Leo Fitz

"If we had a monkey, we could get in." . . . Leopold Fitz, 27, Engineer. Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. . . {An Indie Leopold Fitz blog} Tracking #thatgadgetguy . A sideblog to thousandsofbeautifulthings

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

“….No.” He shook his head, only a moment’s hesitation between her words and his reply. It was a lie; there was at least a dozen of them in a small box in one of the drawers of his desk, but there was no way he was going to give them to her knowing her intentions. “I’m—fresh out, sorry.” Even if he could delay her with forcing her to run simulations, then maybe it would be long enough for her to come to her senses.

[jxmmas]

She paused for a moment before replying, hoping her disappointment wouldn’t be too evident as she spoke. “Well, let me know if you find some more, alright? I only need a few, preferably sooner rather than later.” In her mind, there was no other way to approach Inhumans without compromising the safety of her team, and they were the most important people in the world to Jemma. Furthermore, Inhumans had brought nothing but death and destruction upon the young biochemist, and she no longer could see the logic in not retaliating with everything S.H.I.E.L.D. had.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"...Sure," He replied, hating that he had to lie to her about this. He didn't want to, but it was becoming a nessecity. "Why, um...The current dendrotoxin. It-- It would take them out, too. Anything more is, ah, dangerous. Why...Why do we, um, you." He was stammering, worse than he had in a while while having a casual conversation. Of course, this was no form of casual -- it was a very important conversation disguised in simple words and explainations and far too many lies. Fitz took a breath, trying to reset his mouth and mind. "You don't, ah, really need it stronger, do you? Even if...even if it's just for people like --Raina."

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"I could," He shrugged softly, rather amused at how quickly and brightly she blushed. He hadn’t really meant to twist the compliment back to her as he had, as he was really only saying the truth. Fitz certainly wasn’t complaining, even so. "But, um. Like y’ said, there’s not really anyone interesting. "But, like y’ said. Someone would have to be interesting for me t’ really care." "Trust me, unintelligent people aren’t any better." He replied. "At least, from my experience. They’re…think and dull, for the most part, and would rather argue than start to understand what they don’t." He hesitated for a moment before shifting closer to her — someone had just opened the door to the party, the noise seeping into their relative quiet, and he didn’t want to miss anything she’d said. His blush deepened as she spoke about there possibly being someone at the party, which was dumb, because she probably wasn’t even talking about him. It was simply wishful thinking. All the same, he grinned a bit, and replied. "I— I think there might be someone here, too. We’ll see, I guess."

[jxmmas]

There was no way Jemma wouldn’t have noticed him shuffling closer to her, and her blush deepened as he did so. She instinctively and impulsively mirrored the action, realizing only moments later that it was a completely daft thing to do.

Jemma nodded in agreement, her movements quicker due to the unusual enthusiastic vigor inspired by the mixed drink in her hand. When he mentioned that he might have found someone interesting at the party, she quickly reasoned that there was a moderately good chance he was referring to her; it didn’t seem as though he had really conversed with anyone else when she had sat next to him at the table. However, there was also a fair chance that he considered her to be just as dull as everything else. “So I think we have just reached the conclusion that the vast majority of people are boring.” 

It was rather strange, really. She had originally decided to attend the party because she figured that it would be the apex of American culture and force her to quickly adapt. Now that she was there, however, she hardly noticed the differences between American and English culture considering how distracted she was by this very Scottish student.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

He was surprised when she shifted closer to him, but not at all displeased. Between her charm and the alcohol, walls he'd put up long ago were being taken carefully down -- not collapsing, but no where near as thick as they were for anyone else. It was weird to him how easily they were getting along, but at the moment, he wasn't going to try to start to understand it.

He grinned as she nodded, laughing softly to himself as party lights seeped through the window and hit her just right in this new position. Not that he was noticing that. At all. They were just being friendly. He wouldn't see her again, and besides, he was complete rubbish at relationships, friend or otherwise. But his vehement denial didn't help him not to make a fool of himself, apparently. "Except you," Fitz surmised, nodding. "I can't really speak for th' people I haven' met yet, but you're definiately on the list of not-boring."

