though it hurts to breathe

[athru]

Who: Raven, Hank, Charles and Erik
Broadcast: No
Action: On the Heron
When: Now onwards!

[ It had taken her a little while to calm down with Hank at her side, long enough that she's practically itching to make her way over to the Heron as soon as she can, device in her hand - the temptation to text ahead, to make sure they're really there, that they're okay, is almost a little too daunting and there's not much Raven can do other than force herself to stop. She's stronger than this, true, but coming out of the other side of something as horrendous as Apocalypse and standing tall, waking up on the Fleet, trying to figure out if she can handle it all again - it's too much.

The only thoughts in her mind are that she needs to find Charles, she needs to find Erik, and she needs to make sure they're alive, that they're safe, that they're here. This is going to be impossibly difficult for all four of them, Hank at her side, but they could work through it. They beat an all powerful mutant 'God', they came together as a family and they worked, hard, to make sure they all came out alive the other side.

What was the Fleet after all that?

It doesn't take her long to break away from Hank into a practical run as she reaches the Heron, a flash as she makes her way down the hall to find the other two mutants. Erik is important in her mind, of course, but her first instinct is to call out for Charles, standing outside the door and pressing her fingers against it, afraid for a moment that he won't answer, that he won't be there. The fear grips her, and her hands shake, but she does it anyway, knocking and calling for her brother.

After that, later... Well, she has to take time to calm down. Once she's sure Charles is safe, that Erik is safe, she can actually move to relax herself, the weight on her shoulders fading away. It takes time, but it happens, slowly... But she doesn't leave. She doesn't feel like she can leave either of them, and she wonders how they're going to handle that. ]

Comments

[athru]

[ There's no real need to say the words aloud anymore and Raven thinks they both know it; even before it had been a rare occurrence, said in moments of real desperate emotion or intensity, when they both needed to hear it, but now, here, like this... It's unspoken. They both know, and now that they're sure about their relationship... It's just not necessary. They're okay, and they know it now, and all of Raven's fears have been settled.

Raven had grown up being taken care of and supported by Charles, and giving and receiving presents wasn't unusual for her - they'd only had each other, after all, so birthdays and Christmases were always about the two of them sharing things with one another. It's different, now; their world has opened up and they're not isolated, tucked away in Westchester and ignored, and it means Raven has more people to care about - and she finds she wants to give them gifts, to show them how much she cares, because it's far easier than words ever were.

Relaxing into Hank's embrace again, she softens, closing her eyes. ]

I said I was going to get some blankets and clothes. Do you want me to get some for you?

[beathach]

[he does know it, even if he had struggled with it before - years ago (days ago). There's so many other words and ways to show it anyway, especially with them, when every moment they once shared was precious and special. He looked back on those instead, now, instead of the ruins of Cuba, or the longing after Washington. He went home certain about them and it never faltered, not once.

He shakes his head at her question, because he knows he isn't going to sleep. Not tonight, and maybe not tomorrow night either, and whatever sleep he will get will be accidental at best. No, he's going to sit and keep watch, until he's certain nothing is going to happen. Just like he did after Cairo. Only this time there's two doors to watch]

No, I'll be fine. But thank you.

[athru]

[ It's a little incredible to think that ten years can go by and they'd still feel this way about each other, still want to be around each other, still love each other, and that gives Raven a new kind of hope and strength. She's finally found a place she wants to belong, with people she loves and people she cares about, and settling into that life hadn't been as horrible or damaging as she had always thought when she was younger. It had fit, like a puzzle, and she'd accepted it because it was right.

Her worries for Hank are still present, of course, and her eyes drink him in, wondering for a moment, but then she accepts it. She lets it lie because none of them are going to be completely okay for a long while, and if that means they have to be unhealthy for a bit to manage their emotions and bring themselves back together, then that's what they need to do. Raven can't exactly scold people when her own self-care has been minimal at best. ]

I'll bring you a blanket, at least. One of ours.

[beathach]

[he huffs quietly, but it's the only protest he'll give. It isn't as though he could stop her, even if he really wanted to. And he wouldn't try. He learned long ago that it was better to let her win most of their silly little back and forths. It's no different now, and it's like picking up where they left off. A little bumpy, but that's to be expected]

Alright, then bring a blanket. [it likely won't get used, or at least not while he's conscious, but] Do you want me to come with you, or - keep an eye on things here?

[athru]

[ Raven hesitates for a moment, a little uncertain and a little unsure, before she steels herself and gathers her determination. She had, of course, been a little lost and unbalanced for years after Washington, and it had come down to the mantle that had been placed around her shoulders, the idea of being a hero, of being someone special when she knew the truth. She's struggling with her own confidence still, but she shakes her head, turning back to Hank. ]

Can you just... Listen out for him? [ Her voice is quiet, and her eyes go back to staring at the door. Her brother, who's gained so much but lost so much at the same time. ] I think he's tired, and he needs the space for his mind, but...

[beathach]

[he glances to the door as well, his smile fading a little. Charles had assured him he was fine and he believed that, and his worries weren't so much out of control as they were simply there, lingering in the background, but. All of them were going to be concerned no matter what, and sitting here keeping an eye on things suits him fine.

After a moment he nods, hands on his hips as he gives the door one long, hard look. You better rest in there. He thinks out gently, carefully, before his attention is back on Raven]

I'll keep an ear out.

[athru]

[ That was the thing about Charles; he might say he's alright, and he might well be, but the cracks are there and he does his best to hide those. Raven had already seen the exhaustion creeping through, the way he had looked at her, tired and almost desperate, and that's why she had fled to give him a little peace. He needed to rebuild more than they did, telepathy his strength and his weakness, and she wasn't going to drown him in her own emotions.

Lifting Hank's hands, she presses a kiss to his knuckles, smiling softly. ]

Thank you.