They say you can catch it, but sometimes you're born with it

[calicoway]

Luke Roberts is pacing in the lobby of the Kashtta Tower. He has to respond to Arlin, but he doesn't know what to say to him yet. Luke believes him. Arlin seems sincere, and Luke really wants to get out. He doesn't want to have to be a bother to Torchwood or to put any of these people into danger. A hail of bullets and lion is what Gene said...

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[changingtheodds]

"Robin!" Ruvin bolts into the room as soon as she sees him, not noticing how exhausted he looks in her haste to tackle him in a hug. She's been worried. "You're okay. You--I saw Vincent, he said you talked to him, and... Where were you?"

[with_coffee]

Robin does not realize what's happening at first, which is why it takes him a moment to hug her back.

"I had to shower, and then take care of some business." Yes, vague that up, Robin, as much as possible. "I'm not leaving the hotel, again, any time soon." Not until he needs more, at least, which won't be for a while.

"How are you feeling?"

Vague it up, and then change the topic of discussion. It's a winning game plan.

[changingtheodds]

She curls up against him, or tries to, but the chair is awkward and uncomfortable and she doesn't want to hit any of his bruises, so she ends up sitting on the arm and leaning against Robin instead. "All right. I'm... tired. A lot. And the Vesmier--he's... Intimidating. But all right. Dusty's been keeping me company."

[with_coffee]

Robin frowns with concern when she mentions being tired. He keeps his arms around her and holds her close.

Now that the medication has helped him to be more detached, he can think about how things have changed for him, and how strange it is that they have changed. Not so long ago a hug from anyone would make him freeze up on command as though he were going to get hit. This particular hug actually makes him feel better as much as he feels anything at all.

"Are you able to sleep alright?" He glances at her face, and then looks at the opposite wall. "That's... good about Dusty. She's good for you." He thinks Dusty would probably be good for a lot of people, but Ruvin is the only one that matters right now.

What had the Vesmier said? Companionship. Company. Something or other. The point is that Robin's done a rotten job of that lately. It's good that someone is stepping up to the plate. As strange as it is for him to think of either of them being in any sort of relationship, it's good that they have each other.

[changingtheodds]

"Yes, it's--" She looks down, then away. "Not really. I have a lot of... dreams." Ruvin shudders at the word.

Fire, fire, always fire. Variations on a single theme. She runs her fingers over the seam of the chair's cover. "And she is. Good for me."

More than Ruvin thinks she deserves, sometimes, but she wouldn't give Dusty up for anything. Maybe it's selfish. Maybe, lately, Ruvin doesn't really care. "What about you?"

She fiddles with the seam some more. "You look tired too."

[with_coffee]

Robin hesitates. He is not good at this even if he's better when it's with her and even if he's better when there's a certain amount of drugs running through his system. He doesn't like the way she shudders at saying it, but he wants to open it up for her to talk about. Companionship. People say talking does good. Wyatt says it though Robin has his doubts about how much the psychologists actually believes it.

"Dreams about what?

He doesn't comment any more about Dusty, because it is awkward for him to think of their relationship. Not to mention the fact that he can recognize that tone in her voice when she agreed with him. He's not sure how to convince someone that they're worth it- all of it, and he's even less sure that she'd believe him

[changingtheodds]

It takes her a long time to answer that. She's not even sure how she can. "About..."

She scoots forward a bit, so she can lean back and rest her head against Robin's shoulder without cricking her neck. "Fire. Things burning. Whole... worlds full of people dying."

She bites her lip. "They're the Doctor's memories. Some of them. The Vesmier tried to suppress them, but. I guess it didn't work."

[with_coffee]

Robin closes his eyes when she says that. His jaw clenches tightly to keep his emotions locked down, specifically rage. She shouldn't have been near his mind or his memories. Not if that's what they consist of.

Luckily, he's exhausted and drugged up enough that it doesn't send him into a rage as it would have otherwise. There's nothing he can say to help so he pulls her closer and rests his head against hers, protectively.

It would help if he was capable of protecting her from her dreams, but he's not. "I wish I could help. Take them away somehow."

He's even thinking about discussing it with Wyatt even if he doesn't trust the man much. Robin doesn't want to set her on a path of addiction, but he wants her to be able to sleep, too.

[changingtheodds]

"Me too," she says. She almost falls asleep right there, while he's holding her. It would be so easy to just let go of consciousness and let him deal with whatever happens next. "Don't be mad at him. Please-- I know you can't just not be, but..."

She shifts and resettles to hug Robin around the chest. "He's lost so much."

[with_coffee]

Robin closes his eyes focusing on that numb, exhausted feeling, because it's the only thing that's going to stop him being mad at the Doctor.

"I won't be," he says, and he even manages to suppress the pain that the lie causes him.

He glances down at her and can tell how near sleep she is. If he can provide a venue for sleeping, well, that's better than anything else he's managed to do for her.

"You can sleep... you know. I don't mind." He'll probably fall asleep, too, but that's no reason not to.

[changingtheodds]

"I'm fine." Ruvin drags in a breath and opens her eyes, realizing how close to falling asleep right there she is herself. "Just glad you're back."

The last part is true, at least. She watches the movement in the hall for... she's not sure how long. Long enough to start dozing again. Her arms slip down to Robin's stomach, and she shivers, hearing the first dark scream somewhere in the haze collecting in her head. "Please don't leave," she says, or thinks she says. It's enough of a mumble that he might not be able to tell.

[with_coffee]

Robin hears it, because he pays far too much attention to every fucking word she says. He holds her closer.

"Not ever again," he says, pressing a kiss into her hair. No matter how hard it gets to stay. He won't leave, again.

God, he is exhausted. He leans his head back against the chair and closes his eyes. It's easier to relax when she's lying against him, close to him.

[changingtheodds]

It's easier for her to relax too, once he's said that. It hardly registers, sleepy as she is, but the impression of the words is enough. Ruvin shifts and resettles so the chair isn't digging into her side or hip. She hugs Robin a little tighter, maybe for reassurance and maybe a little possessively.

It's not much, maybe, to anyone else. But the words mean the world to her.

[with_coffee]

Robin doesn't let go of her even when he passes out leaned back against the chair. It's comfortable here.

She's safe in his arms, and even in sleep, he is aware of that, which is enough to send him into the deepest sleep he's had in a long time.

Now Ruvin can't leave without risking waking up Robin so clearly they must fall asleep together on this chair.

[changingtheodds]

Clearly.

Ruvin lays there for a while, eyes half-shut, listening to him breathe, to his heart thumping against her ear. It's soothing. Hypnotizing, really. And it's not long before she's dipping into proper sleep.

I'm here, says the heartbeat. It says, I'm real.

Ruvin lets go. Lets herself stop hanging on to that edge of consciousness that will let her wrestle free of a nightmare at a moment's notice, lets go of the need to hear people moving outside of her room or next to her under the covers.

I'm here. I'm real. I'm here.