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

               “I’m a good conversationalist with people who are also good conversationalists,” Fitz laughed softly, feeling his face growing bright red as she continued to speak. Maybe she wouldn’t notice, in the dim light.  He downed nearly half his drink in one goe, hoping that the alcohol would help. She was obviously a bit more drunk than he was, and he was finding that a bit unfair.  “As for the rest— they don’t really matter.” He’d never really considered himself attractive – sure, he wasn’t unattractive, but looks weren’t that important when you were a kid genius. Everyone else either doubted you or were intimidated by you, and that didn’t lead to many friendships, never mind flirting or romances.                And yet, he couldn’t help the slight disappointment when she said there wasn’t anyone who had intrigued her.  Fitz wasn’t entirely sure what he was disappointed about, because this was just an innocent conversation between two people who would rather be anywhere else but here.  There was nothing to be disappointed about. Nothing at all. “Tha’s too bad, “ He frowned softly. “I’m sure there’s someone here. Lots of smart, intriguing people. Maybe not at this party, but…at the school, maybe.”

[jxmmas]

Jemma noticed how he redirected what was originally her compliment back upon her, and she flushed a rather brilliant shade of red before dismissing the compliment altogether. She couldn’t allow herself to respond, especially not when she was reacting so strongly to just one of his sentences. “Of course they matter. They help you stand apart from everyone else here, and you could certainly use that to your advantage.” It didn’t make any sense why she was offering romantic advice to this stranger, especially considering she had little expertise in that field herself and the fact that she may be just slightly attracted to him, but she was doing so regardless. Perhaps it was the alcohol. 

“I’ve been surrounded by smart people my entire life, and very rarely are they interesting. Most people would think the contrary, but they are often so limited in their thinking that it restricts their ability to become intriguing.” Jemma sighed quietly, the exhale barely leaving her lips, as she silently contemplated the man before her, the one person who she had encountered in a very long time that had managed to impress her with his intelligence and, furthermore, intrigue her. “Well, perhaps there is someone here… at this party, I mean. Everyone I have met at school-related activities has been rather dull.”

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"I could," He shrugged softly, rather amused at how quickly and brightly she blushed. He hadn't really meant to twist the compliment back to her as he had, as he was really only saying the truth. Fitz certainly wasn't complaining, even so. "But, um. Like y' said, there's not really anyone interesting. "But, like y' said. Someone would have to be interesting for me t' really care." "Trust me, unintelligent people aren't any better." He replied. "At least, from my experience. They're...think and dull, for the most part, and would rather argue than start to understand what they don't." He hesitated for a moment before shifting closer to her -- someone had just opened the door to the party, the noise seeping into their relative quiet, and he didn't want to miss anything she'd said. His blush deepened as she spoke about there possibly being someone at the party, which was dumb, because she probably wasn't even talking about him. It was simply wishful thinking. All the same, he grinned a bit, and replied. "I-- I think there might be someone here, too. We'll see, I guess."

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

Fitz couldn’t help himself from feeling a bit nervous as she left, wondering if she would head back inside to the party and not come back out. It was a bit ridiculous, he knew, because she seemed to dislike being in there just as much as he had, and they had been having a nice conversation. He hoped. He wasn’t the best with conversations, but Fitz generally knew when they were going badly. 

               He watched her as she went, catching himself staring and forcing his gaze to the ground. He was likely never to see her again after this party – it was a fairly big school, and they were studying nearly completely different things save for Chemistry. Usually he was all too eager not to see someone again, but this was different. She was gorgeous a good conversationalist. 

               If he was stunned by the topic she started when she arrived back (he was, a bit), he didn’t let on, and instead shrugged. “Sort of? My roommate dragged me. Bu’, um, no. Not with anyone. Tha’d be a bit of a miracle.  And if I were, I probably wouldn’t have been sitting at a table alone. Or at all.” He hesitated for a moment. “…What about you?” Surely, since she had asked first, it was fine for him to return the question. Probably. 

[jxmmas]

She offered him the drink she had gotten for him, extending it into the space between them. “At his statement that it would be a miracle for him to have come with someone, Simmons scoffed. “Well, I don’t think you give yourself nearly enough credit. Your face is nice and symmetrical, and you seem to be a rather good conversationalist; not to mention your eyes are a lovely shade of blue, and apparently American women find men with accents from other countries very attractive.” Jemma had meant to stop after the first sentence, but the rest had just flowed out due to the influence of the alcohol. After her mind finally caught up with her mouth, the realization of what she had just confessed struck her, and she nervously took another sip of whatever drink she had been handed in hopes of defusing some of her embarrassment. 

