Bella Donna Boudreaux is a cheerful assassin (petitmort) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-08-22 00:38:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, bella donna boudreaux, nicholas d. wolfwood |
Who: Belle Boudreaux and Nicholas Wolfwood
Where: Her place, then his
What: Belle tucks Wolfwood in, and they chat a little
When: after this log
Warnings/Rating: PG for language and vomiting
Status complete
Belle slipped out of Vanille’s room, grabbing a towel from the linen closet as she passed it. She could at least dry her hair off. The rest of her was basically dry by now. She saw that Faiza and Clarice were gone, and Wolfwood was amazingly still there. “Guess you’re hard t’ scare off.” She noted.
“I was going to leave you be.” Wolfwood shook his head. “Figured you’d wanna talk to Vanille, so I could go home and curl up in blankets. The doctor said I’d be under the weather for the next few days, like I’d have a cold or something.”
"We have plenty of time to talk, and she's mostly calmed down. I'm so sorry this happened. You want me to drive you home?" She set her towel on the counter. "I just need a minute t' get dressed."
“Sure, if it’s okay to leave Vanille.” He didn’t mean that she was young, just that she’d been very upset.
Belle laughed. “She told me to leave, actually. Said I should spend the night with you. I’ll leave that up t’ your judgement, don’t wanna make you feel worse, since you’re gonna feel a little off for a while.”
He figured he ought to be honest. “I’d actually like the company. Maybe you can take care of me.” He tried to look pathetic, even tossing in a sniffle for effect.
Belle didn’t even bother to hide her smile. “Oh, I suppose. Couldn’t leave you t’ fend for yourself. You’ll end up eatin’ nothing but pizza and beer until you’re better.” She closed the gap between them, putting a hand on his hip. “I’m really impressed at how well you’re takin’ all of this.”
Wolfwood shrugged. “To be honest, I think part of it is shock. I may freak out later on. But part of it is that despite how fucking weird it all is, she didn’t mean it.” His body was already starting to ache like he’d run a marathon. “She might be able to do that kind of stuff, but she didn’t do it maliciously. It matters.”
Belle nodded. “Let me get some pants on and I’ll make sure you get home before the shock wears off.” She was going to need a cigarette once everything was settled down. She needed one already.
“You can smoke on the patio, if you want.” Wolfwood didn’t want it inside, but he understood the impulse.
“I’ll be fine for a little while. Might sneak off while you’re sleeping.” She let go of his hip and retreated back to her bedroom. “I had the bed made all nice and everything.” She noted with a sigh.
He had to laugh at that. “I’ll see it sometime.” He didn’t say it to be cocky or anything, just, unless terrorists kidnapped him or something, he wasn’t going to break this off. If they turned out to not get along or something, okay. Outside forces, not so much.
“Oh, you’re gonna see it.” Belle promised. “I mean, for one thing, you could come in here so I don’t hafta yell. You’ve seen me put pants on before, I ain’t that shy.” Her tone was teasing. She could fake being back to normal long enough to get to his place and get him tucked in.
Wolfwood smiled. “I can do that.” He wasn’t an idiot; he knew Belle wasn’t totally normal. She’d just gone through a big thing about being careful, and then he got ambushed by her own roommate.
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Belle. She smiled at him as she finished putting her pants on and grabbed a shirt from her dresser. Her room was a little more personalized than the rest of the house, but it was still mostly generic except for a small ivy plant in the window. “One of these days we’ll have two dates in a row where nothin’ crazy happens.” She hoped.
“That’d be good.” Wolfwood laughed. But still, he had to ask. “Is Vanille okay? I mean, she was freaked out.” He was tough, or at least he tried to act it; he’d be okay. The young, scared woman, probably another issue.
“She’ll be okay, I think. Fang knows about her dreams, they can console each other.” She shoved some pajamas into a gym bag, and looked at the selection of work clothes in her closet. “Her girlfriend’ll do more good than I can.”
“Yeah?” Wolfwood didn’t comment other than that; he could tell it was still kind of a sore subject. Maybe for the both of them. But he didn’t think that it was his place.
