Warren and Tamara, Backdated to Aug 11
Aug. 11th, 2017 02:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ax_mainTamara and Warren finally sort out their nonsense. Warren apologizes and confesses some Srs Truths, and Tamara understands. Flying occurs!
Tamara was just finishing up breakfast when her phone buzzed. She'd been feeling cooped up lately (since the protest-riot-BS, anyway), so she'd taken some fruit out to the courtyard to enjoy the summer weather a bit.
And maybe a little alone time felt good too. Things were still weird since NYC.
She fished her phone out of her back pocket, lips pulling to one side in a little half-frown. It was from Warren.
Have time to hang out and talk?
Oh right, now he wanted to talk. He'd been weird toward her since their little fight a few days ago, keeping her at arms length and just being really... vague, honestly. And pretending like he didn't know he was doing it. So she'd been avoiding him a bit.
Because she didn't need that.
She sighed. If he was finally ready to talk to her like a person again, she'd at least give him a chance.
In the courtyard. Join me?
It'd been two days and change since Warren had seen Tamara alone for any extended period, but he felt like he finally had his head on straight. Somewhere between Scott, Shen, and a little soul searching--or something like that--he thought he understood what was going on finally. And he wasn't proud of himself, but he was going in honest, and that was all he could do.
He held up a hand in greeting and came to her, only partly amazed she'd been serious. He'd halfway expected to get five bombed by fire or something. "Hey. Thanks. I know I've been weird and I'm sorry."
Tamara blinked up at him, half surprised by that. Well, it was a good start.
"Yeah?" She looked up at him, searching his face to see if he meant it.
He nodded. He hadn't actually gotten permission from Shen to tell Tamara that they'd spoken, so he wouldn't bring it up--but if Tamara asked, he'd tell her. Shen wasn't the kind who'd talk about a friend and then not let them know the talk had been had. Just another reason Warren was relieved she didn't hate him... at least, not yet.
No pressure, though. He ran a hand through his hair and shifted his weight, wings fluttering nervously before settling tight against his back again. "It was damage control mode. When I think I've fucked up, my instinct is to just--go polite and not fuck up anything else. I realize now that it probably seemed really weird."
"So... you weren't trying to freeze me out or something? Really?" For now, Tamara didn't care if it made her sound insecure or whatever; right now she needed him to know what he'd been making her feel.
"Definitely not. I realize--now--that wasn't the best way to try not to fuck up again, but. You know. It's me." He smiled, slightly embarrassed but genuine.
Tamara gave him another careful look, then returned the smile and nodded to the section of wall next to her (there were benches, but perching on the wall left way more space for wings), gesturing to the spot with a wing.
Warren followed and hopped up next to her, settling his wings behind and letting his arms hang down on his thighs. "I feel like I shouldn't be doing all the talking. But I'll just say that I think I get it now. I think... you thought I was playing you this whole time, and that's what bothered you?"
Tamara was so relieved to hear him say it that she was only mildly tempted to reply with yes, exactly like I told you. "Pretty much exactly that, yeah." She looked up at him, still a little skeptical. "And then you didn't listen to what I was telling you."
"Not for lack of trying. You have no idea the mental gymnastics I've been through trying to get there in the meantime." Warren smiled wryly.
Smiling back, Tamara bumped one of his wings with hers. She liked hearing that, knowing that he'd been trying to understand (…and that it had been hard). Trying to make it up to her. After all the weirdness... it already felt really good to have Warren being real with her again. "That bad, huh?"
He bumped her back. "Terrible. I've never been in this situation before. Not--not exactly, anyhow." Because he kind of had, but not... like this. In other aspects, ones they were gonna have to talk about soon, though... Later. "So--I got it now? And you get that it's not true? That I'd gone on a first date and I was flirting because I meant to flirt, not to screw with you?"
"Yeah, I got that," Tamara assured him, still smiling. "And I shouldn't have freaked out that bad, I was just... kind of a mess, y'know?"
