Tony laughed. “What? You want me to piss you off to see if you go all human torch?” He mulled the idea over in his head for a few seconds. “Yeah, sure, what the hell. I don’t have anything goin’ on. Just tell me what I gotta do.”
Summer glanced at the TV. “What about your show? I mean, we don’t — I didn’t mean right now.” She didn’t actually want to deal with it today. Not after the way the rest of the day had been. She wanted to have his whole attention, yes, but in a good way.
“It’s almost over.” Tony shrugged as his show came back on. “You could go order a pizza or something and then by the time it gets here my attention will be all yours.” He grinned. “Well it would be divided between you and pizza and probably another beer.” He laughed.
“I’ll just … wait. Until you have time for me,” she said uncomfortably. She turned her book over in her hands, reading the back material again without really reading it. Sighing, she settled herself against Tony and just closed her eyes.
Tony shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe? I mean shit can go down when people lose control over their emotions ya know?” It made sense to him but he probably wasn’t explaining it well. “Maybe you’re like the hulk but just with fire and stuff ya know?”
“When I get mad I make fire?” It was sort of absurd-sounding. She sighed, leaning over to put her forehead on his hand. “Maybe I should do some experiments then. You’re the science guy, will you help me?”
Tony laughed. “What? You want me to piss you off to see if you go all human torch?” He mulled the idea over in his head for a few seconds. “Yeah, sure, what the hell. I don’t have anything goin’ on. Just tell me what I gotta do.”
Summer glanced at the TV. “What about your show? I mean, we don’t — I didn’t mean right now.” She didn’t actually want to deal with it today. Not after the way the rest of the day had been. She wanted to have his whole attention, yes, but in a good way.
“Fuck I don’t know what to tell ya.” Tony shrugged. “All I got is you could move to some deserted island. Definitely no strong emotions there.” He grabbed her hand and held it tight. “I’ll try not to piss you off though. I’m already hot enough without being set on fire.”
“Tony!” Summer laughed, then blinked at him, processing more than the flippancy of the words. “You think … you think the fire came from the emotions?” That hadn’t even occurred to her. Calling fire was just a toy, really.
Tony shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe? I mean shit can go down when people lose control over their emotions ya know?” It made sense to him but he probably wasn’t explaining it well. “Maybe you’re like the hulk but just with fire and stuff ya know?”
“When I get mad I make fire?” It was sort of absurd-sounding. She sighed, leaning over to put her forehead on his hand. “Maybe I should do some experiments then. You’re the science guy, will you help me?”
“Can’t I do both?” Tony laughed and kissed her softly. “You can tell me all about your issues with your powers….during commercials,” he teased, resting his head on her shoulder.
“Well, then, poke me when there’s commercials. The Purgatorio is complicated.” But she didn’t pull the book out of her bag yet, leaning her head against his and just staring off into the distance.
“You’re complicated,” Tony teased. Minutes later, he let out a loud groan as his show was interrupted by commercials. “Alright, Red, spill. You have my undivided attention.”
“Red?” she muttered. She didn’t move, just sighed. “The … spasms.” She didn’t know what else to call them. “I’m pretty sure it’s to do with my empathy. Whenever I’ve been around someone with strong emotions, afterward that happens. Except, it used to be just a little bit. Like the shudder of a chill. Now — well, you saw.”
“What can I say? I’m a big lovable teddy bear. ” Tony smirked and kissed her on the cheek. “And I guess I think you’re pretty okay for a nerd girl,” he winked.
“Well, can I have some attention, or shall I let you go back to your show? I should probably at least look over these chapters again for class tomorrow.” Despite her words, Summer held on to Tony, to his warm, safe nearness.
“Can’t I do both?” Tony laughed and kissed her softly. “You can tell me all about your issues with your powers….during commercials,” he teased, resting his head on her shoulder.
“Well, then, poke me when there’s commercials. The Purgatorio is complicated.” But she didn’t pull the book out of her bag yet, leaning her head against his and just staring off into the distance.
“Hey I told you I wanted to watch hoarders.” Tony laughed and grabbed her hand. “Whatever you feel like you need to do to make yourself not all broken or whatever, I’ll do what I can to help.”
