pain_train | SANCTUM INBOX

He'd had to return to work after he'd met with South, though it had been sobering, the way she had gone away so upset. He sent Wrath a message, simply noting what time he'd be home and that he'd tell her what happened later, and went about his day. Coming home will be the time when he gets to unburden himself from the outcome of that conversation and he's grateful when that time comes, pulling up to the house.

She had to hope that the brevity of the note meant things hadn't gone to maximum shittiness, but there was really no way of telling. Wrath's a little bit nervous while she waits for him; she did actually get there a few minutes early this time, but had elected to sit outside the house and just watch the relatively sparse street traffic. It wasn't that cold.

Though she finds herself regretting that decision when North arrives and she discovers just how stiff she's gotten in a few minutes. Wrath does her best to pretend that it's nothing at all, she's just taking her time to stand back up.

Okay, she really will call and get an appointment with a physical therapist the next day. North did manage to scare her a little.

But she's at least on her feet by the time North gets to her, and she still smiles at him. "Hey, you."

He reaches her side and puts a hand on her hip, a bit of concern showing in his eyes. "Hey," he says. "You all right?"

"Yeah, I'm good." Damn. He doesn't need to be worrying about her right now. Wrath covers his hand with hers and smiles at him. "Just tired. There were a lot of new people around today and I wanted to do something."

She rubs his hand. "How are you doing, North?"

"I'm all right." For certain values of 'all right'. "We can go in and talk about it. You think you can handle the stairs? I'd like to avoid being interrupted."

Wrath reaches up to touch his cheek, then her smile goes wry. "Think so. Just don't make me run up and down them a lot." And she'll need to take her time going up, but it'll work out okay.

"Okay." He bends to give her a kiss. "Take your time, don't rush it." After that he turns to let them both in and lets her ahead of him so she can lead the way upstairs.

Going up the stairs first has the unfortunate consequence of making her incredibly self conscious of just how slow she's moving, and means she does push it as much as she can, leaning heavily on the railing. Thankfully, is only one floor even if it feels like the stairs will never end.

She knows which room is his and heads that way, but stops before she goes in and reaches out to trig on the hem of his jacket. "I've got an idea. How about I wash your feet and give you that foot rub I owe you, too. I bet you could use it." And he could talk then, or later, it was really up to him.

"You'd have to kneel on the floor to do that," he says. "You don't want to do that. You can rub them, that's no problem, since I can just put my foot in your lap. Do you want me to wash my feet before you rub them? I can do that."

Wrath considers the mechanics of this and has to admit he has a point. "Dammit," she mutters. It's frustrating. And embarrassing. She suddenly finds the fabric of his jacket very, very interesting and contemplates that until she's got her desire to scream about just one more fucking thing not being fair under control.

Then she looks up and gives him a smile, lightly poking him in the stomach. "Yeah, go do that. I know what my feet smell like after a day in combat boots. I refuse too believe yours are any nicer."

He gives her the time to press through it, beginning to recognize the way she reacts when she's getting upset about this particular topic and how she needs to take a moment to compose herself. He's glad his presence is helpful to her when those times come.

"I will, then," he says, smiling. "You go settle in, I'll be right there."

When he's done he comes in the bedroom carrying his BDU pants and his boot and socks, remaining in his boxers and his jacket. He sets them aside and comes to sit on the bed beside her. "There, now I'm fresh as a rose," he teases with a smile.

Wrath is obliquely grateful she can get herself comfortable on the bed without being watched. She steals the pillow that she's pretty sure is North's and puts that between her back and the wall. She slowly stretches her legs out as well, which doesn't feel horrible at least.

She grins at North when he comes in. "Wow already without pants." Which is fine by her, she's definitely eyeing him. Funny to think that she hasn't seen him wandering around in his boxers before, not in reality. She could get used to this. "Feeling a little thorny, Mr. Rose?"

Come on, North, it's right there.
You can't expect her to ignore that kind of setup. She's only human, and incredibly dorky at that.

