❛ 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡 , 𝐢’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 nature girl ones are a hit . you’ll have your own show on animal planet in no time , i reckon . ❜ river’s face is practically sore at this point from how hard he’s forcing himself to not break out into a massive toothy grin , forever trying to hold onto the reserved curl of his lips as to not lose his cool — but boy , does finley make it hard . ❛ getting up there , ah okay . i’ll have to put up a poster of some precious sea turtle or something , earn more points by you . i’m sure that plus me smilin’ more or something would earn me the last few points , easy . ❜ he quips back with a sparkle in his eye ; it’s perhaps shameful the amount river’s remembered about finley’s likes and interests over the years , especially after being first to claim he doesn’t think anything of their time spent together . ❛ miss bauer , controlling herself ? sparing me details ? your momma must have let the wrong girl into the house , i gotta make sure she knows you’ve been replaced by an imposter , ❜ he gasps , though a naturally monotonous affect makes it read as much less dramatic than finley’s teases . he plucks two plastic spoons from a box on the countertop , sending a silent prayer she won’t lament their use of single - use plastic before offering one to her . ❛ you don’t have to be the grad to deserve a little token . i’d say you being here is reason enough to celebrate . disappointed you wouldn’t agree , ❜ he tells her , disposition gentler this time , a sincerity that all but threatens to expose river’s unspoken sentiments there and then . it was incredible, really , the way he can lie to himself so calmly ; mentally repeating to himself the mantra of take it easy , it’s just her as if it’s his lifeline . but that’s the issue for river — finley , just as she is , is enough to overwhelm river for all the right reasons . he plucks the leftovers from the microwave as the timer drops to zero , taking up the seat next to the ebullient blonde with a stifled laugh at her unhinged rambles . ❛ i appreciate the flattery but me and my substantial mass taking up all your room would probably make the worst gift possible . i’m about as interesting as a rock garden — and even you’d find a way to make that shit exciting . ❜ he offers the container in her direction , indicating for her to take the first bite before playfully pointing his own spoon at her , tone forewarning in the ever most gentle way . ❛ now that i have permission though , i’ll be prepping my graduation gift well in advanced . you’re warned . ❜ he says it as a joke , but there’s unspoken truth to his words ; if anything , river’s overthought every exchange he’s ever had with the younger bauer . too much , too little ? too friendly , too formal ? it’s no doing but his own , a consequence of the forcible line he’s drawn between them that he dare not cross . ❛ yeah , if anyone can work on a time crunch , it’d be you . i’m glad you’re enjoying your return so far , ❜ he hums sincerely . then there’s those eyes , that damned gaze that causes the heat to rise off the back of his neck , breaking the resolve of an otherwise steely man — a quality of finn’s that equally impresses and terrifies river . as if he’d melt from meeting her gaze any longer , he breaks it out of necessity , not want , trying his best to maintain his composure with his focus now turning to the tupperware in front of them as he takes his own first ( blissfully distracting ) bite . ❛ what’s first on the reunion tour ? gonna take it easy , or do you already have the itinerary packed with people vying for a piece of you ? i’m sure you’ve already done your weird twin thing with mason — ❜ he wiggles his fingers at her as if to punctuate the emphasis on weird , a teasing remark that suddenly teleports him back to the real world . they don’t live in a vacuum , just the two of them , as the intimacy of the shared moment might lull river into believing — there’s a real world , other people involved , other connections to heed : a quick recollection that saps much of the tenderness out of river’s lilt and forces him to take on as platonic of a tone as he’s able to muster while he adds another teasing remark . ❛ i’d invite you over for dinner with the pogue palace crew tonight , but i wouldn’t want you getting the idea that i’m tryna’ take over your days or whatnot . ❜
𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝘿 𝙏𝙄𝙇𝙏𝙎 , 𝙋𝙊𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙊𝙋𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎 𝙃𝙀'𝙎 𝙇𝘼𝙄𝘿 𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙃𝙀𝙍 , though it doesn't take much thought to know the answer . cool points aside , a smile upon river’s lips was a sight she'd do just about ANYTHING to be able to witness . it after all was a rarity upon the naturally sombre male , which made every time it appeared just that bit more noteworthy . “ sea turtles & smiling a lil’ more — but only if it’s GENUINE — would help , you’re right . ” she doesn’t linger to long on the thought before a laugh leaves her lips , “ i mean . i CAN tell you all about my awful time management & dismay at not living out a mamma mia fantasy . but just remember i gave you an OUT . you only have yourself to blame if you regret provoking me . ” she reaches for the offered spoon , a brow raising as he wiggles at him slightly , “ you want another way to gain cool points ? better have a recycling bin in here or else . ” it's all she says on the matter of the single use spoons before she lets out a small breath , “ who said i disagreed ? i just said no GIFTS . plus , we can consider this here , you & me sharing your gumbo the celebration of me being back . it's PLENTY for me . ” as the container is pulled from the microwave & he moves to settle in the seat next door , her position shifts as the knee to her chest falls to allow the sole of her shoe to come in contact with the solid ground once more & she shuffles forwards towards the edge . her eyes switch between the steaming gumbo & the darkened hue of his eyes as her lips crack into a grin , her pointer finger of her free hand coming up to tap the tip of her nose before pointing toward him , “ you know me so well because i CAN , in fact , find the excitement in rock gardens . even though i wouldn’t say excitement . it’s more an — APPRECIATION . i can appreciate them because have you SEEN how gorgeous they’re capable of being ? even the most unassuming ones have something to them . ” eyes lingered upon him for a moment , lips pressing together for a moment as she , for once , turned over the words that threaten to leave her lips . a careful judgement of how far is too far & how much is too much . but when has she ever not commented on his apparent lack of confidence in EVERYTHING he has to offer the world ? no filter was a given with her . tapping the edge of her spoon against the table to shift it in her hold , a single shoulder gives a gentle shrug as her spoon dips into the gumbo . eyes thankfully diverted downwards as she finally spoke , “ but you don’t give yourself enough CREDIT . you’re much more exciting & interesting than a rock garden . plus , unlike with rock gardens , i don’t have to be QUIET around you . ” her eyes lift along with her head as the spoonful passes between her lips , leaving her no other choice but to only give him raised brows at his pointed spoon . but those raised brows quickly shift to furrowed as her eyes narrow at him as she's free to speak once more , “ i forgot to add — you can only get me something when i'm finished ALL of my study & when is that you ask ? ” there’s a short pause as her eyes drift upwards to the ceiling in deep thought before her focus is upon him once more . “ in around 15 YEARS when i get certified in zoological medicine . ” saying it out loud sounded about as incomprehensible as most found it when she talked about the path she was on , but 15 years was nothing when you’d wanted something your whole life . though the corners of her lips had evened out , it was long before they were curling into a grin again as a bout of laughter fell from her lips , “ i don't know what the weird twin thing is but i CAN confirm that mason & i have reunited & the world is once more spinning on its axis . ” she goes in for another spoonful of gumbo as she continues , “ & as for plans . cannot yet confirm just how many people want a piece of me BUT i do know that this week ? i have planned to do a total of ZERO things other than catch up on sleep & spend the other remaining hours on the beach or exploring with rafie — poor baby only had jona to keep him company , he missed his mum — before i start my volunteering at n.e.s.t. next week . ” she tries not to focus too much on the way river’s tone seems to change as he talks once more , but between the gumbo & the teasing remark , it’s an easy distraction . “ oh , don’t you go joking about that kinda thing with me , river carducci , because you’ll have me bounding up the front steps of your front porch since you could give my MUM a run for her money with this gumbo . ” there's light teasing in her words but as her eyes lift to him once more , the smile upon her lips soften . “ speaking of the pogue palace crew — aiden & kai good ? ” there’s a pause before she gives a little gesture of her pinky towards him , “ & you of course — have you been good ? ”
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