Outside MHA #4, Saturday Afternoon

[stykera]

Stark had been freed from the House by Travis.

Once he'd managed to leave that area, reasonably assured that he was actually outside and this wasn't just another trick, he'd headed home. Except not quite home. He stopped one floor lower than his apartment and pounded (albeit weakly) on Summer's door.

When she didn't answer he'd slid to the floor and leaned against the door frame. He couldn't call her or text. His phone was very dead.

He ought to go upstairs and change his clothes and bathe and charge his phone but he found himself unable to muster the energy to do any of that. He was just going to wait here for her. That seemed best. He would wait here and she would come home and he could be assured that she was all right. Then maybe he'd make his way back upstairs. Once he was sure.

For now there was a very exhausted alien slumped against Summer's doorframe. Waiting.

[I know it's a shock but expecting the ginger who lives in that apartment!]

Comments

[somethingwithturquoise]

"I got hurt," Summer insisted, unlocking the door and gently leading Stark inside, "because I was an idiot, not because of you, Stark."

Like, ego much? God.

"But what about you?" she asked, and, now inside, she turned to face him again. "You said you were trapped in a house? Are you okay?"

[stykera]

"You're not an idiot," Stark said quickly. "You're....you're you."

She was wonderful and she was brave and she was hurt.

"I'm...I don't know. I might be? I will be. I think. It was...none of it was real but it all felt real and I thought you were there but I couldn't get to you and I tried..."

[somethingwithturquoise]

"So," said Summer, after a moment to just take all of that into consideration with a nod, "probably not much physical damage, but psychologically? Ooof. Do you need anything? A drink? Some booze? Are you hungry? Was the food real in that house?"

[stykera]

"Food cubes," Stark said dismissively. "I wasn't starving. You're hurt. We should take care of you."

Then he could make sure she was fine.

"I just need...I don't know what I need. I just...I came here to find you. I needed that. Needed you. You're helping already. Just being here. I thought you were lost in there and I thought I was lost in there and I thought...I thought I might never find you again..."

And then he could never voice what he needed to.

"I...right now I think...something clean to wear. That would be good. For both of us?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

Summer nodded, giving Stark a small smile.

"If we're going to get clean clothes," she said, "we should probably be clean, too. I know I definitely need a shower before I can properly process."

[stykera]

"Clean sounds good," Stark said softly. He wasn't taking his eye off of her and he hadn't let go of her hand yet. "That's a good idea."

"But I don't have clothes here. I...do you want me to go upstairs?"

He still didn't want to go anywhere. He wanted to stay right where he was.

[somethingwithturquoise]

"If you want to," said Summer, "but I do have those nice fluffy robes, too, remember? We can save cloths clothes for tomorrow."

[stykera]

"I want to stay here. The robes sound wonderful." Curling up with Summer in fluffy robes sounded like the furthest thing from the past few days.

"I...I missed you. I know it wasn't that many days but I did and I...I'm just glad you're here."

He reached up with his free hand to touch her cheek. "I'm glad I'm here."

[somethingwithturquoise]

"I'm glad you're here, too," Summer said. Which should have been a given, since she'd practically draaagged him in and all, but she had the feeling he needed to hear it now more than usual, even. She let his hand linger for moment with a soft smile. She took his other one in both hands now and started backing up toward the bathroom. "Come on. First things first. Clean up time."

[stykera]

"Of course," Stark said, letting his hand fall gently.

"We'll make sure you're not badly injured. And clean everything. And then robes. And then..."

Then he wanted to talk. Or just cling. Or talk and cling.

[somethingwithturquoise]

"And then..." said Summer, letting go of Stark's hand so she could get the shower running, "we'll see. First things first, one thing at a time."

[stykera]

It was a very much needed shower for both of them. Not just for the usual reasons. It had gone differently than many other shared showers. Much gentler. Much quieter.

Once they were clean and bundled in their fluffy robes on the couch Stark was feeling almost relaxed for the first time in days.

"Much better," he said, not for the first time. "This is so much better. Nothing hurts too much?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

"I've had worse," Summer answered, her grin maybe just a bit cocky, as she settled back comfortably into the corner of the couch, and after looking at Stark again for a moment, she opened her arms to invite him in closer.

"Do you want to talk?" she asked. "Or just forget about it for a while?"

[stykera]

Stark didn't need a second invitation and was pressed against Summer's side with an arm behind her almost immediately.

"There are things I want to say," he told her softly. "But I don't know if I ought to."

[somethingwithturquoise]

And almost just as automatically, Summer's hand was resting on the top of his head.

"Like what?" she asked.

[stykera]

"It can wait," Stark said. "For now. Right now can we just...stay here? Like this? Please?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

"Whatever you need, Stark," Summer assured him, fingers now lightly rubbing the top of his head, hopefully soothingly. "But don't be mad if I eventually just pass out, okay?"

[stykera]

"I would never," Stark said, eye already closing halfway in response to that touch. "You can sleep. You need it."

So did he. He just hoped he wouldn't wake up screaming.