Wrath catches the front of his jacket and tugs him over for a kiss, starting to unfasten the jacket as she does. Might as well get the top to match the bottom, right?

He can't help but relax around her, especially when she's teasing him, and he grins and scoots closer along the edge of the bed, responding to her tugging. "I don't know, Ms. Honeybee," he teases back. "I'm just a fan of efficiency." He shrugs the jacket off when she starts to push it away and returns the kiss sweetly. He doesn't always want to shed the trappings of the day as quickly as today but sometimes being in a uniform all day long gets to be kind of oppressive upon returning home.

Wrath laughs, her hands coming to rest on his shirt as she enjoys that kiss. "Efficiency, huh? You should work on your flattery or I might sting you." She nips lightly at his lips and then kisses him again.

Is so good, just being here with him. She can forget all the bad stuff, the dark thoughts, and think that maybe everything will be all right.

He chuckles and presses his chest against her hands. "I love the way you touch me," he says. He presses a light kiss to her cheek. "How's that?"

Okay, that makes her blush, somehow, and also catch her breath. She smooths her palms up to his shoulders and back down (acres and acres and he's all mine...) feeling the warmth of him, the solidity of muscle and bone underneath that shirt.

"Really nice," she murmurs. Wait, is he talking about the compliment, or how he feels? Does it matter? She's a little too distracted to decide.

"Mm, good." He sighs and puts his arms around her for one good proper hug before sitting straighter. "So you want to rub my feet for me, huh." Unfortunately that means pulling away, and unless she insists he's really not inclined to do it.

Even better. She slides one arm around him, her other hand still slowly smoothing over his chest, and sighs. "They're not going to disappear," she murmurs, missing at his jaw line, finding the soft spot where it met his neck to kiss.

He'd originally thought talking would come first and maybe some physical comfort would come afterward, but there definitely seems to be a precedent that had been set during the dream—they really do have trouble keeping their hands off of each other. He scoots the last little bit he needs to press his leg up against hers and draws his other arm around her. "Tell me if I squeeze you too tight or anything, okay?" he mutters, tilting his head back slightly to give her better access to his neck.

Wrath smiles against his neck. "What, you don't want bragging rights? I'm so much man I accidentally killed my girlfriend in bed?" She kisses his neck. "Promise I will." He was already so painfully aware of how fucked up she was, she kind of doubted it would be a problem.

She likes his neck, she decides. Every part of him really, but his neck is what she's currently covering with kisses. She pauses to suck lightly just under his ear.

"Mm, that would make for an interesting story, wouldn't it?" He runs his hands down her shoulders to her shoulder blades. "I like happy endings better, though." He turns his head just enough to kiss her temple.

"Seem to remember I owe you one of those too." She moves her shoulders under his hands and sighs against his neck. "Fuck, Andrew, I love your hands." She loved drawing them, likes being touched by then more. There's something excitative about them, the strength, the odd calluses, like he's touching her with his entire life story, unspoken but present.

She finds his shoulder, nosing down into his collar as far as she can to drag her teeth over his skin. She smooths her hand down his back, fingers counting along his vertebrae.

Edited 2014-12-23 04:10 (UTC)

He wishes he could feel that all the way down the length of his spine without it being interrupted by the ports. He chuckles at her words, remembering the bet they'd made. He didn't mind if she wanted to offer that—as long as crouching on the bed wouldn't hurt her back.

"I guess they're one of my best features," he says when she writhes against him. He smooths his hands up and down her shoulders again. "I like yours too, by the way. I like when you put them on my face."

Wrath laughs against his shoulder and gives it one final kiss before lifting her head. She bumps her nose lightly against his, one hand coming up to smooth over his cheek. "That's because I really love your stupid face," she whispers, like it's some kind of secret.

"I know," he whispers back. "I like your pretty one." And now that she's done lavishing kisses over his neck and collarbone he can press a long one to her mouth.

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