ellectrical | (no subject)

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Eventually, Elle had leaned back onto the bed, curled away from Ava, watching the IV drip. The sandwiches have been consumed and the packages discarded. X is sitting at the edge of her bed – Elle has been listening to her breathing, while she waited.

She's not entirely sure what she's waiting for.

But if it's for sleep, that doesn't seem to be coming any time soon.

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"I don't need anything."

There's a pause, and then she amends, "I don't want you to leave."

"Okay," X repeats.

She still hasn't moved.

And she definitely won't, now.

Elle moves her hand slightly toward X, but stops once she reaches as far as she can without leaning forward. Which apparently won't happen yet.

"I'm sorry about what happened."

She leans her head to one side, "I shouldn't have let it."

X shifts her own hand to meet Elle's, fingertips just overlapping.

"Sometimes it is difficult to know," X offers, gaze flicking from Elle's chin to her eyes, and back again.

"What people will do. When they are not okay."

"I wasn't okay, either," she answers.

She looks down to their hands. "I knew that."

X hesitates, head tilting as she studies Elle.

"You are better? Now."

She is not entirely certain.

She stays quiet for a moment.

"I can - mostly control it. Again."

Beat. "I think I couldn't around him."

"Oh."

X absorbs that for a second.

Then --

"You know why?"

She doesn't. Not really.

"No."

She flexes her fingers slightly. "If he could do those things to - other people, maybe it's just something he could do to me."

If X were someone else, or of a more scientific bent, maybe she would be preoccupied with the 'why?' inherent to this scenario.

As she isn't, what she says instead is, "It is good that he is gone."

For many, many reasons. Most of them involving Elle.

"Yeah."

A little more quietly, "I hope she's okay, too."

X does not bother looking at Ava.

"Maybe she will be."

Beat.

"Sometimes people are."

She looks up to X.

"Are you okay?"

X looks a little bewildered.

"Yes."

It probably should not be a question.

And yet.

She doesn't look away.

It's not doubting, but -

"The demon - hurt you."

"I heal," X says.

She sounds a little uncertain.

"And I was not dismembered. It is okay."

"I know."

She moves her fingers again.

Unsure exactly how to say it, "But you had to come for me."

"You are important," X says firmly.

It is like an explanation.

Her eyes linger, expression unchanged.

"I don't know if that makes it - okay."

"I think it does," X says, after a moment of thought.

It only seems fair.

"For me."

That part is important, too.

"Okay."

She falls silent for a moment, and then adds, "You can just - tell me. If something's wrong."

"I know."

X's response is prompt.

"But there is not."

Beat.

"For me."

She hesitates, fingers twining with Elle's.

"But you are worried. About Ava."

Elle glances down again.

"He did it to her."

"I know."

She does. Because Elle said so.

But X is still worried.

It is how she rolls. (Sometimes.)

Not looking up -

"It - I don't like it."