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[5055034455]

№ 150



❝ This is Saul Goodman. Leave a message. ❞

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[controlledvariable]

[That's good, and she nearly smiles except for the next bit of information that Saul drops on her.]

Shit, is she okay?

[Considering her husband.]

[5055034455]

Um.

[The million dollar question.

Saul sits back down with a sigh, then runs a hand over his face.]

She's okay, yeah. Mostly. But everything else has gone to shit.

[controlledvariable]

[She follows him, moving to straddle his lap. There's no ulterior motive in it, not now, it's just a way to stay a) close and b) facing him.

With a finger under his chin, she guides him to look up at her.]

Do you wanna talk about it?

[Because she won't push it, if he doesn't, but the offer is there.]

[5055034455]

[He tilts his head up, but he's not meeting her gaze. Instead, his eyes are focused off to the side, and he leans back a little.]

Walter apparently kidnapped his baby daughter to get back at Skyler for refusing to run away with him. His DEA brother-in-law's dead, Jesse apparently spilled the beans about everything, and — yeah.

[controlledvariable]

Fuck.

[That's all she can say for a second, but for all that she's worried about the rest of them in that world, there's one thing Saul didn't mention.]

Where are you in all this?

[5055034455]

I have no idea.

[He sounds a little distant when he says this.]

[controlledvariable]

[It feels like her heart stops, but she ignores it. That's not useful to Saul right now.]

Hey.

[She cups his face in her hands, still trying to get him to look at her.]

You'll be fine, you're too smart to let Walter get the better of you. If his wife hasn't heard anything about what you're up to, it probably means you've managed to keep your distance.

[She sounds so sincere, even if she feels cold.]

[5055034455]

[Saul might be smart, but that doesn't mean his luck hasn't run out. And then there's the fact that they might not be dealing with Walter, but Heisenberg. He wonders if Steph understands the difference yet.

He'll leave out the part where it sounds a lot like Jesse might be dead.

He finally looks at her, but his eyes don't stay open for long, and when they slip shut, he sighs.]

Maybe.

[controlledvariable]

No maybes about it.

[She presses a kiss to his brow, lingering, because she doesn't know what else to do.]

I believe in you. You're gonna be okay.

[She has faith that he'll find a way to stay safe.]

[5055034455]

[He doesn't know if he believes that.

He'll pretend he does, though. After a moment, he wraps his arms around her and nuzzles along her jaw.]

We should go somewhere.

[controlledvariable]

[She hopes he does.]

To where, the cafeteria?

[She tries to keep her tone light, like she's making a joke, but there's an edge of tension she can't quite hide.

Claustrophobia isn't much fun.]

[5055034455]

No, on a mission. We can call it a supply run.

[Leave for a week, come back with... probably just one bag of inconsequential junk...

The thought makes him laugh.]

I mean, it can be a supply run. An easy one, though.

[controlledvariable]

[She'd make a face at him for that, but it'd require leaning back, so she doesn't.]

We can do a proper supply run. [With limited resources and power, she'd feel guilty about going on a mission just to mess around.] Where are you thinking of going? ABQ?

[5055034455]

I dunno. Maybe. Would you want to go?

[It might be nice, but...]

What about Chicago?

[controlledvariable]

[Instead of answering straight away, she guides him into a gentle kiss.]

As long as you're gonna be there, I'm happy with anywhere.

[Now who's being cheesy.]

[5055034455]

[NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

He mumbles something unintelligible against her lips, then ducks his head once she pulls away because he's sure his cheeks are bright red.

God.

Why is everything high school again sdhkfsdhjk]

That's where I'm from. Since you showed me Gotham...

[controlledvariable]

[Hey, if he's allowed to be cheesy, so can she.]

Chicago sounds nice. [a beat, and just a little nervously:] We could pick sometime around Christmas?

[Just. You know. If he wanted.

It might be fun.

Or something.

Whatever.]

[5055034455]

[Christmas, when everything is magical as fuck and there's snow on the ground and most people are so cheerful in spite of the cold that it's enough to make someone's heart possibly literally melt?

IT'S THE MOST DEADLY TIME OF THE YEAR, YO

MISTLETOE AND SHIT

He beams at her.]

That sounds perfect.

[controlledvariable]

[She smiles back, relieved that he didn't think that was maybe taking things too far.]

Great.

[Christmas. She technically should have had a Christmas by now, based on how many months have passed since she left home.]

Now we just have to work out what supplies to get.

[5055034455]

Anything with power might be good. Solar-powered battery packs, or something. Or maybe just battery packs, and Tony can re-purpose them...

[He trails off there, suddenly distracted by the need to kiss her cheek.]

[controlledvariable]

[She tilts her head a little, to make that easier for him.]

Donny was looking at setting up generators for the clinic, but something small scale and a little more portable would be good, too. [a beat] I gotta get nicotine patches for Lisbeth.

[5055034455]

[How considerate.

He nudges her head over a bit more so he can drag his lips over toward her ear, humming thoughtfully as he goes.]

Yeah, portable's good. I'll find out if Jesse needs anything.

[And Mike. And Skyler. And... others.]

[controlledvariable]

[That's a bit distracting, but she's not complaining.]

Maybe some pants that fit.

[Steph pls]

[5055034455]

[That's funny, but:]

He'd never wear 'em.

[controlledvariable]

I'd probably have more chance of buying a pink dress for Lisbeth and getting her to wear it.

[Can you imagine....]