“Me? Come here with someone?” She nearly laughed at the absurdity of the question. “No. Absolutely not. I haven’t met a single person here who has intrigued me in the slightest,” well, maybe one, “and I can assure you I have no intentions of wasting my time on someone who I don’t find interesting.” Once again, it was more information than intended, but at least she didn’t say anything too mortifying that time.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

               “I’m a good conversationalist with people who are also good conversationalists,” Fitz laughed softly, feeling his face growing bright red as she continued to speak. Maybe she wouldn’t notice, in the dim light.  He downed nearly half his drink in one goe, hoping that the alcohol would help. She was obviously a bit more drunk than he was, and he was finding that a bit unfair.  “As for the rest— they don’t really matter.” He’d never really considered himself attractive – sure, he wasn’t unattractive, but looks weren’t that important when you were a kid genius. Everyone else either doubted you or were intimidated by you, and that didn’t lead to many friendships, never mind flirting or romances.                And yet, he couldn’t help the slight disappointment when she said there wasn’t anyone who had intrigued her.  Fitz wasn’t entirely sure what he was disappointed about, because this was just an innocent conversation between two people who would rather be anywhere else but here.  There was nothing to be disappointed about. Nothing at all. “Tha’s too bad, “ He frowned softly. “I’m sure there’s someone here. Lots of smart, intriguing people. Maybe not at this party, but…at the school, maybe.”

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

Fitzhad been half- listening, mostly, until Simmons had said something about potentially lethally. And then he shot to attention like a cannonball being shot from a canon. He was well aware of Simmons’ sudden change in mindset, (She was coping, as they all were) but potential lethality was everything that they had worked against and now she was taking rather terrifying strides towards it. “I, um.” He stammered, turning more fully towards her. “What for?”

[jxmmas]

Her gaze was anywhere but on him as she spoke, shame settling into her stomach for everything that had occurred between them previously. “I need a cartridge to make sure the substance doesn’t react negatively with the metals. I know we have simulators for that purpose, but this is a high-priority project and I don’t have time to check all the different combinations.” Her tone was entirely factual, and it contained none of the scientific zeal it used to.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

“….No.” He shook his head, only a moment’s hesitation between her words and his reply. It was a lie; there was at least a dozen of them in a small box in one of the drawers of his desk, but there was no way he was going to give them to her knowing her intentions. “I’m—fresh out, sorry.” Even if he could delay her with forcing her to run simulations, then maybe it would be long enough for her to come to her senses.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

“—Thanks,” He said softly, rather stunned by her praise. It wasn’t that he was unused to people telling him that his ideas were good ( until fairly recently it had mostly been his mother, which didn’t entirely count), but there was something about impressing her, this random tiny British girl who he’d likely never see again, that made him feel happier than he rightly should. “A drink would be good,” Fitz agreed, tossing his potential escape plan down the drain in favor of refueling the slight buzz that was beginning to wear off. And maybe adding a bit more.  He doubted he’d need the escape anyways.      

[jxmmas]

Jemma slipped inside, the loud music filling her head, and quickly grabbed and consequentially downed a shot. Someone eagerly handed her some kind of mixed drink, and, from the sloppy grin on his face, she figured he was probably going to have a massive hangover in the morning. If she had been with any other guy, she probably would have used that moment as the perfect time to slip away. This Scottish man was different; he reminded her of home. He looked like home, he sounded like home, and some part of her, the increasingly intoxicated part of her, wondered if he would taste like home, too. 

