(Untitled)

[cautionarystory]

WHO: Peter and Elle
WHERE: Peter's room
WHEN: probably at some point after Elle talks with Howie, definitely post-Halloween
WARNINGS: Peter and Elle

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[mimic_peter]

Peter was a little surprised when he heard the knock, since he couldn't think of anyone off the top of his head that would be coming to see him. Though after opening the door, in retrospect, it made sense that it was Elle. Sort of. He wasn't thinking very clearly, so frustrated over what Vince was doing to really think logically.

"Hey Elle," Peter said, leaning against his door lightly. "What's up?"

[cautionarystory]

"What's up?" she repeated. He was really going to be so casual after what he'd done?

Okay, if he wanted to play it that way, she would too. She crossed her arms and shrugged, giving him a totally nonchalant look. "I just wanted to see you, that's all."

[mimic_peter]

He didn't do anything but wait for her memories to come back so that no one was taking advantage of anyone else. That's called being a nice guy. Maybe a selfish guy for various other reasons but the main intent was good.

"How come?"

[cautionarystory]

"Gee, I dunno. Does dating me for a year and a half before vanishing ring any bells?" Mostly, it's the vanishing she's mad about. And she can't stand that everything he's doing only makes her miss him more, when she wants to focus on being angry.

[mimic_peter]

Peter didn't say anything for a long moment before he pushed off the door he was leaning against and motioned for her to come in if she wanted to.

"You remember everything?"

[cautionarystory]

"Yeah," Elle said, walking past him into the room. "Everything. And I'm disappointed." She kept her tone light and even so as not to let on how upset she was. "Just when things seemed to be going so well..."

[mimic_peter]

Peter sighed just a little bit, slipping his fingers through his hair, an old habit that he still hadn't been fully able to kick. He probably never would if he was being totally honest.

"I didn't leave on purpose, Elle."

[cautionarystory]

"So that makes it all better?" Her voice broke slightly, and she gritted her teeth. Part of her sort of hoped it really did make it all better. "You left, Peter."

She grabbed him by the waist and stepped towards him, even though that meant leaning back to look him in the eyes. "How do you expect me to feel about that?"

[mimic_peter]

He winced when her voice cracked and it kind of made his already bleeding heart break just a little bit more. "I'd expect you to hate me for it," Peter answered softly. He forced himself to keep eye contact with her, instead of shying away from it. "I can't give you a good reason for why I left before. I don't have one."

[cautionarystory]

Elle frowned up at him. Part of her wanted to find a way to hurt him as much as he'd hurt her, but the rest of her knew that this was Peter and hurting him would only make her feel worse.

"So what are we supposed to do now?" Was she supposed to get over it, try to get him back and pretend there was no danger of him leaving again? Or was she supposed to move on and forget he was even there? She didn't know, so she clung to him that much tighter, trusting that he did.

[mimic_peter]

Peter tipped his head slightly to the side, considering her for a moment. "We can't go back to like it was," he said carefully. Just because it'd been two years for him since the last time he saw her and things just didn't really work out like that. Fairy tale endings took work and forgiveness and energy he wasn't sure he had right now.

"It's not.. I'm not in the greatest of places right now, Elle."

I'm done editing now I promise :c

[cautionarystory]

Elle didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved. "Okay, sure," she snapped, letting go of him and giving him a shove. She crossed her arms and clenched her jaw.

"You..." She cut herself off from saying something mean and pithy. "...don't get to disappear and leave me here alone and then come back and say you're not in the greatest of places!" she finished instead. "You owe me something, Peter. If you're over me, whatever. Maybe I can't just pretend everything's fine and dandy either."

And because he was Peter, and she was used to telling him things she wouldn't normally admit, the next part slipped out. "But I think I still love you."

lol way to be Emmy <3

[mimic_peter]

And because it was Elle, Peter didn't push her away. Because he did love her. He just didn't believe in easy endings anymore and he missed Nathan too much to really be a lot of use to anyone else.

"It's not about whether or not we still love each other because I never stopped loving you, Elle," Peter said. "Nathan just died. You're still mad at me. That's not the best foundation for a relationship and I don't want to end up fighting with you all the time."

[cautionarystory]

Elle's brow furrowed as she thought about that. Did she really want a relationship again? Maybe, even though she'd probably always be wary of the fact that he could disappear any second. Then again, being with him had a way of making things difficult and confusing, and she really had been possibly starting to think about one day getting over him. At least in theory.

"Don't expect me to walk your dog anymore, then."

[mimic_peter]

Peter's eyes widened just a little bit. It hadn't really occurred to him to realize that Izzy was still on board, since that was well over two years--right. It hadn't been that long on the Barge.

"I can take him back if you want."

[cautionarystory]

"You better."

Elle closed the distance between them again and touched his elbow, letting her hand slide down his arm until it came to rest on his hand. "You can pick him up whenever you want," she breathed, leaning into him and smirking. The seduction act dropped away as she laced her fingers through his and pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. "He missed you."