transfusionem | •daybreak inbox

Good, because I was not. [ It wasn't what he was truly worried about anyway- he was concerned that he would incapable and she knew it. ] And it was not lip service either.

[ He would honestly do just about anything for her safety, even perhaps things she'd rather he didn't. But that's the role he has assigned himself, self-sacrificing and self-punishing. Now, at least, there's some semblance of a noble purpose it's directed at. That unfathomably giant goal of holding up the world by himself makes him want it to be too much, so he can finally snap and be done with all the struggle.

But... Maybe, one step at a time. ]

If I can protect one person...

[ One arm had stayed around her when lifted his head- the other moves around to the back of Adelaide's head, gently encouraging her to rest against his chest now. Feel his heart as well as hear it, soft and slow. Certain and unwavering. ]

Or two or three...

[ ...Maybe he can protect everyone else, one step at a time. ]

Yeah, I figured that much out. [It's said with a small laugh, almost self-deprecating. She wasn't expecting to rely on Rex as much as she had, but here they are.

He's been there when she needed him most, and that's...a lot. Maybe it shouldn't mean as much as it does, but it means a lot to her. She thinks without Rex she'd have done something much worse by now than biting Toki.

Well...maybe that's not true. Maybe things would have been okay and she's not giving herself enough credit, but it's still true she was able to get help from Rex when she was so sure she had fucked everything up.]

I think you can.

[She rests her head against his chest, closing her eyes. It's...nice. Being held. Being safe.]

Don't push yourself too hard, but... You're not alone in this, either, okay?

[It's not quite a promise to protect him, but it's close. Adelaide knows Rex is probably more dangerous than she is, but...

He's only human. She's not. She doesn't want to lose him because he's so fragile.]

[ Rex spends a while just holding her, stroking the back of her head. Part of it is that he's just plain exhausted, but honestly it just feels good to have someone who doesn't want him to let go. ]

It's hard to remember that sometimes.

[ He's been alone for a long time. Even surrounded by others, his instincts still say he is. And when he examines it consciously, he's still in this alone, because that's what chosen one means, doesn't it? It doesn't matter who he meets and how close they get, it's going to be his fight in the end. ]

I'd... appreciate if you'd remind me, now and then.

[ Just to keep up appearances. Obviously. Not because his heart is about to shatter from the pressure. ]

[Adelaide can't remember the last time she was held like this - possibly never? Maybe once, when she was a baby, her parents had cared enough to hold onto her. Maybe Richard had, when she was turned, but she can't remember any of those possibilities. She doesn't want to give things up.]

Well, you get so used to the way things have always been, you don't realize when they've changed.

[That's all the more reason to keep reminding him. She was already thinking about it, even before he asked. She nods against his chest, smiling even though he can't see it.]

Of course I will. You'd get caught up in your own head without me.

[ It certainly feels strange for him. He used to be so affectionate and trusting with everyone- so certain, that everyone deserved love and it was his duty to make them feel it. He thought that part was entirely dead, but there are a few drops of life in it after all. Just for a few people.

Her words hit home so hard for a second he almost believes things have changed, that he's no longer a lone stray. He has to remind himself he's the same emaciated, abandoned dog as always. He's just found some scraps to feed on. It doesn't matter what he forces himself to think though. This is the exact moment Rex starts to love Adelaide. It's a pure, soft, thing still devoid of any physical or romantic element. He just wants her happy and safe. That's all. Is that so wrong?

Obviously not.

Why does it feel that way, though?

Why doesn't he want to release her, until she wants to be released? Selfish. Evil. A horrible thing to do to her. He should die and let her find better friends. ]

I suspect you are correct. So I'll be relying on you.

[ It's a lie. He can't and won't rely on anyone, for anything. But he has to say what sounds right for this fraud or he'll be found out. ]

[She gets the feeling he's already caught up in his own thoughts, that he's managed to over complicate things already. She doesn't know for certain, but it's a feeling she gets.

It's easy to make things more complicated than they need to be. It's easy to pick things apart until you yourself are falling apart at the seams, and it's easy to forget you're not alone.

She places a hand on his chest - right over the medal - and pushes herself up so she can look Rex in the eyes. The look on her face is soft - not quite smiling, but the feeling is there.]