He nodded. "I do. Absolutely. I probably shouldn't have been so thrown off by it--I thought I wasn't, but clearly I was if it took me this long to understand."
Tamara was looking down at her feet now. "And I lose my head a little. I just got burned pretty bad when my wings came in - all the people I thought were friends? Yeah, not so much." Assholes. "I just hated the idea that I was, like, disposable or something, to you. All over again." That was the real rub, because the second time around, there was no one to blame but herself for being an idiot.
"I get it," Warren said, leaning into her and staying there. "I genuinely do. And I meant it when I said I'm really sorry I made you feel that way, even if it was a misunderstanding. It was my misunderstanding too."
"Thanks," she said, resting her head on his arm, sighing away the tension in her body. This was the warm, sweet guy she liked so much. She just stayed like that for a moment, letting things be okay again. Then she peeked up at him, playful smirk on her lips. "Must've been one helluva first date."
Warren chuckled and nodded, though she couldn't see. "We had fun. And--this is weird, but can I just ask--is that what you want? I mean, where did you see things going, with us? Because I think we just kinda had a different view of things, and that led to most of the misunderstanding. I feel like if we'd talked about what we wanted... you know."
He didn't really like this. Tamara on his arm, yes. But being the one to lead this conversation? Not his thing. It was too important, though. He might've been that stupid once, but twice, he wouldn't deserve to be forgiven.
Tamara nodded in agreement. These kinds of talks were always important - and hopefully, if she was direct, Warren wouldn't feel so super awkward. "Right, okay. The honest truth is that if I hadn't been stuck on my belly all summer, I would've kissed you ages ago." Her wings had really thrown off her game, srsly. "And at least for me, that'd be the beginning, y'know? And from there, maybe we'd just have some fun, or maybe we'd want to get, I dunno, serious or whatever. Or maybe you'd turn out to be a terrible kisser and I'd tell you we should just be friends," she added, poking her tongue out at him. "Mostly I figured... whatever it was gonna be, me being stuck on my stomach was kind of the hold up."
That made sense, at least, and was about five thousand miles from the jealous would-be girlfriend he'd been terrified she'd been a few days ago. Which, at this point, was what he'd expected, but still nice to hear. "I could see that. In the interest of honesty, I wasn't thinking a whole lot differently--just a little."
He licked at his lips, trying to think of how to phrase this. "I don't really know what I'm doing apart from the flirting, so I usually just go with the flow. If something happens, awesome, and if not I don't really push it. So I guess that's why I wasn't thinking." He realized that sounded shitty, but it was true, and as long as she knew he did actually care he was willing to take everyone's advice and be totally forthright. This time.
"That kinda makes sense," Tamara said, huffing a little laugh. "If I'd made a real move, you could've gone with the flow. And I wanted to!" She rolled her eyes, bumping his arm. "Oh man, so basically you're a lazy flirt."
"You just explained like fifty percent of my personality in two words," Warren said with a chuckle. "It sounds kind of shitty, I know. Like I didn't care enough to make a move. But honestly, I'm just in a weird place with regards to crushes and stuff--in my life in general--and I just feel more comfortable reacting than acting."
Tamara snorted a laugh (but at least it was affectionate). "Ohmygod, being pretty has spoiled you. Most of us actually have to try, y'know." She wasn't actually upset at all, everyone figured things out at their own pace or whatever.
Warren laughed, flushing a little. "Well, it didn't leave me super prepared. And--it's not just that..." He frowned. "Are we cool? Like, genuinely? Because if we are I think I want to tell you something, like, a story, but if you're not in the mood for my bullshit I get it. You seem like we're cool though."
Honestly, Tamara probably would've lied if it meant getting good gossip while she was still angry... Luckily for both of them, that wasn't the case. "Yes, Warren, as long as you're not going to freeze me out again, we are genuinely, legitimately cool." She peered up at him playfully. "So spill."
