The kiss on the nose made him smile. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”
He nuzzled her back for a moment, then nodded toward the table. “And speaking of meals, shall we finish this o-one? Y-you did really well with the lasagna; we should keep that recipe.”
Her heart swelled at his compliment, pressing her palm against the spot from where it beat and hiding a smile. She felt so elated knowing her skills were improving from before as she had tried her best for months now to become better. Grace had helped her a great deal as she was a master in the kitchen.
“W-Well that’s what I meant, love. We can take this into the living room and eat it there while watching the movie,” she offered, beginning to stand up from her seat. “They say movies tend to make people hungry.”
Or else why else would people eat popcorn in the cimema?
“Oh. Oh of course!” Jack gave a small, embarrassed chuckle. “I’m sorry. I-I think the trip’s left me a little drained; I’m not catching on as fast as I should. But yes, that sounds nice.”
He helped Katelynn gather up the plates and glasses, and carried them over to the beanbags in front of the TV. “So what would you like to watch?” He’d leave the choice up to her – he’d be happy with anything.
Hoping he was nice and cozy as she helped him settle into his chair, Katelynn moved over to his movie selection and ran her fingers across the titles, debating the answer. A lot of them seemed like good choices but she had to pick one that would really work for a tired mind such as his. All that jet lag was probably catching up to him.
Giving a cry of triumph for her choice as she pulled a copy of the Muppet Movie out, Katelynn popped it into the machine and reclaimed her place snuggled up to Jack’s side, food forgotten. All she wanted was right by her side, returned to her. She knew it wouldn’t be the only time he would be away from her side so she knew she had to soak it up when he was around and learn to deal with it.
For now she just enjoyed being there, snuggled into his chest and watching movies with him.
Tag: back on familiar soil
Back on Familiar Soil
“Of course Jack,” she replied, quite content to just stay home with him. Though she had stayed inside for too long while he had been gone she didn’t mind it this time since they would be together.
“We can even go take our m-meals into the living room and eat them there and relax? Just have a good movie night with whatever we can agree on.”
Getting out of his arms slowly and raising a hand to cup his cheek gently, she pecked his nose as she had missed all the little intimate gestures of love. It had become second nature to her.
The kiss on the nose made him smile. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”
He nuzzled her back for a moment, then nodded toward the table. “And speaking of meals, shall we finish this o-one? Y-you did really well with the lasagna; we should keep that recipe.”
Her heart swelled at his compliment, pressing her palm against the spot from where it beat and hiding a smile. She felt so elated knowing her skills were improving from before as she had tried her best for months now to become better. Grace had helped her a great deal as she was a master in the kitchen.
“W-Well that’s what I meant, love. We can take this into the living room and eat it there while watching the movie,” she offered, beginning to stand up from her seat. “They say movies tend to make people hungry.”
Or else why else would people eat popcorn in the cimema?
“Oh. Oh of course!” Jack gave a small, embarrassed chuckle. “I’m sorry. I-I think the trip’s left me a little drained; I’m not catching on as fast as I should. But yes, that sounds nice.”
He helped Katelynn gather up the plates and glasses, and carried them over to the beanbags in front of the TV. “So what would you like to watch?” He’d leave the choice up to her – he’d be happy with anything.
Back on Familiar Soil
“You’re so wonderful Jack..” she whispered before she could stop herself, feeling her cheeks grow brightly when she realized what she said. All these months together and she still couldn’t stop blushing around him – he would always have that affect on her for as long as she held that warm love for him in her heart.
And she knew she always would.
Trying to give him a thankful smile as she held his gaze, she cuddled into his chest and said, “Y-You know..now that you’re back..maybe we could take a day off and just be together? Go somewhere fun or just r-relax all day and watch movies? If you want I mean..”
She was pretty much up for anything as long as it was with him and figured they deserved a little time off together though she wouldn’t push it if he didn’t want to.
As she cuddled against him, he rested his cheek on the top of her head. “I’d love that. I really would. I’ve missed you so much, Katelynn.”
He swallowed. “I think I like the idea of spending a day in, if it’s all the same. I n-need some time to r-recuperate after the trip, and I’d much rather do it with you. Just a quiet day at home.” He wasn’t as afraid of venturing out as he’d once been, but Jack was still a shy, introverted man, and probably always would be. He didn’t add that staying home also meant they were much less likely to run into trouble with some villain.
