nysalogs | ( CLOSED )

[He smiles a little at that.]

If it gets you to sit down for a minute.

[Getting her to rest is another matter entirely, but he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it.]

[ wryly, ] If you're lucky, I might even sit down for more than a minute.

[ making jokes at her own expense tends to be her expertise. walking generally is, too, but she has to pause — if only for a moment — in the hallway to regain her composure. after a handful of seconds, she starts up again, moving back into the lobby. ]

Maybe even five.

[ possibly an achievement to unlock. ]

[It's tempting to reach out for her again and make sure she's alright, but he holds back, just waiting patiently instead. When they set off again, he matches her pace.]

Lucky me. We can figure out a plan once we get back.

Define "plan".

[ she waits until they've exited, granting some illusion of privacy before she suggests any scheming. her steps are still a little slow, a little too measured to be normal or natural, but it's a start. ]

Hopefully it doesn't involve you doing something stupid.

[ because bellamy is evidently the foolhardy party here... clearly. (not). he might not be on par with her, but she still has reason to worry that his own concern will be his downfall. ]

Sounds like you don't trust me, Clary.

[Of course it probably involves him doing something stupid, like it always does.]

I trust you.

[ and the look she's giving him hints that she might think he's stupid for even suggesting as much. fortunately, she isn't reaching out to smack him in the chest again. her fingers only loop around his wrist, as if to emphasize the point and draw his complete attention. ]

But I also already have you figured out.

[ as in: someone she trusts who might get up to stupid, reckless things. ]

[It works—he slows down, looking down at her as he does. That statement throws him off a bit.]

Figured out how?

You followed me here even knowing what you were getting into.

[ see also: her own impulsive shenanigans and the stubbornness attached to it. it's telling that bellamy didn't question or object to it more than a time or two, even when it might have been simpler to leave her to her own devices. ]

And you haven't left my side since. I don't know about you, but I'd call that pretty persistent. [ which isn't a critique in the least, according to the tone she takes. ] Maybe I run myself into the ground, but being that concerned might run you in the ground.

[Persistent is one of the more polite ways he's been described, so he'll take it. He can't help but smile a little.]

Trust me, you've got nothing on Clarke and Octavia.

[He hasn't been stabbed or beaten half to death trying to keep Clary from being hurt, so she's pretty far ahead.]

[ her smile is slow to spread, but the deviousness of it is glaringly obvious. ]

Careful. That sounds like a challenge.

[ yet being the keyword in 'hasn't been stabbed or beaten for her'. for now, he's only subjected to her leading him along the street to get to that apartment she should be relaxing in. ]

I don't think you've mentioned an Octavia before.

[ it's a gentle, curious statement, to keep from prying. ]

[He hasn't, has he? Bellamy has brought up Octavia to almost everyone else, but somehow, she hasn't come up with Clary. He chooses to ignore her threat for now.]

My little sister. She's still in stasis.

A terrifying little sister, I take it.

[ from that description, at least, but she says it fondly. hearing anyone speak of their close family ties still stings and opens wounds, but knowing others have what she can't — it's more warming than it is hurtful.]

Sounds like you're going to have your hands full when she gets up. Three women driving you insane might be a lot to cope with.

[Bellamy smiles again, but this time, there's something almost proud about it.]

Octavia's one of the strongest people I know.

[So yeah, terrifying is a decent descriptor.]

You haven't driven me insane yet.

[ it only takes one look at his expression to understand he's proud of octavia, and that compliment to her strength confirms that fondness. it's charming, even with the realization that any similar feeling will always be something missing, all courtesy of a father that couldn't stop himself from trying to corrupt every child he'd had.
her smile widens even without realizing she's wearing one at all. ]

Good. I can't wait to meet her.

[ in stasis or otherwise, clary is confident that it will happen. someone has to stay optimistic in that regard, after all. ]

I haven't driven you insane yet. That's the most important word in that sentence.

Shut up.

[His tone is teasing, though, and it's clear he's trying to keep from smiling. He misses Octavia like crazy, and he knows that if Monty or Raven were awake, they'd be ten steps closer to figuring out how that bomb worked. Still, having Clary around is almost centering. She'd fit right in at home.]

How much farther are we going?

Make me.

[ an automatic, very mature and not at all childish comeback. it's difficult to interpret shut up as anything other than playful when he's smiling like that, and for as little as she feels like she's accomplished in investigating the bombings, she can take pride in boosting someone's mood — even briefly. ]

Just a few blocks. [ her pointing likely doesn't help, considering the buildings blocking the view, but an attempt was made. ] I moved out of the shacks we were given as soon as I could, but I should warn you it's kind of a mess.

[Look at that, he's rolling his eyes again, whether at the snotty response or her warning, it's hard to tell.]

I don't care. You sure you're going to make it the rest of the way?

[Definitely teasing again.]

[ if not for the question, she would be more than happy to point out the eye rolling trend. as it stands, she's distracted by her own amusement, the side of her mouth slanting. ]

Why? If you're offering to fulfill my dreams of being carted around like Cleopatra, feel free.

[ is she teasing, or is she serious? it's anyone's guess. ]

[He slows, raising his eyebrows at her.]

I've been waiting for you to fall over.

[So honestly, he's tempted.]

I wouldn't be surprised if I did.

[ it arguably isn't something that she should be laughing about, but it's possibly one silver lining in a miserable pile of chaos. the fact that he seems to be considering it enough to slow down would be amusing on its own, even so. ]

You're that worried?

[ she's touched, truth be told, teasing aside. ]

You're sick with who knows what. Of course I'm worried.

[Teasing or not, he's still looping an arm around her waist. She's moving unsteadily enough that, after all that talk of spells draining her, the possibility that she might pass out is in the back of his mind. Now's your time to back out, Clary.]

[ as stubborn as she is, that softens some of her resolve and any need to argue that his concern is unfounded. given she doesn't back out even in moments where she should, she leans into his side without thinking. ]

If you keep talking like that, I'm going to start thinking I'm special.

[ fair warning. ]

Think what you want, as long as it doesn't start going to your head.

[And then, as payback, he's going to try to lift her up bridal style. This is what you get, Clary.]

[ if the satisfaction of having revenge is ruined by the squeal of her laughter, so be it. thankfully, she doesn't have too much pride to injure — not by lifting her, that is. ]

Calm down, Caesar. [ mark antony could be a more fitting reference, considering her previous allusion to cleopatra, but she's purposefully avoiding the comparison. the idea of brother-husbands is understandably too nauseating for her to even mention it. ] I'm not going to forgive you if you drop me, just so you know.

[ she won't let it slide, either, without making a jab. it shouldn't be difficult to carry around someone that barely weighs more than a feather. ]

[Bellamy makes a face at the Caesar comparison, but he can't fully hide his smile at the way she laughs.]

I thought you trusted me.

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