the capture

[instar]

Bella is, uncharacteristically, home alone; Andi is over at Robin's, and Renée is visiting a friend of hers in the hospital, though she could be home relatively soon depending on how much the two get caught up in conversation.

Bella is memorizing the map of Phoenix.

Comments

[pandion]

<I believe I've more than adequately demonstrated my willingness.>

[aeskhyne]

<I love you.>

[pandion]

<I'm just glad I didn't break your spine on a false alarm.>

[aeskhyne]

He giggles over thought-speak.

[pandion]

<But let's save that for when the others are here.>

[aeskhyne]

<Save what, putting her back in my brain? Sure, okay.>

[pandion]

<You're... okay with this plan?>

[aeskhyne]

<Yeah. I mean - it'd be different if I didn't feel sorry for her. But I do. She's scared as hell and she's had a really bad week.>

[pandion]

<...Okay. Is the water still "not comfy, not actually hurting you"?>

[aeskhyne]

<Yeah.>

[pandion]

<How about you wiggle distinctively or something and I'll take you out and you can demorph, and then I can put her away before Renée gets back? I can probably wrangle you an invitation to Olive Garden, then we call the other two and talk about how to deal with her.>

[aeskhyne]

One of the Yeerks twists itself upside-down and undulates. <Wiggle wiggle.>

[pandion]

Bella scoops up Trouble and sets him down. As an afterthought, she -

[instar]

- demorphs to acquire the real Yeerk, when it turns out to be necessary.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble demorphs. It's substantially less gross this time around.

He sits on the basement floor with his head in his hands.

[instar]

"You okay?"

[aeskhyne]

"...Yeah," he says. "Mostly. Kind of."

[instar]

Bella puts her hand on his shoulder, lightly. "Anything I can do?"

[aeskhyne]

He leans into her hand a little.

"...A hug would be nice," he admits.

[instar]

Bella hugs him.

[aeskhyne]

He hugs back.

"I love you," he murmurs.

[instar]

"I'm glad."

[aeskhyne]

He smiles and hugs her tighter for a moment.

[instar]

Hug.

And then Bella lets go, puts the bowl away again, and heads up the stairs.

[aeskhyne]

After a few minutes, Trouble gets dressed and follows her. His clothes are a bit the worse for their encounter with that lemon tart, but most of it just brushes off and what's left isn't egregiously noticeable.