Yeah he really just goes with the easiest route. It looks great, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I wanna style his hair. And I would be glad to teach you. At least your hair is short, it makes it a little easier.
[Ah.. her face closes off a little and she takes a moment to think of how to respond. There was a reason she's reading in the bedroom instead of out in the livingroom with Marc.. Things were still tense, still difficult.]
I'm still figuring out how to be around him after the fuck lightning thing, it really threw a wrench into our relationship.
[She figures Steven knows.]
Maybe sometime in the future.
[She tries to give him a smile but there's something really sad in it.]
[He is aware they've been going through some marital problems lately but Steven has been trying to stay out of it ever since that first blow-up that left Marc a mess at home and Layla running off to be alone. Not because he doesn't want to help but it seems to be beyond his place, and all he can do is make sure they're both okay separately.
That being said, reading "fuck lightning" confuses the hell out of him and his face shows it, twisting into a perplexed look.]
What fuck lightning thing??
[Her expression is so sad and yet he has no idea what she's talking about.]
[Layla reads the text and for a second she thinks he's covering for Marc, but... he takes being honest with her seriously, so she ends up saying:] Oh shit...
[She is quickly texting him back though, a slight look of panic on her face.]
Shit, you really don't know. Let's just say Marc got struck by it and one thing led to another and now we're having problems.
[He blinks innocently at her text, thinking back to the time months ago he'd been struck by lightning (though thankfully Thirteen didn't curse him with the "fucking" variety for whatever reason), and there had been that one evening when Marc came home around 3:00 am all distressed and vague about his own experiences, and Steven had just brushed it aside with the relief that the man was okay, but now...]
Bollocks. [He facepalms where he's sitting on his bed, in disbelief he didn't put two and two together previously. He'd just been so happy that Marc was okay after all the other trials they'd endured, and after his own bout of intense need for affection. In retrospect, it makes sense now, especially with how the man had lamented over missing Layla.
God, his face is almost instantly red again.]
I knew something had happened during that trial but I didn't know it was... that.
[Despite the redness, he looks up at Layla with empathy again, before typing out quickly:] That's what's caused all this awkward tension lately?
[Oh good, she doesn't need to spell it out further. She really didn't want to say it any clearer than she had, it's awkward enough telling him this much. Part of her feels bad for telling him at all, clearly Marc meant for it to be a secret, but she hadn't realized that Steven wasn't told. With how they share emotions, she just figured he knew or put two and two together.
Seems not. Especially when he swears.
She gives him a something like a smile that can only be described as trying, but there's a lot of hurt she's still battling.]
Yeah.
I don't blame him, I understand it was outside his control, but.. it still... still makes it hard to be around him right now.
[He can't blame Layla for being upset. Even if it wasn't willfully done by Marc it must be hard knowing your partner was with someone else... at least, that's what Steven is assuming happened. He doesn't really want to ask for details.]
I'm sorry. I had no idea...
I assumed he'd been forced to cuddle Captain America or something like I did. Well, I held his hand for an absurdly long time, but close enough.
It's alright, don't worry about me. I just wish I could do more to help. I know you'll both be fine in the end.
[But seeing her so upset... he can't just sit here and watch. It goes against every instinct in his body! So without giving it another thought he closes his relic and instead gets up to cross the hallway into Marc's room, sitting on the bed beside Layla to pull her into a hug.]
Maybe a distraction and then I can tell him once I'm back, yeah? [Whispered quietly now, still hugging her as he talks.] That way, he can get all suspicious after the fact without potentially stalking me.
[Layla should have guessed that Steven couldn't see her cry and not come over here, makes her quietly give a teary laugh as she hugs him back, resting her head against his shoulder as she tries to compose herself. How she was going about this problem wasn't the best, she knows she should try to figure it out, try to talk to someone about it, but she's just been trying to ignore it and make it go away.
Instead it feels like it's just boiling up inside her. Enough to make her tear up at the mere mention it it.]
Yeah, that's a good plan. [She says it back just as quietly, because Marc will absolutely stalk Steven's date if given the chance.] I'll be on distraction duty then, give you a chance to have a nice time without a cat following you around.
[Even without the Legend instincts, he isn't the type to sit around while someone he cares for is hurting. At least he knows he's a great hugger, if anything, and he rubs along her back as they speak quietly like they're sharing some big secret.]
Thank you. Can never be too careful these days when he can just slip around all sneaky and whatnot. [A quiet chuckle.] Though it's nice knowing you both have my back.
We both care a lot about you. [Marc especially, since Steven is so important to the man in a way that no one, not even she, can truly understand.] And you know how protective he is. Too protective sometimes.
[She says it with a watery laugh, something quiet and intimate between them at the moment.
Leaning into the hug for a long moment, she finally pulls back a little, but not all the way, wiping at her eyes a little, but her smile is more genuine again.]
Here, why don't I help you pick out your outfit, hm?
Yeah, it's nice to know, but there have been times where it drives me up a wall. [Like the divorce papers... UNSIGNED ONES. She will never get over that, Marc, you will never live it down.
There is a noise for a second from the living room that makes her pause. Then the next episode queues up and she relaxes.]
