[ She flushes, even as she meets his gaze brightly. Ever since they were kids, she's always felt like when he looks at her, he's seeing her, not whatever confusing mix of expectation and fantasy everyone else seems to end up putting on her.
And he's never disappointed when she's her. It makes her chest swell, and she wishes she could tell him what that means to her. The feeling is only stronger now, that even like this, especially like this, that's still how it feels.
He really wanted to go on a date with her. Not just the pretty girl from the bar, or the pretty girl their age. She wasn't sure Cloud even thought she was pretty, and honestly, she didn't need to.
Except when he compliments her, she's turning even redder, dipping her head down in an embarrassed laugh. Okay, she did care if he thought she was pretty. Her hand brushes briefly on his thigh, before she wonders if that's too much and withdraws it to accept a menu.
Cloud...orders. She glances at him, her face wavering for a moment. She hasn't seen anything too off since they got here, though she's been with him less. Maybe....maybe being here has been good for him.
This time when he says that, she puts her hand more firmly on his knee, closing the tiny gap between their thighs. Her heart is pounding, but this feels important.
She knows what it is to feel like she's missed her chance, and anything could happen. To either of them. And-- ]
I'm glad we're getting this chance, even if this isn't how we ever could have expected to.
[ I like you. It's...redundant. A childish urge to just label what she feels then cover her face and wait to be accepted or rejected. It doesn't quite make it to her tongue, but it doesn't make it to her face.
She has absolutely no idea what she's doing. But -- if he's here, she can figure it out. ]
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And he's never disappointed when she's her. It makes her chest swell, and she wishes she could tell him what that means to her. The feeling is only stronger now, that even like this, especially like this, that's still how it feels.
He really wanted to go on a date with her. Not just the pretty girl from the bar, or the pretty girl their age. She wasn't sure Cloud even thought she was pretty, and honestly, she didn't need to.
Except when he compliments her, she's turning even redder, dipping her head down in an embarrassed laugh. Okay, she did care if he thought she was pretty. Her hand brushes briefly on his thigh, before she wonders if that's too much and withdraws it to accept a menu.
Cloud...orders. She glances at him, her face wavering for a moment. She hasn't seen anything too off since they got here, though she's been with him less. Maybe....maybe being here has been good for him.
This time when he says that, she puts her hand more firmly on his knee, closing the tiny gap between their thighs. Her heart is pounding, but this feels important.
She knows what it is to feel like she's missed her chance, and anything could happen. To either of them. And-- ]
I'm glad we're getting this chance, even if this isn't how we ever could have expected to.
[ I like you. It's...redundant. A childish urge to just label what she feels then cover her face and wait to be accepted or rejected. It doesn't quite make it to her tongue, but it doesn't make it to her face.
She has absolutely no idea what she's doing. But -- if he's here, she can figure it out. ]