xavierrud:

iamthefirechild:

Winding up the long, wet tail of her hair into a bun, she pinned it on top of her head with one hand and cocked her head at Xavier. “It’s not about need, honey. You’re doing me a favour. Eventually I’ll do one for you.” She sighed. “I guess when the rain lets off I’ll go down to the office and see if they’ll come let me in my apar— no, flat, you guys say flat here.” She crouched down to offer her free hand to Crayon.

[ ❧ ─    “Alright, yeah.” Xavier smiled and made his way over to the couch, plopping down on it before he switched on the television and switched to a random channel. “You could say apartment if you’d like. I lived in America for a few years so I know some of their slang words from over there.”

Crayon nudged her hand, and she rocked off balance, sitting down on the floor with a bump. “Oh, well, I know, but I love languages. I love the way the words change, used differently. So I want to learn the ones that are used here.”

xavierrud:

iamthefirechild:

She giggled. “I’m decent, Xavier, I promise. There’s nothing to see.” Picking up the clothes and trying not to let the towel unwind itself from her hair, she scooted back into the bathroom and pulled on the clothes. She came back out, wet towels and clothes folded over one arm. “I really owe you.”

[ ❧ ─   “Don’t worry about it, Summer. You don’t need to owe me anything.” With that, he uncovered his eyes and led the way out of the room where Crayon was impatiently wagging his tail and jumping up on his legs.

Winding up the long, wet tail of her hair into a bun, she pinned it on top of her head with one hand and cocked her head at Xavier. “It’s not about need, honey. You’re doing me a favour. Eventually I’ll do one for you.” She sighed. “I guess when the rain lets off I’ll go down to the office and see if they’ll come let me in my apar— no, flat, you guys say flat here.” She crouched down to offer her free hand to Crayon.

xavierrud:

iamthefirechild:

Summer didn’t spend long in the shower; just long enough to get warm all through and rinse her hair. She pulled the towel tight about her body, one hand pinning the other towel to the top of her head, and came out without thinking where Xavier might be.

[ ❧ ─    Since he had heard Summer coming out of the bathroom, he had his eyes covered by that time and was standing next to the door. “Ehm, the clothes are right there on the bed. I’m out here if you need me.”

She giggled. “I’m decent, Xavier, I promise. There’s nothing to see.” Picking up the clothes and trying not to let the towel unwind itself from her hair, she scooted back into the bathroom and pulled on the clothes. She came back out, wet towels and clothes folded over one arm. “I really owe you.”

xavierrud:

iamthefirechild:

Summer put her hands on her hips and surveyed the room. False spiderwebbing in all the corners, little dishes of snacks and nibbles on every table, orange, purple and white fairy lights strung about in place of the lamps, faintly spooky or hallowe’en music cued up on the computer … yes, it looked like everything was ready.

She put a hand to her chest, willing her heartbeat to slow down. Even if no one came, she had done good unpacking and cleaning and arranging everything, so it wasn’t a total waste. Doc sat by the door, pale-tipped tail wrapped around her feet, looking for all the world like she was ready to greet any guests instead of go darting off the moment some stranger came in.

Summer smiled and tightened the laces on her leather coat once more. Scooping up the little calico, she unlocked the door and opened it just an inviting touch.

[ ❧ ─    Pretty much the only kind of parties that Xavier went to were the Halloween ones. After he had gone trick or treating of course. So when Summer had thrown one, he’d taken a quick run around one of his friend’s neighborhoods with their little cousin who was more like an excuse for them to trick or treat than anything else.

Nevertheless, he had pushed the door open hesitantly and gave a half smile when he saw his flatmate. “‘Ello, love. Having fun?”

“Ask me that after everything is over,” she said, tucking her cold fingers under Doc’s body. “Right now I’m so nervous I wouldn’t know fun if it bit me.” Doc scrambled up her shoulder and launched off, making a mad bolt for the kitchen. “Ow.”

Forcing herself to draw a deep breath, she gave Xavier a smile. “How was the trick-or-treating, then? Get anything nice? Any good costumes?”