cutting_edgex23 | (no subject)

(no subject)

X, after a long Security shift, has finally settled at a booth near the back of the bar.

She's got sandwiches in front of her, several glasses of milk, and --

Is that a beer?

(Maybe.)

Possibly she's waiting for someone.

Go figure.

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This is a kind of sharing he is never going to object to.

As long as it's with her, anyway.

'...this isn't conducive to making me want to sleep, you know.'

Then again, warm water. Fresh sheets.

Difficult.

"Wait fifteen minutes," X says, very seriously.

"Or maybe twenty."

None of this has to take long.

"Or a half hour."

'I can try.'

He thinks he'll probably manage.

Somehow.

"Good."

She is not smug.

At all.

Bruce is as sensible as everyone else when it comes to instructions from X - he does what he's told.

And it's not so difficult when it's in a situation like this.

But if she wants him to stay awake, she'd better be promising to wash his back.

X will trade washing his back -- and his hair -- for him managing to support his own weight until she is done.

She is generous in this fashion.

Her faith in him is a beauteous and wonderful thing. Possibly it is the only reason he (rather admirably) manages to support his own weight for the entire time.

He might lean on her once or twice, it's true, but that's more because he likes touching her than out of any need for help to stand.

X believes his non-verbal protests utterly.

Really.

And she only offers her arm as support when he steps out of the tub because she is polite.

(And concussions in the bathroom still are not the most fun.)

The fact that she then nudges him to lean against the sink while she towel-dries his hair is another entirely practical and no-nonsense choice.

Shh.

And his grin as she dries his hair is also entirely practical and no-nonsense.

...oh wait, no. The other thing.

'I'll get better at this,' he murmurs, eventually.

'Staying awake.'

Adjusting to night hours when he's expected to be around in the day as well just takes a little while, that's all. He hopes.

X finishes drying his hair and starts on her own.

(She's keeping an eye on him, regardless. But wet pillows are no one's friend.)

"Practice helps. Sometimes."

Or so all the evidence that she has been able to collect suggests.

"And when it is not enough, you will come here. Or to Milliways. To sleep. It is more sensible than death.""

Beat.

"Or severe maiming."

Another pause.

"Or having your identity discovered."

Edited 2014-08-24 21:17 (UTC)

'...is it wrong that I can't decide which of those three would be worse?'

He takes the towel off her, and starts to return the favour on her hair.

He hasn't done this before.

It's nice.

X considers that question while Bruce and the towel do their work.

(It is nice.)

"I do not think it is wrong."

She would shrug, but that does not seem important right now.

"That is why you will sleep. And eat."

A pause.

"Even if you are somewhere Alfred cannot remind you. Or me."

He chuckles quietly, lets the towel drop around her shoulders and tugs gently on the ends to pull her in for a quick kiss.

'I'll try. I promise.'

"Good."

She kisses him back, very carefully.

And then, because it is only fair (and important) --

"I promise, too."

Edited 2014-08-24 21:39 (UTC)

'You'd better. If I have to look after myself, so do you.'

It doesn't matter that she heals. Better for her not to be hurt in the first place.

'And hey. That means not letting people like Noriko get to you too, OK? If you can.'

"I will try."

This, too, is a promise.

"But it has not -- had not -- happened like this. Before."

Beat.

"It will be easier. Next time. To remember how to think about it."

She hopes, anyway.

If there has to be a next time.

'Yeah.'

He pulls a rueful face.

'Lets hope there isn't a next time. That'd be the best result.'

This time X does shrug.

"Things happen. I know."

She takes his hand, then, twining her fingers with his before heading to the bedroom.

"I will be okay."

'Yeah.'

He would rather she weren't in situations where her OK-ness is put in doubt - but that's just not the life either of them lead.

'Me too.'

Bedroom. Good. This is good.

"I know."

She nudges him hard enough that he shouldn't feel too shamed at falling onto the bed.

If she chooses to.

X will, of course, follow him down.

She's tired, too.

(Maybe.)

He wouldn't feel shamed if she forced him down with all her strength. It's still nice to have someone care enough to do it. Even after all this time.

He manages to get the covers over himself, and is almost instantly drifting away.

But he still manages to try and pull her close. There's always enough time for that.

X does not really need to be pulled.

And even if she doesn't manage to stay asleep long, it isn't like she will be going anywhere.

This kind of quiet -- and this kind of closeness -- might be her favorite kind.

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