, at all the random and modern things they'd left behind, and pushes her hair into a loose, messy knot. Adam and Grace get another smile before she follows them out, but...

There's worry on her face when she locks the door.