The gym, Friday morning

[can_be_more]

Aeryn's in the gym even earlier than usual today, due to the fact that it was the second night in a row she hasn't really slept, and there comes a point when trying to sleep becomes annoying. It's also the second week in a row she's down here beating the hell out of the punching bag.

[For tatooine_doofus, but open. Aeryn herself is not huge on talking, though.]

Comments

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke came into the gym a few moments later, carefully avoiding Rory's eyes as he walked over to Aeryn. "Hey," he said quietly.

Definitely not a bouncing Luke today.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

When she had finished with Tyler, Rory watched carefully until it looked like Aeryn and Luke were done, and scurried over him. "Hi," she said hesitantly.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke wiped the sweat out of his eyes and gave her a wary look. "Hi."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Why are you mad at me?"

Being blunt couldn't hurt at this point.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I'm not mad," Luke said, concentrating on his boots. "Just confused."

And hurt. The way he was kind of curled in on himself made that part pretty obvious.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Why are you upset and confused, then?" she amended quietly. "I'm not stupid, Luke, and I spent the better part of last year learning to read your father. He acted the same way when he was hurting."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke was quiet for a long moment. "I thought you loved him," he said to the floor.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Ow. That had hurt more than any damage from the sparring session.

"I do," she said hoarsely. "And I'm not stopping, Luke. But he's not here anymore."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke looked up at her, still looking wounded. "I understand."

He really, really didn't.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"No, I don't think you do," Rory said, taking a step closer. "I want you to listen to me, okay? I love your dad very, very much. I love him so much that when he left, I wanted him to take me with him. I miss him so much that sometimes it hurts to breathe. And when I found out he died, I had to stay in my room for a few days to try to remember what's so great about living, anyway. If you hadn't shown up and made me think I really, really had to look out for my health, I wouldn't have gotten out of the slump for awhile."

She fixed Luke with a look, obviously close to either tears or yelling. "So don't you accuse me of not loving him. You have no idea. If things were right, Anakin would be here, and I would be happy. But that's not reality. Reality is that Bridge is one of my dearest friends, and I deserve to be happy even if it's not with Anakin. I have no idea what's happening with this, but don't you doubt for a second that I've stopped caring about your father, Luke."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke bit his lip and moved a little closer, obviously wanting to give Rory a hug but afraid how she might take it.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory didn't need much more of an invitation. Poor girl really, really needed a hug after that little tirade.

She closed the distance and clung to him. "It's okay."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke pulled her closer. "No, it's not," he said, "but if Bridge is going to help..."

[can_be_more]

"Hey," she says, hitting the bag hard one more time before backing off to look at him. "You okay?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke shook his head. "I'm pretty sure I'm being stupid about something," he said.

[can_be_more]

"Happens to everyone," she replies. "But are you okay?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I think Rory has a new boyfriend," Luke said, stepping closer to the bag, "and I'm not okay."

[can_be_more]

Aeryn kind of admires that he can just say it. "I hadn't planned on us doing anything more than beating the bag," she admits, gesturing for him to do so if he needed it. "Do you want to talk?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke grabbed a pair of gloves and set to work. "What's there to say?" he asked, beating on the bag, eyes fierce. '"Have you forgotten my father already?' 'I think Bridge is in no way good enough for you?' 'Why, why why?'" He shrugged. "I don't want her to hate me."

[can_be_more]

"She won't hate you," Aeryn tells him, standing back a little to watch. "And, if I were you? I'd probably want to ask the same things."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke had obviously been practicing. His punches were much more controlled. "So I'm not being completely selfish?" he asked, glancing over at her.

[can_be_more]

"Not in my opinion. And so what if you are? You can't help the way you feel about things," she shrugs. And wishes she could direct that last part louder. Like aimed at a certain room on the second floor.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke was now imagining someone rather specific as the bag while he hit it. "Good," he said.

He stepped back after a few minutes. "Do you want a turn?"

[can_be_more]

She's given her muscles enough of a rest. She nods and takes a minute to hit and kick the bag, really really hard and a lot, and then steps back. "It does feel better for a microt, doesn't it?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke nodded, watching her carefully. "Stuff from last week?" he finally asked.