exercise never did anyone any good...

[1000_cranes]

Charlie was trying to get into the habit of running a mile or so every day after breakfast along the sand, to get herself used to distance again, used to the stretch and pull of her muscles when she ran. She'd forgotten how good it felt to do something that she was just good at...all her life, Charlie had been good at two things: waitressing and

Comments

[willbewonderful]

"Charlie," says Duck, soft and urgent as he drops down beside her. He'd thought he recognized the red hair through the trees, but he hadn't expected to find her on the ground. "What happened?"

[willbewonderful]

"Meanness is the only weapon in my arsenal against that pout," Duck tells her. "And I bet if you stop upping my anxiety with all that pouting I'll live longer," he adds with a grin.

[1000_cranes]

"You know what? Fine. Fine. You carry me and die an' see if I care."

She closed her eyes and leant her head against his shoulder for a moment.

"It really hurts," she murmured, almost under her breath.

[willbewonderful]

"I know it does," says Duck, and only narrowly avoids starting in on a new lecture about shoes. "I let you hop on it, you'd just pass out from all the jarring and I'd have to carry you anyway."

Apparently he had no qualms with trading one lecture for another.

[1000_cranes]

"You know, handsome, I left my daddy at home so that nobody would lecture me." She lent her head against his shoulder, fingers hooked over the collar of his shirt. "Figures that I wash up here an' get two daddies for the price of one."

[willbewonderful]

"You like us," Duck tells her without the faintest trace of embarassment. Charlie means a lot to him, as does meaning a lot to Charlie.

[1000_cranes]

"For my many sins, I do," said Charlie, with an entirely straight face though, notably, she was still clinging to him.

[willbewonderful]

Duck chances a look down at her face, takes in its paleness, and resolves to threaten the clothes box until it produces a decent pair of running shoes. And socks with arch support. Possibly some shin guards.

"Guess you'll have time to make some more cranes now," he says after a bit. "I think a dinosaur took a liking to one of mine."

[1000_cranes]

"I'll make you as many cranes as you like, sugar," said Charlie, with a smile. "I got my wish, though, so I don't know if they're as special anymore."