He was already having second thoughts, because this was not the kind of shit a Worthington did... but he kind of wanted to talk to someone. And Tamara had told him all kinds of personal things about her family. And it might help her get why he was... like this. So he took a deep breath and started. "Okay so... I had the same best friend for like a long time, and for the last two years we were roommates. His name's Cam." Warren had trouble getting the name out, but once it was done he actually felt a little bit... free. "So, obviously I'm going here with it, but yeah, we used to..." Watch porn and jerk each other off "...hook up, I guess.
"But like, not in the kissing way. Because that's gay." Saying it out loud made Warren feel gross. He glanced at Tamara meaningfully, though, to be sure she understood that was not his take on it. That fear of The Gay, that was all Cam.
And it still fucking bothered him ugh.
Tamara had been listening and nodding, but that made her scowl. "That sounds... pretty damn toxic," she decided.
"Add in that I... had a legitimate crush on him... and yeah." Warren scrubbed a hand over his face, too embarrassed to look her in the eye but also glad to finally be saying all this. It sounded even worse out loud than it had in his head. "So, you know, I thought he'd come around, he thought he'd never have to... it was a good thing I got the wings. Not just because they're awesome but also because it got me away from that boys' school testosterone macho bullshit."
"I hate to say this," Tamara said, giving him a sympathetic smile and trying to catch his eyes again, "but your 'best friend' was a real dick."
Warren snorted out a laugh, "Well, for what it's worth I haven't answered any of his texts since I left school." Largely because at first Warren had been horrified about what the wings would make Cam say or do, but then just because distance had made it clear that... Tamara was right. "But there's still a lot of stuff--like, sometimes, something happens, or I see or hear something, and I'm just right back there. And I'm still fucked up about it.
"I'm not saying this so you'll feel bad for me or whatever. I'm good, totally. I just... guess I wanted you to know it's not actually that easy for me. Not all the time. And that I'd never want to be... that guy."
The more Tamara thought about that whole situation, the more fucked up it got. Aside from the brutal mixed messages, that had to fuck with your self-worth, and to be trapped in a room like that...
Meanwhile, Warren, the giant sweetheart, thought that was comparable to their little fight? "No way," she told him, bumping his wing again, but this time leaving hers there, warm against his feathers. "You can be pretty damn clueless sometimes, I'll give you that, but you're not a dick. Wouldn't waste my time if you were.
"Oh, and while we're on the subject - or near it, anyway - I think it's cool that you're bi. Really." She probably hadn't given that impression the last time they spoke, and it had been kinda bugging her. She wanted to be sure he knew she was supportive. "I feel like a lot of guys aren't even open to it, or don't acknowledge it, y'know? All that homophobic, biphobic BS. So yeah, cool that you're not like that." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, giving him a lopsided smile. "And y'know, if anyone gives you shit about it, I'll happily light them on fire for you," she finished cheerfully.
Warren hadn't been totally sure where Tamara stood on that, and a weight he hadn't been realizing he'd been carrying lifted. Like, he knew she wouldn't be anti-gay or whatever, but just... some people had a thing. About bi people. And whether or not they, you know. Existed.
He was a dude with wings though. Why stop there?
"Thanks," he said with a little sigh. "I mean, not like I was acknowledging it at my old school, but--it was different. There's a whole culture there. You gotta go with it or life is hell." And Warren had been good at faking it. Way too good. Fuckin' soul crushingly good. All in a day's work for a Worthington.
Fuck that noise.
"But I'm trying to do less pandering to what I'm supposed to be and just, like, existing. Or something. I don't know, that's about as deep as I get."
"We'll make a rebel out of you yet," Tamara teased, but looked positively proud of him. "And we'll have a better culture at this school," she added, determination on her face as she looked out over the courtyard again. "I mean, we're all rebels, like it or not, right? Just existing as mutants... We've gotta be better than out there."
