Seeing Selina pull back caused Frankie to blush as well when he realized what he was doing. He straightened back up but let their hands stay together as he nodded. ”She’s a little like me. Cora still respects nature and wildlife but she isn't as… passionate about it as I am.” he chuckled a little, thinking about his younger sister. ”But I wasn't worried about being neglected. It's more that she’ll try to embarrass me by telling you very personal things about me.” he admitted.
She listened with a smile, trying to picture what his sister could look like, if she had the same colored eyes or hair. "As long as she's not trying to destroy nature I'll get along great with her, especially if she tells me stories that let me learn more about you," Selina replied, grinning happily.
”She would never do that.” Frankie promised with a bright smile. ”She hates bugs and probably wouldn't have eaten the squirrel with us, but she won't do any damage.” he laughed a little, his blush growing at the second half of Selina’s comment. ”Yeah… That's what I'm a little worried about.”
"Having me learn more about you? Or the stories she'll tell?" She asked, already knowing the answer with a playful smile, "The joy of having a sibling that knows all of the embarrassing things you did growing up." Selina squeezed his hand lightly then looked out into the woods, basking in the sunlight of the mid-day.
He laughed at her questions and gave her a knowing look. ”Didn’t you say you have a brother?” he asked, remembering the story she told him about what happened to her family.
She nodded, the smile slipping from her face as she replied, "I do, though he could be dead. The government took him when they killed my parents..to take place for my father." Selina pushed a tiny smile onto her face and shrugged, "I won't get into my tragic backstory right now again though, no ruining a happy moment."
He shook his head, blushing a little. ”Right. I’m sorry. I forgot that part.” he apologized. ”But if he's anything like you, I’d bet that he’s still alive. Your family seems to be made of survivors.” he said, attempting to be encouraging though his smile shrank a little at the awkward moment he brought up.
"I hope so," She replied, forcing her smile to grow a little bigger. When she had been younger she had been confident that he was still alive, but after so many years…her confidence was starting to fade. After all, so many years being tested on and treated horribly would do that to someone. "If he's still alive and I ever see him again, you have to meet him, I think you two would get along," Selina continued, pushing the focus off her brother.
”I’d like that.” he agreed, smiling gently as he ran his thumb comfortingly against her hand. He felt a little bad that he had brought up such a… unpleasant topic. Sure, it would still be cool to meet her brother, if it was possible, but he could tell that she didn't want to talk about this anymore.
She sighed quietly and smiled back, leaning towards him again barely, debating her desire to rest her head on his shoulder. It could make their friendship weird, but then again, they were already holding hands. "It's a really nice day out," She commented, finally mustering up the courage to scoot towards him more, just enough to rest her head on his shoulder light enough so he could push her away if he wanted.
“Yeah. It is.” He said softly, freezing up for a second as she leaned against him. After a moment's hesitation, his face burning, Frankie slowly lifted his arm and cautiously placed it on her shoulder. ”Really nice.” he swallowed nervously, not looking at her. His arm was light enough to shrug off if she wanted to.
To say that her face wasn't beet red was an absolute lie, and as Frankie's arm circled around her, somehow her face turned even redder. She didn't move away from it though, just relaxed against him and nodded, watching some leaves on a tree flutter in the light breeze. "The only thing I would've liked is if it was a tiny bit warmer, then it would be the perfect day."
“I could start a fire, if you want.” he offered, subconsciously holding her a little closer to warm her. ”Or I have a hoodie you can borrow.” He had to agree it was a little chilly today. But… holding her like this, his heart was pounding and his blush hadn't disappeared. She hadn't pushed him away. He smiled softly at the thought.
"No this works," She said softly, a tiny smile on her face as she pulled herself a tiny bit closer to him, "As long as you're ok with it that is." Selina smiled, trying to hide the blush on her face as she danced with joy internally. He hadn't pushed her away and even had seemed to pull her closer when she mentioned the slight chill.
He nodded, his smile growing slightly. ”I am very ok with this. Are you ok with this?” he asked, though the fact that she had scooted closer already kinda answered his question.
She nodded in answer, brushing the back of his hand with her thumb while she relaxed. "I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel uncomfortable," Selina added, ecstatic that he was on with her being this close to him, "I'm completely ok with this though."
Frankie smiled and gave her a small one-armed hug for the gentle gesture, so glad that she didn't mind his arm around her. ”I’m not uncomfortable with you.” he assured her. ”This is actually very comfortable.”
