[ he calls as she shuts the door. wait - is she kicking him out of his own room? he doesn't actually have anywhere to go for once so he takes his jumpsuit the rest of the way off, laying back on the bed while he listens to the water. he didn't realize how tired he was until that moment, falling asleep just like that in his bloodstained undergarments and socks on top of the bedspread, one big hand spayed over his stomach. ]
[She doesn't really take that long in the shower, and by the time she comes back out he's asleep. It's tempting to press a kiss to his forehead, but she doesn't want to wake him so she gives Max a kiss to the top of his furry little head instead. She makes her way up to the bridge to keep working, doubling her efforts after taking so much time away.
As per usual, she loses herself in her work and doesn't really know what time it is or how long she's been there. It doesn't even dawn on her how late it is until Frank and Max show up. It's the sound of the dog's magboots that get her to stop and glance over at them, smiling as she sits up straight in her seat.]
Hey. [It's tempting to just hop right out of the chair and go over to him, but she plays it cool and waits for him to get in closer to her.] I'm just finishing up.
[ frank wakes up from his shortlived nap shortly after karen leaves and then it's time to have the most emotional conversation of his life with kamala. she watches max for him so he can look after their new favorite ward and before frank knows it it's nearing 10 pm. he's a tiny bit early, even after picking max up from wherever he's been for the last several hours and heads to the bridge. he feels a strange nervousness in his tummy that makes his steps a little lighter, maybe, or maybe that's in his head. all of it's forgotten anyway when he sees a familiar mess of blonde hair, he can always tell when karen's been working, pushing her fingers through it over and over until it's static from the attention. as ever max approaches first, trotting over while frank takes the slow way down, doing a gentle little jog though it's not anywhere near necessary to close the short distance. ]
Don't let us bug ya. We'll wait. [ he perches on the desktop of the console next to the one she's working at, making a little face at her. it doesn't mean anything, it's just kind of silly tbh. ]
[Her hand reaches up to push fingers through her hair, making it more static and messy. It's obvious that whatever she's been working on today has her more frustrated than usual, since her hair is all over the place from her touching at it so often. But she's unaware that anyone else notices that she does it.]
My back is killing me so I think that's a good cue to head out.
[She gathers up her notebook and the instruction manual pages she's been working with before prying herself out of the chair to stand. A couple of attempts to turn and pop her back later, she's making her way over to him. Standing between his legs at his knees, she just takes a moment to appreciate the fact that this is her life now. Her hand drops to briefly touch at his knee, right as Max butts against her leg like he's annoyed at being left out.]
[ it's not easy for him to reconcile with either, trying not to think about what happens when they get home. if they do, right? karen doesn't seem so sure. they can't have this same kind of relationship there, can they? with their history... but here it's become normal, even after he avoided her all week, guilt pinching between his eyes even as he draws in a breath when she comes that close. it's damn near pressing the boundaries of what he might usually be (or have been) comfortable with pda-wise, but then he remembers their kiss in the corridor earlier and maybe it doesn't matter. maybe nothing really does anymore. his hand comes up to rub over her back soothingly, his other hand reaching for max to let him wedge in between them. there's a noticeable speck of blood near the cap of one sleeve on the faded fabric of his jumpsuit matt's, obviously. ]
Don't make me carry you too. [ he complains like it would be a hardship ]
[That earns a sound of amusement, something between a scoff and a laugh. She isn't really big on pda either, especially with their relationship being as new and developing as it is. So when she leans in she just presses a kiss to his cheek, hoping he isn't offended by either too much or too little affection.
It's Max's turn next, and she crouches down to pet and scratch him. ]
How's Matt doing?
[She caught sight of that blood, because she's freakishly observant when she wants to be. Her head tips just enough to glance up at him before she stands upright, her back snapping and cracking on the way. She visibly winces even as she makes a nodding motion toward the doors. It's time to get out of here.]
[ his eyes flutter closed at the kiss, definitely not offended one way or the other. ]
He's... himself. Not dying anymore though, if that's what you're asking.
