24 Fic: In the Daylight - Hugs and Cuddles Challenge 3/20 (Tony/Michelle)
Title: In the Daylight
Fandom: 24
Characters: Michelle Dessler/Tony Almeida
Prompt: Hugs and Cuddles Prompt 03. Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 574
Rating: PG
Summary: Post Day 4, Michelle sees things in the light of day.
Author's Notes: Once again, thanks to everyone for reading these little ficlets. I hope you're enjoying them!
"Does it hurt?"
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, making her cheeks flush traitorously. Talking about it wasn't taboo, of course, but by mutual agreement, they hadn't mentioned any of the events of the last 24 or so hours, not since shaking Jack's hand and watching him walk off into the sunrise. Instead, they'd gone home and fallen into an exhausted sleep, limbs curled around each other in ways that shouldn't have been as comfortable as they were. It was late when they woke again, late enough that dinner consisted of two lukewarm bowls of soup before they surrendered again to the pull of sleep.
Now it was daylight once more and they'd managed to drag themselves back into the land of the living. Mostly. She was in one of his old shirts, one she'd commandeered so long ago, her hair hastily swept back into a ridiculous ponytail. The night before he'd dug through one of the boxes of his clothes she'd kept locked in the spare room for clean underwear and a pair of pajamas, and now he made no move to change. Not that having coffee together required more formal attire anyway. It was comfortable, strangely so, to be sitting curled up against a throw pillow with him nearby again.
And then she'd opened her mouth. The easy calm that had settled over them was broken because her gaze had strayed to his bandaged foot and the words had come out unbidden.
"Sorry," she murmured, covering her blunder with a slow sip from her coffee. She had a right to ask, of course, but it was so much easier not to talk about what'd happened before. It always had been.
Though hadn't that been part of what got them in trouble? Not talking about it?
"It's just… I worry, you know," she added, finding a little more strength to continue. He needed to know what she thought. Even if it broke their unspoken deal.
She settled beside him, touching his foot gently. The bandage had bunched under his toes, the dingy color reminding her maybe she wasn't the greatest housekeeper in the world. Still, if he was in pain, she should be doing something about it. Propping his foot up, giving him painkillers, making him more comfortable.
His arm slid around her shoulders, drawing her in close. Her arms wound around him, tighter than she'd intended, but not nearly as tightly as she'd like. God, she needed this hug - this simple hug - after everything yesterday. After looking at the reminder of his ability to think on his, well, his feet. She needed to be closer to him.
She felt his lips brush against her hair. "Yeah," he answered finally, his voice rough with the truth. She tried to keep from tensing in surprise; he'd never been one to admit these things without a proper interrogation. Still, she relaxed on the realization that they were both trying to be better. "Yeah, it stings a little. I'll keep it elevated and it'll be okay."
Her only response was to pull his feet across her lap and wrap his arms around her tighter. Her face landed in his neck, relishing in his warmth. They'd both get the comfort they needed this way.
Fandom: 24
Characters: Michelle Dessler/Tony Almeida
Prompt: Hugs and Cuddles Prompt 03. Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 574
Rating: PG
Summary: Post Day 4, Michelle sees things in the light of day.
Author's Notes: Once again, thanks to everyone for reading these little ficlets. I hope you're enjoying them!
"Does it hurt?"
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, making her cheeks flush traitorously. Talking about it wasn't taboo, of course, but by mutual agreement, they hadn't mentioned any of the events of the last 24 or so hours, not since shaking Jack's hand and watching him walk off into the sunrise. Instead, they'd gone home and fallen into an exhausted sleep, limbs curled around each other in ways that shouldn't have been as comfortable as they were. It was late when they woke again, late enough that dinner consisted of two lukewarm bowls of soup before they surrendered again to the pull of sleep.
Now it was daylight once more and they'd managed to drag themselves back into the land of the living. Mostly. She was in one of his old shirts, one she'd commandeered so long ago, her hair hastily swept back into a ridiculous ponytail. The night before he'd dug through one of the boxes of his clothes she'd kept locked in the spare room for clean underwear and a pair of pajamas, and now he made no move to change. Not that having coffee together required more formal attire anyway. It was comfortable, strangely so, to be sitting curled up against a throw pillow with him nearby again.
And then she'd opened her mouth. The easy calm that had settled over them was broken because her gaze had strayed to his bandaged foot and the words had come out unbidden.
"Sorry," she murmured, covering her blunder with a slow sip from her coffee. She had a right to ask, of course, but it was so much easier not to talk about what'd happened before. It always had been.
Though hadn't that been part of what got them in trouble? Not talking about it?
"It's just… I worry, you know," she added, finding a little more strength to continue. He needed to know what she thought. Even if it broke their unspoken deal.
She settled beside him, touching his foot gently. The bandage had bunched under his toes, the dingy color reminding her maybe she wasn't the greatest housekeeper in the world. Still, if he was in pain, she should be doing something about it. Propping his foot up, giving him painkillers, making him more comfortable.
His arm slid around her shoulders, drawing her in close. Her arms wound around him, tighter than she'd intended, but not nearly as tightly as she'd like. God, she needed this hug - this simple hug - after everything yesterday. After looking at the reminder of his ability to think on his, well, his feet. She needed to be closer to him.
She felt his lips brush against her hair. "Yeah," he answered finally, his voice rough with the truth. She tried to keep from tensing in surprise; he'd never been one to admit these things without a proper interrogation. Still, she relaxed on the realization that they were both trying to be better. "Yeah, it stings a little. I'll keep it elevated and it'll be okay."
Her only response was to pull his feet across her lap and wrap his arms around her tighter. Her face landed in his neck, relishing in his warmth. They'd both get the comfort they needed this way.