MHA #8, Wednesday

[stykera]

Stark had gotten back to the island after yesterday's space emergency only somewhat worse for wear. He'd only gotten shot a little, as he kept telling people.

Once he was back in his apartment, arm still in its sling, he'd called and asked Travis to come over. Now he was just waiting.

Perhaps he should have mentioned that he'd been injured. Perhaps he should have mentioned that he'd run off to space yesterday. Choices had been made.


[The pretty firefighter is expected but could be open to others before his arrival!]

Comments

[stykera]

"What if I take something later?" Stark asked. He could compromise! "If I need it? Right now...yes. Please stay?"

He was tired and he moved a little closer to Travis. "If you don't mind? You don't have to."

[designateddadfriend]

"I'll bring something over," Travis said, then added a firm "later" so Stark didn't worry. "You're really okay? Because I gotta say, I don't know if I can take someone I care about going off on a job without me and dying again."

[stykera]

"I'm not dying," Stark assured him. "I'd know."

He sighed softly, moving to put his unbandaged arm over Travis's shoulders.

"I didn't mean to worry you. I'm sorry."

[designateddadfriend]

“Yeah, funny thing, bandages make me worry. Slings make me worry.”

Admittedly, he’d had no idea he needed to worry about anything while Stark was actually in space getting injured.

[stykera]

"I'm sorry," Stark said again. "I didn't mean to do it. Getting shot. Or worrying you."

"I'm not planning on doing it again?" Did that help?

"And it would have been worse without bandaging or the sling." That probably didn't help either.

[designateddadfriend]

“Yes. Obviously you’d be worse off without medical attention,” Travis said, shaking his head. “Let’s just. Try to relax. Maybe watch TV.”

[stykera]

"I won't do anything else to worry you today," Stark said softly. "Not if I can avoid it."

"TV is good. Are you hungry? There's food. I could get something."

He'd messed up, obviously, so he needed to do something to fix it.

[designateddadfriend]

"Nope!" Travis said firmly. "You are staying right here. You can go back to doing things tomorrow. Today, you're resting."

[stykera]

Stark opened his mouth to protest because he was fine and he'd only been shot a little and it only hurt if he moved, really, but decided against it.

"I do better when I have things to do," he said quietly. Otherwise he thought too much. "I'll try and rest."

Look, see, he was going to just sit very still now. Very, very still. Right after he scooted just a little closer to Travis.

[designateddadfriend]

"Oh my god, you're hopeless," Travis said. As though Grant hadn't had to basically sit on him after he had heart surgery. "C'mere." He tugged on Stark's shoulder, trying to steer him down to lie with his head on Travis's lap.

[stykera]

"Only sometimes," Stark protested weakly. Maybe more than sometimes.

"I'll be fine." Maybe hopelessly stubborn?

But he was going to slide down and very gingerly put his head down.

[designateddadfriend]

"I know. Because right now you're going to relax," Travis told him.

Stark didn't have a lot of hair to speak of, so he traced his fingertips gently along the edges of the straps and mask instead.

[stykera]

Stark kept his hair very close to his scalp on purpose. It was easier that way. Maybe someday he'd grow it out a bit again. For now, he relaxed a little more at the touch.

"I'm relaxing," he agreed. "See?"

Of course, laying the way he was mostly only the mask was visible. Maybe he needed to turn so he was more on his back than his side.

[designateddadfriend]

Travis wouldn't object. And it'd make it a little easier for him to lean down and kiss him if he wanted to!

"I see," he promised, with a little smile. "Thank you."

[stykera]

"You're welcome," Stark said softly before shifting position so he could look up at Travis. Having one eye was inconvenient at times.

"Thank you," he added, just as quietly before giving a tentative smile.

[designateddadfriend]

"Any time," Travis said, smiling back down at him.

And yes, leaning down for that kiss.

[stykera]

Stark listed his head up to meet him for that, grinning a little once he laid it back down.

"Does that still count as resting?"

[designateddadfriend]

"As long as you still let me do most of the work," Travis said, smiling down at him, "absolutely."

[stykera]

"I'll do my best," Stark said very seriously. "Resting is important, after all. Isn't it?"

[designateddadfriend]

"Very important," Travis agreed, tracing the lines of the mask again. "Especially after an injury. Even if you're just fine."

[stykera]

Stark closed his eye at the touch, still smiling faintly.

"I've been hurt worse." Probably not the best thing to say. "Didn't always have anyone to make sure I rested."

[designateddadfriend]

“That just means you have to rest up even more now that you do,” Travis decided.

[stykera]

"I'll do my best."

He opened his eye just a crack.

"Since I have someone to help me... rest."