Jonathan had been shocked when Edward willingly touched him, but braced himself for the extra weight, allowing Edward the support. “I’ll need a place to put them,” Jonathan said softly, sighing. “I can’t take them to my apartment without revealing I’m around and I can’t bring them here...I don’t even know where here is, not to mention, I'm sort of not allowed to leave.”
When Edward moved away, Jonathan stood himself, watching the other man. “Do you need help to your room, E...Nigma?” he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets, still unsettled about his own revelations.
He refused to fall in love with the man. This would pass, just a stupid puppy crush.
This was not Eddie’s first anxiety attack, and surely not his last. He was rather used to their coming and going, but unless he was locked in Arkham, he would have to suffer through them alone, dealing with the consequences of his madness by himself. Jonathan’s presence helped to keep him from spiraling out of control, and for that he was grateful, though embarrassed. “I’m alright,” he insisted, stepping out into the hall. He waved his hand dismissively. “You can bring your stuff here,” he said, perhaps not fully thinking about the implications behind his statement. “And you can leave. I’ll just... have to... keep you from knowing our exact location.”
Wait..did Edward really just ask him to move into the lair? As in, move in...together? Jonathan blinked at the thought, tilting his head. “I would need to know the location to bring my things, Edward,” Jonathan pointed out, following him out though aiming for the kitchen to finish dinner. “And if I bring my things, I guess I won’t be leaving.
Covering his face with the palm of his hand, Eddie waved the other one behind him at Jonathan. “Whatever. We’ll talk about this later. NObody knows where this place is.” The last sentence was said with the slightest hint of pride, but wouldn’t elaborate due to his current physical condition. The closer he got to his bedroom door, he toed off his shoes, leaving them in the hallway, haphazardly. When he got to the door, he stepped through and turned around to gaze at Jonathan.
“Thank you,” he said, in a very low voice, almost inaudible. His eyes moved restlessly, nervously, then he shut the door, essentially shutting out both Jonathan and the rest of the world. He locked the door, several times in fact, the bolts sliding noisily into place, and he staggered straight to his bed, flopping down just as he was, without even taking his clothes off, first. He curled up into a ball and grabbed one of his pillows, holding it tight to his chest as if he were clinging for dear life. Jonathan was an intrusion in his life, a botheration, an unknown variable that could ruin his whole operation. Eddie did not like unknown variables - they made him nervous. But on the other hand, he could see how somebody like Jonathan would be useful around. Yeah. He shut his eyes quite suddenly and almost instantly, fell into sleep.
“You’re welcome,” Jonathan said to the door with a smile, heading for the kitchen to finish dinner.
Two hours later, Jonathan was placing the last of three slices of roast beef on a plate, lining them carefully before drizzling it with a white cream sauce. He scooped a portion of the sauteed cabbage salad with vinegar dressing next to it, arranging it just so, before covering the plate with one of his clean mixing bowls, carrying it to Edward’s room.
He got to the door before remembering Edward locked it, frowning. He went into his bedroom this time, setting the plate on his bed before picking up his bedside table, carrying it towards Edward’s room and placing it outside the door, off to the side so Edward didn’t run into it when he left, returning to place the plate on it.
Mission accomplished, he returned to the kitchen for his own plate, curling up in a chair at the table, a knee drawn up to his chest as he ate.