(no subject)

[grandstanding]

Who: Erik, Charles, Hank and Raven
Broadcast: nah
Action: the Blameless. warning for injury treatment, probably.
When: June 7th, shortly after this

[This is the second time in the span of seven days that Erik has had to pilot a shuttle while his vision isn't a hundred percent. It's almost a pattern, he thinks blearily to himself. Different causes, though. As the shuttle docks with the Blameless, he can't help but blow out a breath.

First step done. Now to get out.]

Comments

[athru]

[ When Raven gets the message there's no hesitation; the way she moves reminds her more of the speed she felt when she was running in Paris, or fleeing from a thousand over places. There's no hesitation, and it's almost as if she tries her best to match Hank's speed herself. The sense of panic that she feels is new, though, and it's completely different to what she had felt for a long time - it reminds her of being at the CIA, the day that Shaw attacked, losing Angel and Darwin and being desperate for Charles to come back so she could fold into his arms and feel safe again.

She bursts into the lab almost with a noise, shutting the door behind her - she doesn't lock it if only because she's not sure if they'll need to run in and out for supplies of some kind. Breathing out, she walks forward, hair sticking to her face until she shoves it away. ]

What the hell happened?

[axiomed]

[ The otter only looks up blearily in Hank's arms. ]

[athru]

[ It takes her a little moment, a handful of seconds, really, to figure out who exactly is being given to her when the otter is passed into her arms, but seeing as Hank and Erik are to one side and there's no way Erik would be here in this condition without Charles... Well, there's another thing she didn't know. There's no point dwelling on it for now, though, even if it makes her heart stab with a little ache, and all Raven does is take the otter into her arms, shifting her clothes into something softer before she goes and sits down, brother in arms. ]

I thought it was your job to take care of me, Charles.

[ Crossing her legs under her, she cradles him against her body before she breathes out, trying not to let on just how afraid she is. Broken ribs, hiding as an otter, some terrifying message about her family getting hurt... It's not right. ]

[axiomed]

[ He huffs, shaking. As an otter, a lot of the effects are a little muted but still extreme. Taking this form doesn't limit the pain, only makes it easier to escape. And Winter's screams are still shuffling around in his head, making it jarring and difficult to concentrate. ]

I've always been bad at that job.

[athru]

Not as bad as I made you think.

[ He might have smothered her a little sometimes, but he still took care of her. He gave her a home and a life and saved her from what could have ended up being death - and she was thankful for that, even if she never really showed her appreciation. Even now she knows her brother and she's careful, letting her fingers brush over his head gently. ]

Focus on me now, okay? Just me. I'm right here.

[axiomed]

[ Charles doesn't move, just lying there for now. His breath comes in short puffs. Talking was difficult. ]

Okay.

[athru]

You can - my mind, if you want.

[ She's still not as comfortable as she's sure he would like, but -- ]

If your telepathy works right now. I've never really seen an otter telepath before.

[axiomed]

[ He stops himself from shaking his head, just barely. ]

It . . . doesn't work in this form. And I couldn't. I looked too deep into someone's mind. It was . . . painful.

[athru]

Charles.

[ It comes out as a gentle sigh, her arms lifting to hold him a little closer. She wants to do something more but she doesn't know what, and it makes her hurt a little bit. She can't help him and she doesn't really know how to fix ribs on an otter or help bandage or -

She closes her eyes, leaning down gently. ]

Honestly, Charles...

[grandstanding]

[By now Hank's forced Erik to sit down and clean up the blood from his face. He's still got a cloth pressed to it with his good hand, which means it's awkwardly crossed across his face. The battering he took hasn't formed bruises yet, but the telltale signs are there.
Raven's abrupt entrance makes him jolt, wheeling to look at the door in alarm.]

[athru]

[ Raven knows Erik and she knows bruises and she knows bruises on Erik; those are the kind of things you get used to when you do missions and work in close quarters. She doesn't spend a lot of time debating what she ought to do and, instead, she moves forward and holds her hands up carefully, shaking her head. ]

Just me.

