meadowlarklogs | intervention (closed)

No, I guess it isn't, but I'm still checking your eyes. Look up at the light?

[ Yeah, she's got a concussion. Wash gently touches her head, searching for the lump, and will find one directly on the back -- pulling her hair back earlier had hidden it. ]

Carolina. You can't go to sleep like this.

[ carolina lets him check her eyes, then feel around for that sensitive spot at the back of her head, complacent with letting him identify the issue, at least. ]

I'll be okay. [ she raises a hand, wrapping it lightly around wash's wrist, thumb brushing over his pulse on the inside of it. ] I've had a lot worse.

[ that's reassuring, right? ]

That doesn't mean you should sleep like this.

[ He settles his hand on her head over the lump, fingertips brushing her scalp to engage the bond; he feels worried again, maybe a little frustrated, but not angry, if that makes her feel better. He just wants her to be okay -- and the glow starts again. A little weaker than before like he's running out of power maybe, but the throbbing in Carolina's head eases and the little scrape beneath his hand knits itself back together. She's not 100% but it should be safe for her to sleep now. ]

I hope you guys don't make me use this all the time, but I'm glad to have it right now. How does that feel?

[ worried and frustrated, carolina expects, distinctly understanding of those emotions coming off of him. she knows when she deserves that.

her eyes close as she feels that same soothing relief that had gotten rid of so much of the bruising on her chest. it's still an odd sensation, but it helps and carolina catches wash's hand to kiss his palm in a fit of grateful affection as an answer to how she feels. the fuzziness feels more like exhaustion now and even if she's undoubtedly going to still be feeling it in the morning, this is worlds better than she was when she got home. ]

Just don't push yourself too much. You'll wear yourself out and we'll both be struggling if things go bad.

Uh huh. I'll recharge, it was worth you not going into a coma.

[ He climbs into bed, poised to take the outside instead of the wall tonight so Carolina can lie on her good side and still cuddle. ]

It would be just our luck if you two got yourselves wrecked right before shit went down.

[ carolina follows his lead and takes his usual side of the bed, giving him a faint smile before she uses her neural implant to turn their bedroom light off and then lay down beside him. she's still moving a little carefully, not wanting to jostle whatever's out of place that he wasn't able to help her with, but her movements aren't nearly as ginger as they were. ]

It would. That's all the more reason to make sure you stay at your best.

And make sure you're as patched up as I can get you.

[ Wash stretches an arm out over Carolina, scooting close on the pillow. He still feels worried -- it wasn't just the head trauma, apparently. She was attacked by Maine again, and he knows how disturbing that must have been even if it was planned and there was a safeguard in place. His brow furrows a little as he studies her. ]

You sure you're okay?

[ even though wash closes the space between them, carolina presses a little closer still, hooking her leg over his, keeping her tender shoulder still as she reaches out to settle her hand on his side. they won't fall asleep like this, tangled up together, but she wants a little more time with him before that. ]

I'll be fine. [ it's soft, genuine. ] It wasn't as bad as the first time.

[ her injuries are worse, but she's not afraid of maine, doesn't feel sick from seeing her friend like that. she'll probably still have nightmares about the meta, but those aren't uncommon anyway. ]

I guess you were prepared for it.

[ He sighs, still hating that she had to experience it alone, or... no, she wasn't alone, she just. Kept it from him. They're fine, but he wishes she'd have discussed it. ]

Now we just have to figure out how to convince him it's okay to stay here.

[ there's a surge of guilt at his first statement, still laced with some concern over wash's reaction to her plan. he isn't upset with her now, carolina knows, but she should have told him. ]

That'll be easier said than done. If he was ready to avoid us completely...

Maybe, but it's not impossible. You might have proved to him at leaast a little that we can handle it.

I hope so. I don't like not knowing where he is.

It makes me worry for him, especially now that Alpha's gone.

[ carolina gives a little hum at that, agreeing. ]

But we'll talk to him about it again. You... might get through to him better, after today.

I got a hug.

[ He sounds ridiculously pleased with that -- Maine was practically skittering away from him before. ]

Well, you did earn it.

[ she's teasing because she knows what it meant to wash, knows what a relief it was when maine hugged her back at the warehouse. ]

I guess I kind of did.

[ He would have healed what he could for Maine anyway, of course, but the hug made it all the more worth it. ]

I saw you encouraging it, thank you.

It wasn't fair that I got a hug from Maine earlier if you weren't going to get one for actually helping him. I think it was good for both of you.

[ Wash bumps their foreheads together gently. ]

You helped him too. If nothing else he knows we're not going to give up on him just because he has a problem.

[ the bump gets a little smile out of carolina before she tips her face up to nudge her nose affectionately against his. ]

Maybe. But you helped without tricking him and picking a fight, which I think is a better display of friendship.

[ Wash makes a sound that's almost like a grumble, but he's obviously too contented right now. Maine's staying the night, has all but agreed to continue seeing them again, Carolina's in one piece, and he has a cool new power.

Things could be worse.

He lifts his head off the pillow just enough to tilt it to kiss her softly. ]

[ carolina's more than happy to return the kiss, letting it linger but staying close when they do part. this has become a staple of their life here, the soft moments between them that are filled with love, that actually let her relax, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

there's still a little tension tonight, though, which means she has to ask— ]

And we're okay, right?

[ Wash blinks at her, looking almost confused for a moment. Not at what she's talking about, but why she's bringing it up again. Then his expression softens. ]

I get you were worried I'd want to be there and you didn't want me hurt, or it to look like we'd be ganging up... so we're okay. If you promise you'll at least talk to me about stuff like this from now on. I deserved to know what was going on, I've been worried about him too.

You did deserve to know and I'm sorry.

[ she pauses to press a brief, grateful kiss against his lips. but she can tell he wasn't expecting her to bring it up again and no matter how much carolina usually dislikes explaining herself, she feels like needs to, here. ]

I just— I don't want you going anywhere. I needed to be sure.

It's okay. I'm not going anywhere.

[ He reaches up to brush her hair off her forehead -- it's long enough now it can almost get into her eyes. ]

I love you.

intervention (closed)

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