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[color=962929][b]#962929[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]hell's angel[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/9vPeZoF][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]descendant tower[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]...........................[/color] [color=feffb5][b]#feffb5[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]redback[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/wAh5lG7][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]descendant tower[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]The drive was peaceful, more so than another taxi drive would have been. They’d talked for awhile over bad pizza, and then listened to music, and eventually Myla had fallen asleep with her head resting in his lap, the oversized sweater wrapped around her like a weirdly shaped blanket. One of his hands absentmindedly ran through her hair, the other on top of the steering wheel, humming along to a Cosmo Sheldrake song. The sun had set an hour ago, dipping below the horizon and leaving them in darkness on the winding road back to the tower. 

Theodore didn’t mind, he was glad she was getting some rest and long drives always soothed his anxiety. Soon enough though, they were pulling into the parking garage. His eyes felt dry, exhaustion creeping up on him, but he wanted to get her checked out in the infirmary and let one of the big brains on the team know what had happened. Theo stirred Myla gently, whispering her name until her eyes fluttered open. [color=feffb5]"Sorry to wake you, Angel, but we’re here."[/color] 

The low after the adrenalin wore off and the loss of blood left Myla in an almost zombie like state of sleep. It took a little extra effort to rouse her. When she began stirring her hold on Theo’s thigh tightened subconsciously. A soft moan hummed behind her lips as she forced her eyes open. She reluctantly sat up, the sweater slipping into her lap as she tried to get her bearings. Her left hand lingered on his leg as her right rose to her head to steady herself from the rush of sitting up too quickly. She blinked and nodded her head. [color=962929]"Ok."[/color]

She slowly parted herself from him as she slid back into the passenger seat. Myla clutched the knitted fabric of the new sweater Theo got her, ignoring the pang in her chest as she opened the door and climbed out of the car. She kept her hand pressed to the side of the car as she slowly and carefully walked toward the trunk to meet him.

He made quick work of gathering both bags in one hand before rounding the car toward Myla. He was tired, and she was too, which meant he could get away with what he was about to do without getting an elbow to the face…probably. He swooped down, arm curling around the back of her thighs, before standing back up fully so Myla was supported by his free arm. Her arm curled around his shoulders, and Theo pretended to be very casual about how internally proud he was for not fumbling that. 

[color=feffb5]"Will you let me take you to the infirmary?"[/color] He was genuinely curious if she’d allow it, otherwise he’d imagined she just wanted to get to bed, unless there was something else they needed to do first. 

A soft gasp escaped Myla’s lips as she was swept off her feet with a single sweep of Theo’s arm. She did her best to help support her weight as she held his shoulders. Honestly, she had no idea how he just managed that while also carrying their bags, but she wasn’t going to argue. That was probably the one time she wasn’t going to be stubborn about, walking on her own. Her leg would thank her in the morning. 

Myla adjusted her arms around his shoulders to keep herself upright without straining the stitches in her side. [color=962929]"I don’t think I have a choice when you won’t let me walk."[/color] While she was tired, they both were, she still managed to add a faint tease to her words, if only to make him smile.

He snorted, fighting the urge to press a kiss to anywhere he could reach, which would be her chest currently and while he knew he’d enjoy that quite a lot it would only fluster her. Actually, in retrospect, not the worst idea…[color=feffb5]"I’m not sure what more they could do for you,"[/color] he said instead, heading for the elevator in the garage. [color=feffb5]"Except maybe give your some pain medication, you’re already as patched up as you can be right now."[/color] 

Theo didn’t struggle even a little as they stepped into the elevator, hesitating between buttons for a moment as he tried to make up his mind. There were at least four different things they could do, but he was fairly certain he should let someone else know what had happened. But who? [color=feffb5]"Alfred, Phil, or Imogen?"[/color] He wondered aloud, checking the time and grimacing at the thought of having to bother any of them. [color=feffb5]"We need to tell someone…maybe Wayne, instead?"[/color]

