Who: Tori and Kat Where: The Crowe household When: Valentine's Day Status: Closed and Complete Warnings: JUST OVERWHELMING CUTENESS
Tori had invited Kat to come over and hang out at her house and have dinner with her family. She still couldn't understand why people gave Kat crap at school. Her dad was a literal superhero genius who happened to look like a raccoon. SO?! Honestly, Tori thought that was kind of cool, and she'd told some snotty girl just that today, saying she was just jealous that her dad WASN'T a superhero genius. People were so stupid sometimes. They liked the perks of having superheros around but then wanted to talk crap about their kids? LAME.
For now, while she waited on Kat to arrive, Tori played on her phone, mostly just playing mobile games for the time being.
Bless her, Kat was smiling for the first time in several days. Tori had been like a godsend, coming into her life exactly at the moment she needed her most. A loyal, fierce, protective friend who had your back no matter what was precisely what Kat needed more than anything... and suddenly there the younger Crowe sibling was. Kat couldn't help but be a little smitten with the girl, considering that on top of all that, she was a stunning young woman as well. After making sure to have Six help her with her hair and makeup, she threw on a pleated skirt, her favorite sneakers, and a black hoodie, grabbed the small box containing the gift she'd made for Tori and headed to visit the Crowe family.
Knocking on the door happily, a little gift bag dangling from her wrist, she hummed nervously as she waited for someone to answer.
Tori had been compared to a Chihuahua with aggression issues for a reason. Like the dog, she would tear into anyone who remotely pissed her off, but she was also fiercely loyal to those she cared about. She'd been defending her sister Mouse for YEARS, only to rip into people just as much for wanting to cozy up to her because she suddenly got famous. Tori really was the perfect person for Kat, friend or possibly otherwise.
Hearing someone at the door, she grinned, pocketing her phone and jumping up to answer. Opening the door, she continued to smile at Kat. "Hey, come on in," she said, motioning for her to come inside.
"Hiii!" Kat said with a happy little wave, before leaning in to give the girl a big hug. She turned to look at Tori as she walked in. "You honestly have NO idea how much this means to me. With everything I just went through... this is a really craptastic day for me."
Tori leaned in to hug her back. "Well I'm happy to have you here," she said, shutting the door behind her. "And what happened today? Someone give you crap again?" She seriously didn't understand why Kat didn't just get her GED or something.
"Oh... no. Nothing like that. I just meant everything that happened with Enid." Kat said, grumbling cutely as she said her friend's name. "I've just been really down on myself. Like, moreso than usual. So thanks for being here."
Tori didn't say anything, just reaching over and hugging Kat again. "Well, now you're here, so hopefully I can make you feel at least a little bit better." She hoped so, anyway. "Dinner's not going to be for a bit, so what do you want to do until then?"
"Wanna go watch TV or something?" Kat asked, before dangling that bag beneath her chin with a cute little grin. "I kinda wanted to give this to you anyway, so... small-talk and TV?"
Tori nodded. "TV sounds great," she agreed, looking down at the bag. "So you made me something?" She wasn't sure if anyone had literally made her anything before.
Kat stayed silent as they walked to Tori's room, just hoping the gift was something she liked, and not just another thing that made Kat look like a total weirdo. Shuffling into the room, Kat kicked her shoes off, climbing onto the bed and tucking her legs beneath her. She held the bag out to Tori, a sheepish look of pride on her face. "Yeah. I like to make things. Create new things. And this was something I'd been thinking about for a while, and when I saw how quick you are to defend others, I knew this would be perfect for you."
She handed Tori the bag, which contained what appeared to be a 90s-looking bangle bracelet, made of a feather-light metallic material.
Sitting on the bed with her, Tori happily accepted the bag, opening it and seeing the bangle, trying it on. "It's cute! I like it. What type of metal is this?" She had the feeling it was something special.
"It's made with low-grade vibranium. The second toughest material in existence." Kat told her, before holding her hand up as if SHE were wearing it. She placed two fingers at where the underside of the bracelet would be. "I infused the vibranium with what Reed Richards calls "unstable molecule". It allows for the material to stretch and bend to a degree far more than it really has any business being. If you tap right here on the bracelet... two quick taps will make it shift into a small shield. Three quick taps will make it cover your fist, so that you're essentially wearing a vibranium boxing glove."
