For Jack

[new_ophelia]

Jack was due back pretty soon from his routine post-building shower, and Kate had been preparing. She's cleaned the house and put Eli outside (in the little fence that Jack and Duck had built) and had made herself look as good as she could manage with the heat and jungle and everything. Bread and fruit and cheese had been stolen and arranged on

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[jack_crew]

Whistling to himself as he heads back home, Jack slings his dirty t-shirt over his shoulder, his hair still damp from the shower he's just taken. Ever since the climate change he's been taking more showers, the humidity and the heat getting to him, especially when he builds all day.

"Hi," he says when he gets home, dumping his dirty shirt into their laundry before he plants a kiss on top of Kate's head and grabs a clean shirt. "What's all this?"

[new_ophelia]

"Food," she points out helpfully as she watches him. "I got food for you. And I washed the sheets and did some laundry. How was your day?"

[jack_crew]

"You didn't have to do that," Jack says, although he's smiling. "We could've gone back up to the Compound together." He makes that walk so many times a day now that he's gotten used to it and doesn't mind it so much.

[new_ophelia]

"Yeah, but it's hot and I thought it'd be nice," she says, patting the spot next to her as she tries not to squirm. "Also, it's kind of an apology."

[jack_crew]

"An apology for what?" Jack asks, sounding confused as he sits down, his legs stretched out in front of him. Unless she's hurt his swords somehow and he doesn't know it yet, he has no idea what she has to apologize for.

[new_ophelia]

"For the other day, at the stage," she starts, sitting up a little straighter. "I know I offended you and I've been thinking about it and it must have been the gay thing or the sex thing and I'm really sorry because it was insensitive of me and I shouldn't tease like that and you're obviously not gay because you've never even kissed a guy and the sex is really good." She takes a deep breath and stares back at Jack.

[jack_crew]

For a moment Jack just stares at Kate, his brows drawn together in confusion before he shakes his head. "What?" he asks, wondering why she's still thinking about this. He'd told her at the time that it wasn't a big deal. "It wasn't that at all, Kate."

[new_ophelia]

"Well, but you were obviously upset and if I don't know what I said, I might say it again and then you'll build up resentment," she reasons, biting her lip as he continues to look baffled.

[jack_crew]

Jack isn't sure if he's truly ever resented anyone and he doesn't even know if he knows how to resent a person. Especially not Kate. Shaking his head, he says, "I don't... you know I got made fun of as a kid. A lot. Then you started to make fun of the fan club thing and it bugged me, but it's not a big deal." He'd forgotten about the whole thing about ten minutes after she'd gone to find Geoffrey during the rehearsal.

[new_ophelia]

"I'm sorry," she says softly, reaching out to grab his hand. "I didn't realize and it's not really gay, I was just teasing. I didn't mean to bring those kind of memories up."

[jack_crew]

"It's really not a big deal," Jack insists. "I'd kinda forgotten all about it." At the time it had bugged him because he'd told her about being teased and she was one of very few people who knew about it, but it doesn't matter now.

[new_ophelia]

"Even so I shouldn't have said anything and I should have thought about it and I'm sorry," she continues, scooting over to grab a plate. "I got you food and there's some water."

[jack_crew]

"Okay... thanks," Jack says and although he's still confused, he's willing to take the food. "Kate, if I'd really been mad, I would've said something."

[new_ophelia]

"I know, or at least I should know," she sighs, settling back down. "And that's not your fault, it's mine. But when you wouldn't say what it was, I got worried and I just got worked up." And it's exactly how her parents fought. Little insults and long silences.

[jack_crew]

"Yeah, but... it's... it doesn't matter," Jack says, completely bewildered now. "Why would I pick a fight over something that doesn't matter?"

[new_ophelia]

"No, I didn't mean that you picked a fight. I just needed to know what I did so I wouldn't do it again, so it doesn't turn into something you're actually mad about. Mom would do that and she'd pick at Dad and he'd let it build up and I know you aren't like that but I need to make sure I'm not," she says, still not feeling like she's saying it right.