Moira, Nathan, A Hermit Crab

[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

Moira is investigating the hermit crabs when Nathan finds her poking at one of them. They talk about the open powers club and the hermit crabs.



Moira peered into one of the numerous containers that littered the semi-empty study in the suite. Some of the hermit crabs were rather small but there were a few...she reached in and poked at it and grinned when it toppled over slightly. Righting itself, it waved its appendages out her, clearly outraged, before getting distracted by the fake plant in the corner of the cage.

"You're tormenting that poor crab," Nathan said with a slight smile from the doorway. "Shame on you."

"I am nay. They're made ta poke at, look at their funny shells!" Still, she sat up a little bit and looked over her shoulder. "Besides, they're funny."

"We take our fun where we can, huh?" Nathan teased gently, coming over to join her. "Odd little things, aren't they?"

"But adorable, in their own odd way." An eyebrow raised slightly. "An' I 'ave a good many o' these bizarre wee buggers. God 'elp us if they ever get out o' their cages."

He poked her in the shoulder. "You said it," he said mock-severely. "Why did you say it?"

"...because deep down, I'm really mean an' I like th' chaos?" she replied, snickering.

"Evil woman," Nathan said contentedly, putting his arms around her from behind. "So you think these will help Shinobi?" he asked after a moment.

"Mmm, I 'ope so. There small an' we willnae feel tha' bad 'bout them diein'." Moira watched as one toppled over and waved it's claws in the air, frustrated. "Much. 'e took tha' idea much better than me idea for 'is "final"."

"Which was?"

"Tha' Shinobi use me as a test subject after everythin'." Right on schedule, Moira felt Nathan tense up behind her and the link bounced back down startled thoughts. "But only if 'e an' I bot' feel tha' 'e's up ta it."

"Uh-huh," Nathan said warily. "We're going to be very careful about doing that, aren't we?"

Tilting her head up, she smiled at him brightly. "O' course we are. I dinnae want Shinobi worrin' 'bout 'urtin' me an' ye'd 'ave me 'ead on a plate if'n I did somethin' stupid. We're goin' ta be verra, verra careful."

"Good," he said firmly, not entirely reassured, but trusting her to handle it properly. He leaned back a little, resting his hands on her shoulders and grimacing a little at the bruises on his knuckles from his time with the punching bag this morning.

"Looks like someone overdid it a wee bit," she commented, turning her head to look at his knuckles. Raising her hand, Moira gently touched the knuckles. "'ow lon' were ye down there, love?"

"Long enough," Nathan said with a rueful chuckle. "I needed to blow off steam before class, and definitely before Jack... didn't kill the punching bag this time, though. I'm improving."

"Good because I think Charles would start makin' ye pay for them after a while." Shifting, Moira turned around so she could lean against him more comfortably. "I've got another shipment o' these bloody thin's still comin'..."

"You're looking forward to that open powers class, aren't you?" Nathan asked, putting his arms around her again.

"Mmm, aye I am. I'm glad there was such a good response ta it." She smiled at him. "Glad a good number o' th' ones I wanted ta join actually signed up. Wit' nay anyone pressurin' them, even!"

Her enthusiasm was infectious, really. "This is the sort of thing you love to do, isn't it?" he murmured, kissing her on the forehead.

"Aye, 'tis. I wasnae able ta really plan a lot on Muir. Most o' me patients were brought ta me abruptly an' I 'ad ta win' it. Plannin' it is so much fun, though."

"You're so adorable when you're being devious," he laughed, and then grinned and kissed her again when she wrinkled her nose at him. "Seriously. And are you needing help with this? Because I'm very handy, you know."

Tucking her head under his chin, Moira nodded. "Aye, I could use all th' 'elp I can get. Sometimes jus' ta sit wit' me while I watch th' exercises but I'll need someone ta test some o' these guys." She grinned. "An' aye, I know yer verra 'andy."

"Except not Manuel," Nathan told her, with a self-deprecating smile. "At all, okay?"
"'ey, I wouldnae force ye ta do tha', ye should know tha'."

"I know. Just... confirming it to myself, too," Nathan murmured, his arms tightening around her.

Moira snuggled closer. "If yer goin' ta brood, I 'ave every right ta put 'ermit crabs in yer clothin'," she announced, suddenly.

"You would enjoy that way too much," he said dryly. "Really. I can sense that."

"Who, me? Innocent me? Never."

"So long as you don't start making pets of them," Nathan said severely.

Moira hesitated for just a second before smiling sweetly at him. "Never crossed me mind," she answered, grinning.

"Liar," he chuckled, reaching up and tucking her hair behind her ear. "You can't manage the innocent face at all, you know. Really."

Grumbling, she stuck out her tongue at him. "I can ta. Ye jus' dinnae by it."

"I'm jaded and cynical and all that," Nathan said impishly. "Part of my charm. Yes?"

Moving her arm, she poked him in the ribs, grinning when he snickered. "Sometimes it 'tis."

"And other times it's just irritating... yes, I know."

"But I still love ye." She turned again so that instead of leaning sideways against him, she now faced him. Moira looped her arms around his neck and shook her head. "Whatever am I supposed ta do wit' ye?" she asked, teasing.

"Anything you want," he murmured whimsically, leaning in to kiss her.

Giggling as she kissed him back, Moira gave him a Look when they pulled apart. "Tha's a broad range, tha' is," she pointed out.

"Well, you're a very creative woman." Nathan grinned unabashedly. "I'm sure you'll think of something..."

"Ooo, I'm always up for a challenge..."