Tori did as she suggested, giving it two quick taps, laughing in surprise as a small shield shifted from the bracelet. Three more and, sure enough, it was covering her fist. "Ha! I love it! I can't wait for someone to give me enough shit that I need to pop them with a shield!" Because of COURSE Tori would use a shield as a weapon. Tiny, angry Captain America, apparently. "How do I make it turn back into a bracelet?"
"That's the coolest part." Kat said, adorably animated when talking about stuff she knew about. "When it's the shield? Just shake your hand real fast, like you would if it went numb and you were trying to get it back to normal. Boom. Bracelet again. When it's the glove? Flex your fist inside it a few times. Blammo, back to jewelry."
She chewed on her bottom lip excitedly, before having to ask: "Do you really really like it?"
Tori flexed her fist a few times, watching as the glove went back into the bracelet. "This is so freaking COOL, Kat! Thank you. Of course I love it," she said, leaning over and hugging her friend again. "Who wouldn't love something like this?" "You've just been such a good friend to me in such a short time...." Kat said, tears actually forming a little in her eyes. "And you honestly don't know how badly I needed that. Especially right now."
"Trust me. I'm so glad that I managed to make a friend when I ended up so far away from home it isn't funny and in space," Tori said, giving Kat a smile. "I'm here for you, though. Whatever you need. That's what friends are for."
“I feel ridiculous though." Kat admitted, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Apparently this was all in my head from the beginning, but... I mean, I'm so hurt I ended up singing to a stupid picture of her earlier."
Damn those cupids and their magic...
"I just feel like a burden. To everyone. Like everyone would be better off if that flarkin' gem just sent me away somewhere."
"You got hit by a cupid then, huh?" She'd seen a bunch of people singing around here, and more than a few cursing at those cupid things. They seemed kind of bonkers, but it made her feel a little more at home. Home could be pretty weird sometimes, too. "Well, I for one would not be better off. You're the first friend that I made here and I'm determined to keep you, so stop wishing for that," she said, reaching over and hugging Kat again.
Kat leaned into the hug, giving a happy little hum before suddenly pulling away, looking disgusted with herself.
"No. See... All I do is screw up everything good in my life. I almost just did it again! And I'm so tired of it. I wish I could just... make everyone in the world forget who I am."
Tori looked very surprised when she pulled away like that. "Wait, what? What did you just almost do? I thought we were hugging." Did she do something? What just happened?
"I almost tried to kiss you." Kat told her, shaking her head. "Every time someone tries to be my friend that part of me that just... wants to belong to someone takes over, with no consideration for anyone but myself."
Tori tilted her head at Kat, studying her for a moment. "You know, I wouldn't exactly be against the idea," she admitted. "You're sweet and caring, but also kind of an asshole, which I need because I would drive anyone too nice crazy. You're also painfully gorgeous even though you don't seem to realize it. Also, you made me this," she said, holding up the bracelet still on her arm, "which also means you're like, a freaking genius. I'd be stupid to not at least consider dating you if you were interested." Tori was never NOT blunt, it seemed.
"I did the same thing to Lita and JR, then to Enid... I didn't even think about how they would feel about it, or how YOU would feel about it." The good part? Kat was starting to realize her faults. The bad part? She was starting to hate herself more because of those faults. "I'm a selfish jerk and Enid dodged a bullet."
"Well, then asked me now then," Tori said. "Ask me how I feel about it."
"Ok, I almost threw myself at you the way I seem to with every attractive person who tries to be nice to me." Kat said, shaking her head. "How's that make you feel?"
"Kind of flattered," Tori admitted. "Like I said, you're kind of a catch. Probably shouldn't throw yourself at everyone, but you're cute and I like girls so I don't see a big issue with it and now I'm babbling. Crap." Yeah, Tori kind of liked Kat, but she hadn't wanted to say too much about it because she was going through a lot right now and it didn't feel appropriate, OK?
".......you think I'm a catch." Kat blinked, briefly wondering if maybe Tori had hit her head, or had maybe momentarily lost her mind. "Me. The Weird Raccoon Girl. The Stage-Four Clinger."
"I told you. I don't care that you're dad's a raccoon. He seems like he's kind of cool. And yeah, maybe we should work on the clinger bit, but that doesn't make you any less awesome, Kat," Tori pointed out to her.
"You do realize that someone like you could pretty much get any guy or girl she wants, right? I mean you're STUPID hot, Tori." Kat said, still a little shellshocked. There was no way this was what it seemed like. No, this was Kat reading too much into everything like she always did.