"And then make it better out there," Warren said with resolve. He'd said it to Simon, too, and it felt good. Driven. "I really want that to be my takeaway from this school. I got nothing but hang-ups from the last one.
"Well that and I'm good at penalty kicks."
Tamara laughed, resting her head on his arm again. She wasn't so sure they'd be able to change anything outside these walls, honestly, but it was certainly the right attitude. "My hero," she teased.
Warren laughed and, on impulse, kissed Tamara's hair affectionately. He was just so relieved this hadn't meant he had to lose her. No matter what else happened, if they were still friends, he called it a win. "I keep trying, anyhow."
"I can work with that," Tamara assured him, looking up again. A kiss on the head wasn't really what she'd been hoping for, but at least it was a start. Things could be normal again. She smiled, looking up at the clear sky. “Take me flying again?" she asked hopefully.
Warren nodded and smiled. "You know it." He slipped off the wall and held out his hands. "Any word on when yours will be healed? Not that I'm in a rush to end this, but it might be nice for you. Also, the pain."
Tamara popped up and took his hands, stepping close and shifting her wings eagerly into position, tight against her back. "I'm healed, the muscles just aren't strong enough yet. And yeah, they still hurt, but at least it's because I'm walking and, y'know, flapping them at bigots in the park."
"A noble cause," Warren said with mock-solemnity--though he meant it. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms into the right position so she could sort of jump up and sit on them. "Well, until you're there, I got you."
Tamara grinned, then hopped up into his arms, wrapping hers snugly around his neck. Then, on impulse, she pressed a kiss to his cheek, lingering for just a second. "Thanks," she said, sincerely. And then, lest the moment get too serious, she teasingly reminded him, "And keep one arm on my wings so I don't crash us again, yeah?"
Under any other circumstances, Warren would've taken that as an invitation. But not here, not now, for all the reasons. He just smiled, tried not to think too much about the small, beguiling body pressed to his, and wrapped one arm around her wings gently. "Good to go?"
"Let's do it," Tamara agreed with a nod, settling in close to him. "And no stops in the lake this time."
Tamara was just finishing up breakfast when her phone buzzed. She'd been feeling cooped up lately (since the protest-riot-BS, anyway), so she'd taken some fruit out to the courtyard to enjoy the summer weather a bit.
And maybe a little alone time felt good too. Things were still weird since NYC.
She fished her phone out of her back pocket, lips pulling to one side in a little half-frown. It was from Warren.
Have time to hang out and talk?
Oh right, now he wanted to talk. He'd been weird toward her since their little fight a few days ago, keeping her at arms length and just being really... vague, honestly. And pretending like he didn't know he was doing it. So she'd been avoiding him a bit.
Because she didn't need that.
She sighed. If he was finally ready to talk to her like a person again, she'd at least give him a chance.
In the courtyard. Join me?
It'd been two days and change since Warren had seen Tamara alone for any extended period, but he felt like he finally had his head on straight. Somewhere between Scott, Shen, and a little soul searching--or something like that--he thought he understood what was going on finally. And he wasn't proud of himself, but he was going in honest, and that was all he could do.
He held up a hand in greeting and came to her, only partly amazed she'd been serious. He'd halfway expected to get five bombed by fire or something. "Hey. Thanks. I know I've been weird and I'm sorry."
Tamara blinked up at him, half surprised by that. Well, it was a good start.
"Yeah?" She looked up at him, searching his face to see if he meant it.
He nodded. He hadn't actually gotten permission from Shen to tell Tamara that they'd spoken, so he wouldn't bring it up--but if Tamara asked, he'd tell her. Shen wasn't the kind who'd talk about a friend and then not let them know the talk had been had. Just another reason Warren was relieved she didn't hate him... at least, not yet.
No pressure, though. He ran a hand through his hair and shifted his weight, wings fluttering nervously before settling tight against his back again. "It was damage control mode. When I think I've fucked up, my instinct is to just--go polite and not fuck up anything else. I realize now that it probably seemed really weird."
