maskormenacelogs | do we get what we deserve?

[ Now, they get him to a shower. The guy is downright shiny with blood, and it's all Damian can smell. But first ... but first, for a moment, he just looks at David, studies the man lined in the soft blue glow of harmless flames.

All of his masks are gone, and Damian's face is naked in a way it hasn't been in years. Exhaustion is written there, alongside guilt, worry, a worn out and sorrowful kind of relief. But it's only relief that what he saw hasn't come to pass yet, and it's tempered by the knowledge that it very well could.

His hand tightens around David's, stilling the infirmity in it, and without a word he leans to gently kiss him. First, this. ]

[Well, that's not a bad goal, because David could use a shower, and he's still shaking from the adrenaline. But that look he gets on Damian's face, though... God that's so soft, that's so right. And it makes his heart ache. Which is good. He licks his lips right as Damian starts to move forward, and then moves to meet that kiss. It's gentle, because he's too scared that anything more might get his lover to flee. And when he pulls back and offers a brief smile.]

Keep me company. Just for a little bit? Otherwise I feel like I'm not going to believe my own mind.

[ He can't promise staying long, he can feel the urge growing to crawl away and lick his metaphorical wounds. But, still, he nods. He can hardly turn down any request David makes of him, not now. ]

Yeah.

[ It's soft, sounds as tired as he looks. He gives that hand one more squeeze, then begins the arduous task of pulling himself to his feet. The ruined bed has left his pajama pants stained, and the formerly ruined David has given him bloody gloves up to the elbow. The David another universe away has left him a domino mask of gore, streaking across face and down cheek. All that, and he still made it out better than David has. He keeps ahold of that hand, and gives a summoning tug once he's made it to his feet. ]

[He doesn't want Damian to come far with him. Just to the bathroom. Just to where there is light and he can see himself in the mirror. Still, he holds his breath and heads down the hall to the bathroom. Once the lights are on he gasps in shock. God, he can SEE the blood drying on him already.]

Oh god, that place was hell.

[ The blue flames flicker and die as they leave the room behind, and Damian finds himself standing a few paces behind David, watching the two of them in the reflection. They look bad. Whole, intact, thanks to Josh's power, but bad. His gaze slips away, and he steps back to start the water for David. ]

Don't think about it. [ It's a mumble, advice he knows is impossible to follow. Not now, while everything is so fresh and raw, while he can still remember the flesh of David's throat tearing into slippery ribbons under his claws. He shivers. ] It doesn't do any good, just wasted energy.

[Perhaps. Then again, he has nearly died twice at Damian’s hands perhaps three times if that other him counts. And he doesn’t know what to do with that. But he lets Damian get water started for him.]

Mostly... I’m just here wondering if there is ANY world where I get a happy ending. I have seen a lot of alternate-universe Mes. That one isn’t a favorite at all. But he was... closer than I like.

[ His instruction was really more of a plead. If David thinks about this, Damian has to. He sinks to a seat on the edge of the shower, hands clasped in his lap. He can't promise anyone will ever get a happy ending, it's ridiculous to think anyone could know that. Even talking about odds of it happening -- impossible.

He gestures for David to come nearer, and lifts his arms to loop them lightly around David's waist when he has. ]

That David loved his friends and did what he could for them in a world of odds stacked against him.

[ So ... in theory, not bad, if one doesn't look at the details. Or the ending. Knowing David's particular fear about future hims, pretty good. ]

[When prompted he moves it sit with his lover and lets the man embrace him.]

That David hurt Josh by sleeping with him, and wanted to seduce Laurie away from him. That David... it doesn’t matter.

[That David wanted to die because he was frustrated. He would never admit it to himself. But he was bored and tired and more than slightly mad from his powers. He had turned into a sponge for misery and grief and suffering and his one solace had abandoned him.]

We should get cleaned.

[ A little less great, the behind the scenes details Damian had missed kind of darken the picture. But ... David's right, it doesn't matter. He closes his eyes. ]

Go. [ He gives David's side a quick pat. ] I'll go after you.

[ And he'll move himself off the edge and out of the way at some point here ... as soon as he gathers his energy. ]

[Cute, the way he thinks David will go ‘first’. Instead he starts stripping off his horribly ruined clothes before reaching out to tug at Damian’s.]

I’m not trying to be forward or anything, just to help. Josh’s powers are far more limited here, Damian. After what you did, you could well pass out if you’re left to stand on your own. Let me help clean you up and put you on the couch to sleep until you’re strong enough to face the next step. I’ll give you some of my clothes as well.

[And after David gets clean he has to... figure out his bed.]

[ Damian blinks, but acquiesces. He stands and lets David pull off the bloodied clothing without complaint, and has to admit the idea of a warm shower isn't exactly unappealing right now. ]

Don't think I don't appreciate the sentiment, but — [ He cracks a smile, and gives David's hip a fond nudge. ] Don't forget that as long as Rupert sticks around, I'm a teleporter.

I’m assuming that your bed is also slightly bloody, and that teleporting isn’t a zero-energy endeavor. But you can correct me if I am wrong.

[Once he has them undressed and hot water on, he carefully pulls his boyfriend under the spray.]

But for now, just focus on getting clean. I’ll just be here to be someone to lean against. And to fetch towels. Let me be your hands for a bit.

[ The warm water feels exactly as good as he'd hoped. He bows his head under it, closing his eyes, and takes David up on the offer. ]

It's ... I'd rather sleep in my own bed.

[ David isn't wrong, he's probably left some blood behind and teleporting isn't quite effortless, but it isn't anything he can't handle. Because, on the other hand, he'd really like a dark hole to hide in for a while with no one else around. ]

Trust me, I understand the feeling.

[And he envies it. But he wont' really comment on that. He gets it, Damian needs the space. Honestly, he would too but... he wants the comfort. And can't seek it out here. Doesn't change that he'll give space. Once he's certain Damian is cleaned up.]

There you go.

[He reaches past Damian to find soap and hold it up for Damian.]

[ He takes the soap, and cleaning himself is a quiet process. He goes through the movements mechanically while the water at their feet begins to run pink. He knows why David would like him to stay here, and he knows David's ideal wouldn't be Damian on the couch and David elsewhere. Damian feels it too, frankly. The urge to curl up somewhere alone has overpowered it so far, but ... maybe he shouldn't let it.

He owes David a hell of a lot right now.

When he's clean and finished he sighs, and shifts to lean his head briefly against David's chest. ]

There are a lot of spare rooms at my apartment right now. Roommates that were sent home. Let's borrow one of the beds.

You don't have to. I get that right now you probably need space.

[He does wrap his arm briefly around his boyfriend, though, holding him while he deals with Damian's clear fatigue.]

Like I said, we have a couch here. I can use that.

[ It occurs to him, with some dull surprise, that maybe he loves David. It's unexpected, difficult to confirm. But why else would the recurring thought/memory of David coming to harm strike him so painfully? His brows knit as he considers it, and he glances up to study his face for a few seconds.

All he says, though: ] Just come with me.

[ And then he finally leans away, surrendering the warm water for David's turn under it. ]

[David most definitely loves Damian, and he knows that in this situation the best thing he can do for the man he loves, the man who just had to experience killing him, is to let Damian set boundaries. But the insistence... Well, it's enough.]

Yeah. I will. Do you want me to give you pajamas?

[He does step into the spray and turns it up to searing hot, scrubbing frantically at his skin. Can't help it. The man he was left him disgusted.]

do we get what we deserve?

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