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]

"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.