Needful Things Building; Monday

[totalwildcard]

The Dream House was gone by morning, replaced again with the antique store and the apartment above it, both with all four walls intact, and the color scheme decidedly less pink.

And in said apartment, late in the morning, Harley woke up with a start. Like fully bolting upright and everything, with a gasp.

"... Barbie looks like me."

She couldn't believe it. She brought her hands up to her face, smooshing her cheeks.

"Like me."

This jaw! These cheekbones under her skin!

Something about it was making her eyes well up.

At least, until something else about the weekend came back to her. "Bruce!" Oh, God, he'd been eating something obviously plastic, all weekend long! Harley scrambled out of bed to find him - only to, yes, find him curled up in one of his usual spots, seemingly right as rain.

She still ended up taking him on a long walk around town. It took a while for her to be convinced that just as magically as he'd turned into a toy dog for the weekend, whatever the plastic stuff he'd been eating (and, to be fair, pooping out at what seemed like an alarming rate for a fully functioning gastric system) had just as magically turned into actually edible stuff in his guts when he'd turned back. He seemed fine! He was leaving behind dog shit that was the usual level of disgusting!

Still, between the long walk and then breakfast for both him and herself, the morning had already turned into the afternoon by the time something occurred to Harley, and sent her bolting down the stairs into the store.

There, she found the display of dolls of varying ages and kinds.

And there, tucked near the back, was a Barbie. Harley carefully pulled her out from between a Victorian-ish porcelain doll and a fairly creepy 1950s baby, and smiled down at her.

It was a little watery, but there was no one here to see it, was there?

"Oh, there you are."

Something in her chest ached a little.

(expecting one!)

Comments

[totalwildcard]

"Well they do say you should leave some things to the experts..." Harley teased.

Also the less said about how freaking dopey her smile turned at the kiss, the better.

[hasaknightjob]

"You are smarter than me," Marc said, by way of agreeing with her.

No comment on if he noticed the smile.

[totalwildcard]

"In matters of fun for sure."

And book smarts, but she was really fun-focused right now.

[hasaknightjob]

"Feels like saying you're better at fun than me isn't exactly a huge compliment," Marc said.

Because arguably some rocks were better at fun than he was.

[totalwildcard]

"Not all facts need to feel like compliments," Harley returned. "You're terrible at fun, I'm great, that's that!"

[hasaknightjob]

"So good thing I found you," Marc said.

[totalwildcard]

"Real convenient for ya," Harley replied with a smirk.

And just... Took in the sight of his face, for a moment.

[hasaknightjob]

"The commute's not bad," Marc told her. He looked back, not sure what she wanted but fine for her doing whatever she was doing.

[totalwildcard]

Just suddenly getting distracted by the thought that he'd come by to check up on her. And that he'd made no offended noises about her blubbering, earlier. And that he was still here and letting her crack her dumb jokes and being quippy back at her.

No big deal.

Only Harley leaned up to kiss him. It'd been a long while without one, that was her excuse! Not that she needed one.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc had been kind of aware of how long it'd been since they actually kissed. Not normally a thing that was top of mind but, again, it was an impossible option this past weekend and that made it different somehow.

So he had no problem kissing her back. Nothing heated, more like getting familiar once more.

[totalwildcard]

Exactly. They were in tune with each other there, because Harley was also bringing an easy yet warm vibe to things.

Getting her fill, for sure, but in a gentle way. Lingering.

[hasaknightjob]

There was also that thing where it wasn't just that Harley was unavailable, but that who was available was very much not Harley.

So Marc was particularly focused on reminding himself what Harley felt like and, well, everything else. Appreciating that it was her. Accept no substitutes.

[totalwildcard]

Barbie wouldn't have been at all into kissing, anyway.

But Harley's hand cupped his cheek like she needed the extra contact.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc had had zero interest in kissing Barbie.

Harley, on the other hand, he pulled closer. He turned so they could be face to face more easily as the kissing went on.

[totalwildcard]

So thoughtful!

Harley, for her part, just leaned in more as best she could. Which was not a lot, considering he'd already pulled her closer, but the thought and the intention were clearly there!

[hasaknightjob]

It made it easier for Marc to put both arms around her, so that was a bonus? Sure, he'd held her downstairs but that was while she was upset. Holding her when she was - content? Happy? - was different.

[totalwildcard]

It got much less snot on him, that was for sure.

But yes, there were even some of her happy noises, now. Faint and muffled but unquestionably there, as her hand found its way into his hair.

[hasaknightjob]

Happy noises were good. Happy noises might get Marc encouraging her to get into his lap if she wanted.

[totalwildcard]

Let's be honest: Harley had already been about to do that all by herself.

So as soon as there was encouragement? She was getting on his lap in record time, happy and eager and unafraid to show either.

[hasaknightjob]

Once she was settled, Marc wrapped both his arms around her nice and tight, taking full advantage of how easy that was to do now that she was closer.

He may have even sighed a little. In something that maybe sounded contented? But it was Marc so that was probably a trick of the wind outside or something.

[totalwildcard]

Maybe it was even Bruce?

But of course, when Harley sighed in return, it was just Harley sighing. Content, and pleased, and just... well, happy to melt into his embrace as best she could.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc had one hand on the small of her back, the other arm wrapped around her shoulders so that she could be held close in more than one place. When there was a moment to breathe, he said, for her ears only, "Good seeing you again."

That was possibly not entirely about the past weekend.

[totalwildcard]

Harley pressed her forehead to his like being any less close than that was not even an option.

"Yeah," she murmured, "you too."

It wasn't at all about the weekend, with her.

[hasaknightjob]

What do you know? That got something like a smile out of him.

"Both here now," Marc said.

Then, because Marc's life was what it was, he specified, "You and me."

[totalwildcard]

"Me and you," Harley echoed, smiling back. Bigger and wider than he did, as was often the case. "The best way."