"That's true," Kate agrees, smiling that soft, silly smile at Yelena again, helpless against that sweet comment even though she does still have a little bit of the 'is that a challenge' glint in her eye too. "But I can list those while you look, so no worries."
God, the gasps. She's never going to get over the gasps. It pulls a responding wanting noise from her own throat, and no doubt the same want is written all over her face - at least until Yelena is kissing her again and taking it up another notch, too. Then it's her turn to gasp, and lose track entirely of what her expression might be doing. Kate'll sneak replying into the next break for air, because there's no way she's rushing that.
"Not assuming. Informed guess. But feel free to try and prove me wrong."
Oh. Suddenly, that’s a lot more feeling than flirty banter, somehow.
“I can list those.” It’s not such a strange statement, not even an odd sentiment, really, given the context of the conversation but… Yelena feels it catch him her chest at hearing it said so plainly, so easily, like it would just be so simple to point out a hundred little things she finds beautiful in her.
In mirrors, Yelena only sees the darkness in herself. She sees the blood on her hands that will never come clean. But somehow, despite everything she has done, she has this… this silly archer who has worked her way so deep under Yelena’s skin and doesn’t seem intent on leaving her any time soon.
And fuck, that clenches her chest tight, a deep ache around her ribs. She wants to say something, anything just to let her know how deep this all runs but… she can’t find the words. Turns her focus to the physical, because actually it’s much easier than being truly honest in her feelings.
“I don’t think I want to…” she murmurs softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Oh - there's a definitive change in the atmosphere that Kate can't quite put her finger on fully. It doesn't feel exactly sad, but certainly it's serious, and that's visible on Yelena's face, as well.
It distracts her a little, if she's honest, so she isn't entirely certain if she's following about what specifically Yelena is saying she doesn't want to do. Kate tilts her head to lightly press their foreheads together again, aiming for soothing more than excited now with the stroke of her hand on Yelena's back. "Okay, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Are you okay? Did I say something that upset you?"
“What?” a confused frown flickers across her face. “No,” she reaches up to cup her hand against Kate’s cheek. “No, of course, I'm fine.”
She smooths her thumb across the high rise of Kate’s cheek, and she presses a soft kiss to her lips, barely more than a press of her lips against Kate’s, a ghost echo of a kiss. “You didn't do anything wrong. Why would you think that?”
"I just wanted to check, it seemed like your thoughts had gotten more serious and maybe heavy. Which is absolutely okay - I just wanted to check if I had said something that prompted it, which you don't need to explain if I did, but I don't want to make you sad especially when I'm just running my mouth."
Kate slid both hands to Yelena's lower back, lacing her fingers together there. "What were you saying you don't think you want to do? I'm sorry. I was way too distracted by kissing you, I can't even remember half of what I've said in the last ten minutes."
“No, no, no... You didn't do anything, it’s fine, I promise.” her thumb strokes lightly against her cheek again. “Sometimes, um-“ she laughs, a soft huff of noise, “it’s just kind of intense, how much… how much you care.” the smile she gives her is a little watery, but it’s genuine.
“In a good way, I mean,” she clarifies, reaching up to tuck a stand of hair behind Kate’s ear. “But I’m just… not used to it. It can be a little overwhelming sometimes, that’s all.” She shakes her head and rolls her eyes at herself, “It’s stupid, I’m sorry.”
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, I definitely tend towards extra. And you're... I'll save finishing that sentence for some later time, huh?" The smile Kate returns is also genuine, and also tinged with oops-almost-did-it-again. "I can cool it a little - probably. I can try. Practice makes perfect, right?"
"It's not stupid, and you don't have anything to be sorry for. Totally the opposite, thank you for telling me. Please keep telling me if I'm being overwhelming, especially so I can keep it from becoming not in a good way."
“No, don’t do tha-aaat, tell me- what we’re you going to say?” She shakes her head, “no, I don’t want you to stop. I don’t even want you to back off. I like it, it’s just… I don’t know how to explain,” she shakes her head, a frustrated frown creasing her features.
She reaches for Kate’s hand, playing with each individual finger as she tries to explain, “It’s like… you know that second you drop from the top of a hill on a rollercoaster? It’s intense and terrifying and fun all at once… you make me feel like that all the time.”