"Most of the people at school suck." God, it was Reagan High all over again. You would think that, in space, people would be more cool, but it seems like teenagers suck wherever you go. "And I don't want them."
"Can I ask why the hell you'd want ME then?" Kat asked, still in disbelief that this was even happening. She'd crushed on Tori and Ivy since meeting the two of them... but she never dreamed either would actually have any interest in HER.
"Did you miss the part where I said you were gorgeous, smart, and nice?" Tori asked. "I mean, you made me a bracelet I can hit people with! I don't think anyone can top that gift ever. Why wouldn't I be attracted to that?"
Kat just couldn't process that anyone could find her attractive, the poor thing. "You mean... you'd actually be willing to go out once or twice? See if you really do like me that way?"
"Yes! I'm definitely willing to go out with you and see if we can have something going on. If it doesn't work out, it's OK, too. We can still be friends. If it does work out, then let's consider ourselves lucky and just roll with it," Tori said, reaching for Kat's hand and squeezing it.
"If you had any idea the things going on in my head right now..." Kat laughed with a blush, as without even knowing it, Tori was telling her everything she'd wanted to hear a person say to her. "You honestly think I'm gorgeous? Really?"
"Well, I bet I can hazard a few guesses," she teased. "And who do I have to hit that has made you think this way? Because I'm going to have to hammer it into your head no matter what happens that you are gorgeous. Really."
A million thoughts went through Kat's head in that moment. Everything from wanting to know what the hell made HER so special (tech talents excluded), to what she found so physically attractive about her, to why she felt Kat was even worth all this bother. But in the end, the part of her that had never been kissed by someone who actually wanted to be kissing her won out. And with misty eyes, and a slight, nervous tremble, she decided to abandon any words and instead leaned in, eyes fluttering shut as she lightly pressed her lips to Tori's.
Tori shut her eyes, lightly kissing Kat back. She felt her stomach flutter a bit as she did it, glad that she had told Kat the truth. Even if this didn't work out between them and they were only friends, Kat definitely deserved to get to learn that she was attractive and an awesome girl.
Kat kept the kiss light, not wanting to set herself up for the (in her mind) inevitable letdown. As it was, she had to literally force herself not to climb onto the girl's lap as they kissed, as she knew she had to be careful not to blow any chance she had here out of the water entirely. "How's it even possible for someone to be so amazing..." She mumbled, almost more to herself, as the kiss broke, and she rested her forehead against the other girl's. "I feel like I need to warn you about something though..."
Tori would not have been entirely against Kat climbing into her lap, but she also knew that they should probably take things slow for now. "What's that?" she asked, smiling as she leaned back against Kat's head as well.
"The clingy thing... it's not an exaggeration. When I start to have feelings for someone... I dunno. I'm an all-or-nothing kinda person. If you want something light and non-committal... please tell me, because I'm really not the girl for you." Again... she knew her issues, and was trying to be responsible.
Tori nodded. "I want us to take things a little slow so that we can make sure that this is something we both want. I don't want you getting hurt or thinking you have to be with me just because I like you back," she explained. She'd seen Mouse's crazy love life and picked up a few pointers, it seemed. "That said, I'm a monogamous kind of girl. I don't really date around. So we're good there."
"You're kidding me on the 'I have to be with you' part, right?" Kat asked, blinking in surprise. "You're sweet, I'm crazy about you, and you're seriously one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen. There's no version of this world where I wouldn't consider myself LUCKY to be with you."
"You'd be amazed at what I've seen people around me go through," Tori said. Mouse and Allie's relationship back home was what really sprang to mind. It was nothing but pure luck that they managed to salvage a friendship out of that mess. "Let's just say we've all got our own relationship hang ups, Kat." Still, Tori shifted around, moving to sit behind Kat and wrapping her arms around the girl's waist, resting her chin in Kat's shoulder. "Just remember that it's always OK to be honest with me, OK?"
"I would never lie to you. Ever." Kat said, the relief and emotion in her voice doing more to prove how much she wanted this than any words could. "I only need to take things at whatever speed you need. I know I wanna be yours. But I know a girl as smart and pretty as you has tons of options, so for once I'm not gonna pressure someone I like into anything."
"Sometimes I have all the charm of an angry ferret, so not as many options as you might think," Tori teased. "Besides, I'm not interested in them. I'm way more interested in you."
"Well..." Kat sniffled, trying to hold in all the emotions she was feeling right now. "If you want me? I'm yours. Only yours."