A Winter Passed (Blacky)

[Price]

"They're good, ain't they?"

Price grinned devilishly as he clenched Phae's hand for a quick moment, watching her try to eat her hot dogs. He knew it wasn't easy for her, he knew her stomach had shrunk due to her eating habits. However, there really was only one good way to fix that, and that was to start eating again. Price, as it would seem, aimed to make that happen. Phae forced down a bite, and slowly laid her head down upon his shoulder, looking as if she was having trouble simply digesting the little bit she took. Her next words brought a sad, but kind smile to his face, although she'd never see it from the way she was looking down into his shoulder. His other hand dropped the fork and went up to stroke her hair lightly.

"Course not, Lucky. You can stay as long as you like. And I mean that as literally as you can imagine. Weeks? Months? Years? It's all good to me. You know you've always got a home away from home here. Only rule is that you have to eat."

Price let out a little chuckle and took another bite of his own chili dogs.

"Even that, however," he said, his mouth half full, "can take as long as you need to."

[Phae]

Phaedra calmed at his touch. His hand running through her red hair had that effect on her and she calmed near immediatly. He told her that she could stay as long as she wanted to even if she never left or always came back he didn't mind. She could sleep here at night or eat breakfast with him anything and it would be okay. She looked up at him gently feeling a bit better now and he took a bite of his dog before continuing. She chuckled with him and she smiled softly.

"Guess I should get started then." she said with a smile.

She picked up her fork again and took a deep breath. She looked over at Blacky who hopefully by now had finished swallowing and she turned his chin quickly giving him a quick kiss that the same time she cut her dog again. Turning away from the kiss quickly she squeaked as she threw the cut peice of chilli dog into her mouth and began to chew. Litterally chew not just swallow this time but her bites were slow and deliberate. She blushed at her newest method but damnit it worked.

"You know what?" she asked when she swallowed and was only slightly green this time. "We need drinks." she said as she let go of his hand for a moment and went to the fridge.

She grabbed a tea for herself and hoping she remembered right a bottle of water for Blacky before she returned and sat the water by his plate before taking his hand again. She opened her tea and sipped it helping herself get that taste down though they really were pretty good. And she had to like her new method it was fun.

[Price]

Price smiled and finished his bite, letting the mushed up food run down his throat just in time to have Phae tilt his chin toward her and kiss him quickly, just a little affirmation of her gratitude, Price supposed. Either that, or she really had gotten into yet another spot of trouble with Junpei.

Either way, Price wouldn't have been surprised. Junpei was just another whack-job, after all.

She started eating again, this time slowly working her food around in her mouth before swallowing it, using a surprising new method of ingesting food that Price liked to call 'eating like a normal human being.' He grinned at her, and when she opted to get drinks, he nodded in affirmation.

"Good idea, Lucky. Always thinkin', huh?"

She returned quickly, with tea for herself and, Price's usual favorite, a regular old bottle of water. Opening the bottle, he took a swig, letting the cool refreshing liquid wash down the chili cheese taste.

"Thanks, that hits the spot. Now you gonna finish those dogs, or am I gonna hafta finish 'em for ya?"

[Phae]

Phaedra smiled at him as she sat back down and got cozy in her spot again. It was nice here she felt no pressure and she was enjoying her time spent with Blacky. He asked her if she was going to finish her 'dogs and she smiled up at him. Leaning against him she put her head on his shoulder and gave him that puppy dog look that melted hearts everywhere.

"I promise, as Phaedra Weiss the sword mage, that I will finish ONE chilli dog if you eat the other one for me." she said with a smile.

She let her head move from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. She smiled at him and let go of his hand for a minute and hugged his arm and giggled softly. Nuzzling into him Phae closed her eyes and just let herself be comforted by his touch. She couldn't help but enjoy this time that they got to spend together. After a month apart she was going to enjoy it.

"Don't make me have to convince you, I'll win. Again!" she chuckled as she looked up at him and winked. She had her ways she could make him eat that hot dog.. if not she could take his mind off of it and it would get cold. What a shame.

[Price]

"Oh, and what are you gonna do, Lucky? Starve ME to death?" Price said rather haughtily, as Phae tried to get him to eat one of her hot dogs. Shaking his head, however, he knew he'd cave in. After all, two big chili cheese dogs was hard enough for anyone to eat, much less someone who'd been eating damn near next to nothing for the longest time now. Plus, well, Price was still kinda hungry.

However, he wasn't ABOUT to admit that to Phae, not just yet.

"C'mon, girl. You know you love these things, I made 'em just for you! You're not gonna, I dunno, hurt my feelings or something by not eating them, are you?"

Price looked at Phae with the big bad puppy-dog eyes. He made himself look as sad and pitiful as possible, trying his absolute hardest not to crack up in laughter. Finally, his sad eyes still unwavering, Price stealthily cut another piece of his hot dog and brought it up to his mouth, chewing it, all without losing the silly face.