"Okay, okay. You can like something and not want it all the time, though, that's all I'm saying. You don't need to explain, I won't stop unless you tell me to. Just know I won't be hurt or anything if you DO." For a second there, it feels almost like competing explanations, and somehow it's a very sweet feeling.
"You're incredible. Magnetic. Hella interesting. Made to be worshipped, probably."
Kate smiles, metaphorically melting even more at those words. How is it that she has that effect on Yelena? That doesn't sound like it should even be possible. "Yeah, I know that feeling. You make me feel like that all the time, too."
"Or, you know. Like I'm being tossed off a roof or something." Is that a bad joke? Hopefully that's not a bad joke.
“Okay,” she says, making an exaggerated ‘O’ shape with her mouth when she does.
Whatever she’d expected, somehow those things weren’t it. She knows she is good at the flirting and the banter, but the rest? She’s utterly clueless. So, it’s kind of nice to know maybe she’s not fucking up too much so far.
She snorts a laugh, “Ohmygod, you are terrible,” but she can’t really stop laughing either. So it’s obviously not too bad.
Kate rolls her eyes, affectionately, at that expression, but it's still agreement.
She's not fucking up at all, so far. If Kate knew Yelena were even considering that as an option, she'd have gone on for at least another five minutes coming up with words.
Success. "What?" Kate asks, making the most innocent face she's capable of, "It's a very similar type of feeling, I found out. Or at least it was the first time. I haven't checked to see if it stays that way."
Yelena thinks it’s probably natural, the silly little wiggly-woos of nerves when things in this relationship hit certain, tiny milestones. The self-doubt is… annoying, probably, but… she’s trying, at least. There’s forward progress happening, even if sometimes the steps are super small.
“Maybe you don’t test this theory any time soon, yes?” she chuckles lightly, shaking her head slightly.
Yelena is right - it's pretty spectacular to Kate that she even gets to bear witness to those steps.
"No, you don't think I should? Damn." Kate shakes her head, a very exaggerated serious expression on her face, "I already put up a ad on craigslist for someone to help me find out. You wouldn't believe how many hits 'seeking: throw me off a roof' has gotten."
"Oh, you can find people that'll do anything on the internet. And that is definitely not even in the top hundred thousand weirdest requests on craigslist, believe me." It's too amusing, that matter-of-fact tone and repetition of 'refuse' that implies Yelena thinks Kate isn't full of shit right now. It's very generous of her, if she's pretending to believe this.
“Okay, maybe yes— But why would anyone want to do that… and to a stranger?” Even if it isn’t the weirdest request on Craig’s List, it’s the weirdest thing assaulting Yelena’s brain right now. Kate only has herself to blame for this.
Yeah, Kate usually only has herself to blame when conversations take a turn like this. She doesn't even really feel bad, too entertained by the questions and Yelena's confused expression. It was just too good. "I don't know, people are weird. It does make a really interesting story to tell people afterwards."
"I feel like I should make sure you knew I was completely trolling when I claimed I'd actually put up an online ad for that."
“Were you going to pay them or something? It just seems so random!” Or maybe Yelena just doesn’t understand internet culture to quote the same extent Kate does.
“I knew that,” said with all the bluster of someone who maybe absolutely did not realize that at all.
Edited (My phone really hates were and always makes it we’re 😂 ) Date: 2023-06-28 02:35 am (UTC)
"Aw, baby," Kate grins at her, pretty amused by that bluster, although she manages to hold back any actual chuckles. Yelena's still going to be able to read it all over her face, but she doesn't think she needs to tempt fate by being too obvious about it - although it's not like she thinks Yelena would be anything other than play-irritated. "I promise I fully intend to try and keep it that you're the only one who's ever thrown me off a roof."
"If it were real, yeah, I think I'd pay them something."
“Whaaaat?” She groans and makes a dramatically pouty face at her. She can feel the amusement in the air between them, and wound have to give Kate a bit of credit that she kept herself together quite well. “Maybe not again, though. Not fun.”
The frown on her face says it all, but she lets her mouth do a little more, “You would pay them to be thrown off a roof? Kate, that is insane,” she snorts a laugh.