"So... you weren't trying to freeze me out or something? Really?" For now, Tamara didn't care if it made her sound insecure or whatever; right now she needed him to know what he'd been making her feel.
"Definitely not. I realize--now--that wasn't the best way to try not to fuck up again, but. You know. It's me." He smiled, slightly embarrassed but genuine.
Tamara gave him another careful look, then returned the smile and nodded to the section of wall next to her (there were benches, but perching on the wall left way more space for wings), gesturing to the spot with a wing.
Warren followed and hopped up next to her, settling his wings behind and letting his arms hang down on his thighs. "I feel like I shouldn't be doing all the talking. But I'll just say that I think I get it now. I think... you thought I was playing you this whole time, and that's what bothered you?"
Tamara was so relieved to hear him say it that she was only mildly tempted to reply with yes, exactly like I told you. "Pretty much exactly that, yeah." She looked up at him, still a little skeptical. "And then you didn't listen to what I was telling you."
"Not for lack of trying. You have no idea the mental gymnastics I've been through trying to get there in the meantime." Warren smiled wryly.
Smiling back, Tamara bumped one of his wings with hers. She liked hearing that, knowing that he'd been trying to understand (…and that it had been hard). Trying to make it up to her. After all the weirdness... it already felt really good to have Warren being real with her again. "That bad, huh?"
He bumped her back. "Terrible. I've never been in this situation before. Not--not exactly, anyhow." Because he kind of had, but not... like this. In other aspects, ones they were gonna have to talk about soon, though... Later. "So--I got it now? And you get that it's not true? That I'd gone on a first date and I was flirting because I meant to flirt, not to screw with you?"
"Yeah, I got that," Tamara assured him, still smiling. "And I shouldn't have freaked out that bad, I was just... kind of a mess, y'know?"
He nodded. "I do. Absolutely. I probably shouldn't have been so thrown off by it--I thought I wasn't, but clearly I was if it took me this long to understand."
Tamara was looking down at her feet now. "And I lose my head a little. I just got burned pretty bad when my wings came in - all the people I thought were friends? Yeah, not so much." Assholes. "I just hated the idea that I was, like, disposable or something, to you. All over again." That was the real rub, because the second time around, there was no one to blame but herself for being an idiot.
"I get it," Warren said, leaning into her and staying there. "I genuinely do. And I meant it when I said I'm really sorry I made you feel that way, even if it was a misunderstanding. It was my misunderstanding too."
"Thanks," she said, resting her head on his arm, sighing away the tension in her body. This was the warm, sweet guy she liked so much. She just stayed like that for a moment, letting things be okay again. Then she peeked up at him, playful smirk on her lips. "Must've been one helluva first date."
Warren chuckled and nodded, though she couldn't see. "We had fun. And--this is weird, but can I just ask--is that what you want? I mean, where did you see things going, with us? Because I think we just kinda had a different view of things, and that led to most of the misunderstanding. I feel like if we'd talked about what we wanted... you know."
He didn't really like this. Tamara on his arm, yes. But being the one to lead this conversation? Not his thing. It was too important, though. He might've been that stupid once, but twice, he wouldn't deserve to be forgiven.
Tamara nodded in agreement. These kinds of talks were always important - and hopefully, if she was direct, Warren wouldn't feel so super awkward. "Right, okay. The honest truth is that if I hadn't been stuck on my belly all summer, I would've kissed you ages ago." Her wings had really thrown off her game, srsly. "And at least for me, that'd be the beginning, y'know? And from there, maybe we'd just have some fun, or maybe we'd want to get, I dunno, serious or whatever. Or maybe you'd turn out to be a terrible kisser and I'd tell you we should just be friends," she added, poking her tongue out at him. "Mostly I figured... whatever it was gonna be, me being stuck on my stomach was kind of the hold up."
