L.O.V.E. Love

14 February 2000; Loch Tay Regional Combined School; near Killin, Stirling, Scotland, UK
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"—and /that's how a Morris-Thorne wormhole could give us faster-than-light travel," declares the Space Cadet, opening and holding the door to the dorm.
"Edan, you must be aware none of us understood a word of that," says Tobi.
"But it's /obvious."
"To someone who's read everything you have. Which we haven't," points out Royal.
The Space Cadet looks to Ken with hope in his eyes. "You, at least, followed the maths, right?"
Ken shuffles into the foyer, spreads his hands. "Not really? I'm not the genius for this you are."
"But—"
"I /might be 'math teacher' smart, but I'm definitely not 'the next Einstein' smart."
"But—" The Space Cadet deflates. "It's really cool that faster-than-light travel's possible, though?"
Ken hangs his anorak on its hook. "Heck yes."
"You planning to be the first to find a wormhole, Reid?"
"Fuck yea!"
"He's even got a jar of change in our room labeled 'telescope money'," adds Ross.
"Do not!"
"Do so!" Ross puffs into the Space Cadet's space.
"It says 'research fund', you—ow!"
Ken winces in sympathy.
Ross and Space Cadet rub their bonked foreheads.
"Language," smugs Royal.
The Space Cadet switches to the back of his head, grumps, "You didn't have to hit me so hard."
"Yea! That was too much!"
"Had to make sure the message got through his thick skull."
"By concussing /me?" yelps Ross.
"You're nearly as dense."
"Oi! Am not!"
Ken snorts a laugh, waves everyone through the door to the lounge.
"You sound like my sister, Royal," mutters the Space Cadet, trudging by.
"Sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders," says Tobi.
"Umm ... I don't know about—"
"/Finally!"
Ken lets go of the door, braces—
Murron zips across the space, throws herself at Ken.
—staggers until his back hits the wall and his breath goes out with a /whoosh.
"Happy Valentine's Day!"
Ken gasps something like that, hugs her in return.
"Ah! The sweet wheezing sound of ell-oh-vee-ee love on this most special of holidays."
Ross and Tobi snicker.
The Space Cadet coos.
Murron tucks her face against Ken's neck.
"You really should work out with the team, Ken. You know, bulk up a bit so she can't send you flying like that."
"All the strength in the world won't help if he doesn't realize she's headed for him," says Tobi.
"You're just jealous," huffs Murron.
"About being tackled into the masonry? Yea ... not so much."
"You don't know what you're missing."
Royal laughs.
"Missing ... 'ey, Ken! When am I getting god-babies to spoil?" chirps the Space Cadet.
"Um, what?"
"You promised I could be godfather to your kids, remember?"
"I did?"
"Yep!" Space Cadet bounces on his toes.
"Well, you'll have to wait a while longer since we're not married yet," says Murron.
"Aww ...."
"Which gives me an idea," says Royal. "Why don't we give the lovebirds some privacy so they can get to work on weddings and babies?"
"Yes! Out! Out! Out!" The Space Cadet herds Royal, Ross, and Tobi across the lounge, stuffs them through the door to the dorm proper.
"Have fun~!" calls Royal.
"We will~!" answers Murron.
The door /foomps shut.
Ken swallows.
"Why is everyone /always rushing us to get married? It's all my parents wanted to talk about their last visit."
"Really?"
"Mhm. I /tried to explain we aren't old enough yet but they just. won't. listen!"
"O-okay." He rests his head on her shoulder, fills his lungs with the apple scent of her hair.
"Let's sit down so I can give you your present!"
Ken startles. "My wha?"
Murron separates, smiles at him. "I made you a gift!"
"I, well, I don't have anything for you."
"It's alright! C'mon!"
"But—"
"C'mon!" She tugs him over to the squishiest sofa, pushes him into the cushions beside a colourful paper sack. "Open it!"
"It doesn't feel right, since I don't have—"
Murron kisses him quiet.
Ken blinks at her, head full of candy floss.
"There. Now you've given me something."
"I don't think that's how it works?" Ken's voice breaks a little.
"Why not?"
Ken blinks a few more times, concedes with a head-tilt.
"So ...?"
"Right!" Ken fumbles with the baggie, unties the ribbon closure, shakes out a hand-sized tin without a label.
Murron grins, bats her eyelashes.
"Uh, thanks?"
"Smell it!"
"Huh?"
Murron twists the tin open, holds it under Ken's nose.
"Tea! Fruity tea!"
"It's actually /catnip tea! I made it taste better!" crows Murron.
"You ... what?"
"I bartered with Miss Enid and added catnip to her 'sangria' blend until I got all floppy when I drank it." She beams. "I think it'll work for moon-sickness without tasting like grass."
"Oh thank Goodness."
"Huh?"
