pain_train | SANCTUM INBOX

Wrath wraps her arm around his shoulders and rests her chin lightly against his hair. She strokes his shoulder slowly. "I'm sorry this happened," she murmurs. "But I'm glad you're taking care of yourself." And not letting her just manipulate you in to giving her what she wants, even if it tears you apart. She's starting to get the impression that kind of shit happened a lot. "And you're being as kind as you can be. I'm proud of you for that, too."

A hell of a lot kinder than Wrath could manage, that's for sure.

Edited (HTML WHY) 2014-12-27 00:41 (UTC)

He lets out a little hum and sighs again. That's all the more response he's going to give for now, snuggling up a bit closer and closing his eyes.

He doesn't have to keep talking if he doesn't want to. Wrath doesn't really have anything else to offer in the way of words, though, let alone words of wisdom. She's not that smart, and doesn't know what she could say to make him feel better. Hopefully this will help, though. She simply cuddles him a little bit closer, leg curling more against his, hand stroking his back, and nuzzles his hair.

This is how he can relax and he dozes a while before coming to again. "Mn," he mutters, then pulls back carefully. "I suppose we ought to track down some supper."

Wrath hadn't actually fallen asleep; she wasn't really tired. But she'd been happy to hold on to him and just listen to him breathe while he mind wandered. It as a new sort of experience for her, and she'd enjoyed it. "Are you hungry?" She flashes a brief grin with him. "I still want food less than I want to not put on pants, but if you're hungry I can deal with it."

"Ehh...not really." He smiles slightly and tucks his head back under her chin. "This is better. I'm just concerned about Theta coming home and wanting some dinner."

She combs her fingers lightly through his hair and kisses the top of his head. "Is there a time he normally gets home? Am I... am I being in the way again?" She doesn't want to get him in trouble with Theta again. Theta deserves better than to lose out just because she's greedy.

But she's not inclined to let him go, as of yet.

"Yeah, he keeps a pretty regular schedule—for the dog, you know." Which meant he'd be rolling in at about any time.

That still doesn't mean he's all that inclined to move either.

That... didn't really answer her question. Should she ask again? Maybe she just needs to be clearer. Wrath continues to stroke his hair. "Do you need me to get out of here before he gets home?" She likes Theta; he's really nice. She doesn't want to upset him or make him feel that she's... monopolizing North or osmething.

"You don't feel like he wants to avoid you, do you?" he asks with a little frown. He knows that Theta has wanted more of his time but Theta also understands they're seriously in a relationship and that couples spend time together.

"No. I... don't think so?" She hasn't gotten that impression. But she still also doesn't feel like she knows Theta that well, other than that he's really nice. "Do you think he does?" Oh shit. Or no, that's not what he was asking, was it? She might have just confused herself.

Okay, retreat back to facts. Facts are easy. "I'd rather stay with you. I always want to. But I know it was a problem, how much of your time I took up and I just worry." I know I don't deserve it because I'm nothing. You still have the mission and so does Theta. She moves her hand to stroke his cheek. "I just want to be sure I'm not causing you trouble, North. That's all. You're so important to me."

"It should be okay. I'll be sure to make sure it doesn't happen too often for him. We can balance our time to include him." He tilts his head slightly, partly to brush his cheek a little firmly against his hand and partially to give her a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, really. You're important to me, too."

"I wouldn't mind spending more time with him," Wrath offers. "If that would help. I'd actually really like it. He's so nice." And she is happy to have more friends. Theta is important to North, so that makes him really important to her too.

She strokes his cheekbone with her thumb and gives him a smile that's only a little uncertain. "I know. But you both have important things to do. I just... don't want to be a burden. I'm not that important."

It's not something she even intends to say; the words just come out automatically. And she realizes that it's wrong the moment she says it, but it's always there, in her head, even if it's getting slowly worn down by positive input from North and others, and distance from compliance.

The expression in his eyes becomes more serious. "You are. To me and to so many other people. You underestimate the influence you've had on people. And you know you're important to me, just as important as I am to you."

"I know," she says quietly. "I'm sorry. It's just... words I can't forget." Even when she tries. She kisses him lightly on the forehead. "You're so important to me."

"Yeah," he says, blowing out a sigh. "It goes both ways, so don't forget." And with that he pats her on the side. "And we really do need to get up."

She looks into his eyes when he says that, not because she doesn't believe him, but because she wants to cement this in her mind somehow, to fight against that constant counterpoint of 'you are not important.' "I'll try not to."

Wrath nods. "Okay. Do you want me to go home now, or can I stay a bit longer?" She smooths her hand over his shoulder. "I'd kind of like to catch a quick shower maybe." Hot water or sonics, either might help her back relax a little.

"You can definitely stay." He rolls back and sits up, stretching his shoulders a bit. "You need help getting up?"

"Yeah, I do," she says. Well, not a surprise, right?

"Hey, if I can stay for dinner, I'll do the dishes." She's a soldier. She's good at cleaning things.

"No," he says. "I forbid it." He stands and turns to wrap an arm around her and carefully pull her upright. "You don't realize how hard standing is on your back, not to mention working like that lifting things. I think doing dishes is more demanding than you think."

Wrath looks taken aback until North explains, and then she just looks down. She rests her hand on his hip, thumb stroking his skin.

One more fucking thing.

"Yeah," she says. "I guess... just tell me if I can do anything to help, then?"

"Think you can sit at the counter and peel potatoes?" he asks. "That would be helpful. Cuts down on preparation time if everyone does something like that." He makes sure she's standing steadily before turning to grab his robe off the closet door. "You can grab your shower real quick and then we'll head down."

It's something, and it's not bullshit busy work. It's something that needs to be done. She nods. "I can definitely do that. I'm good with knives."

She can't help the silly smile when she takes North's robe. It's enormous on her, and soft, and smells like him. It's a comforting thing, a little like a hug.

"Aye, sir," she says teasingly, throwing in a salute, and then limps to the bathroom. A hot shower feels pretty damn good and does get her back to relax a little, though she tries to not linger too much.

Damp hair loosely braided to keep it out of the way, she heads back to North's room to get dressed.

In the meantime he's gotten dressed and is on his glasses, cruising the network. When he hears her moving around in the hallway he stands to come to the door and open it to let her in. "Hey," he says, as though they'd been separated for more than a few minutes, and gives her a kiss before letting her in.

"Hey you." She slides her hands around his waist for a brief hug, smiling up at him. "Hope you didn't miss me too much."

Yes, she's just teasing.

It takes her longer than she likes to get dressed since she's so stiff, though not as bad as she was.

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action

Day 166 | Evening | Action