Okay, the groan breaks her, a little chuckle escapes. The dramatic pout didn't help either, both contributing to the chuckle and making it impossible for Kate not to lean in and steal a kiss. "You're just super adorable, that's all."
It is insane, Yelena's right. This is probably in the running for one of the most bonkers things Kate has ever said, and yet she's gonna stick with it. "I mean, it'd be rude to ask them to do it for nothing, wouldn't it?"
She smiles at that compliment, a small, genuine thing with the tiniest edge of humility to it. She cherishes those things Kate says when she’s looking at her like that. “If you say so,” she says, shaking her head.
“Would it? I mean, if for some reason someone feels so strongly about throwing you from a roof, it sounds like they are already ahead on getting something out of this. Paying them only makes it worse.” Not that any of this even matters, since it’s just something Kate said off the top of her head and decided to stick with.
"I do," Kate nods, very serious, "Since I have working eyes and all, it'd be a lie if I said anything else."
"Maybe they don't feel that strongly about the throwing someone off a roof part of the ad though, maybe they just need any job they can get. What if that's the only way they can buy dinner for their kids that day, if they take the throw-a-rich-girl-off-a-roof gig?"
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. Yelena has no misgivings about how she looks, but it’s just different having it angled this way, directed at her so genuinely rather than using it for her own advantage.
She laughs and shakes her head. “Okay, this is too much,” she waved one hand, dismissive, “new topic.”
"Okay," Kate is absolutely furthering the useless and/or easy stereotypes right now, but she really doesn't want to do anything other than lean into it. Who could ever not eagerly want to keep making Yelena laugh as long as they possibly could? It feels like winning something, each time.
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zvi
no subject
Date: 2023-06-21 06:44 pm (UTC)God, the gasps. She's never going to get over the gasps. It pulls a responding wanting noise from her own throat, and no doubt the same want is written all over her face - at least until Yelena is kissing her again and taking it up another notch, too. Then it's her turn to gasp, and lose track entirely of what her expression might be doing. Kate'll sneak replying into the next break for air, because there's no way she's rushing that.
"Not assuming. Informed guess. But feel free to try and prove me wrong."
no subject
Date: 2023-06-21 09:37 pm (UTC)Suddenly, that’s a lot more feeling than flirty banter, somehow.
“I can list those.”
It’s not such a strange statement, not even an odd sentiment, really, given the context of the conversation but… Yelena feels it catch him her chest at hearing it said so plainly, so easily, like it would just be so simple to point out a hundred little things she finds beautiful in her.
In mirrors, Yelena only sees the darkness in herself. She sees the blood on her hands that will never come clean. But somehow, despite everything she has done, she has this… this silly archer who has worked her way so deep under Yelena’s skin and doesn’t seem intent on leaving her any time soon.
And fuck, that clenches her chest tight, a deep ache around her ribs. She wants to say something, anything just to let her know how deep this all runs but… she can’t find the words. Turns her focus to the physical, because actually it’s much easier than being truly honest in her feelings.
“I don’t think I want to…” she murmurs softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
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Date: 2023-06-22 01:08 am (UTC)It distracts her a little, if she's honest, so she isn't entirely certain if she's following about what specifically Yelena is saying she doesn't want to do. Kate tilts her head to lightly press their foreheads together again, aiming for soothing more than excited now with the stroke of her hand on Yelena's back. "Okay, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Are you okay? Did I say something that upset you?"
no subject
Date: 2023-06-22 01:25 am (UTC)She smooths her thumb across the high rise of Kate’s cheek, and she presses a soft kiss to her lips, barely more than a press of her lips against Kate’s, a ghost echo of a kiss. “You didn't do anything wrong. Why would you think that?”
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Date: 2023-06-22 02:30 am (UTC)Kate slid both hands to Yelena's lower back, lacing her fingers together there. "What were you saying you don't think you want to do? I'm sorry. I was way too distracted by kissing you, I can't even remember half of what I've said in the last ten minutes."
