shatterverse | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

The more time Claire spends with Toph in their own personal camp just outside the farm, the more she wanders into the farm itself from time to time. She diesn't even minid if she meets a Gabriel any more: they don't look exactly like Sylar, after all, and Toph says they're sincere.

It's not that she doesn't like Toph: she does, a lot, but she brings out the big sister in Claire and sometimes it's nice to be with people closer to your own age.

Anyway, Sokka's not back yet, and she's worried. Worried Claires mean the kitchen is taken over with cupcakes. All with blue and white frosting.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I know," Steph says, leaning on the table with a sigh. "I could have -- I dunno. I don't know what I could do. I just wanna do something, you know? He's -- special. He's pretty much my best friend ever.

"But what could we have done? We'd just get in the way, and then he'd worry about us instead of concentrating on himself. He's really dumb like that."

"Yeah," Claire agrees.

"I... I dunno. I'm just going to not give him anything to worry about and stay here, and - well, OK, if he's not back by the end of the week, I'm totally hijacking that plane out there and going looking for him."

Steph nods, and starts on another cupcake, picking at the icing thoughtfully.

"Yeah, for sure. I really miss him. Them. I'll come with, and I bet Mel and Toph would, too."

"Toph'd probably complain if we went flying," Claire reflects, but not in a tone of voice that suggests Toph has a say.

"He'd better be back soon, or I'm going to be so mad at him when he does."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Steph picks at her cupcake morosely. "It's weird not having him around."

They're kind of pathetic, in a vaguely adorable teenage girl way.

They really are.

Which is why Claire leans her head against Steph and says, "we're really pathetic, aren't we?"

"No," Steph insists defiantly, and then sighs and grins rather sheepishly.

"...okay, so maybe."

Claire glances up and surveys the kitchen full of cupcakes.

"No maybe about it. I just miss him."

"Well, definitely for you, then." Steph offers her a cupcake from the tray.

Stupid Claire, being able to be pathetic about someone and not having to be embarrassed about it. That's totally not fair.

"Nobody'd blame you. He's pretty cool. Not as cool as the one who's my Sokka though."

Claire takes the cupcake and bites into it, getting frosting on her nose in the process.

"So why isn't he your Sokka, then?"

HHHHHMMMM?

Steph shrugs one-shouldered, licking blue frosting off her fingers.

"He's got someone else. In another world. ... and anyway I don't like him that way."

It is possible this last is added out of a last half-hearted attempt to convince herself. It certainly isn't particularly convincing to anyone else.

Claire gives Steph her best sarcastic 'uh huh' face.

She has a few. This is the top of the range.

Steph presents Claire with her middle finger, in an entirely affectionate way.

"Shut up."

"Hey!" Claire protests. "I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't need to." Steph sticks her tongue out at her, maturely.

"... you won't, right?"

"OK," Claire agrees, spreading her hands. "I won't. Promise."

"Besides, I still don't like him that way," Steph adds, just to make it totally clear.

"...is he a good kisser? Yours?"

Claire smirks. A lot.

"Oh yeah."

"Yeah? Like ... scale of one to ten?"

Claire considers this a second longer.

"Eight and a half," she decides. "Pushing nine by the time he left. And I'm a harsh marker."

"Aww, man." Steph sighs wistfully. "Now they really have to come back soon."

Claire frowns at Steph, and shoves her in the arm.

"You're not allowed to kiss mine!"

"He's too young for me anyway," Steph says, lifting her chin haughtily. "I wouldn't be seen dead kissing a little kid like that."

She's giggling, though.

"He's fifteen," Claire points out.

Which, yeah, is a little young.

"But he acts much older."

Steph nods. He does. It's probably a Sokka thing.

"Mine's still better," she says firmly.

"... even if he's not mine mine."