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[skitter]

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[littleonewhosteals]

He definitely notices, but only gives her a nod. "Sure! I'll do my best." He settles down in their bed. "Are we reading a book tonight?"

[skitter]

She nods, picking through the little selection she has out from the library, a messy pile beside the bed. "We finished that... what about The Little Prince? I've never read it."

[littleonewhosteals]

"Okay," he agrees, though there's a hesitation. "But - you're really okay with me going?"

[skitter]

She nods, glancing back at him as she gets settled with the book. "Yeah. You haven't had a vacation since right after you graduated."

[littleonewhosteals]

"It's not really a vacation," he says softly. "I just wish you could come. You've been - I don't know - just kind of going for a while."

[skitter]

"... Yeah," she agrees, fidgeting with the corner of the book. "Wish I could too. I don't think it'd help with me being stuck, though."

[littleonewhosteals]

"Yeah? What do you think would? You haven't been - yourself since the whole...nightmare fear thing. Not even in Flotilla."

He turns towards her, propping his head in his hands.

[skitter]

"At this point, I think it's just a new self." She lays back, resting the book on her chest with a sigh and staring at the ceiling.

"I don't know. I feel like I should be there. I don't know what's left."

[littleonewhosteals]

"Should be where? But you're not that person," he says. "You're not that - whatever."

[skitter]

"I'm not what, Rags?"

[littleonewhosteals]

"The Weaver," he answers, turning on his back and stretching his arms in the air.

[skitter]

She can't hide the flinch.

"No, that's not what I meant. But I don't think there's a way back to the person who'd never... done that." She reaches up for one of his hands, wrapping hers just lightly around his wrist.

[littleonewhosteals]

He lets her, not moving for a moment. "No. But you can still be Taylor. Taylor who learned some shit."

[skitter]

She nods, thumb rubbing over the bone of his wrist, where she remembers the webs, before she lets go.

"I did it in a dream, the other night. Ordered someone and pulled a string and they obeyed."

[littleonewhosteals]

"Yeah? How did you feel when you woke up," he asks with a frown and then takes her hand, linking their fingers together.

[skitter]

She squeezes his hand, taking a moment to think.

"I didn't realize what I'd done, and I felt good. I didn't spot it until I was thinking about it later. I told... I told a man to walk off a cliff. In a dream. Is it stupid that I feel responsible for it?"

[littleonewhosteals]

"No," he assures her. "You're one of those people who takes too much responsibility for shit that you shouldn't. So it's not surprising or anything that you felt like that."

[skitter]

She snorts quietly, shutting her eyes. "So yes, it's me being stupid, but no, it's not surprising.

"I don't think I can fix the responsibility thing. I don't think I want to."

[littleonewhosteals]

"Maybe you can start focusing more on shit that you should be responsible for and not have - everything on your plate."

He lets go of her hand and turns, draping an arm around her.

[skitter]

"I'm making progress," she protests grumpily, even as she gets comfortable under that arm. "Two deals. Not going home to do it all myself."

[littleonewhosteals]

"I'm talking about here. Short term," he explains. "Maybe letting go of some of the shit you're doing."

[skitter]

Her expression closes down somewhat, lips tightening.

"I'm not overworked. High school was more work than my jobs here."

[littleonewhosteals]

He tightens his grip on her slightly. "Yeah, and your high school time kinda sucked."

[skitter]

"Not because of the work. Six hours of school a day and two hours of homework is just normal."

[littleonewhosteals]

"Yeah, but that's trying to run your own life. Not - running shit here," he says softly. "It's not about how much time. It's - the kind of responsibility and effort and shit."