playinginsand | (no subject)

(no subject)

Things have been... well... let's be honest: awkward. Rachel and Tobias are still in the tiny one-room dwelling, and they're... adjusting to having each other around. But they still don't know how to interact properly.

It's made worse by the fact that they don't see many people other than each other. There's a tension between them that Tobias has a hard time articulating, or even recognizing.

Still... they're managing.

He's out back today, shirt sticking slightly to him from the sweat of working out. He's not very good, but practicing the few punch and kick routines he's managed to pick up keeps him occupied. And maybe some day he'll be able to be useful again.

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They should probably practice together. Rachel isn't any better than him, really. Despite having training opportunities with a number of different fighters for over a year, she always quickly forgot any techniques that got in the way of morphing. Between her human body and the arsenal of morphs in her DNA, it was no contest, which one to choose. Be a skinny teenage girl or a massive fullgrown grizzly bear?

Yeah. No contest.

Still. She has a collection of knives that Dean showed her how to clean and sharpen, and the gun Jo showed her how to take care of, and a little bit of technique from Dick that combines her gymnast's knowledge with actual fighting.

And it's still lame in comparison to the bear.

Which is why Tobias is working out and Rachel is cleaning the weapons. Because 'sparring' with her housemate/boyfriend hasn't yet occurred to her, but she likes being outside when he is and watching him work.

Tobias works pretty hard at focusing on his stance and his movements, but it's hard. He's always aware of Rachel's presence. It's weird to be... the one being watched. He's still not used to it.

Still, he moves through the various practice series. The human body wasn't something he was used to at all. That as much as the new skills was making things awkward.

She tries not to watch him too much, worried about making him uncomfortable. On the other hand, she also has to hold back from teasing him and pointing out that having human eyes watching him is a lot less nerve-wracking than piercing hawk eyes.

But Rachel doesn't mention that, or anything like it, if she can help it.

He's awkward and a little gangly with the new moves. But he's also dedicated and focused. Rachel watches him from the corner of her eye, smiling gently. It's the favorite part of her day, anyway.

After the third time screwing up the awkward punch-skip-kick combo that was supposed to be the end of this sequence, Tobias stomped angrily, scowling. This was extremely frustrating. And the physical strain was making him sloppier and sloppier.

Yes, but the scowl combined with the stomp of his foot is kind of completely adorable.

Rachel ducks her head, as if this might head just how much she's smiling at him.

Tobias has spent so much time around her that he knows she's smiling anyway.

So he turns his scowl in her direction. Though he can't put that much feeling into it.

Honestly, that just means he's facing her when he's human with an automatic and emotional expression.

Even if he didn't see her grinning, the giggles would be somewhat telling.

"It's not funny," Tobias grouses.

"It was a little funny," Rachel argues, grinning at him. She puts the knives away and sets the sharpener aside, turning toward him in her chair. "You're improving a lot, y'know."

"I'm awful," he corrects her with a sigh. "And still pretty much useless in a fight."

"You're better than you were," Rachel points out, losing some of her smile in place of seriousness, almost stern. She believes in him. "You can probably fight better than I can."

Human, of course.

"I doubt it, but it's possible." He scowls. "But you don't need to wast your time fighting this way."

Rachel frowns a little.

"I've got a scar on my chest that says it isn't a waste of time."

Tobias stiffens. He didn't like being reminded of that particular failure.

"You do," he agrees. "I've seen it." Though not in any sexual manner. They... were still a bit awkward around each other.

It's-- going to be a while until they're not, probably. Even just that, innocent a comment as it may be, has Rachel glancing away, abruptly uncomfortable.

Even if her frown deepens a little.

"And if I was as fast as you're getting, maybe I wouldn't have it."

"Or if I'd been there."

Yeah. He's still on about that.

Rachel has never hit Tobias, not once in all the fights they've had.

But she does occasionally feel like slapping him.

"If you'd been there," she says, voice tight and irritable, gripping the back of her chair, "then I still would have been distracted. With being mad at you for following me."

Tobias sighs. "That doesn't mean I don't feel responsible."

Even he knows it's a bit irrational.

They've switched expressions - now she's the one scowling.

"You're not. Stop it, Tobias, it was months ago."

"I... know," he says softly. "I'm still... not used to the way my emotions swing in this body. I still feel responsible."

She makes a face at him. "I hate to break it to you, Tobias, but you were overprotective and sensitive when you had wings, too."

"I... was?" This is apparently a new thought for him.

Rachel's eyebrows, slowly but surely lifting to her hairline, answer better than any words could.

Still.

".... yes."

At least he's got her smiling again.

"Oh."

He sounds deeply surprised.

Yeah, it's impossible to be mad at that.

Rachel shakes her head, still grinning, even if the sigh she releases is somewhat aggravated. "Tobias..."

"... yeah?" he asks hesitantly, wondering if he's in trouble for being... 'overprotective' and 'sensitive'.

"I really love you."

Even when he's overprotective and sensitive. Maybe especially then.

Or maybe just because he's overprotective and sensitive and determined and frustrated and human and hers.

Tobias had spent a long time as a bird. He isn't used to his face catching on fire.

"Oh..." Now he's staring firmly at his shoes (while trying to peek at her from under his bangs).

"Me too," he manages to stammer.

Rachel just smiles at him - though it bursts into a grin when he blushes, ducking her head as she feels her face heat along with his.

"I'll finish this stuff inside," Rachel says. It's better than guessing that she's distracting him by being there.

"Wait," Tobias says suddenly.

She'd barely reached for any of the weapons. Blue eyes are on him immediately and Rachel waits.

Only now he doesn't have any idea what he wants to say. He just opens his mouth and closes it helplessly.

He loves her too much to know what to say.

The nice thing about loving someone, they're both figuring out slowly, is that you don't always need to say anything.

Rachel smiles and walks toward him.

Tobias can't help but smile back. He almost takes a step forward but then pauses, waiting for her instead.

It's getting easier. There are unspoken rules in the house - which they still sometimes break - but the cold uneasiness of the first few months is slowly fading. They're not perfect but they're finding a balance, who they are together. It's getting easier to bridge the gaps.

Rachel comes close enough to take his hands and kiss his cheek and it's-- easy.

His hands squeeze hers back and he leans forward to kiss her cheek in return. "I love you," he whispers.

Rachel grins, wide and bright, practically shining with that.

"Love you, too," she murmurs.

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