Her brows furrowed. Myla had no idea who they should tell. Her gut instinct said Stark, but she didn’t have the strength to deal with his attitude and snide comments about Theo carrying her. Plus she imagined he wouldn’t have an ounce of sympathy, which, for whatever reason, made her more reluctant to choose him. She wasn’t wanting sympathy or concern, but the lack of it just felt kind of soulless. [color=962929]"I don’t know,"[/color] she sighed. [color=962929]"Maybe Alfred or Phil? I imagine they’d inform whoever needed to know."[/color]

[color=feffb5]"Alfred, then. Doesn’t the elevator like…talk to us, or something? Sort of like an Alexa, what was its name again? Jason? Jackson? Frodo?"[/color] Theo frowned, setting down the bags and squinting at the multitude of buttons. He was too tired to remember properly, and the desire to say fuck it all and just go to bed was incredibly tempting. He felt like he was forgetting something important, something with the whole fight, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He’d replayed it all a hundred times over in his drive back, trying to pinpoint what it was that was eluding him, but he still couldn’t place it. 

[color=962929]"Move me closer,"[/color] she instructed him gently. Once they were closer to the buttons, Myla let her right hand slip from his shoulder. She reached out and ran her fingers along the buttons until she found the familiar pebbling of braille beside them. It took her several seconds before she ran along one line multiple times then pressed the button beside it. [color=962929]"Third floor,"[/color] she told him quietly as she hooked her hand around the bend of his neck for support.

[color=feffb5]"You’re so hot when you’re smarter than me."[/color] He sighed, glad he didn’t have to push the button and be mindful of his strength so he didn’t accidentally fold the metal like it was paper. The elevator was smooth as it moved between floors, and the doors were sliding open again before he could even process it. Doubt and guilt warred inside of Theo, and he stepped off slowly. [color=feffb5]"What if he’s sleeping? Maybe I should leave a message with the robot."[/color]

Her cheeks grew warm at the uninhibited way his compliment slipped out like they said things like that to each other all the time. They definitely didn’t. Myla laughed at a loss for words and flustered. [color=962929]"I think everyone is asleep at this hour,"[/color] she whispered as they stood in the silence of the hallway between Alfred’s and Phil’s apartments. [color=962929]"Whatever you think is best,"[/color] she replied, turning her head toward him slightly. 

[i]He[/i] had to choose? Theo groaned, rolling his head back to try and stretch out his neck some. He left the bags in the elevator, figuring it wasn’t like anyone would be in a stealing mood at this hour anyhow. [color=feffb5]"Okay,"[/color] he tilted his head back, speaking directly to the ceiling now. [color=feffb5]"Mister tower…robot…sir, uh. Could you let Alfred know we need to speak with him?"[/color] He nodded to himself, feeling it was respectful enough for the tower to not go all Smart House murderous on them. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Of course, Mr. Parker. Mr. Pennyworth shall be with you momentarily,"[/color] the British voice echoed in the small foyer as it addressed them.

Myla felt a little uncomfortable when she came to the realization they were actually about to talk to someone and she was still firmly in Theo’s arms. There was a moment where she contemplated asking him to set her down, but she knew he’d argue so she instead kept the thought to herself. 

A minute later the sound of shuffling slippers approached the door. The cylinders of the lock shifted before the door opened to the older gentleman who was most definitely sleeping a moment earlier. He was wrapped in a maroon robe with black satin pajama bottoms peeking out beneath it leading toward matching house slippers. For a moment he looked tired and confused until his gaze fully took in the state of Myla. The stitches in her thigh were visible beyond the hem of the basketball shorts and the deep purple bruises had already begun to settle around her eyes and across her nose. The rest of her injuries were thankfully hidden away but no less gruesome. [color=d6d6d6]"Good God. Are you alright? Have you been to the infirmary?"[/color] Alfred asked, concern prevalent in his tone regardless of the fact he hardly knew them. 

[color=962929]"We’re sorry to wake you, Mr. Pennyworth,"[/color] Myla spoke up through the rough soreness of her throat. [color=962929]"We didn’t know who to go to…"[/color] her voice slipped away as she searched for the words.

