( His breath shudders, and he rests his forehead against hers. )
Okay.
( Somehow he feels like he's failed at something, but this is so much a relief, at the same time. Leaning against her he shouldn't do, but God he misses her whenever they aren't in contact. )
[Carefully, she wraps an arm around his waist, anchoring herself against him. Maybe she should have let him go, as if he might've found some relief without her, instead of letting them keep hurting each other.
But she knows he would've just been as lonely as her, but they would've both been too stubborn to fix things. It's better that he never left; she's not sure she would've been able to ask him to come back.]
( He scoffs a little, laughing at himself and how ridiculous this is. He almost kisses he cheek as he pulls back; somehow, he reminds himself not to, taking a step back. )
Just-- g-gotta um, k-keep my head elevated. That'll help.
[And she'll ban Maurice from the bed for a little while, to make sure that he doesn't accidentally jostle Donny and hurt him.
The ban starts now, apparently, because she's moving over to the bed and quietly telling Maurice to hop down, petting him once he's on the ground to let him know that he's not in trouble.
She still has a lot of work to do for the day, but right now she just wants to forget all that and curl up with Donny for a little while, as if that might undo the tangled mess they've gotten themselves in.]
( But he wants to change into pyjamas, and he's groaning a little as he tries to tug the training skins off over his head, biting his lip as it knocks his nose. Thank God for his trained silence. Eventually he manages to get the thing off, grabs a singlet to draw on instead. )
I'm so t-tired.
( He's still not able to sleep well. It feels so against the grain. )
[She watches him with a frown, wishing he wouldn't be so stubborn about getting help, about just taking some damn painkillers. He always gets angry at her about how she takes care of herself, but she's just forgetful, while he's actively not looking after himself.
There's no point arguing about it, not when everything else is so fragile.]
I know.
[Just like she is, even if it's for different reasons.
She wishes she could help, but while she knows what she'd do for herself (sleeping pills) she knows he won't accept the same thing.]
( He tugs off the rest of the skins until he's down to his boxers, just clambering into bed and arranging pillows to prop himself up a little. It feels like so much effort, movements a little sluggish before he twists around to settle down.
Painkillers are so tempting, sometimes, but that's not a good idea. It makes him so tense, the idea of not being in control and aware of his body, picking the ice back up from the bedside table and pressing it on his face. )
[Max takes a moment to firmly tell Maurice no, just to make sure he won't try to clamber onto the bed when she's not paying attention, and the slips into bed beside Donny.
She doesn't want to think about everything they've talked about, so she just presses a light kiss to his shoulder, tucking herself against his side with an arm over his chest.]
( Without really thinking, he wraps one of his arms around her shoulders, drawing her a little closer. This is comforting, the contact makes him feel so much relief. )
[Or spend too much energy focusing on his temperature when he should just be trying to get some sleep. She's dressed warmly enough, and even though the bed doesn't have half as many blankets and quilts as it would if she wasn't living with Donny, there are enough that she can keep warm if she needs it.
( He wants to kiss her forehead; he resists the urge, eyes drifting shut and sinking against her and the cushions.
Instead, he gently squeezes her shoulder, and wills sleep to come. It's evasive, but maybe if he deliberately slows her breath and reminds himself Max is there, she's warm and they can protect each other, he'll get there. )
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I'd-- I w-want t-to stay.
( She makes him feel so, so much better. )
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Then stay.
[It doesn't matter that him being around makes things more complicated, that sometimes it makes everything more painful; it'd be worse without him.]
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Okay.
( Somehow he feels like he's failed at something, but this is so much a relief, at the same time. Leaning against her he shouldn't do, but God he misses her whenever they aren't in contact. )
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But she knows he would've just been as lonely as her, but they would've both been too stubborn to fix things. It's better that he never left; she's not sure she would've been able to ask him to come back.]
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This is so difficult, but he feels so relieved, even if pressing his palms to her back seems like it's a failure.
He really wants to kiss her; maybe it's for the best his nose is broken. )
I m-might lie d-down?
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You should get some rest if you can, that's going to keep hurting.
[His nose, because she's had hers broken before, and it's never a fun process.]
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( He scoffs a little, laughing at himself and how ridiculous this is. He almost kisses he cheek as he pulls back; somehow, he reminds himself not to, taking a step back. )
Just-- g-gotta um, k-keep my head elevated. That'll help.
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[And she'll ban Maurice from the bed for a little while, to make sure that he doesn't accidentally jostle Donny and hurt him.
The ban starts now, apparently, because she's moving over to the bed and quietly telling Maurice to hop down, petting him once he's on the ground to let him know that he's not in trouble.
She still has a lot of work to do for the day, but right now she just wants to forget all that and curl up with Donny for a little while, as if that might undo the tangled mess they've gotten themselves in.]
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( But he wants to change into pyjamas, and he's groaning a little as he tries to tug the training skins off over his head, biting his lip as it knocks his nose. Thank God for his trained silence. Eventually he manages to get the thing off, grabs a singlet to draw on instead. )
I'm so t-tired.
( He's still not able to sleep well. It feels so against the grain. )
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There's no point arguing about it, not when everything else is so fragile.]
I know.
[Just like she is, even if it's for different reasons.
She wishes she could help, but while she knows what she'd do for herself (sleeping pills) she knows he won't accept the same thing.]
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Painkillers are so tempting, sometimes, but that's not a good idea. It makes him so tense, the idea of not being in control and aware of his body, picking the ice back up from the bedside table and pressing it on his face. )
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She doesn't want to think about everything they've talked about, so she just presses a light kiss to his shoulder, tucking herself against his side with an arm over his chest.]
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Are you c-cold?
( He can be warmer. That's okay, right? )
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[Or spend too much energy focusing on his temperature when he should just be trying to get some sleep. She's dressed warmly enough, and even though the bed doesn't have half as many blankets and quilts as it would if she wasn't living with Donny, there are enough that she can keep warm if she needs it.
He needs to stop fussing over her so much.]
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Instead, he gently squeezes her shoulder, and wills sleep to come. It's evasive, but maybe if he deliberately slows her breath and reminds himself Max is there, she's warm and they can protect each other, he'll get there. )