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[color=808080][color=796e9c][b]#796e9c[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]alloy[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/Keu4D2D][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [color=bdddff][b]#bdddff[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]polar[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/MjVLTV3][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]descendant tower[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Tobias slowly pulled his Jeep into the parking garage under the tower. Rather than parking far off to one side, he pulled into the closest spot to the elevator that was available. He backed in so there was no car on the passenger side and shut off the engine. His head fell, looking between the sleeping kitten still nuzzled in his lap and the sleeping woman beside him. It took him a few minutes to figure out how he was going to juggle everything before he slid his phone in his pocket and finally opened the car door. As he stood up, he felt the sticky wetness along the cuts on his back cling to the back of the car seat. He looked back, sighing at the stains that were already sinking into the upholstery. 

He closed the door quietly and made his way around to the passenger side. Tobias rested his hand against the side of the car, steeling what last shreds of energy he had left to get them to the infirmary. He slowly opened the car door where Bell was still sound asleep. First, he carefully pulled her bag from the floor boards and slipped the strap over his head so the weight rested on his good shoulder. Then he slowly leaned over her to unfasten the seat belt and detangle it from around her. He slipped the sleeping kitten into the large pocket of her hoodie before sliding his arms underneath her and lifting her out of the car. As they neared the elevator, Tobias waved two of his fingers beneath Bell’s leg and made the door close. 

Her head lulled against his shoulder, and Bellamy didn’t even shift as she was lifted out of the Jeep. Her exhaustion had gone bone deep without her even realizing, and the foreign sense of safety she felt around Tobias allowed her to sleep through it all. Once the elevator doors shut though, she twisted subconsciously, turning into his chest a little, one of her hands catching in the fabric of his shirt against his stomach. Bell’s brows furrowed for a moment, and then she sighed, relaxing once more in his arms.

Once inside the lift, he pressed the button for the second floor, leaning back against the wall for support and sighed. It didn’t even cross his mind that he was leaving behind a streak of blood until the doors opened into the infirmary and one angry looking Alfred. The older man’s face shifted through a wave of emotions starting at obvious anger that he left the tower alone… [i]again[/i], he was relieved that he was back, shocked at the woman in his arms, and concerned at the blood he left behind in the elevator. A million questions danced across his face as he stepped aside.

[color=796e9c]"I’m sorry, Alfred,"[/color] Tobias whispered as he walked past him. He carried Bell toward the closest hospital bed. The last step he took, his knees buckled and he stumbled into the side of the bed with a groan. He nearly dropped her but managed to set her down before every muscle in his body gave in from exhaustion. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Tobias,"[/color] Alfred pleaded quietly. 

He shook his head, stopping the man from continuing as he gently helped Bell into the correct position on the bed. [color=796e9c]"Her first,"[/color] he whispered.

[color=d6d6d6]"New patient identified. Please state name,"[/color] the robotic voice echoed throughout the infirmary.

[color=796e9c]"Bellamy Drake,"[/color] Tobias replied, sparing Alfred a sideways glance as he set her bag on the ground. He then carefully slid a hand into her hoodie pocket and pulled out the small kitten.

The sleep that Bella had managed to acquire wasn’t as peaceful as she’d have hoped, her dream was filled with faceless men, their features twisted into something grotesque and incomprehensible, and she was running through the woods again, watching her mom bleed out, watching a bullet rip through her dad’s skin, and this time Tobias did not show up. [color=d6d6d6]"Drake, Bellamy. Multiple wounds detected, core temperature dropping rapidly."[/color] A robotic voice cut through the nightmare, distorting into something deeper, making her pulse jump. Tendrils of cold seemed to leech from her skin, cooling the air surrounding her, a thin layer of frost spreading from where her palms rested against the bed. [color=d6d6d6]"Administering mild sedative."[/color] Something sharp slid into the side of her neck, and Bell jerked awake. 

Tobias’s gaze snapped toward the bed as the temperature dropped. Reflexively, he took a step toward the robot, holding up his hand to stop the syringe but a gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked back to meet Alfred’s calm gaze. The man was a little wide eyed at the realization of who laid on the bed before him, but importantly he was trying to keep Tobias calm. [color=d6d6d6]"It won’t hurt her, just keep her calm."[/color]

He grimaced, shifting his shoulder slightly as he remembered the robot’s less than tender stitches he received the night before. But he said nothing. Alfred’s hand on his shoulder gave him a reassuring pat in silent praise for what he accomplished before holding out his other hand toward him. [color=d6d6d6]"I shall look over the cat."[/color]

Tobias nodded his head and gently slipped the content kitten into Alfred’s cupped palms. He took the couple of steps over to the next closest bed and sat down. His weight stirred the robot to life. An arm extended from the side of the table and placed a sensor on his wrist. Then the red beam of light swept over him. [color=d6d6d6]"Lehnsherr, Tobias. Multiple wounds detected. Please remove inhibiting clothing or state ‘assistance.’"[/color]

He grabbed a handful of his shirt, feeling how the damp fabric still clung to his skin. Just the thought of trying to peel it off of him and remove the temporary bandage Bell made all felt like too much effort. Tobias rolled his shoulder slightly and grimaced. [color=796e9c]"Assistance."[/color] The end of the robotic arm split, revealing surgical scissors. It swiftly cut through the fabric of his and Bellamy’s shirts. He shivered as his wet skin was exposed to the cold breeze of the air conditioning. No longer hidden by clothes or the darkness of night, his injuries presented themselves beneath a mixture of mud and blood. 

Delirious confusion distorted the first few moments of consciousness for Bellamy, one of her hands automatically slapping over where the needle withdrew from her neck, a rush of cold spreading from her fingertips along the slope of her throat before she remembered herself, hearing the sound of Tobias’s voice nearby giving her something to focus on. An unnatural sense of calm was eroding at her panic, and her ice was thawing into the fabric of the hoodie, leaving her a little damper than she had been before, and shivering. 

