75 Godiva Street, Monday morning

[vdistinctive]

Eliot didn't sleep nearly as much as Parker and Hardison did, so he was pretty used to being up before they were, getting coffee ready and sorting through his fridge for what to make for breakfast. He'd've been perfectly happy to stay in bed and just stare at his partners and make sure they were still there, but whatever the aliens had been using to sustain them all over the week hadn't really been much more than minimal, and Eliot was pretty sure he wasn't the only one who'd be waking up today starving.

He may have stuck comms on everyone so he could still hear them the whole time, though.

It was weird being in his kitchen without Val sitting at his feet in her eternally frustrated hope for scraps (eternally frustrated from him, anyway, he was pretty sure she still did it because Hardison and Parker were sneaking her things), but Kathy had texted the night before to let him know that her little sister had been taking care of the puppy, and that Kathy was going to keep her in the dorms for one more night. Considering how much time he and the others had spent yesterday in constant physical contact, Eliot could guess why Kathy wanted to keep a nice, warm, happy puppy around for the night, so he didn't insist. He was used to getting shot at and nearly killed, after all, and what had happened in that sim --

Eliot's hand spasmed around his knife and he dropped in to the cutting board and stepped back, leaning his weight into his hands on the counter and just breathing through it as the image of Kathy silhouetted in the doorway ran through his head. He kept his head down a moment longer once the scene finished playing out in his memory, then straightened up, stretched his fingers, and got back to chopping.

He'd have to watch out for that for a little while.

[ooc: for those in the house and the one stopping by -- and anyone else who might decide to drop in and visit. Note: linked thread contains violence and simulated death.]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy had 100% needed Val last night. Flick hadn't been in the room at all and spending a night in a completely empty room would have been unbearable. She probably would have ended up crashing on a common room or hitting up one of her friends with a single, just to have someone else there. But Val was the best of all possible companions--she hadn't complained when Kathy had cried, just given her puppy kisses until her tears dried. She'd also been warm and happy to cuddle, just pleased to be with a familiar person and given all the pets and attention she could handle.

There were times when Kathy really, really wished she could get a pet. A dog or a cat of her very own would be well-appreciated right now.

She'd gone back to her room after classes were over for the day, taken Val for a very long walk, and then eventually made her way over to Eliot's place on Godiva when she couldn't in good conscious draw out returning Val any longer.

Val pulled her around to the back and over to a sliding glass door. Through it, she could see Eliot puttering around the kitchen, looking thoroughly domestic. Smiling a little, she tapped lightly on the glass to get his attention.

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hearing voices in the kitchen, Hardison made sure to put boxers on before padding out of the bedroom. It might be Eliot talking to himself, or Val, or a random vampire who'd crashed in his attic for all he knew. "Hey," he said, coming out to press a kiss to the back of Eliot's neck. "Whatcha makin'?"

[vdistinctive]

Eliot looked up, and his heart rate leaped when he saw Kathy silhouetted in the doorway. Jesus, this kid was going to be the death of him.

He didn't do more than stiffen momentarily as an outward sign -- he was far too used to these sorts of moments -- and headed over to open the door. "Hey." He smiled and gestured for Kathy to come in. Val was already bounding into the kitchen to sniff at absolutely everything. "You doing alright?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Hi," Kathy said, giving him another small smile and following Val in. "I hope you don't mind that I didn't bring her over right away last night. Once I got back to my dorm, I was pretty much done in."

She thought about giving Eliot a bright smile and assuring him she was fine, but she was pretty sure he'd see right through that. So instead she skipped around the question and hoped he wouldn't notice--or that her non-answer was answer enough.

How did you say, I dunno, I died but it's hardly been the first time or Well, it wasn't really real, so I feel stupid for letting it bother me?

#JustFandomQuestions

[vdistinctive]

Mmmm. Eliot could absolutely get used to that kind of morning greeting. He leaned back a little against Hardison's chest. "Hashbrowns, bacon, french toast, maybe some sausages. . . ." Everything, Hardison. He was making everything. "And maybe some fruit to balance it all out."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Yeah, well, what are you and Parker s'posed to eat?" he teased, wrapping his arms around Eliot's waist. He debated tucking Eliot's head under his chin, but decided he didn't want to turn this into an argument quite yet. "I was gonna throw a hissy when I woke up an' saw you'd abandoned the bed, but smellin' all this means you're forgiven."

Also, he'd noticed the comms and smiled, understanding perfectly.

[vdistinctive]

"I figured," Eliot said, crouching down to give the puppy a thorough welcoming rub-down. "Val was probably just as happy with whatever familiar face she could get." And having a puppy around to interrupt what he and the others had gotten up to last night could have been . . . awkward. "You want something to drink? I could get some tea going."

Not whisky. Eliot would not be facilitating that again.

And yeah, he noticed her lack of answer. And was willing to respect her dodge for the moment.

[vdistinctive]

Trying to tuck Eliot's head under his chin would get Hardison grumpily and very gently headbutted. No one wanted that first thing.