I won't let you down.

[Whether he wants her to be or not, she'll be there for him. She has to be. He's already done so much for her, she can't imagine not returning the favor. She can't imagine letting him struggle on his own - because he has been struggling, she feels. She can't say for certain, has barely any idea of what he's been through, but someone who's been fighting so much...

She's made a promise, and she's going to keep it.]

Now, we should probably clean things up.

[ For most, they'd probably not notice Rex's reaction to having her hand touch where his medal rests. A tiny tension, a turn of his eyes to check on her intentions. And a pounding of his heart, as if she had pointed a gun between his eyes. The medal is his life. No, more important than his life, which is a grim and empty thing that should have been swept away long ago. No matter how often he doubts or fears or worries or questions... he's got a reason to be here.

The terror in his heart fades the moment he looks back into her eyes. It's likely to fade soon enough, but in that moment, he can't imagine her wishing him harm. He can still imagine her harming him, because, well, a little while ago she was trying to kill him. But she didn't really want to and that's important. ]

Oh. Yeah. You don't think they'll bill us for the lightbulb, do you?

[ 'cos he made it explode. ]

[She notices the tension - it'd be hard not to, with the way his heart beats like a rabbit's. She glances down at where her hand rests - the same place that glow had come from when they were fighting. She can feel something there, firmer than flesh, and she wonders what kind of secrets she's hiding.

But she'll ask about it later. For now, she just gives Rex a lopsided grin, and pushes herself back onto her heels.]

They probably will. It's not like we can say it just burned out.

[It very much exploded.]

But if that's the only thing that broke, then we're pretty lucky.

[She pushes herself to her feet, offering her hand out to Rex.]

[ There aren't many people who can truly help Rex to his feet more than help him balance, so Rex takes the opportunity to accept a helping hand that can actually help. Once he's back on his feet, he brushes himself off. ]

I think we put a crack in the wall with my spine.

[ He points over his shoulder at where he had been thrown at the wall. A fine crack at the epicentre of the impact. ]

Incidentally, if you have a solid grip on the extremity of something you are able to swing with one hand, it's best not to let go and instead beat them against a solid surface. Like shaking the dust off of cloth.

[ He mimics the motion, though he grunts halfway through. Now the danger has passed, his aches are starting to appear. ]

[If there was more blood in her system, she would actually blush, but what she's gotten from Rex wasn't quite enough to cause that reaction.

So instead, she just looks mildly embarrassed instead of outright mortified.]

Oh, geez, I didn't realize I threw you that hard...

[She looks at the wall - and, yep, cracked. She winces.]

I'll cover it. Don't worry.

[Her head tilts at the advice, and she nods after a moment. Makes sense, and she'll probably do so later, when she's trying to outright kill whatever she's fighting.

More importantly, though, is the grunt.]

Are you feeling alright...?

Nothing to be concerned about. I've had vastly worse. Nothing broken.

[ He says this with way too much authority as if he is intimately aware of what it would feel like if there was. He spends a few moments stretching and seeing what hurts- A few grunts, only one wince. ]

Just a few bruises, I think. And I'll have to dress these...

[ He looks down at his wrists, the soft inner white fluff of his coat still red. He knows how to get blood out though. In fact...

He removes the coat entirely, folding it and laying it on the bed. His major reason for compulsively wearing it has passed somewhat, now he is no longer an obviously half starved beanpole and has bulked considerably, but it still feels... odd. It's a sign of trust, though she may not realise it. Even more so when he peels up his sleeves a little, just halfway up his forearm, to see the damage properly. Even in that small area, there are numerous scars, most overlapping with another- so whatever mark these leave is just another drop in the ocean. ]

Hm. Nothing I can't handle.

[The fact he can just say nothing's been broken is concerning, to say the least. But she knows he's been in fights before - he's killed vampires, he's done loads more than she ever has. So maybe he...does know.

Which.

He's the same age as her, isn't he? How could their lives have possibly been that different?]

Should've brought bandaids.

[Unless he has some on him already, in which case: geez.]

Would've thought that weird glow would've kept you from getting any injuries at all, to be honest. Definitely made you harder to bite.

[Why yes, she has no idea what the glow means, but it was Definitely Magical.]

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