#kateb!

"No, no, you cross your hands over for the first one," Kate says, pushing your wrists this way and that. "Look." She positions your hands palm up and pats them back and forth with her own.

"Okay," you say. Your legs are beginning to cramp. "Start again."

"Okay, sure," Kate says. She claps and you copy. She reaches out a palm, you flatten yours against hers and then you slip your fingers in between hers and grab hold before she can slip away again. The looks of shock, confusion, disappointment and careful amusement crossing her face in quick succession crack your serious expression and you can't help it: you burst out laughing.

Kate yanks her hand away, half-giggling. "Stop messing with me!" she protests.

"But it's funny," you say, your laughs giving in to little hiccups. "Let's play Super Mario again-"

"No, you beat me every time-"

"Please, Kate, please this is soooo boring," you groan.

"I'm giving you your preschool education!" Kate protests.

"I have two Master's degrees," you say, fixing her with a stare.

"Yeah, but you don't know how to play pattycake."

"You're a pattycake. Turn the TV on."

"You are so rude," Kate says, grabbing a pillow and swatting you gently with it. You raise your eyebrows at her.

"You are going to start a war you can't win, Bishop," you warn. Kate just giggles and swats you again. "Alright, that's it." You shove at her, toppling her to the carpet, grab the couch seat cushion, and begin to bludgeon her over the head with it. Shaking with laughter, Kate can do nothing but take it.

"Hey." You pause, the couch cushion poised to deliver a last blow. Kate pants on the floor. Natalia is standing over you, looking sharply curious. "What's going on?"

"She refused to play Mario with me," you grumble. Natalia's shoulders shift somewhat.

"Oh," she says. Like you've relieved her. "Right. Well, you brough it on yourself, Bishop."

"Eirgh," Kate groans.

Natalia touches your cheek, almost absentmindedly, then moves your hair behind your ear. "Don't have too much fun," she says, too lightly. Then she moves away, slow.

"That was weird," you say when she's gone. Then you shrug and bring the cushion down on Kate's shoulders, to squeals and weak protests.

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