The red light scanned him a second time. [color=d6d6d6]"Lehnsherr, Tobias. Reopened gunshot wound to the right shoulder, anterior and posterior. Cut to the left cheek. Frozen cut to the right tricep. Thirteen small cuts to the left arm. Two containing residual debris. Three large cuts across the back. Low core temperature. Recommended treatment: cleaning, removal of debris, sterilization, stitches to the bullet wound, tape stitches to the remaining wounds, and bandaging. Do you comply?"[/color]

[color=796e9c]"Yes,"[/color] he replied quietly and nodded his head. All the while his gaze remained fixed on Bellamy in the bed opposite him.

She’d twisted her head to look toward the sound of his voice, gaze catching on the skin of his chest and straying for a moment, eyes wide and expression a little dazed as she took in the tattoos that decorated his entire torso, and his biceps, following the trail toward his waist before she jerkily looked back up toward Tobias’s chest. It was likely an effect of the sedative, but she missed when the robot spoke to her next until one of the arms moved closer, catching her attention. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Repeat, please remove inhibiting clothing or state ‘assistance.’"[/color] Bella stared at the arm dumbly, blinking a few times as the words slowly penetrated the fog that seemed to be clinging to her head. She sat up slowly, watching the arm move back some to give her space, and then with great effort she managed to remove his hoodie. She flinched as a red light scanned her, looking toward Tobias shakily and then back at the arm. She’d never seen anything like this before, it was disorienting to wake up to it. [color=d6d6d6]"Drake, Bellamy. Scapular contusion. Sprained left ankle. Sprained right wrist. Ten foreign objects in palm of right hand. Low core temperature. Dehydration. Recommended treatment: cleaning, removal of foreign debris, sterilization, compression for scapular contusion, sprained ankle, and wrist, administration of fluids. Do you comply?"[/color] 

[color=bdddff]"Uh,"[/color] Bell cleared her throat, her mouth felt as dry as the desert, voice hoarse and uncertain. [color=bdddff]"Yes?"[/color] She glanced once more toward Tobias, expression one of utter bewilderment. [color=bdddff]"Where are we?"[/color]

Tobias’s gaze fell the moment he realized what she was doing, focusing on his clutched hands that rested in his lap. A drawer on one side of his bed opened to reveal a metal bowl as it was being filled with warm water. The metal arm took a rag, dipped it into the water and then began to clean the blood, dirt and grime from his skin. First it started with his face, then arms and back. The warmth was soothing, but stung whenever it grazed one of his various cuts. And while it did some to help sooth his shivering, he only felt colder in the absence of it whenever the cloth was pulled away. 

He snuck a quick glance from beneath his brows, but the moment he saw more of Bellamy’s exposed skin he quickly looked away. Tobias cleared his throat. [color=796e9c]"Descendant Academy,"[/color] he answered, unsure if she knew what that was. Somewhere in the middle of everything he must have missed the machine warning him about anesthesia. The syringe jabbing into his shoulder pulled a sharp breath from him and it took everything in his control not to withdraw. 

The name sounded familiar in the same way the name of a book did, distant and unimportant until the moment when it was important. She shifted uncomfortably as her own robotic doctor began the same process as Tobias’s, cleaning away the mud and muck from her body with a warm, damp cloth that left her colder than when it all started. Bella was used to the cold though, welcomed it more than most, but she was still uncomfortable in her damp jeans.

Alfred stepped forward between the beds, opening a cabinet on the wall that housed large heated blankets. He grabbed the first one, carefully opening it with one hand while he cradled the cat like a baby. He took a slow step toward Bellamy with a friendly smile and placed the warm blanket across her lap. [color=d6d6d6]"Alfred Pennyworth, Ms. Drake,"[/color] he introduced himself as he placed the kitten gently into her lap. [color=d6d6d6]"I am one of the academy’s caretakers."[/color]

[color=bdddff]"Hello,"[/color] Bell instinctively shrunk in on herself some under Alfred’s attention, shoulders relaxing a little as the warm blanket was draped across her lap, eyes lingering on Loki as he was placed gently down before she looked back up at the older man. There was something soft about Alfred, he reminded her of her grandpa, gentle and kind, and the realization made her eyes burn. [color=bdddff]"Thank you."[/color] Her voice was soft and unguarded, eyes slipping back down to Loki who was sleeping quite happily.

He went back to the same cabinet, pulling out a second blanket and took it over to Tobias. As Alfred unfolded it and tucked it around the man’s lap, he studied the way he shivered. [color=d6d6d6]"I’ll go fetch some warm, dry clothes and tea."[/color] The older man nodded his head toward both of them and made his way over to the elevator. 

[color=796e9c]"Can you tell Imogen I’m back, please?… Before her and Magni do something stupid,"[/color] Tobias asked quietly.

[color=d6d6d6]"Stupid? [i]Like leaving the tower without telling anyone?[/i]"[/color] Alfred goaded him gently. [color=d6d6d6]"J.A.R.V.I.S. has already notified them."[/color]

His face contorted into an apologetic grimace. [color=796e9c]"Thank you."[/color]

Alfred nodded his head before slipping into the elevator. His gaze drifted over to the blood on the wall and sighed before the doors closed.

Tobias closed his eyes, focusing on steadying his breathing and minimizing the tremors that shook his body out of his control. There was a sick sort of irony that it had been less than 24 hours and he was back on that damn table again, getting poked and prodded with needles. At least that time he didn’t have to deal with Luke making salacious comments and trying to seduce him. He kept his gaze fixated on the fleece blanket as he spoke up, trying to fill the silence. [color=796e9c]"Sorry I didn’t wake you."[/color]

She watched the metal arm twist away from her, retrieving the required equipment to remove the thick and jagged splinters from her hand, before she turned her attention back onto Tobias, keeping her gaze respectfully elsewhere than his exposed skin. [color=bdddff]"It’s okay, I’m not upset."[/color] Bell winced as the first splinter was pulled free, dropping with a small [i]thunk[/i] into a small metal bowl, her blood welling up each time a splinter was removed. It was methodically done, not with a sense of ease or comfort in mind like a human would have had, and it left her feeling nauseous. 