"Lessie and I were worried you'd gotten into Missus Galloway's mushroom stash." Ken ruffles his hair. "We were planning to talk with you about it."
Murron narrows her eyes. "You thought I was doing drugs?"
Ken ducks his head. "You kind of were?"
"I was taste-testing your gift!"
"I know now and I love it." Ken hugs her tight. "Thank you~!"
"You're welcome!"
"I wish I had—"
"You're enough."
"But—"
Murron squashes him.
Ken perks up, pushes away. "Wait. I have an idea. Stay right there!"
"But—"
"Right! there!" He jumps to his feet, races back to the foyer, fishes a little bundle from his anorak pocket, hustles back to the lounge sofa, settles in with the napkin on his lap.
"Bread?"
"Not for long." Ken points to it, visualizing very clearly.
The roll /shifts, turns red.
"What a pretty tomato!"
Ken frowns. "That's not what I wanted. Let me have another try."
"Okay!"
"/Apple."
A flicker and the thing gets spikier.
"Umm ... what's that?"
"I think it's a tiny durian?"
Murron twitches her nose. "It smells kind of off?"
"Th-they're like that. Give me—" Ken takes a deep breath. "/Apple."
The durian smooths and squares.
Murron pokes the white cube; it jiggles. "Tofu? With a stem?"
"Dammit. /Apple!"
It goes fuzzy and pinkish.
"Oo! A peach!"
"For fuck's—" Ken breaks off with a sigh.
Murron strokes the peach. "I love how /soft it is."
"One more and I give up." Ken cups it in his hands, holds it right in front of his mouth, whispers, "/You want to be an apple."
It smooths, blushes redder.
He smiles, presents the perfect fruit.
"You did it!"
"Finally."
Murron presses it to her nose. "It smells so sweet!
Ken preens a bit.
Murron tucks it aside, sparkles at him.
His cheeks heat.
"I know! Try reading my mind!"
Ken shakes the latest batch of candy floss from between his ears. "Umm, what?"
"Your magic is working, so you should practice mind-reading."
"It's not working /that well?"
"You made an apple out of a bread roll!"
Ken—
"I promise I won't giggle this time. /Please?"
—sighs, "Alright. I'll try."
Murron smiles, closes her eyes, holds very still.
Ken breathes deep, Focuses, Reaches for her—
/Dark-cold-dark-close-DARK
—fumbles the Reach, shivers.
"You can do it."
Ken puts his shoulders back, breathes, Focuses, Reaches—
/Dark-cold-dark-close-close-squishing
Ken snorts a laugh, loses the Reach again.
"What's happening?"
"I just realized, it's kinda, um, like one of your hugs in there."
"Oookaaay ...."
"Let me try again."
Murron nods encouragement.
Ken breathes in, breathes out, Focuses, and Reaches—
/Dark-close-cold-squish-squish-hug
—relaxes.
Murron sighs.
Ken startles; the Reach breaks.
"Sorry!"
"It's okay." Ken sags back into the cushions, massages his temples. "What was that?"
"I think ... I think I felt you relax?" Murron grimaces a fraction. "The feeling went from tickly to soft and warm."
"It-it kind of felt the same to me before I lost it. Almost comfy."
Murron drapes an arm across his shoulders. "Like this?"
He oozes lower, lets his head fall back, closes his eyes. "Yea, like this."
They breathe together for a few heartbeats.
"Would you like to try some of the new tea?"
"No, thanks. I'm too comfy to let you up."
Murron giggles.
Ken sighs, content.
A few more quiet heartbeats.
Murron hums a new song.
"That's really pretty."
"Thank you. I made it up."
"You're so cool," he sighs.
"Thank you," she whispers.
Murron hums another verse-chorus-verse while Ken mostly doesn't doze.
"Ken?"
"Hmm?"
"What're you thinking about?"
"My barriers. Building a maze to keep Missus Hughes out."
"Hedges like hers?"
"Uh, not anymore? I tried a garden, but I kept making straight rows, so Missus Hughes suggested I try something different."
"So?"
"I'm building a city instead."
"Oo! What's it like?"
"Uh, mostly terraced houses, lots of little alleyways, everything really close together. He bites his lip. "It's kinda depressing, honestly."
"Maybe you can plant some trees and flowers?"
Ken shakes his head. "They're too good of landmarks for folks poking around."
"What about ivy /on the buildings?" Murron wiggles. "Buildings /made of plants!"
"That sounds really ... complicated."
"Isn't that kind of the point?"
"Well, yea, but I also need to be able to call it up in a hurry."
"Hmm. What about a really big greenhouse with lots of little rooms full of plants?"
Ken blinks, side-eyes Murron, smiles. "That might work."
Murron beams.
"Can you keep on with that song while I work on it?"
"Mhm!"
Ken lets his eyes slide shut as Murron picks up the tune.