MHA #8, Thursday night

[stykera]

Yesterday had been extremely odd, and exhausting, even for here. Today had been fine for Stark though. Much less chaotic. He hadn’t turned into anyone or anything he shouldn’t have, for one thing. That was always a positive. His mask had stayed where it was meant to, which also helped make for a more pleasant day. Wine class had presumably been fine as well but now he was back in his apartment and settling in for the night.

He’d eaten (a meal not entirely made up of sugar, even) and cleaned up the kitchen. It could be an early night, he thought, or maybe he would curl up on his couch and watch a food program, or look for recipe inspirations for class tomorrow. Maybe even both.

For now, he’d shower. Perhaps shave. It would be better to have a freshly shaved head before facing paintball tomorrow in case Anakin tried (or accomplished) anything. That sounded good to Stark. A shower, a shave, and a quiet night in.

So that’s where he was, in the shower (without his mask, because it was easier not to get the straps wet than to dry them after) in his empty and locked apartment. At least, the door was locked the last time he checked.


[Stark is clearly expecting nobody. I am expecting 1 or 2 neighbors for maximum awkwardness! :D]

Comments

[stykera]

And normally Stark would have appreciated the knocking. He just couldn't hear it on account of the water. Showers were loud when you were in them!

Luckily(?) he didn't tend to take very long showers so the water shut off fairly quickly. Of course, he still wasn't expecting company, especially company that just opened locked doors to let herself in. If he were expecting company he might have had clothes ready, rather than just a towel.

[flourish_or_perish]

But if he'd been expecting her, then it wouldn't have been a fun and sexy surprise! That was the appeal of this, Stark! You get a Faye without even asking.

The towel wasn't exactly at odds with why she was here, either, so. You know. All of this was pretty much going according to plan (or whatever functioned as a "plan" with Faye involved.)

So when she heard the water shut off, she figured out where he was (like a detective) and took a moment to artfully arrange herself against a wall near the bathroom door. And then considered whether lounging out on the bed might be good? No, no, leaning against the wall was the way to go. Then there would be no missing her.

Again: everyone liked surprises, right? Especially hot ones, like her.

[stykera]

To be fair, getting a Faye without asking was pretty much the only way Stark would get one. It had been nearly a week since she'd invited herself over for a sleepover and had he done anything about that? No. Not even a little bit. He didn't think she was serious.

So even when he heard a noise that might have been a person outside the bathroom he didn't think it would be Faye. Or anyone. Maybe a squirrel?

Even though he didn't think anyone was there he still took a moment to settle his mask back into place and wrap a towel around his waist. Just in case there was someone, or something, out there. He really didn't want there to be. Someone or something breaking in couldn't possibly mean anything good.

"Hello?" he called out softly. Not leaving the bathroom yet. Just in case.

[flourish_or_perish]

"Hey there," Faye called back, in a low voice.

She thought it was a cool and seductive tone of voice, but you know. She wasn't at all startled by her own presence, so it might have been a lot more unsettling and spooky than Faye was really willing to consider.

[stykera]

Sorry, Faye, but Stark was kind of jumpy sometimes. Like right now, when he was hoping he'd imagined a noise or that it was a squirrel.

When someone answered him he responded in a perfectly reasonable fashion. He screamed. Just a little.

[flourish_or_perish]

Well.

That was not the reaction she'd wanted, no.

"Calm down!" Faye yelled back, totally abandoning this idea of being cool and/or seductive. There was screaming now, okay? So she had to respond appropriately.

(Because that was Faye, through and through: appropriate.)

[stykera]

"No!" Stark yelled back.

Why should he be calm? There was someone in his apartment! And he was wearing nothing more than a towel! There was no way this ended well!

[flourish_or_perish]

"It's just me! Stop yelling! You'll scare the whole building!"

Identifying herself beyond 'me' was apparently too much to ask. Also, Faye was also yelling, so.

[stykera]

"You broke in!" Stark yelled back because he was apparently not going to stop with the yelling just yet.

Sorry, neighbors.

But the voice did sound familiar so he was going to open the door and look out into the rest of the apartment. Still just in a towel. Like you do.

[flourish_or_perish]

"I didn't break in!" Faye said, clearly irritated by the choice of words here as she stepped away from the wall with her arms crossed. "But you should get a better lock if you're all worried. Maybe a deadbolt, or a chain."

Because it really had been quite easy to get in, yes.

[stykera]

"The door was locked!" But maybe Stark would look into stronger locks. Or not. Who knows how the night will go?

"Why are you here?"

Stark, you idiot.

[flourish_or_perish]

"Why do you think I'm here?" Faye hissed, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Stark."

It was because she'd been lonely and lacked any real boundaries. Or patience, which was why she'd broken in.

"I did knock." Just not loudly. Or more than a couple times.

[stykera]

Stark was just going to gape at her because she couldn't really mean...

"I was in the shower," he said finally. In case that wasn't obvious from how he was still wearing only a towel.

[flourish_or_perish]

"I see that," Faye said, and maybe she was a little sharp because she was feeling a little dumb about how this had all gone. "It was supposed to be a surprise."

Obviously.

[stykera]

"I was surprised. I am surprised!"

In case the scream and the yelling wasn't a clue there.

[flourish_or_perish]

"A nice surprise," Faye clarified, sighing. "You're so jumpy."

Yeah, Stark, you were the unreasonable one, here.

[stykera]

"Of course I'm jumpy!" Had you met him, Faye?

"I wasn't...I..."

If Stark started flailing he was going to lose the towel so he was just going to keep a death grip on it with one hand.

"I didn't even have my mask on and you could have been anyone and I..."

"I'm not used to nice surprises," he finished after a moment.

[flourish_or_perish]

"We should fix that," Faye replied with a very slight smile as her eyes went to that death-gripping hand. "Are you used to bad surprises?"

Because that just made her want to make sure his apartment was more secure in case people who weren't her did break in. (This was a bad idea, considering how secure her ship was and that Faye herself slept with a gun.)

[stykera]

"Yes!" Obviously, Faye!

"Not usually here," he allowed. He usually felt safe here. Maybe not at this exact moment though.

[flourish_or_perish]

Ugh, one well-intentioned break-in and all of a sudden there's narrative about feeling unsafe. Unreasonable, Stark!

"Well, we should fix that, too," she decided, shrugging. "If someone who was actually a danger to you broke in, I'd be over here to help, you know."

Perhaps this was not the reassurance Faye thought it was.

[stykera]

Stark was sometimes unreasonable, true. This was not one of those times!

"How are you going to fix it?"

Honestly, Stark. How do you think?

[flourish_or_perish]

"By getting you used to nicer surprises," Faye replied, her smile widening just a little. "Nice towel."

Look, she could maybe make this work, still.

[stykera]

"Getting me used...oh."

Oh, indeed.

Stark was just going to hold that towel a little tighter, thanks.