It proved to be too much, as he started snickering through his full mouth, chewing it down quickly so he could speak once more. "Eat your dogs, Lucky. In the meantime, just TRY and convince me to eat that one for you."

[Phae]

Phaedra giggled at his sad face. He didn't even lose it when he chowed ome of his dog down. No to starve Richard Price would take something.. the man ate soooo much food and he was so thin! It amazed her on how thin he stayed for the most part. She chuckled at him as he told her to eat her 'dogs and try to convince him that was what she wanted. For him to eat one of her dogs for her.

She turned and took another bite fully now half way done with one and full up to the brim. Her stomach was probably puny now compared to what it should be but she was slowly going to stretch it out and especially if she spent a lot more time with Blacky. She sighed softly and looked up at him. Swallowing her bite she grinned.

"Number one. You're still hungry. How do I know this? Because no man I have ever met could eat as much breakfast as you did after our sword fight and still stand. Two, because you and I both know that I'm having hard enough time eating the one. Three because you loooove me and you want to eat it for me. Four, because you can't honestly let this delictable little 'dog go to waste. Look at him he just begs to be eaten 'oh eat me please.. I want to die an honorable death'" she squeaked out cutely. "Five because if you do I promise to stay the night." she said and kissed him softly but lovingly for a moment one of those melty heart stoppy kisses before pulling back.

"How about it?"

[Price]

Price sat there, smirk on his face, listening to the girl try and list off all the reasons that he should eat that hot dog. He simply shook his head as she mentioned that he was still hungry. How she knew that was an even better observation. Clearly, the girl already knew Price better than he had suspected, and that was already one point in her favor. Price, jokingly, mentally cursed to himself, she'd only just begun and was already going to convince him, he knew it. The second point was even better. Price knew in his heart that there was no way he could force her to eat more than her poor little stomach could handle. He already had an idea that she was likely full, but if he was going to fix her, than he had to fix her bit by bit, and that meant eating at least one hot dog here tonight. Her third point just made him sigh and slap his head in mock annoyance; how dare she pander to his love for her? He smirked and waited for the fourth point, which made him laugh out loud at her cute little squeaky voice. He waited for her fifth point...

Whoa.

Price's breath caught in his mouth as she kissed him, her lips meeting his in a sudden burst of loving care and tenderness. As she pulled away, Price had on that silly stupid grin he got every time the girl had kissed him. He inhaled slowly and deeply exhaling in much the same manner. Another one of these long slow, breaths, and his stupid grin faded into a more general, slightly mischievous one.

"Give me that damn hot dog."

[Phae]

That kiss seemed to have an effect on him as did all her answers as to why he should eat the chilli dog and not her. She smiled at him back when he gave her that trademark smile she had loved that first day they had met. She smiled softly. He finally asked for the 'damn hot dog' and she giggled as she picked it up and sat it in the empty part of his plate.

She kissed his cheek gently and smiled at him as she took another bit of her dog just to make him happy. Because that is what she wanted was for him to be happy and it was even better that right now they were together. Her hand squeezed his gently and took the last bite of her hot dog and smiled happily as she finished it. Swallowing it down she looked at her clean plate and sighed.

"I did it!" she said as she tackled Blacky carefully to hold his plate steady. "I really did!"

She looked down at him and giggled softly. She hugged him tightly and nuzzled into him. She closed her eyes just taking in his warmth and his arms around her. She pulled back and righted him a bit so he wasn't so tilted over now and giggled. She instead took her plate to the kitchen and put it in the sink to soak and came back. Just for a change of pace she lay down next to him and put her head in his lap gently and nuzzled in.

"Im so full." she groaned as she closed her eyes gently. She lay there with her eyes closed and just enoying his company. She wasn't trying to sleep but it was heading there especially with his touch and being right there not to mention she was full and was actually resting instead of running a hundred miles an hour. She sighed softly.

"You're comfy." she sighed as she nuzzled into him just a bit more and relaxed into a half sleep. If he said anyting she could wake but if not she would eventually begin to sleep deeper and deeper.

[Price]

Price smiled amusedly as she took the last bite of her food with such exuberance and pride in herself. It was then, however, that she tackled him.

"Whoa, OOF!" he grunted as she threw him onto the bed, still taking care as to not unsettle his plate. He looked up into her eyes and smiled, nodding his head in acknowledgment as well as agreement. When she came down upon him, hugging him close, his free hand wrapped around her, holding her just as tightly as she held him. She was so cute when she finished eating.

When she got back up, Phae decided to take her plate into the kitchenette to soak the dish. While she did that, Price looked down at the last hot dog, deciding that he would eat it, just not now, and set it aside, on his nightstand. Afterwards, he leaned back, still sitting in his bed, but with his back leaning against the wall. When Phae came back, she stretched out, laying across the bed, her head in Price's lap. His hand immediately went to slowly and gently stroking her hair, grinning down at her as she mentioned his comfiness. It was apparent she was about to fall asleep yet again.