"I'm glad you're comfortable," She replied, leaning into the hug and returning a light, one-armed hug of her own once she wrapped her arm around him, "I'm not uncomfortable with you either. You're really calming to be around, and you're nice and warm too."
Frankie let out a small chuckle at the warm comment but he couldn't help the blush as she hugged him back. ”Thank you. You’re really… amazing to be around too.” he admitted. He remembered that when she was a wolf she was very warm as well, but he wasn't going to say anything since he wanted to enjoy this moment.
She smiled, nodding slowly and closing her eyes as she leaned against him. Selina promised herself she wasn't going to get anywhere near falling alseep as she rested her head comfortably on his shoulder, and to keep herself with that promise, she asked gently, "Am I really that amazing to be around?"
”You are to me.” he answered, whispering in response to her quiet tone. He gently leaned his head on top of hers as she rested against him. He really did think she was incredible. She was very beautiful, smart, funny… fearless and free. How could anyone find her to be anything less?
A tiny smile along with a faint blush appeared on her face and she hugged him tightly with her arm, replying softly, "You're an incredible person Frankie, I'm glad I'm getting to know you." Selina really meant what she said, Frankie was amazing, and besides being handsome, caring, understanding and not scared of her, he was also brilliant and cared about not only the world, but was willing to lean more about it too.
He smiled softly, not minding the strong embrace and actually returned it, holding her closer. ”And I’m very glad to know you too, Selina.” Frankie answered back with equal sincerity as he tried to hold back the impulse to kiss her… probably on the top of her head or her forehead or someplace like that. He doubted that it would be a good idea… And it still felt way too soon to kiss her lips. Though he wouldn't deny how much he wanted to.
She hummed in happiness and just leaned against him, letting her thoughts of seeing the city with him pull her away. As much as she loved the thought of romance sparking between them as they spent time together though, a tug of a question she hadn't asked yet pulled her back to reality and she tipped her head to look up at him. "Do you have a significant other?" Selina asked suddenly, though her voice was calm, and curious.
Frankie blinked in mild surprise at the question as he turned to look at her. ”Uhh… No, actually, not currently.” he said, shaking his head once his mind caught up with the moment. ”I… I had a girlfriend a little recently before I decided to go on this trip but it wasn't working out, so I had to break up with her.” he explained before chuckling softly as he remembered the first sentence he said to her. ”What about you? Do you have… a mate or someone like that?” he asked, blushing faintly.
"No, I don't," She replied with a small laugh, watching the trees as she talked, "Most werewolves can feel the tug of their mate from wherever they live, a perk of being one of my kind. It's like a large game of hot and cold. But I've never felt it, and so I've never even been in a relationship." Selina shrugged, then blinked and glanced back up at him, changing the subject, "Why did you break up? If you don't mind me asking. You don't have to answer if it's personal."
”Wow!” Frankie smiled at her description of having a mate. ”If only it was that easy for us poor humans.” he said, half-joking at his own expense. Though, it really did sound easier. ”It’s not that personal.” he admitted. ”The truth is… Linda was a little controlling and somewhat passive-aggressive. It just wasn't working out. Plus she completely ignored my feelings about nature.” he shrugged nonchalantly, thoroughly over that relationship. ”I don't really remember why we started dating in the first place.”
Selina frowned, shaking her head at the description of Frankie's ex, "She sounds like a not-fun person to be around." Absentmindedly, she once again shifted closer to him as she talked though, keeping her head resting on his shoulder, "Who doesn't like nature too? I'm amazed at how ignorant some humans, and werewolves, are."
”She really wasn't.” he agreed. A lot of the memories he had of Linda were pretty miserable for him. But having someone as fun and kind as Selina next to him was almost enough to distract him from those thoughts, as he gently held her closer. ”Apparently, she didn't. I mean she liked it when I tried giving her flowers but she always wanted the more expensive ornate bouquets. Sometimes it still surprises me how little people care for the important things. Though it's a little confusing to think that werewolves have a similar issue.” he said, raising a brow slightly at her last comment.
"Some of the stuck up ones are exactly like that," She replied, shrugging and rolling her eyes, "They want the best food, best part of dens, attention constantly, and being outside for more than the one night a month they're forced to shift is like torture." Selina wrinkled her nose and laughed lightly, "Some people are far from fine with a werewolf lifestyle."
