[Closed] You're never strangers with compassion

[killedwithlove]

Who: Cole and Allison
What: Meeting your baby brother's boyfriend
When: Late at night, during the height of the plague
Where: The kitchen area
Warnings: None at present.


Cole senses her the moment she arrives, of course.

But until this night, she hasn't needed his presence. Her hurts are being processed in the healthiest way possible for the Hargreeves children, and he's a little more interested in Ben and helping him.

Tonight, she feels alone and it's too quiet, so Cole goes to find her, checks Ben is asleep and whispers for his dreams to be gentle with him and then he goes to the kitchen.

He starts the conversation and notifies her that he's there by saying "I can't get sick, so I won't be a danger to you."

Allison, meet Cole.

Comments

[hersay]

Allison smiles for the first time since she's seen Cole. It's a small one, but soft and genuine. She can easily imagine Ben reading to Cole -- he's always liked books, and it always feels so good to share something you love with someone else, especially when the other person likes it too.

She thinks about Claire again, but this time, the memories have a little bit more happiness to them. She wishes she could read to her daughter again, someday. That they will be together again, a whole family, with Allison's injuries healed, physical and emotional.

Thank you, Allison tries to think, tries to direct her thoughts at Cole. For prodding a good memory. I'm sure Ben likes reading to you, too.

[killedwithlove]

"Picture books of Mom's adventures, Space Boy on the moon, waiting for a danger that boiled over on Earth-" He shakes his head. "Sorry. Not that. You will, I think, read to her again. And maybe she'll be there to be read to."

And Cole's back to being obtuse.