(Untitled)

[rage_andlove]

It takes him a few hours to figure it out. They don't spend every fucking minute together, but, still, he's got used to being around her. Being around her made him feel kind of quiet in a way that he hasn't since Jingletown, lying side by side with Will on a single bed. Getting high. It's her thigs that seal it; there's nothing in her room when

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[youlosetrack]

"You look like shit."

It's a simple statement, not meant to hurt Tunny but simply let Mace know he's there. He doesn't feel much better, having strained his leg a little while trying to work his way back up to jogging, and the half mile forced walk back left him limping and drenched in sweat from the exertion.

"What the hell happened to you?"

[rage_andlove]

"Fuck off," mumbles Tunny, no real heat or heart behind it, bending his head to light the cigarette between his lips. He wipes at his face with his fingers. He doesn't even look at Mace.

He takes a long drag and blows smoke out of the corner of his mouth.

"It's nothing. Doesn't matter."

[youlosetrack]

Mace simply shrugs and ignores Tunny, sitting down on the step upwind of the cigarette smoke. If Tunny doesn't want to talk, he isn't going to force the issue, but Mace wonders if there isn't some unspoken rule that someone has to be fucked up in some way from time to time.

"I went running," he says. "Fucked up my leg a little."

[rage_andlove]

"Serves you right," says Tunny and it's a long moment before he glances over at him. There's concern on his face; he's actually grateful that Mace has given him something else to focus on.

"How bad?"

[youlosetrack]

"It's nothing," Mace says, waving the concern off. "Think I just stepped on one of the boards funny and twinged something. I'll be fine as long as I ice it down later."

[rage_andlove]

He nods; mobility is so hard won, and he knows how difficult it is. He smokes in silence for a moment and, when he tries to speak again, he finds that his throat is tight.

"Penny's gone."

[youlosetrack]

Mace grimaces, knowing how hard and fast Tunny had fallen for her. Having that something like that ripped away without warning has to hurt. "Sorry, man."

[rage_andlove]

"Yeah," says Tunny, nodding. A tear runs down the side of his nose and he brushes it away, irritated. "At least it wasn't, like, Will or Johnny again. Just a girl, right?"

[youlosetrack]

"They're never just girls," is Mace's sage advice. No matter how hard he tries, there are always those few who get so deep under his skin he still thinks about them from time to time, thinks about how he'll never see them again. "You need a drink?"

[rage_andlove]

"No," says Tunny, because he's kind of worried what will happen if he just gets drunk and gets lost in it. But then he trusts Mace, so what the fuck can happen.

"Fuck it. Yes."

[youlosetrack]

"Alright," Mace says, slapping Tunny's back as he gets up. It's not that he particularly enjoys drinking or likes the way alcohol fogs his brain up, but Tunny needs it enough. He'd forgotten about his leg, but he covers a wince when his weight is back on it. "Come on."

[rage_andlove]

He's content to be lead at this point. He's content to lean against Mace for a little while.

"I don't know why I'm this fucked up."

[youlosetrack]

"Yeah, you do," he responds, and leaves it at that as they make their way to the Hub. Mace has been there, in the after, when he's unsure of what he thinks or feels, and hates himself for letting those feelings get in the way of who he is and who he knows he wants to be.