Kathy's Bunk in the Warehouse, Sunday

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

It was like a miracle. Kathy didn't use that word much--or at all, really--having given up on the idea of miracles years ago. But here she was, awake with a full belly (courtesy of Parker), the weak sunlight shining down on her face. Even for December sunshine, it was thin and cold, but it was more sun than Kathy could remember shining down on this version of Fandom in a long, long time.

And, best of all, she was enjoying it on the roof. The wish she'd made of Nanika last night, the gift of healed legs and a relief from pain, had been granted. She looked down at legs that were strong and free of mottling and scars; pale skin smooth over strong, whole bones. She'd started the morning with a flurry of activity, cartwheels, running, bouncing, and yoga, all activities she hadn't been able to perform since she'd been hurt. Her form was poor, her endurance shot, her new legs had been trembling with exertion by the time she'd finally let herself stop moving. It didn't matter. Form could be improved, endurance could be regained, and even trembling, her legs had not fallen or failed her.

For the first time since she could remember, Kathy was happy.

[Open!]

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[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

Dante wasn't proud of taking off yesterday. It'd seemed necessary at the time, but it'd felt less so as the night went on.

And, y'know. Maybe that was not something they should do, but... maybe it was time to talk to Kathy again. A little more, at least, now that the world had proven it could still occasionally be surprising.

He came in across the rooftops-- and had to pause on the roof of a fairly intact warehouse nearby when he spotted her. Kathy? On the roof?

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

On the roof and singing. Songs about sunshine--she hadn't realized she'd known so many. From childrens' songs to a silly little ditty from a musical about cannibals to a to old rock songs, Kathy had discovered she'd known more than she expected.

"And although it's dark December, forever, I remember sun..." she sang, leaning backwards and doing kicks in the air, legs flashing pale in the thinner fog.

Right, the song from the animated movie about the thumb-sized girl. She remembered that one, too.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

Dante sighed.

Maybe he should come back later.

... But he wasn't sure he wanted to.

He took one last effortless leap across the gap and landed not far from her, maybe five feet away. "Hey, Kat."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

And like a flash, Kathy was up on her feet, hair a dark swirl around her as she spun to face him. "Dante," she said. Some of her normal wariness returned, but the bitterness that had been her companion for so long had yet to make a reappearance. "This is a surprise. I can't think of the last time you visited me at home."

The wind stirred up by her movements was cold on her bare legs, but she didn't bother tugging down the hem of her shirts. The longest hit mid-thigh, that was decent enough.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"Thought I'd come say hi," Dante said. He would've had to dip his head a bit to get a look at her legs with the mask anyway, and though he was tempted... no. "Being that it's such a nice day and all."

He pushed his hands into his pockets. "But don't stop on my account."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

He should look. Her legs were awesome. They had been her best feature for a very long time and for damn good reason.

"So it is," she agreed, eyes dark and unreadable. "I guess this group managed to accomplish something after all."

She was doing a decent job of keeping her expression impassive, but she couldn't keep her legs still. She shifted from one leg to the other, effortlessly balancing her weight on one while the other bent and flexed and kicked.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That was weird.

Dante's eyes narrowed behind the mask.

"What're you doing?"

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

She couldn't help her smile. "Moving," she said, bringing one perfect leg up in a standing split that left her foot above her head.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

... And for a second there, Dante didn't have a single wisecrack to spit. "Holy shit."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"I know," Kathy said, doing a graceful pirouette. "I know."

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"Maybe not quite," Dante said, blinking behind the mask. (It'd been a long time since he'd been flashed, even if it hadn't been on purpose.) "Uh... congrats. How the fuck did that happen?"

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

That question had Kathy faltering in her graceful arabesque. When both feet were back on the roof, she answered, eyes watching him steadily. "You won't like it," she said, softly.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

Dante let out a sigh. "I didn't ask if I'd like it," he said. "Just what happened."

[moodyvagrant.livejournal.com]

The sun was out for the first time in as long as Anders could remember, and he felt ... cautiously optimistic was maybe the best way to put it. Like it was just barely possible things might get better.

He did not expect this to last.

He was on one of his regular patrols for supplies when he heard a singing voice that he also hadn't experienced in as long as he could remember.

"Kathy," he murmured, and headed toward the sound almost without thinking.

But when he got there, she wasn't alone.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

Not so much, no. Dante's mask had wound up on the floor at some point along the way, but Kathy was still up on him with his hands clinging to her legs.

It was becoming increasingly hard - heh - for Dante to think.

The sound of someone else coming up, though, put an end to that. He angled his head away from Kathy instinctively, looking in the general direction of - "...Anders."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"I wish," Kathy said plaintively, her attention not yet disengaged from the stretch of flesh she was intent on marking with her teeth. "Oh god don't I wish. That would make this perfect."

This was going to be embarrassing in a few seconds.

[moodyvagrant.livejournal.com]

"Today might be your lucky day," Anders called up, dryly amused. "What are you two up to -- well, I can see that."

His emotions were complicated, but 'bemused' was a good cover to use while he sorted through them. (He hadn't realized how hungry he was to see the two of tem like this again until he saw it.)

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

Dante's hands slid off of Kathy's thighs. "She started it," he said.

He really needed to get back out of the habit of snarking when he was startled.

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"I...can't really argue with that," Kathy said, resolutely trying not to blush. And failing at said resolution. "We were celebrating?"

And before Anders could ask what, Kathy did a back handspring out of Dante's arms and onto the edge of the warehouse roof, legs whole and strong in the weak morning light.

[moodyvagrant.livejournal.com]

Anders' eyes flickered with surprise. (Not a blue flicker, this time. A normal hazel flicker.)

"That's amazing, and I'm coming up," he announced, heading for the fire escape. "This doesn't seem like a conversation we should shout."

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"Probably not," Dante allowed.

He reached up and ran a hand through his hair. (It still felt funny without the familiar metal pressing against his skin.) Then he pulled away from the wall and stalked towards Kathy. "Come on up."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay if we don't test out my newfound ability to run away from hollows just yet," she added, giving Dante a last hungry look before releasing the fire escape. With surprisingly little noise, the metal ladder let go, thumping down into the dirt in front of Anders, welcoming him up. "I've got food, too," she said, her sudden good fortune making her a bit reckless. "A little bit. I could bring out a nutrition bar or two to split."

Reckless, yes, but not so stupid as to offer up her whole stash for sharing.

[moodyvagrant.livejournal.com]

"I ate earlier," Anders said as he climbed up. (Not much, but he'd gotten the last fall apple from storage, and he didn't want to take Kathy's food.) "You're running again? I feel like I missed a good story."

And some excellent kissing, but he didn't say that quite yet.

[rebelscreams.livejournal.com]

"She got her legs healed by Nanika," Dante said, as that detail suddenly popped back into his memory.

He threw a slightly wary glance towards Anders, but the usual urge to pick a fight with Justice (for fucking up his friend. Not that he was inclined to look too deeply into it) was absent for once. "I guess things are looking up."

[godilovedthis.livejournal.com]

"And this is why no one gathers around the campfire to listen to you spin a yarn," Kathy said, rolling her eyes at him. "But yeah, pretty much. Nanika saved me and Alluka from getting killed by a hollow when I was caught. Couldn't run, couldn't climb, couldn't get away. She asked me to do a few things, I thought it was Alluka looking for reassurance, and then I got frustrated with being so fucking useless and..." She spread her hands. "Here we are."

Granted, that didn't quite explain the kissing he'd walked in on, but possibly why she was up on the roof singing in three layers of shirts and no pants.