Should Have Seen This Coming... (open)

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Her loft was somewhat quiet. There had been some business here and there since her return from the rehabilitation center, but it was not enough to make her happy (no matter how big the check was she got). Sitting at her work desk, Alisa was quietly tapping away on her PC, her legs pushed closely together, and her back straight as she worked.

Those red on black eyes of hers were very focused on the computer screen, taking no note if anyone knocked at her front door or even opened it. She needed to focus on something. She needed to take her mind off her physical and mental pain from nearly getting blown to bits... as well as her failure to get Sebastian Shaw to release Stephanie from the duties of the Hellfire Club.

Comments

[hellfire_child]

He leans into that touch, not even thinking about it.

"It's slow torture, and embarrassing. I may have to finance the retirement of the staff involved. I don't like the idea of them gossiping about the condition they've seen me in."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"That's goin' a bit far, but I can understand. Our pride took a big hit." She gave of a small sigh, her fingers still going through Alistaire's hair as he leaned in a bit. She lowered her head to give his forehead a kiss. "At least you can send people off to retirement. I don' got anyone to do dat wit' , t'ough I wish i did sometimes. So tired o' bein' given a look o' "pity" at physical t'reapy. An' den I gotta go back to work authenticatin' bad art, only to be given de SAME look. You... you don' give me dat look. You still look at me as well, me."

[hellfire_child]

He tenses at the forehead kiss. He can handle casual contact, he can handle passion, but intimacy? It's still relatively foreign.

"It's not difficult to see past the prosthetic. I know you. I know what you are. This--" He gestures to her prosthetic. "--is just so much aesthetics, not identity."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Tell dat to de nurses at physical t'reapy an' de people o' Manhattan. It's always "what a poor dear!" or "I bet she'll never be able to find someone to love her, now", or my favorite "Man, I bet she's gonna end up like de girl on "Friends" who dated Joey"!"

Alisa saw him tense up, and then stopped stroking his hair or even placing her lips on his forehead for a second time.

"M'sorry, Boss. I didn' mean to make you tense up like dat. I jus' ... been kinda lonel- oh nevermind. Do you want some bourbon? I mean... if you ain' takin' any pain medication dat is. Last t'ing we need is for you to mix de two!"