Whatever they’d given her before she fully woke up made her mind move slower than usual, each thought dragging along like driftwood in a slow moving river, it made her angry but too far away from her emotions to be able to register it fully. [color=bdddff]"Are you…okay? I mean, your shoulder…"[/color] The last splinter, bigger than the others, was ripped free from her skin and the arm moved to stem the bleeding, sterilizing the multitude of small wounds before bandaging her wrist. It moved away to retrieve what looked to be compression wraps, an IV bag, and a needle. 

What little bit of color that had returned to her face drained away, and Bellamy looked up toward the ceiling resolutely. She had no issues with needles on other people, but for herself? Her stomach rolled in protest, but she swallowed down the little bit of bile that rose up in her throat, squeezing her eyes shut until the sting of the needle had passed through the crook of her elbow and the cold flow of fluids entering her body left her feeling disoriented and clammy. [color=bdddff]"I’m not a fan of this."[/color] Bella managed after a moment, voice wobbly and tired.

Tobias parted his lips to answer her question, but froze as he caught a glimpse of her growing sickly pale. He pushed off the table to stand up and catch her if she fainted, but a second robotic arm grabbed his other shoulder and kept him firmly planted in place. [color=d6d6d6]"Please remain seated."[/color] He winced, shutting his eyes tight as the movement jostled the arm that had started stitching him, causing it to slip and jab the wound. He was really fucking terrible at receiving care from that damn machine. His fist pounded the side of the table as some outlet as another arm started stitching the back side of the bullet wound tandem with the front. Sure, it was faster and probably more efficient… But just like the last time, it seemed there wasn’t a sufficient amount of anesthesia or did he fuck that up too and not notice? Whatever.

[color=796e9c]"Lay down,"[/color] he instructed her calmly, looking across the gap toward her, keeping his gaze fixed on her face and [i]only[/i] on her face. [color=796e9c]"You look like you’re going to faint. Lay back so you don’t fall on the ground and hurt yourself,"[/color] he repeated, trying to force his words through her partially sedated mind. 

Moving at all seemed like an awful idea, she was barely holding onto the contents of her stomach as it were, but after a moment of debate Bell laid down slowly. The blanket was hot in her lap, her upper body frigid as the arm moved to wrap compression bandages first around her wrist, and then her ankle. She wanted to take back her acceptance of treatment, if they’d just tossed her in a tub or a pool she could have fixed herself right up, but the sedative was working against her logical thought process, and she was so tired that none of it felt like it mattered anyways. The pain in her wrist and ankle were easy to ignore earlier, but now her injuries felt like tangible proof of everything that had happened. Bella wasn’t sure if she was ready to let that go. Everything was hazy for a few moments, thoughts fluttering away as quickly as they came, she was on the verge of passing out, but eventually it passed and she could think a little clearer. 

[color=796e9c]"I don’t like it either,"[/color] he sympathized. [color=796e9c]"I’d rather not make this a daily occurrence, but so far I’m two for two."[/color] An exasperated laugh rumbled in his throat behind a clenched jaw. It wasn’t like Tobias was [i]trying[/i] to get himself hurt and wind up back in the infirmary. The last thing he wanted was to sit through more fucking stitches, yet there he was. At least that time it was for a valid reason, versus avoiding hospitals out of stubborn pride and paranoia. 

When the arms finished the final stitches on his shoulder, they pressed gauze against the wound and taped it in place. It wasn’t going to help much, especially when it came to avoid popping stitches because of training. But he’d cut himself [i]some[/i] slack and take a day off from working out in the morning. No guarantees for the following day. When the robot medic switched to stitch tape for the rest of his wounds, Tobias relaxed slightly and finally answered her question. [color=796e9c]"I’ll be ok,"[/color] he reassured her. [color=796e9c]"Got it when they took my niece—"[/color] He froze mid-sentence as the metal arms placed two strips of tape over the cut on his cheek. [color=796e9c]"I’m just not very good at the whole [i]rest and relaxation[/i] thing,"[/color] he confessed with a guilty smile.

[color=bdddff]"I never have been either—"[/color] The robot cut her off, its little metal hand…thing…spinning for a moment, still holding the compression bandages. Bellamy tilted her head with a vague sense of interest, mouth clicking shut like a child that had been scolded for speaking during class.

[color=d6d6d6]"Drake, Bellamy. Scapular contusion would best be treated with a compression wrap, ice, and elevation. Please sit up."[/color] It waited patiently for her to find the energy to drag herself back up right, mindful of the IV in her arm. [color=d6d6d6]"Please turn."[/color] 

Bella frowned at the arm, but twisted some so that her back was to Tobias. A bruise, deeply purple and splotchy, curled around her shoulder blade toward the top of her shoulder. She couldn’t even remember which fall the injury came from, it didn’t matter either, the sedative didn’t do anything for her pain though. She sucked in a sharp breath as it began to tightly wrap the compression bandage across her chest and then around her upper arm, pinning it in place before the arm retreated to put on a secondary bag of fluids; she'd already run the first bag dry.

Gingerly, she lowered herself back onto the bed, face scrunched up in discomfort and pain. [color=bdddff]"Please tell me I don’t have to sleep here tonight."[/color] Bell glanced toward Tobias, eyes a little more focused than a few moments before but still relatively hazy. [color=bdddff]"I feel weird, what did it give me?"[/color] 

Tobias watched as the robot covered the cuts on his left arm with small pieces of stitch tape. [color=796e9c]"You started panicking in your sleep, so the—"[/color] he motioned his hand toward the arms of the machine, [color=796e9c]"—gave you a sedative."[/color]

[color=d6d6d6]"Lehnsherr, Tobias. For proper access to your right tricep, please rest your right hand on top of your head."[/color]

He sighed softly, raising his hand as instructed, slowly to not disturb the fresh stitches in his shoulder. His palm rested on top of his head, exposing the length of the underside of his arm. Tobias watched for a second as the robot worked to remove the ice, then looked back over toward Bellamy. [color=796e9c]"No, you don’t have to sleep here,"[/color] he reassured her with a quiet chuckle. [color=796e9c]"There’s plenty of empty apartments. I can take you to pick one once we’re free to leave."[/color] 

