xp_logs | Meggan and Korvus, Early Wednesday Morning

Wanting to see how Korvus is doing for herself, Meggan brings him hot soup and ras malai. Not much is eaten, as they eventually just seek comfort in closeness.

The faint clattering of bowls on a small tray announced Meggan’s presence before she poked her head inside. “Hey, Korvus,” she said quietly as she opened the door with her elbow and backed into the room, in an effort to avoid spilling the contents. She didn’t know if a normal speaking voice or whispering was best. “I bring hot soup, if you’re up for it. We didn’t have the right vegetables for Paneer Bhurji, but there were the right ingredients for ras malai. Sort of a hot and cold contrast.”

She’d wanted to make his main favorite, almost like an impromptu ‘welcome back to the school, and out of the cells, and I’m so sorry you were hurt by those people’ meal, but she knew it just wasn’t possible right now. She just hoped she'd done it right.

Korvus sat as Meggan entered, wincing just a bit but trying to cover it with a big smile. "That sounds delightful." His nose had been set, no longer squeaking, but it was still swollen and breath came labored through it. "I am glad to see you do not seem to have been abused much more than when you were struck because of me." He said regretfully, scooting over in his bed to make room for her.

“That wasn’t your fault. All you did was look over,” Meggan countered quietly as she took the offered seat, before handing him the first of two spoons. She hadn’t thought it was his fault she’d been hit before the escape, and she didn’t think it now. “And no. It’s mostly little scratches from a killer tree that wanted to lock me up forever." Forever until she was dead didn’t need saying. "No other punches.”

The young man took the spoon. "I'm glad you were not seriously injured..." Korvus thought for a moment about how he had been injured. "I was punched in the testicles." He shared randomly as he took the bowl of soup. "He called them balls because of the shape. It was very amusing."

Meggan couldn’t help it, she noticeably winced in sympathy for him at the thought. She did understand that he meant the word was funny, not the injury. “It…it’s just a little American slang difference I think, so maybe. But I wouldn’t think it’d ever fun to be on the receiving end.” After a long moment of watching him eat, she asked, “Did they do anything to your ribs? Because I really want to hug you when you’ve finished, and I promise I’ll be careful.” It wasn't like she'd just dive for him mid-bite, flinging soup left and right.

Korvus only took a couple spoonfuls of the soup before she mentioned wanting to hug him. He immediately set the bowl on the table, shifting down in the bed a bit and putting the arm near her out. "They struck me in the ribs repeatedly. Perhaps a hug would not be best but, if you distribute your weight, you can lay across my side. It will be similarly comforting."

Meggan had meant when he’d finished with all of it, but she couldn’t resist the invitation. It was a better method than reaching around to squeeze him ever so carefully from behind. She was making sure to avoid the worst of the bruises…the ones she could knew about or could see at this angle, at any rate, as she crawled over with care, making sure not to accidentally jar him in any way. She distributed her weight as suggested, as she settled down beside him. “I’m not leaning on anything sore right now, am I?” She had wanted to do this since she’d found out he hadn’t escaped.

As Meggan moved in beside him, Korvus took her hand to guide it around his chest, bringing her in so her head could lay over his heart. "Nothing I am unwilling to endure." He assured her, his voice soft but resounding in his chest, covering the sound of his strong heartbeat for just a moment. "I have missed you."

Meggan just hoped he would tell her if it grew too uncomfortable. Just as softly, she murmured, “I’ve missed you, too, Korvus. Very much.” The thought occurred to her that that could be an understatement after everything….not only that, but that the soup was going to grow cold if he didn’t get back to it soon. She just wanted to listen to his heart thumping away a little while longer before he moved back over to food.

A hand slowly ran through Meggan's hair, Korvus wrapping a strong arm up around her. "I would like to sleep now. Will you stay just as you are?"

“Yes,” Meggan vowed with a small nod. That hair stroking felt nice, and she was reluctant to go anywhere just yet anyway. “I’ll stay right here, I won’t move.” Unless his arm fell asleep, but he would be awake if he was telling her that. She felt like she needed to stay just as much as he wanted her there. They could worry about the food some other time.

"I was most afraid I would not see you again." Korvus admitted softly, somewhere near falling asleep.

Meggan barely interrupted his stroking of her hair for an instant with a soft kiss of his fingers, before she put her head back on his chest. “So was I,” she whispered. She had been terrified of that. But now he could see her and she could see him, and she hoped that was a huge comfort in both directions. A nap couldn't hurt her, either.

Silence hung in the air for several long moments as Korvus fell asleep. As his breathing slowed his nose began to softly whistle from the swelling that had not yet healed. He was still as tender with Meggan as ever, even with the strength his mutation gave him.