Overland Park, KS, A Weekday in October (Friday Fandom Time)

[vanillajello]

Inspecting the damage in the mirror, Kate poked at her nose and winced a little when that proved that yes, it still hurt. The slight swelling had gone down, though, and there was only slight bruising on either side of her nose, so it could've been a lot worse and Kate knew that. It'd fade before the interview with the Teach Abroad people next week.

But it was still enough for her to scrap any and all plans of hopping a portal to Fandom right now. Didn't feel like explaining her face to any randoms, and it was still too sore to the touch to cover up with makeup. So, she was going to be staying home, yes.

That didn't mean she wasn't going to communicate with the outside world. She'd ignored her phone for most of the previous night, too shellshocked and tired to deal with words and all that stuff. She was getting around to it now, though. Turning her phone back on, she noticed there were two texts that made her crack the faintest of smiles as she sent back a reply and shook her head a little at Bobby drinking appletinis.

And then, a message to Bod, who she hoped had just assumed she'd gotten distracted in the middle of their texting last night. She knew how he could worry.

sorry for vanishing last night, we had a situation happen. everything's fine now though.

More or less. With a sigh, she flopped down onto their bed, phone still in hand.

[ooc: NFB, but open to calls/texts, even from people who aren't the bf!]

Comments

[therewaslife]

Why does your face hurt?

When he got her answer to this, he'd decide if freaking out was going to happen or not.

[vanillajello]

because t punched me in the face.

Commencing freakout in three, two...

[therewaslife]

Bod stared at that response for a little while and let his worry start eating and gnawing at him now. It was probably as freaked out as he ever got since he was fairly low key at the most exciting of times.

WHAT? All right, perhaps that was an indication of a freak out. Did you go to the hospital?

[vanillajello]

Kate sighed at the caps. Because she was pretty sure he was freaking out.

no. my nose isn't broken or anything, no hospital needed.

[therewaslife]

It was moderate freaking out! He was worried.

Why did she punch you? You should get it checked anyway. You could have a concussion or soft tissue damage or something. Kate, please.

[vanillajello]

Choosing to brave the freakout (however moderate) and the possible pain from talking, Kate pressed the call button next.

Reassuring him through text would take too damn long.

[therewaslife]

When Bod saw who was calling, he thought about picking it up and immediately starting in on trying to get her to see a doctor but he remembered his manners and just couldn't make himself do that.

"Hullo?" he said instead.

[vanillajello]

"I don't have a concussion, Bod," Kate told him, because she had less care for manners than he did. If she sounded a little quieter and just generally not quite herself, that was because she was trying not to move her face too much, just in case. "I just have some bruises."

[therewaslife]

"You don't know that, you're not a physician," Bod said, unable not to sound worried. "I've been struck in the face before, I know how badly that hurts."

[vanillajello]

"I've had a concussion before, and I know how that feels," Kate retorted, though softly. "I'm fine, Bod."

[therewaslife]

"You're definitely not fine," Bod said, rubbing a hand over his face. "You've already told me you're not fine. I still think you should have your face looked at."

[vanillajello]

Kate sighed. "Fine, fine, I'll drag my ass to a doctor's. Happy?"

[therewaslife]

"No, but I'm relieved," he said, sighing quietly. "What exactly happened?"

[vanillajello]

There was the sound of shuffling as Kate paused and busied herself with getting more comfy against the pillows.

"I don't know," she sighed. "Mom had some trouble with her professor or something, and then T got wasted, and..."

She paused again, looking for the right words.

[therewaslife]

"She's never been violent before from what I've seen and you've told me," he said but it wasn't an accusation. He was worried for her mother too. "Is she all right?"

[vanillajello]

"Mom? She's embarrassed. She's sorry." They hadn't really talked today. "I don't blame her."

Much.

[therewaslife]

Bod nodded and was quiet for a few moments. "Should I come out there? Do you need me?"

He had to offer.

[vanillajello]

"You have work," Kate replied, which was not exactly a no though she wasn't sure having him around her bruised face would help things. "Right?"

[therewaslife]

"Today and tomorrow, yes," he said because lying would have been stupid. "I could come after I my shift at the library ends tomorrow, if you'd like."

[vanillajello]

"Yeah, I guess that'd work." Maybe she'd be able to put some makeup over the bruises tomorrow, even. "I miss you."

[therewaslife]

"I miss you too," he said, closing his eyes and sighing again. "I miss you quite a lot."

[vanillajello]

"And you didn't even need to play the hero and get hit to say that," she replied, wryly. "Lucky you."

[therewaslife]

"I wish I would have gotten hit instead of you," Bod answered quietly.

[vanillajello]

"No," Kate replied, equally quiet, and soft. "You wouldn't have done what I did. I don't mind that I got punched 'cause at least I stopped T from doing something bad."

[therewaslife]

"No, I wouldn't have done what you did, of course, but I still wish it was me instead of you," he said because it was the truth. He didn't want to see or hear that she was hurt.