alnifolia | open post 3.0

[ Where she was expecting to hear a loud clang - the sound of metal hitting metal - there was a distinct lack of such. And in its stead she heard Tim's voice. It brought a smile across her lips, something faint and rare but precious and for Tim and Tim only. ]

And you're not supposed to be here.

[ But he had snuck his way in. She knew. He always did - and at this point she hardly cared. The way she'd said it, too, had no indication that she was actually bothered by this. It sounded fond, in fact.

She held her hand out toward him, expecting the wrench back in her hand promptly as she looked down at him from her perch atop her mech-in-progress. ]

I was just doing my job.

[ Hana's fondness was appreciated, what with Tim's complexion subtly reddening at her gaze. He handed her the wrench, smiling back at her all the while. ]

What can I say? I'm a rebel without a cause.

[ It's hard to gauge if Tim actually meant (or believed) that, but they're both aware he lies to Batman on the regular. Surely that counted for something. ]

Yes, and because it was your job, I think some repayment is in order.

[ Before he could elaborate, he took a marker out of his utility belt. ]

But before I forget... I don't think I ever got a chance to sign one of your casts.

[ She took the wrench back with ease, only to set it back down atop her mech as she cast Tim a curious glance. ]

Oh, yeah, you're right.

[ Shifting a bit in her spot, she tried to position her leg (and cast) so that Tim would better be able to see and write on it. ]

Whatcha gonna write, hmm?

[ Her tone was a bit teasing; was he going to write something sincere, or be a meme lord? ]

[ At Hana's teasing, Tim could only smirk at her mischievously. He hardly ever got the chance to let his hair down like this, especially given the nature of his duties. But around Hana, it was difficult not to relax - so difficult, in fact, that resisting would be a waste of effort. ]

Funny you should ask.

There's something I've always wanted to tell you, but I could never quite put it into words...

[ With Hana's cast within reach, Tim scrawled something she's going to have to shift her leg again to see.

It read:

       Hana,

       You're my hero. That'll never change.

       But does that mean I'll ever let you win at Street Fighter?

       Fat chance.

              Love,

              Tim

Satisfied with his heartfelt poetry, Tim doodled a bird cuddling a rabbit next to his writings for good measure. ]

[ She watched his face as he gazed down at her cast to write on it, another fond smile creeping across her lips; hey, she was technically "on vacation," so she didn't need to keep appearances up.

That was hard to do with Tim around, anyway.

Even leaning over a bit, there was no way she could read what he was writing upside-down, so she waited until he was finished to shift her leg back over such that she could actually read his message. He'd somehow managed to find one of the only spots Seung-Hwa hadn't already scribbled cute doodles and messages all over, though it did mean it was still hard to see and she had to angle her head a bit oddly, her long hair slipping over her shoulders and probably even covering Tim's face, oops.

She read it quietly to save him the embarrassment of reading it aloud; having to bite down a bigger smile as she found the message to be so very Tim. She turned her head back toward him to give her first comment: ]

"Change" and "chance" don't really rhyme, do they?

Oh. Uh, it's free verse.

...if it can even be called poetry.

[ Even he didn't seem convinced by his own excuse, chuckling nervously at his faux pas. He also seemed unfazed by Hana's hair in his face, soon tiptoeing closer - through the hair in his way - to kiss her cheek. ]

Y'know what? I can think of better ways to express myself.

[ With his feet flat on the ground once more, he started leaning on the mech to look up at Hana with an undeniable twinkle in his eye. ]

If you're down to find out.

[ The kiss on her cheek certainly sealed the smile onto her face, although his remarks had her quirking her brow at him a little as she took the wrench up once more to fasten a bolt. ]

What, you mean Mario Kart?

[ It's a good thing the surface of Hana's mech is so spacious, because Tim parkours his way to the top to sit behind her, nestling her just between his legs. It's an even better thing that Tim's never clumsy when he puts his mind to it, because one wrong move would not be good for Hana's casts. The petrifying thought compels him to hold her for dear life, his arms around her waist as he rests his chin on her shoulder. ]

Well... maybe. But I'm not down to lose for the 50th consecutive time.

