river_meimei | (no subject)

(no subject)

Simon's not in his room, or the infirmary, or the common area outside it. He's in the fourth place River looks: in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, doing dishes in the tiny sink.

She hovers in the doorway for a minute, watching with a small smile, before she drifts over.

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"Yeah, you did."

His hands are all over suds, or he'd pat her shoulder or something.

River leans against the counter, and watches him work.

More soap, scrub, hot water.

Getting grease off of plastic is hard.

"Mal has a present," River says, at length.

Her face is alight, and she's directing a hopeful you know you love me and want to agree with me look at her brother.

"But you're not allowed to yell. He said."

"..."

Simon looks at River sidelong.

"Did he say why I might want to yell?"

"It's outside."

That hopeful look isn't going away any time soon.

"...outside where? River, you spent the whole day outside."

River rolls her eyes.

"Not there. Specialized multivalence."

She points.

"You can see the stars."

...oh. EVA.

Well.

It's not as though it's actually dangerous, if everybody takes proper precautions. And they've done it before.

Simon chews his lower lip, and runs hot water over a frying pan.

River waits.

Hopefully.

Fidgeting just a little.

It's ... oddly reassuring, somehow, that she's waiting for his permission.

Kids her age are trying to walk a line between independence and support, says a quiet voice in his memory. You aren't going to be looking over her shoulder all her life.

"You'll be careful?" he says, meeting her eyes. "Both of you?"

River exhales gustily, not quite rolling her eyes.

"Got grav boots."

"I promise."

Simon is a worrywart. (But she loves him for it.)

He sets the rinsed pan in the rack, and picks up a towel to dry his hands.

And smiles at her.

"All right."

River beams.

And with everything he was thinking about the other day, all the things River should be getting the chance to do and isn't ...

If things had been different, she'd probably never have gotten the chance to do this.

Simon puts down the towel and reaches out to give his sister a hug.

"Happy birthday, meimei."

River leans against her brother's shoulder, grinning.

"Yes."

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