Overland Park, KS, Monday Afternoon

[vanillajello]

Saturday had seen a very weird trip to the mall, and as a consequence, Sunday had been pretty quiet. Tara had woken up as herself again, and everything was a little awkward. It wasn’t as if Tara’s condition was a big family secret, but it was out now, and it affected the mood in the house. Everyone tried to do their own thing, and conversations revolved around trivial stuff. Kate’s family, in an effort to make light conversation, asked questions about life in Fandom and where Leto was from. They didn’t know how much editing went into answering them.

And today the house was empty apart from Kate and Leto. Max had gone to work, Tara had gone somewhere with Charmaine, and Marshall had gone to visit his best friend. It seemed like they were all maybe slightly running away, glad to put the weekend behind them.

Kate was holed up in her room for the moment. She had taken a shower, and after getting dressed and blowdrying her hair, she rummaged around her desk drawer until she found a lighter and a near-empty packet of cigarettes. She took one, and after opening her door a little to signal it was okay to come in, she went to smoke the cigarette by the open window.


[For the boy. NFB due to distance.]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

"What?" Leto asked, raising an eyebrow when he noticed her expression.

[vanillajello]

"Nothing," she grinned and shook her head.

[future_sandworm]

"Now you're teasing me," Leto said, not seeming to really object.

[vanillajello]

"Ooh, how perceptive of you to notice!" Kate chuckled, poking lightly at his shoulder.

[future_sandworm]

Well, he could tease her back.

Leto leaned close, his lips almost touching hers.

[vanillajello]

Kate leaned away from him just a little - just enough to avoid contact - and tilted her head to the side and smirked. "Leto, you know doing that in this house can be bad for your health."

[future_sandworm]

"Oh, I'm quite sure I can defend myself against your mother," He replied, not pulling back.

[vanillajello]

"But Mom, Dad and Moosh combined?" she asked, one eyebrow raised. "Moosh helped Buck kick Ben's ass."

[future_sandworm]

"Kate, should I have to I could defend myself against your whole family," he said. "But they are not here."

[vanillajello]

"Would you believe me if I told you they all have a sixth sense about these things?" Oh, the smirking was never going to end.

[future_sandworm]

Now Leto grinned. "So they could come barging in through the door any minute?" He still didn't pull away.

[vanillajello]

"Uh huh," she nodded. It was getting kind of hard to think with him so close. "Buck's gonna kick the door down."

[future_sandworm]

"Wouldn't it be easier to simply open it?" Leto smirked.

[vanillajello]

"Sometimes he likes to be flashy," she shrugged with a grin, leaning closer just the tiniest bit.

[future_sandworm]

Leto took that as a sign that running a hand up along Kate's arm wouldn't be something she objected to. "And destroy family property?"

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

Too bad that they were so wrapped up in their, uh, conversation, that they didn't hear the door open.

Charmaine made a beeline for Kate's room for two reasons. One, she had a present. Two, she wanted to meet this boy with the blue blue eyes.

"Kate! I got you a pres..." she pushed the door open and stopped talking. "Uh, never mind, it can wait."

[vanillajello]

Kate practically jumped away from Leto.

"Aunt Charmaine?" She sounded both surprised and mildly angry. A little voice in her brain told her that it was in fact hilarious that Charmaine had barged in when she did, but Kate didn't find it too funny.

[future_sandworm]

Leto did think that her timing could have been better, but he wasn't going to be impolite to Kate's relatives.

He managed to look quite at ease despite the situation. "Hello. I don't believe we've met."

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

"I'm Kate's Aunt Charmaine," she said, introducing herself. "I'm the normal one in the family."

She gave Kate an apologetic smile. "I'll just... go see what Tara's doing in the kitchen. Catch you guys later!"

Which would be when Tara came up the stairs and stood behind Charmaine. "Kate. Leto. What are you guys up to?"

[vanillajello]

Kate was blushing, and bit her tongue to not say something about Charmaine's normalcy.

"Nothing, Mom," she said, shooting Leto a quick glance. "Just hanging out."

[future_sandworm]

"It's an honour to meet you, Charmaine," Leto replied, inclining his head slightly. He wasn't sure how she wanted to be addressed, so he compensated by being a little more formal.

He returned Kate's glance and smirked a little.

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

"Why don't you guys come down and join us in the kitchen for a snack," Tara said, her tone indicating that it was more of an order than a suggestion.

"Geez, Tara, they don't wanna hang out with old folks like you," Charmaine said. "Leave them be."

[vanillajello]

Kate gave Leto an exasperated look, but smiled at her mother and her aunt.

"No, it's fine, I'm kinda hungry anyway. The kitchen's good, right Leto?"

[future_sandworm]

"I have no objection to that," Leto said diplomatically.

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

"Great, we'll see you down there," Charmaine said, pushing Tara way from Kate's door and to the top of the stairs.