iamthefirechild said:
“Oh, god, Tony, so much pain,” she says, barely paying attention to where he’s taking her. She’s been on her feet trying to help for most of the last two days, with maybe a few hours of sleep. “Why couldn’t I fix it?”
Tony doesn’t answer her. Because really, what can he say? And besides, her mind doesn’t seem like it is actually on the question. So he focuses on herding her into the bathroom and getting the shower running.
She yanks at her shirt, only now realising that it’s spotted with dried blood and dirt. Getting her jeans off is quicker, and then she steps under the water and breathes hard at the shock of it hitting her skin. She just stands under it, letting it mix with the tears still running down her face, and tries not to sob.
He steps back to let her get undressed, and then step into the shower. He gives her a long moment in there to herself, before he finally asks, “You want me in there with you, or do you want me to wait for you to finish up?”
Summer sticks a hand out of the space and grabs at him ineffectually. “Please. I need you.” It’s barely audible over the sound of falling water, and despite the heat of it, she still feels cold inside. It hurts so /much/. He’s the only bright spot she can find, right now.
In some ways, so much of their relationship has been about sex. About lust, and desire, and wanting. Just now she’s not interested in any of that. He’s the stable centre to a world that holds too many terrifying unknowns, and no safety. Of all the folk she loves, with all the fiery passion she had, he’s the one she can always find.