[color=feffb5]"We got her fixed up before we headed back, so no infirmary yet. Myla was attacked, we…we were separated, I barely got there in time."[/color] Theo shifted their weight some, the guilt leaking through his tone like puss from a wound. He didn’t look at either of them, wasn’t sure if he could without cracking, so he pressed onwards instead. [color=feffb5]"We just wanted to pass it on, so anyone else who leaves the tower knows to be extra cautious, and we have a billy club with the recording from the incident…maybe Stark or Wayne could use it?"[/color] 

[color=d6d6d6]"I’m happy to see you both made it out… [i]Relatively[/i] safe."[/color] He flashed them a sad, but compassionate smile. [color=d6d6d6]"Ms. Wayne and Mr. Stark are currently indisposed but I’ll be sure to pass on the message to them and Mr. Coulson."[/color]

Myla’s head shifted a fraction of a degree toward Theo as she heard the guilt in his voice. She could feel the escalation of his heart rate and the way everything shifted in him. Her hand slowly slipped from his shoulder to rest against his chest. [color=962929]"I can get it to them tomorrow. It’s shoved somewhere in my bag anyway,"[/color] she replied, seamlessly slipping into the conversation as an attempt to calm Theo in whatever way she could.  

[color=d6d6d6]"Mr. Coulson intended on running some training simulations in the morning. Team building or something. But they should both be there, although I recommend you observe rather than partake."[/color]

[color=962929]"Thank you. I…"[/color] Myla’s face contorted as she struggled to force out the lie. Maybe it was because she was tired or maybe it was because Alfred seemed too kind and like he had heard more than his fair share of false promises, but she couldn’t do it. She sighed softly. [color=962929]"I’ll probably train,"[/color] she confessed with a guilty expression. [color=962929]"But I appreciate the concern. We’ll uh, leave you to rest. Sorry for waking you again."[/color] She gave Theo’s chest a gentle pat as a silent signal that they should leave. 

[color=d6d6d6]"You remind me of Ms. Wayne,"[/color] Alfred commented with a fond smile. [color=d6d6d6]"Don’t ever hesitate to knock,"[/color] he motioned to his door, [color=d6d6d6]"Good night, Ms. Murdock. Mr. Parker."[/color] He gave them both a friendly nod of his head before disappearing back into his apartment.

[color=feffb5]"Thank you, Mr. Pennyworth,"[/color] Theo called out, voice tinged with uncertainty as the older man disappeared back through his door. He hesitated for only a second before turning back on his heel and heading back toward the elevator. [color=feffb5]"I wish you would sit out of training tomorrow, but I know you won’t."[/color] He stepped back into the elevator, the doors sliding open without him even having to push a button, and he sent a happy glance toward the ceiling again. 

[color=962929]"Enemies won’t wait until I’m healed, Theo,"[/color] she replied quietly. [color=962929]"If I pop my stitches I’ll go to the infirmary and have them cauterized. They won’t heal pretty but I won’t keep reopening them."[/color] It wasn’t much of a compromise but it meant less bleeding. It wasn’t like Myla cared much about getting scars. She already had plenty. They weren’t attractive, but the last thing on her mind was how marred she looked naked. Ok well… Maybe she cared a little [i]now[/i], but scars didn’t change much. [color=962929]"But we should probably keep that from your mom. I don’t need an angry call from her because I didn’t follow her instructions."[/color] Her face scrunched guiltily. She really liked Theo’s mom and the last thing she wanted to do was piss her off less than a day after meeting her.

Theo’s face scrunched up, he knew she’d be too stubborn but at least he’d tried. [color=feffb5]"It doesn’t matter how your scars look, you’re beautiful regardless. I care more about you not going through additional unnecessary pain, if you just gave it a few days…"[/color] he sighed, because really who was he kidding? If their roles were reversed, he’d still do training too. Though, he had accelerated healing. It was a little different, in the end. [color=feffb5]"I’ll be there to carry you to the infirmary anyhow, but we’ll have to postpone our beach date if you get too banged up."[/color]

There was a lot to unpack in only a few simple sentences. Myla was flattered and blushing at being told she was beautiful, even if the concept was a bit lost on her. She understood the beauty of the soul but physical beauty was something she’d never quite understand. Then he mentioned carrying her, which at that point she was starting to wonder if it was just an excuse to touch her or keep her close… Not that she was complaining. But the part that stuck out the most was the mention of a date. [color=962929]"[i]Beach date?[/i]"[/color] she mused.

