Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"I..." Bethany hunches in a little, guilt finally overtaking her defensiveness. "I didn't... I just... I need to finish this," she whispers, eyes watering.

[Carver Amell]

"What is more important than your health?!"

[Bethany]

Bethany fidgets a bit, looking awkward and uncomfortable. She finally mutters something, almost too low to hear. Something like 'his dome?'

[Carver Amell]

"Whose?" Carver growls. So help me, whatever boy has her in so much of a state is going to taste steel if he doesn't have a good excuse.

[Bethany]

Bethany fidgets a little, then sighs. "It's for Don," she repeats a touch louder, a flush creeping up her neck.

[Carver Amell]

"Don can go rot," he says loyally. "You're more important."

[Bethany]

"I... he didn't..." She fidgets some more. "I... don't blame him, he just asked for... some advice. I... got carried away because I wanted.."

[Carver Amell]

"He asked and you felt you had to wreck your health answering him, for days on end? Then he asked for too much and I'm going to beat the shit out of him for it," says Carver, stubbornly.

[Bethany]

"No! One, jail bad," Bethany reminds him. "Two, he didn't... he just... asked for some advice on how to use the Beauregard estate money to help Cattown. I, uh, well, I can't help him directly anymore so..." She gestures at the room, where stacks of parchment and open books litter all available surfaces."

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares at her blankly. "You could have asked Dad," he points out. "You'd probably be done by now if you both worked on it."

[Bethany]

"I did. For some of it. Then I... expanded on it. Dad has his own work and..." She coughs slightly, the blush on her cheeks returning. "... I wanted to do it."

[Carver Amell]

"You have to sleep. No excuses," he says firmly. "I won't beat up Don if you get some sleep, okay? Real sleep, not a nap. You stop working at night."

[Bethany]

"I know," Bethany mutters sullenly. "I just... I just wanted to finish this all as soon as I could. It's really important, I want him to really thrive as a Light. He deserves it. So do the cats. I really want this to work for him."

[Carver Amell]

"You're sure there's not a girl involved?" he asks, smiling just a touch. "You sound like, like Merrill pouted or something."

[Bethany]

Bethany's blush goes full blast and she glares at Carver. "I- no! Shut up, I need to put these in order so I can sleep," she sputters.