[ frank hops down in a smooth arc, hand touching at the small of her back on the way by before max immediately falls back into step next to him, the clang of six mag-boots stirring up a cacophony of sorts as they stride down the hall. no wonder matt hated them when they first approached. ]
You really should wear your boots when you're down here alone. [ he knows she likes wearing her own clothes, makes her feel normal. he hasn't lectured her overly, or he's tried not to. but it's worth nudging her over anyway, if only for safety's sake. ]
[That's exactly what she was wanting to know about Matt, so she gives a pleased nod of her head as she walks at Frank's side. She's just about to comment on the fact that she probably should visit their friend again now that she's calmed down when Frank makes a remark about her shoes. That gets her to glance up at him with curiosity.
He must be pretty concerned to actually mention it out loud.]
[ frank shrugs, having more-or-less anticipated that answer. ]
Alright, don't say I didn't warn ya. [ it's obvious he's exhausted. he would usually drive the point home, but matt took all the fight out of him, honestly. ]
[She can see that he's tired, and it makes her frown. She's exhausted too, and isn't in the mood to push him to talk about something that has a simple solution. As they walk, her fingers brush against his, pinkie finger curling to take hold of his for a few seconds.]
[ he looks down at their joined fingers, heart squeezing uncomfortably, then gives a drowsy bob of his head in place of a nod. ]
Just while I'm not around, in case... [ ugh. he's really not up to saving anyone else either, he doesn't even want to talk about this really. ] It's your choice.
[Of course it's her choice. Everything she does is her choice.]
Maybe. [She agrees with him, letting her hand gently fall away from his.]
But when you want to be with someone, your choices aren't just about yourself. They impact the both of us.
[Because if anything happened to her, regardless of whether or not he was around...she doesn't want him to live with further guilt because someone he cares for did something selfish and stupid.]
[ he keeps bobbing his head as he steps into the elevator and engages max's boots out of habit more than any thought. max wags his tail and tugs at frank's pantleg until he remembers to lean back and engage his own boots, knocking the '6' with his elbow. he presses the close door button before snagging karen around the waist to hold her at his side while the gravity momentarily goes. see? it's important. but he's not smug tonight, he doesn't have it in him. ]
Edited (why do i only do that in ur tags) 2018-07-20 22:49 (UTC)
[She leans against him, hand resting against his arm. The urge to tell him that she can take care of herself is strong, since it's always her instant retort for anything that anyone feels they have to do for her. She's so used to having to be independent to survive and prove herself, that the knowledge she doesn't have to always take care of herself leaves her feeling somehow more tired.
They can take care of each other now. Much like she's picking up they're going to have to do tonight.]
What did you and Matt talk about?
[She's not stupid, she knows exactly who made him this worn down.]
[ he was already rolling around the words to spit them out, so when she asks the phrase comes far too quick, right on the back of her question mark. ]
He asked if I was at peace.
[ the gravity blinks out as the elevator jumps, longer than his usual trips as it travels from deck 2 all the way to 6. he keeps her close, fingers pressing into her hip protectively as her body tries to float away. there's no resistance, he doesn't have to hold her that tightly, but he does long after her heels hit the ground again and the door slides open. ]
[Her fingers dig into his arm a little more firmly, and she doesn't think twice about the fact he'll take it without complaint. He holds her like he has something to lose, and that alone is enough to convince her that she needs to always wear the boots from here on out.
Even after her feet touch ground again, she's leaning and pressed against him, clinging hold of him to keep him close.]
[ there's a residual crackle every time she presses at him, his body remembering how much it hurt. but he doesn't flinch anymore. he doesn't even really notice, tugging her out into the hall when max goes on ahead of them. he's reluctant to let her go still, but they can't walk like this so tentatively... he takes her hand. it makes his heart beat in triple time, fingers loosely circling her wrist as they walk towards his room. ]
I don't know. [ it's an answer in two parts. he doesn't really know what he said to matt in the heat of the moment and he doesn't know if he's at peace. ] What does that even really mean anyway?
[ a grumble as he finally lets go of her and hits the door lock on his device to let them all inside. ]
Knowing Matt? He wants to know if you can live with yourself after everything you've done.
[Karen leads the way inside, Max almost trampling her in the process to get in first. It makes her stumble a little and she catches herself on the doorframe, huffing out a sigh at how tired she is. She drops her things as soon as she's through the door and kicks off her heels, promptly going to fall into his bed. She's so tired, her everything hurts.]
