It's not the resignation that tries to pull out the edge of his mouth, fond regardless of circumstances.
It's the way, even past that resigned question, calling his bluff and realizing like she always knew, that isn't, that she's already eying the mountain. Not like she's picking which spot where to give up on, but like she's critically taking in what she's signed up for. The high rising peek, and the stairs, and the distances from bottom and top.
The look that is all analytical, curious, and challenged all at once. Like the fact it unnerves her is the exact reason to scale the damn thing. Just to have done it. Just to throw herself at it and win. Another thing he can't help but admire about her. Another reason she's always good to have at his sides. Unlike a lot of the rest of the world, challenges don't stop her.
If anything, she goes the way he does, even harder because challenges, real ones, are rare after what they do every day.
Because if anything out there is still a challenge, it's a terrifying and exhilarating next check off to prove they can beat as well.
"Try not to fall down." Steve said, trying to lighten his tone, even as it hedged straight past careful into strict sardonicism. Even when other memories sharpen against the irreverent, heavy handed warning. "I've already carried someone back down it once this year, and I'm not doing again."
Which is a lie. A very, obvious, bald faced one even for someone who has known him all these years. Steve would help anyone and everyone who actually needed it. But the look is still even and heavy with put upon exasperation, like the whole event must have drastically put him out.
Like there hadn't been any fondness for that morning, even that part, before it went all to hell with Peterson.
Lori running up it laughing, showing off and cheating, more than once. Before she was yanked out.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-26 03:15 am (UTC)It's the way, even past that resigned question, calling his bluff and realizing like she always knew, that isn't, that she's already eying the mountain. Not like she's picking which spot where to give up on, but like she's critically taking in what she's signed up for. The high rising peek, and the stairs, and the distances from bottom and top.
The look that is all analytical, curious, and challenged all at once. Like the fact it unnerves her is the exact reason to scale the damn thing. Just to have done it. Just to throw herself at it and win. Another thing he can't help but admire about her. Another reason she's always good to have at his sides. Unlike a lot of the rest of the world, challenges don't stop her.
If anything, she goes the way he does, even harder because challenges, real ones, are rare after what they do every day.
Because if anything out there is still a challenge, it's a terrifying and exhilarating next check off to prove they can beat as well.
"Try not to fall down." Steve said, trying to lighten his tone, even as it hedged straight past careful into strict sardonicism. Even when other memories sharpen against the irreverent, heavy handed warning. "I've already carried someone back down it once this year, and I'm not doing again."
Which is a lie. A very, obvious, bald faced one even for someone who has known him all these years. Steve would help anyone and everyone who actually needed it. But the look is still even and heavy with put upon exasperation, like the whole event must have drastically put him out.
Like there hadn't been any fondness for that morning, even that part, before it went all to hell with Peterson.
Lori running up it laughing, showing off and cheating, more than once. Before she was yanked out.