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Date: 2023-06-22 10:22 am (UTC)“In a good way, I mean,” she clarifies, reaching up to tuck a stand of hair behind Kate’s ear. “But I’m just… not used to it. It can be a little overwhelming sometimes, that’s all.” She shakes her head and rolls her eyes at herself, “It’s stupid, I’m sorry.”
no subject
Date: 2023-06-22 01:36 pm (UTC)"It's not stupid, and you don't have anything to be sorry for. Totally the opposite, thank you for telling me. Please keep telling me if I'm being overwhelming, especially so I can keep it from becoming not in a good way."
no subject
Date: 2023-06-22 09:49 pm (UTC)She reaches for Kate’s hand, playing with each individual finger as she tries to explain, “It’s like… you know that second you drop from the top of a hill on a rollercoaster? It’s intense and terrifying and fun all at once… you make me feel like that all the time.”
no subject
Date: 2023-06-22 10:35 pm (UTC)"You're incredible. Magnetic. Hella interesting. Made to be worshipped, probably."
Kate smiles, metaphorically melting even more at those words. How is it that she has that effect on Yelena? That doesn't sound like it should even be possible. "Yeah, I know that feeling. You make me feel like that all the time, too."
"Or, you know. Like I'm being tossed off a roof or something." Is that a bad joke? Hopefully that's not a bad joke.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-22 10:41 pm (UTC)Whatever she’d expected, somehow those things weren’t it. She knows she is good at the flirting and the banter, but the rest? She’s utterly clueless. So, it’s kind of nice to know maybe she’s not fucking up too much so far.
She snorts a laugh, “Ohmygod, you are terrible,” but she can’t really stop laughing either. So it’s obviously not too bad.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-22 11:55 pm (UTC)She's not fucking up at all, so far. If Kate knew Yelena were even considering that as an option, she'd have gone on for at least another five minutes coming up with words.
Success. "What?" Kate asks, making the most innocent face she's capable of, "It's a very similar type of feeling, I found out. Or at least it was the first time. I haven't checked to see if it stays that way."
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Date: 2023-06-25 10:48 pm (UTC)“Maybe you don’t test this theory any time soon, yes?” she chuckles lightly, shaking her head slightly.
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Date: 2023-06-25 11:34 pm (UTC)"No, you don't think I should? Damn." Kate shakes her head, a very exaggerated serious expression on her face, "I already put up a ad on craigslist for someone to help me find out. You wouldn't believe how many hits 'seeking: throw me off a roof' has gotten."
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Date: 2023-06-26 02:14 am (UTC)Anyone who would do so would be subject to dealing with Yelena herself. Most people are smart enough not to want that, hopefully.
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Date: 2023-06-26 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-26 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-06-27 12:59 am (UTC)"I feel like I should make sure you knew I was completely trolling when I claimed I'd actually put up an online ad for that."
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Date: 2023-06-28 02:34 am (UTC)“I knew that,” said with all the bluster of someone who maybe absolutely did not realize that at all.
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Date: 2023-06-28 03:58 am (UTC)"If it were real, yeah, I think I'd pay them something."
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Date: 2023-06-28 04:29 am (UTC)The frown on her face says it all, but she lets her mouth do a little more, “You would pay them to be thrown off a roof? Kate, that is insane,” she snorts a laugh.
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Date: 2023-06-28 02:47 pm (UTC)It is insane, Yelena's right. This is probably in the running for one of the most bonkers things Kate has ever said, and yet she's gonna stick with it. "I mean, it'd be rude to ask them to do it for nothing, wouldn't it?"
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Date: 2023-07-01 11:12 pm (UTC)“Would it? I mean, if for some reason someone feels so strongly about throwing you from a roof, it sounds like they are already ahead on getting something out of this. Paying them only makes it worse.” Not that any of this even matters, since it’s just something Kate said off the top of her head and decided to stick with.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-02 12:15 am (UTC)"Maybe they don't feel that strongly about the throwing someone off a roof part of the ad though, maybe they just need any job they can get. What if that's the only way they can buy dinner for their kids that day, if they take the throw-a-rich-girl-off-a-roof gig?"
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 01:54 am (UTC)She laughs and shakes her head. “Okay, this is too much,” she waved one hand, dismissive, “new topic.”
no subject
Date: 2023-07-13 03:30 am (UTC)"What do you want to talk about?"
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