The Cafeteria, early afternoon Thursday

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

After her sparring session with Jen, and a quick shower, the hat ended up back on Dinah's head. Giving up on changing that, she headed for the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch.

[open for all lunch needs]

Comments

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't so much right after we quit talking," Dinah blurted, leaning back into him, wishing the stupid hat could be guaranteed to come off. "But then I had time to think. And feel dumb."

[future_sandworm]

"Explain to me why?" he pulled away a little, watching her.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Just... stuff I should have guessed. Or noticed. About you liking other people." Dinah cleared her throat, determined not to get into her feelings. "And, um. Guessing you'd notice that I don't, I'm not. You." She swallowed. See? There. Done.

[future_sandworm]

"No, you're not." Not in any way at all. "And not much of what was said between us was surprising, no. That's why awkwardness should be unnecessary." Leto smiled at her.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Truuuue. To you." She bit her lip, trying to find the flaw in that logic, and couldn't. Dinah took another breath, and grabbed a fry to nibble on. Too much, too confusing, and it all came back to: "Just kind of intense, you know?" And maybe there was a giggle left in her after all, albeit a really small one. "Not used to it."

[future_sandworm]

He laughed softly, picking up some more fries. "Used to what?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Try them with salt. Just as good." Dinah gulped another fry. "Feeling so much." There. And to be honest without forced to: "Or talking about it." She nudged him with an elbow without looking at him. "You know. Why are you asking?"

[future_sandworm]

"Because I enjoy hearing the words you chose," he said, reaching for the salt. "And I don't want to lose your friendship," he added, keeping that sense of loneliness under control.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah's gaze flew to his in protest. "You won't. Even if you explain that stuff you didn't want to have to explain." At least, she didn't think how it could make a difference. "I don't give up on friends unless they give up on me. So we're good." And she realized they were. "And I'm being silly, and not just the hat."

[future_sandworm]

"I believe silly can be a very important quality at times," he laughed, picking up a few more fries and dipping them in the ketchup.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah grinned at him, and grabbed the last two fries. "Definitely. So. When can I see your work-out, without getting into both of us talking too much?"

[future_sandworm]

"I plan to practise regularly, so I can let you know handwavily." He put some of his fries on her plate. "And I can keep from talking." He smirked.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I can too!" Dinah protested, laughing, then rubbed at her head. "So whenever the hat's gone... yeah."

[future_sandworm]

"You can?" Leto raised an eyebrow.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah raised both eyebrows right back, and slurped on her drink, not saying a word.

[future_sandworm]

He laughed, shaking his head and slipping an arm around Dinah to give her a quick hug.