Theodore’s sleepy brain stalled, a strange, strangled sound escaping his throat. He froze for a split second, and then, in a wild attempt to distract her, he just started to…talk. About the ocean. [color=feffb5]"According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, oceans make up 97% of our planet’s water and more than 70% of Earth’s surface. Did you know that? The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest ocean, accounting for more than 30% of the Earth’s surface. [i]But,[/i] when you take a dip in Ocean City, New Jersey, you’re in the world’s second-largest ocean—the Atlantic. The Atlantic Ocean covers about 20% of Earth’s surface and spans an area roughly 41 million square miles, and—"[/color] he coughed, changing tracks again and addressing the elevator instead of Myla.

[color=feffb5]"Please take us to Myla’s penthouse, mister tower man, please."[/color] Theo felt dumb talking to the air, but it had worked out great earlier and they weren’t being struck down by lasers or anything dumb like that. [color=feffb5]"We need to shower, and sleep."[/color]

Myla buried her face in his shoulder attempting to muffle the laughs poured from her. His little info dump about the ocean had her lost in laughter enough that she missed Theo talking to the tower’s AI, but it must have worked because the elevator heeded his request. She raised a hand to wipe away a tear while her smile still stretched from ear to ear. [color=962929]"Yes, please."[/color] She sighed longingly. [color=962929]"Bless your mom, she tried. But I feel like I have dried blood in every crevice."[/color] She let out one last little laugh. A hot shower actually sounded fantastic. She wasn’t entirely sure how she’d manage it but she’d figure it out if it meant getting clean.

[color=feffb5]"One shower, coming up."[/color] The elevator doors opened, and Theo carried her down the hall toward the door, letting out a low whistle once they’d cleared it. The pictures didn’t do it justice, it was modest and fit Myla perfectly in his opinion. He adjusted the bags before shutting the door behind them. [color=feffb5]"Do you want me to lead you to the bathroom?"[/color]

[color=962929]"I need to grab fresh clothes first… so [i]bedroom?[/i]"[/color] she asked a little uncertainly. Myla’s fingers absently toyed at a small wrinkle in Theo’s shirt as he carried her. She took in a soft breath and her head fell slightly as she tried to find the words. [color=962929]"You’ll stay… Right?"[/color]

[color=feffb5]"Always,"[/color] he spoke before he could stop himself, but Theo didn’t feel embarrassed for it. He meant it, he would stay with her for as long as she wanted, no matter what. [color=feffb5]"Until you send me away."[/color] He meant to say it jokingly, to lighten the sudden tension that surrounded them like some kind of plasmatic goop, but his voice was too raw, too serious. 

Myla could have said a lot of things. There were several that crossed her mind… [i]One[/i] more important than the others. But instead her hand gently rested on his cheek and turned his face toward her. She winced a little as she sat up more in his arms, but ignored the pain. She pressed her lips against his softly. It wasn’t impulsive like their first kiss outside the tower, or fleeting like the kisses they shared after she nearly died. It was gentle and tender. Their lips slipped together like the last two pieces of a puzzle. The past couple hours had been a whirlwind but in that moment she just wanted to sink into it… Into him. They had been dancing around the what ifs for so long that Myla found herself seeking the embrace of his lips as a reassurance that it wasn’t her imagination or a brief lapse in judgement on either of their parts. 