[ it's a bitterness he's too tired to shield her from. if he hadn't done what he'd done, he just would've jumped off the nearest bridge instead. so yeah, he lives with it. there's no other choice now that he's fought that hard to keep his own.
frank nudges max out of the way as the door closes and locks behind the crew and he works on the dogs boots before slipping off his own, casting a sympathetic look at karen's back as she crashes onto his bed. he goes to sit against the wall at the head of the narrow bed, touching at her shoulder to get her attention. ]
Turn around and give me your feet.
[ a quiet ask but one that brooks no arguments, holding out his hands expectantly. ]
[Her nose wrinkles up as she laughs in near disbelief. Is he going to rub her feet or something? She's...never had a man offer to do that for her. It's almost so surreal to her that someone would bother that she's a little slow rolling over so she can lightly shove her feet at his lap.]
Matt's an asshole, Frank. Don't let him or his self-righteous questions get to you. All you can do is get through each day one at a time. Fuck anyone else that says otherwise.
[ a tease as he catches her ankles, one calloused finger running the length of her sole from heel to toes in a tickle, a smile flickering briefly when her foot jumps involuntarily. he keeps his hold, setting her other foot on his shin as he crosses his legs to wait its turn. then his face creases in determination as he sets to work, digging his thumbs in deep to release the tension she's been holding onto - and those heels don't help with the pain either. but she already agreed to wear the boots, something he can't help but be pleased about. ]
He didn't... get to me. [ convincing, huh? he grinds in deeper when her muscles start to relax, determined to rid her of all her pain. ] He is an asshole though.
[This is far more intimate than she expects it to be. It makes her heart race, the sound of it thundering in her ears. It's all she can concentrate on at first. Eventually there's a little tingle in her foot that steals her attention, and her breath hitches as he manages to successfully get her to relax. She almost melts back against the bed, a soft sound close to a sigh signaling that he's on the right track.]
Okay, neither of us are allowed to think or talk about him for the rest of the night. We need a break.
[A break after...one day of having him here. His thumbs dig in to an incredibly sensitive area right at that moment and she gasps, foot jumping in his hold. Her toes curl inward and she bites at her lip as she focuses on not jerking her foot right out of his hand.]
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Make sure you have an appetite when you come by to get me. We can grab a late dinner.
[It's said over her shoulder and she makes a little gesture to show that he doesn't have to wait around for her. She can show herself out.]
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[ he calls as she shuts the door. wait - is she kicking him out of his own room? he doesn't actually have anywhere to go for once so he takes his jumpsuit the rest of the way off, laying back on the bed while he listens to the water. he didn't realize how tired he was until that moment, falling asleep just like that in his bloodstained undergarments and socks on top of the bedspread, one big hand spayed over his stomach. ]
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As per usual, she loses herself in her work and doesn't really know what time it is or how long she's been there. It doesn't even dawn on her how late it is until Frank and Max show up. It's the sound of the dog's magboots that get her to stop and glance over at them, smiling as she sits up straight in her seat.]
Hey. [It's tempting to just hop right out of the chair and go over to him, but she plays it cool and waits for him to get in closer to her.] I'm just finishing up.
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Don't let us bug ya. We'll wait. [ he perches on the desktop of the console next to the one she's working at, making a little face at her. it doesn't mean anything, it's just kind of silly tbh. ]
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[Her hand reaches up to push fingers through her hair, making it more static and messy. It's obvious that whatever she's been working on today has her more frustrated than usual, since her hair is all over the place from her touching at it so often. But she's unaware that anyone else notices that she does it.]
My back is killing me so I think that's a good cue to head out.
[She gathers up her notebook and the instruction manual pages she's been working with before prying herself out of the chair to stand. A couple of attempts to turn and pop her back later, she's making her way over to him. Standing between his legs at his knees, she just takes a moment to appreciate the fact that this is her life now. Her hand drops to briefly touch at his knee, right as Max butts against her leg like he's annoyed at being left out.]
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Don't make me carry you too. [ he complains like it would be a hardship ]
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It's Max's turn next, and she crouches down to pet and scratch him. ]
How's Matt doing?
[She caught sight of that blood, because she's freakishly observant when she wants to be. Her head tips just enough to glance up at him before she stands upright, her back snapping and cracking on the way. She visibly winces even as she makes a nodding motion toward the doors. It's time to get out of here.]
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He's... himself. Not dying anymore though, if that's what you're asking.