“Of course Jack,” she replied, quite content to just stay home with him. Though she had stayed inside for too long while he had been gone she didn’t mind it this time since they would be together.
“We can even go take our m-meals into the living room and eat them there and relax? Just have a good movie night with whatever we can agree on.”
Getting out of his arms slowly and raising a hand to cup his cheek gently, she pecked his nose as she had missed all the little intimate gestures of love. It had become second nature to her.
The kiss on the nose made him smile. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”
He nuzzled her back for a moment, then nodded toward the table. “And speaking of meals, shall we finish this o-one? Y-you did really well with the lasagna; we should keep that recipe.”
Back on Familiar Soil
She shook her head in vehement denial against his shoulder, her hair most likely tickling him as she let out another soft breath against his shoulder, trying to soak up his warmth and understanding and glad for it. Still she couldn’t get rid of the stone of guilt that had settled in her stomach. “No..I didn’t..b-but I should have been careful..worn the holo-watch..I should have..”
And she realized then why she felt guilty, her old thoughts of being nothing but a problem for Jack springing forth in her mind. How much she hated being a burden. She had tried to be stronger in the past but the past month had made her take steps back. But she was still determined to try harder again. She didn’t want to be a quitter.
Returning the hug, she tried settling down and letting go of the plaguing feelings. It almost had her letting out a nervous giggle. “S-Sorry I tried..making this a nice dinner..relaxing and..I just couldn’t lie to you again..” As she had done it before when Psycho had attacked her. She had done it to protect him but it had ended up backfiring. “T-Thank you for understanding though..”
He hugged her tighter, for his own comfort just as much as hers. In the back of his mind, he agreed that she should have been more careful and worn the watch, but he wasn’t going to say so. She clearly felt terrible enough as it was.
“N-no, it’s all right. I’m glad you told me.” He tilted her head up so he could look her in the eyes. “W-when you used to hide things, and go out to dangerous places without telling me … Katelynn, I hated that. But this I can h-handle. I’d r-rather have the truth, always, even if it’s n-not nice.” Unable to stand it any longer, he kissed her forehead. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your fault, and it’s over n-now.”
“You’re so wonderful Jack..” she whispered before she could stop herself, feeling her cheeks grow brightly when she realized what she said. All these months together and she still couldn’t stop blushing around him – he would always have that affect on her for as long as she held that warm love for him in her heart.
And she knew she always would.
Trying to give him a thankful smile as she held his gaze, she cuddled into his chest and said, “Y-You know..now that you’re back..maybe we could take a day off and just be together? Go somewhere fun or just r-relax all day and watch movies? If you want I mean..”
She was pretty much up for anything as long as it was with him and figured they deserved a little time off together though she wouldn’t push it if he didn’t want to.
As she cuddled against him, he rested his cheek on the top of her head. “I’d love that. I really would. I’ve missed you so much, Katelynn.”
He swallowed. “I think I like the idea of spending a day in, if it’s all the same. I n-need some time to r-recuperate after the trip, and I’d much rather do it with you. Just a quiet day at home.” He wasn’t as afraid of venturing out as he’d once been, but Jack was still a shy, introverted man, and probably always would be. He didn’t add that staying home also meant they were much less likely to run into trouble with some villain.
Back on Familiar Soil
Her eyes widened at his question as she sat back in her seat a moment, heart leaping up into her throat. It was such a simple question yet it was enough to cause her face to pale a moment. I..I wasn’t going to tell yet..b-but I can’t lie..and say everything is fine when it wasn’t..
She felt the blood in her veins turn cold as her hand snaked back and into her lap, nibbling on her bottom lip. Tucking her head against her chest she took a shuddering breath to gain some form of nerves.
“I-I was going to wait to tell you until you had gotten some rest..b-but…Psycho Delic..you know..the one w-who you ran into back in December..cause of me..when I finally decided to go out and get some fresh air he..he found me and used some of his drugs on me..m-made me hallucinate..”
One hand tugged at the hem of her shirt and she tried to keep talking, willed herself to and knowing he wasn’t going to be very happy with the news. She hadn’t handled it well after all.
