text to rocky:

[that_cost]

Nolan gets to hang out in the hospital for another day or two and my apartment is too quiet. I also think I'm starting to get on Nolan's nerves being around all the time. Do you want to come over and hang out? I'll make you dinner and we can play something. I have Octodad: Dadliest Catch and want to try it on co-op mode.

Comments

[rockysmash]

[Rocky's in the middle of a sip of water when she picks up the dog tags, and he hastily swallows so he can answer, wiping a dribble of water away from his mouth with the back of his hand.]

Oh my God, I would have waited to send 'em if I thought you'd be doing a 'read your mail' vid. [He smiles sheepishly--what? He's not blushing. Why would you think he's blushing?] I just spend way too much time on those nerd gear websites, and I saw 'em, and...I dunno. I had you pegged as a Browncoat.

[But speaking of everything going to shit...he does smell a shift in her chemosignals, and so after a moment of wrestling with himself he sets his water on the counter and moves over to hug her again. This time, it's not so polite: it's a bear hug, complete with tucking her head under his chin and rocking her just a little, a tiny sway as he just envelops her with his arms and his scent.

Mine.

He ignores the voice of the wolf in his head...a little less than he has been.]

What happened to you and Nolan is never gonna happen again. [He mumbles the promise against the top of her head as he presses his nose there for a second.] That's not a threat or a promise, it's a fact. It's--what I do back home. For my pack. Do you understand?

[that_cost]

You're the reason we were doing a 'read your mail' vid. We both saw who sent it and set the living room up within seconds. It was the highlight of the whole thing.

[ She goes to say more, wanting to say something along the lines of there's now fan art of her and of them, but the way he moves towards her silences her and she watches him with curiosity.

Now, her kind? They're not the most touchy-feely of creatures. Charlie's an exception. She probably got it from her mother. Victoria was a hugger and a cuddler, so this was very welcome.

It was the most welcome thing to happen in weeks.

With the dog tags gripped tightly in one hand, both arms go around Rock and she practically buries herself against his chest, eyes closing. She listens to what he says and sighs, relaxing more than she has since Nolan got hurt, letting out a soft "mm-hmm" when he asks if she understands. ]

...would you think I was weird if I said I didn't want you to let go for a bit? This is really nice.

[rockysmash]

[Rocky snorts at that, like she's crazy just for asking, and to prove his point he hunkers in a little closer to press his face against her neck and shoulder. It's intimate, but absolutely platonic as he shuts his eyes and tries to will comfort into her, to take all that radiant heat he can feel coming off her body and give it back to her with the same soothing, cheerful heat.]

Werewolf, remember? Cuddling's kind of our thing. Just say 'when' if you've had enough.

[And that's it. He just...stays there, just holds her. After a little bit, he straightens back up, but just so he can tuck her head under his chin again and get more comfortable.

And that's...it.]

[that_cost]

I remember.

[ She laughs some at him pressing his face against her neck and shoulder, almost pulling away because it's a bit new, but she likes it. She's more than fine with it. Her eyes open softly as she leans her head against his for a second, just enjoying everything about being held. ]

You're good to me. I appreciate that.

[ Tilting her head back to look at him, a grin on her face, she's subtle about letting him know she's hit enough. At the same time, if this happened again? She wouldn't fight it. ]

Thank you.

[rockysmash]

[Rocky smiles down at her, his hand drifting up to cradle her cheek for a long moment. It almost seems like he might kiss her...

But instead, he leans forward and nuzzles her forehead, a quiet, lupine growl rolling out of his chest, deep and soft and wholly content.]

It's what pack is for, silly bird.

[that_cost]

[ Charlie leans into his touch some, eyes almost closing. There's her own sign of contentment, a faint hum that lasts only a second as a slow smile spreads across her face at Rocky's growl. ]

And I'm part of your pack?

[ This is kinda surprising, never mind the fact that he's said it a few times already. ]

We have exaltation's. That's what we call our loved ones, the people we consider ours.

[ She's quiet fora moment, thinking over how Rocky's presence since everything went south had been soothing and settling. Steadying. ]

You're part of that.