As she approached him, she shook the thought from her mind. He seemed completely brilliant from their brief conversation, and she was nervous of doing anything to potentially upset him when there was so much potential in everything else they could possibly discuss. “So, did you come here with anyone?” Hold on. That wasn’t the meaningful conversation she had intended to start…

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

Fitz couldn’t help himself from feeling a bit nervous as she left, wondering if she would head back inside to the party and not come back out. It was a bit ridiculous, he knew, because she seemed to dislike being in there just as much as he had, and they had been having a nice conversation. He hoped. He wasn’t the best with conversations, but Fitz generally knew when they were going badly.                He watched her as she went, catching himself staring and forcing his gaze to the ground. He was likely never to see her again after this party – it was a fairly big school, and they were studying nearly completely different things save for Chemistry. Usually he was all too eager not to see someone again, but this was different. She was gorgeous a good conversationalist.                If he was stunned by the topic she started when she arrived back (he was, a bit), he didn’t let on, and instead shrugged. “Sort of? My roommate dragged me. Bu’, um, no. Not with anyone. Tha’d be a bit of a miracle.  And if I were, I probably wouldn’t have been sitting at a table alone. Or at all.” He hesitated for a moment. "...What about you?" Surely, since she had asked first, it was fine for him to return the question. Probably. 

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"Yeah. Don’t see why that matters to you, though." While he was here willingly, it didn’t mean he wanted to be. He didn’t belong here at all, despite what everyone else seemed to think. 

[iuvenishq-blog]

"Being that tetchy isn’t going to get you anywhere in here." She left her arms bare, her scars plain to see to everyone. "You gotta be sugar and spice otherwise you’ll be trapped forever."

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

He was silent, looking at her, making no show in hiding the fact that he had noticed said scars. It was a moment before he looked back up at her, arms crossing over his chest. “Not me,” Fitz muttered, shaking his head. “I don’t plan on getting ‘trapped’.”

[invademyinbox]

Send me "You're okay, it was just a bad dream." for my characters reaction to waking up from a nightmare in your characters arms.

[iuvenishq-blog]

thatgadgetguy

"New guy, huh?" She could already tell, by the way he carried himself and by the way he looked around this place—as if he was so sure he didn’t belong here. 

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"Yeah. Don't see why that matters to you, though." While he was here willingly, it didn't mean he wanted to be. He didn't belong here at all, despite what everyone else seemed to think. 

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"A drone," he replied. "T’ go out in the field, dangerous situations and the like. So agents don’t have to, if there’s something deadly. It’ll take readings and gather specimens and such, but I’ve barely started on it. Not much more than schematics and sketches right now." His ability to work on whatever he wished had been a selling point for his coming here — as long as he got what he had to do done, he could use the supplies and tools for whatever he wanted, within reason.

[jxmmas]

Jemma nodded, intrigued by the device he was describing. It certainly sounded as though it would have several practical applications for field work and potentially save lives. “That sounds completely and utterly brilliant.” Her tone was sincere. Silence settled between them for a few moments, and Jemma took a sip of her drink before finishing it off. There was another pulse of sound from the house as more partygoers made their way outside, and she was suddenly overwhelmed by culture shock once again. “I need another drink,” she said, more to herself than to him. “Do you want anything? I’m just going to dash inside for a moment.”

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

“—Thanks,” He said softly, rather stunned by her praise. It wasn’t that he was unused to people telling him that his ideas were good ( until fairly recently it had mostly been his mother, which didn’t entirely count), but there was something about impressing her, this random tiny British girl who he’d likely never see again, that made him feel happier than he rightly should. “A drink would be good,” Fitz agreed, tossing his potential escape plan down the drain in favor of refueling the slight buzz that was beginning to wear off. And maybe adding a bit more.  He doubted he’d need the escape anyways.  

[jxmmas]

thatgadgetguy

"The compound will be added to the dendrotoxin for the ICERs… if I can get it working, that is. I’m trying to find a substance that will only react with Inhuman DNA, potentially lethally, but nothing has worked so far.” Jemma paused for a moment before continuing. "That’s not why I’m here, though. I was just wondering if you had any empty cartridges for the ICER bullets.” Her restless hands curled into fists as her gaze skimmed the garage, the place where Fitz had taken up residency since their brief discussion in the plane. 

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

Fitz had been half- listening, mostly, until Simmons had said something about potentially lethally. And then he shot to attention like a cannonball being shot from a canon. He was well aware of Simmons’ sudden change in mindset, (She was coping, as they all were) but potential lethality was everything that they had worked against and now she was taking rather terrifying strides towards it. “I, um.” He stammered, turning more fully towards her. “What for?”

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"Yeah," he admitted, tone softening as well as he glanced around at the distinctly un-greenness of everything around them. Sure, there was grass and trees, but it wasn’t quite the same, and there was far less of it. "Me, too."