It appeared that tape was significantly faster than traditional stitches. The machine worked diligently to wrap his right arm around the bicep and left arm from shoulder to elbow. The cuts along his back were too long to bandage, but he no longer felt the warm trickle of blood so whatever was done at least stopped the bleeding. [color=d6d6d6]"Lehnsherr, Tobias. First aid complete."[/color] Not needing to be told twice, Tobias slid off the hospital bed and wrapped himself in the warm blanket. The moment he stepped away, the bed folded up into the wall and the curtain closed around the area. [color=d6d6d6]"Commencing station sterilization."[/color]

He hesitantly approached Bellamy’s bed and lowered himself into the empty chair beside it. Between the warmth of the blanket, no longer being prodded with needles, and the creeping exhaustion, Tobias’s eyes grew heavy. He managed to stay awake for maybe a minute before he sunk further into the seat and dozed off. His sleep was peaceful, at first. His head tipped forward, chest rising and falling with every deep rhythmic breath. The void of his mind drifted to the bloody hostel floor as the sound of Helena’s screams echoed down the hall. He choked on the warm taste of iron with every gasping breath. Tears burned his eyes as he fought against the hands that held him down and the knees in his back. The pressure of a boot pushed down on the fresh gun shot wound sending a flaming heat radiating down his arm. His left hand clawed at whoever he could reach, tugging at their legs, at their arms, at… His fingertips brushed the plastic pistol. Before the attackers knew what was happening, the weapon was in his grasp and he pulled the trigger.

She didn’t realize that he’d fallen asleep at first, the robot had wrapped up her own first aid but the fluids were still being administered, so Bella was allowed to lay there for a little longer and watch the drip of the IV. Eventually though, almost as if out of her control, her gaze slid toward Tobias. He looked…peaceful, his long lashes created small shadows across his cheekbones, face relaxed, breaths even. She replayed the night over and over in her head as she took in his pale skin, the bags under his eyes, the bandages adorning his body, and she felt…guilt. If he hadn’t come looking for her, he wouldn’t have aggravated his injuries. If she hadn’t ran, if she’d helped her dad, if she’d been strong enough—Bell went to turn away, blinking away from the thoughts that began to feel as if they were suffocating her, when she noticed his breathing was more labored and, to her horror, a single tear cut a glistening trail down his cheek. 

Bellamy panicked, what was he dreaming about that would make him cry in his sleep? Could she wake him? [i]Should[/i] she wake him? Her arm instinctively jerked forward, trembling fingers reaching out toward his hand, when a robotic arm smacked against her uninjured wrist. She pulled her hand back with a soft yelp of pain and a reproachful look at the robot. [color=d6d6d6]"Please keep your IV arm stable."[/color] It intoned, turning away from her without another word. Bella huffed in agitation, turning back toward Tobias.

[i]Ding.[/i] The elevator chimed in sync with the ring of the gun through Tobias’s dream, startling him awake. His chest heaved as he tried to blink the sleep from his eyes. He groaned, sitting upright as Alfred walked towards them with a tray perfectly balanced in one hand and a neat pile of folded clothes in the other. [color=d6d6d6]"Apologies, Mr. Lehnsherr. I was unaware if Ms. Drake had dry clothing so I took the liberty of grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt from your belongings for her. I assumed you wouldn’t mind."[/color]

Tobias nodded his head. [color=796e9c]"Of course. Thank you, Alfred."[/color]


She looked between the two men, mouth falling open a little at how easily Tobias accepted that. It was true, all of her clothes in her bag were beyond drenched, she’d need to wash them before she could wear anything, but his willingness and how unbothered he was…it was touching.

The man set down the tray at the foot of Bellamy’s bed to free his hand. He then handed Tobias one set of clothing, then set another set on the side table for her. His attention shifted back to the tray which was stacked with more than [i]just[/i] tea. There was a steaming teapot, two tea cups, honey, a bottle of aspirin, a bowl of water, a bowl of milk and a tablet. [color=d6d6d6]"We aren’t properly equipped for your little feline friend, Ms. Drake. But I have a warm bowl of cream and water, prepared for him. I have also taken the liberty of placing an order for whatever you should need: food, litter, toys, etc. I’ll have them delivered to your room tomorrow when they arrive."[/color]

[color=bdddff]"Thank you,"[/color] her voice sounded as stunned as her expression portrayed her, looking up at Alfred a little dazed by the man’s courtesy and thoroughness. She hadn’t even managed to think far enough ahead to consider everything Loki would need, her brain had been stuck on survival mode first and foremost. [color=bdddff]"I—I have money, I can pay you back, I don’t want to be an inconvenience…"[/color] She’d already done that more than enough for one day, Tobias and the other people, Imogen, Magni, they’d all done so much for her already. She wasn’t sure how she could repay any of them for any of it.

[color=796e9c]"This is all maintained with Stark, Wayne and Frost money. I don’t think they’d accept repayment even if you offered."[/color] Tobias’s voice dropped low enough that only she could hear it. [color=796e9c]"You’re not inconvenient. You’re alive… That’s what’s important."[/color]


Was it all that important? She glanced up at him, the doubt visible in her gaze before she looked away, head ducked in shame. She wasn’t like him, or likely the others in the tower. She didn’t have enough training to be useful in whatever fight they were headed toward, she couldn’t even save her dad. At best, Bella would be cannon fodder, at worst she’d get someone else killed for her own incompetence. She didn’t vocalize any of this, it wasn’t Tobais’s job to reassure her. Instead, she nodded her head once to show she understood what he said. 

Alfred grabbed another warmed blanket and placed it on the ground, making a small little burrow around the bowls of water and cream. He then gently took the kitten from Bellamy’s arms with a reassuring smile and placed him in the small habitat so he could get some much needed food and water. Next he set to pouring two cups of tea and passing one off to each of them along with two aspirins. Finally he held out the tablet toward Tobias with a warm smile. [color=d6d6d6]"I’m sure you’re able to help her find a place to stay."[/color]

Tobias set aside the clothes so he could hold the tea in one hand and the tablet in the other. He gave the older man an exhausted but warm smile. [color=796e9c]"Thanks, Alfred."[/color]

The man gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder before turning back toward the elevator. [color=d6d6d6]"Don’t worry about cleaning up. I’ll take care of it later. Feel free to leave your dirty clothes behind. I can have them cleaned and back to you both by morning."[/color] Without another word, Alfred slipped back into the elevator leaving them both alone to change and recover. 

