#Moon Knight AUiv

[therapardalis]

[Question from @resurrectedfiles​  (From one of the moon knight boys).]

"Can I lay down on your lap?" ------------

“ ... Sure.” It wasn’t reluctance causing the hesitation before she spoke, only  surprise. Sitting together on the couch wasn’t new. Food, a movie, books - or in this case Thera reading while Marc channel-hopped the TV. The question, though, was a little unexpected; it wasn’t like him to show a vulnerable side.

“One sec ...” She made herself comfortable enough to not move for a while and let him settle, the hand not holding her book resting on his arm. “What’s up? Is Khonshu being an extra large pain?”

[therapardalis]

[ @resurrectedfiles from here.] 29. PRIZE : for one muse to win the other a prize at a carnival. Jake held up the prize for Thera to see. He smiled proudly at her and he held it out for her to grab. "Here. I won it for you just like I said I would." Jake was happy that he was able to win something for her. "This is my first time winning anything at a carnival."

For a second, Thera's jaw fell, then broke just as quickly into a wide smile. Still surprised - startled, even - but delighted along with it as she reached out to take the teddy bear. "You did say ..." She looked at the bear more closely, smoothing the brown plush fur over its forehead before gathering it close to her chest. "Thank you, Jake," Her smile was warm, the bear's round ears tucked under her chin, "he's gorgeous! But ... first time? Really?"

[therapardalis]

[ @resurrectedfiles from here.]

-

Steven leaned close to Thera to kiss her and he blushed at her when he realized that he missed her lips. He blushed and he pulled away from her. "I-I'm sorry. I...tried to kiss you, but I missed...can I try again?"

In movies there were sometimes moments, cliched little scenes where one person turned their head at just the right moment for a kiss aimed at their cheek to catch them on the lips instead. Sweet set pieces where something not meant to happen, did.

But wasn't it just typical that out there in the real world, when one of those moments happened, Thera turned her head the wrong way? Steven leaned in, she thought he was going to say something, and tilted her ear to listen - but then his lips touched her jaw and startled the heck out of them both. She blinked, looking at his and watching the blush creep up his face, "No, my fault, I moved ... and ... yes?"

[therapardalis]

[ @resurrectedfiles from here.]

-

Steven smiled to himself and he glanced at the sky before he looked at Thera. "Tonight is a nice night, don't you think?" He was glad that he didn't have to go out tonight and do something dangerous. Steven smiled at her.

“Mm, yes ...” Thera nodded, faint smile on her lips. The sky was mostly clear, the air crisp but not too cold, though it promised to be so later. Thera snugged her hands into her coat pockets, following Steven’s upward look. London’s light haze faded the stars, but there were still some to see - and the moon, behind a cloud bank as if it were ignoring them both.

“So ...” Her lips pursed a little, “When’s the next bus after this one?” They’d make it to the bus stop in time if they kept going, but, “I don’t feel like I want to hurry.”

[therapardalis]

[Writing Prompt from @resurrectedfiles​' Steven.]

“How are you this perfect?” ------------

"Me?" Thera gave a small, pleased wriggle of her hips, settling them in under his hands, "I don't know about that, love ..." The truth was she considered herself as a long way from 'perfect', but if Steven wanted to think she was, she wouldn't spoil it for him but saying so. Her own fingers stroked his cheek, and she dropped a peck on his lips, "You might be closer to it than me ..."

[therapardalis]

[Autumn Prompt for @resurrectedfiles' Steven.]

[ COLD ]  for  sender  to  give  receiver  their  gloves  or  scarf  because  it’s  chilly. ------------

She almost said no. Maybe should have done, since it wasn't Steven's fault she hadn't rugged up enough for the changing weather. But the gloves were already off, literally, and if she didn't accept he'd be disappointed and then worried - mostly about her being cold and maybe that he'd done something wrong. Which could not be further from the truth.

"Thanks, sweetie ..." The gloves were big on her but already warm, "Are you going to be OK without them?"

[therapardalis]

[ @resurrectedfiles from here.]

-

Jake stood still and stared at Thera, looking her over as she fixed his hair and hat. He wanted to move away from her but he stayed still instead. Jake cleared his throat when she was done. "Thank you." He smiled at her. "Now a kiss?" Jake playfully teased her.

