IC CONTACT - MASK OR MENACE

[performance]

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Comments

[performance]

Only almost?

[ He still hasn't touched his, except for that first taste of frosting. ]

[maglevflash]

I've seen worse.

[performance]

Well, you're probably the prettiest girl in this wing. And you're still pulling off the cool thing, scotch tape or no.

[maglevflash]

[God, if she hadn't known before had they were best friends, this would have nailed it. They are so alike.]

Well good. I work hard on this reputation. I'd hate to be shown up by a girl with a broken leg or something.

[performance]

[ Excuse you, Robin's flirting is way, way smoother. Which isn't actually saying much, but. ]

And yet you make it look so effortless!

[maglevflash]

[Both of you flirt hilariously.

She snorts and nudges him with her foot in return.]

If you keep being so adorable I'm going to have to do something drastic.

[performance]

Will I like it?

[maglevflash]

That depends on how much affection you can handle before you fly away.

[performance]

I'm not allergic to it, if that's what you're implying.

[maglevflash]

Well good. I'd hate for you to develop a rash.

[performance]

Take your best shot.

[maglevflash]

[Well now she has to get up, so she can lean over and hug him; careful not to dislodge his glasses as she pulls him close. She's not Aunt Cass by a long shot, but she puts everything she has into her hugs.

It's gratitude and support all at once. A thousand words she can't hold on her tongue wrapped up in the grip of her arms around his shoulders.]

[performance]

[ Robin hugs her back, gentle and careful of her injuries. He lets out a slow breath, his shoulders shaking just slightly. It should feel condescending, he thinks. She feels sorry for him. He knows it. He should be bristling at this.

But instead he just melts into the hug, trying not to let tears spring to his eyes again. ]

[maglevflash]

[She's getting just as much comfort out of this as she's trying to give. The reaffirmation that she's not as alone as Crane had been trying to make her think. He's not the only one fighting helplessness and she wants him to know that he's not alone either.]

[performance]

[ He does pull back eventually, blinking rapidly behind his glasses and glancing away sheepishly. ]

... thanks. I, uh. I guess I kinda needed that.

[maglevflash]

[She squeezes his shoulder reassuringly, and sits back down, wincing.]

I'm glad there's at least something I can still do right.