Alex and Lorna and Alex, Leyu and Shiro, Sunday Morning

[x-havok.livejournal.com]

Alex wakes up from his postion in the window to find Lorna in there bed. They are cute once she wakes up and begins a long string of pampering, beginning with a bubble bath.


Home is where the strawberry scented bubble bath is.

Groaning Alex blinked when he realized the sun was shining into the window. For a moment, he had a flashback to the window at the Hellfire mansion, but then he remembered where he was. His neck was killing him from sitting the hard frame for almost 24 hours. Rubbing at it, He moved to stretch and promptly fell out of his position in the window. "Oww..." He moaned from his position on the floor.

On the bed, Lorna didn’t react at all, still dead to the world thanks to exhaustion and some really good drugs. She hadn’t even bothered with blankets the night before, just falling on top of the covers to sleep. She was still wearing her undersuit though parts of the synthsilk had obviously been cut away, replaced by bandages of various sizes. Her arm was bound to her side; her lower leg wrapped in a cast. Her hair covered her face.

Standing up to stretch properly, he figured he'd better use the rest room before resuming his position. Yawning, Alex made his way into the bathroom. After he was finished going, washing his hands and brushing his teeth, he felt more awake. So this time when he went into the bathroom he saw Lorna spread out over the covers. Despite the bandages and cast, Alex couldn't help himself from grinning at the sight of her. Carefully he climbed onto the bed and sat cross legged near her head. He watched her sleep for a few minutes before caressing her cheek then kissing it.

Lorna shifted slightly at the contact, her vividly green lips moving soundlessly. Her eyelids fluttered but didn’t open. She curled up, her good arm reaching out for him, even in sleep recognizing he was there.

Gladly, Alex carefully curled up next to her, minding all the injuries as he took inventory of her. He'd already decided he was going to spoil her rotten for the next few days, to get his mind off of everything and to show her how much he loved her. He cupped her cheek in his hand as the other wrapped around her waist then kissed the top of her head.

Lorna woke with a gasp and a whimper as Alex’s arm grazed an unseen bruise. She lay still, blinking groggily and trying to identify where she was. She slowly turned her head to the side, feeling her head swim with the movement. Her vision was blurry as she looked at Alex.

Alex winced slightly at her gasp of pain, but he just watched her until she seemed more aware before nuzzling her nose gently. "Hey love..."

“Hey,” she responded automatically, still feeling sluggish. “What time is it?” She didn’t want to move to look at a clock and didn’t have the energy to even think about pulling her watch to her though she could feel the EM field pressing into her skin. The metal springs in the bed were equally pressing and the wrought iron headboard felt like an anvil.

"About 9 o'clock." He could see the clock over her shoulder, not moving just in case he rustled her and caused more pain. "How're you doing?"

“Wishing I’d bought a plastic bed,” she replied without thinking how odd that would sound. She blinked suddenly, “You’re dressed. Have you been up for a while?”

Alex looked down at his suit sweatshirt and jeans that hid the suit underneath then blushed slightly. "I umm...never went to bed. I was waiting for you in the window in the living room and I must have fallen asleep to not see you come in."

“It…was late?” She wasn’t sure when it had been exactly. Everything after the drugs kicked in was a blur. “I didn’t see you in the window.” She shifted slightly and tried to prop herself up then gave up.

Alex held her gently. "Don't move, sweetie...You've overworked yourself..." Her skin was tinged along with her nails and lips, but frankly, he didn't care. She was in his arms, safe and that's all that matter. "Old habit I regressed to...no worries."

“I’m okay.” With his help and a dedicated effort at ignoring her stiffening muscles, she was able to sit up. “You should have gone to bed. You’ve got to be all sore from sitting there.”

He tried hard not to wince himself, knowing she'd gone through more than just falling asleep in a window. Plus she didn't need to know that he'd been there ever since he'd wakened to find her gone in the morning. "Hey don't worry about me, what can I do you, love...?"

She blinked slowly, processing the question and assessing how she felt. “Honestly? I’d kill for a bath then some more sleep.” She glanced down at her cast and made a face, “That thing is going to be a problem though.”

He kissed her light on the lips. "I'll go get a plastic bag from the kitchen. That's what I did when I broke my arm and still wanted to surf. And I'll go run you a nice hot bath with bubbles and everything. Can I make you anything to eat while you’re soaking?"

She made another face at the very thought of food and shook her head. “Heat, sleep. No eating.”

He kissed her forehead, moving some hair behind her ear. "Alright, but when you wake up I'm going to have something waiting. You’re going to have to eat sometime today. Do you need help getting undressed?" He tugged at the pieces of synthsilk carefully.

