Jeepers Creepers

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine smiled, as Lee's lips nuzzled her ear. "Peeping Tom. Let's call him Tom..."
She kissed him briefly again before sitting up and uttering a small breathy scream as she realised how close it was to her.
"Get it away," she squeaked, bringing her knees up closer to her. "I mean him, get him away..."

[Kira & Lee Norris]

"He'll go away of his own accord," Lee said, frowning at her. "Come on, Madeleine. It's just a spider. Look..."
Within a few seconds, 'Tom' was back in his hand again, scuttling along quite comfortably now as it nestled in the dip of his hand.
"Madeleine," Lee sighed. "Madeleine, come here, put out your hand..."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine shrank back slightly, shaking her head frantically.
"See... the thing is... when I say that I don't like spiders," she began nervously, flinching as the spider crawled over Lee's hand. "What I mean is that ... I'm slightly... terrified of them."
She knew it was ridiculous, but she would rather admit to it than have that thing anywhere near her, let alone on her.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

"Okay," Lee relented. "So you don't have to hold it. Just... put out your hand. I'll put my hand on yours. The spider won't touch you once."
He was sort of enjoying himself now. He'd never really expected to find something Madeleine was scared of that he didn't fear in the slightest. He was so used to her being strong and confident... but it felt sort of good for him to be taking care of her for once.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

She made a strange sound, like a cross between a whimper and a moan, and tentatively put out her hand, hoping that he wouldn't say anything about the fingerless cream glove on it, keeping one terrified eye trained on the black thing scuttling about Lee's hand.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee furled his hand into a hollow fist, so that the little spider didn't get smushed up in the process, and reached out, resting his hand upside down on Madeleine's outstretched palm.
"I'm going to open my hand now," he said quietly, and his fingers unfurled.
Tom lay quite still in his hand, his legs pulled inwards and poised expectantly. It was almost as if the little spider was waiting for something to happen. Or it was hopefully playing dead, whatever.
Taking his other hand, he used it to support Madeleine's hand, so that he could hold her steady. Inhaling deeply, and praying for Tom's sake, Lee looked up at Madeleine.
"Please, for the love of God, don't freak."
And he dropped Tom into her open palm.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine let out a little squeak as 'Tom' landed in her hand, but kept her hand still, determined not to drop the spider. Lee's fingers felt oddly warm on the back of hers, taking her focus away from Tom slightly.
Okay, well... it wasn't that bad. She was a bit freaked out, because Tom could easily run onto her bare fingers or up her arm onto her (and she shivered slightly at the though) neck.
And almost as if on cue, he scuttled forwards off her palm, onto her exposed white fingers.
She squealed before biting down on lip, and forced herself to relax, moving her fingers so that he didn't fall off.
As she relaxed and forced herself not to flip, she registered that the feeling of his many, spindly legs running over her skin was kind of ticklish.
"He won't run up my arm, will he?" she asked Lee nervously.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

"No," Lee replied confidently, feeling strangely proud of her. "Spiders don't like the warmth anyway. And if he does go anywhere near your arm, I'll catch him, and put him away again."
They waited in silence for a couple of seconds, watching Tom skittle across the length of her fingers.
Lee smiled in relief, kissing her on the cheek. "That's good. You're doing good, see?"

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine smiled as Lee's lips touched her cheek, and glanced down at the spider on her hand. "He's not so scary close up, is he?" she said, feeling brave enough to bend down and study Tom. "He's kinda cute... sort of."
He was actually kind of cute, in a weird, eight-legged way. She still maintained that eight legs was just unnecessary, though, and she still wouldn't want a spider crawling over her when she wasn't expecting it.
"I think we should probably put him out of his misery and put him back on the ground now," she said, glancing up at Lee.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee laughed at her, cupped the spider in one swift movement and placed it back on the ground. Tom scuttled quickly off to the side- this time, intent on not returning. Lee took Madeleine's still outstretched hand and squeezed it.
"Cute? I think we made some real progress with that arachnophobia of your's today," he laughed. "I should definitely get paid..."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine laughed. "No you shouldn't, you're doing it out of the goodness of your heart - and it's not cured... I'll get you a really good birthday present though."
No kidding - she already knew what she was getting him, and she knew that he'd love it.
She leaned forward and kissed Lee quickly. "Thanks," she said, squeezing his hand. "I mean, not just for that..."
For that, for saving her life, for staying with her while she was in a coma, for defending her and punching Levi...
"For all of it, really," she finished, hoping that he'd know what she meant.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee felt two overwhelming urges overcome him at once. The first was to take Madeleine, and kiss her, and just... never stop kissing her. The second was to recoil from her, to turn around and leave her alone... jeez, he just couldn't kick the habit of feeling unworthy.
Maybe he'd never kick the habit.
Levi flashed up in his mind again; a full set of teeth gleaming evilly at him; dark brown eyes flashing like fire... Lee frowned, blinking, and suddenly, Levi's eyes flickered hazel again, and faded into blackness.
A wave of sickness passed over him, and he exhaled deeply, turning back to Madeleine, who was watching him silently.
"My pleasure," he smiled, and succombed to his first- and favourite- impulse...