My Past Reads Like A Fall Out Boy Song Title [OPEN]

[exuviiated]

[The fields have ears.]

[Of corn, that is, but it's trampled and a mess by the time anyone might come across it-- this is Aaron's fault. He's been pacing for a solid hour as the wound on his side slowly clots.]

[He knows that he should put something over it; pressure, a cloth, even his hand, but he can't. His hands are shaking and his head hurts and all he can think of is Riddler.]

[Or, rather, what Riddler did to him. And vice versa.]

[By the time he's worked off enough nervous energy to stop pacing around, he's not alone anymore. A shallow well of shadow forms almost unconsciously behind him (they could be one of Lux's, now that people must know that he has stronger magic) and he turns towards where he thinks his visitor is.

Who's there?

Comments

[panspermia]

[Putting down the backpack between them, Greg pulls out more of the supplies hastily crammed in. He wets a towel with the second water bottle, and steels himself with a deep breath.]

All right bud, lift your shirt up, let me see the damage. I shoved some CDs and a player in there too, if you'd rather tune me out.

[exuviiated]

No. It's okay.

[Music, he feels, will only make the situation more awkward.

He pulls up his shirt to his ribcage, showing midsection and nothing else. Luckily, the wound was there.

Needless to say, it doesn't look good-- dripping some of the shadowy material that had been on the butterfly, and all-around gross.]

[panspermia]

[Well that looks. Bad. No wonder the guy's a wreck. Greg's never been great with blood, nor clearly unnatural spooky magic goo, and he can't stop himself from cringing at the sight of the wound.

Still, he sets his jaw, and starts gently cleaning away the half-congealed mess with the towel.]

that icon made me choke on my pepsi. greg, u ok?

[exuviiated]

[As Greg goes to wipe up the mess, Aaron grits his teeth and fists his hands in the stiff, bloodied fabric of his shirt.

His heels kick against the ground a few times, but he seems to be dealing with the pain decently.]

that's not even his awkwardest icon. his life is one of pretending not to be uncomfortable

[panspermia]

[As the oozing mess is cleared away, Greg can get a better look at how bad the wound itself looks. Still nasty, but at least not the nastiest.]

Well, I'm sure no medical student, but it doesn't look infected.

Brace yourself, this is gonna sting.

[Here comes the antiseptic cream]

aaron: is a big baby

[exuviiated]

[A strangled, whimpering sound burbles up in his throat at the sting. It's less stinging, more burning, and it really, really hurts.]

Ow! Ow, stop!

[At his feet, the shadows quiver violently before calming back down. Aaron, however, seems to be even more tightly wound.]

powerful shadow warrior

[panspermia]

All right, all right!

[He pulls back, hands raised. He takes a second to peer at the shadows, just to make sure they aren't about to start bubbling up at him, before focusing on Aaron.]

Take a breather, drink some water, whatever. There's no rush.

So scary, right??

[exuviiated]

[He takes a couple deep breaths, eyes drifting shut and heels scuffing across the ground again.

He takes a minute to stop looking like he's in pain, and by then a clammy sweat's broken out across his arms and stomach in response to it all. He steals a look at Greg, hoping that he's not too disappointed in the outburst.]

I think-- I think I'm okay now.

protect our city from this monster.

[panspermia]

[Greg waits patiently, if anxiously. Aaron may be a grown adult, intelligent student, or shadow-tossing villain, but all Greg can see in that moment is how very young he looks.

When Aaron's finally calmed himself down, Greg just gives a little nod, and a weak smile.]

Alright. Let's try again. It'll be over quick, I promise.

[exuviiated]

[Don't tell that to Aaron, or he'll show just how adult he can be.

Not very, in the moment.]

Okay. I'm going to be fine-- just do it fast.

[panspermia]

Here we go.

[He's quick, but probably not as quick as Aaron would like, and maybe used a little more than necessary. He really doesn't want you getting infected, okay?

The point is, it gets done. The worst is over, presumably, aside from the other parts.]

yeah, greg, the park's nice

[exuviiated]

Thank you.

[The whole time, he was gritting his teeth and staring at the wall of the barn, so maybe the thanks wasn't as heartfelt as he meant it to be.

And then, his voice gets smaller.]

You may not want to stick around here. I've heard the park's nice--?

sure seems like a nice dating spot

[panspermia]

[For a moment, Greg was silent. Then he nodded, and stood.]

Yeah, all right.

[He dusted off his pants, and gave Aaron a weary smile.]

You hang on to that stuff for a bit. I'm gonna want it back eventually, though, 'kay?

[exuviiated]

Okay. Thanks.

[He smiled back, and leaned back in the bench as far as his side allowed.]

I'll be here, probably.

[And, hopefully, fine.]