#everstride: grant

[doctorobinson]

       ❝ everybody’s chasing SOMETHING, but they don’t know they’re chasing someone. ❞ 

@everstride​ // liked for a lyric starter

[doctorobinson]

@everstride​ spoke: grant gives maureen a deep, passionate kiss

       she’s very much not expecting it, not by a long shot. she’s been so focused on survival, on making sure they were all safe, on trying to get them all through the day, that she hardly knows which way is up. having him come back into her life has been a WHIRLWIND of thoughts and emotions and she’s as grateful as she is confused. now, the dual blade of loss that was him and john has a lavender thread of renewal to it, a tinge of bittersweet where once was just an empty void of grief.

       he kisses her, and that blossoms into A SURGE OF HOPE, of sensation, of thought that maybe, just maybe, she can learn to be okay again. she actually shivers in his arms, fingers curling into his shirt, eyes blinking lazily open as they part mere inches. ❝ what... ❞ her voice is slightly hoarse, clouded with emotion. she clears it and tries again. ❝ what was that for ? ❞

[doctorobinson]

@everstride​ spoke: “ before i do anything… are you sure, maur?” holding her face in his hands, thumbs drifting across freckled milky skin. not wanting to cross a line unless he’s welcomed, but with the way maureen had been with him the last few nights; it’s hard for him to pull himself away. “ i don’t want to ruin what you have. even if i’d like to be selfish. i couldn’t do that to you… your children.” ( for that one au u know which one shh )

       it still feels surreal, having him back. after everything these past few months have brought down on her head. it’s been non-stop stress, anxiety, and grief, and now, finally, she’s on the brink of something good. things are complicated and MESSY and she knows that whatever shape their family is going to take, it’s going to be different than the one it took before, but she takes a breath and reminds herself that she isn’t the one who made that choice. she isn’t the one who left, who walked away, who lied about the reasons he was leaving. she has to remind herself she has NOTHING to feel bad about. so she pulls him closer, lips just brushing slightly over his. ❝ grant... ❞ she’s forgotten how tall she is, how she has to brace herself on the back of his neck to stay stable, stand on her toes a little to be this close. ❝ when have you ever known me to do something i’m not sure about ? ❞

[doctorobinson]

@everstride​ spoke: “I’ve been up for a while just kind of looking at you.” from grant

       ❝ i... you what ? ❞ maureen feels the blush creep across her cheeks as she sits up, blinking against the morning sun as she rubs at her eyes. if she were honest, she’d been SURE he would wake up in the light of day and realize that she really isn’t as young as she used to be and feel some sense of disappointment, not hang around and... LOOK AT HER. ❝ w... why ? ❞

[doctorobinson]

@everstride​ spoke: and grant is going to kiss maureen long and hard till he needs to catch a breath

       maureen isn’t sure what’s prompted this kiss, but she’s hardly complaining at all. she returns it with everything she can possibly muster, arms wrapping tightly around him and pulling herself close. her lips part under his as her body presses flush against his, and she’s PANTING at least as hard as he is when they both pull back for air. ❝ well hi, ❞ she murmurs, fingers gently caressing his jaw, ❝ to WHAT do i owe the pleasure ? ❞

[doctorobinson]

       ❝ when i’m with you, it’s like everything GLOWS. ❞

@everstride​ // liked for a starter

[doctorobinson]

@everstride​ spoke: he can see it in her expression, all the clocks ticking behind her eyes, and it doesn’t take grant long to piece it altogether. the longing in her eyes, the water threatening to spill as she looks to what she’s created and up to what he knows she wants all but immerse herself in.

“maureen.” he steps towards her, hand gently coming to her shoulder as he squeezes it softly. it’s then the idea occurs, lips curling wide as he tears his gaze away. “you know… you really should test this is fit for exploration.” his hand drops from her shoulder as he turns, lifting up the door and finding his way inside. “you up for a bit of adventure, maur?” he chuckles finding his way to the ground, admiring all her work as his hands run over the back of the captains chair. he slips into the seat beside, already buckling himself in, refusing to leave. “i’m ready when you are!” he calls out.

       ❝ grant... what are you - ❞ she quickly wipes the tears from her eyes, tears she’d been fighting valiantly as she’d been examining the ship. it’s been eating away at her lately, bit by bit. she watches will go and come back from his EXPLORATORY MISSIONS, glowing and rambling each time about what he finds. she listens, enraptured, proud, and just a little bit jealous, and then instantly guilty for the latter. 

       of course, she’d insisted on building the SMALL FLEET of spacecrafts they’d be using for the unit will had started. some of the robots that were staying on alpha centauri, including some that had helped her with the solidarity build, wanted to participate, and there were plenty of young colonists willing and eager to step up to the plate. because that’s what astronauts should be, right ? young. that’s what explorers are. young. the fact of the matter is, the part of her life where she was the kind of person who would be asked to do that kind of thing is over. she’s not that person anymore. SHE’S LOST THAT CHANCE, and it just... hurts. 

       but then grants running for the door and no matter what she does, he’s not budging. she knows what he’s doing, sees right through it, and god, if it doesn’t make her just fall in love with him all over again. with a shake of her head, she straps herself into the captain’s chair, a sly grin spreading over her face. ❝ i mean... really, it’s only the responsible thing to do. a good engineer stands behind her work COMPLETELY. ❞ her hand comes to rest over the ignition and she opens the hangar, looking up at the sky above them.

       quickly, they’re soaring up to the stars. it’s a smooth takeoff, one of the smoothest maureen’s ever experienced, and she takes a certain pride in that alone. the machine handles beautifully, and once they reach orbit, she sits back with a satisfied smile. ❝ well... NOT BAD for a day’s work, huh ? ❞

[doctorobinson]

       ❝ hey... i just wanted... ❞ she shifts a little uncomfortably. apologies aren’t her strong suit, especially when it comes to the people she cares about, and ESPECIALLY when she knows she’s messed up so completely. she tugs nervously at the ends of her hair, unable to fully meet his gaze as she rocks back and forth on her heels. ❝ i wanted to apologize for what i said to you when i first saw you again. i didn’t... there was a lot going on and i... well, there are a lot of excuses i could give, REASONS, but... it didn’t come out right, and i realize it probably came off that i didn’t care you were back or... that i didn’t miss you or... ❞ she swallows, taking a shaky breath in before moving forward to wrap him in a tight hug, ❝ i’m sorry i fucked it up. because i missed you so much, grant. ❞

@everstride​