(Untitled)

[renegade_reaper]

Beat ain't surprised when all they thought he had as one big bruise on his chest. It looked real nasty a day later, tingin' his skin black an' blue in the shape of where it lashed against him. He knew he was lucky jus' to leave there with that an' the scratches on his back from the landn'. It coulda been worse. He'd been through worse

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[turnthebadinme]

Serena had sat through both her classes despite her restlessness, fidgeting and unfocused and wondering why she'd bothered. As interesting as the topic was, she couldn't pay attention, and as soon as school was out, she made her way right over to Beat's, knocking at the door. "Beat?"

There'd been no reason not to go and stick to her routine, not when she wasn't all that badly injured. A few scratches and bruises where she'd landed were the bulk of it, in addition to which, her leg was bandaged up now where the squid had wrapped its tentacles around her, from her ankle halfway up her calf. It was tender, but she'd survive. Other people had been hurt much worse, as she heard it.

[renegade_reaper]

Beat coulda guessed it was her, even though he hadn't heard her call out his name. He pulled himself up after a moment, grabbin' a shirt to pull on so his injuries ain't so glarin'. It looked uglier than it really was. After gettin' it on, he headed over to go open the door.

"Yo, Serena," he greeted, already movin' aside to let her in. "You sure you oughta be walkin' on that thing? Come on in, you can sit down or somethin'."

[turnthebadinme]

Serena turned her head to pout at him even as she walked on inside. "I'm fine," she said. It hurt and it sucked, but she didn't think it even really counted for anything. So long as she didn't put too much weight on it, she barely noticed it, or she could pretend she barely noticed. Even so, touching his arm as she passed, she headed further inside so she could go sit down like he'd said. "You're the one all banged up. How're you feeling?"

[renegade_reaper]

It was only really bad when he got up an' down, an' sittin' too. It was why once she'd gone and sat on his bed, he chose to lie down instead, angled in jus' the right way so he could be facin' her.

"Been better," he said, though he hoped the weak grin he shot her at least showed he was jus' takin' it in stride. It could've been so much worse an' he knew it. "Gotta go up to the Compound later to get more ice. The pain reliever stuff's workin' real good, though. You doin' aight?"

[turnthebadinme]

Tucking her knees against her, she leaned forward, nodding. "Yeah." More than anything else, she'd been shaken by it and worried about him. With all of it behind them, she was intent on forgetting most of what had happened. She didn't expect to end up in the water for a little while to come, though.

Then, thinking better of sitting up, she sprawled out next to him, lying on her side. "You know, I can get ice and all," she said, "anything else you need from up there. My ankle's seriously not that bad, I promise."

[renegade_reaper]

Beat hadda admit, the offer was temptin'. He hadn't been lookin' forward to makin' the trip. He figured he'd consider it when the time came. He didn't need that stuff immediately.

"Maybe later," he said, an' with her next to him now, he shifted closer to press a light kiss 'gainst the corner of her mouth. It felt like the first time they had some real time together since it happened. "Don't need it right now. Rather you stick 'round, anyway."

[turnthebadinme]

"Well, that's good," Serena murmured, smiling. Reaching down for one of his hands, she leaned in to kiss him, slow and soft. She moved closer, but not as much as she might usually have done. There was no rush, no urgency, and she didn't want to take any chance of doing anything that would hurt him. "'cause you're not getting rid of me anytime soon. Not for anything that isn't temporary, anyway."

[renegade_reaper]

All the stuff the day before jus' brought up a lotta stuff he didn't wanna think 'bout no more. This - this was real good distraction. Not really likin' things to be all serious, he responded, "Man, I'd hope you wouldn't leave after gettin' a squid off your leg. Would be real cold, yo."

[turnthebadinme]

Pouting playfully, Serena stuck out her tongue at him. "I've stuck it out this long," she said, laughing softly. "I think I can handle one teeny little attack by seafood." After everything else she'd been through, it hardly registered, except by virtue of being so completely bizarre. She grinned, tipping her head up, teasing. "I've fended off way slimier guys before."

[renegade_reaper]

"An' see, now you have me 'round to help you fend off both," he said, an' much as he was teasin', he did mean it. He woulda gone after the big one if it'd been the one to attack her. "So you ain't got nothin' to worry 'bout."

[turnthebadinme]

"Just you," she countered, propping herself up on her elbow. Leaning forward, head against her hand, she arched an eyebrow, prim in play only. "You protected me, it's only right I take care of you now. That's how it works." Mouth scrunching up to the side, she furrowed her brow. "Well, I don't actually know how squid attacks work, but I figure that's only fair."

[renegade_reaper]

Beat ain't the kinda person to take that sorta help. He can see Serena really wanted to do it, an' it didn't feel right declinin'. Exhalin' slowly, he nodded his head. "Aight. Guess I could use a little help. Jus' for a day or two."

[turnthebadinme]

If nothing else, it would make her feel better; she didn't think about it much beyond that. It just felt like the right thing to do - more than that, like what she wanted to do. Softening, she laid back down. "Good," she said, tracing her fingers over his cheek, along his jaw, and laughed. "Let me play nurse a little while. I'll probably get distracted by something shiny before you get too sick of me anyway."

[renegade_reaper]

He jus' grinned, head tiltin' a little into her touch. It ain't like anyone would know if he let himself enjoy this kinda help. 'Sides, he still was mostly shruggin' off the injuries as no big deal. That was the most important part.

"I promise I'll even cooperate," he said, smirkin' a little bit at her, before leanin' forward an' kissin' her. He kept it light, but let it linger, like he was jus' givin' himself a chance to enjoy bein' near her. When he pulled away, he caught her gaze an' added, "Thanks."

It did mean a lot to him - more than he probably was even gonna admit to himself.

[turnthebadinme]

"Well, it's not like I have anything better to do," she said, keeping a straight face for a matter of moments before she broke into a smile. "Besides, this is completely selfish. I've seen how pretty those doctors are." She'd never really been the jealous kind, not in the least, probably because she'd never had any cause to be, with him or anyone else.

Wrinkling up her nose, she wriggled closer, kissing him again, quick this time. "Tell me what's safe," she said. "I don't wanna do anything that's, you know, gonna hurt."

[renegade_reaper]

"Man, you figured out what I was doin'," he said, shakin' his head like he was disappointed or somethin'. He dropped the act real quick. "Naw, don't worry. None of 'em come close."

He ain't too surprised she was nervous. He ain't sure how easily the pain would come either, but that didn't stop him from wantin' her by him. "Jus'...gotta be gentle, that's all. Ain't gonna break, though, if you're wonderin'."