Re: Chinatown Apt: Robert/Selina
Bruce glanced up whenever she thrashed, but he knew if he tried to touch her she'd only panic, and if he woke her, she'd have trouble getting back to sleep. So he worried and waited and she calmed down afterward. He read very quickly, a skill that helped him get through the harder courses in college, so he was a good chunk through the book. It was a thick one, and it was used, something he picked up at one of the smaller bookstores. He preferred real books to online, he loved the feel and smell of them.
He glanced up from the pages when she spoke, fixing the glasses on his nose, and partially put it down, holding the page with his thumb so he wouldn't forget it. "Because I'm a glutton for punishment." He smiled wryly. "Dickens is wordy. You could probably edit out a hundred pages. But he wrote about poverty and class warfare. I have a soft spot for that." He marked the page and put it down next to the chair.
Bruce approached her carefully and sat on the bed next to her, but didn't violate her personal space. He was back to respecting her boundaries since he violated them before and he had a lot to make up for. He was a warm and solid presence now though, even if he was in the doghouse. He hadn't shaved since the ordeal and was scruffy, adding to the disheveled look. "I made food. It's cold by now, but I can warm it up. I got you some spare clothes, and there's a towel in the bathroom, if you want to take a shower. My house is your house."
There was a lot to say and he didn't want to stretch it out like it wasn't at the top of his head, like she didn't deserve it. "I'm sorry I acted badly. I'm here to listen, or to shut up, or whatever you need."