Blue Forest Banshee Part 45
The offices were deserted so late at night. Duo sensed people moving in the building, but as he wasn't required to check in, he didn't bother calling anyone.
He just dropped his notes on his desk and then slipped quietly off to his room.
He met no one on the way, which was good, as he tended to slide along walls or stumble over shrubbery with annoying frequency.
He didn't want to be fussed over. He only wanted to clean up, go to bed, and sleep for maybe a few days.
::Oh. Wait. Concussion... Can I do that? Is it safe?::
He paused at the bottom of a stair. Were you allowed to sleep with a concussion? He couldn't remember.
:It's only a bump; it can't kill me.::
Pulling his clothes off in his room was a challenge. He couldn't seem to get his jacket off. It wanted to cling to his arms and wrap around him, frustrating his attempts at escape. It wasn't until he fell onto the bed, catching a corner of the overly affectionate garment on the post, that he was able to wriggle out of it.
He slapped angrily at the denim and threw it on the floor, growling, and showing his teeth, then felt ridiculous. Fighting with his clothing! Won-der-ful.
His t-shirt was more cooperative; perhaps cowed by the fate of the impertinent jacket. But the shirt was inside out, he noticed. He peered at it as his mind shuffled to a halt.
::Huh?::
::Don't try to think right now,:: warned a little voice. ::Brain is in pain; auto-pilot now engaged.::
Duo shrugged, dropping the shirt. ::Good plan. Just get clothes off. Clean up. Go to bed.::
His jeans were damp, wanted to stick to him. He struggled with the button. He struggled with the zipper. He struggled to get the heavy fabric pushed down. The jeans fought him every step of the way, until he sat down hard on the floor.
Panting heavily, lovely colored sparkles exploding behind his eyes with every beat of his heart, he rested his head on his knees for a moment.
::I am not crying! I won't! Just rest. Sit still a minute...::
Sweat trickled down his spine and beaded on his forehead. A minute passed; two minutes.
Heart beat slowed. Colored sparkles got brighter.
Duo tried again, inching the damp denim down his legs and finally off.
Good!
::Bet Heero never fights with his pants...::
::I don't believe I said that...::
He shook his head. His brain rattled.
He whimpered.
He felt even worse without the protection of the denim. Now his knees ached and his tailbone and his ribs... Damn!
He crawled up the side of the bed to his feet, then stumbled into the bathroom. Twisted on the water in the tub. Scooped a handful of rosemary and lavender into the water. Clung to the edge of the vanity as his equilibrium reeled.
Bath.
Get into the bath.
Feel better in the bath.
Already the scent of the herbs was relaxing his body.
Relax. Heal. Quiet.
Quiet...
His fingers turned the lock on the door with no conscious direction from his brain.
He climbed into the tub, sinking into the warm water with a moan.
::Hurts... oh, hurts...::
On the vanity behind him, a trio of violet and lavender candles lit themselves.
He rested his head against the rolled rim of the old-fashioned tub and closed his eyes. Floated in the scented water.
Safe now...
TBC...
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