answering machine

[rivalappeared]

"Hey, you've reached Green Oak. If this is League business, leave a message. If not, I've got caller ID. What are you, 70? Whatever.

BEEP."

[Feel free to leave Green a voice message or a text message here, with date and time.]

Comments

[travelingbelle]

"Well I know I can count on you for that."

Despite the fact that the rain was still hammering on the window panes and a bright flash was filling the room with light, Blue finally yawned against the phone receiver, finishing with a little, "mm." The hand tangled in her hair eased, and she let her eyes drift closed.

"I'd be worried otherwise."

Though if it was her own fault he stopped, she mused somewhat half-heartedly to herself, then she'd probably lose the privilege of being able to worry about it, wouldn't she?

[rivalappeared]

Green grinned at the sound of Blue's yawn, letting his own eyes drift closed.

"You're yawning," he said, stating the obvious. "I guess I helped."

[travelingbelle]

"I already said as much," she mumbled as the sleepiness began to descend much more heavily.

"... Thank you. For putting up with me."

[rivalappeared]

"It doesn't hurt to hear it again."

There was a yawn of his own, and yet another rustle of sheets as he adjusted.

"Blue, I'm not putting up with anything. You know how I feel about that."

[travelingbelle]

"At least let me apologize for keeping you up."

What she really wanted to apologize for was for being completely unfair, but she had a sleepy suspicion that he wouldn't have let that one fly.

[rivalappeared]

"If you have to," he replied.

Really, it's not like he minded. Just the chance to speak to her again, like this. Her voice on the other end of the line answering in soft, familiar tones rather than stilted awkward ones. It didn't deserve an apology of any kind.

[travelingbelle]

"Then I'm sorry," she answered for him.

There was a pause, in which there was only the sound of her breathing that was coming slow and even as it should have been. There was no room to doubt that he had in fact helped. For a moment, it was almost as though she had already fallen asleep on him.

"... but I liked talking to you like this," Blue spoke up again slowly.

[rivalappeared]

"Well, there's no reason why we can't. Talk like this."

Except for The Big Reason. But.

[travelingbelle]

"No... there isn't."

The Big Reason was stupid. Stupid and completely valid and actually not that stupid at all. "I don't want things to be weird..." She tried to stifle a smaller yawn, the sleepiness that was kicking in now that she was calmer making it easier to speak her mind. "I don't want to be confusing either..."

[rivalappeared]

He wished he could assure her she wasn't, but everything kind of was. It wouldn't do her any good to say it, though.

"I think it's okay if we talk. Like before. If you want." It might be the only choice he had if he wanted to maintain a relationship with her.

[travelingbelle]

There was a soft, almost self-deprecating sigh of a laugh. "I don't know if we're even capable of avoiding it," she stated. They had already slipped back into it so easily, she couldn't picture it taking long for it to happen again unless they actively avoided each other.

She didn't want to do that. She didn't want to hurt him carelessly either.

[rivalappeared]

"Probably not." They had simply known each other for too long.

But there would always be something different. And Green would always know that he had caused it.

"How are you feeling?" he checked in again.

[travelingbelle]

It was comforting at least that he seemed to realize the futility of trying Not to talk like they usually did as well. And that he was okay with it. (He was the one that said as much already anyway.)

"... Much better," she admitted. There was still a weird, fluttery feeling in her person, but it was nothing completely awful. The important part was that it was easier for her to breathe. Blue would take bizarrely fluttery over painfully tight any day.

[rivalappeared]

Green sighed.

"... Do you want me to stay on the phone some more? We don't even have to talk."

[travelingbelle]

"... You don't have to do that..."

[rivalappeared]

"I just want to make sure you fall asleep," Green admitted quietly.

[travelingbelle]

Blue bit her lip. If she were being honest, that was exactly what she wanted. She scolded herself, shutting her eyes.

"... All right."

[rivalappeared]

"All right," he repeated back, letting his breath settle into a slow, deep pattern.

[travelingbelle]

She listened to the sound of his breathing, the rhythm of her own falling into tempo with it the longer she did so.

If nothing else, she knew she could still talk to him. That was enough reason to not regret bothering him so late and for so long. She was still confused though about her own feelings and what she should do. That was still going to take some time, much to her own chagrin. But maybe it'd get easier.

For now she just kept breathing. In. Out. Slow and steady. His was there too. Out and in. A gentle lull. Eventually, finally, her own breathing fell out of sync with his as it slipped into the deeper breaths of sleep.