He had to lean against the doorway for a second, but he was still standing when Belle looked ready to go. “I appreciate you driving,” he said. “I’m not sure I can right now.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Belle said with a smile, slinging her garment bag over her shoulder. It would be safe enough in the bed of Wolfwood’s truck. She took his hand, giving him a worried look when she saw how he was leaning. “We could spend the night here if you’re too under the weather.” She didn’t want to move him around more than he could handle.
“I think I’ll be fine when I lie down.” Wolfwood wasn’t just blowing smoke; it was the standing that seemed difficult. “I appreciate it, though. It just feels like I’ve pulled an all-nighter; you know what I mean?” All his limbs felt heavy. But he was well enough to head out the door and down toward the elevator.
Belle nodded. “I figure we’ll be a matched set tomorrow.” She didn’t see herself falling asleep anytime soon. “But at least you’ll get a good breakfast in y’ before I head to work. You like eggs?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He didn’t like the implication that she was so worried, but he wasn’t about to try and mother her. It wasn’t his style. “Dinner was really nice, if it’s any consolation.”
“It is, I’m glad you enjoyed my cooking.” She leaned on the wall of the elevator as it went down. “Next time will be better, Vanille knows who you are and what’s goin’ on, things’ll be a little more settled.”
It made him happy that there’d even be a next time. Wolfwood managed to nod. “I really do feel bad that I surprised her so much.” But he did smile at her. “By the way, I don’t hate Vanille, and I definitely don’t hate you. I had fun until the shit hit the fan.”
“I’m glad.” It was relieving. She didn’t want one bad moment to poison Wolfwood’s opinion of Vanille. She was too sweet a girl for anyone to dislike her. She led the way out of the elevator and held the outside door for Wolfwood.
They got outside and into the car. Wolfwood angled himself into the passenger seat, and he couldn’t help but be amused at Belle - significantly shorter than him - getting into the driver’s seat. “Can you reach the pedals?”
Belle couldn’t help but laugh. “Got a phone book?” She joked, trying to scoot his seat forward. “I need a ladder when I go out with you.” She leaned over to kiss him, to show it was all in good fun, and also because she liked to do so.
He kissed her back, smiling at her. “Sorry, they grow us tall in SoCal.”
“I don’t mind. Just means I’ll be able t’ spot you in a crowd.” Since this was Nicholas’s truck she drove more carefully than normal. She didn’t want to speed and make him sick, anyway.
“Good point.” Wolfwood sat back and mostly concentrated on breathing, to keep it even. He managed to not throw up until the truck stopped in his lot, after which he quietly opened the door and did it mostly under the car. “Sorry.” Shit. “I probably shouldn’t kiss you, at least until I’ve brushed my teeth.”
Belle waited until he was done puking to touch him again. She hated to be fussed over when she was already feeling shitty. “You’re fine. I can wait another five minutes.” She opened her door and moved over. “If you want help gettin’ over to get out on this side I’m more than willing to help.”
“I can deal. I’ve stepped over worse.” Funny, the thought of that didn’t make him nauseous. “Just give me a second.” He felt a little stupid, but she’d probably seen worse, too.
She had, and since he’d just been poisoned, Belle was more than willing to be a little more understanding. She waited for him outside the truck, offering her hand to him.
He didn’t want to lean on her; he was too damn tall for that, but he did take her hand for a little while, just for leverage. Wolfwood straightened up and took a deep breath. “I think it’s past, but I’ll be glad to be lying down.” He really was starting to feel fairly shitty, but he didn’t want to overdo it. Belle would feel guilty.
“Of course. Just a little bit further.” She said, as encouragingly as she could. She didn’t expect him to act any way other than he was feeling. She felt so bad for him. She knew how much she hated to feel sick. She got the door for them both, still holding his hand.
Once he was in his own place, he got his shoes off and headed for the bedroom. “I definitely wanted your next time in my bedroom to be a lot sexier than this.” He still tried to joke, to make her smile. And hey, it was still true.
She laughed, setting her things down at the end of the bed. “You’ll make it up t’ me, I’m sure. You want me t’ get you a bowl or somethin’ in case you’re sick in the night?”
