You'll always be in my heart, even if I can't hear you in my brain. Who: Nate and Cora Where: His house What: Talking and cookie tasting When: The morning of June 7th Warnings/Rating: PG Status complete
“Hi!” Nate was waiting for Cora when she biked up, sitting on the porch and smiling. He hopped up when she arrived and showed her where she could tie it, so that no one could steal it. Nate felt a hope and a fear as he smiled at her and moved to hug her.
How would she look at the idea of dating?
Cora’s bike, while it was the appropriate size for a young woman, sported a paint-job that was very pink-and-purple, with flashes of bright, electric blue. Her helmet and safety gear were also bright blue, in a shade that was strangely similar to Arana’s exoskeleton. It was entirely possible that she had chosen that color on purpose. Her backpack, however, was the plain red one that held Arana’s uniform, and web-discs. She wasn’t sure if she should continue practicing with them without the enhanced reflexes of her spider-self, but she had them, just in case.
She smiled as she hopped off the bike and wheeled to over to be chained up, then removed her gear and launched herself at Nathan for a hug. “Hi!”
Nate met her hug with his own and swept her close, grinning as he did so, heart pounding. She smelled good and he buried his head in her hair. And suddenly, his heart was pounding and the brave face he had been showing was falling apart, and in her arms, he was shaking. “It’s like part of me is gone, part of my body and mind is gone, and I can’t feel you like that or hear you and I hate it.”
Cora held on tight, a lump forming in her throat as she felt him start to tremble. She wasn’t quite sure what to do, but she had a feeling she knew what Nate would do if she was the one who was scared and hurt. So she rubbed his back, and pet his hair, a just tried to listen. She believed there was still magic and power in the energy all around them, even if they couldn’t see it anymore; that they held it in the circle of their arms, even now.
“I’m right here, Nate,” she whispered, “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
He shuddered as held on to her and just let go, the fear and frustration and weirdness of it flowing out of him. When he finally felt like he could do more than cry on her and cling to her, he slowly pulled back, eyes on hers. “Thank you. I needed... thank you.” He hugged her tight and kissed her hair.
“You make everything better.”
Corazon let all the tension drain out of her, into the ground beneath her feet, takings deep breaths so that she could be strong and calm for Nate. She was glad that she'd been practicing things like this with her mom, it seemed to help a lot. She could feel Nate starting to relax, too. "You'll always be in my heart," she said, "even if I can't hear you in my brain."
"And you're in mine. You're the person I always want to talk to, and always want to touch. I am starting... No, I have been having strong feelings for you."
So, that was sort of a start.
Cora felt a flutter in her chest at Nate's words, and she blinked up at him, her face full of curiosity, but hopeful at the same time. She knew that she had strong feelings, but she was just a kid, and she'd had strong feelings about everything. She hadn't thought that it would be possible for Nate to have the same kind of feelings for her, back then. But maybe it was different now. "Like...romantic feelings?"
“Yes. I know that we would have to go slow and wait. Because of your age, and all. But... yeah, I feel for you romantically, Cora. And when you’re ready, I would like to date you.” He blushed, looking down before looking back up at her.
“And just so you know, I don’t mean to like, push you to feel the same way. I just wanted you to know.”
Cora felt her cheeks turn pink, and a nervous, yet excited smile broke out across her face. Romantic feelings? For her! Not for the pretty vampire girl who was going to his school, or any of his other, beautiful, grown-up friends. He wanted to date her.
Not that their dates would look much different than hanging out, at first, but that was okay. Right?
“You don’t mind--waiting for me? I haven’t really thought much about dating, before now, but I really, really like you.”
“I don’t. I like the things we do now, you know? As long as it wont be awkward for you, to be around me knowing this, I still wanna hang out.” Nate smiled softly. “I figured you might need time, and that’s fine with me.”
Nate gently touched her hand.
Cora glanced down at their hands, and threaded her fingers with Nate’s. It felt good. “I always want to be around you,” she said. “Even if you didn’t think of me that way, and fell in love with someone else...I know it might have been hard to watch you grow up without me, but I just want you to be safe and happy, wherever you are. Whenever you are.”
She swallowed, and squeezed his hand. “And I want to be there with you, if I can.”
Her acceptance of his hand made him blush, and smile. “I feel the same about you. I think I started caring about you, way back when we talked after time travel. You and your mom started being there for me, and it meant a lot. You were younger, but smart, strong, and compassionate and... it meant a lot.” He swallowed. “And slowly, my feelings have grown. But I know things have to take time, and for you? I am willing to spend a lifetime of living, learning, and growing.” Then he grinned at her. “Or four.”
“Four lifetimes, huh?” Cora smiled, her cheeks still tinged with pink. “Well, I don’t care how many, as long as you always come back to me.” If he couldn’t take her with him, that is. “I don’t know how long it will take me to catch up to myself, but you’ve never treated me like I was just a little kid. I think that helps.”
Nate nodded. “Yeppers.” And he smiled shyly at her. “I will always come back, even if it takes me some time to do so. I’ll find a way.” He sighed softly. “Or I’ll pull you along.” Then he grinned. “Or you’ll come after me and rescue me anyway.” He nodded.
“You never were, to me.”
Cora nodded, feeling a strong surge of emotion in her chest. She knew, deep down, that as long as she was alive, she would do everything in her power to find him, wherever he was, whenever he was. And if all she could do was wait...
“Then, I’ll wait for you, too.”
Nate blushed and smiled at her. “You’re the best, Cora.” He hugged her and kissed her cheek again and smiled. “Now, cookies? And have you eaten breakfast?”
“Yes, and yes,” she said, “No worries about me crashing into a sugar coma. I had eggs on toast before I biked over.” She grinned. “What kind of cookies did you bake this time?”
“Chocolate coffee toffee cookies. A new recipe!” He bounced as he led the way inside and toward a sugary fun time.
“Chocolate coffee toffee,” Cora echoed, giggling, and darting after him. “That’s a tongue twister! Are they as fun to eat as they are to say?”
“I think so? Let’s find out if you feel the same way!” He held on to her hand as he led the way to the kitchen filled with the aroma of them. He just wanted to share things with her, and this was such a day.