Yeah, I've passed it a few times. Heading over now.
[ It feels... distant. Very neutral? Something. He's not sure, but maybe she's just done with his ass. Maybe his stupidly long message was the final straw, and... now he's getting ahead of himself again.
He isn't going to make up any more stories in his head. He just drives over there- Jeep this time, not his bike, parking nearby and walks the rest of the way to the park, keeping an eye out for Kate. ]
[ she gets there first, of course. it was only a quick ten minute walk, even at a leisurely pace, though that evening kate had taken it on a run and thus got there with plenty of time to spare. parks at night used to be a bad thing for kate — a terrible, terrifying thing — but she's long since trained herself not to be so afraid anymore. to the point she even seeks them out in quiet nights like these. sometimes to think. sometimes to hunt for monsters who may be looking to ruin another young teen's life.
dick will find her by the entrance, perched on one of the squeaky metal spring riders meant for people way way smaller than her. she stands the moment she sees him approach though, and actually meets him halfway, walking briskly until she's right in front of him. no greetings, no uncertainty — as soon as he's close enough, she's wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him in close for a tight hug she feels like the both of them have been needing for a while now. ]
[ Dick's heart feels like it's going to jump out of his chest when he sees her, and he hates that it's not just because he wants to see her, but also because he's anxious about this whole thing.
He's driven away a lot of people he's cared about. He doesn't want that to happen here too.
He doesn't expect her to come up to him the way she does and hug him, but the relief that floods his body is palpable in the way he hugs her back, arms moving tight around her as he drops his head down against her neck. She's right, they've been needing this for a long while. ]
[ that's why it lasts as long as it does. why the seconds tick by but all she does is stand there, holding him tight and soaking in the mutual warmth and relief that's emanating between them. she smells pretty strongly of vinegar still, which is unfortunate, but she's forgotten it for the moment in favor of focusing on this, on them. ]
It felt like all I could do or say was the wrong thing.
[ when she finally speaks, her voice is quiet but clear. he'd be able to hear her even though she's turned her face in towards his, breathing in the scent of his hair. ]
[He can feel her relief as well, and he knows he made the right decision to message her, to come here. Just letting it go would have been terrible for both of them.
And yeah, she does smell like vinegar but it doesn't matter. She still feels exactly like Kate.]
I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. I'm sorry I've been so defensive. I don't like that about myself. I'm working on it.
I don't want to fuck this up between us, Kate. I want to fix it too. Whatever I can do.
[ she wishes she could see his face right now, but at the same time she doesn't want to loosen her hold on him just yet. she slips one hand up to cradle the back of his head, curling around short tufts of hair. ]
This is a good start. Just — talk to me, okay? If something's wrong, if you're not feeling good, just tell me.
[ He doesn't want to loosen his hold on her either. He just wants to hold her, and believe that everything will be okay. It's never that simple and he knows it, but it doesn't have to be so complicated. ]
I'm working on the whole talking thing too. That's why I'm here, I just want to be able to talk to you.
[ He gives her a small smile as she gestures to the spring riders, and makes his way over there, sitting down on one of them. This does make things a little easier. ]
Good office. Really nice view.
[ Is there something he wants to talk about, though? He's not even really sure. ]
I don't know what to talk about. I just wanted to apologize for things feeling so off lately. Guess that's why I'm still working on it, because I don't really know how to do it all that well.
[ as he sits himself down, kate makes herself comfortable (as comfortable as an adult body can be on one of these things, anyway) on the other. they’re only about a foot and a half apart, if at all, which means they’re close enough they can keep their voices low. they seem to be the only two people in this part of the park, this late at night, but the quiet voices help keep the intimacy of the moment more intact.
she leans back as he speaks, then winces as the loud, obnoxious groaning sound of the springs ring out. she resolves to stay still after that. ]
That’s okay. Sometimes talking is really more just… being together, I guess. Being open to it. If there’s nothing on your mind but that, then I’m glad. That means you aren’t stressed out over other things.
[ This isn't generally Dick's style of coming together and working things out, but maybe that's a good thing. His general style left a lot to be desired, and Kate deserves better than that.
He gives her a small, crooked smile. ]
There's plenty on my mind, but I want this to be about us. I guess I've just been a lot more stressed out lately. But that's not an excuse. I shouldn't be getting bitchy with you because of that.
[ He pauses as well, but then he goes on, tapping into some of the things he's been thinking about lately. ]
And then there's this stuff in my past. The way I've been with people, with relationships. That whole conversation we had about the barista, and then my number in that woman's phone. I've been careless about things like that in the past, but I don't want you to think I'm dragging it into what we have here now.
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[ It feels... distant. Very neutral? Something. He's not sure, but maybe she's just done with his ass. Maybe his stupidly long message was the final straw, and... now he's getting ahead of himself again.
He isn't going to make up any more stories in his head. He just drives over there- Jeep this time, not his bike, parking nearby and walks the rest of the way to the park, keeping an eye out for Kate. ]
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dick will find her by the entrance, perched on one of the squeaky metal spring riders meant for people way way smaller than her. she stands the moment she sees him approach though, and actually meets him halfway, walking briskly until she's right in front of him. no greetings, no uncertainty — as soon as he's close enough, she's wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him in close for a tight hug she feels like the both of them have been needing for a while now. ]
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He's driven away a lot of people he's cared about. He doesn't want that to happen here too.
He doesn't expect her to come up to him the way she does and hug him, but the relief that floods his body is palpable in the way he hugs her back, arms moving tight around her as he drops his head down against her neck. She's right, they've been needing this for a long while. ]
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It felt like all I could do or say was the wrong thing.
[ when she finally speaks, her voice is quiet but clear. he'd be able to hear her even though she's turned her face in towards his, breathing in the scent of his hair. ]
I wasn't sure how to fix it.
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And yeah, she does smell like vinegar but it doesn't matter. She still feels exactly like Kate.]
I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. I'm sorry I've been so defensive. I don't like that about myself. I'm working on it.
I don't want to fuck this up between us, Kate. I want to fix it too. Whatever I can do.
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This is a good start. Just — talk to me, okay? If something's wrong, if you're not feeling good, just tell me.
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I'm working on the whole talking thing too. That's why I'm here, I just want to be able to talk to you.
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Yeah? Is there something you want to talk about in particular?
[ finally, she does draw away, but only so she can gesture towards the pair of spring riders beside them. ]
You can step into my office.
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Good office. Really nice view.
[ Is there something he wants to talk about, though? He's not even really sure. ]
I don't know what to talk about. I just wanted to apologize for things feeling so off lately. Guess that's why I'm still working on it, because I don't really know how to do it all that well.
cool never got this notif 😔 so sorry
she leans back as he speaks, then winces as the loud, obnoxious groaning sound of the springs ring out. she resolves to stay still after that. ]
That’s okay. Sometimes talking is really more just… being together, I guess. Being open to it. If there’s nothing on your mind but that, then I’m glad. That means you aren’t stressed out over other things.
[ a pause. ]
Besides the usual, I guess.
it's all good! <3
He gives her a small, crooked smile. ]
There's plenty on my mind, but I want this to be about us. I guess I've just been a lot more stressed out lately. But that's not an excuse. I shouldn't be getting bitchy with you because of that.
[ He pauses as well, but then he goes on, tapping into some of the things he's been thinking about lately. ]
And then there's this stuff in my past. The way I've been with people, with relationships. That whole conversation we had about the barista, and then my number in that woman's phone. I've been careless about things like that in the past, but I don't want you to think I'm dragging it into what we have here now.