“I-I ended up seeing things..a nightmare of e-everyone dying in front of me because of the second Psycho..I-I was so angry and scared and I took my de-gun out and I tried to fight the spell when I realized what was going on..I did…and I tried shooting where I thought Psycho Delic was..I…I ended up being arrested b-but I was able to convince them it wasn’t my fault..I-I’m sorry Jack..I-I really tried…to stay safe while you were gone..I did..”
She shook in her seat slightly as she waited for his response, licking her lips in her nerves. She thought she was past attracting villains but she had delusioned herself into thinking such a thing.
Jack had sensed something was wrong, but even with the trouble Katelynn had attracted in the past, he hadn’t imagined it would be this bad. He listened with his eyes wide, horrified – not because Katelynn had fired her gun and been arrested, but because she’d been attacked, and been hurt, when he wasn’t there …
He didn’t say anything in response. Instead, he got up from his chair, came over, and gently hugged his trembling fiancee.
“K-Katelynn, it’s okay.” His voice was a choked whisper. It wasn’t okay, but that was the best thing he could think of to say. “It w-wasn’t your fault. You w-were halluc-c-cinating. Crazy. You d-didn’t know what you were doing.” He swallowed. “It’s n-not like you went out looking for Psycho D-Delic, right?”
She shook her head in vehement denial against his shoulder, her hair most likely tickling him as she let out another soft breath against his shoulder, trying to soak up his warmth and understanding and glad for it. Still she couldn’t get rid of the stone of guilt that had settled in her stomach. “No..I didn’t..b-but I should have been careful..worn the holo-watch..I should have..”
And she realized then why she felt guilty, her old thoughts of being nothing but a problem for Jack springing forth in her mind. How much she hated being a burden. She had tried to be stronger in the past but the past month had made her take steps back. But she was still determined to try harder again. She didn’t want to be a quitter.
Returning the hug, she tried settling down and letting go of the plaguing feelings. It almost had her letting out a nervous giggle. “S-Sorry I tried..making this a nice dinner..relaxing and..I just couldn’t lie to you again..” As she had done it before when Psycho had attacked her. She had done it to protect him but it had ended up backfiring. “T-Thank you for understanding though..”
He hugged her tighter, for his own comfort just as much as hers. In the back of his mind, he agreed that she should have been more careful and worn the watch, but he wasn’t going to say so. She clearly felt terrible enough as it was.
“N-no, it’s all right. I’m glad you told me.” He tilted her head up so he could look her in the eyes. “W-when you used to hide things, and go out to dangerous places without telling me … Katelynn, I hated that. But this I can h-handle. I’d r-rather have the truth, always, even if it’s n-not nice.” Unable to stand it any longer, he kissed her forehead. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your fault, and it’s over n-now.”
Back on Familiar Soil
The tour, of course. Squeezing his hand gently at the thought of having Jack moving around and being apart from her would have been hard but she would have been able to deal with it as long as they could talk on the phone. What killed her were the moments when she couldn’t reach him, spending her free time worrying if something had happened to him as it had gone on for days where she would try to call or text him and get nothing in return. No new messages and the immediate message of his answering machine.
Shaking dark thoughts out of her mind she tried smiling for him. No point in stressing him out. “Y-Yeah..too much too soon can be bad for you..your friends have also asked for you..” Though truthfully only Bernard had but she was sure Mets was wondering where the two of them were.
She definitely needed to contact her friend and let him know they were okay. She hadn’t talked to him in weeks.
Jack felt a nasty pang of guilt. It wasn’t completely his fault – he’d been kept very busy, shunted to and from meetings – but still, he wished he’d made more effort to keep in touch with the few friends he had back here. He swallowed his bite. “Well, I’m back now. And I don’t plan on leaving Metro City again any time soon.” For all its dangers, the city was his home.
“I’m s-sorry we didn’t have more time to talk, Katelynn,” he went on as they kept eating. He couldn’t quite get out what he was most sorry for – that he hadn’t been there for her when her mother died, when she’d truly needed him. “… H-has anything happened I should know about?”
Her eyes widened at his question as she sat back in her seat a moment, heart leaping up into her throat. It was such a simple question yet it was enough to cause her face to pale a moment. I..I wasn’t going to tell yet..b-but I can’t lie..and say everything is fine when it wasn’t..
