She's unintentionally caused a rift between them. It's noticeable, even with as small as the shift is. He's questioning whether he can love her and keep her safe. It leaves her hoping that her love is enough to keep him from slipping into his own mind. Him obsessively going over details that don't matter now that she's home safe with him aren't going to do him any favors.
"But it did happen. And we'll figure out what to do next."
Her hand seeks his out, simply pressing over it without expectation of him turning his so their fingers can lock together. She never presses when he's like this, too lost in his own thoughts and regrets.
"Do you think it's too soon for a shower?"
That gives him something to focus on. A way to take care of her. He can help her in the shower, a clear plan of action that he needs right now.
He doesn't startle or move away from her hand, though it's noticeable the way he doesn't lean into the touch either.
"I thought you were hungry," he teases even though his heart clearly isn't in it. Frank levels her with a look he means to be gentle, but ends up being bludgeoning instead. "Go on, eat, then we'll shower."
He pulls his hand away to pick up his sandwich and take a first bite, smiling softly at her to show his approval. She has given him tasks to focus on which helps, but that won't keep his mind from wandering to the men he had to leave behind. They won't get off nearly as easy as their companions.
Instead of arguing that she's lost her appetite, she picks at her sandwich a bit more. He wants her to eat so she can maintain her strength, and she doesn't want to make him worry anymore than he's already doing. So she eats and she teases him, laughing a bit as she does. That of course makes her wince, and she's very careful to keep from giggling further as she slowly swallows a bite of sandwich.
"Of course. It's a dangerous place for an invalid," he deadpans as he takes another bite. He does want to nag her about the food, but she's laughing so it can't be all bad (even if that clearly hurts her.) Frank looks down into his plate with a bemused smile as he takes another bite or two himself, but even he can't finish his meal so it takes the pressure off of lecturing Clara about hers.
"Ha ha." Clara tries to act offended, but it falls flat since her cheeks are currently stuffed with the rest of her sandwich. It turns out she was hungrier than she thought.
As soon as she's done and deems he's not going to eat anymore, she stacks the plates and moves to stand up. Only that...really hurts, so she hisses in a sharp intake of air and freezes in place. Maybe the dishes can wait until later. No matter how tidy she likes to keep things.
"How do you manage to deal with being shot all the time? I can hardly move."
He finds himself grinning at her scarfing down the rest of her sandwich, but then chases after her when she clears their plates.
"For starters, I don't try to do dishes after." His hand gently rubs at her farthest shoulder in sympathy while his head falls to the other as softly as he can manage. He finally lets her feel how devastating it is to see her hurt this way. "Let me take care of you, Clara. Please."
She knows she's being stubborn. That she's going to make things harder on herself in the end by pushing herself right now. It's all a defense mechanism, and he knows it. And he gets her to relent using his honest desire to just take care of her.
How can she deny him that? She's not going to hurt him further. That isn't what you do to someone you love.
"Okay," she breathes out the word, whisper soft. Her hand goes to touch at the side of his head, cradling him in close to her.
He blows out a long breath, just staying close like this for as long as he can stand. Frank expects to be knocked over by a memory of his former life, but when it doesn't come he isn't sure if he's relieved or upset. Rather than try to analyze, instead he takes Clara's hand and starts silently leading her towards the bathroom. His eyes are clear, if wet, as he glances back at her before pulling them both inside and shutting the door.
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"But it did happen. And we'll figure out what to do next."
Her hand seeks his out, simply pressing over it without expectation of him turning his so their fingers can lock together. She never presses when he's like this, too lost in his own thoughts and regrets.
"Do you think it's too soon for a shower?"
That gives him something to focus on. A way to take care of her. He can help her in the shower, a clear plan of action that he needs right now.
no subject
"I thought you were hungry," he teases even though his heart clearly isn't in it. Frank levels her with a look he means to be gentle, but ends up being bludgeoning instead. "Go on, eat, then we'll shower."
He pulls his hand away to pick up his sandwich and take a first bite, smiling softly at her to show his approval. She has given him tasks to focus on which helps, but that won't keep his mind from wandering to the men he had to leave behind. They won't get off nearly as easy as their companions.
no subject
Instead of arguing that she's lost her appetite, she picks at her sandwich a bit more. He wants her to eat so she can maintain her strength, and she doesn't want to make him worry anymore than he's already doing. So she eats and she teases him, laughing a bit as she does. That of course makes her wince, and she's very careful to keep from giggling further as she slowly swallows a bite of sandwich.
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As soon as she's done and deems he's not going to eat anymore, she stacks the plates and moves to stand up. Only that...really hurts, so she hisses in a sharp intake of air and freezes in place. Maybe the dishes can wait until later. No matter how tidy she likes to keep things.
"How do you manage to deal with being shot all the time? I can hardly move."
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"For starters, I don't try to do dishes after." His hand gently rubs at her farthest shoulder in sympathy while his head falls to the other as softly as he can manage. He finally lets her feel how devastating it is to see her hurt this way. "Let me take care of you, Clara. Please."
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How can she deny him that? She's not going to hurt him further. That isn't what you do to someone you love.
"Okay," she breathes out the word, whisper soft. Her hand goes to touch at the side of his head, cradling him in close to her.
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