[color=bdddff]"Thank you."[/color] She echoed Tobias, blinking a few times as the whirlwind of an old man exited just as quickly as he’d come. Staring down at her own cup of tea for a moment, before glancing down at Loki. The kitten was [i]delighted[/i] by the offerings, purring so loudly she could hear him from the bed, and the sound brought a small, tired smile to her lips.

Tobias took a sip of his tea, then leaned forward slightly to rest the tablet on the side of Bell’s bed. [color=796e9c]"There’s a lot of empty apartments, so you’ll have a pretty good selection."[/color] He looked over at her briefly with a smile before illuminating the screen. [color=796e9c]"Mr. Stark and Mr. Wayne let us kind of decorate however we wanted. I have my old penthouse from when I attended. There used to be a wide variety of people here back in the day, so I’m sure there’s something you’ll find interesting."[/color] He navigated to a page similar to the kiosk down in the lobby that showed images of all the available apartments and held the tablet out towards her. [color=796e9c]"It’s like HGTV, but you don’t have to pay for anything,"[/color] he laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood.

[color=bdddff]"I have to pick?"[/color] She’d smiled at his joke, but there was an undeniably edge of stress in her voice as she caught sight of the sheer amount of available apartments. Stone floors, wooden floors, marble floors, one with a balcony, one with a [i]piano,[/i] one even had an indoor hot tub. Who in their right mind would want a hot tub in their bedroom? Bella chewed on her bottom lip, lifting her wrapped hand to scroll through a few of the options herself. [color=bdddff]"This one has a couch [i]in[/i] the closet, who in the world needs a closet that big?"[/color] Bella muttered to herself, swiping away from that one before giving Tobias a sort of helpless look. [color=bdddff]"I have a studio apartment in New York that barely passes as a closet, I’m a little out of my depth here."[/color] 

He leaned forward, peeking over the edge of the bed to look at the tablet when she mentioned the giant closet. [color=796e9c]"I think that was Jessica’s apartment. She’s the only person I’ve known to care more about fashion than Imogen."[/color] Tobias laughed quietly. [color=796e9c]"Alright, here."[/color] He reached out and gently took the tablet away from her. His finger slowly ran along the screen as he skimmed the various available apartments. Occasionally he caught glimpses of rooms that reminded him of the previous tenant and he couldn’t help but wonder what happened to them, if they were in hiding or were taken… like Helena.

He cleared his throat. [color=796e9c]"So… What do you like? Colors? Hobbies? Help me narrow it down a bit."[/color] Tobias looked up at her from beneath his brow. While his eyes were cast in shadow with dark circles beneath them, there was still a subtle warm and light behind them.

[color=bdddff]"Well, um… literature, I have a degree in English literature, so I guess that’s a hobby, but…"[/color] her eyes trailed off of the tablet screen, settling on his hand instead, the way his finger swiped across the screen slowly. Bella stared for a moment, unsure of why she was so enthralled, and decided it was the sedative clouding her mind. With great effort, she settled her eyes back onto the screen. [color=bdddff]"I participate in professional figure skating, I was meant to go to an international competition next month."[/color] Her lips tugged down some, the realization that she couldn’t go anymore sat like a weight on her chest. [color=bdddff]"None of that really matters anymore."[/color] Bell let out a soft breath, swallowing around the urge to cry, she wouldn’t break down in front of him again.

With each new piece of information, Tobias swiped away apartments that he didn’t think suited her. The task was a little mundane, but he kept his mind busy so he didn’t slip into thoughts about his nightmare or how uncomfortable it was to lean his back against the chair. He looked back over at her when she mentioned figure skating. [color=796e9c]"Guess that just means we need to solve this quickly so you can go."[/color] The corner of his mouth tugged into a lopsided smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. People had been going missing for over a year, the likelihood of them wrapping this up in less than a month was unlikely. And while he had a habit of being pragmatic at best, pessimistic at worse, Bell seemed like she could use some optimism… Even if it was a little misplaced. 

She smiled at that, soft and a little wobbly, but it was one of the first genuine smiles he’d managed to pull from her since they’d met. It reached her eyes, her cheeks a healthy flush instead of the sickly pale she’d been earlier. She knew that it wouldn’t happen, but he was trying, and Bella appreciated that more than she could put into words.

[color=796e9c]"Well, I [i]don’t[/i] think any of these apartments have an ice rink but I’ll keep an eye out,"[/color] he teased gently. So far he had it narrowed between five different apartments, each of which had a decent library and looked cozy, like a home away from home. If he had to choose, he probably would pick the second one. It had that dark academia sort of vibe and a lot of plants, but he wasn’t sure if that really suited her. He knew little to nothing about Bell, but something told him that she needed something brighter and more welcoming. [color=796e9c]"What’s your favorite color?"[/color]

Her eyes had trailed back to his hands, and then away back toward the cat to distract herself, but at his question Bell looked back up, her eyes catching his gaze. She opened her mouth to answer, but…[color=bdddff]"Blue, but dark, like..."[/color] She pressed her lips together tightly, gaze breaking away from his own to stare at the heated blanket in her lap. [i]Why[/i] had she said that? She hadn’t realized what color his eyes were until just then, a mix of blue and grey that reminded her of the frozen over lake she practiced ice skating on as a kid behind her house. [color=bdddff]"Any shade of blue, really."[/color] Bellamy recovered quickly, heat rushing to her cheeks, but the robotic arm moving to remove her IV helped take her mind off of her blunder, grimacing and looking away as it was removed from her arm and a bandage was placed over the crook of her inner elbow. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Drake, Bellamy. First aid is complete."[/color] She looked toward Tobias, eyebrows raised. 

[color=bdddff]"Is that it telling me to get out?"[/color] Her lips twitched up into a slight smile, the idea of being bossed around by a robot was ridiculous.

