sky_from_sea | (no subject)

(no subject)

Anna has been avoiding the Wasteland of late, even though she has stopped avoiding other people.

Well. She's stopped avoiding Daniel, at least.

But now--well.

She's not going to let Nicky drive her out of this (her) city, so it's time to stop being a shadow.

Which means--talking to Gwen.

Now, if only Anna knew how best to find her. The shelter isn't as small as it used to be, and Anna's never spent that much time there, anyway.

Still, someone's sure to know where the Wasteland owner is.

Right?

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Anna smiles a little wryly.

"Fuck him up, yes. Fuck him? Not in a thousand, thousand years."

And despite how horrible she feels, and how itchy, Gwen still manages to choke.

(That's kind of a relief, actually.)

"Oh, God. Well. Good."

Anna's smile stretches a little wider.

Just a little.

"I feel much the same."

"Yeah." Gwen huffs. "Seriously."

She offers a faint, hesitant smile.

"Um, well. Thank you for ... telling me that."

"Someone needed to hear it."

Anna shrugs, lightly.

She's also looking down at her hands again.

Just for a second.

Gwen looks rueful.

She had felt that she, in particular, needed to hear it-- but that's a calculating consideration, and it's stupid, and anyway Anna doesn't need to be told it.

Tentatively, she stretches a hand out to Anna's shoulder.

It's the only comfort she really feels qualified to give.

Anna tenses fractionally, then takes a deep breath and forces herself to relax.

She turns her head, smiling faintly at Gwen. One hand reaches up briefly to cover Gwen's.

"I'm all right. I swear."

She smiles back, lopsided.

"You sure?"

Because if not, she can recommend a therapist!

Anna's smile broadens fractionally.

"I'm sure. It was a little--iffy, for a while. But I'm fine."

Gwen eyes her carefully.

And, slowly, she nods.

"Okay." She looks a little more sure now. A little calmer. "Good."

Anna laughs quietly.

"I certainly think so. Daniel probably does, too."

She snorts.

"Oh, tell me about it. He's been worried sick about you too, in case you didn't know."

"I know."

She looks down at her hands again, fingers twisted together.

Gwen's expression softens.

"Have you ... been back?"

"Home?"

She nods.

"Yes. If--the Wasteland? No. No--not yet."

"Oh-- no," Gwen says, shaking her head. "I meant home. Um. Because Daniel was all ... concerned. You know."

"Yes. I do know. He--well."

Her smile is a little crooked now.

"We still walk on eggshells sometimes."

Gwen thinks everybody must walk on eggshells sometimes, with Anna.

"Well," she says, "it's good you got in touch with him, at least. I mean--"

She shrugs.

"Yeah."

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