He shifted closer as she moved towards him, nodding. “It’s kind of everything I do. Build stuff, take it apart, do it again. I didn’t have a lot off access to supplies to build stuff when I was younger, so I stuck mostly to the the ‘take it apart’ step.”

[jxmmas]

Though she found it unfortunate that he seemed to miss home as much as she did, it was nice to find someone with shared experiences from similar origins. Furthermore, it also made her more comfortable with him, though she suspected there was another reason for that as well. 

Jemma noticed as he shifted closer as well, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “That sounds like it takes a lot of focus and talent…What are you working on now then?”

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"A drone," he replied. "T' go out in the field, dangerous situations and the like. So agents don't have to, if there's something deadly. It'll take readings and gather specimens and such, but I've barely started on it. Not much more than schematics and sketches right now." His ability to work on whatever he wished had been a selling point for his coming here -- as long as he got what he had to do done, he could use the supplies and tools for whatever he wanted, within reason.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

He laughed softly at her description. “Glad t’ know I wasn’t completely missing out, if th’ best way to describe it is green.” This was the first he was talking of home since he’d left, and it certainly wasn’t helping the vague feeling of homesickness that had been lingering since he’d stepped off the plane, but it was somehow managing to make him feel a bit better.

He shrugged gently, a faint blush rising to his cheeks as she laughed. Fitz knew there was no malice there, but part of him wished he hadn’t said that. “I got bored, and I’d taken apart everything else in the house already. I resorted t’ drastic measures.”

[jxmmas]

There was a pause before Jemma spoke, her tone much softer and the volume much quieter. “I miss how green everything is.” The wistfulness for home was evident in her voice. Her homesickness was a side effect of culture shock according to her research, and it was only part of what was making her transition to America so difficult. Loneliness was another, and he was helping ease her of both. 

His somewhat defensive reaction made her realize that she might have embarrassed him, and guilt quickly flashed through her. However, she figured an apology would only draw attention to it all and potentially embarrass him more, so Simmons shied away from the idea, instead continuing on with the conversation. “Do you do that a lot then? Take things apart and put them back together?” At that moment, the music within the house somehow became even louder, and Jemma instinctively abandoned her pole and moved a little closer to him so she could hear his response.

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"Yeah," he admitted, tone softening as well as he glanced around at the distinctly un-greenness of everything around them. Sure, there was grass and trees, but it wasn't quite the same, and there was far less of it. "Me, too."

He shifted closer as she moved towards him, nodding. "It's kind of everything I do. Build stuff, take it apart, do it again. I didn't have a lot off access to supplies to build stuff when I was younger, so I stuck mostly to the the 'take it apart' step."

[digivolvin]

u know i’ve expressed my love for fake married/fake dating many, many times but like. is anything better. is anything better on this earth. does any trope or genre truly care for us quite like this one. let us reflect on a few of the gifts that fake married/dating consistently gives us:

character a asks “hey, will you pretend to be my date for a week for [convoluted excuse that could easily be solved without a fake relationship]?” character b, fully convinced of the futility of their DEEP AND UNREQUITED LOVE, figures this’ll be a chance to spend time with them and possibly put their feelings to rest. character b is always wrong & it is always amazing.

having to SHARE A LIVING SPACE FOR ARBITRARY FIC REASONS. having to see eachother in their pajamas first thing in the morning, messy haired, drowsy eyed and soft faced. going from “you can have the bathroom first” to brushing their teeth beside eachother and feeling like this closeness has always existed (at the same time, painfully aware that it won’t always). 

related to the last one — “”practicing”” their casual touching so that it’s easier when they’re in public. feeling SWOOPS OF ARDOR AND AGONY when they feel the brush of a hand on their neck, or an arm loop around their waist. don’t you love how fake marrieds/dates are always method actors who must FULLY INHABIT their roles. i love it. i live for it. 

bed sharing. :^) we all pretend we’re bigger than this but we are not. 