Lorna smiled, “I wouldn’t dream of not.” The synthsilk peeled away easily, revealing green tinged skin. She looked down and sighed, “That’s new. I’ve never had my skin be green before.”

He kissed a clear patch of green skin before slipping off the bed. "You’re still as beautiful as ever. I love you and I'll be right back with something to go over the cast." It only took a minute to leave and return with a bag and a few rubber bands.

Lorna tried to help him wrap her cast but realized quickly that the combination of wooziness from the drugs and her other injuries made that nearly impossible. She laid back with a sigh instead and let him work. “Can I have the strawberry scented bubble bath?” she asked, tugging idly at the peeling synthsilk.

Once he finished, he climbed up to kiss her gently. "You can have whatever you want love." Alex moved back toward the bathroom. "Let me get it started and I'll be right back."

By the time he came back, she’d managed to peel much of her suit off though obviously some parts were out of her reach or just beyond the bounds of the body-shyness that she’d not quite overcome. “You’re going to have to carry me. Can’t use crutches right now.”

"Would you like me to help you finish undressing now or when I carry you in?" He moved onto the bed so he was sitting behind her and she could lean back onto him as he waited.

Her eyes drifted closed, relaxing into his arms while she thought about it. “Now might be easier,” she decided finally, in sleepy tones.

He nodded slowly as he carefully pulled it away, trying hard not to move her. Then he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I'm so glad you’re home..."

“I’m glad to be home.” Lorna moved slightly to get her bad shoulder out of the way then kissed him. “I’m glad this is over and that you’re here for me to come home to. And to baby me just because I refused to stay in the medlab.”

"I'm going to spoil you rotten until you’re better and then some, to make sure you always come back to me." Figuring enough time had gone by, he kissed her one last time before gently picking her up in his arms and carrying her into the bathroom.

She settled into the hot water with a sigh and rested her head back on the rim of the tub. The water stung her cuts but the heat felt too good to complain about. “I’ll always come back no matter what. But I could get used to spoiling.”

Alex knelt by the tub, leaning his arms on the edge. "Good because you have no choice in the matter." He leaned in to kiss her gently. "Shall I leave you and your bubbles alone?"

“Mmm,” she agrees, “Just check every so often to make sure I haven’t drowned?” She’s already falling asleep which makes sense since she has the sneaking suspicion she didn’t get to sleep until dawn in the first place.

He nods slowly. "I will, sweetheart..." He brushed some hair behind her ear before standing up. "I love you."

“Love you too.” She catches his hand with her good one and presses a kiss to his palm. “Thank you.”

Alex only smiled. "You home safe and sound is all the thanks I need, love."



While Lorna ia sleeping, Alex makes her some soup and has some visitors. Leyu is insistant on getting the two boys to make up and proves just how much smarter then them she really is.


Tuna Fish For the Silly Teenage Boy's Soul as Told By Yoshida Leyu

He stirred the pot carefully, wanting to make sure everything was
perfect when Lorna woke up. It was plain Chicken noodle, he hoped
she'd be able to stomach it. Alex sighed carefully and snuck a glance
into the bedroom to see if she was sleeping alright.

Leyu would have been running down the hall at the speed of light if
Shiro wasn't holding on to her hand. The little girl had been worried
sick about Alex for the past few days. She'd noticed both his bad mood
and Shiro not doing anything to comfort him, and therefore assumed
that the two were having some dumb argument. And her worry had only
increased on Saturday when all the adults disappeared.

But Shiro had come to her early this afternoon and asked her if she
wanted to go visit Alex. She never needed permission to see him, so
she knew what Shiro was trying to do. Putting on her cutest and
sweetest smile, she eagerly agreed to help the two boys get over their
argument.

As the Yoshidas approached Alex's suite, Leyu managed to slip her
hand out of Shiro's and sprinted to the door, knocking energetically.
"Alex-san!" she called, stressing every syllable.

At the sound of the small voice at the door, Alex couldn't help but
smile. Checking the pot, Alex moved out of the small kitchen and
opened the door to scoop Leyu up into his arms. "Hey Leyu!" He ignored
Shiro standing behind her, concentrating on her.

Leyu happily went up in his arms and hugged him back, wrapping her
short arms around his neck. "Hi! Mm, what's the smell? It's good."

Shiro couldn't help but smile as Alex picked up his sister, but it was
short-lived, fading when Alex didn't even coldly greet him. If that
was going to be how he played, then so be it. He'd just keep quiet in
the background until Alex couldn't ignore him anymore.

