self-indulgent fic bit with the twins
(i'd say context is for the weak, but there IS no context.)
She comes out of the house and Highgate is sitting on the picnic table absorbed in picking twigs and leaves and crap out of his braid, pulling the rubber band off the end of it so he can card his fingers through the strands. One of the new girls - Harrow can't remember her name - is watching him, her expression naked and her desire plain. Harrow strides over to her, Highgate's eyes flicking up at her as she passes, and she leans into the girl's personal space and says "Stare all you want, he'll never be interested."
The girl blinks at her, expression going from startled to stubborn. "How do you know?" she says.
"Because I know him better than you do."
"What, he doesn't like girls?"
"He won't like you. He's mine. Stay away from him or I'll break your hands."
The girl blinks again, her expression unsure now, and Harrow leaves her and goes to sit on the table next to her brother. She flicks him on the ear and he makes an annoyed face at her.
"Pay attention," she says.
"I have crap in my hair," he answers, rebraiding the end and snapping the rubber band back on. "I know she was staring at me. So?"
"So nothing. I took care of it. You ready to lead an expedition? Martha wants us to take Joe and Eli and what'shername, Constanza. Someone's watching Eli's brother." Constanza's smart. She knows better than to stare. Harrow jumps off the table. "Come on. We're wasting light."
She ignores the new girl as they walk away, although she can feel her watching them. But Harrow's not concerned. The girl will learn - they always do.
She comes out of the house and Highgate is sitting on the picnic table absorbed in picking twigs and leaves and crap out of his braid, pulling the rubber band off the end of it so he can card his fingers through the strands. One of the new girls - Harrow can't remember her name - is watching him, her expression naked and her desire plain. Harrow strides over to her, Highgate's eyes flicking up at her as she passes, and she leans into the girl's personal space and says "Stare all you want, he'll never be interested."
The girl blinks at her, expression going from startled to stubborn. "How do you know?" she says.
"Because I know him better than you do."
"What, he doesn't like girls?"
"He won't like you. He's mine. Stay away from him or I'll break your hands."
The girl blinks again, her expression unsure now, and Harrow leaves her and goes to sit on the table next to her brother. She flicks him on the ear and he makes an annoyed face at her.
"Pay attention," she says.
"I have crap in my hair," he answers, rebraiding the end and snapping the rubber band back on. "I know she was staring at me. So?"
"So nothing. I took care of it. You ready to lead an expedition? Martha wants us to take Joe and Eli and what'shername, Constanza. Someone's watching Eli's brother." Constanza's smart. She knows better than to stare. Harrow jumps off the table. "Come on. We're wasting light."
She ignores the new girl as they walk away, although she can feel her watching them. But Harrow's not concerned. The girl will learn - they always do.