( her palms withdraw a beat as he's pressing himself up ruggedly from the bricks, and it takes her a minute to process when he speaks the name, to attach it to him, and well — it's certainly an introduction she won't forget.
she notes the palm that withdraws from his side, the way leather glimmers with a slick crimson, and it only spurs her forward, helps her tuck down all of that outside noise and know better and help get him back to her place. from there it was a shot in the dark, but she'd at least have him off the streets, be somewhere a little more familiar where she could attempt to put two and two together without the concern of him bleeding out. he takes her arm but she makes to carefully slide it around him instead, allowing him to shift what weight she could reasonably handle as they crossed, the dull blinks of the cross walk signal requesting their pause.
it's late enough that there isn't much traffic, and she tries to make as short a walk of it as possible, wincing a little as they adjust about a block or so deep, his shoulder hitched over hers tugging at blonde strands that've gotten lost in his lean. she can feel his blood dampening her shirt, the slick feel of it getting through the gauze of her blouse but she's not fussed. it seems trivial compared to the fact that she hasn't any idea just how many of those bullets he hadn't managed to avoid, and she's mentally filing through the various first aid kits she's got tucked around her apartment when they reach the front steps, the promising red of the building's entry staring back at them. )
Easy.
( she can feel the sharp intake of breath as she keeps pace beside him, taking one step at a time and letting him stagger in first. for a tired building, it at least offers the convenience of an elevator, it's light flickering with a stale buzz above them as it climbs. the scatter of their breaths is only made all the more evident by the small space, and there's a muted ding before it's opening to her hall. she's blindly digging pockets for her keys, and she's steady to slow him once they've made it to her front door. )
Just don't pass out on me and we'll call it even, yeah?
( handle and the deadbolt unlocked, she's kicking the door open with her heel, and even though she hadn't left a light on she knows the space well enough to navigate it for him, guiding him to one of those benches at her dining table. )
no subject
she notes the palm that withdraws from his side, the way leather glimmers with a slick crimson, and it only spurs her forward, helps her tuck down all of that outside noise and know better and help get him back to her place. from there it was a shot in the dark, but she'd at least have him off the streets, be somewhere a little more familiar where she could attempt to put two and two together without the concern of him bleeding out. he takes her arm but she makes to carefully slide it around him instead, allowing him to shift what weight she could reasonably handle as they crossed, the dull blinks of the cross walk signal requesting their pause.
it's late enough that there isn't much traffic, and she tries to make as short a walk of it as possible, wincing a little as they adjust about a block or so deep, his shoulder hitched over hers tugging at blonde strands that've gotten lost in his lean. she can feel his blood dampening her shirt, the slick feel of it getting through the gauze of her blouse but she's not fussed. it seems trivial compared to the fact that she hasn't any idea just how many of those bullets he hadn't managed to avoid, and she's mentally filing through the various first aid kits she's got tucked around her apartment when they reach the front steps, the promising red of the building's entry staring back at them. )
Easy.
( she can feel the sharp intake of breath as she keeps pace beside him, taking one step at a time and letting him stagger in first. for a tired building, it at least offers the convenience of an elevator, it's light flickering with a stale buzz above them as it climbs. the scatter of their breaths is only made all the more evident by the small space, and there's a muted ding before it's opening to her hall. she's blindly digging pockets for her keys, and she's steady to slow him once they've made it to her front door. )
Just don't pass out on me and we'll call it even, yeah?
( handle and the deadbolt unlocked, she's kicking the door open with her heel, and even though she hadn't left a light on she knows the space well enough to navigate it for him, guiding him to one of those benches at her dining table. )
Just, ah—wait here.