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[myhousemyrules]

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[trustfundee]

[ It’s a heartwarming scene, he supposes, with Marta and Alice reuniting after all the worrying that’s been going around. He knew she’d be fine.

He leans against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest, and lifts a single shoulder in a shrug when Alice begrudgingly thanks him. There’s a wry cant to his head. ]

Thank Marta. I wouldn’t have helped you otherwise. [ There’s a bite there, but it’s more teasing than anything bitter. ] And don’t worry, I don’t think anyone noticed anything. [ Natalie was preoccupied, and they’d slipped out without anyone but Leo noticing. He winks. ] Still feeling like you were hit by a truck?

[myhousemyrules]

[ When Marta pulls back to give her some space to breathe, Alice takes a moment to study both her sister and Ransom. There's a marked tension between them. It crackles with intensity. Marta is steadfastly trying not to look at him but clearly failing.

And Ransom might look like Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected, but she sees the longing that's hidden away there. It makes her think. Maybe it's the effects of her treatment, but it's got her thinking.

She flushed at his pointed remark. She doesn't want to talk about Natalie in front of Marta. She isn't ready for that. She waves him off. ]

It's getting better. I'm just to ready to go home.

[ Marta clucks her tongue at her. Like the dutiful big sister and nurse that she is, she goes about tucking in her sister and making sure she's comfortable. ]

Your doctor said you can be discharged in the morning. They want to keep you for observation.

[trustfundee]

[ Ransom's never thought of himself as someone who could be read with a single glance, but Alice looks at him like she knows something, and that has his eyes narrowing just slightly at her. He looks at Marta when her eyes lift to him, then back to Alice again.

Is she noticing how right it feels when the two of them are together? Or maybe she's noticing how much more at ease Marta is being herself around him, fretting over Alice like he isn't there at all. ]

Be a good girl, sweetie. Listen to your sister. [ There's just a lick of humour in his words as a corner of his mouth lifts. ] You know what'll help? A popsicle.

[myhousemyrules]

[ There's a huge difference to Marta now. Alice couldn't not notice it. Her sister is softer and lighter. More relaxed. The sadness that tends to linger at the edges of her smiles isn't there. Like being in Ransom's presence alone is revitalizing her a little. Alice has met Cameron. She's seen him and her sister together. Marta smiles, but it's never quite like this.

She never looks this at ease.

She wishes Ransom would get his head out of his ass. ]

You'd get me a popsicle?

[trustfundee]

[ Alice takes the bait, and his smile widens. ] Would you ask me? [ A lift of a brow. ]

[myhousemyrules]

[ Alice gives a stubborn jut of her jaw. She's almost like Ransom like this. Her tone is even imperious in the way that only a younger sibling could. It makes Marta have to bite back a laugh. ]

I shouldn't have to ask. I'm sick.

[trustfundee]

[ Ransom’s gaze lifts to the humour sparkling in Marta’s eyes. It makes his heart skip a beat. He stands up straighter and gives Alice a conceding nod. ]

Of course. [ It’s sarcastic and laced with mirth. ] And what flavour would you like, your majesty? I’m afraid they only have grape and cherry. [ He’s done a few of these popsicle runs for Harlan before and is familiar with the hospitals limited offerings. The doctors were never quite on board with his suggested treatment for Harlan but what could a popsicle ever hurt with Alice. ]

[myhousemyrules]

Cherry. [ There's a very apparent 'duh' in her tone. Marta gives her arm a little swat with a scolding look for her bad manners. Alice looks at her with a little pout until another idea strikes her. An experiment really. ] Why don't you go too? You can get one, and you can make sure he gets me the right flavor.

[ Marta shakes her head at her, but she's not one to refuse her sister anything right now. ] We won't be long. [ She goes to Ransom's side and takes his arm. ] You heard the princesa.

[trustfundee]

Yup. Grape. [ He tosses a grin back over his shoulder as Marta takes his arm and they leave the hospital room. It’s as close to a thanks as Alice will get at the moment. He can see what she’s doing. ]

You spoil her, you know that? [ He says to Marta, as they start down the hall. ]

[myhousemyrules]

No, I don't. [ It's not exactly her strongest protest, but Marta doesn't see anything wrong with it. That's her baby sister. She's always looked out for her and taken care of her. She's always made sure Alice got to do things that she couldn't growing up. ] It's not that bad.

[trustfundee]

[ He tilts his head and hums a thoughtful tone, for show, more than anything. His spare hand finds hers hooked at his arm and pats it. ]

Coming from me? I think a spoiled kid recognizes another. [ He snorts. ] That’s why she acts especially spoiled with me, isn’t it?

