I Find It Hard to Tell You [Active/Open]

[diva_foxx]

Characters: Foxx, whoever else feels like dropping by
Content: Well, Foxx is about due for a breakdown.
Location: BPH, Foxx's room
Time of Day: Not long after this thread
Warnings: ...mental breakdown? Do we need more of a warning? |D

Comments

[eba03]

Foxx wasn't the only one taking the whole situation poorly. But Morris wasn't the type to tremble alone in his room. He was the type to pace around, irritated and eyes set on the carpet. And even if he knew it probably wouldn't have made a difference, Morris wished he could have been there in the small chance he could have done something about it. Derek was his friend. Derek was a good man. Derek didn't deserve any of what had happened, but it had happened.

Derek was also the world's biggest introvert, and as much as Morris wanted to sit with the guy and have a bromantic talk, he wanted to wait a little bit. Give his friend some air, maybe himself some time to cool off too. And maybe spend the time helping someone else out.

After all, 04 wasn't the only member caught up in that mess. He'd seen how Foxx had looked on the way back. Fear, disgust, regret, same. It wasn't a look he much liked on any woman. So he figured a visit was in order.

When he approached her door, he gave it a curt knock, and then waited for a count of five in case she wanted to compose herself before he walked in. "Afternoon," was all he said.

[diva_foxx]

Foxx thought she would at least be alone long enough to come to grips with what had happened, maybe even get herself back under control again. The knock at the door proved her very wrong.

She'd frozen when the knock sounded, listening hard - and suddenly her world drowned in a burst of hot irrational anger. She'd wanted some time to herself, wanted to be alone, but no, he of all people had to show up, and she knew it was him, she'd know that tune anywhere-

Had she been thinking clearly, she would have realized that Morris was likely as upset over the situation as she. As it was, she was seeing far too much red to even begin to string a coherent thread of logic together.

When Morris entered, he'd find a pillow flying at his head (it was the only thing close at hand and he was lucky it wasn't anything harder or heavier).

"Get out," Foxx snapped.

[eba03]

Morris wasn't much surprised by the reaction, really. She'd gotten cross with him countless times before, in considerably less stressful situations. The techie diva had given him some considerably nastier bruises for invading her space in the past, so while he hadn't exactly known that the pillow would be attacking his face, he figured in the instant after that he probably should have.

Quietly, the Agent leaned down to pick up his hat, knocked loose by the fluffy projectile, the straightened again as he set it on his head again. Then, kicking the offending pillow aside, he took a step in, and closed the door behind him.

He gave Foxx a straight look through his shades, without a trace of his usual taunting smile, and crossed his arms. "Nope."

[diva_foxx]

More than anything else, Morris being completely serious for once should have tipped Foxx off that this would not be the normal sort of encounter with him, but no, she was still too angry to pick up on the clues. In fact, his refusal only served to make her angrier.

"It's two words, Morris," she snapped again, not bothering to check her temper; after all, undeserved fury was better than the alternative. "What part of it don't you get?"

[eba03]

"The same part that keeps me pressing after you hit me with the laptop," he replied. "I get it fine. I'm just a contrary bastard who doesn't like to back down when he doesn't feel like he should."

He leaned against the wall a bit. "I'm not goin' anywhere, Foxx. You're just gonna have to deal with it." He raised a humorless brow. "You can try throwing something with a little more influence, but I don't plan on changing my mind quite yet."

[diva_foxx]

He had a point, at least about his own behavior. "Suit yourself," she replied flatly and turned her glare off to the side, body language clearly stating she wanted nothing more to do with him.

...Except that she did. She wanted to cling to this fit of fury, to keep her temper boiling over, because she could feel breathless terror and overwhelming guilt lurking just below the surface, waiting to crash over her again. As undeserved as her anger might be, it was the only thing keeping those emotions at bay.

The problem now was, she couldn't think of a thing to say. She began to concentrate on keeping herself from shaking again. That, at least, was working. Kind of.

[eba03]

Morris figured he'd let her have her little poutfest for a little bit. She was allowed to be mad at him; not an unfamiliar feeling by any means, after all. Of course, she wasn't usually so vehement about it, but this situation wasn't usual. After all, he was hardly acting in his usual manner, and he really wasn't enjoying the need to feel like he was taking charge somewhere. But he'd let enough things get out of control for one day.

A minute or so passed, while he let her stew, think about it for a moment, before he let out a sigh. "You wanna keep going, or is that good enough for you? I mean, I can wait, but generally penting that junk up isn't the best for getting over anything." He shrugged. "Unless you wanna keep feeling like crap."

[diva_foxx]

That minute of silence was more than enough to break down whatever anger she had left. Of course, with that barrier gone, she was back to trying to keep everything she'd been feeling before Morris came in from rising up and pulling her under once again. Her head was down and her entire body tensed, as though she would snap completely if pushed the wrong way (which was in all likelihood very true).

He was right, of course. He was right, but there was a part of Foxx that still couldn't admit it, couldn't break down and deal in front of anyone else, and that was the part that spoke up.

"Just leave me alone, Morris." Her words had no fight left in them. She wanted him to leave, and she wanted him to stay, and either way she simply could not win.

[eba03]

That had done it. She'd simmered down, a bit too far. Morris let his shoulders relax a bit, and took a seat in one of the chairs not too far from the door. "We went over this," he replied, the domination taken out of his words. Foxx was getting what practically sounded like a gentle tone from him.

"Talk to me, Foxx. Or yell to me. Or whisper. Whichever suits you. But don't make yourself keep it in."

[diva_foxx]

On a normal day, Foxx couldn't stand Morris. He usually helped this sentiment along by being as annoying as humanly possible.

Today, however, was not a normal day. He was still getting to her, and while it wasn't in the usual way, it still worked.

"I-" Something inside her collapsed, and she leaned forward, head in her hands, trembling. "He- he took it for me," was all she could manage, voice barely above a whisper. It wasn't the most specific she'd ever been, but Morris would know exactly what she meant.

[eba03]

Morris had to take a deep breath. That was...harsh. No wonder she was beating herself up over the whole thing. It wasn't just being scared or feeling a little guilty. The feeling that it was her fault... he couldn't honestly say he wouldn't feel the same if it had been him in her place. Hell.

"Sucks," he said. He paused. Then leaned on his knees. "Yeah. That sucks." He sighed again. "That's all there is to say about it. There's nothing to be done. He got bit, and that's the fact. You beating yourself up, whether or not you deserve it... you don't need it, and neither does he." He gave her a weary look. It wasn't the kindest thing to say. But it was him being honest about what he thought, which was as much as she could hope for.

[diva_foxx]

Harsh was a good word, both for what she was feeling and what he was saying. Derek had been bitten to protect her. There was no changing that fact. The guilt that came with it...well, Foxx could either drown in it like she was doing or try to push past it.

"I know." It was a quiet admission, one she didn't look up to give. "I know." And now that she knew, what was she going to do about it?

She had no idea.