Tobias laughed, something a little less strained and more genuine. [color=796e9c]"Yeah, means you’re done."[/color] With the knowledge of her liking blue, he swiped away two more options narrowing it down to three. There was the one he originally liked and two others that looked a little brighter, letting in more sunlight with a couple places he could see Loki getting into some mischief. He handed over the tablet as he stood up with a pained groan. [color=796e9c]"I narrowed it down to three. Maybe that’ll help."[/color]

Bella leaned over to look at the tablet, eyes scanning the options she’d been left with. She debated for a moment, narrowing it down between the two, but the first one…the shade of blue on the walls, the windows, there was something about it that felt right. She hesitated still, glancing toward Tobias as he set down his cup of tea, belatedly realizing she hadn’t drank any of her own yet and taking a sip. It was warm, and refreshing. She’d always enjoyed tea, and the familiarity of the drink eased some of the tension hanging onto her shoulders. 

He downed the rest of his tea, then set aside his cup to grab the set of clothes Alfred had left for him. [color=796e9c]"I’ll give you some privacy."[/color] Tobias nodded his head toward the sweats on her side table. He gave the little cat a quick pet as he stepped away. His free hand grabbed the hospital curtain and pulled it out to divide the space between them. He hadn’t noticed the bed he was on earlier was already sterilized and ready for someone new. Must have finished while he was sleeping. He set aside the blanket that was no longer warm to the touch aside from his own body heat. He kicked off his sneakers and peeled off his drenched socks first. Surprisingly his shorts and boxers were still damp and took some effort inching them down when the fabric kept clinging to his skin. A shiver ran down his body as his wet skin was exposed to the chilly air conditioning. He quickly pulled on the dry sweatpants and hoodie, thankful to [i]finally[/i] be dry. 


She scooted off the bed, eyeing the mud caked shoes and discarded socks with a frown. Those had been her only shoes she’d brought with her, she’d have to ask Alfred if…they could order her some more, she supposed. It felt weird to be reliant on someone else for things like that, but it was out of her hands now. Bella struggled for a moment, the mobility of her wrapped shoulder and upper arm made it difficult to drag off her damp jeans, hard to pull on the sweatpants that were too long and pooled loose fabric around her ankles, and downright impossible to get the hoodie on over her head. She wobbled a little on her good foot, hanging her head in embarrassment as she clutched the hoodie in her good hand. 

Tobias took his time laying out his dirty, soaked clothes as neatly as he could for Alfred. When he finished he slowly and carefully lowered himself to the ground. He crossed his legs beneath him before reaching his hand beneath the curtain where he could hear the kitten still slurping up cream. He idly stroked the cat’s head as he waited. [color=796e9c]"I like the color red, but more like maroon. And I play the piano."[/color] He wasn’t entirely sure why he offered up the information unprompted. Maybe he felt like it was only fair since Bell shared information about herself or maybe he wanted to fill the silence… Or [i]maybe[/i] he wanted her to know something else about him that wasn’t his father or that he was a killer. 

Despite her predicament, Bellamy smiled at Tobias’s confession. She hadn’t expected it, hadn’t been sure how to ask despite wanting to know, and so she was glad that it was information openly given. [color=bdddff]"What’s your favorite song to play?"[/color] she flopped back down onto the bed with a huff after struggling for a moment, giving up the last bit of dignity she had. [color=bdddff]"I’m sorry, I…I can’t lift my arm. Can you help me, please?"[/color] Bella held the hoodie out toward where she knew he’d come from the curtain, face flushed and resolutely turned to the side, so she could glare at the robotic arm patiently waiting for her to vacate her bed so it could begin sanitizing the space.

[color=796e9c]"Umm…"[/color] He puffed out his lips with a deep exhale. [i]What did he enjoy playing?[/i] Tobias played a lot of songs, but was always drawn to tunes that were a little more enchanting or melancholy. [color=796e9c]"Probably Swan Lake."[/color] He had never seen the ballet but the music was uniquely haunting, yet captivating in a way most songs weren’t.

[color=796e9c]"Yeah, sure,"[/color] Tobias replied to her request for aid without hesitation. He groaned as he got to his feet and walked toward the curtain then hesitated. He took a deep breath then stepped forward, keeping his eyes focused on his bare feet. He just barely caught a glimpse of the hoodie out of the corner of his eye, reaching out for it, missing a few times before feeling the fabric brush his palm. He took a second to prep it like you would dressing a child, turning it front side down and bunched up one of the sleeves. His gaze shifted to the ceiling as he moved in front of her. [color=796e9c]"Right hand first,"[/color] he instructed barely above a whisper. When he felt her fingers slip through his hands shifted to the other sleeve, prepping it similarly. [color=796e9c]"Ok. And the other one?"[/color]

Her face burned, but one of them had to actually look and see what they were doing, so Bella turned toward him despite how flustered she was, sliding each arm in as directed, though her right arm was tricky because of how it was wrapped, even lifting it just the tiny bit she had to pulled at her shoulder and made pain ripple down her back. She shifted her weight, remembering her injured ankle before she put too much weight on it, and shifted back as her knees threatened to buckle. Getting dressed by a very attractive man was not supposed to be so horribly painful, it never was in the books at least. 

The next part was tricky, so he worked slowly to make sure he didn’t hurt her while focusing on counting the number of ceiling tiles. Tobias fingers scrunched the fabric up so he held it from hem to collar. He took a slight step closer only sparing the quickest glance to make sure he wasn’t going to miss. Luckily his sweater was massive compared to her, so he had plenty of wiggle room to guide it over her head without putting tension on her arm… Whichever one was injured, he couldn’t remember. He carefully tugged the hoodie down to her waist making sure not to accidentally touch her. Tobias looked down at her only when he was certain she was fully covered. He gently untucked her hair from beneath the collar with an awkward smile and flushed cheeks. [color=796e9c]"There."[/color] He nodded his head and took a step back.

[color=796e9c]"Did you pick a room?"[/color] He asked, nodding his head toward the tablet, trying to shift the conversation back into more comfortable territory.

Despite the embarrassment and pain, Bellamy couldn’t help the small and indulgent grin that tugged at her lips, brightening her tired eyes. The way his own cheeks were flushed, how gentle he’d been as he fixed her hair, it was all so endearing. Bell didn’t understand how a man who claimed to have taken so many lives could be so unbelievably gentle, and warm. She could feel the difference in their natural body temperatures now that he wasn’t on the verge of hypothermia, where she naturally ran a few degrees cooler than the average person Tobias felt blissfully warm. She cleared her throat, glancing down at the tablet, happy to have a distraction from the confusing direction her thoughts had gone. 

