[ Natalia half-smiles (it's a cool comfort; not cold, but not warm either; detatched is probably the best word for it, given how few dots Iain can connect). Thankfully, carefully, she lowers herself into the chair. It's not something she's used to being -- careful -- but it's something that was relatively easy to learn compared to everything else.
Her hair's not blonde anymore (Natalia brushes some of it out of her eyes as she wraps her arms around her middle and tries to get comfortable in the chilly kitchen). She dyes it black these days so that no one will recognize her (if Iain can't, why should anyone else be allowed to); the bathroom sink still has the stains, an ugly blue-grey ring in an otherwise spotless white basin. Seated across from him, Natalia can't bring herself to look Iain in the eyes so she stares at his collarbones instead.
(Used t'be, was never afraid of you. Only now. Hell of a thing. And you can't even think to be smug about it. A shame, that.) Eventually, she asks: ] It help any -- me tellin' you?
[ (Who I am. Who you are. That you love me, or used to. That I'll be here, even after you've forgotten. That I still love you, broken as you are.) ]
✘ AU
Her hair's not blonde anymore (Natalia brushes some of it out of her eyes as she wraps her arms around her middle and tries to get comfortable in the chilly kitchen). She dyes it black these days so that no one will recognize her (if Iain can't, why should anyone else be allowed to); the bathroom sink still has the stains, an ugly blue-grey ring in an otherwise spotless white basin. Seated across from him, Natalia can't bring herself to look Iain in the eyes so she stares at his collarbones instead.
(Used t'be, was never afraid of you. Only now. Hell of a thing. And you can't even think to be smug about it. A shame, that.) Eventually, she asks: ] It help any -- me tellin' you?
[ (Who I am. Who you are. That you love me, or used to. That I'll be here, even after you've forgotten. That I still love you, broken as you are.) ]