She felt the blood in her veins turn cold as her hand snaked back and into her lap, nibbling on her bottom lip. Tucking her head against her chest she took a shuddering breath to gain some form of nerves.
“I-I was going to wait to tell you until you had gotten some rest..b-but…Psycho Delic..you know..the one w-who you ran into back in December..cause of me..when I finally decided to go out and get some fresh air he..he found me and used some of his drugs on me..m-made me hallucinate..”
One hand tugged at the hem of her shirt and she tried to keep talking, willed herself to and knowing he wasn’t going to be very happy with the news. She hadn’t handled it well after all.
“I-I ended up seeing things..a nightmare of e-everyone dying in front of me because of the second Psycho..I-I was so angry and scared and I took my de-gun out and I tried to fight the spell when I realized what was going on..I did…and I tried shooting where I thought Psycho Delic was..I…I ended up being arrested b-but I was able to convince them it wasn’t my fault..I-I’m sorry Jack..I-I really tried…to stay safe while you were gone..I did..”
She shook in her seat slightly as she waited for his response, licking her lips in her nerves. She thought she was past attracting villains but she had delusioned herself into thinking such a thing.
Jack had sensed something was wrong, but even with the trouble Katelynn had attracted in the past, he hadn’t imagined it would be this bad. He listened with his eyes wide, horrified – not because Katelynn had fired her gun and been arrested, but because she’d been attacked, and been hurt, when he wasn’t there …
He didn’t say anything in response. Instead, he got up from his chair, came over, and gently hugged his trembling fiancee.
“K-Katelynn, it’s okay.” His voice was a choked whisper. It wasn’t okay, but that was the best thing he could think of to say. “It w-wasn’t your fault. You w-were halluc-c-cinating. Crazy. You d-didn’t know what you were doing.” He swallowed. “It’s n-not like you went out looking for Psycho D-Delic, right?”
Back on Familiar Soil
Taking her own seat at the table and poking her food, she giggled at the antics of the two. “Just not the lasagna since it has cheese…don’t want Roxy causing the apartment to be s-smelly after all,” she reminded him, thinking back to the day Jack had confessed his feelings for her when he had first warned her. She tried to fight back the blush that rose at the thought of the past. How long ago it seemed now – as if living with Jack and being his fiancee was the most natural thing in the world.
Looking at him from over the table as she took a bite of her food, Katelynn decided she’d wait to tell him about the past events until he was well rested and could handle it better. Though he had told her to tell him when things happened she just couldn’t at the moment. She just prayed he would understand why she had waited.
“You always dreamed of going to New York…it was your dream vacation spot and the fact that you went because of your art becoming so big..I’m really proud of you, love,” she whispered, free hand sliding across the table to take his gently. “You’re getting the recognition you deserve.”
As he tucked into his own meal, Jack watched Katelynn eat hers. In the weeks before he’d left Metro City, she’d gotten better about not missing meals, and he’d hoped that she would continue to be okay while he was gone. She looked healthy, at least – tired, and stressed by something, but not painfully thin anymore. It was a great relief.
“Thank you,” he said softly, clasping her hand in return. “New York was … it was nice. B-but I didn’t really get a lot of time to myself,” he admitted. “They wanted me to go to meetings, and galas, and I kn-know some p-people enjoy that, but I’m n-not one of them.” His stammer came back as he remembered how nervous he had been during so many of those functions. It was nice to get so much recognition, but when he was there in person, being shown off by his manager, there had been a lingering unease in the back of his mind – did people want his art because they thought it was good, or because they wanted the novelty of having art done by a blue-skinned alien?
“They don’t n-need me there in person for the tour,” he went on. “I’d much rather be home, where I can w-work on my own time.”
The tour, of course. Squeezing his hand gently at the thought of having Jack moving around and being apart from her would have been hard but she would have been able to deal with it as long as they could talk on the phone. What killed her were the moments when she couldn’t reach him, spending her free time worrying if something had happened to him as it had gone on for days where she would try to call or text him and get nothing in return. No new messages and the immediate message of his answering machine.
Shaking dark thoughts out of her mind she tried smiling for him. No point in stressing him out. “Y-Yeah..too much too soon can be bad for you..your friends have also asked for you..” Though truthfully only Bernard had but she was sure Mets was wondering where the two of them were.
