Second Floor Common Room [Tuesday Early Afternoon]

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

The facts were these: Ned was baking a pie again. He'd almost tried to theme this particular pie with that of a volcano but the volcano was long gone and so was that idea. Ned didn't really want to simulate lava in a pie anyway.

He'd chosen a new recipe this time, something he'd never baked before and had set out to prep and cook in the common room.

He wouldn't call this a routine yet but it was relaxing. And it was nice to get out of his room and do something besides annoy himself with all his issues.

[Open common room is open. Work is boring. I am hungry.]

Comments

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Okay," she said, smiling up at him and holding still. She hadn't expected that, either.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Stay still now," he said, bringing his fingers closer. "I wouldn't want to poke your eye out."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"I can see how that'd be a worry," Kaylee said solemnly, holding very still.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"It happens," he said and took a deep breath before very, very lightly brushing at the pie filling on her face. He kept his touch light, trying to do it slowly to keep his own jittery nerves from flaring up.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Your hand's soft," she said softly. "Probably too soft to poke out my eye. Just sayin'."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"My hands aren't soft," he said, using his thumb to get some of the bigger crumbs. Still soft though.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Are too," she replied. "Softer than I'd think, anyways."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"You think about my hands?" he asked, going a little slower with the brushing. He wanted to be thorough. Sue him.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes. Well, I am right now," she said quietly, watching him.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

Ned made himself focus on his hand and his fingers and not on her eyes or her voice.

He tried to, at least. It was hard to miss her voice.

"What are you thinking about?" Ned asked quietly. "I mean, about my hands."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"You got big hands," she said without even thinking about it. "Nice hands."

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"They're not that big," he said, fanning his fingers out against her cheek without thinking about it.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Bigger'n mine," she murmured, really, really aware of her cheek.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"I'm bigger than you," he said, just keeping his fingers moving lightly over her cheek. "Of course mine are bigger than yours."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"They're probably bigger'n my feet, too," she said because she was kind of not really aware of what she was saying.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," he agreed, brushing a thumb under her eye. "We could find out sometime."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"How d'you think we'd find that out?" she asked curiously.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Compare," he said quietly. "Contrasts. Go barefoot one day."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Just run 'round with no shoes all day?" she wondered.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"Didn't say we'd have to run," he said and tapped his fingers lightly against her cheek. "I could make you another pie. A just for you pie."

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Not sure I could eat a whole pie by myself," she teased.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"I could help you," he said, shrugging a shoulder and writing the first letter of her first name with his finger against her cheek.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"What kinda pie would it be?" she asked, smiling because that almost tickled.

[death-and-pies.livejournal.com]

"I take requests," he said, returning her smile. "I can make almost anything into a pie."

And he added the 'A' with his pinky finger.

[weefeetbigboots.livejournal.com]

"Strawberries?" she asked, feeling almost kind of shy.