She Keeps Me Warm

6

"Did you really go behind my back and stop the U-Haul I requested specifically for your wanna-be Woman in White simply because the little creampuff in a pencil skirt shed you a couple tears?"

Mattie was seething, pacing back and forth in her sister's office as Carmilla just watched and sipped her coffee.

"So, I take it you're angry..." She took a spin in her swivel chair.

"Mircalla, you put the responsibility of ensuring the protection of you and Lauronica Mars onto me, and then- when I take said responsibility- you undermine me. Yes, I'm angry!" Mattie snarled, her 6-inch stilettos smacking hard against the floor, emphasizing how angry she was; and how expensive her shoes are.

"You know, I'm not quite sure that my giving the cupcake a few more days to pack instead of shoveling all her crap into black garbage bags is remotely considered-"

"Mircalla!" Mattie slammed her hands against the desk in frustration.

"Stop calling me that! Just because 6-year-old me reminded you of a meerkat does not mean you can keep using it 20 years down the road!"

"Don't-"

"I know!" Carmilla sighed, getting serious. "I get it. You're upset."

"I'm glad you finally figured it out!" Mattie took a deep breath and adjusted her dress, crossing her arms before facing her sister. "Start talking."

Usually Carmilla would keep antagonizing her sister until she gave up and went for coffee muttering under her breath how little sisters should be hung upside down by their baby toes in dungeons as punishment for causing their older siblings such hell. She wouldn't do that now. She wasn't the only one involved, and that was her fault.

"You threw a bomb at her and expected Laura to catch it without it exploding. She deserved a couple days to pack her shit and move in with a total stranger."

"Yeah? And whose fault is that?" Mattie huffed, perturbed.

"Mine, obviously." Carmilla frowned, twisting her coffee cup in her hands.

She felt awful for putting Laura through all of this. She doesn't even know why she did it. Her and Laura are as different as Edward and Jacob. They didn't fit, and they certainly couldn't stand one another enough to try. Yet, here they are, thrown into a situation created by hers truly, Edward reincarnated. Having no other choice but get along lest they kiss both their careers goodbye.

"Damn right it is! It's so like you to try to be the hero. -"

"I'm nobody's hero." Carmilla muttered, annoyed. "It's not my fault that-"

"That you jump to save people at a whim?" Mattie snorted. "'Oh, no. Don't sue her. She has children. She can't afford to go to prison!' 'Or him! He's an artist, not a chef! He didn't mean to burn down his building. Let him off easy.' You are incredibly impulsive. You did it with them and a plethora of other cases. Did it with Mother. Did it with Ell. Did it with Will..."

"Can we stop talking about this, please? I'm no hero! I liked it better when you ran off for coffee."

"I'm just saying you tend to become disillusioned when you see need. That and when you get-. Ah...." Mattie nodded to herself in understanding, a teasing smile on her lips. "You have your eye on Lois Lane."

Carmilla's eyes widened. Her face contorted to disgust. Her words sputtered, harder at Mattie's quirked eyebrow and shit-eating grin. "I do not."

"Your actions say otherwise, kitty cat. Had I known this little disruption was about you sticking your tongue down little Ms. Hollis' throat then-. Oh, Mircalla..." Mattie started laughing hysterically.