He kissed her back, because there was nothing else for him to do and nothing else he wanted to do. This kiss was different, he could feel it in how gentle it was, more tentative and sweet. The day had been a whirlwind, a jumbled mess of emotions and hurt, but he wouldn’t have taken a single kiss back. Theo pulled back after a moment, voice huskier than he could control. [color=feffb5]"Myla, if you kiss me like that again I’m going to have a hard time stopping."[/color]

[color=962929]"Good."[/color] Her voice was hardly a whisper, rough from frying her vocal cords but also desperate. Myla leaned back in to fill the distance Theo created without hesitation. The warmth of her breath ghosted across his lips as their mouths faintly brushed with every deep breath. Her hand coaxed him forward as her fingers slipped back through his hair. There was a faint touch, lips parted, her tongue nearly found his…

And she paused…

She felt the pain in her thigh, hot, sending a wave of sharp aches down her leg. The stitches along her ribs tugged, threatening to snap. She thought of the dried blood that stuck between her toes and under her finger nails. Then there was the shock that was holding on like fingertips at the edge of a cliff. Myla was hours overdue for it all to come crashing down on her like an anvil dropped on her head. The last thing she wanted was to slip into a mental breakdown the first time they were together. She didn't want him to see her like that, broken and vulnerable, a shell of the person she normally was. 

[color=962929]"[I]Fuck,[/I]"[/color] she muttered under her breath before letting her forehead fall to rest against his shoulder. 

He almost gave in then and there, it was horribly tempting to just fall into the mutual attraction and let himself go to what could be. Her moment of hesitation was all he needed though, it brought about a sense of clarity to the fog that had invaded his senses. Theo pulled back, hands gentle as he shifted their bodies apart to make some space between themselves for…Jesus, he supposed. [color=feffb5]"Shower, then sleep. I could make you something to eat too, I’ve been told I make the best grilled cheese."[/color] He paused sheepishly, and moved them closer to the bathroom. [color=feffb5]"Well, my mom was probably just being nice, but I think it’s pretty good."[/color]

As much as he very much wanted to continue, it wouldn’t be as good right now, it wouldn’t mean what he wanted it to mean if they rushed to it now. Theo has to be like that dumb tortoise during the metaphorical race, slow and steady whilst she healed. Anything more and he’d only hurt her further, and that was the last thing Theo wanted.

Myla inhaled sharply, letting herself slip from his arms. She didn’t like the space but it was better that way. It’d be easier to let the warmth that build up inside her dissipate if his hand wasn’t on her thigh and if his face wasn’t temptingly close. [color=962929]"Yeah,"[/color] she whispered and nodded her head in agreement. [color=962929]"Can you set my bag in the closet or whatever?"[/color] She pointed down the hall in the direction of what she assumed was the bedroom. Her hand reached out to steady herself as she took a second to catch her breath. Then slowly she followed after him.

[color=feffb5]"Of course,"[/color] Theo led the way down the hall, toward the open bedroom door, lingering a little slower than usual as he waited for her to follow. By the time she’d made it inside though, he’d set both their bags in the closet, pulled out a set of clean clothes for her, and turned the shower on to let it warm up. He fidgeted as Myla came into the room, nervous for reasons he couldn’t explain. [color=feffb5]"Do you need…help?"[/color] 

[color=962929]"I…"[/color] her voice trailed off and brows furrowed. Did she need his help? Myla’s fingers rose to lightly brush over the stitches along her ribs. She probably should ask for help with removing her shirt but she didn’t know if she could exhibit his level of control either. Just the thought of knuckles brushing her skin made her heart flutter in her chest. Theo undressing her was [i]not[/i] the way to keep her on her best behavior. Maybe if she used only her right arm she’d be ok. [color=962929]"I’ll figure it out."[/color] The corner of her lips tugged into a weak smile.

He frowned, nodded, and then cleared his throat. [color=feffb5]"Okay, if you need help just call out for me, I’ll make something for us to eat."[/color] He passed by her, pausing to brush a soft kiss against Myla’s forehead. Theo lingered there for a second, as if second guessing himself and his choices, and then he headed toward the kitchen. 

Myla’s eyes slowly closed when she noticed the subtle change in his demeanor. She exhaled softly and nodded her head. Once he wandered off toward the kitchen she grabbed the door and started closing it. Her fingers lingered on the handle. There was a strange nagging in her stomach that made it hard for her to find the strength to close it the last couple inches, like shutting the door would erect a wall between them. It was stupid… But her fingers still slipped off the doorknob leaving it open by an inch or two.

