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[alsohawkeye]

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KATE BISHOP

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[alsohawkeye]

If my head keeps feeling better maybe I'll tell you Treasure Island. If you stop being a jerk and agree the tree house is our thing.

[axeyou]

I built it. I get to decide who goes in it.

[But, after a beat:]

What's Treasure Island about.

[alsohawkeye]

I helped! [ Sort of. A little. ] And it was my idea.

It's about a bunch of people racing to find a lost pirate treasure.

[axeyou]

Yeah, you're right. You invented treehouses.

[She heaves a sigh, unimpressed with both Kate and that teaser of a summary.]

And?

[alsohawkeye]

I did. I was a member of the Swiss family Robinson and I designed the first ever treehouse. You should be paying me royalties every time you use it.

[ Try being unimpressed now. ]

And there are a bunch of pirates and lots of backstabbing and fighting and some alien and animal sidekicks and cannibals and more tigers, obviously.

[axeyou]

Don't hold your breath.

[Or do, and then die. She doesn't even know what royalties are--not that she's going to admit it. Royal, Kate being entitled to something that has nothing to do with her, blah blah; she gets the jist.

But, then again...]

Have you even seen the treehouse?

[alsohawkeye]

No.

[ And she's clearly disappointed about that. ]

Somebody hasn't invited me, so I didn't even know you'd actually finished it.

[axeyou]

You didn't ask.

[And it's not like they're going anywhere now. Idly, she coils a strand of Kate's hair around her finger again, and slowly lets it go.]

There was one good tree in the Gardens at least. Thank god. Looking got really depressing.

[alsohawkeye]

Good.

[ Kate's loose grip in Johanna's sweatshirt kneads and releases but doesn't really pull her closer, palm just carded across her back. ]

Let's go see it. Tomorrow. I bet it's awesome.

[axeyou]

[She laughs--a laugh that's far more real than any of the ones previous.]

Tomorrow. Wow, you really want to tell me that stupid story, huh.

[alsohawkeye]

[ She gets a shoulder nudged into her side for her trouble. ]

No, I really want to see the stupid tree house. And not be stuck here in the dark feeling like shit.

[axeyou]

[She tries to twist away without trying too hard to twist away, since excessive movement makes her brain feel like it's coming unstuck.]

Really, because I don't want to go anywhere. I didn't come all this way to climb out of your stupid bed and go down to the Gardens.

[alsohawkeye]

That's why I said tomorrow. When we feel better.

[ Which they totally will. By then. Whenever then is. ]

Hopefully.

[axeyou]

[time is just a construct Kate]

If I want to go tomorrow. Which I might not. If we feel better.

[alsohawkeye]

If we feel better.

[ Time is not a flat circle but Kate makes this concession easily anyway. She even rubs idly up and down her back again, idle but sort of soothing. ]

Right now we're not going anywhere except hopefully to sleep. I am so tired.

[axeyou]

You can sleep like this?

[Actually--]

Never mind. I'm not impressed or surprised. Just stop talking and go to sleep if you want to so bad.

[alsohawkeye]

I haven't yet but I'm going to try.

[ Kate likes to keep the temperature in her room down, especially when she's trying to sleep, but not so much that her hands are chilly when they slip under Johanna's sweatshirt, settling cool palms along her spine. It's an idle sort of intimacy, even innocent, just part of Kate arranging them to her own comfort. ]

You should, too.

[axeyou]

[The touch of Kate's hands makes Johanna shiver in a completely different way. Small, probably noticeable, because they're pressed quite close together. Even through the thick layer of pain and settling comfort, she likes the feeling of Kate's hands. On other days, she's more successful at pretending that she doesn't give a damn, like she's unmovable. Today, that would be asking too much.]

Wow. Good suggestion.

[...But she's not so out of it or overwhelmed that she's going to miss out on the chance for sarcasm.]

I'll try it. Make sure you tell me when you come up with your next idea, okay?

[alsohawkeye]

Here's an idea, how about you fuck off. Or at least shut up.

[ Kate grumbles, but her hands are still gentle, skimming across muscle and bone, keeping Johanna close. She bumps her forehead against sternum in a tiny little headbutt and then settles again with another yawn. ]

[axeyou]

[There's something extra comforting about Kate bitching at her, but also rubbing her back and leaning in against her--something about affection and negativity all tied up together. It's kind of fucked up, but Johanna likes it, so. Who cares.]

Please. I'm trying to sleep, Katie. Stop trying to distract me.

[alsohawkeye]

[ Kate snorts. There is something nice about it, not always but definitely now. It's familiar, an easy rhythm to drop back into, and somehow the negativity itself is affectionate, too. ]

You're the worst.

[axeyou]

Shut up.

[Maybe it's delirium, maybe a weird premature spill of feelings--whatever it is, Johanna kisses the top of Kate's head. I'll tell you what it's not, though: it's not affectionate. This is a kiss so she shuts up.

(Maybe a tiny bit affectionate.)]

[alsohawkeye]

[ Kate shuts up. Positive reinforcement! ]