"Well, you know. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't make sure everyone kept their strength up?" He held up his hand before Hardison could respond. "Don't get excited. I'm just tryin' it out."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I don't suppose you have any nokcha, do you?" Kathy asked hopefully. Honestly, if anyone on the island had even heard of Korean green tea--besides Dr. Lecter--it would be Eliot. "Ever since I was in the sim with Anders, I've had a craving for Korean food like nobody's business."

And tea would be perfect. Warm and soothing, tea was a balm for the soul in almost every culture.

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Definitely not first thing. But later? Oh hell yeah would be be annoying Eliot with this later. It was how they bonded.

"I didn't say nothin'," Hardison said, though his grin rivaled the sunshine outdoors. "Not a damn thing."

Boooooooooooooooyfriend. Because Eliot looooooooooooved them.

[vdistinctive]

"You know, I might," Eliot said, standing again and going to check the cabinets. "Let me take a look. Grab a seat, would ya? I've just about got some food ready, too."

Welcome to the group of people who Eliot fussed over by feeding, Kathy. It was a small but very important club.

[vdistinctive]

Funny how it took Eliot thinking Hardison and Parker might actually be dead to finally bring it out of him.

"Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts." He picked up one of the bacon strips that had finished cooking -- and cooling enough to not burn his fingers or Hardison's mouth -- and held it up over his shoulder for Hardison. "You ain't exactly known for keepin' your fool mouth shut."

[spin_kick_snap]

And Kathy was quite happy to be in it. Especially since the Zin hadn't taken her insane metabolism into account when setting up her feeding schedule and her clothes were a little looser than they should have been.

"Thanks," she said, sliding into a chair at the table. Val immediately came over and sat by her feet. "Don't even pretend with me," she scolded lightly. "I was the one who fed you this morning."

Because of course she had some of Val's special food left over! Kathy believed in being prepared. "She's been fed and walked and brushed today," she rattled off to Eliot, because there was a big spaceship-shaped elephant in the room she was carefully avoiding. "Don't let her convince you otherwise."

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison leaned forward and snagged it, pulling Eliot's fingers into his mouth in the process. He licked them clean before pulling his mouth away, kissed them gently, and began chewing the bacon. The slice of perfect, exactly the way he liked his bacon.

'I love you' could be said in a hundred different ways without words at all.

"You should be better about keepin' my mouth busy then," he said, voice practically in his chest and rich with promise. "You notice I ain't said much last night."

[vdistinctive]

"Don't worry, I won't." He totally would. Just for today. Eliot was going to be a lot of coddling today. "Thanks for lookin' after her. And make sure you thank your -- little sister? -- too. I didn't think your sister went to school here."

[vdistinctive]

"It's good to know your Nana taught you not to talk with your mouth full," Eliot said with a smirk.

[spin_kick_snap]

"My school-assigned sister, Lottie," Kathy clarified. "Not my actual little sister, Sarah. You'll probably meet her over Parent's Weekend."

If her parents let her come after the debacle that was last year. Kathy hoped so. Of her entire family, she missed Sarah most of all.

"She's actually a freshman this year. I keep wondering if I should convince her to come to school out here. Though I'm not sure if our parents could afford the tuition for both of us." She sighed, following the grain of the wood of the table with a finger. "And do I really want to bring Sarah somewhere she might get kidnapped by aliens?"

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison chuckled. "Here I am, tryna be sexy, an' you go an' bring up my Nana." That was it, Eliot. He was going to rest his chin on your head now. "I assure you, everythin' else I do with my mouth, I learned on my own."

[vdistinctive]

"You know, I didn't tell Hardison or Parker about this place for a really long time, partially for that reason." Well, at first because he was trying to run away from being attracted to them, let's be totally honest. But once he saw what really went down around here, there was a lot of protectiveness involved, too. "And, well. You've seen how that turned out."

[vdistinctive]

Eliot twisted his head out from under Hardison's chin with a grumble. He wasn't that short, dammit. "So she ain't the one who taught you to be a smart ass, then?"

Ah love.

[spin_kick_snap]

"How do you deal with it?" Kathy asked abruptly, looking up at him. "How do you handle them being in danger and maybe watching--watching them get hurt?"

[geniuswithasmartphone]

He was a good five inches shorter than Hardison! "Ain't nobody had to teach me that," he preened. "I was born this hilarious all on my own."

[vdistinctive]

Not well.

"It ain't easy." Eliot brought over with a tea cup and a wooden box of assorted tea bags -- no Korean teas, unfortunately, but a variety of Japanese and some nice French blends. "Though they're usually the ones havin' to watch me do it. Parker gets clingy. Hardison yells." He turned back to the counter, piled a plate with protein and carbohydrates, and put it down in front of Kathy. "I feed people."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy looked down at her plate and then up at him. "Oh," she said softly.

Then, "Are you mad at me?" She couldn't look him in the eye when she asked.

[vdistinctive]

"Well, I suppose you had to have some flaws," Eliot teased. "I picked up some fresh peaches last week. Do me a favor and check to make sure they're still good?"