That made sense, at least, and was about five thousand miles from the jealous would-be girlfriend he'd been terrified she'd been a few days ago. Which, at this point, was what he'd expected, but still nice to hear. "I could see that. In the interest of honesty, I wasn't thinking a whole lot differently--just a little."
He licked at his lips, trying to think of how to phrase this. "I don't really know what I'm doing apart from the flirting, so I usually just go with the flow. If something happens, awesome, and if not I don't really push it. So I guess that's why I wasn't thinking." He realized that sounded shitty, but it was true, and as long as she knew he did actually care he was willing to take everyone's advice and be totally forthright. This time.
"That kinda makes sense," Tamara said, huffing a little laugh. "If I'd made a real move, you could've gone with the flow. And I wanted to!" She rolled her eyes, bumping his arm. "Oh man, so basically you're a lazy flirt."
"You just explained like fifty percent of my personality in two words," Warren said with a chuckle. "It sounds kind of shitty, I know. Like I didn't care enough to make a move. But honestly, I'm just in a weird place with regards to crushes and stuff--in my life in general--and I just feel more comfortable reacting than acting."
Tamara snorted a laugh (but at least it was affectionate). "Ohmygod, being pretty has spoiled you. Most of us actually have to try, y'know." She wasn't actually upset at all, everyone figured things out at their own pace or whatever.
Warren laughed, flushing a little. "Well, it didn't leave me super prepared. And--it's not just that..." He frowned. "Are we cool? Like, genuinely? Because if we are I think I want to tell you something, like, a story, but if you're not in the mood for my bullshit I get it. You seem like we're cool though."
Honestly, Tamara probably would've lied if it meant getting good gossip while she was still angry... Luckily for both of them, that wasn't the case. "Yes, Warren, as long as you're not going to freeze me out again, we are genuinely, legitimately cool." She peered up at him playfully. "So spill."
He was already having second thoughts, because this was not the kind of shit a Worthington did... but he kind of wanted to talk to someone. And Tamara had told him all kinds of personal things about her family. And it might help her get why he was... like this. So he took a deep breath and started. "Okay so... I had the same best friend for like a long time, and for the last two years we were roommates. His name's Cam." Warren had trouble getting the name out, but once it was done he actually felt a little bit... free. "So, obviously I'm going here with it, but yeah, we used to..." Watch porn and jerk each other off "...hook up, I guess.
"But like, not in the kissing way. Because that's gay." Saying it out loud made Warren feel gross. He glanced at Tamara meaningfully, though, to be sure she understood that was not his take on it. That fear of The Gay, that was all Cam.
And it still fucking bothered him ugh.
Tamara had been listening and nodding, but that made her scowl. "That sounds... pretty damn toxic," she decided.
"Add in that I... had a legitimate crush on him... and yeah." Warren scrubbed a hand over his face, too embarrassed to look her in the eye but also glad to finally be saying all this. It sounded even worse out loud than it had in his head. "So, you know, I thought he'd come around, he thought he'd never have to... it was a good thing I got the wings. Not just because they're awesome but also because it got me away from that boys' school testosterone macho bullshit."
"I hate to say this," Tamara said, giving him a sympathetic smile and trying to catch his eyes again, "but your 'best friend' was a real dick."
Warren snorted out a laugh, "Well, for what it's worth I haven't answered any of his texts since I left school." Largely because at first Warren had been horrified about what the wings would make Cam say or do, but then just because distance had made it clear that... Tamara was right. "But there's still a lot of stuff--like, sometimes, something happens, or I see or hear something, and I'm just right back there. And I'm still fucked up about it.
"I'm not saying this so you'll feel bad for me or whatever. I'm good, totally. I just... guess I wanted you to know it's not actually that easy for me. Not all the time. And that I'd never want to be... that guy."
The more Tamara thought about that whole situation, the more fucked up it got. Aside from the brutal mixed messages, that had to fuck with your self-worth, and to be trapped in a room like that...