Standing alone in the bathroom, bare feet on the cold tile, her brain cycled through how she was going to manage taking the shirt off. Myla lifted her left arm slowly, testing to see how high she could elevate it before feeling the stitches tug. Her elbow elevated to the height of her shoulder before she sucked in a sharp breath and squeezed her eyes shut. She reached her right hand over her head and grabbed a fistful of fabric. Rather than going slow, she gave a quick jerk and pulled it over her head. If the shirt was one of her own she probably wouldn’t have managed it. Luckily it was big and only minorly irritated her stitches.

Slipping out of the basketball shorts was significantly easier. She left the dirty clothes in a pile on the ground and made her way over to shower. The temperature was a little too cold when she stepped under the gentle cascade of water. Her right hand reached out to turn the hot tap. As she spun it, the metal knob screeched against the pipe. The sound was sharp and high pitched, reverberating through her ears into her memories throwing her back into her uncle’s apartment, writhing on the floor. She started shaking, breath seizing as her chest constricted. Her hands pressed against the slick tiles as she tried to ground herself. 

Every punch kick, gun shot and stab strobed through her mind. The head splitting noise bounced around her skull while Roger’s voice felt like a sickening whisper against the back of her neck. She shivered. The memories shifted. Her father was in her place, out numbered and fighting for his life. She heard his winces, the sounds of tearing flesh, snapping bones and the sharp noise that dropped him to his knees. The thought carried her across the city to a shitty bar in Midtown where she sat at a bar while her father was taken… Having shitty cocktails with [i]Roger.[/i]

Myla’s legs went weak and she fell to her knees. Her trembling hands pressed against the ground as she wretched but nothing came up besides the body wracking sobs that shook her to her core. She didn’t move from beneath the falling water as her body curled in on itself and she buried her face in her hands. She wept for her father, for how close it was to being her too, for the death on Theo’s conscience, for how weak and useless she felt. The sobs stole the air from her lungs and made it hard for her to catch her breath. She was gasping, couldn’t tell if it was tears or water covering her hands, couldn’t make sense of the pain and grief. Myla had been carrying it all for so long, putting on a brave face and pushing it away to fester and rot until it poured out of her like a body aching disease.

Meanwhile, Theo was staring up at the grilled cheese stuck to the ceiling. He’d been trying to flip it in the pan, an impressive maneuver that would have thrilled absolutely no one except for himself, mostly because he was alone, but he’d been a little overzealous with it. He sighed, and decided to just…see how long it would stay up there, moving to make a new one instead of fetching the one that had become a new fixture. It took fifteen minutes, all of which saw Theo distracting himself by singing a song about radioactive shrimp, but by the time he was done he’d made six grilled cheese sandwiches, and a small pot of canned tomato soup. He set it all out on the table, grabbing two cans of something called Stark Cola from the fridge, and waited five more minutes before he went to check on Myla. 

[color=feffb5]"Myla?"[/color] There was panic in his voice from the other side of the bathroom door, he could hear her hyperventilating and crying, and he wanted to rush in and make sure she was okay. However, Theo was very aware of the fact that she was also naked in there. [color=feffb5]"I’m going to come in, if you don’t answer me in five seconds."[/color]

By the time she heard Theo’s voice the water had run cold. Myla hadn’t moved from where she knelt on the ground in a fetal position, her body shaking between the sobs, gasps for air, and shivers. She tried to find her voice and reply but nothing came out. She didn’t want Theo to see her like that but she couldn’t force out a single word between each sharp breath. Her hands pressed to her chest trying to find calm in her somewhere. Her lip quivered as she barely managed to push out two words with her remaining strength. [color=962929]"I-I’m f-fine."[/color]

Well, that wasn’t very convincing. [color=feffb5]"I’m coming in."[/color] There was a brief moment where he floundered like a fish on land, but then he shoved aside his personal feelings and pushed into the room, grabbing one of the fluffy white towels that were hanging on the wall. Theo froze when he saw her curled in on herself, his breath choking in his throat, and then he was moving forward to flip off the water and wrap the towel around her, keeping his eyes very respectfully on her face. [color=feffb5]"Come on, Angel. This isn’t a good place to cry."[/color] His voice was soft with compassion and affection as he lifted her up, making sure the large towel was wrapped around her shoulders and overlapping so he didn’t see anything he ought not to. Theo cradled her to his chest, uncaring as moisture seeped through the towel and his shirt, he moved them to the bedroom so he could sit with her on the edge of the bed, rubbing his hands over her arms to try and warm her up. 


