[ he laughs a little. ]
I would name it something ridiculous, you know.
... I might've yelled at Lilith, though. Think she might be pissed at me.
I would name it something ridiculous, you know.
... I might've yelled at Lilith, though. Think she might be pissed at me.
[ He stands then, but doesn't let go of her hand. He holds the other out to her to help her up. ]
Yeah, of course. Lemme give you a hand.
Yeah, of course. Lemme give you a hand.
[ He frowns, then nods, because-- that's a weird question. What a weird question, Maya. ]
Yeah. It was the only spare fabric we had on hand.
Yeah. It was the only spare fabric we had on hand.
[ He presses a quick kiss to her forehead. ]
Hey, 'bout time I returned the favor, right? 'Sides. You would've done the same for me.
Hey, 'bout time I returned the favor, right? 'Sides. You would've done the same for me.
[ He returns the smile easily enough. ]
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, absolutely.
[ Okaayyyy, guess whose mind is coming to a screeching halt? ]
Um--
[ because did she just ask what he thinks she asked he's pretty sure she did but okay well maybe he really should actually keep an eye on her because she's still healing and what if she needs a hand?
-- Yeah. Yeah, that's legitimate. ]
If you think you'll need the company, sure.
[ Ignore the way his voice sort of catches nervously, but yeah. Yeah he's totally on board with this. ]
Um--
[ because did she just ask what he thinks she asked he's pretty sure she did but okay well maybe he really should actually keep an eye on her because she's still healing and what if she needs a hand?
-- Yeah. Yeah, that's legitimate. ]
If you think you'll need the company, sure.
[ Ignore the way his voice sort of catches nervously, but yeah. Yeah he's totally on board with this. ]
[ Well, the distraction works -- if momentarily. The sort of awkward way she calls him over, though, gives him pause. ]
Everything alright?
Everything alright?
[ He takes a breath, and glances at the bandages (they're pretty much soaked red, and he wonders if they should have changed it all during the night?). He nods as he moves closer, workings to loosen and untie the bandages. ]
This'll just take a second.
This'll just take a second.
Hey, it's fine.
[ His stomach sinks at the sight of the scar, and he stops himself just short of touching it.
He swallows and forces himself to move again, peeling away the bandages. ]
Pretty sure this dress is a lost cause.
[ His stomach sinks at the sight of the scar, and he stops himself just short of touching it.
He swallows and forces himself to move again, peeling away the bandages. ]
Pretty sure this dress is a lost cause.
[ He casts aside the rest of the bandages (and he's pretty sure he's going to ask someone to burn them) before clearing his throat a little. ]
Yeah? Well, that makes two of us. [ -- Lame joke, sure, but he's trying. ]
Yeah? Well, that makes two of us. [ -- Lame joke, sure, but he's trying. ]
[ He tries for a smile. ]
Pretty sure I don't have your figure for it, but thanks for the compliment.
[ -- and he does, too, but there's still dried blood on her skin, and it reminds him of the way his hands were slick with it, how it soaked his sleeves as he held her as she fell silent and no, please, you said you wouldn't leave--
He clears his throat again. ]
Go on, get yourself cleaned up. Then we can worry about getting you something pretty.
Pretty sure I don't have your figure for it, but thanks for the compliment.
[ -- and he does, too, but there's still dried blood on her skin, and it reminds him of the way his hands were slick with it, how it soaked his sleeves as he held her as she fell silent and no, please, you said you wouldn't leave--
He clears his throat again. ]
Go on, get yourself cleaned up. Then we can worry about getting you something pretty.
Hey, don't worry about it. Take your time, alright? I've got all the time in the world.
[ -- Shit, there's no mistaking that feeling -- after all, he's spent the entire night feeling that way -- and he could deflect. He could say, "That's my line, isn't it?" But instead he nods. ]
Yeah, I'll be fine.
[ He leans forward to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. ]
Go on. Pretty sure you're long overdue some time to yourself.
Yeah, I'll be fine.
[ He leans forward to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. ]
Go on. Pretty sure you're long overdue some time to yourself.
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Page 81 of 98