theoldfashionedromantic:

iamthefirechild:

“What, like this?” And just like that her free hand was lifted and among the fingers danced little flames that whirled higher and higher until there was a column of fire in her palm that winked out the moment she snapped her fingers closed. “Or maybe I should do it the other way … ” Summer’s green eyes went slightly unfocused. “It’s not entirely a front, this cheerfulness. You’ve lived it so long, it is real … but there’s things under there you’ve covered up, things nobody sees, hurts and slights and put-aside dreams … there’s still that little voice back there whispering … ” Her gaze clicked back to him.

“These days, if I’m overlooked, it’s because I want to be. I know my own worth. And now that I’ve rummaged around in your soul, why don’t we get something to drink?”

Tom watched the flame with an intense stare, and then watched the young woman. He had his concerns about her, and felt a wariness towards her stability but he also felt sad for her. Not pity, he never pitied anyone because that was a terrible thing to do but he felt sadness for her. “When we hide who we are, even for others, we are living a lie. To fall into cheerfulness because you’ve feigned it so much is like a child believing he is an astronaut because he’s pretended he was one for so long.”

“I will go to drink with you, but I can’t stay long. My boyfriend is waiting for me at home, and he’s not one who likes to be kept waiting.” Tom smiles at her although he believes it is not his happiest smile. This girl has been hurt more than she should have been, and he wonders if she’s ever let anyone help her before. 

Summer is torn between laughing and crying. He’s got so much of it right, for so many wrong reasons, it’s an effort not to correct him. But if he doesn’t want to see what she is … well, truly told, that’s not her concern. World like theirs, maybe it is easier to just wish away some of the strangeness.

“Boyfriend, huh? A lot of girls’ hearts would be broken to know that. Better if I let you go, then? You’re a bit impatient to get back yourself.”

theoldfashionedromantic:

iamthefirechild:

Summer grinned back. “It’s hard to get comfortable when every time you describe yourself you have to edit ‘tall’ out. I /feel/ tall, dammit!” Patting his hand, she added, “I’m used to being overlooked. It’s, hm, familiar.”

Tom grins with her, raising his eyebrows as he listens to her. “I believe the height of a person is not how tall they are, dear, but how tall they feel. We gain recognition from confidence in our own selves, and that is when we are truly looked at.” He smiles at her then. “I’m not overlooking you, I swear, and I think that if you think others are overlooking you then you need to make then stop and start looking at you.”

“What, like this?” And just like that her free hand was lifted and among the fingers danced little flames that whirled higher and higher until there was a column of fire in her palm that winked out the moment she snapped her fingers closed. “Or maybe I should do it the other way … ” Summer’s green eyes went slightly unfocused. “It’s not entirely a front, this cheerfulness. You’ve lived it so long, it is real … but there’s things under there you’ve covered up, things nobody sees, hurts and slights and put-aside dreams … there’s still that little voice back there whispering … ” Her gaze clicked back to him.

“These days, if I’m overlooked, it’s because I want to be. I know my own worth. And now that I’ve rummaged around in your soul, why don’t we get something to drink?”

theoldfashionedromantic:

iamthefirechild:

theoldfashionedromantic:

iamthefirechild replied to your post: *waves shyly*

“Oh, wow. You … wow. Um. Hi?” Summer obediently steps closer to Tom, eyes huge and face pink. “I’m,” she laughs breathlessly, “I think I’m overwhelmed.”

“Hello, dear. Please don’t be overwhelmed, I’m just one man, darling.” He smiled at her warmly, trying to calm her from her state. 

“Oh, I’m sure that’s easy for you to say. I didn’t even expect you to see me!” Summer fanned her face, swatting at stray hairs that blew around in her mini-breeze. “You’re Tom Hiddleston. I’m just,” she shrugged, “me. Short, invisible.”

“You are not invisible, darling. Just because people know my face doesn’t mean I really expect many to notice me when I’m just being me. I’m tall, and lanky. As a kid I felt awkward and out of place, and it’s taken me some time to get comfortable with myself, but trust me it’ll happen for you as well. You are not invisible, you are important, darling.” He smiles widely at her, and places a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving a small squeeze. 

Summer grinned back. “It’s hard to get comfortable when every time you describe yourself you have to edit ‘tall’ out. I /feel/ tall, dammit!” Patting his hand, she added, “I’m used to being overlooked. It’s, hm, familiar.”

theoldfashionedromantic:

iamthefirechild replied to your post: *waves shyly*

“Oh, wow. You … wow. Um. Hi?” Summer obediently steps closer to Tom, eyes huge and face pink. “I’m,” she laughs breathlessly, “I think I’m overwhelmed.”

“Hello, dear. Please don’t be overwhelmed, I’m just one man, darling.” He smiled at her warmly, trying to calm her from her state. 

“Oh, I’m sure that’s easy for you to say. I didn’t even expect you to see me!” Summer fanned her face, swatting at stray hairs that blew around in her mini-breeze. “You’re Tom Hiddleston. I’m just,” she shrugged, “me. Short, invisible.”