(Untitled)

[morelikeasponge]

[OOM: Back home, Peter talks with his mother, his niece, and his brother. Spoilers for 1.19, ".07%."]It's been an hour or so since Peter first returned to the bar; now he's found his way outside, and onto the Milliways roof. It's a quiet night -- quiet and peaceful

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[cutting_edgex23]

That thud had nothing to do with X-23.

It came from the left.

She approaches Peter from the right, crouching comfortably just inside his range of vision.

She is watching him, steady and intent.

Some may think that to be her favorite pastime.

[morelikeasponge]

Peter's got his chin resting on the top of his knee. It looks comfortable, but it's not very convenient when you want to look in another direction.

After a few moments, he sucks it up and lifts his head to blink back at her.

[cutting_edgex23]

She, in her turn, does not blink at him.

She is, in fact, barely moving at all.

[morelikeasponge]

"Hi," says Peter.

[cutting_edgex23]

She stays silent for some time, watching him.

Then, eventually--

"Hello."

She has not moved a muscle.

[morelikeasponge]

He's gone still himself, in unconscious mimicry.

It makes breathing a little difficult.

"Nice view up here, huh?" he tries, after remedying the situation in his lungs. And, on its heels: "Uh -- is anything wrong?"

[cutting_edgex23]

This one she does not even have to think about.

"No."

She has not looked away yet, though.

[morelikeasponge]

"Okay," Peter falters.

A moment later:

"Kinda chilly, though. With the wind."

[cutting_edgex23]

And again she's silent for a while.

"You do not mind."

He does not seem to, at least.

[morelikeasponge]

"Not enough to go get a sweatshirt," Peter agrees. "How about you, you don't mind it?"

His attention span is short. He's already adjusting to -- and starting to forget -- the weirdness of her mannerisms.

[cutting_edgex23]

She does not bother to shake her head.

"No."

Beat.

"It will get colder."

Soon, if not tonight.

[morelikeasponge]

"Yeah, winter's coming," he says amiably, and tilts his head. "Or do you mean when the sun's done going down?"

[cutting_edgex23]

Both, really.

But this time she doesn't answer.

It's a pointless question.

Instead she offers a one-shouldered shrug.

[morelikeasponge]

This would probably be the part where a normal person would give up.

But Peter is extraordinary. "What's your name?" he asks, twisting around to face her more easily.

[cutting_edgex23]

She has to think about this for a moment or two.

"X-23."

[morelikeasponge]

Peter blinks again.

"That's your name?"