When the stars threw down their spears

[cutting_edgex23]

Norman agrees to take X, Elle, and Bruce up to the mountains, though he does sniff disdainfully when Thor decides to fly himself.

The trip itself is cold and breezy, because it is made in dragon claws, and they do not offer all that much protection against the elements. Still, it is not raining. That would make this even more difficult than it will be already.

Norman -- in consultation with the others -- eventually sets them down on a flattish outcropping of stones, then takes himself and Bruce to perch on a separate, nearby rock.

It gives them the best view.

X, in the meantime, gives Elle a small bottle of trigger scent, then goes to stand by Thor and wait.

She is tense as piano wire.

The scent of fear is heavy in the air.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says, swallowing hard.

She's got one word back. And Elle's name.

It is a start.

And in order to keep moving --

X matches her breathing to Elle's. Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Eventually she is able to sheathe the claws on her feet.

Then in her hands.

Only then does she collapse backwards, drawing her legs up to protect her ribcage, cheek pressing down hard on her upraised knees.

Her eyes are still red. But it is fading.

Slowly.

This, too, counts as a victory. Even if it does not feel like one.

[ellectrical]

Elle lifts her hands, though she keeps them raised, as though pressed against a wall. She stays on the ground at X's level, though she does shift her weight to her feet, so she can rise easily when she's ready.

Watching her eyes, "It's getting better.

"Will it help if I'm closer?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not know, not really. Not for sure.

But --

"Yes."

Another word. That is good. And --

"If -- please."

Silence. Stillness.

A breath.

"I will be careful."

[ellectrical]

She nods, and stands in place. Her eyes only leave X to glance once over to Thor, before she begins to walk carefully across the rock.

Her hands are still held out in front of her, a bit like she's feeling her way through the dark. It'll be enough to repel an initial attack, if it's needed.

[cutting_edgex23]

X stays very still, arms wrapped around her knees.

Her breathing is still synched to Elle's.

It --

Helps.

[mjolnir_retriever]

The details of all of this are unfamiliar, but the general feeling (for Thor's part) is not: it's like being the senior warrior in a training session with just the right level of younger warrior. Advanced enough to be allowed to test themselves by letting loose; inexperienced enough to need a referee ready to break them apart, and healing stones at the ready.

Or, in another way, like mediating some touchy bit of diplomacy between third parties. You let them come near the edge, but you stay poised to make sure no one steps over it.

(Both Asgardian diplomacy and Asgardian warrior training can be pretty hands-on.)

He inclines his head slightly to Elle in return -- go on, I'm here and watching -- and waits.

[ellectrical]

Elle keeps walking until she's about a foot away from X, then drops down again, resting her left knee to the ground, her hands still held out.

"See," she says. "I'm here."

Then, though still steady, her voice drops to a whisper.

"I'm not scared of you."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I am," X says haltingly.

The longer Elle stays in proximity, the looser the curl of X's arms around herself becomes.

"But I am trying not to be."

She takes another careful breath, clenching her eyes shut for a long, long moment.






When she opens them again, they're green.

And they are only a little damp.

It will pass.

[ellectrical]

Elle doesn't answer.

But instead, she finally lowers her hands, and holds them out toward X.

[cutting_edgex23]

X slowly finishes unwinding her arms from around her upraised legs, leaning forward just enough to take Elle's hands in hers.

Carefully.

She does not let go.

[mjolnir_retriever]

Good.

He never doubted. But still -- good.

(Already, she shook it off quicker.)

[master_bruce]

Bruce can't stand still any longer. If Elle is going to her, then she must be over the worst. And even from here, he can see that the red is gone from her eyes.

He walks slowly, ready to back off if any of them tell him to. But he can't stand there and feel like it's not safe to go near her. She's still X, no matter what.

He comes to stand beside Elle, hands loose at his sides. He doesn't say anything. He's not going to push into her space. She'll come to him if she wants to; in the meantime, he just wants her to know he's there.

[ellectrical]

If Elle knows he's there, she doesn't show any sign of having noticed him.

She presses her hands back against X's. Just in case, she murmurs, "It's okay now."

[cutting_edgex23]

X holds on tight to Elle's hands, unmoving for a few long seconds.

Then --

"I know."

She is starting to believe it, too. Slowly.

Her gaze flicks up to Bruce, then, and holds.

Words are difficult, especially now. But maybe she does not need to use any.

It is a different kind of relief.

[master_bruce]

She doesn't need to use any.

Bruce lets out a sound that is almost a sigh, more like a choke. He drops to his knees on the ground, and wraps his arms around her.

It's easier than talking, anyway.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I know," X repeats, more quietly than before.

Still holding tight to Elle's hands, she leans heavily against Bruce.

It feels easier to breathe now.

Even if she still never wants to do this again.

(But she will. Because it is necessary.)

"I will not forget."

And the memory of all of this will make it easier still, next time.

She hopes.

[mjolnir_retriever]

He would offer X what comfort he could, if she needed it -- his fist against her bicep or his arm around her shoulders, words or silence.

But she doesn't. She has Elle and Bruce both, right now. They don't need him joining in, and they don't need him standing over them.

He turns a little away instead, to pay attention to Norman. The dragon is left out of this moment too, although he doesn't seem to mind it any more than Thor does. At any rate, it's only polite that they occupy each other, both for courtesy to each other and so that X and the others don't need to feel self-conscious about taking all the time they need.

Besides, he's genuinely curious. They didn't get a lot of time to talk before, and Norman is different than the other creatures termed dragons that Thor knows. And he's X's friend too.

[master_bruce]

Bruce presses a kiss to the top of her head, and shuts his eyes. Her words let the relief come, and he sags into her just as strongly as she leans into him.

She won't forget. He believes her.

It'll be OK.

[ellectrical]

Elle looks away.

It's the only selfish motion she's allowed herself since they began.

And though she doesn't show it, not in her face or the pressure of her hands, she's starting to wish X would just let go of her.

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not flinch, just lets her own eyes slide shut again.

Some things are easier that way.

Eventually, however, she lets go of one of Elle's hands. X drops her own newly-freed hand against the ground and uses it to start levering herself to her feet.

Slowly. Carefully. Attempting to take both Bruce and Elle with her, if they are willing, not least because she is slightly concerned about falling down, otherwise. Every one of her muscles aches with exhaustion, even though none of them should.

It is -- strange.

The scar on the palm of her left hand is burning.

"We can -- go? Now."

X cannot make herself say 'please'. Not this time.

[master_bruce]

'Yes.'

God, yes.

He supports her all the way up, and tries not to dwell on how wrong it is to see her in this state.

'Can you walk?'

[ellectrical]

She moves with X, but doesn't say anything.

Her eyes stay down, though now it's because she's watching how steady the other woman's footing is on the ground.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says promptly, her own gaze dropping for a moment, as if to give herself time to gather up her strength.

(Not that she has ever really let it go. She can't. It is not safe.)

"I can. I -- "

She raises her head a little to look at Thor and Norman, though she makes no move to break contact with either Elle or Bruce.

Not until they are safely away. If then.

"I will be okay."

This is, in its own way, another kind of promise. But her steps remain mostly unwavering as they make their way to the dragon and Thor, and home.

"Thank you."