Myla didn't say anything and didn't move. Whatever part of her that should have been concerned about her lack of clothing was more embarrassed he found her like that. She wanted to argue and tell him she was fine. But the words didn't come out. There weren't even tears anymore, just the strangled, hyperventilating breaths as she shook from the cold. Her mind didn't even fully register that Theo had wrapped her in a towel and picked her up until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her trembling hands pulled the towel around her, hiding what parts of her body she could as her senses slowly came back to her. [color=962929]"I d-didn’t want you to see me like t-this."[/color] Her voice was strained and wary like her final downward spiral took what energy she had left. There was no emotion left on her face. It was a pale void, absent color beyond the bruising across her nose and the red puffiness of her eyes. 

[color=feffb5]"I don’t want you to hide from me,"[/color] his eyes burned, seeing her like this broke something in Theodore and all he could do was hold her closer, try to warm her up even as she shivered against his chest. [color=feffb5]"I want to see all of you, even the parts you’re ashamed of, and I’ll show you all of me too. You don’t have to do it all alone anymore, Myla."[/color] Not as long as he was here, never again. Theo would make it his job to pick up her broken pieces, to handle the glue and put her back together. That’s what you did for someone you loved, afterall. 

She had been shouldering her burdens alone for so long that Myla didn't know how to share the load and let someone in. Theo was attentive and caring in ways she didn't deserve and she was struggling figuring out how to open that last piece of herself when independence had always been safer. The lump still twisted in her throat but she had no more tears to shed. [color=962929]"My dad… he went through all of that, maybe worse and I wasn't there to save him."[/color] She blinked slowly like saying it all out loud dug the knife in deeper until it twisted and let the guilt pour out like blood. [color=962929]"I was on the other side of the city getting drinks with [I]fucking Roger.[/I]"[/color] God if she could kill him again she fucking would. [color=962929]"The bastard set it all up… set me up. It's all my fault… all of it."[/color]

Myla was spiraling again and like the first time she couldn't stop it. Everything came flooding out like a tidal wave. [color=962929]"I should have listened to you. I should have been stronger and smarter… I knew one day they'd come for me and I was so fucking stupid."[/color] The grief boiled inside her burning and evolving into rage. She was angry at whoever the ominous [I]they[/I] were, she was angry at Roger, but mostly she was just angry at herself. She stood up as her body grew restless like she wasn't allowed to have the soft moments in Theo's arms. It was too good for her. With her mind racing, Myla barely registered the pain in her leg as she paced back and forth, clutching the towel around her. [color=962929]"I could have gotten you killed or Foggy killed… I nearly got myself killed. And I ruined your dad's sweater."[/color] Her voice cracked on the last words.

[color=feffb5]"Would you say it’s my fault that my dad got taken?"[/color] His hands trembled where he held her, Myla’s words echoing in his head like a gunshot. She was taking all of the blame and all the hurt and stacking it onto herself. [color=feffb5]"[i]I[/i] should have never left [i]you.[/i] I got out of that taxi first, I chose to listen to you instead of thinking about what could happen. Roger was someone you trusted, [i]he[/i] set all of that shit up."[/color] Theo let out a shaky breath, repressing the urge to take her face between his hands and not let go until she actually listened to him. [color=feffb5]"I didn’t know your dad, but he and my dad worked together before. I don’t think either of our fathers would want us blaming ourselves for what happened to them. If someone could take them, chances are they’d have taken us too if we were there."[/color]

She stopped dead in her tracks, dripping water onto the carpet between the bed and the bathroom. The air conditioning felt cold against her damp skin as the bottom towel didn't fully reach the top of her thighs. Myla looked like a deer in headlights, like she had been stripped naked and flayed before Theo's eyes. She felt more vulnerable than she had in her life and it terrified her. [color=962929]"I… need to get dressed."[/color] She swallowed then dove into the bathroom without letting him see her face. 