[ frank hops down in a smooth arc, hand touching at the small of her back on the way by before max immediately falls back into step next to him, the clang of six mag-boots stirring up a cacophony of sorts as they stride down the hall. no wonder matt hated them when they first approached. ]
You really should wear your boots when you're down here alone. [ he knows she likes wearing her own clothes, makes her feel normal. he hasn't lectured her overly, or he's tried not to. but it's worth nudging her over anyway, if only for safety's sake. ]
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He must be pretty concerned to actually mention it out loud.]
Do you think the gravity will go out again?
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Of course it will. You think this place is done throwing us loops already?
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[She glances up at him with a what? look on her face.]
Besides, I like wearing my own things. Even if I don't trust the fact that they pop up randomly.
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Alright, don't say I didn't warn ya. [ it's obvious he's exhausted. he would usually drive the point home, but matt took all the fight out of him, honestly. ]
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I'll start wearing them again tomorrow.
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Just while I'm not around, in case... [ ugh. he's really not up to saving anyone else either, he doesn't even want to talk about this really. ] It's your choice.
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Maybe. [She agrees with him, letting her hand gently fall away from his.]
But when you want to be with someone, your choices aren't just about yourself. They impact the both of us.
[Because if anything happened to her, regardless of whether or not he was around...she doesn't want him to live with further guilt because someone he cares for did something selfish and stupid.]
So I'll wear the boots. Okay?
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They can take care of each other now. Much like she's picking up they're going to have to do tonight.]
What did you and Matt talk about?
[She's not stupid, she knows exactly who made him this worn down.]
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He asked if I was at peace.
[ the gravity blinks out as the elevator jumps, longer than his usual trips as it travels from deck 2 all the way to 6. he keeps her close, fingers pressing into her hip protectively as her body tries to float away. there's no resistance, he doesn't have to hold her that tightly, but he does long after her heels hit the ground again and the door slides open. ]
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Even after her feet touch ground again, she's leaning and pressed against him, clinging hold of him to keep him close.]
What did you tell him?
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I don't know. [ it's an answer in two parts. he doesn't really know what he said to matt in the heat of the moment and he doesn't know if he's at peace. ] What does that even really mean anyway?
[ a grumble as he finally lets go of her and hits the door lock on his device to let them all inside. ]
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[Karen leads the way inside, Max almost trampling her in the process to get in first. It makes her stumble a little and she catches herself on the doorframe, huffing out a sigh at how tired she is. She drops her things as soon as she's through the door and kicks off her heels, promptly going to fall into his bed. She's so tired, her everything hurts.]
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[ it's a bitterness he's too tired to shield her from. if he hadn't done what he'd done, he just would've jumped off the nearest bridge instead. so yeah, he lives with it. there's no other choice now that he's fought that hard to keep his own.
frank nudges max out of the way as the door closes and locks behind the crew and he works on the dogs boots before slipping off his own, casting a sympathetic look at karen's back as she crashes onto his bed. he goes to sit against the wall at the head of the narrow bed, touching at her shoulder to get her attention. ]
Turn around and give me your feet.
[ a quiet ask but one that brooks no arguments, holding out his hands expectantly. ]
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[Her nose wrinkles up as she laughs in near disbelief. Is he going to rub her feet or something? She's...never had a man offer to do that for her. It's almost so surreal to her that someone would bother that she's a little slow rolling over so she can lightly shove her feet at his lap.]
Matt's an asshole, Frank. Don't let him or his self-righteous questions get to you. All you can do is get through each day one at a time. Fuck anyone else that says otherwise.
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[ a tease as he catches her ankles, one calloused finger running the length of her sole from heel to toes in a tickle, a smile flickering briefly when her foot jumps involuntarily. he keeps his hold, setting her other foot on his shin as he crosses his legs to wait its turn. then his face creases in determination as he sets to work, digging his thumbs in deep to release the tension she's been holding onto - and those heels don't help with the pain either. but she already agreed to wear the boots, something he can't help but be pleased about. ]
He didn't... get to me. [ convincing, huh? he grinds in deeper when her muscles start to relax, determined to rid her of all her pain. ] He is an asshole though.
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Okay, neither of us are allowed to think or talk about him for the rest of the night. We need a break.
[A break after...one day of having him here. His thumbs dig in to an incredibly sensitive area right at that moment and she gasps, foot jumping in his hold. Her toes curl inward and she bites at her lip as she focuses on not jerking her foot right out of his hand.]
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