[ He just has to remind himself of his record on Street Fighter... that'll keep him sane, hopefully. ]

In terms of self-expression, I have a peripheral for your mech that you could call a labor of love.

Something to trim the cooldown times of your defense matrix and boosters.

[ She's quite used to the way he just kind of flips around everywhere; in fact, she'd be more concerned if he wasn't, so she continues on with her work as he settles in behind her, loosening her posture a little herself as he wraps his arms around her.

Hana stops, though, when he mentions the peripheral. She and Daehyun had just been talking about ways to improve the build of her mech since she's had to essentially start over, having completely blown her unit up in the last encounter with the Gwishin - so this is incredibly timely and thoughtful of Tim.

Still, she can't help but tease him a bit for it. ]

Oh? It doesn't come with a way for you to track and spy on me, does it?

Ha, what do you take me for? Batman?

[ Because Tim wouldn’t put the suggestion past himself, he’s not offended by it in the least. ]

If I really wanted to find you, I wouldn’t need those.

[ Hmm, he even creeps himself out on accident, with that one. Time for damage control. ]

Not... that I’d actually go out of my way to track you down or anything. I’m happy just texting you!

[ But in all this, he still doesn’t confirm or deny the presence of spy tech. ]

[ The incredulous look she gives him says that she isn't entirely convinced by his words, but she's only half-teasing nonetheless. Oddly enough, she doesn't find it all too unsettling that he could track her down if he wanted to - because she doesn't have anything to hide, really, and there's a pragmatic side of her that thinks that could be a useful thing in the event that things go awry somehow.

At length, she just shakes her head with a chuckle. ]

Well, okay. You know you can text me whenever you like, Tim.

[ And just to show that she really is grateful for the part he's given her for her mech, she turns her head back to give him a kiss on his cheek. ]

Easier said than done, babe.

[ His blush after the kiss is more conspicuous than normal. Might have something to do with the lighting, but that'll only be the excuse he uses if it's brought up. ]

You know how demanding the mission can be. Depending on the stakes, I could be off the grid for weeks.

[ Not that it's happened in recent memory. A globe-trotting adventure to prove Bruce Wayne was alive now seems like a thing of the distant past, despite it seeming to monopolize so much of his life at the time. ]

For all we know, I could be gone so I long that I come back bald.

[ Positioned as they are, Hana doesn't quite notice the way her actions are having a more pronounced effect on Tim - but she would chalk it up to the fact that she'd almost just died in the line of duty. Though she doesn't quite realize it, sitting here nonchalantly rebuilding her mech, the time that passed between when she'd detonated her mech to eliminate the Gwishin and MEKA actually being able to find her body in the sea took a lot out of people - many of whom were prepared for the worst.

She hums thoughtfully at the scenario Tim presents, but ends up huffing a laugh at the thought of him being long so gone he'll be bald. ]

If you're gone that long, you'd better leave me with some signs that you're still alive somehow. Otherwise I'll end up leaving for someone with more hair.

[ She says it jokingly, of course, but it's also a bit honest. ]

Will a clue of my existence in a far away desert cave do it for you? Or maybe I'll haunt your dreams in morse code...

[ Tim seems to be genuinely entertaining the prospect of going off the grid, from the way he just talked about potential lines of communication. ]

Look, if I ever go bald it'll probably be a choice, so yes. Dump me for the greater good.

But be warned-- I might just grow a mullet to try to win you back.

[ Is he belaboring a hypothetical situation that will likely never happen? Yes. Is he perpetually enamored with the amused look on Hana's face as a result? Double yes.

Her near-death was definitely hard on Tim, after all. So hard, in fact, that now, he can only think of dwelling in this liminal space - of them exchanging silly remarks and relaxing in each other's presence, neither quite willing to discuss the gravity of recent memory - because he's not ready to put his potential grief into words.

That fear of the unforgiving sting that would have come had Hana not survived against the Gwishin... it haunts him, even as he tries to wear a smile, and tries to convince Hana not to worry about him by making her worry about his potential baldness instead. ]

open post 3.0

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/swooces on in with a less gross username

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