Room 324, Late, laaaate Wednesday Night

[glacial_witch]

Karla was curled up in Warren's bed, trying to read. It was a new trashy novel from 'Dite's store, but as compelling as it was, it wasn't holding her interest. Kind of hard for the Duchess of Gloucester's difficulty in catching a husband to compare against to the literal ending of worlds

Comments

[not_a_parakeet]

If it had been any other day of the week, Warren might have jumped. Might have stumbled backwards or swore under his breath or had some sort of heart attack at his door just opening like that.

But it was tonight, and his dad was gone, and he had enough scotch in him to get several people drunk. So he kind of just froze there, with a tired, broken look on his face.

And then slumped forward, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her shoulder and shut up, he wasn't crying, that was the scotch doing that and it didn't count when it was the scotch. Scotch had a mind of its own and right now it was slightly more functional than the brain that Warren was born with, which was still somewhere in the back of his head, listening to your call cannot be completed as dialled.

Over and over and over.

[glacial_witch]

Ooookay. Karla's relief at discovering her boyfriend had not, in fact, vanished into nothingness was immediately soured when Warren just looked at her and then crumpled forward, smelling like alcohol and cornchips, and crying.

Crying like his entire world had ended.

Karla didn't think she needed to ask what was wrong. "Oh darling," she whispered, holding him tightly. "I'm so sorry. So, so sorry."

Let's see if she could guide him into the room, at least.

[not_a_parakeet]

At this point, if she could keep him on his feet, she could probably guide him pretty much anywhere. He had excellent balance, if nothing else. That had spared him from a few painful hours potentially healing from a spinal injury or something, considering he had to make his way down from the fifth floor to here. So... into the room. Hey. That was a great idea.

Wherever she wanted to point him, that would be wonderful. Because Warren had no idea which way was up just then, and probably needed the guidance.

[glacial_witch]

He was her compass whenever she needed direction. Tonight, she would be his.

She slowly walked them both over to the bed, unwilling to let go until he did, and then sat, pulling him down with her. And then she just sat there, rocking him gently, petting his hair away from his face, and sometimes pressing kissed on his forehead.

Karla didn't press or pry. He would talk when he was ready. And, even if he didn't, it didn't matter much. Only the people changed, never the details. She didn't bother with telling him it was all right. It wasn't. So the only thing she said was, "I'm here, love. I'm here." Over and over, while she wove soothing spells into the blankets and sheets and pillows of his bed.

She wouldn't take away the sharpness of his grief right now, but she'd let him sleep if he could.