"You sure sleep alot," he mentioned quietly, smirking, and leaned his head back against the wall. He knew she'd be asleep soon, so his eyes closed as well, as he decided to rest a bit himself, and let the food settle. She was pretty cute when she slept, too.

[Phae]

His hand was stroking her hair and she sighed. This was the most relaxed she had been in weeks not to mention months. She closed her eyes those soft red lashes laying on her pale cheeks. Her body curled up so that it was on the bed but her head remained in his lap. It was something that he could do, and only him. Get her to eat and sleep. It was amazing but she felt almost normal and like when she had first arrived at the academy when she was with Blacky.

He told her that she slept a lot and she smiled. It was because it was him. She wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not but it was supposed to be. She didn't necessarily want to fall asleep but all points were leading towards that because he was Blacky and he was doing what he did best. Loving and taking care of her. He was the one she knew she could count on no matter what and the one even now that she wasn't supposed to come back and want to be by his side she knew.. deep down he would take her into his arms and never let her go. She couldn't help but remember that day they had spent together and that time afterward. The time where they had bonded more so than anyone else and Blacky was never afraid to show his affection for Jun's girl.

"That's because it's you Rich. Because I am just Phae here. Because.. you make me relax and sleeping next to you I .. I feel like I have nothing to worry about." she said softly. But then she moved why because she wanted more.

She sat up and took his hand and pulled him down so he lay next to her. Wrapping his arm around her she nuzzled into him and closed her eyes. This was exactly what she needed. Serious Blacky time and she was getting it at the moment. She cuddled right up into his chest and smiled softly.

"Richard Price." she whispered. "I.. I love you." she whispered again and began to truly fall asleep.

[Price]

As Phae replied to his statement, Price could only grin, his heart warming as she told him all she had to tell him. Judging by her appearance, lately, it came as no surprise to the older boy that she had been neither eating nor sleeping properly, thus, the fact that she did sleep a lot when in his company made him feel good about himself; that he was actually doing something to help the poor girl, who always, at least to his estimation, seemed to be in some form of emotional despair. It was as if the girl had tried to take the whole weight of the world upon her shoulders, and failed miserably to keep it up.

Phae sat up suddenly, breaking his chain of thought as she took hold of him and gently pulled him down with her, causing them both to lay out on the bed. Price helped guide his body down to the bed to lay next to her, one arm underneath her as she laid her head down comfortably on his chest, nestled in snugly and happily. Looking up and meeting his eyes, Phae then whispered the words that she'd been wanting to tell him for a long, time.

"Richard Price... I.. I love you."

Price smirked, and without even thinking, cut into his usual clever retort.

"Well, who can blame ya, Lucky?"

The smirk softened immediately thereafter, however, as his free hand tucked the girl's hair behind her ears as he spoke again, this time more simply and earnestly."

"I love you too, Phaedra...." By this time, however, the girl had already fallen asleep, and Price had no idea whether she had heard him or not. He just shook his head, letting his free arm rest on her shoulder as he closed his own eyes, heading off for a good sleep himself.

"Sleep well, Lucky..."

[Phae]

[4 Hours Later]

Phae woke gently her over tired blue eyes slid open slowly and she noticed immediatly how warm she was. That scent did not belong to Junpei he had his own scent somewhat a firey smoky scent. This was.. boy scent you couldn't really put a finger on exactly what it was, but she knew who it was and it was Blacky. She shifted slightly but made no move to wake him up as she looked up at him watching him sleep so cutely. She tucked his hair back behind his ear gently his chest rising and falling and his beautiful face was so peaceful.

She had heard him. He told her that he loved her right before she drifted off and her heart was for once light and airy because of that confession. She couldn't help it though. There was a connection between the two that was amazing. They had bonded that first day when she kicked his lilly white butt in a fight. And now, now they had fallen in love and it was new. It was nice there was no crazy baggage or issues to sort through. Not between them anyway. Phae was still sorting out her own issues but right now they werent' even on her mind when she was wrapped up in his arms.

She moved up a bit so her head lay on his pillow too and she looked into his face. Her hand rested gently in his hair stroking it gently just to touch him. She didn't want to move from this cuddle position if she could help it. It was like the first time they had been asleep together. Waking up and just watching Richard Price still dreaming his dreams. She couldn't help it though those relaxed lips and her feelings for him came over her and she leaned in kissing him softly and gently.

"You're the best, Blacky." she whispered. She didn't know if he was awake or not but it didn't matter. If he was she could expect a comment like 'naturally' or 'no doubt'. But if not then it would fall on deaf ears but it didn't matter it was true regardless and her voice the tone of it all told him that much when she had said it. He really was the best in her book.