mypartnerintime | IC Inbox

[Chloe's words have much more of an effect than Max thought they would. She finds herself fighting back tears, visibly, sniffing and wiping her eyes. She's not sure she can ever stop hating herself. But hearing Chloe say those things? Those reassurances? The very opposite of the things she's been terrified Chloe might say to her, that fear she's been carrying around for years?

It seems so impossible. But maybe she can try. Maybe she can try to feel better about everything she's done. Maybe she can try to believe Chloe.

She forces herself to look at the girl.]

You're my number one priorty, Chloe. I'm... I'm going to choose you every time. I swear. I love you too much for anything else, you dork...

[She takes a deep breath.] You are an amazing person, Chloe Price. I don't know why everyone's so blind to it all the time. You deserve so much better. And I promise I'll give you that... as much as I can. I'll try. I'll... I'll take care of you. If you want me to.

[She seems to be falling apart a little on the screen, losing her fight against crying.]

Can- can you come home? Or I can go there. I want to... to see you.

[ Max doesn't even need to ask twice. Chloe's already grabbing her car keys, because you know what doesn't matter? The comic shop. It's not like she actually watches to see if people are stealing already. She figures the other two employees can handle the place just fine on a slow as fuck Tuesday night. ]

I can be there in like. Ten? Assuming the truck actually starts on the first try today.

[ Themes in Chloe's life: piece of shit trucks she can never keep on top of the maintenance for. ]

I love you too, Max. For the record. I... don't think I'd ever want anyone else to take care of me but you.

Consider it on the record. [She smiles through her tears, an involuntary expression she can't quite suppress.] I'll see you soon.

[She (almost reluctantly) cuts the video. The time it takes Chloe to arrive is spent trying to get a hold of herself, to stop looking like a sappy idiot who's been crying, to breathe and try to process everything she's just heard.

Chloe doesn't hate her for everything. Seattle and the storm and the dome...

Chloe told her to stop hating herself.

Chloe's afraid that she's always going to be the second choice. The lowest priority. The one no one really cares about.

But that's wrong. And out of everything, Max is most certain about that point. She cares about Chloe... more than anything. And if being loved is what Chloe needs, well... Max can give that in spades.

When Chloe enters the house it's to a wordless, tight hug, Max almost desperately holding onto her, digging her face into her shoulder.

So much for getting a hold of her emotions!]

[ Overwhelmed might have been the most accurate description of Chloe's mood when she'd shut off her own feed and gone to head for her car. She had taken the time to breathe finally when she'd sat behind the wheel and had to fight with the ignition to get the engine to spark to life. It was something else to focus on other than the heavy emotions that had just been passed between she and Max for the last... well, however long that had been. Half hour? At most? Was it really that short of a time?

It takes her twenty minutes instead of ten to actually get back, because it's Chloe and she's never been good at actually knowing how long anything takes in her life. But once she comes inside, the tight hug that greeted her makes her stumble just slightly, before she lets out a quiet laugh at the familiarity of it, wrapping her arms tightly around Max in return.

It really felt like home. It makes her close her eyes, resting her cheek against Max's hair, breathing in deeply so she can fill her senses with the smell of her shampoo. ]

Thanks for the grope.

[ It's muttered more humorously than anything else, and she tightens her hold on her for a moment. ]

Only because you sounded so desperate for one...

[She mumbles in return, with a similarly humorous tone. But also not... really letting go. Partly because she needs to hug and is savoring the moment of sweetness, but also because she's not sure how to express herself any better with words. They've said so much already. Sometimes it feels like a hug says even more. Especially this way - breathing slowly, eyes closed, unmoving.

It takes her a few moments to start thinking that it might be too awkward, a little too intimate... but after everything, she's okay with that. She's just not sure if Chloe is. And now she's reaching for something witty to say and coming up entirely short.]

I wonder if we're coming up on the record for longest hug.

[She is groaning internally at that incredibly lame attempt to lighten the mood.]

I think that's a record worth taking.

[ She hasn't done anything to pull back either, even if she's pretty sure that with anyone else that this would have turned more than a little strange a while ago. But it feels right with Max and it makes her want to keep hold of her all the more.

Except eventually she knows that this is probably getting towards borderline ridiculous and she finally forces herself to pull back just enough to look down at her, giving her a cautious but thoroughly genuine smile. ]

You alright, hippie?

[The smile is met by Max's own - equally genuine and careful.]

...Yeah. [She wants to hold back how she feels a little bit, but then decides to be honest and sincere, as they have been for a while. And she lets herself look Chloe in the eye too, instead of shying away from this closeness.] Better than I have been in a long time, actually.

IC Inbox - Deerington

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i need more icons

i mean same

no subject