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Dragged through the minimal distance and Teddy couldn't help but take the encouragement on. Flush against her counterpart, she felt her grip on the moment falling away to the easiest, purest form of communication available, like perhaps some level of understanding could be caught by physicality when she couldn't offer clever words instead.
There was barely any distance when her name hit the air like a heavy warning to the pressure she applied. She could feel it on her lips in the particular tone she felt she needed to use.
"I'm sorry." She dropped her voice to the lowest level, but she didn't draw away, because she hardly meant it; "I'll stop."
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Mapping what Teddy was sure she needed was one thing, but expressing it was another thing entirely. Letting her down by any means felt wrong, and she'd already done that once here. A small kiss reminded her of her to continuously trust the words and sentiments offered. It was almost unfair how stoic she could be when that was everything she wanted to portray for herself.
"I know." She replied. She was acutely aware she could take any time she wanted. That was part of the danger.
When she kissed her again, it carried an obviously heavier weight to it. Despite her better judgement, she couldn't help herself.
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Teddy wasn't sure if she could talk any sense into Natalie. Not when it came to the contrasting opinions they clearly had about the lawyer. Despite it all she sounded so sure of herself, like she could properly understand what she was getting into.
She wanted to correct her, but she couldn't. There was no definition here, and Teddy didn't have the means to create it now.
"I need time," She offered finally, but she was quick to fill the air before it got confusing; "But I don't need time away from you." In her mind, she couldn't think of anything worse.
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The knee jerk reaction felt absolutely natural. Though Teddy always did her best to remain articulate and honest, it was a harsh question to outright deny answering. Her own words could have meant anything, but Teddy found it impossible to express anything at this point.
Again, she proved to be the kindest person Teddy had ever met for the sheer fact that she wanted to counter a fact she'd offered about herself. An apology followed suit and she honestly wanted to laugh. She eased back a little; just enough to open her eyes and catch that set.
"Darling," Teddy called her lightly, "Do you really think you know me that well?"
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Acceptance coloured the way Natalie acted, and Teddy couldn't help but be surprised by it. A small connection was worth everything, and instinctively her hands tightened in the fabric at her waist as she kept herself close. Now wasn't the time to promote any distance.
"You're too kind." She admitted. There were so many people who wouldn't have accepted that kind of answer. They would have pushed, or even shifted to insult her for trying something so closed off.
"I can be controlling; I know that." She tried to explain, but it was difficult. Pressing. "I'm not trying to be. That's not what I mean."
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Though Teddy couldn't see her, she was sure she knew the kind of reaction that was waiting had she dared to open her eyes. The weight of it all fell on her shoulders and she held it to the best of her ability. How they had gotten here from where they were mere moments ago was an absolute mystery to the lawyer who saw everything.
Questioned, then, and realisation hit her like a wall, pieces falling to place like they'd always been there, she just hadn't seen them. Her hands slid down the length of her form in the silence without a proper answer. Fingertips grazed her sides before settling at her waist, and there, they wrapped themselves around completely.
"Don't ask me that. Not yet; not when things are still such a mess."
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Another kiss against her lips and this time it dragged beyond the lighter connotations Teddy had expected. Drawing it out made it harder to ignore their proximity, and she knew that to some degree she should have been paying attention to this conversation. She kept her eyes closed regardless, taking the option to look off the table completely.
She had always been calculating, to a degree. It always managed to shine through despite not meaning it. "She certainly draws her opinions from a reliable source." Teddy offered, brushing the tip of her nose against hers lightly.
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As much as Teddy adored the time she spent with Emmett, being able to close themselves off for the rest of the night carried an obvious relief. Tension eased from her shoulders and added stress subsided with the small kiss they managed to share.
Little words dragged a small laugh from her lips, but she found herself so overwhelmed by the fleeting proximity she didn't want to pull to pieced just yet. "Evidently." She replied then. After all, Emmett had used the word. To an extent, she wasn't wrong.