She definitely needed to contact her friend and let him know they were okay. She hadn’t talked to him in weeks.
Jack felt a nasty pang of guilt. It wasn’t completely his fault – he’d been kept very busy, shunted to and from meetings – but still, he wished he’d made more effort to keep in touch with the few friends he had back here. He swallowed his bite. “Well, I’m back now. And I don’t plan on leaving Metro City again any time soon.” For all its dangers, the city was his home.
“I’m s-sorry we didn’t have more time to talk, Katelynn,” he went on as they kept eating. He couldn’t quite get out what he was most sorry for – that he hadn’t been there for her when her mother died, when she’d truly needed him. “… H-has anything happened I should know about?”
Back on Familiar Soil
His simple praised was enough to have her huddling close as her cheeks blossomed with red, a happy smile on her face. When he wasn’t being upset with her over villain shenanigans he was really very sweet and it made her stomach do flips. If she were a cat she would have probably purred.
Yet with her ear so close to his stomach she could hear the gurgling noises it was making and her shoulders shook as more giggles escaped her lips. She wanted to enjoy and soak up the calm before the storm as much as possible. “Well..I suppose I should f-feed you then as soon as possible so you can forget all about that horrible food.”
Hearing the timer go off in the kitchen as she perked up, she carefully got off him and jogged into the kitchen to set everything up so they could eat, the small table they could fit in the kitchen set with dishware and even a flower and scented candle she had managed to scrounge. She hummed as she worked, filling the plate with lasagna and some vegetables and putting drinks in their cups to go along with it.
“O-Okay all set!” she called softly, hoping the food really tasted as delicious as he hoped.
Jack would have been happy to help her set up, but he saw quickly that Katelynn had things under control. And more than that, she’d arranged this especially for him; she wanted him to enjoy it properly.
He took his seat at the table, and had to nudge Roxy and Stella (mostly Stella) aside when the dogs promptly came begging. “That’s enough, okay? If you’re good, we’ll save you something.”
Taking her own seat at the table and poking her food, she giggled at the antics of the two. “Just not the lasagna since it has cheese…don’t want Roxy causing the apartment to be s-smelly after all,” she reminded him, thinking back to the day Jack had confessed his feelings for her when he had first warned her. She tried to fight back the blush that rose at the thought of the past. How long ago it seemed now – as if living with Jack and being his fiancee was the most natural thing in the world.
Looking at him from over the table as she took a bite of her food, Katelynn decided she’d wait to tell him about the past events until he was well rested and could handle it better. Though he had told her to tell him when things happened she just couldn’t at the moment. She just prayed he would understand why she had waited.
“You always dreamed of going to New York…it was your dream vacation spot and the fact that you went because of your art becoming so big..I’m really proud of you, love,” she whispered, free hand sliding across the table to take his gently. “You’re getting the resignation you deserve.”
As he tucked into his own meal, Jack watched Katelynn eat hers. In the weeks before he’d left Metro City, she’d gotten better about not missing meals, and he’d hoped that she would continue to be okay while he was gone. She looked healthy, at least – tired, and stressed by something, but not painfully thin anymore. It was a great relief.
“Thank you,” he said softly, clasping her hand in return. “New York was … it was nice. B-but I didn’t really get a lot of time to myself,” he admitted. “They wanted me to go to meetings, and galas, and I kn-know some p-people enjoy that, but I’m n-not one of them.” His stammer came back as he remembered how nervous he had been during so many of those functions. It was nice to get so much recognition, but when he was there in person, being shown off by his manager, there had been a lingering unease in the back of his mind – did people want his art because they thought it was good, or because they wanted the novelty of having art done by a blue-skinned alien?
“They don’t n-need me there in person for the tour,” he went on. “I’d much rather be home, where I can w-work on my own time.”
Back on Familiar Soil
Glad she had called in sick for work after his text and just wishing to spend some well deserved time with him, Katelynn rested her palms upon his chest and adjusted herself when he moved to continue cuddling into him. How her heart was leaping for joy at this simple contact and how content she was to just lay with him though she knew there was much to talk about. She just didn’t want to hit him with everything at once – not all of it was pleasant after all.
“Poor thing…I’m not sure..you can trust my c-cooking either,” she joked, turning her head to rest her chin upon his form to try to stare into his eyes. “It might be just as bad as plane food.”
