Lil and Jean-Paul

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Lil runs into Jean-Paul in the gym and is thanked for things that she probably might have maybe didn't actually do.



Jean-Paul knew that if he was going to get any time out of his room before the day got too busy, it was going to need to be early. He most certainly did want to get out of his room and was, in fact, taking it as a very good sign. He was healed up enough that a trip to the gym wasn't going to put him in any trouble physically, and and note left for Nathan meant that he wouldn't be in any trouble otherwise when he got back. He started off easy, on the rowing machine. Bag work just didn't appeal, somehow.

At least, not to him. Lil, on the other hand, had spent many hours in the gym, usually with Johnny by her side, beating away on the equipment build to stand her strength. Somehow, though, she'd managed to pull a Peter Pan and lose her shadow in the mansion's many twists and turns and rather than wait for the boy, she opted to head to the gym anyway, figuring he was smart enough to know where to find her should she be needed.

Dressed in her usual workout suit of bike shorts and sports bra and toting her bag, the giantess stepped into the gym fully expecting there to be others using the facility but the sight of the speedster had her stopping dead. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Jean-Paul managed not to flinch, even tried for something like a smile, but it didn't feel natural. It probably looked worse. He stood quickly and headed for Lil. "Working off my restlessness in productive manner. Miss me?"

"Maybe," Lil replied, finding her feet once more and strolled into the gym only to toss her bag a few feet from him. "Was getting a little quiet without someone to bother, I'll admit and one of your strays claimed my couch as his own so it's not like I've been sitting around pining over your absence or anything."

"Just reading to the infirm," Jean-Paul teased, stepping close to wrap an arm around her, trying to ignore the images in his mind. He was moving too fast, pushing his comfort. But he would hold out.

Green eyes narrowed slightly when he touched her, confusion welling in her features before shifting into the softer concern the Amazon allowed to play along the edges of a stoic mask. "I don't know what medication they got you on that you think I read to you, Speedy, but damn if it ain't good stuff." Her own arm dropped over his shoulder, careful not to carry to much weight while remaining a friendly and casual gesture.

Jean-Paul laughed softly. "Well, you know...there was also brain damage to consider. That may have something to do with it."

She nodded, causing her ponytail to bob slightly. "I'm sure that coulda done it, too," Lil said with another smirk, running her fingers through his hair one, twice and then third time. It was... comforting to know she'd gotten through to him on some level with her attempt to connect with the children's book.

"Mmm." He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch a bit. Distraction was so good. "Well, it was a nice daydream, at least."

Lil continued to play with his hair, more thankful than he could ever imagine for the familiarity she saw in the reaction. "Hopefully, I didn't butcher my French too badly in your little daydream."

"I was paying attention to the intent, not the words. Even I put away the red pen occasionally." He opened his eyes finally. "It was a nice daydream to have."

"Sounds like it," she said softly, resting her cheek against his temple for a moment of silent thanksgiving to whatever gods existed in the universe that Jean-Paul was on the mend. "I may have to start hitting you up for some of those drugs."