Thera already acted on the impulse, fingers tucking in a few errant curls that were escaping at odd angles at the edges of his cap, when it caught up to her that she might have - or full-on had - overstepped. She kept working because it was too late to stop, then she pulled away quickly with an embarrassed cough of her own.

“You’re welcome.” At least Jake was gracious about it ... at least until the tease. Her eyes narrowed, amused, and she leaned forward - diverting at the last second to peck one on his cheek. “There, how’s that?”

[therapardalis]

[Meme I Know Is There Somewhere from @resurrectedfiles.]

RELAX :  for both muses to share a hot tub or hot spring. (from whichever moon knight boy you want) ------------

Thera's eyelids had been starting to droop a little, the warmth of the water and the steady easing of her muscles urging her to close her eyes, if only to relax even more. They flickered fully open again as she spotted a familiar figure making his way across the wooden deck toward the tub.

He looked good in a pair of black swim trunks that made her think Marc or Jake had chosen them, but there was also a tiny hunch of his shoulders and shyness in his smile that gave Steven away. She smiled back, tucking up her legs for a moment so he could climb in without them being in the way.

"Come on in, the water's fine!"

[therapardalis]

[Affection Meme from @resurrectedfiles' Steven.]

[ Forehead ] sender kisses receiver's forehead. ------------

"In my defence ... I tried?"

Thera could feel colour rising in the apples of her cheeks, though it was a guess as to exactly why; the fact that the vegan dish might not have come out quite the way it was supposed to, or that she'd gone to the trouble of cooking it in the first place.

"I mean - " She broke off as Steven moved closer, closed her eyes with a hint of a smile at the feeling of his lips on her brow. "Guess I should stop worrying, huh?"

[therapardalis]

[ @resurrectedfiles from here.]

Meme: Swim Lessons !

Steven smiled softly at her and shivered as he swam closer to her. "I'm sorry. Get closer to me, we can keep each other warm and wait for our bodies to get used to the cold temperature." He held out his arms to her.

One thing Thera had to admit from time to time was that she didn’t much enjoy the cold. Small doses she didn’t mind, temporary things like walks in the snow, or, indeed, cold water until she adjusted to it or was moving around enough to keep warm.

Or ... she had to grin at the hopeful look in Steven’s eyes as he came closer. This was a bit more forward than usual, but she was certain it was him rather than one of the others. “Hmm ...” She moved across, slipping her arms around his waist, “That sounds like an excellent idea ...”

[therapardalis]

[ @resurrectedfiles from here.]

Marc grabbed the phone before Steven and Jake could stop him. He dialed Thera's number and he waited for her to answer. "Don't hang up. Its me...I wanted to-you're very pretty. I wish I could fu-kiss you. I want us to be us. Be together like other couples." Marc slurred his words.

The caller ID was her first clue. But then … “Marc - ?” The voice sounded like him, the cadence she was used to picking out. But what he was saying - first it was more like something she’d expect from Jake, and second …

Second, whichever alter it was her eyebrows were climbing sky-high. She was going to have to unpack this properly when she had the chance, but as the surprise faded her good sense caught up to something else. “Marc, honey, how much have you had to drink?”

[therapardalis]

resurrectedfiles​:

-

Steven shifted on he feet and he looked at her, nodding at her words and listening to her. “I am glad that you can help them, but I was…hoping that you would be interested in it so we could talk about it…together….” He tried his best to be confident and seem brave. “I…would like to…talk to you…more often…” Steven thought about the words he wanted to say to her carefully and how he could express himself to her. He sighed heavily and waited for her response and he nervously glanced between her and the books and he shifted more. “I know that I am different and I know what everyone else says about me, but I won’t hurt you and we can talk as just friends if that makes you more comfortable…”

Thera blinked. He was giving her quite a bit to unpack, there, and maybe it was odd that she latched onto this part first, but, “ ... What does everyone say about you?” A genuine question and a bit surprised; she hadn't seen Steven a lot aside from his visits to the library, and none of the ‘being said’ had made it to her ears. “This is Nevermore.” She added gently, leaning with her forearms resting on the countertop, “Everybody’s different here.”

Her head tilted a little as the rest of what he’d said caught up. Was he ... asking her out? He certainly looked nervous enough to be. The tip of Thera’s tongue touched her lips, and she gave a smile. “I’d like that. Talking more often, I mean. Maybe we could go for coffee after classes, get to know each other a bit better?”