Oh it probably is, we will go shopping for something I'm sure. [Not just because she enjoys shopping sometimes but because while she wants to keep him in a style that suits him... well, she has seen the kind of shirts he wears.]
Ouch, but also probably deserved. [He chuckles and then is standing to lead the way back to his room, happy to have his collection of weird shirts totally roasted. They make him happy but that doesn't mean they are date appropriate!]
I'm not sure I can live up to how snazzy I looked at the gala though. We um- [Nervous smile, hands tugging a bit at his sleeves.] We danced too, after you left.
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I wouldn't trust anyone else more with my hair
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Your curls will be immaculate.
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I'm glad you're here. I couldn't talk about these things so easily with Marc.
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What don't want to get b-movie romance advice?
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God... I'm so sorry. I can only imagine the kinds of dates he's taken you on.
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Dates? What dates? Man wouldn't know what a date was if it bit him on the nose.
[She laughs, obviously it was said in good humor.]
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He looks up to her with a sympathetic, disappointed face.]
Maybe you can suggest going out on Friday too.
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I'm still figuring out how to be around him after the fuck lightning thing, it really threw a wrench into our relationship.
[She figures Steven knows.]
Maybe sometime in the future.
[She tries to give him a smile but there's something really sad in it.]
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That being said, reading "fuck lightning" confuses the hell out of him and his face shows it, twisting into a perplexed look.]
What fuck lightning thing??
[Her expression is so sad and yet he has no idea what she's talking about.]
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[She is quickly texting him back though, a slight look of panic on her face.]
Shit, you really don't know. Let's just say Marc got struck by it and one thing led to another and now we're having problems.
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Bollocks. [He facepalms where he's sitting on his bed, in disbelief he didn't put two and two together previously. He'd just been so happy that Marc was okay after all the other trials they'd endured, and after his own bout of intense need for affection. In retrospect, it makes sense now, especially with how the man had lamented over missing Layla.
God, his face is almost instantly red again.]
I knew something had happened during that trial but I didn't know it was... that.
[Despite the redness, he looks up at Layla with empathy again, before typing out quickly:] That's what's caused all this awkward tension lately?
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Seems not. Especially when he swears.
She gives him a something like a smile that can only be described as trying, but there's a lot of hurt she's still battling.]
Yeah.
I don't blame him, I understand it was outside his control, but.. it still... still makes it hard to be around him right now.
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I'm sorry. I had no idea...
I assumed he'd been forced to cuddle Captain America or something like I did.
Well, I held his hand for an absurdly long time, but close enough.
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Yeah he mentioned that happened to you. I'm glad it didn't get you as badly as it got him at least.
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You know Marc loves you dearly. He would have never done that willfully, and never to hurt you.
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And.. I do know that, thank you. I don't doubt his loyalty, it's just.. We'll be fine, we just need time.
I'm sorry our problems affect you, being around us while things are so.. tense.
[She feels stupid as she wipes away a tear and forces herself to smile.]
Enough about that though, I'll handle Marc on Friday. Are you going to tell him or should I just try to distract him?
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[But seeing her so upset... he can't just sit here and watch. It goes against every instinct in his body! So without giving it another thought he closes his relic and instead gets up to cross the hallway into Marc's room, sitting on the bed beside Layla to pull her into a hug.]
Maybe a distraction and then I can tell him once I'm back, yeah? [Whispered quietly now, still hugging her as he talks.] That way, he can get all suspicious after the fact without potentially stalking me.
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Instead it feels like it's just boiling up inside her. Enough to make her tear up at the mere mention it it.]
Yeah, that's a good plan. [She says it back just as quietly, because Marc will absolutely stalk Steven's date if given the chance.] I'll be on distraction duty then, give you a chance to have a nice time without a cat following you around.
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Thank you. Can never be too careful these days when he can just slip around all sneaky and whatnot. [A quiet chuckle.] Though it's nice knowing you both have my back.
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[She says it with a watery laugh, something quiet and intimate between them at the moment.
Leaning into the hug for a long moment, she finally pulls back a little, but not all the way, wiping at her eyes a little, but her smile is more genuine again.]
Here, why don't I help you pick out your outfit, hm?
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[Just don't tell Marc that. They've definitely come a long way.
Steven returns her smile with a warm one of his own, and then he's letting out an audible breath and nodding in agreement.]
Alright, alright. If it's utterly hopeless in my closet I am open to an impromptu shopping trip, for the record.
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There is a noise for a second from the living room that makes her pause. Then the next episode queues up and she relaxes.]
Oh it probably is, we will go shopping for something I'm sure. [Not just because she enjoys shopping sometimes but because while she wants to keep him in a style that suits him... well, she has seen the kind of shirts he wears.]
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Ouch, but also probably deserved. [He chuckles and then is standing to lead the way back to his room, happy to have his collection of weird shirts totally roasted. They make him happy but that doesn't mean they are date appropriate!]
I'm not sure I can live up to how snazzy I looked at the gala though. We um- [Nervous smile, hands tugging a bit at his sleeves.] We danced too, after you left.
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