Without really thinking about what he was doing, Jack tilted his head forward and nudged his brow gently against Katelynn’s, nuzzling her softly. “Y-you made it, Katelynn,” he said. “That’s enough to m-make it good. And I really, really doubt it c-could be as bad as the st-stuff on the plane,” he added, remembering the tin of mysterious, vaguely plastic-like substance smeared in green and orange slime. The other passengers seemed to have thought it tasted okay, but Jack had decided not to risk it.
With the meal still cooking, there wasn’t any real need for them to move yet. So they stayed snuggled on the couch for a while longer, until the oven dinged.
His simple praised was enough to have her huddling close as her cheeks blossomed with red, a happy smile on her face. When he wasn’t being upset with her over villain shenanigans he was really very sweet and it made her stomach do flips. If she were a cat she would have probably purred.
Yet with her ear so close to his stomach she could hear the gurgling noises it was making and her shoulders shook as more giggles escaped her lips. She wanted to enjoy and soak up the calm before the storm as much as possible. “Well..I suppose I should f-feed you then as soon as possible so you can forget all about that horrible food.”
Hearing the timer go off in the kitchen as she perked up, she carefully got off him and jogged into the kitchen to set everything up so they could eat, the small table they could fit in the kitchen set with dishware and even a flower and scented candle she had managed to scrounge. She hummed as she worked, filling the plate with lasagna and some vegetables and putting drinks in their cups to go along with it.
“O-Okay all set!” she called softly, hoping the food really tasted as delicious as he hoped.
Jack would have been happy to help her set up, but he saw quickly that Katelynn had things under control. And more than that, she’d arranged this especially for him; she wanted him to enjoy it properly.
He took his seat at the table, and had to nudge Roxy and Stella (mostly Stella) aside when the dogs promptly came begging. “That’s enough, okay? If you’re good, we’ll save you something.”
Back on Familiar Soil
Holding onto the door frame for a moment and resting against it, she studied him carefully like an appraiser would a work of art, noting the subtle changes both in appearance and personality. Being in New York had given him a few new layers she hadn’t noticed before and was appreciating. His stutter seemed to be improving, not that she found anything wrong with it before.
Accepting his invitation as she made her way over to him she was careful not to sit on either of their dogs as she plopped herself down next to him, cuddling into his side and tucking her legs underneath her.
“I w-was getting dinner r-ready for you too..” she admitted softly, the food still cooking in the oven – a delicious meal of lasagna. She had found the recipe online and wanted to see if she could make it. “Unless you want to nap.” Looking up from her spot snuggled on his chest, she cocked her head to the side.
That was another thing Jack had missed: meals together. His manager in New York had insisted on dragging him to various high-end restaurants, and parties at the gallery had usually involved drinks and nibbling various things on toothpicks. But he hadn’t really known any of the people there, and the atmosphere had somehow left him feeling both like he didn’t belong and like he was the focus of everyone’s attention.
“I’m not th-that tired,” he said, shifting on the couch so they could lie down together. “I’ve missed having dinner with you. And I didn’t t-trust the food on the plane,” he added, with a small chuckle. “I’ll rest later.”
Glad she had called in sick for work after his text and just wishing to spend some well deserved time with him, Katelynn rested her palms upon his chest and adjusted herself when he moved to continue cuddling into him. How her heart was leaping for joy at this simple contact and how content she was to just lay with him though she knew there was much to talk about. She just didn’t want to hit him with everything at once – not all of it was pleasant after all.
“Poor thing…I’m not sure..you can trust my c-cooking either,” she joked, turning her head to rest her chin upon his form to try to stare into his eyes. “It might be just as bad as plane food.”
Without really thinking about what he was doing, Jack tilted his head forward and nudged his brow gently against Katelynn’s, nuzzling her softly. “Y-you made it, Katelynn,” he said. “That’s enough to m-make it good. And I really, really doubt it c-could be as bad as the st-stuff on the plane,” he added, remembering the tin of mysterious, vaguely plastic-like substance smeared in green and orange slime. The other passengers seemed to have thought it tasted okay, but Jack had decided not to risk it.
With the meal still cooking, there wasn’t any real need for them to move yet. So they stayed snuggled on the couch for a while longer, until the oven dinged.
Jack Maple 