Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[phaselocknroll]

Like I was run over by a dragon.

[ she smiles, though it fades quickly as her eyes sweep over his face ]

Are you okay?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Yeah. He doesn't smile at the joke. Sorry, Maya.

Still, he squeezes her hand lightly, gently -- he doesn't know how much that weird light repaired -- and offers her a reassuring look. ]

Yeah, I'm fine, for once. Weird, huh?

[phaselocknroll]

[ She tightens her grip on his hand. Her movements are slightly awkward, but she manages ]

I... I'm sorry I worried you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He presses his lips into a thin line, because-- he doesn't want to say, it's okay, because it wasn't. It really wasn't. He wasn't just worried, he was frightened nearly out of his mind, and panicked, and he felt so, so sick at the sight of her, ashen and bleeding and taking labored breaths-- ]

It wasn't your fault.

[ That, at least, he means sincerely, and he reaches up to brush her hair aside, to trace the line of her cheek with his fingertips, and god, he loves her. ]

You need anything?

[phaselocknroll]

[ She leans into his touch, eyes falling closed. She remembers feeling his fear, his worry, and she remembers feeling so sad for him. She never wants him to feel that way again, and she lifts a hand to cover his own. ]

Mm. A bath... fresh change of clothes.

[ She pauses, frowning. ] ... Breakfast? Is that strange?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ -- Yeah. That's strange, and Peter makes it obvious by the way he tenses.

He lets his hand drop, and his gaze falls to the covers before glancing around the room. He doesn't want to leave to find someone, and he's pretty sure someone left him a plate-- ah. There it is.

He moves to retrieve the plate -- just cheeses and bread -- and brings it to her. ]

This should probably tide you over, for now.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She takes it, but sets it aside almost immediately ]

Peter, what's wrong?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's quiet for a long moment, then-- ]

Lilith said our bond is turning you human. Is it true?

[phaselocknroll]

[ She stares at him for a moment, eyes searching his face. He wouldn't lie to her, she knows that. ]

I-- I honestly didn't know. [ she chews on her lower lip a moment, considering what that really means for her. ] But, it would make sense.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He searches her face, and-- he knows she doesn't lie. Jokes, sure, conceals, maybe, but she's telling the truth, at least, that she didn't know.

He scrubs his face with a hand. ]

Fuck, I-- I'm sorry. [ For what, he's not sure. Probably for taking away her invulnerability. For sapping away her strength. He doesn't know what he's sorry for, but god damn, is he sorry. ]

[phaselocknroll]

For what? Don't think this changes anything, Peter. It doesn't.

[nostalgiabomb]

You-- I don't know. You don't want to try to reverse it?

[phaselocknroll]

To what end? So I can be a little stronger? So I can walk on top of the snow? So I can watch you grow old and die?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ yeah, okay, that's shutting him up now. He bows his head, staring down at the bed. ]

[phaselocknroll]

I told you once that I needed you. That has never changed.

And now I need you more than ever. [ she clasps a hand around his wrist, trying to duck her head to catch his gaze ] Teach me how to be human, Peter.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs a laugh. ] Not much different than being who you already are, just add in a little more vulnerability.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She shakes her head ] There's a lot of stuff I don't understand.

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, I'm qualified to give you at least half an answer.

[phaselocknroll]

[ her expression saddens for a brief moment. Sometimes it's like beating her head against a wall with him. Even with their link, he doesn't seem to understand how much she truly appreciates him. How much she needs him, and god, she wishes there was a way to make him see himself like she sees him.

She decides that, for the moment, she'd rather not discuss any of this further. She holds up her free hand instead, still covered in bandages ]

Help me take these off?

[nostalgiabomb]

-- Yeah, sorry.

[ He takes her hand and carefully starts removing the bandage. ]

You in any pain at all, still?

[phaselocknroll]

Mostly stiff.

[ She's probably still demon enough that it only took her the one night to really heal. Her hands are fine, but she'll find she's got a long, thin scar left over on her back. ]

What about you? You weren't hurt, were you?

[nostalgiabomb]

No, I'm fine. [ He removes the bandages from her other hands. ] Thanks to you. You dealt it a pretty big blow.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She flexes her fingers a couple times before sliding a hand into one of his, tugging him down to sit next to her ]

If I recall, you did your fair share too.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ he sits beside her carefully, and-- yeah, he really needs the physical contact right now. He twines their fingers together gently. ]

Yeah. Team effort. I'd rather not face any other dragons, if it's all the same.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She leans her head on his shoulder, nodding slightly ]

You'll hear no arguments from me.

About what you said before.... about staying here. Would you want to? There seems to be plenty of jobs around. We could, I don't know, earn some coin, buy a house? Get a that dog you wanted.