The roof, Friday morning

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia went straight from her room to the roof, slamming every door she went through on the way and finally storming to a stop in the center.

She took a deep breath and screamed her frustration out across the town.

She stood there, chest heaving, arm, head, and foot aching, and slowly started to reign in her temper.

She sank down until she was sitting and put her arms over her head.

"I can take care of myself."

[ooc: roof is open for those willing to risk the damp, cool day.]

Comments

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

After cleaning up in the common room, Walter knew where to go. He just took his time getting there to give her some time to cool off.

Once he was on the roof, he made a point of not being quiet as he came closer and lit a cigarette.

"Is company okay?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia nodded into her arms without lifting her head. "Sorry."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Walter gauged the wind to choose Nadia's downwind side and lowered himself to the roof surface with a suppressed groan. Magic or not, you don't get shot on Sunday and be dancing on Friday.

"It's okay."

Cautiously, he started to rub her back.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia didn't move from her curled up position. She was afraid if she did she'd try to hit something again or start crying. "I spent five years on my own before coming here. I can take care of myself."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"I keep telling people that." And yes, Walter was aware of the fact that he'd spent no small amount of time either taking care of her or trying to take care of her when it wasn't always welcome.

[nadiathesaint]

"He just made me so mad."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

To be fair, you made him mad, too."

[nadiathesaint]

She hugged her head harder. "Why can't he just leave me alone?"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"Because he cares about you?" He stubbed out his cigarette and scooted a little closer to just rest his arm around her back.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia slammed her right fist against the ground. "Then why does he have to keep reminding me when I just want to get past it? I'm not an idiot!" She took a deep breath. "I know I'm injured and I know I can't do everything I want to do. Why can't he trust me?"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Maybe because you're sitting with the guy who's responsible for that? Walter didn't like that answer at all.

"That's probably a good question to ask him."

[nadiathesaint]

"Can't." Nadia sat up a bit and tucked both arms up against her chest. "If I look at him right now I'm going to hit him."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"I'd do it for you for that trick with the crepes." Because taking care of yourself was what other people were supposed to do.

Would hitting Pip count as an adventure?

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia tensed. "Don't." She didn't want to think about Walter hitting people. "I'll talk to him. Just . . . not yet."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"Okay." He tried to smooth the tension out of her back with his hand. "Take some time to cool off. We can talk about better things. Like the fact that there's supposed to be sun tomorrow."

[nadiathesaint]

As Nadia relaxed a bit, the various aches started making themselves more known and she leaned into him. "I hope so. I'm tired of it raining."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"So am I." She was starting to relax a little, so Walter kept up what he was doing. Don't argue with progress. "We can't picnic in the rain. At least not easily."

[nadiathesaint]

"That's right. We'd have to set up a tent." Nadia didn't know about Walter, but she was not up to setting up anything anywhere right now. "That wouldn't be any fun."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"No tents. No work. No adventures. Just a nice day on the roof with food and sun and you."

Nah, that wasn't goofy or schmoopy or anything of the sort.

[nadiathesaint]

See? They were being smart and they were being careful. No adventures.

Why couldn't anyone else see that?

"Sounds perfect."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"I think so, too. Tomorrow, then?" He was just a little nervous about using the word "date" and cursing something screwing things up.

[nadiathesaint]

"Tomorrow." Nadia nodded. "Maybe for lunch? so the mun isn't playing out two picnic dates at once?"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"Lunch sounds brilliant." Sleep late, go to sleep early. How could people complain about that?

"I have to go down to the clinic to see the doctor and I'm supposed to see Alfred. I'll see about picking up a picnic from him." See, not even cooking.

[nadiathesaint]

"Good idea. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you. And I bet the doctor will be surprised by how much better you're doing."

No, she wasn't jealous of that. Not even a little. She was just happy for him. Really.

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"We could ask Demyx to help you. So you can do things without people babying you. I know you hate it."