[log] So what if nothing is safe, so what if no one is saved? [closed]

[spoileralert]

Characters: Stephanie Brown, Zach Spencer
Location: The School
Date: Late morning 153
Summary: Steph and Zach stock up at the school, and tragedy strikes
Warnings: Character death

[ It was a charmed life, by Snowhell standards. Zach and Steph were together day and night, and they never tired of each other's company. When they got to the school Steph untied the skateboard from her backpack and teased Zach by boarding in circles around him, occasionally doing tricks when there was a railing or something convenient to use as a ramp. ]

I'll give you a go if you can catch me.

Comments

[majorlazer]

You realize I've been trained to run a lot, and do it fast, right?

[Zach raises an eyebrow at Steph as she skates around him, holding on to the straps of his backpack. He sounds like Adam to his own ears, like he's talking about a lot more than just being a football player.

Still, if she wants to play - he'll play. His smile turns a little mischievous, the tilt of his head a challenge.]

[spoileralert]

[ She grins at him, slowing long enough to tilt her head in a mockery of his own expression.

Then she's off like a shot down the hall, laughing as she goes. ]

[majorlazer]

[Zach laughs, taking off after her. It's like a warm up, his muscles only screaming a little as he picks up speed. It reminds him of how much he needs to keep into a routine of actually working out, even here, even now.

She rounds a corner and he skids as he runs behind her - he's pretty sure he can catch up.]

That all you got?

[spoileralert]

[ She slows after the turn, letting him get a little closer before speeding up again. She turns abruptly into what appears to be a chemistry classroom, kicking off a jump first onto a chair and then up onto a lab bench. ]

You have no idea what I've got, lover boy.

[majorlazer]

[He stops at the doorway of the classroom, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks at Steph doing her tricks.]

I can't even skate, you know?

[He tilts his head.]

Anything you can't do?

[spoileralert]

[ She flips the board up at the end of the bench and she plops down on her butt with a loud thump. Okay, that was... maybe not her best move ever. ]

Probably, but I haven't found it yet.

I'd offer to teach you, but we can't really afford as many broken bones as it would take.

[majorlazer]

[Chuckling, Zach walks closer, leaning against the bench next to her.]

Seriously? And I'm the smug one.

[He gives her his best 'really?' look, a smile coming up afterwards.]

Okay, tell me one thing you failed at. One. Go on.

[spoileralert]

[ She deflates, pulling the board into her lap and dangling her legs over the table's edge. ]

Protecting people from the Joker.

Saving Becky.

[majorlazer]

[Ah, shit. That's not what he meant to bring up. Moving closer, he knocks her legs apart a little, making some space for himself in the gap between her knees. He reaches out, gently touching her face.]

He didn't mean to push into this - just wanted a funny story, not the obvious pain here.]

I'm - hey, I'm sorry.

[spoileralert]

[ She takes his hand in hers, smiling sadly up at him. ]

It's okay. It's just... been a long time since anything has been this normal, you know?

[majorlazer]

Hmm.

[Giving her a tiny smile, Zach brushes his thumb against her knuckles.]

Wanna know a thing I'm really terrible at?

[spoileralert]

[ She raises her eyebrows at him. ]

You mean aside from skateboarding?

[majorlazer]

Hey now, we don't know if I'd be terrible at skateboarding, I've never done it. I could be a natural. [He keeps his voice as serious as possible, but he doesn't believe for a second he'd be a fucking natural at skating.]

Nah, I'm actually goddamn terrible at cooking. My sister, she always tried to teach me, but. I just absolutely can't.

[spoileralert]

[ She snorts a laugh, pulling her hand away from his to cover her mouth. ]

Oh, god. I can't make anything more complex than chicken bits in ramen.

[majorlazer]

Ever put pasta on fire? Because I did.

[Yeah, he remembers that one vividly.]

It's almost a better thing that we can't probably cook around here, huh?

[spoileralert]

Well, yes, but like, on purpose.

[ Because that is so much better than by accident. ]

Let's just say I've never been the most careful person. Military rations are way worse than anything I could botch in the kitchen, though.

[majorlazer]

You, not careful? Neveeeeeerrr, can't believe it.

[It's one of the many reasons why Zach likes her so much. He's not great at being careful himself.]

Military rations are much better than anything I can come up with. Which...we probably should move on, shouldn't we? [He still stays right where he is, standing between Steph's legs, one of his hands on her knee.]

[spoileralert]

Caution is so overrated.

[ No it's not. But anyway. She glances down at his hand on her knee with a raised eyebrow. She could comment, but even she isn't that reckless. This is so not the time or place for shenanigans. ]

We'd better. Though technically, you did catch me.

[majorlazer]

I thought it wasn't worth the broken bones?

[He leans in for a quick kiss before pulling back, dragging his fingers off her leg. Then he holds his hand out for the skateboard.

Might as well have fun while they still can.]

Want a piggy back ride?

[spoileralert]

[ Her laugh is maybe just a little breathless. Dammit, Zach. ]

To teach you tricks. But a piggy back ride...

I'm reasonably sure it wouldn't hurt me too bad if we fell.

[majorlazer]

C'mon. Let's do it.

[Neither of them are careful, after all.

Putting the skateboard on the floor, Zach turns around, looking at Steph over his shoulder before sliding his backpack off.]

[spoileralert]

Hell yeah!

[ Well it's kind of important Steph keep her backpack, but she nimbly maneuvers to leap onto his back without throwing his balance off too much. ]

[majorlazer]

[Zach's fine with sliding his own backpack over his front, and he grabs the back of Steph's legs when she climbs onto his back, chuckling to himself.

He starts off with putting a foot on the skateboard, tentatively pushing off with the other, and man he's glad for all his training, for being used to having Kesara on his back, and for everything else he's ever done, because it's the only things that keep them from toppling right over.

It's precarious and slow going, but they're making progress, and Zach can barely stop laughing to himself.]

[spoileralert]

[ Steph clings to him, arms wrapped tight around his neck. There's not a whole lot she can do here, but that's half the fun. ]

You realize this is a terrible idea, right?

I'm....not sure I even know what chicken fight is supposed to be Imma have to look it up

[majorlazer]

Yep - yep, realizing that - [Zach's voice is a little wobbly as he focuses on keeping them going without falling down, reaching out to the walls on multiple occasions to prevent crashing straight into them.

They're not even going fast, but it's still enough to ask a lot of him, but he's still having a blast, that is - until they hit a patch of uneven corridor, just feet away from the cafeteria entrance, and go straight to the floor.]