[color=bdddff]"The one on floor thirty, I think. The color and the windows, it’s so beautiful."[/color] her grin softened into something a little more sad, and Bella backed up to sit on the edge of the bed, trying to roll up the ankles of the sweatpants so she didn’t trip over them. [color=bdddff]"It’s the sort of place you dream about living in, but never think you’ll actually be able to."[/color] She paused in her endeavor of rolling the ankles up to instead roll the sleeves of his hoodie up, face one of great concentration as she struggled for a moment. [color=bdddff]"I’ve never seen the play, Swan Lake, but I’ve read Mark Helprin’s literary adaptation of it. I’ll have to look up the music."[/color]

[color=796e9c]"I have the sheet music in my room,"[/color] he replied before fully realizing the implications of what he was suggesting. Tobias cleared his throat and slid his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants. [color=796e9c]"It sounds a lot better with accompaniment or a proper orchestra though,"[/color] he continued trying to move past what could have been an awkward invitation that gave the wrong message. He wasn’t entirely sure what the wrong message was, but whatever it was, he didn’t want to come across forward or like he was trying to get her alone or something. 

Tobias inhaled a sharp, awkward breath as he walked around the hospital bed to pick up Bellamy’s soaked bag. He carefully pulled the strap over his head and rested it on his good shoulder. [color=796e9c]"How’s your ankle?"[/color] he asked as he crouched down to collect the empty bowls. He slid them into a side pocket of her bag and scooped up the pudgy content cat. Using the sleeve of his hoodie, he wiped the cream from Loki’s face as he returned to Bell and held out the kitten for her. [color=796e9c]"You can try walking, but seeing as how you won’t even put weight on it…"[/color] his voice trailed off, the implication of his words evident without saying it. [color=796e9c]"There’s also crutches, a wheelchair or…"[/color] He motioned his hands toward himself with a slight shrug. While Tobias was tired, he could manage carrying her to her room if that’s what she wanted. In the end it was her decision. 

[color=bdddff]"I’d like to hear you play sometime,"[/color] Bell glanced toward Tobias, brows furrowing more as she watched him verbally backtrack for a moment, not sure why, unless he didn’t [i]want[/i] to spend time around her, which…that was fair, really. She glanced back down at the sleeves, swallowing around the lump in her throat. It made sense, he’d fulfilled whatever moral obligation he’d had getting her here alive, that was all that mattered in the end. [color=bdddff]"No pressure, of course. I’m sure you’re busy with…"[/color] she gestured around them, the sleeve she hadn’t managed to roll up properly flopped back and smacked her in the face. Bellamy dropped her arm quickly, face burning in embarrassment. 

[color=796e9c]"No, I…"[/color] his voice faded away as he rubbed the back of his neck. Tobias wasn’t used to this, any of it. Most of his life it had been just him and when he was at the academy he had people like Magni who just kind of adopted him and dragged him around everywhere. He never really made friends on his own or initiated anything beyond necessary conversation. [color=796e9c]"I’d be happy to,"[/color] he sighed, deciding honesty was better than whatever it was that he was trying to do. [color=796e9c]"I was just… trying not to make you uncomfortable,"[/color] he admitted with a faint smile.

[color=bdddff]"Oh,"[/color] she let out a soft breath, surprise flickering across her face before Bella smiled, soft and unguarded. She hadn’t realized until that moment, but the two of them had a lot in common. [color=bdddff]"You…I feel safe with you."[/color] Her breath caught in her throat, realizing what she’d said a second too late, but…it was true. She looked down at her ankles, one wrapped and the other bare. The floor was cold beneath her feet, welcoming and familiar. [color=bdddff]"I–I just mean, you don’t have to worry about that, so."[/color] 

The admission caught Tobias off guard. As far as he could remember, the only people who ever felt [i]safe[/i] with him was family, or at least the only people who vocalized it. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He must have been doing something right. The small bit of good he did paled in comparison to the overwhelming shadow of his past that loomed overhead, but the small reassurance told him he was on the right path, if nothing else. He cleared his throat and nodded his head. [color=796e9c]"Ok,"[/color] he replied softly.

She pushed up to her feet, smiling at his reply, testing how much pressure her bad ankle could withstand before answering. She would sooner go back out into that forest and give the sniper a clean shot than have him push her around in a wheelchair, thank you very much, but she wasn’t going to tell Tobias the idea of him picking her up again made her heart flutter in her chest. Christ, what was wrong with her? Had she hit her head during one of the falls, because it sure felt like it, maybe it was just the sedative. Pain arched up her ankle, along her calf, and burned in her knee. Bella flattered for a second, face paling a little, but she smiled a tight little smile at him. [color=bdddff]"I can walk,"[/color] she lied, eyeing his shoulder with more concern than she’d given her own injuries. [color=bdddff]"I don’t want you to rip your stitches again. That was…"[/color] [i]terrifying.[/i] [color=bdddff]"It must have really hurt, I’m sorry."[/color]

[color=796e9c]"Yeah, fuck that,"[/color] he muttered under his breath as he pushed her bag around his torso so it hung behind his back. Regardless if Bell tried to argue or pull away, Tobias could move faster than her. He swept his left arm into the back of her knees while his other hand carefully held her side, and then picked her up. His jaw tensed for a second as he adjusted her in his arms, but then he relaxed and made his way toward the elevator. He turned her so she could handle pressing the button. He was already beyond the point of fatigue, so he wasn’t going to risk adding another thing to juggle along with Bell and her bag.

She had a split second where she saw the resolve flicker across his face, her stomach dropping, and then Tobias was moving toward her faster than she could process the movement. Bella looked like a deer in headlights, gasping as her legs were quite literally swept out from beneath her, good arm flailing for a second before she slipped it around the back of his neck, face burning for a completely different reason as her weight settled easily into his arms. Bell, quite possibly, had never felt more attracted to another person until this very moment. [color=bdddff]"Toby!"[/color] The nickname slipped from her tongue without thought, her warm breath fanning across the bit of his throat that was exposed, arm tightening around his shoulders for a second before she adjusted, not wanting to agitate any of his injuries. 

