LYDS         »         bansheeintuition·.

           ❛   not   to   sound    like   a   primadonna   or   anything,   and   i’ve   seen   you   wear   higher   end   brands   —   but   everyone   knows   ross   sells   all   the   reject   items,  ❜   she   teased   back,   mood   lifted   just   by   being   with   him   despite   the   universe   testing   her   short   fuse.   ❛   you   had   me   at   latin   scripts,   ❜   she   purred   appreciatively,   the   corners   of   glossy   lips   curling   with   delight   at   another   ability   to   show   off   her   gift   when   it   came   to   translating   ancient   texts.   with   that   ability,   she   was   more   than   happy   to   help   (   and   show   off   )   —   but   does   stiles   ever   fall   short   of   ways   to   surprise   her   ?    lydia’s   still   not   used   to   getting   whatever   she   wants,   despite   modelesque   looks   in   her   favor,   but   she   knows   stiles   cares   about   her   more   than   most   people   within   her   orbit   &   she   adores   him,   pausing   to   give   him   one   of   her   sweetest   smiles   of   gratitude.   ❛   anything   ?   ❜   she   echoes,  beryl   hues   glinting   with   infinite   ideas   of   a   perfect   post   study   evening.    ❛   well   …   i   could   go   for   a   sundae,   ❜   she   hints,   nothing   more   appealing   in   thought   than   an   ice   cream   date    on   the   way   back.   ❛   how   does   ice  cream   sound   ?   ❜

            & there it is, the full break of a smile at the off-handed compliment casually thrown his way. “wow, who knew the great lydia martin was even paying a lick of attention to my wardrobe.” he’s laughing now, & any tension that had previously lined the heft of his shoulders, the length of his spine is gone. stiles finds himself at ease for the first time in days sitting here in the jeep with her. absently his whole demeanor lights up beneath that smiles of hers, another laugh catching in the back of his throat, ready to fall. “i thought so, honestly, what would we do without you.” a statement he knows he’s said before. one that doesn’t ever cease to be any less true because without her, they’d be lost —- he’d be lost. 

           the library’s in sight now, & if he slows down. —- prolongs the inevitable even just a little bit.  well, that’s on him, because he’s twisting in his seat. the corner of his eyes crinkling in a moment of excited bliss of what’s to come, the foreboding task ahead momentarily forgotten.  “uh —- it sounds great. who doesn’t love ice cream? i’m so ready to drown myself in a gallon of fudge topping. god, i know just the place too.” though, he keeps the comment of spending any amount of time with her to himself as the jeep rattles in it’s decent. finally he pulls into a spot, lets the engine idle briefly before giving in & turning off. he slides out of the car then, feet awkwardly skidding over the expanse of asphalt as he dashes around the vehicle in order to yank her door open.