Meanwhile, Warren, the giant sweetheart, thought that was comparable to their little fight? "No way," she told him, bumping his wing again, but this time leaving hers there, warm against his feathers. "You can be pretty damn clueless sometimes, I'll give you that, but you're not a dick. Wouldn't waste my time if you were.
"Oh, and while we're on the subject - or near it, anyway - I think it's cool that you're bi. Really." She probably hadn't given that impression the last time they spoke, and it had been kinda bugging her. She wanted to be sure he knew she was supportive. "I feel like a lot of guys aren't even open to it, or don't acknowledge it, y'know? All that homophobic, biphobic BS. So yeah, cool that you're not like that." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, giving him a lopsided smile. "And y'know, if anyone gives you shit about it, I'll happily light them on fire for you," she finished cheerfully.
Warren hadn't been totally sure where Tamara stood on that, and a weight he hadn't been realizing he'd been carrying lifted. Like, he knew she wouldn't be anti-gay or whatever, but just... some people had a thing. About bi people. And whether or not they, you know. Existed.
He was a dude with wings though. Why stop there?
"Thanks," he said with a little sigh. "I mean, not like I was acknowledging it at my old school, but--it was different. There's a whole culture there. You gotta go with it or life is hell." And Warren had been good at faking it. Way too good. Fuckin' soul crushingly good. All in a day's work for a Worthington.
Fuck that noise.
"But I'm trying to do less pandering to what I'm supposed to be and just, like, existing. Or something. I don't know, that's about as deep as I get."
"We'll make a rebel out of you yet," Tamara teased, but looked positively proud of him. "And we'll have a better culture at this school," she added, determination on her face as she looked out over the courtyard again. "I mean, we're all rebels, like it or not, right? Just existing as mutants... We've gotta be better than out there."
"And then make it better out there," Warren said with resolve. He'd said it to Simon, too, and it felt good. Driven. "I really want that to be my takeaway from this school. I got nothing but hang-ups from the last one.
"Well that and I'm good at penalty kicks."
Tamara laughed, resting her head on his arm again. She wasn't so sure they'd be able to change anything outside these walls, honestly, but it was certainly the right attitude. "My hero," she teased.
Warren laughed and, on impulse, kissed Tamara's hair affectionately. He was just so relieved this hadn't meant he had to lose her. No matter what else happened, if they were still friends, he called it a win. "I keep trying, anyhow."
"I can work with that," Tamara assured him, looking up again. A kiss on the head wasn't really what she'd been hoping for, but at least it was a start. Things could be normal again. She smiled, looking up at the clear sky. “Take me flying again?" she asked hopefully.
Warren nodded and smiled. "You know it." He slipped off the wall and held out his hands. "Any word on when yours will be healed? Not that I'm in a rush to end this, but it might be nice for you. Also, the pain."
Tamara popped up and took his hands, stepping close and shifting her wings eagerly into position, tight against her back. "I'm healed, the muscles just aren't strong enough yet. And yeah, they still hurt, but at least it's because I'm walking and, y'know, flapping them at bigots in the park."
"A noble cause," Warren said with mock-solemnity--though he meant it. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms into the right position so she could sort of jump up and sit on them. "Well, until you're there, I got you."
Tamara grinned, then hopped up into his arms, wrapping hers snugly around his neck. Then, on impulse, she pressed a kiss to his cheek, lingering for just a second. "Thanks," she said, sincerely. And then, lest the moment get too serious, she teasingly reminded him, "And keep one arm on my wings so I don't crash us again, yeah?"
Under any other circumstances, Warren would've taken that as an invitation. But not here, not now, for all the reasons. He just smiled, tried not to think too much about the small, beguiling body pressed to his, and wrapped one arm around her wings gently. "Good to go?"
"Let's do it," Tamara agreed with a nod, settling in close to him. "And no stops in the lake this time."
