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Maebe was taking a nap.

It wasn't really a nap, but more of a lounge, where her mind drifted in and out of sleep and her body rested lazily on the chair. Her head dipped every so often, tilting up again when she woke up.

She was worn out.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she stretched in response. Her arms rose up into the air, and her legs straightened out, until her whole body was arched in a pleasant, fulfilling stretch. But when it was done, her arms had wound their way around whoever had woken her up, and she brought them back down until she was hugging them like a teddy bear.

A second or two passed in complete silence. Her eyes were still closed. Then, finally;

"I'm not Peyton, but I'd pick up if you texted me." Her eyes fluttered open, and she was delighted to see a new face in her arms. Deus, you were starting to grow on her.

"That's all right." She patted his chest gently. "I was obviously waiting for a Prince Charming to wake me up, anyway. It's a pleasure to meet you, Roland." Her hand turned, so that the back of it was against his chest while her palm was turned up in the universal sign of a handshake. "I'm Maebe. Why were you looking for Peyton?"

He was jumpy. She made a note of it, and her expression lightened with sweet tenderness. Her head shook sadly, followed by a thick pout. "I don't. I haven't seen her in days, she seems really busy. I wish I could help you more, but she just seems so hard to get in contact with lately. I wonder why." Her shoulders rose and fell in a tragic sigh. "Seems like everyone is too busy, doesn't it? Sometimes I worry I'm doing something wrong. I don't know."

She did not hold him. If he figured out how to get out of her lap, she let him, and simply looked all the sadder for being left alone. There was a tightness in her eyes when he mentioned saving the world, and she bit back the retort that came screaming to the surface.

He thought they were heroes.

Remind you of anyone?

Maebe's interest began to wane. "Being a Hunter. I'm not very good at it, and maybe, that's why Pey doesn't answer my texts. Or anyone." Interest or not, it was just too easy to lie through her teeth. She curled her hand against her cheek, and sighed. "Sorry. I don't want to dump my problems on a sweetheart like you. I'm just lonely. I'll figure something out."

All his squirming stole her pouts away for a softer, purse lipped smile. It fell when he mentioned lopping a tentacle monsters head off, because ew, but she was quick to pick it back up again. She just watched him try his best to have a conversation, and console a lonely girl, while squirming ridiculously in her lap.

He failed, of course, and slammed onto the floor. A single snatch of laughter escaped her, before she reeled herself back in and bent down to look at him. She was folded against herself, her body pressed against her knees, and all that Peyton hair came cascading down in rolls of color and light. She grinned down at him, her expression the picture of absolute joy. The only laughter she allowed now, was rolling giggles. Cute ones.

"Are you okay?" She offered in between giggles.

Maebe slid off of the chair to join him on the floor, and offered him a helping hand up. "It's not embarrassing. You're over-reacting. You fell, you didn't s**t your pants." She settled him back up into a seated position, and reached around to press her fingers expertly against his lower back. Right on the tailbone. "Here, let me help." She offered, kneading the sore area. "Is this where it hurts?"

Her smile turned crooked when she caught sight of that blush, and her fingers continued to work down his lower back, until they crept upward, pressing expertly against his spine. Thin build, still young. Not quite built, but certainly getting there. He was a boy becoming a man.

It didn't matter to her. He was here and he was now and he was wanted.

"Is that helping?" Her voice had lowered, hushed to little more than a whisper. "I'd want to make sure this feels good."