Natalie's Duplex, The Hegemony Compound, Brazil, Sunday

[whenshewasnice]

Don't ask how Natalie ended up on the bathroom floor. She wasn't even entirely sure herself. Something about an identity complex and an inopportunely timed (if more than welcome) transformation back to normal, probably. The fact remained that that was where she woke up, with dried blood over her top lip and Moxy licking her face.

She woke up. Her. For the first time in over a month. She was remarkably cool about it. Picked herself up off the floor, washed her face, went to get her phone to send a text to a few people she knew would have worried. Or had specifically avoided her –– no, not her. Nathan. But his memories were still raw in her head.

All the text said was, Natalie's back.

And afterwards, when she was setting food out for Moxy and she realized that her hand was shaking, she had to wonder if she shouldn't have pretended to be gone a little longer.

[ooc: NFB, but open! If you think you got a text, you got one!]

Comments

[pursuedthestars]

It was early when Jim's phone went off. So, he ignored it. For awhile. He'd had a terrible week and just wanted to sleep for the day but his body wasn't having that.

So, he eventually rolled over, grabbed his phone and peered at the message. For a few seconds, he didn't really process what he was reading and almost threw his phone down on the floor.

But, he got it eventually. And, after some thought, sent a message back because he wasn't sure how she was just from those two words.

Welcome back.

[whenshewasnice]

Even Natalie herself wasn't sure how she was. Disoriented, maybe? She sat down by her kitchen table.

Thanks. Hi.

[pursuedthestars]

Hi. You all right?

Seemed like a good thing to say.

[whenshewasnice]

It was one of the most logical things, at least. Even if Natalie ended up just looking blankly at the message for a few moments.

Because she really wasn't sure.

I haven't been around for a month, was what she came up with. I'm not sure I even know what all right feels like right now.

[pursuedthestars]

Sorry. It's been a rough month.

For her more than him, he knew. But still. He was just treading lightly right now.

[whenshewasnice]

I know.

She was still willing her hands not to shake.

[pursuedthestars]

I'm glad to hear from you.

He wasn't typically one to say he'd missed anyone so that was as close as he'd get, probably.

[whenshewasnice]

And the whole shaking hands thing wasn't really making Natalie very good at text conversations. She was coming up empty.

Good.

Moxy tried to use her leg to climb into her lap.

[pursuedthestars]

You can call me when you're feeling more up to it. I just wanted to let you know I got your message. I'm glad you're all right.

And while Jim's hands weren't shaking, he was still Jim and not great at knowing what to do in situations like this.

[whenshewasnice]

It took longer for Natalie's reply to come, this time. Sensible, logical thought happened a bit slower when you were upset, and it took a moment to figure out what she actually wanted right now.

Out of him, and out of the outside world in general.

I think this is where you should do the boyfriend thing and offer to come over.

[pursuedthestars]

I can come over. I just didn't want to overwhelm you or make anything worse.

That'd been his logic.

[whenshewasnice]

My face in the mirror overwhelms me.

No, seriously. It kind of did. Her head was a mess.

Come anyway. I miss you.

[pursuedthestars]

Okay. I'll be there in a few. Let the security guys know because I don't wanna talk to them for long.

And then he turned off his phone so he could start getting a portal scheduled while he gathered a few things to take.

[whenshewasnice]

So Natalie told the security guys. And they seemed a little weirded out yet relieved to hear her voice after a long absence. One of them was still going to escort Jim to her door, though.

And Natalie was just going to wait and try to pull herself together as much as she could.

[pursuedthestars]

And as soon as Jim got there and realized he was going to be escorted, he got cranky and argumentative because he knew where to go and he wasn't in the mood and he just wanted to be left alone.

He relented eventually but he wasn't happy about it.

[whenshewasnice]

It was the compound where the Hegemon lived. He really should have expected to get escorted almost all the time. And, at least it wasn't a very long way.

Natalie had managed some presentable clothes (or had just thrown a hoodie on top of what she was wearing) when she came to the door. She dismissed the security guy with a little nod of thanks, then stepped out of the way to let Jim in.

[pursuedthestars]

Jim didn't say thanks but he didn't curse or insult the guy either. He just stepped inside quietly, glancing at Natalie as he passed before he waited for her to shut the door.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie closed the door.

And then she turned and grabbed him pretty roughly for an embrace. This once, she was going to take what she needed from him instead of skirting around the issue or waiting for him to make the right move, the right assumption about what she wanted.

[pursuedthestars]

Jim hadn't expected her to embrace him that roughly but he didn't resist. He wrapped both arms around her and kept her close, breathing roughly and closing his eyes.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie had her eyes squeezed shut, her head against his shoulder, and her arms squeezing him, although not too hard. Enough to get the firm feeling that she was here. This was her body. These were her arms.

This was her boyfriend.

[pursuedthestars]

She was definitely there, her body was hers and he had all his memories of her. He rubbed her back and took a chance by kissing her temple.

Just a few things he could manage to do when it came to comfort.

[whenshewasnice]

The kiss was a good idea.

This had to be pointed out, because after a moment, she was starting to tremble a little. Again. Wasn't even trying to hide it. She didn't have the energy for something like that.

[pursuedthestars]

Jim wasn't ever going to be great with situations like this but he could hold her and rub her back and try and quiet her or just soothe her. As long as he didn't really have to get deep into talking, he could try and comfort her and alleviate some of her upset.

[whenshewasnice]

And Natalie wasn't talking. She didn't want to talk, and probably couldn't have, either. Because the trembling was the first step, and harsh sobbing was the second.

And she'd already made it there.

[pursuedthestars]

Poor Jim didn't really know what to do outside of holding onto her and rubbing her back. He hoped that was enough because anything else was way out of his league.

People who were crying liked to be held, right? He hoped so because that's what he knew to do.