“Probably a good idea.” Wolfwood took his shirt off slowly, figuring being dizzy was just a recipe for disaster. He got down to his shorts, then stopped before figuring he was being stupid; it wasn’t like Belle hadn’t seen him naked before.
Belle moved to keep him steady. “I coulda done all that.” She chided him softly, before guiding him to the bed. “I’ll be right back, you get comfortable.”
“Yes, ma’am.” It was maybe a little snarky, but he did respect her. It was, dare he say it, affectionate. Wolfwood obediently slid under the cool sheets, sighing as he felt his muscles relax. “Oh, being horizontal feels better already.”
She laughed on her way to the kitchen, digging through things a bit until she found a big enough pot. She smiled when she saw him relaxed, and turned the lights off. She made her way carefully to his side, and put the pot on the floor next to him. “Other than everything crappy I had a nice night.” She said, tracing her fingers up his side so she could find his head and kiss his hair.
“We’ll do it up right next time.” Wolfwood said, smiling a little. “ ‘Cause there’ll be a next time.” He’d suffer for a few days and then he’d hopefully be fine.
“Yeah. We’ll have fun.” She promised. She was torn. She could either get her nicotine fix or she could lay in bed with Nicholas. It was a hell of a choice.
She stripped out of her clothing after a moment’s thought, moving into the bed next to him. “Funny how life goes, isn’t it?” She wrapped her arm around his waist. “Always find what you ain’t lookin’ for.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely how it usually goes.” Wolfwood sighed quietly. “No matter what winds up happening, I appreciate you giving me a chance.” Even just a chance to be normal for a little while actually mattered quite a lot to him. And, he’d guess, to her, too, even though she wouldn’t admit it.
“Thank you for takin’ a chance. I really- it means a lot t’ me. I’ve probably forgotten how t’ be a real person, Maybe I’ll get a chance to remember.” She figured she’d served for long enough, maybe she could take a little break from being an asset and be Belle for just a little bit a couple nights a week.
“I really want to kiss you, but I really shouldn’t.” Wolfwood managed to laugh. Kissing someone after tossing one’s cookies was not okay. “I’ll just say I like you and collect the rain check.”
“You’re gonna have a bunch of kisses waitin’ for you when you heal up. Don’t worry about that at all.” She hugged him gently and kissed the back of his neck. “Sleep well, mon cher. You’ll need the rest.”
“Probably. I’ll just sleep for three days and hopefully whatever it is will burn itself out.” That was what usually happened with actual colds. A tiny part of his mind wondered if he might still be poisoned, but he had to trust Doctor Hussain. That way madness lay.
So, he just smiled, and closed his eyes. “You gonna stick around, or just for a little while?” Either way was fine, he just wanted to know so if he woke up and she was gone, he wouldn’t worry.
“I’m here for the night. If I’m not in bed when y’ wake I’m either smokin’, cookin’, or left for work. I’ll leave you a note if I do have to take off.” She slowly moved away, so he could relax properly. “Wake me if you feel worse, I’ll take y’ t’ a real doctor.”
“Consider yourself kissed.” Wolfwood settled, starting to relax. “Been a long time since I had a woman take care of me.” He smiled, hoping she’d understand he was genuinely grateful.
“If you like it, I could be brided t’ stop by after work tomorrow. Bring y’ some soup or somethin’. Been a while since I took care of a man, and I never done it for one I liked.” Not like this, anyway. Emergency bandaging didn’t count.
“Would probably appreciate it.” Wolfwood actually felt kind of tired. “If I’m awake.” He rolled over, wincing at the muscle pain, but he wanted to smile at her. “There you go supporting the troops again, Ms. Boudreaux. You are a patriot.”
“I just love my country and all the people in it.” She said with a laugh. “You’re a helluva guy. All this tonight and you’re still smiling.” She gently brushed her fingers through his hair. “Get some rest, I’m probably gonna sneak off for a cigarette then come back and conk out.”
“Mm. Can do.” Wolfwood smiled sleepily as she stroked his hair. “Patio door is bitchy. Lift it, then slide.” She still liked him, and that made him smile. He might have fallen asleep not twenty seconds after Belle left the room.