"kiss me while everyone’s looking."

the character who wasn’t aware they were in love (maybe always had been) until the fake relationship is in full swing, realizing they have to sort their feelings out before their time together is up. sometimes they succeed and angst is minimal. most of the time they don’t, really.

telling each other “i love you” in public and meaning it, heart aching over it, but bELIEVING THE OTHER 2 BE ACTING. my soul is still 15, this garbage still gets me. u don’t get pining better than this.

the days leading up to the end of the arrangement where one of them, still confused and muddy about their Feelings and unsure how to break things off, stiffens to the casual, reflexive touching and puts their walls back up. the other one accepts and respects this as the end of their agreement and squashes back down all the hope they ever had, stuffs it next to the heartbreak they’re ignoring deep in their chest. 

when they realize they’re actually fully and enthusiastically mutual about the way they feel and it’s, like, two parts euphoria and one part agony because they just cannOT BELIEVE, the happiness tears them in two. maybe there are weepy or laughing kisses. i don’t know but i’m usually invested like 2000%. i love fake dating/marrieds. 

I LOVE EM.

[bokayjunkie]

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

[get to know me meme] 10 Male Characters (1/10): Phil Coulson (Marvel)

[rpfunstuff]

High School Themed Sentence Meme

"Apparently I was the only one that got the email saying to wear your pajamas to school today."

"Getting really tired of teachers saying whatever they want to me and when I try and defend myself, they send me to in school suspension."

"I had to come in early to make up the test I missed last week. I’m pretty sure the school would make a fortune if they had a coffee vending machine."

"I have a near perfect GPA, but that apparently means nothing if my shorts are too short."

"I studied for this test all week! How did I only get an 8%?"

"I’m not sure if that was sex ed or Sunday school."

"If you don’t do your share of the work, I’ll take your name off the project and you can take a zero. You’re not getting the grade for doing nothing."

"My locker is jammed again. I’m ready to find a lockermate and just be done with it."

"My parents didn’t believe that the homework said to only do the even numbers on the worksheet and wouldn’t let me eat dinner until I did the entire thing."

"No one told me there was a two hour delay today so I spent half an hour trying to get into the building before a police officer showed up and broke the news."

"So I found your phone number on another bathroom stall."

"The teacher caught me with my phone out and took it away. They gave it back at the end of the day and everything but my background was a picture of their face."

"The vice principal pronounced my name wrong in the morning announcements again."

"There’s a locker number and combination in the back of my textbook. Are you up for an adventure?"

"Wait I’m sorry, did you say you have a cat in your locker?"

"We don’t have to be friends but we do have to be lab partners."

"What do you mean you didn’t do the homework last night? I was going to copy off of you before class!"

"When are they going to understand that no one in this school is interested in eating tuna melts every Tuesday?"

"When my locker neighbor slammed their locker shut, my shirt somehow got closed in it and they didn’t notice so there I was with two options: Take my shirt off or wait for help and I really didn’t feel like getting sent home for dress code today."

"Yes, I absolutely think it’s a terrible idea for you to try to seduce our chemistry teacher."

[thermxdynamics-archive-blog]

open

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

He lagged habitually behind, letting her catch up to him. He didn’t stop until they’d made it into the kitchen, his hands faltering for a moment as he grabbed the box of tea from where’d he’d stashed it in the back of the cupboards. “You, um. Still take it the same way, right? Your tea?”

[thermxdynamics-archive-blog]

Jemma was embarrassed and tired by the time they got to the kitchen, sitting in the first chair that was convenient. Elbow went to tabletop and palm cradled her head as she watched Fitz fumble the tea box. “I’ve stopped taking it with milk, actually,” she remarked. “Trying to cut back a bit…” As if she really needed it. “Did you know the human body isn’t meant to digest milk past age four, but because people keep drinking it they sort of ‘trick’ their system into continuing to digest it? If you stop consuming dairy long enough, your body loses the ability to and you have to take supplements.”

[thatgadgetguy-blog]

"That's, um. Interesting. Fascinating," Fitz murmured, only half-listening to what she had said beyond 'I've stopped taking it with milk'. He'd asked for a reason, but partially wished he hadn't for some reason he couldn't -- or wouldn't -- place. It was just tea, just milk, and made no comment on how much they'd changed. He used to know how she took it so well that he could do it in his sleep (and had, once,) and they used to be so close that they could finish each other's thoughts, but those two facts were completely unrelated. His knowlegde about her tea and their friendship were not connected. At all. But he was having troubles trying to reason that with himself as he set about the relatively simple task that was made infinitely harder just by her presence, hoping she wouldn't notice that he'd spilt the sugar or overpoured the milk as it eagerly sloshed into his own mug.