[color=796e9c]"I didn’t even notice until we were in the car,"[/color] he confessed, looking over at her as they waited on the elevator. Tobias would have shrugged but he couldn’t move his shoulders while focusing on supporting her weight, so his head just nodded to the side slightly. [color=796e9c]"I get tunnel vision in a fight. Unless the injury actually inhibits me, I’ll notice vague pain, but don’t really register what it is until it’s all over."[/color]

[color=bdddff]"Are you in pain?"[/color] Her other hand kept Loki against her chest, where the kitten was content to snuggle up and doze lazily, so she couldn’t reach out and press a hand to his chest like she felt the bizarre desire to do. She could feel the steady and strong thrum of his heart against her side though, catching his gaze as her own heart beat erratically in her chest, and that was the exact moment Bella knew she was in danger for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with armed goons. She’d never felt so flustered from something so simple, it was so [i]stupid.[/i] She just needed sleep, the sedative needed to wear off, and she’d be fine from there. [color=bdddff]"I…thank you."[/color] Bell added softly, looking down at the cat. 

Tobias stepped onto the elevator when the doors opened, and turned her toward the panel so she could select the correct floor. Once the lift began to move upwards, he leaned back against one of the walls for support as they waited. [i]Was he in pain?[/i] Yes. Was he going to admit that to Bellamy? No. [color=796e9c]"Just a little sore,"[/color] he answered, looking down at her from beneath his dark brow. It wasn’t a lie, per se, just not the entire truth. Was it likely that his legs would give out two seconds after he entered his apartment? Most likely. But half of that wasn’t because of her but his own fault for doing an excessive amount of weight training in the morning. Figures the one day he half kills himself working out there would be training and it’d be the one time he [i]actually[/i] helps someone. Fate was kind of a bitch that way.

When the doors opened to Bellamy’s new apartment, Tobias let out a low whistle. [color=796e9c]"This is a lot fancier than my place."[/color] He pushed off the wall with a faint grunt and carried her inside. His eyes scanned the room until he locked onto an ornate staircase that [i]had[/i] to lead to a second floor, and most likely her bedroom. [i]Fuck.[/i] At the base of the stairs he inhaled a sharp breath through his nose then started climbing. Each step was more difficult than the last. His legs felt like noodles and his muscles were on fire, but his face was stoic and blank aside from the slight furrowing of his brows. 

[color=bdddff]"Tobias,"[/color] her tone was verging on pleading, watching how his brows furrowed, face otherwise impassive. She could feel the tension in his arms though, how each step up felt slower than the last. Guilt rolled in her stomach, because he was in pain but trying to push through for her, she should have just asked the stupid robot to put her in a tub, exhaustion and conflicting emotions be damned, anything so he didn’t have to suffer through this for her. [color=bdddff]"I can walk, please…"[/color] He was stubborn, and focused, so her whispered plea didn’t do much, and her head fell to the side to rest against his collarbone, a soft sigh of defeat falling from her lips. [color=bdddff]"I’m going to be worried about you getting back to your room now."[/color] Bella muttered, absentmindedly stroking Loki’s head with her thumb. 

Tobias’s gaze fell to the top of her head as she rested it against him. His pulse elevated slightly as a warmth grew in his chest and spread across his cheeks. [color=796e9c]"I’ll be ok. I’m only five floors away."[/color]

A sigh of relief escaped his lips when Tobias finally made it up the stairs and found her bedroom. He carried Bellamy inside and gently set her on the bed. He then pulled her bag over his head and put it inside her closet. [color=796e9c]"I can show you where we do laundry tomorrow, if you need help,"[/color] he offered, rubbing his hands together awkwardly as he lingered by the door. [color=796e9c]"Did you need anything else?"[/color] he asked. While it wasn’t his duty to take care of her, he couldn’t bring himself to leave until he knew his help was no longer needed… or wanted.

The bed was soft beneath her, like how she’d imagined a cloud would feel when she was younger, nicer than any bed Bellamy had ever owned, but it wasn’t enough to distract her from him. Her eyes tracked his movements like a planet stuck in the gravitational pull of the sun, unable to look anywhere else. It was the exhaustion, the sedative, that was all, and yet…she took a deep breath, and all Bell could smell was his cologne. [color=bdddff]"No,"[/color] she lied, better this time, because what she wanted was very different from what she needed. She wanted to ask him to not leave, she was scared of being alone again, but that was selfish in a way that she didn’t even want to consider. [color=bdddff]"Thank you, for everything. If you hadn’t shown up…"[/color] Bell looked away, and she could feel the tears shimmering in her eyes. She set aside Loki onto one of the pillows, refusing to let a single tear fall. [color=bdddff]"Thank you for saving me, Tobias."[/color] 

[color=796e9c]"Ok,"[/color] he whispered with a nod of his head. [color=796e9c]"I would do it again,"[/color] Tobias confessed as he noticed the tears pooling in her eyes and the guilt that tugged her mouth into a slight frown. [color=796e9c]"Even if it ended worse for me. So…"[/color] He shrugged his shoulders slightly. [color=796e9c]"Don’t blame yourself for me. I’m alive, you’re alive…"[/color] He nodded his head and exhaled softly. 

[color=796e9c]"I’m on floor 35 if you need anything. I don’t sleep much so it’s no bother."[/color] Tobias took a step forward, lingering for a second in the doorway. He lightly tapped his hand against the door frame while looking over at her one last time. [color=796e9c]"Good night, Bell."[/color] A lopsided smile curved at the corner of his mouth before he disappeared out into the hallway.

His words bounced around in her head relentlessly as she watched him go, biting her bottom lip hard enough that she could taste iron across her tongue. She resisted calling him back, because she knew the control she’d held onto all night was slipping. She didn’t trust herself, her powers, or her own control enough to risk hurting him, so she watched him go as the tears spilled over, and he was already gone before she found it in her to reply. [color=bdddff]"Night, Toby."[/color][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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