[ That feeling in her stomach isn't going away. She knows he isn't angry, she would smell it. Hear it. He's confused. But confusion can lead to fear and she does not want him to be afraid of her.
She pats at his hand to encourage him to move it down, away from her knuckles. His body is far enough away and at a different angle that she can extend the claws of her hand without risking hurting him. ]
Do not move yet. Careful. Stay still.
[ Her reflexes are fast enough that she can get distance without hurting him, but she does not want to risk that. Slowly, she extends the claws of her hand to their full length. ]
[This really was not what he was expecting. Laura was a girl with secrets. And her life was starting over. Muddling the now with so much of the then and deciding on a new path, that was the objective. Matt still had so much more to understand about who she is. About what she is. Yes, a child and a refugee. There is still more.
He's at attention and listens to her verbal and non verbal cues. Brow furrowing deeper he listens, really listens and tries to comprehend what that noise is. It's nothing like he's heard before. See, a blade gives away to skin and yet it is never from inside.]
Laura--[Though he's not sure what he wants to say.]
[ Once she's satisfied that he isn't going to jerk away or move in some fashion that will end in him getting hurt, she relaxes a little. There is no real way to show him other than to let him touch it the way he did the paper she gave him. There's a small amount of blood when they come out, but nothing more.
She reaches for the hand on her wrist, pats it, and encourages it upward to where the claws are. ]
Careful still. Sharp.
[ She waits a moment to let him try and put it all together on his own. ]
There and my feet. They put metal on them. Made them stronger.
[ Yes, she had them before that. They just made them better. More lethal. Suited to their purposes. It's how she was made. ]
[Okay. So blades come out of her hands. Be calm. Though he can feel himself blink and his eyes give away absolutely everything. The worry and concern. Though it is a part of her now. No sense in lamenting or making her feel any more like an outcast. That explains the anxiety coming off of her in waves. Matt lets his touch move careful and aware. They're not small knives, no. Long, thin and curved.]
[ She doesn't understand why he looks the way he does. It is her situation? What happened before they met?
No, they aren't small. Neither re the ones on her feet. They are meant to defend or hurt. They said she was like the one who helped make her. More animal than human. Not a little girl. ]
I hope that you don't need to us these, to get hurt.
[He already knows that the minute these are out that Laura isn't the only one to be harmed. She is like a monkey or a wild cat as far as speed goes. Add the claws and being able to heal.]
[ It was the same way for all of the children there. Her friends. They wanted them to be soldiers. To use their powers to hurt others. To kill.
She has not done it since leaving. She hasn't had to. It would hurt Matt if she used them to kill, that she understands. She has watched what he does at night. Hurts those that deserve it, yes. He does not kill. It is wrong.
She cannot change what she has done in the past under their teaching, and then leaving that place by force. ]
Good. You shouldn't have to defend yourself, not like that.
[Honest and pointed distinction. Matt don't have to guess to know what happened to people who crossed Laura in a rage. She is equip with weapons in her body with speed, strength and healing. They wanted a killing machine. His fingers come back to her knuckles, and brush over the top of her hand gently rubbing there.]
They're yours and you get to choose what you want to do with them.
[ She still has bad dreams about it. When his hand finally moves way from where the claws are, sharp and dangerous, she lets them retract back into her skin. The incisions heal in seconds, leaving nothing to show there was ever anything there. ]
I do not want to use them here.
[ Not when she knows that she doesn't have to. Not when she knows that she is safe with him. ]
[He still touches her hand and can feel tendons and bones shift. It's minor but real. No doubt something that feels unpleasant. Once sheathed, both arms come around her. Matt usually tries to be more deliberate about permission. He wants to comfort her right now. And wants her to feel a sense of acceptance, of safety.
Their time together is going to be eye opening all the time.]
I will do my part to not give you any reason to use those here.
[ It does, but she barely notices it now. It is something she's used to feeling. Taught to ignore. The embrace, though, is something she has learned from Gabriela. From Matt. It is new and different and it makes the strange feeling of worry lessen.
It is a good feeling. She wraps her arms around his torso as much as she can, and presses her cheek against Matt's chest.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ That feeling in her stomach isn't going away. She knows he isn't angry, she would smell it. Hear it. He's confused. But confusion can lead to fear and she does not want him to be afraid of her.
She pats at his hand to encourage him to move it down, away from her knuckles. His body is far enough away and at a different angle that she can extend the claws of her hand without risking hurting him. ]
Do not move yet. Careful. Stay still.
[ Her reflexes are fast enough that she can get distance without hurting him, but she does not want to risk that. Slowly, she extends the claws of her hand to their full length. ]
no subject
He's at attention and listens to her verbal and non verbal cues. Brow furrowing deeper he listens, really listens and tries to comprehend what that noise is. It's nothing like he's heard before. See, a blade gives away to skin and yet it is never from inside.]
Laura--[Though he's not sure what he wants to say.]
no subject
She reaches for the hand on her wrist, pats it, and encourages it upward to where the claws are. ]
Careful still. Sharp.
[ She waits a moment to let him try and put it all together on his own. ]
There and my feet. They put metal on them. Made them stronger.
[ Yes, she had them before that. They just made them better. More lethal. Suited to their purposes. It's how she was made. ]
no subject
Do they hurt you?
no subject
[ She doesn't understand why he looks the way he does. It is her situation? What happened before they met?
No, they aren't small. Neither re the ones on her feet. They are meant to defend or hurt. They said she was like the one who helped make her. More animal than human. Not a little girl. ]
no subject
[He already knows that the minute these are out that Laura isn't the only one to be harmed. She is like a monkey or a wild cat as far as speed goes. Add the claws and being able to heal.]
You don't need them here. Not with me.
no subject
[ It was the same way for all of the children there. Her friends. They wanted them to be soldiers. To use their powers to hurt others. To kill.
She has not done it since leaving. She hasn't had to. It would hurt Matt if she used them to kill, that she understands. She has watched what he does at night. Hurts those that deserve it, yes. He does not kill. It is wrong.
She cannot change what she has done in the past under their teaching, and then leaving that place by force. ]
I do not want to need them.
no subject
[Honest and pointed distinction. Matt don't have to guess to know what happened to people who crossed Laura in a rage. She is equip with weapons in her body with speed, strength and healing. They wanted a killing machine. His fingers come back to her knuckles, and brush over the top of her hand gently rubbing there.]
They're yours and you get to choose what you want to do with them.
no subject
[ She still has bad dreams about it. When his hand finally moves way from where the claws are, sharp and dangerous, she lets them retract back into her skin. The incisions heal in seconds, leaving nothing to show there was ever anything there. ]
I do not want to use them here.
[ Not when she knows that she doesn't have to. Not when she knows that she is safe with him. ]
no subject
Their time together is going to be eye opening all the time.]
I will do my part to not give you any reason to use those here.
no subject
It is a good feeling. She wraps her arms around his torso as much as she can, and presses her cheek against Matt's chest.]
I know.