Chapter 30; Action for Dave/John's hotel room; Text

[usedtherapy]

Comments

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[usedwindything]

[John wanted to be there when Rose woke up. He really did. But he couldn't do that and fight to bring her soul back at the same time. He couldn't be both in the hotel room and out fighting the Shedinja, it just wasn't possible

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[usedtherapy]

[[And she opens her mouth to say something, but no words really come out. So instead she settles for the hug. One she's barely able to return, little strength behind hers, but she returns it to the best of her abilities none-the-less. And for a moment, she almost feels like drifting back to sleep. But the thought if it just brings images from her dream back, and she easily finds herself wide awake again.

Wide awake and remembering his chest.

Gently, she tries to push him back. She loves hugging you, but she needs to make sure your chest is alright, John.]]

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[usedwindything]

[Unfortunately, he has no intention of letting go of you any time soon, Rose. Call him selfish, but even though you want him to move backwards, he refuses to do so. All that gentle push manages to get out of him is a tighter cling and a small whimper.]

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[usedtherapy]

[[That whimper translates to pain to her drained mind, which just has her pushing with more insistence. This time accompanied by a weak and weary request.]]

John, please. Just...f-for a few moments.

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[usedwindything]

[He doesn't want to. He wants to refuse, to shake his head and stay right where he is and never let her go. But the tone in her voice when she asks...it's so quiet, so tired, and he just can't say no.]

[Somewhat reluctantly, he pulls away from her.]

[Rose, if you didn't notice before, he's close enough now for you to tell that he obviously hasn't been sleeping. He's paler than normal, with grey circles under his slightly-bloodshot eyes. The smile from earlier is gone now, though. Now he just looks confused and maybe a little hurt.]

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[usedtherapy]

[[She does notice, and even through her own exhausted look worry clearly shows. But first thing's first.]]

I promise...Just a second. Th-then we can hug.

[[And now she is reaching forward to take the hem of his shirt in hand and, if allowed, she's going to tug it up to reveal his chest for her. Not even going to ask for permission.]]

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[usedwindything]

Wh-what are you--?!

[Unfortunately, he is most definitely not going to allow that. While she tries to tug up, he is going to do exactly the opposite: tug down.]

Rose, what?

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[usedtherapy]

[[She frowns, letting go of his shirt and withdrawing just a little.]]

...I'm just worried.

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[usedwindything]

[That...makes absolutely no sense to him. What fears could she possibly have that would be put to rest by stripping him?]

Worried about what? Rose, what's wrong? Are you feeling alright?

[Because you're acting kind of weird.]

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[usedtherapy]

Your heart.

[[...did that make sense?]]

Or...your chest. More specifically.

[[Still doesn't make sense, does it...? She abandons trying to explain, answering his last question instead.]]

I'll be alright when I know you're alright.

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[usedwindything]

My...chest? Nothing's wrong with it. Nothing is wrong with any part of me. Please don't worry, I am completely fine. You're awake again, so everything is okay now.

[He's smiling again, in the hopes that it will reassure her so that they can stop talking about him and focus on her instead. Because he wasn't the one who was just unconscious for nearly a week.]

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[usedtherapy]

[[She's inclined to believe him. But...part of her still worries.]]

How can I not? You say you're fine, but...you clearly aren't...and that has nothing to do with your heart. Which...I'm...still worried about.

[[Tentatively, she reaches forward again. Not to take his shirt though, just to press her fingertips barely against the spot where his heart should be. Where...the hole would be.]]

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[usedwindything]

[Okay, Rose, you really aren't making a lot of sense. You probably think that you are, but John is just really confused. Why on Earth would you be worried about his heart?]

[He falls silent again, staring at her hand and just letting her do...whatever it is she needs to do to reassure herself. Except for taking his shirt off. If she tries that again, he will resist once more. A few minutes tick by before he speaks again.]

See? Nothing there. I'm fine!

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[usedtherapy]

[[Even after, she takes a few more moments to just...make sure. She smooths her palm against that spot, letting it rest there. Once she's sure though, that hand is moving to one shoulder while her other does the same, and she's pulling him in for another hug. This time, with her hiding her face against him instead of it being the other way around as it had been before.]]

...okay.

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[usedwindything]

[He wraps his arms around her again, hugging her tight and resting his cheek against the top of her head.]

Rose, what happened? What's wrong?

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[usedtherapy]

I just...had a nightmare.

[[Please take that as a good enough explanation. She doesn't want to describe the state of condition you and your friends were in.]]