"I'm making soup for Lorna when she wakes up. Want to help me check on
it?" He carried her over to the kitchen, not caring if Shiro came in
or not. He held her next to the oven so she could look down into the
pot. "When you start seeing bubbles, you know it's done."

Shiro slowly entered the room, closing the door behind him, but not
moving much farther in than that.

Leyu nodded and signalled to be put down. "Is it for Lorna-san?" she
asked, still smiling but not as brightly and with a hint of sympathy
in her voice.

Alex nodded as he set her down. "She's sleeping right now but she'll
be fine in a few days." He figured that was good enough to explain to
Leyu, not wanting her to worry. "She really needs some rest is all."

Leyu nodded again and quickly hugged Alex again. "That's good. If she
wakes up and we're not here, can you tell her I say 'hi' and 'get
better'?" she asked, emphasizing the "we" with a sidelong glance at
Shiro.

He returned the hug though his smile faltered. "I'll tell her you said
that Leyu. She'll appreciate it."

"I'll come with cookies too! Ooh! Or the oatmeal things that Rahne-san
made yesterday." Leyu licked her lips and patted her belly, giggling.
"Those were goooooood."

Alex grinned slightly, his own tummy rumbling as he hadn't eaten since
Friday, but with everything that had happened, he still wasn't hungry.
"She'll really like that Leyu."

She heard the sound of his tummy, and frowned up at him. "Are you
hungry? You should eat too." Leyu knew where they kept the food in the
kitchenette, but the cupboards were too high up for her. She jumped up
a couple of time, hoping to reach it, then frowned again when she
couldn't. "Nii-san, dasukette kudasai," she said to Shiro.

He hesitated, though, unsure of whether he could get so close to Alex
without risking getting punched in the face. (Not that Alex's hit
would connect, but it was the thought that counted.) But he knew well
enough that worriers don't eat well, and Alex was a supreme worrier.
So he nodded wordlessly and walked into the kitchenette to open the
cupboard door.

"Leyu really, I'm fine..." But Alex knew she was too much like her
stubborn brother to listen. So he concentrated on the pot, watching
for it to boil so he could ignore Shiro joining them in the small
kitchen.

There wasn't very much in there, but Shiro spotted a can of tuna.
Nothing too special, but Shiro knew that Alex liked tuna. As he
prepared the tuna, Leyu beamed up at Alex. "Everyone has to eat, even
if they don't want to! It's important."

Alex continued to ignore Shiro, even if he was preparing food clearly
for him. He managed a small smile for Leyu. "I guess I better thank
you for taking care of me then...without your superior judgment I
wouldn't have eaten anything until at least tonight." The soup was
beginning to boil slowly so he turned down the heat so the soup would
remain warm until Lorna awoke.

"Superior judgment! That's right!" Leyu boasted, holding her fingers
up in a V-is-for-victory sign. Shiro slipped past them to get the
mayonaisse out of the fridge, and briefly tried to meet Alex's eyes.
But the blond would have none of it, so Shiro sighed and looked away,
returning to his post by the bowl of tuna.

That only made Alex laugh, his eyes staying on the younger Yoshida.
"Your brother should take his advice from you on when to intervene.
Your judgment is much better." He said it pointedly to make sure
Shiro overheard.

"Here. Eat." Shiro slid the bowl down the counter to Alex
unceremoniously. Maybe he shouldn't hae brought Leyu. Maybe he should
have just come by himself and done the screaming thing so that they
could just get it over with. As it was, Shiro's patience was wearing
thin.

"Of course," Leyu said to Alex. She wasn't smiling as brightly as
before, though. She knew she was smarter than Shiro, of course, but
she didn't like the way Alex had said that.

Alex nodded his thanks to Shiro, the first time he's acknowledged the
other boy's presence. He pulled a fork out of a drawer and leaning on
the counter, picked at the fish in the bowl but couldn't make himself
eat. He was still too nervous about Lorna's current condition and the
current situation wasn't helping those nerves.

"Are you two ever going to talk again?" Leyu asked. But the question
was mostly directed at Alex, as she knew what Shiro wanted. "Because I
think that when two friends aren't talking and they don't do anything,
then they're being stupid."

Looking down at her, Alex sighed. "I agree Leyu, but sometimes you
feel so betrayed by someone, it's hard to forgive what they did.
Really hard this time, especially considering the amount of betrayal."

Leyu frowned, but Shiro spoke up before she could. "But sometimes
so-called 'betrayal' is just an effort to help someone," he said
calmly, leaning against the counter and looking at the wall straight
ahead. "It is 'betrayal' when the one being 'betrayed' does not want
to be helped, despite the absolute irrationality of their position."