[grandstanding]

[He relaxes fractionally, shifting his hand so his face isn't as obscured. The sudden movement had sent sparks of pain up his left arm, making him grimace.]

Hank told you?

[athru]

Did you think he wouldn't?

[ Walking over, she hovers for a moment before she leans over and puts a hand on his arm, the one she thinks might be alright. ]

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say.

[grandstanding]

Honestly... [He shifts his weight on the cot, aching all over.] I thought you'd ask about the fact that Hank handed you an otter.

[athru]

Do you think this is the strangest thing that's ever happened to me? [ She raises her eyebrows, shaking her head. ] I think it's reasonable enough for me to make a guess at who I'm taking care of right now.

[grandstanding]

No... likely not. He'll change back soon, I'm certain.

[His brow creases as his vision goes fuzzy again. Concussion, most likely. If only his head would stop pounding. And his arm.]

Someone was-- out of control, on the Iskaulit. We both ended up in his path.

[athru]

[ At least she knows what happened, now, and she nods his head. ]

With no time to try and get help.

[ And it's not a criticism; it's just simply because of what she knows already, especially with the distances between the ships, the use of shuttles and all the other things that could come with it. It's an impossible situation and Charles and Erik had felt the worst of it. ]

I'm not going anywhere, so I'll be here when he does. I'll be here for you, too.

[beathach]

[thank god she's here, because he doesn't know how he's going to manage the both of them alone, and especially not when he's already sniping at Erik. It isn't as bad as the usual bickering, but -

He gives her a brief, thankful look and holds out an otter to her.

Because that's normal]

Can you take him? Careful, his ribs are broken.

[athru]

[ Otter in arms, Raven sits and just... Holds her brother (because who else would it be, all things considered?) before she stares at Hank and tries to wrap her mind around the mess that is their lives all of a sudden. It's not exactly easy, but she manages to breathe out and settle down, letting Charles rest against her before she glances over at Hank. She doesn't want to interrupt him when he's obviously busy, but she leans forward all the same, quick and careful. ]

Are you alright?

[beathach]

I was here.

[and if she wants him to answer otherwise - he cant really focus on anything else right now. He turns to head back over to Erik, who has the more serious injuries of the two, but he talks to her over his shoulder] I don't know what happened yet. I've been waiting for them to arrive.

[athru]

I had no idea, surely we would know-

[ She grits her teeth before she moves forward. At least she has Charles in her arms now, even if it means that she's all the more worried because he's an otter and it doesn't make sense. She doesn't have time to worry about it not being sensical right now, though; she's too worried about her family. ]

Is there anything I can do?

[beathach]

Keep him calm? Make sure he breathes slow. Keep him focused.

[he has no idea what else he can tell her to do that isn't keeping the both of the calm. He has no idea what's happened and it irks him, that this happened when he wasn't around to help. That it's scratching at all the worries he just managed to put at the back of his mind]

Then we'll switch and you can keep Erik company. Sit on him if you have to.

[athru]

I'm a professional at sitting on people.

[ For different reasons, of course. She hesitates for a moment before she leans over, careful of the brother in her arms, and presses a quick kiss to Hank's cheek. It's more a sign of support and encouragement than anything else, but she's sure he understands that. ]

Let me know if I can do anything. I might not have an augment but I know how to work a bandage.

[beathach]

I only call in the best.

[he briefly smiles at the kiss, and - it says a lot, that he doesn't fluster even a little. There's more important things going on, but he appreciates the silent support]

I will. You know where everything is, if Charles needs something. Painkillers, ice packs -

[athru]

I used to live here, Hank.

[ It's said teasingly, but she does nudge him. It's then that she goes to one side with Charles and waits, both for her brother and for Hank to be done being the doctor none of them deserve. ]