[myhousemyrules]

You spoil her too. [ She raises a brow at him. Ransom didn't have to do all he's done for her, nor offer to get her a popsicle. It seems to her that Alice seems to have a genuine growing fondness for him, but Alice and Ransom are too much alike to acknowledge it. ]

[trustfundee]

[ As always, Marta and her truth bombs. He looks at her, raises both brows, and proceeds to deny it. He shakes his head with a laugh. ]

Don’t say that out loud again, alright? [ But there’s always been something about good banter and snark he’s loved, and Alice doesn’t shy away from either. ] She’s a good kid. [ Reminds him of himself. ]

[myhousemyrules]

[ She doesn't buy it one bit. It shows by the bright grin on her face. She can't hold back the laugh when he does concede. ]

She is. She's going to do amazing things. [ She just wishes that Alice hadn't felt the need to hide something from her. ]

[trustfundee]

Soon as she learns some street smarts. [ They turn the corner and heads to the cafeteria, and Ransom can’t help the smile that softens his eyes when Marta laughs bright and happy. There’s something he missed so dearly. ] She looked pretty guilty when she saw you. Are you gonna grill her for this?

[myhousemyrules]

No. [ She shakes her head. Alice has been through enough. She doesn't want to make it worse for her. ] But I will have a talk with her about staying safe and talking to someone she trusts the next time she does something like this. Even if that person isn't me.

[trustfundee]

Mhmm. [ He agrees, looking at Marta and her patient, concerned tone. ] She’ll have lots of friends at school who’ll know where she is. [ He has no doubts that Alice will learn. He gives Marta a steadying squeeze of her hand as he stops before they get to the ordering counter. ] And maybe no one will, but she’s smart enough to figure it out. She’ll be okay.

[myhousemyrules]

I know, but I can't help but worry. [ She knows she needs to let her go and let her learn on her own, but that's still her bay sister. She appreciates the soft squeeze of his hand. It tells he gets it. ] I'm being silly.

[trustfundee]

Maybe. [ He smiles teasingly, and reaches up to tap her nose with his index. ] But she’s lucky to have you being silly over her. Now what about you? Cherry too?

[myhousemyrules]

Of course cherry. It's the best flavor. [ She flashes him a teasing grin. They slip back and forth between this ease and the tension. They're like the ebb and flow of the tide. ] Don't tell me you prefer grape.

[trustfundee]

[ He makes a playfully disgusted face. ] Grape over cherry any day. [ He recoils. ] Artificial cherry is the worst. [ This is their dynamic, the way they can shift between all sorts of interactions, the way she gets him on any and all levels. It’s something he doesn’t have with anyone else. She’s here with him no matter which version of himself he is.

He snorts and orders two cherrys and a grape, then hands her one of the cherrys. ]

Cheers. To never being in a hospital again. I hate hospitals.

[myhousemyrules]

[ She makes a face right back at him. Her nose scrunches up. ] And artificial grape is better?

[ She takes the cherry from him and opens up the wrapper. Her tongue darts out for a small lick to adjust to the cold. Marta grabs some napkins for them as well. ]

Cheers. [ She understands his dislike for hospitals. She's used to them. It's a place where she can help people, but it's also a place where she's lost them too. ] Are you going to tease Alice that you forgot a cherry for her?

[trustfundee]

[ He snorts when her nose scrunches cutely, then realizes his mistake suggesting popsicles when his brain shorts out for a brief moment seeing a flash of her pink tongue. He tells himself not to go there, not now. This isn’t the time, as much as he’s missed her in all the ways he could.

Instead, they turn back down the hallway to Alice’s room. ]

I wasn’t going to, but I will now. I’ll say you got the last one. [ He smiles too-sweet. ]

[myhousemyrules]

[ It doesn't occur to her, the picture she makes. It's utterly Marta to not realize the teasing temptation she makes. It's not her intention, so she doesn't think of it. She only laughs at his eagerness to tease her baby sister.

It's strange to think that once she'd been so fiercely protective of Alice against him. Now she's able to laugh and tease her with him. ]

She'll have such an awful attitude until you give it to her. [ When they return to the room, Alice is on her phone. She flicks her gaze up and smiles when she sees her sister eating her cherry popsicle. ]

Where's mine?

[trustfundee]

[ There’s that lovely laugh again. A pleased smirk tugs on his mouth as he slowly nods his head. ]

It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. [ He grins.

When Alice smiles bright and hopeful at them as they enter her room, he almost fails to hold back his laughter. Only Marta gets him this loose, this giddy, defenses low enough that even teasing a teenager could be this fun. He hides the third popsicle behind his back, shrugs and offers her his own. He pastes an apologetic look on his face as he stands at her bedside. ]

Here. [ The purple is glaring beneath the clear wrapper. ] This one’s yours. They had one cherry left and I thought Marta deserved it.