the party was in full swing, and ted was about three shots of fire whiskey deep. it felt almost normal; like they hadn’t all spent the last year holding their breath as lines were drawn in the sand. wandering through the party, ted occasionally stopped to greet a friend he hadn’t seen in some time, though he didn’t really pause until he saw her. the middle child of the black sisters, his…acquaintance ? friend ? she looked just as aloof as ever, and though they had not kept in touch over the summer, he found himself smiling slightly as he watched her. ted wouldn’t admit it, but he had missed their nighttime walks through the corridors. it had made sleep easier. over the summer, he had kept up the habit at home, although he had no one to talk to while he roamed.
she turned, pinning him with her gaze. ted found he didn’t really mind being caught. “is it staring if i was planning on saying hi ? ” he asked, shooting her a soft grin. “how was your summer ? ”
she managed to keep her composure until he gave her a soft smile, and the haughty set of her lips crumbled into a rare, unguarded, smile in return. for a few moments, her alcohol-clouded mind allowed her to forget herself, forget where she was, who she was. for a few moments, she wasn’t andromeda black, middle child of cygnus and druella, member of the sacred twenty-eight. for a few moments, she was just andy.
and then the moment passed. her smile faded, and she cast a quick glance around them. nobody seemed to be looking, which is why she allowed herself to respond. ❛ — my summer was … as EXPECTED, i suppose. ❜ words were difficult. they had to be chosen carefully. ❛ — i don’t much enjoy the HEAT. i’m glad to be back. ❜
another glance around the room, and then a moment of quick, fleeting eye contact. a ghost of a smile. ❛ — how was yours ? ❜ bold, too bold, carrying on the conversation. it would be safer to leave it there, disappear into the shadows as was her wont. but for some reason, she didn’t.