[lumen reaches out and grips his shoulder. even when he's being firm, he takes measures not to actually hurt anyone.]
It's all right, Rex. They say nothing that I haven't known about myself for years. [still, he feels a little... glad? that rex is so insistent on fighting these supposed misconceptions.]
[Rex opens his mouth to protest once more, tongue hanging in the balance. If he'd have listened to his own naysayers, he would have been dead over ten years ago. Hell, he still has so many. Just twenty minutes of actively ingesting the comments from reddit-trolls and losers with cheeto-stained fingers would have him jumping out the window... That is, if HQ had them.
He can't quite bring himself to admit it, however.]
Um... Is it bad that I don't really care?
I just want them to go away.
[A beat passes.]
I have, or, well... Had a healing factor. Stuff like this would close up and disappear in a couple of hours!
[lumen smiles softly, taking rex's hand once more to squeeze it.]
I'm sorry. I know you would rather be ready right now, and I could have used my power to make it so... But I think you should just rest more. [and stay out of trouble, he doesn't say.
[There comes an overwhelming wash of despair, of sadness, that Rex contains within his body. He stiffens his shoulders and straightens his neck, hand going slack in Lumen's grasp, in the futile hope that the staunch lack of curvature in his shoulders will give away how dejected he feels.
No, whatever it was between them isn't... What he had hoped for, sure, but it was an escape for a time. Something that wasn't sitting at home alone in the dark, wondering if his desire to amount to something more would be thwarted forever.]
I'd actually like for you to stick around. [he pushes his tools aside.]
I want to monitor your condition, and... Well, I want to look out for a friend more.
[even if he just rejected rex, he still considers the man a friend. a close friend. even if romance isn't on the cards, he loves the man as a friend, and wants to do his best.]
[Sensitivity is not easy for Rex, who hardly understands the nature of friendship, much less that formed between two people who are not partners in combat. Somehow, his bad attitude and nasty words are more easily forgiven when he's played a part in keeping someone else alive.
To add insult to injury, following the double-edged sword that was the birth of his explosive skill set, he's never really been rejected before, especially romantically. Not prior to doing something heinously stupid. In some ways, he's seen this coming, he should have expected it, and yet it still hurts.]
Yeah?
[He turns to the side, posturing, scowling. Rex places a tense hand on his own knee, burying gloved fingers in the synthetic fabric. Despite the seemingly abrupt change in attitude, he's obviously still melancholy, but anger has always been easier to lean into than sadness.
Rage burns hot, fiery, and so it too can destroy the things around him.
Sadness just bores holes inside. The damage it does seems far more... Self-wrought. Or at least, that's how he sees it.]
[rex did ask him to be honest... but lumen really doesn't know how to lie for his own good, and thus he can only give a small, pained smile. then he turns his hand on his knee, palm up. an invitation, if his friend wants to take it.]
Both.
It's a big house, and I'm all alone. You live far from here, and it's a long walk.
[There Lumen goes, with his innocent goo-goo eyes and naivete. Something about it is almost disgusting, primarily because the fishy lad really is being honest, and Rex knows.
He huffs and puffs, blowing hot air out of his nostrils and saying nothing. The younger of the pair crosses broad arms over his chest, sending a dirty look his companion's way, only to wordlessly fall back and plop his head into Lumen's lap.
Following what is probably several minutes of silence-]
[lumen smiles down at him, laughing softly as he gives his friend a pat on the head, being very careful to avoid the bandaged spots.]
Do you plan to stay the night? [a standard question from lumen-- it's like nothing ever happened. but lumen has a point to make, and that's the fact that he won't treat eex any differently just because he's officially turned the youngner man's affections down. he still considers rex a friend, and will still offer him all the comforts that he has.]
![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rexyboi
no subject
It's all right, Rex. They say nothing that I haven't known about myself for years. [still, he feels a little... glad? that rex is so insistent on fighting these supposed misconceptions.]
There... How are your injuries feeling?
no subject
He can't quite bring himself to admit it, however.]
Um... Is it bad that I don't really care?
I just want them to go away.
[A beat passes.]
I have, or, well... Had a healing factor. Stuff like this would close up and disappear in a couple of hours!
Now I've got no idea how long I'll have to wait.
I guess I'm just kind of... Embarrassed?
no subject
I'm sorry. I know you would rather be ready right now, and I could have used my power to make it so... But I think you should just rest more. [and stay out of trouble, he doesn't say.
but that's heavily implied, isn't it?]
no subject
No, whatever it was between them isn't... What he had hoped for, sure, but it was an escape for a time. Something that wasn't sitting at home alone in the dark, wondering if his desire to amount to something more would be thwarted forever.]
But not here?
[Reluctantly, he adds:]
Then where do I go?
no subject
I want to monitor your condition, and... Well, I want to look out for a friend more.
[even if he just rejected rex, he still considers the man a friend. a close friend. even if romance isn't on the cards, he loves the man as a friend, and wants to do his best.]
no subject
To add insult to injury, following the double-edged sword that was the birth of his explosive skill set, he's never really been rejected before, especially romantically. Not prior to doing something heinously stupid. In some ways, he's seen this coming, he should have expected it, and yet it still hurts.]
Yeah?
[He turns to the side, posturing, scowling. Rex places a tense hand on his own knee, burying gloved fingers in the synthetic fabric. Despite the seemingly abrupt change in attitude, he's obviously still melancholy, but anger has always been easier to lean into than sadness.
Rage burns hot, fiery, and so it too can destroy the things around him.
Sadness just bores holes inside. The damage it does seems far more... Self-wrought. Or at least, that's how he sees it.]
Or are you just lonely?
[He scoffs.]
Be honest.
no subject
Both.
It's a big house, and I'm all alone. You live far from here, and it's a long walk.
no subject
He huffs and puffs, blowing hot air out of his nostrils and saying nothing. The younger of the pair crosses broad arms over his chest, sending a dirty look his companion's way, only to wordlessly fall back and plop his head into Lumen's lap.
Following what is probably several minutes of silence-]
Fine.
I'll stay.
no subject
Do you plan to stay the night? [a standard question from lumen-- it's like nothing ever happened. but lumen has a point to make, and that's the fact that he won't treat eex any differently just because he's officially turned the youngner man's affections down. he still considers rex a friend, and will still offer him all the comforts that he has.]
What would you like for dinner?