He couldn't help it, Alex glanced to the side at Shiro. "And how
exactly was that helping me? It's obvious that both Dr. Gray and I
would been happier without that encounter." He had to admit he was
curious to Shiro's reasoning.

Shiro continued to stare ahead, feeling that if he turned to look at
Alex now, he'd lose his cool and flare up. "I was hoping that if you
would speak with her, you would abandon that ridiculous notion that
she is a monster."

Alex snorted softly as finally took a small bite of tuna, chewing it
thoughtfully ashe gathered his thoughts. "As much as I hate the woman,
I don't think she's a monster. I believe everyone when they talk about
how sweet and kind she is. But that doesn't erase what she did to
Scott when she returned...and that's why I hate her."

"I don't get it," Leyu said slowly, biting a nail. "Why do you hate
her? She didn't do anything to anyone. She's really nice. She gaves me
cookies when Artie-kun took me to meet her. And she's pretty, too."
Leyu looked up at Alex, cocking her head to the side questioningly.
"Did she say something mean?"

"She hurt Scott very much Leyu, emotionally, mentally... Wouldn't you
not like someone if they hurt Shiro, especially if they clamied to
love him?" Alex wasn't sure she could understand but he tried to
explain. He was not going to patronize her.

Leyu's first instinct was to affirm that yes, she'd hate anyone who
hurt her brother. But she rethought her response, chewing on her lower
lip. "Anoo, I like you, Alex-san, even though you hurt Nii-san.
And I like Nii-san even though he hurt you."

Blinking, Shiro turned his head and looked at his sister quizically.
When had she learned to be so reflective? Who had taught her to
be so reflective?

He leaned down and ruffled her hair, unable to hide him smile. "You
have a point, see I told you you were smarter then us silly boys..."
But then he sighed and Alex looked back into the ball. "But 'like' and
'love' are two different things Leyu...as is death and coming to terms
with it."

"That's because girls are smarter and better than boys," Leyu informed
Alex with absolute certainty. "What's the difference? Nii-san loves
you, and you love Nii-san. And I love you and him."

Now Alex joined Shiro in staring at the girl. When had she gotten so
insightful? "Leyu I...it's different, trust me. " To be honest, he
really didn't have any idea how to explain it...

Leyu was getting frustrated. She didn't understand what it was Alex
was trying to say. But it all sounded like poop to her. "I think that
if I don't know what you mean then Nii-san doesn't know either. So he
made a boo-boo."

“Your right, he did. It's not something I can readily explain...I know
how irrational it is, but it's just how I feel..." He shrugged then
looked down into the bowl to take another small bite.

"I am supposed to be your friend." That was Shiro, and he was finally
looking directly at Alex. "When you have a problem, it is my duty to
help you fix it. I felt that taking the head-on approach would work
best. I did not take your feelings into account because I knew you
would protest even though it was for your own good."

"I don't know how you thought it was for my own good." Alex sighed
then looked up to meet Shiro's gaze. "I can't explain to you why I
feel the way I do...but I can kind of understand what you don't. I
don't forgive you for it, but I understand."

"I am not asking for your forgiveness, because that would imply that I
am wrong, and I am not." Trust Shiro to retain his arrogance even when
trying to make up with Alex. "But that does not mean that I want to
ignore you when you come down the hall, or schedule my meals for when
you are not in the kitchen."

"Well since neither of us is going ot apologize and neither of us
wants to stay mad at the other, I'm guessing this is the best we're
gonna get." He shrugged again picking at the fish in the bowl.

"That's not good enough!" Leyu protested. "Nuh uh. Say you're sorry.
Both of you!"

"Leyu-chan, you cannot . . ." Shiro began, but Leyu shook her head
resolutely and folded her arms over her chest, mimicking her brother's
often-used stance.

"No! I always say sorry when I hurt somebody's feelings. That's what
you're supposed to do, ne? Always!"

"You know Shiro, she's right again. We both need to swallow our
pride." Alex stood up and held out a hand. "I know you meant
well...I'm sorry."

At least this was Alex, and apologizing to him wasn't as painful as it
would be to anyone else. "I am sorry, too. I should have been more
tactful." A skill which he utterly lacked, to be sure, but still.

"See? Was that so hard?" Leyu asked, smiling up at the two. "You are
so stupid! Both of you. You'd be so sad without me!"

Now that the hard part was over with, Alex burst out laughing as he
scooped up Leyu and set her on the counter. "How did you ever get to
be so smart huh?"

"Not from you or you!" she giggled, looking at Alex and Shiro, who'd
approached the two. Shiro couldn't help but smile, too, and briefly
put his hand on Alex's shoulder, a gesture of friendship. Leyu was
definitely getting a reward for this.