Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver flushes faintly. She's in a men's room chasing me down, huh? 

"Sorry," he calls. "Be right out." 

He does wait a moment longer before flushing, emerging, moving to wash his hands. "Hey," he says, smiling, but not meeting her eyes. Focus. Let go of what Beth said. Don't fuck up. "You look good," he adds, as he starts the faucet.

[Tethras Clan]

"I'm surprised you can tell, given that you can barely look at me." Her tone is even, but brittle.

[Carver Amell]

He flinches. "Aveline, I... Look, I wasn't really trying to avoid you, only, only, I keep trying to figure out what to say, and the more I think the more my tongue gets all tied up in knots and now I've made a huge mess of everything and I just wanted... You do look good. You should wear those gems in your hair more."

[Tethras Clan]

He noticed- and he lik- Not now. "I... Carver, I like to think we know each other pretty well by now. You know I can be blunt and aggressive in how I approach things, even... person things. And I know you struggle to find the words and often blurt out... chaff thoughts without meaning to. That's just... part of who were are. I'm willing to accept that if..."

[Carver Amell]

"It's dumb," he protests, in a low growl. "It's so dumb. Beth said something and it was totally innocent but then I was thinking and then I left with Jass and it won't get out of my head and I-- I don't want to fuck this up," he finishes in a small, canine whine. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Well... maybe I can help. What was it she said? And why is it messing with you?" Her tone has gentled, a new layer to the more familiar demanding patience.

[Carver Amell]

"It's just.... there's a lot of sides to you. And... and usually I get to see the, uh, Captain side. The mentor side. The... you've always been my superior. How... I don't know how to see you as an equal, I guess." He shuffles a little. "I want to, but I don't know how."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline opens her mouth to protest, then stops. "Well... I think the first step... is that... well, call me Lina in private," she says softly, a slight blush on her cheeks. "And... and I need to stop snapping orders at you. It's... a shortcut to communication. Effective, but..." She nods. "Like you said, it won't let us be equals. And I do want that."

[Carver Amell]

"...Lina?" he says, and it's... he sounds curious, but also the name comes out softer somehow, more gentle, more tender. "Alright, I can.. I think I can do that."

[Tethras Clan]

She blushes a little more. "It... Seli and Jai... we, ah, we had a... girl's night and got a bit... tipsy. Evidently, we were still slurring a bit when Lovan got home and he thought our new pet names for each other were adorable enough to remind us the next day. It... well, they've become something of a... family thing. A..." She clears her throat. "Intimate thing. On the other thing, if I... do, ah, Captain you, just... give me a look or the like." 

A pause. "Unless I am, in fact, acting in the capacity of a Guard Captain, in which case, you are just a civilian. But on your side, you have to realize that Aveline can be just as damned stubborn and assertive as Captain Vallen. We are going to argue and fight. If I can get into rows with Seli and Lovan, some of the most empathic and easy-going people I have ever met, respectively, then I know we'll fight. But as long as we respect each other and... care for each other, we'll work it out."

[Carver Amell]

He makes a face. "I really, really hate fighting with family. I'm always afraid someone will leave."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline smiles sadly. "I can... Relate. I am... clingy and overprotective. Losing Wesley... I won't lie and say that you not being a civilian does give me some pause. Knowing how skilled you are helps but..." She shrugs a bit. "I worry. Given your twin, I suspect you are used to it."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "And you... You already saved me once when things got real bad. Next time you'll know the signs to look for. So really, that part should be less scary right? Than someone you don't know how they'll break? And I know already I can trust you."

[Tethras Clan]

"Why do you trust me?" Aveline asks bluntly. "Not in a fight, in living."

[Carver Amell]

"Because in all these years you've gone out of your way to do me good and you've never taken advantage of your power to harm me," he says, bluntly. "Most people at least use their power to get me to shut up and piss off, at lesat once."