Second Floor Common Room [Thursday Evening]

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge hobbles out of his room for the first time since Saturday evening. Leaning the crutches against the arm of the couch, he curls up and starts aimlessly flipping through channels.

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Where've you been, dude?" asks Anders, ignoring the eyebrow. "I haven't seen you since this weekend! I thought the trolls might've gotten you!"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"They did," Bridge waves at his ankle, and then the crutches. "See?"

Totally not sulking. Nope.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Aw, man, that sucks," Anders says, puppydog-facing at his best friend. "I got a little, um, tied up trying to get Bel to safety after he got knocked out."

Yep, that would be another subtle wave of OMGWTF-guilt that Bridge might pick up.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Somehow I think there's more to it than that."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders shrugs. "He fell asleep in my room, that's all. Nothing happened."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh," Bridge says, totally not believing him.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Dude," Anders says insistently, "I swear. It was totally innocent."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Okay, one. Best friend. Two? *Psychic* best friend. I can tell when something's up, dude."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders laughs, half-convincingly. "Just feeling guilty 'cause I was imagining it was something else, maybe?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Fine," Bridge says, totally not sulking. "Don't tell me anything, then."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

And now Anders really feels guilty for lying to Bridge, but he promised he wouldn't say anything and he kind of values his life. Instead, he says, "Not in the common room, dude, 's all. You know how it is in here."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Bridge says. "I guess. Anything else interesting happen these past few days?"

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Eh." Anders really, really hopes his ears aren't turning slightly red. "Nothing at all, really. Kinda missed you in Spying class, though. We're supposed to make plans to storm the castle."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Nothing at all, huh?" Bridge says. "Yeah. Stupid ankle kept me from going anywhere."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I kinda feel bad for not getting hurt," Anders mutters. "And for not being there to bail you out."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, well, *I* don't feel bad that you weren't hurt," Bridge says solemnly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders just leans over and hugs him, 'cause that's an "aww" moment, plus he really does feel bad about Bridge getting hurt.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge hugs back kind of tightly, because he's still feeling sulky and hugs help.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders ruffles his hair. It's like a compulsion.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Stoooop," Bridge says petulantly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

And Anders puppydog-faces him some more. "Aw, but nobody lets me do that to them these days."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"You're messing up my hair," Bridge says accusingly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Somehow Anders doesn't have the heart to tell him it's always like that, so he just makes a goofy face at Bridge instead. "I'll buy you a comb for Christmas?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

If Bridge were reading Anders' thoughts at that moment, he'd point out that there was a difference between the way his hair *naturally* was and the way it looked when someone deliberately messed with it. A subtle difference, sure. But it was there. Really.

"I don't actually celebrate Christmas," is what he *does* point out.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Neither do I," Anders reminds him. "I just use it as an excuse to buy people stuff."