He let her go, hands still shaking, heart pounding in his chest, he had a sinking suspicion that nothing he said would help her with those thoughts. Theo pushed up with a sigh, pausing outside the bathroom door. [color=feffb5]"I have a house full of my dads sweaters, but I only have one of you,"[/color] he called softly through the door, pressing a palm to the frame for a moment. [color=feffb5]"Come out when you’re ready, I have food for us, and…you have a grilled cheese sandwich stuck to your ceiling."[/color] He left back into the kitchen after that.

Theo’s words repeated in her head as her shaking hands rested on the sink. Her breaths were uneasy and somehow her body found a way to produce more tears. She rocked back and forth, biting the inside of her lip near to the point of bleeding. When she heard him wander off down the hall, Myla slammed her fist into the counter, splitting her knuckles open. Physical pain was simpler. She could manage it, choose how much it hurt, and fix it… If she wanted. She was never methodical about her self harm, split knuckles, nails in her palms, an intentional mistake in a fight. Even after everything she went through, it felt like a security blanket, one thing in her life she had control over. God… What was she doing? She grimaced as she extended her fingers, feeling the blood slip between her knuckles. [color=962929]"Fuck,"[/color] she cursed under her breath knowing Theo was going to be mad she was hurting herself. 

She took the time to rinse off her hand and stop most of the bleeding before attempting to get dressed. Myla was able to pull the pajama pants on easily enough. An ache tugged at her heart when she noticed Theo intentionally chose a button up shirt so she wouldn’t struggle so much. It was almost a sick sort of irony how she had prayed for years to not be alone, to meet someone who cared for her like no one else ever has, and she finally got it… And this was how she treated him. The temptation to slam her knuckles into the marble counter again was strong, but she pushed it back by busying her hands. She quickly pulled on her shirt and clumsily fastened two of the buttons into the wrong holes so the right side hung a little lower than the left.

Myla exited the bathroom and started down the hallway toward him. There was still the limp in her gait, but there was also determination. As she reached Theo sitting in the dining room chair, sad and burdened by her problems, her heart sank. She approached him slowly, hesitantly like she wasn’t entirely sure how to be vulnerable. [color=962929]"Theo,"[/color] she whispered. Rather than taking a seat beside him, she slowly put her leg over his lap and straddled his thighs. Her arms wrapped around him as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. She let herself take in his scent and the warmth of his body pressed against hers. [color=962929]"I’m sorry… I don’t know how to do this,"[/color] she muttered against his shoulder.

He’d been staring crestfallen at that damned grilled cheese, contemplating climbing up there to get it. Though…it was sort of funny, wasn’t it? How long could it possibly stay up there, and maybe he should adjust his web formula to—a warm weight settled into his lap, jolting Theo from his thoughts. Warmth flooded his face, blood rushing to places too obvious for comfort. [i]Fuck,[/i] she was so beautiful even like this. He pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to the side of her throat, breathing in the smell of her shampoo, the sharp scent of blood lingering around her. 

[color=feffb5]"You don’t have to apologize,"[/color] he pulled back some, a hand curling around her waist to keep her steady while another rose to cradle her face. He took a moment to take her in, hair wet, bruises forming, so heartbreakingly stunning. [color=feffb5]"I’ve never felt the way I feel for you, for anyone else. I don’t really know how to…I mean, we have each other, right?"[/color]

She nodded her head. [color=962929]"I don’t know how to be more than just… me,"[/color] Myla admitted quietly as her thumb stroked the soft skin of his neck. [color=962929]"But I know I need you… and I’m trying."[/color] While the words might have held little meaning, there was a heavy weight behind them. She had no experience when it came to opening herself up to someone or healthy relationships. It had always been her against the world. Even people like Roger never got all of her, just the pieces that she allowed. But she wanted Theo to have all of her… She was just struggling with letting go fully. Myla trusted him. It was trusting herself that was the hard part.

[color=feffb5]"You’re more than enough, you don’t need to be anything more than what you are."[/color] He smiled at her, sweeping his thumb over her cheek. [color=feffb5]"Thank you for trying, Angel. How about you eat, and then we can sleep."[/color][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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