There's got to be a morning after [VERY OPEN]

[craaazyisland]

It took a few moments for any thoughts to register for Steve when he opened his eyes. He recognized the inside of a quarantine bubble, that was for sure, but it took him longer to recognize the medical equipment hooked up to him, an IV in his arm and bandages wrapped around his bare shoulder and in a few other spots.

It didn't take long to recognize the feeling of having been run over by a truck, either. Every bone in his body ached, and even the slightest movement made him want to groan. It felt like he'd been asleep for a month-- a dreamless sleep, preceded by blurry, disconnected memories of what felt like a dream.

Memories of something he desperately, desperately hoped was just a dream. He had a sinking feeling it wasn't and part of him knew it to be the truth. But desperately hoping was the only way he could keep himself from screaming, which would hurt, so he'd keep on with that desperate hope anyway.

Steve lay awake and stared at the ceiling. Maybe if he stayed quiet they'd think he was still asleep, and he could put the truth and all the fear and sorrow that came with it off a while longer.

Comments

[craaazyisland]

Steve listened quietly and tried to match up her explanation to the bits and pieces of memories floating around in his head. It was more like an old dream that he couldn't remember all the parts of, but parts of it rang distantly familiar, somehow. Claire, Miku, Luke, and...

"Leon?" he repeated, sounding mystified. "He was there?" And Steve was still somehow un-fried with a high powered electrical plasma cannon?

Huh. Maybe miracles did happen.

He reached up to awkwardly rub the back of his neck. "So you guys all... saved my life."

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

Miku nodded slightly. She continued to pick at the blanket, waiting for her legs to feel solid again. "Yes, I... I guess we did." She stood and smiled slightly.

[craaazyisland]

He slowly snaked his arm over to rest his hand on hers, squeezing only slightly.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his temple. "Thank you, too," she murmured. Miku turned her hand around in his and squeezed back. "Should I go?"

[craaazyisland]

He hesitated.

"No," he finally murmured. "But- only if you don't want to."

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

Miku pulled her head away from his, "I'll stay, then." He certainly didn't need to know how much work it took her just to get here. She was mindfully lifted her free hand to move his hair out of his face. "At least until someone says I'm a terrible person for beating you up." Miku almost smiled.

[craaazyisland]

He closed his eyes and sighed at the touch. "S'okay. I deserved it," he reminded her.

He was quiet in thought for a few minutes. "So the suppressant... worked, then, huh?" he said, opening his eyes quite suddenly.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"You did," she agreed.

While he thought, Miku had continued to run her fingers through his hair, mindful not to accidentally catch the earring. The last thing she wanted was a terrible invasion of Steve's memory. "He said something very long and sciencey about it, but I think it boiled down to that this will never happen again."

[craaazyisland]

His breath hitched in his throat and his hand tightened around Miku's.

"It won't," he confirmed. He had the feeling that the full weight of that had yet to hit him. Or, rather, to be lifted off his shoulders.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"No, it won't," she nodded and squeezed his hand. "It really, really won't."

Miku was quiet for a bit, but then very carefully maneuvered herself onto the bed with him, mindful of the various cords. "Sorry, it was getting awkward standing," she apologized.

[craaazyisland]

"I don't mind," Steve assured her, and slowly wrapped his arm around her instead-- also mindful of the cords. She was nice and warm and though her weight (somehow) aggravated the pain a bit, it went away quickly.

"Thank you," he said again. He wasn't quite sure what for this time.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"For what?" Miku asked, and raised her eyebrows. Though she'd gotten into bed with him, she was careful enough not to upset her own bumps and bruises. It was well enough that Steve didn't need to know about them.

[craaazyisland]

"For..." He seemed to hesitate, then leaned his head against her shoulder.

"For sticking with me," he said finally.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"Ah..." Miku sighed and buried her nose in his hair. "It's probably because I love you." Three times in less than an hour. Maybe he was making her more American.

Perish the thought.

"Are you going to miss your bubble when you don't have to be in it, anymore?" Miku asked, as she changed the subject, to look up at the ceiling. Her fingers of her free hand went to touch her necklace... which wasn't there, and rested over her heart.

[craaazyisland]

"I love you too," he replied, and tightened his arm around her as much as he could before it started hurting again.

"And... no. I won't miss it. Not even a little bit. Not even at all."

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

Miku exhaled to keep from squeaking or groaning. "No? Poor bubble."

She smiled against the top of his head, "Get well soon, okay? I brought you a bento, to help speed things along. It isn't cake, I know, but hopefully it's a good substitute."

[craaazyisland]

"I am kind of hungry." She might feel his stomach complaining any time now. "As soon as I feel a little better I can't wait to eat it." Miku's cooking maybe wasn't curative, but it sure made a person feel better regardless.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"I hope you'll like it," she smiled. Oh look, twelve muscles that didn't hurt when she breathed.

Miku settled in beside Steve, grateful for the warmth he provided. "Do you think they'll mind me being in here? I don't want to cut into your visiting time."

[craaazyisland]

"No," he said. "I'll complain until they let you stay."

A beat. "And have you ever made anything I didn't like?"

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"Tofu." Miku replied.

[craaazyisland]

"I didn't not like it. I just wasn't used to it."

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"I will make you learn to love it," Miku promised. "You'll see."

[craaazyisland]

"If anybody could, you could." He sighed again and inched her a little closer, after making certain he wasn't going to tangle or tug on his IV.

[ghost-bait.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad you're confident in me," she pressed her lips to his, briefly. "I'll do my best to not disappoint you."

[craaazyisland]

He smiled faintly, pressing his forehead against hers. "That's another thing you've never done."