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Distance was a hard thing to maintain, but it had always helped when Teddy wanted proper answers. She was grateful for it to be over, and for that desire for contact to be clearly mutual. Pressure to her shoulders helped ease the pressure in her head, like the threat of a headache could be so easily cured.
Such a compliment was effortlessly thrown back at her, and she shouldn't have been surprised. She'd already learned how Natalie struggled with such a heavy word about herself; it wasn't as if she took it any easier when it was given to her.
Hands rested against her chest as she finally allowed herself to lean through the small break between them. "Flatterer." Teddy called her, leaning in to kiss her lightly.
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Apr 19, 2018 12:22:43 GMT
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At least Natalie saw the funnier side of Emmett's approach. Eyes dropped to catch the particular smile she wore, and how special it seemed given the occasion. The way she spoke of the mechanic was probably the nicest way to confirm the difference in her behaviour. Emmett was caring, but loud and outspoken; she had some very choice opinions about Olivia.
"She does like you." Teddy pointed out, even if she was sure that didn't matter when it came to her own personal choice. "She thinks you're perfect." She added lightly, taking her first step away from the door.
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Seclusion provided it's own comfort; sometimes, Emmett could be an overpowering force. Half the things she said over the last few hours were overwhelming in their own ways. Tension eased a little when Teddy was finally granted eye contact.
Sweet wasn't a word often used to describe Emmett, but it was so fitting that this woman saw her that way.
"She's a good friend." Teddy concluded, hardly willing to accept that such praise from Emmett should be overtly acknowledged. "Everything she said is her way of... Helping." And she had to appreciate every attempt made.
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Teddy genuinely believed Olivia was apologetic for her actions. She knew that hindsight provided some clarity to the difficulty her necessary time had put in place. At the end of it all, most people did what was necessary to look after themselves. That was predominant human nature. Even she knew that.
When she had the chance to speak, she looked at Olivia in brief silence and weighed in just how honest she could be. It was always important to remain delicate. This entire situation was delicate.
"Working with you every day and seeing how easy it was for you to act so neutral was both comforting and not." Teddy tried to explain, unable to articulate the thought as well as she'd like to; "It's good to remain impartial. It's not good that two weeks was achievable for you."
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Having anyone she liked willingly meet Emmett was a new thing for Teddy. She'd never quite had a friend like the mechanic; someone who so devotedly stood up for her at every turn without fail. She'd never experienced the side of her that had the chance to talk the lawyer up so frequently. It had been overly flattering, but she did her best to make do. She had to appreciate the efforts, if nothing else.
She had to be a little thankful when the night was drawing to a close. It was the first night Emmett was actually going to use the room Teddy had for her without a fight, which was good. As Teddy closed the door to her own room with the trainer in it, she was grateful for the time alone with her, and the opportunity to ask the obvious question.
"So," She said finally, back straightening as she turned around; "Your thoughts?"
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Teddy knew her priority was to make contact with Emmett. She knew it was the first logical step before she promised anything, but she also knew how excited the mechanic would be to be allowed into this particular part of her life.
There was a mutual agreement to the fact that that could wait, at least for a minute. An arm was keeping her pinned and she had nothing against the welcomed pressure. Hands dragged up from her shoulders to loop around her neck and keep herself just as close; parting ways now seemed ridiculous.
She smiled against her lips instinctively, and when it was necessary to breathe, she barely gave herself the space to do so. "You'll stay, right?" Teddy asked, unwilling to pull away despite the importance of her own words; "It's been too long."
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There was a kind of happiness that grew on her features that Teddy couldn't ignore. Something as simple as being upfront and honest with Emmett about Natalie brought something so new to her face that she definitely hadn't expected.
"I have no doubt that she's looking forward to finally meeting you." Teddy replied. She could practically see the amusement mixing with the joy on her friends face at the mere thought.
"I should." Calling Emmett seemed like the next point of call, but rather than reach for her phone, she was leaning in to kiss her again.
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