Summer shook her head, looking up at him. “That’s why I put up with you. Because you say things like that, and I just … I love you.”
“What can I say? I’m a big lovable teddy bear. ” Tony smirked and kissed her on the cheek. “And I guess I think you’re pretty okay for a nerd girl,” he winked.
“Well, can I have some attention, or shall I let you go back to your show? I should probably at least look over these chapters again for class tomorrow.” Despite her words, Summer held on to Tony, to his warm, safe nearness.
“Maybe you should try to relax more often,” Tony suggested, kissing the back of her neck lightly. “Have you tried yoga? Or booze? Seriously there’s nothing a beer can’t fix.”
“Don’t do that,” she muttered. “I tried getting drunk in Cozumel, and not only did I not get drunk, I could hear /everyone’s/ feelings.” Summer shuddered, convulsively. “It was the most awful thing ever. I /try/ to relax. It was just such a horrible day, and I just — and then you — pleh.”
“Hey I told you I wanted to watch hoarders.” Tony laughed and grabbed her hand. “Whatever you feel like you need to do to make yourself not all broken or whatever, I’ll do what I can to help.”
Summer shook her head, looking up at him. “That’s why I put up with you. Because you say things like that, and I just … I love you.”
“Besides the fact that you’re somehow patient enough to put up with my shit?” Tony smirked and wrapped his arms around her.
Summer breathed out a soft laugh. “Yes, besides that. That — thing. That just happened. It happens more often lately. And I … remember how I lit the candle? When I got your text,” she paused, chewing on her lip, “I made fire. There’s a burn mark where I was sitting. I didn’t even think about it; it was just /there/.” She turned her face into his shirt and mumbled, “I don’t know what’s happening to me. And I don’t know how to find out, either.”
“Maybe you should try to relax more often,” Tony suggested, kissing the back of her neck lightly. “Have you tried yoga? Or booze? Seriously there’s nothing a beer can’t fix.”
“Don’t do that,” she muttered. “I tried getting drunk in Cozumel, and not only did I not get drunk, I could hear /everyone’s/ feelings.” Summer shuddered, convulsively. “It was the most awful thing ever. I /try/ to relax. It was just such a horrible day, and I just — and then you — pleh.”
“If you’ll remember correctly, you were trying to interrupt my show anyway.” Tony smirked, pulling her onto his lap. “I just wish you could understand the beautiful piece of television history that is hoarders.”
Summer bit her lip, abashed. “Yes, but you told me to stop. I just … ” She shuddered. “That level of mess just disturbs me. I’d far rather watch Mythbusters, or Top Gear. Or if there must be mess, let it be sensical — explosions, punkin chunkin. Something like that.” She cuddled her head into his shoulder. “I think there’s something wrong with me, Tony,” she whispered.
“Besides the fact that you’re somehow patient enough to put up with my shit?” Tony smirked and wrapped his arms around her.
Summer breathed out a soft laugh. “Yes, besides that. That — thing. That just happened. It happens more often lately. And I … remember how I lit the candle? When I got your text,” she paused, chewing on her lip, “I made fire. There’s a burn mark where I was sitting. I didn’t even think about it; it was just /there/.” She turned her face into his shirt and mumbled, “I don’t know what’s happening to me. And I don’t know how to find out, either.”
Tony stroked her hand with his thumb, squeezing lightly. “Don’t apologize babe. What happened?” he asked softly, looking down at her.
“You were angry,” she muttered, “and I didn’t shield.” Her whole body ached now. “I was stupid. I was stupid, and wrong, and I’m sorry.” She flushed, embarrassed by the way she’d reacted. “I’ve interrupted your show.”
“If you’ll remember correctly, you were trying to interrupt my show anyway.” Tony smirked, pulling her onto his lap. “I just wish you could understand the beautiful piece of television history that is hoarders.”
Summer bit her lip, abashed. “Yes, but you told me to stop. I just … ” She shuddered. “That level of mess just disturbs me. I’d far rather watch Mythbusters, or Top Gear. Or if there must be mess, let it be sensical — explosions, punkin chunkin. Something like that.” She cuddled her head into his shoulder. “I think there’s something wrong with me, Tony,” she whispered.