Sentinel - November -

[Samuel Rixon]

- Continued from the Courtyard. <3

Sam didn’t mind girls crying. It was just something they did. Sure, Ember was “one of the guys”, but she was still a girl. He didn’t expect her to be tough all the time. She was allowed to have moments of weakness. Hell, even guys were allowed that. In fact, Sam had cried just the other week. Granted, he’d had a good reason. He and Vincent had been play-fighting, and he’d ended up with a knee to the crotch. That had inspired tears, but they weren’t the same. The look in his best friend’s eyes was killing him. He didn’t give a damn about his body temperature right now. Yes, normally he’d be huddled against his friends, attempting to steal whatever heat they might have. But that was far from his mind now. He wanted to keep Ember warm, even if that meant giving up his own heat. He’d suffer the consequences of that decision later. But it would be worth it, if Ember was safe.

As much as Sam knew Ember liked contact, this was different. This wasn’t their usual friendly, affectionate touching. Gently, Sam ran his fingers through Ember’s hair. “Shh, babe. ‘S gonna be okay.” It wasn’t really okay. He wanted to find the little blonde bitch and light his ass on fire. He wanted revenge, and he wanted it right fucking now. But now wasn’t a good time. He needed to tend to Ember. Then he could go seeking revenge. The whining noise she made tugged at his heart, so much so that he bit his lip. God, he hated seeing Ember like this. They needed to talk to someone, someone that might be able to help. He just didn’t know who. One of the teachers? Another staff member? The nurse? Someone had to be able to help! Leaving his hoodie where it was, Sam carefully stood up before helping Ember to her feet. A time jump would explain why he couldn’t find her until now. Had Jesse really startled her so badly that she’d jumped? He wrapped an arm solidly around her shoulders, gently guiding her back inside. He tried to ignore the goosebumps on his arms, and the slight shiver he had going. All he wanted was to get Ember back inside.

He walked like that all the way up to their dorm, which he unlocked awkwardly and kicked open with his foot. “Ember I’m sorry. I wish I’d been there. I woulda kicked his ass before he could touch you.” He was beating himself up for not being there for her. Gently, he pressed his forehead against Ember’s. “What can I do to make it better, honey? I’ll do anything Ember, you know that. I’ll even go with you, if you wanna tell someone what happened. And... I think you should. When you’re ready.” That wouldn’t stop him from wanting to kick Jesse’s ass between now and then, but it would make him feel better.

[November Adams]

If the brunette had been in a more stable state of mind, she would have been laughing at the way she was acting - whimpering and sniffling, acting as pathetic as a kicked puppy. Ember wasn't... ever this emotional. It's not that she wasn't expressive, it's that she thought the average teenage angst of pity me, pity me was overrated. So she didn't really cry too often. Or freak out - unless it was that one week of the month. Then she kind of freaked a bit more than usual. But now... she was scared. An actual, pure fear that held her heart with an icy clutch, a weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe, to function right. Causing her to shake and shiver, take it stuttering breaths as she attempted to calm down. That wasn't happening very soon.

As they entered the room that was currently empty, she wondered offhandedly where Moe and Courtney were. Her wide, bloodshot brown eyes scanned the room quickly before her hand darted out and flipped the light switch. The yellowish bulb illuminated all corners of the small, living area in the suite. Driving out the darkness that she really wasn't ready to face quite yet. Which was unusual, if anyone knew the girl - especially after time jumps she wanted to just lay in the dark for a few hours and writhe in the pain that bending the laws of time and space brings. But right now, she needed to see, to see Sammy, herself, and anything else that may be lurking in the corners of the room.

Shakily sitting down on the oddly coloured couch provided by the Institute, she shakily clutched to her friend, looking up at him wide-eyed. "I-I... I'll go. Talk to... whatshisface..." Little spikes of pain still throbbed through her forehead, putting pressure on her eyes. Sniffling, blinking rapidly, November offered a weak smile to the pyro as his forehead leaned against hers. She tried to think, think of something she could say that could help him. It couldn't be easy seeing one of your closest companions in this sort of situation... But she was currently a fumbling, sobbing maniac, which offered little comfort for him. Glancing off to the side, her mind reeling as quickly as it could with a weighted migraine, a single idea seemed to step forth. Leaning up; which was odd, since she really wasn't that much smaller than the boy; she laid her lips on his very gently. Not sexually, not sloppy - just a very simple kiss. "Thank you," She smiled a bit more now, "For... b-being such a g.. great friend," A small chuckle in the sentence, hopefully showing him that she would, soon, be okay.

[Samuel Rixon]

Emotions weren’t typically a big part of their group of friends. Hell, if you were crying it was either because you were laughing so hard, or Vincent had just sucker punched you. Emotions just didn’t run high on the priorities list in their little circle of friends. Even Ember was “one of the guys.” Sam never knew her to be overly emotional unless it was “that time of the month.” But growing up with three sisters had somewhat desensitized him to it. He just deal with it and gone on with his day. Eventually, all girls turned human again. Or meta-human, in Ember’s case. Still, the fact that he knew she didn’t freak out like this, well, ever, was hurtful. He didn’t like seeing her like this, and he wanted it to stop.

Sam didn’t care where Moe or Courtney were. All he cared about was that Ember was safe, and was going to get warmed up. He flinched a little when the light came on, blinking at the sudden brightness. That in itself was unusual. He knew Ember liked the dark after time jumps. Then again, if he’d been subject to one of Jesse’s sadistic nightmares (he’d heard about them, yes), he probably wouldn’t want to sit in the dark either. He just kept his arm around Ember, trying his best to comfort her with his presence, and his body heat. Not that he had a lot of it left anymore. He could feel the cool chill running down his spine, and his fingers felt cold. Well, cold to him. But that didn’t stop him from holding onto Ember.

The teenager sat down slowly with his best friend on the couch that had definitely seen better days. Normally, it was a place where he, Ember, Vincent, and Horus crashed out watching movies and eating unhealthy doses of junk food. Those happy memories didn’t seem to be having a good effect right now, though. Though what she said didn’t really make sense, Sam was able to pick up what she meant. Gently, he brushed the hair away from her face. “Do you want me to go with you? ‘Coz I will.” He’d go for moral support, or anything Ember needed. If she needed him to stay out of it, he’d do that, too. The whole time he was comforting Ember, he never thought he’d need comforting. So he was a little more than surprised when Ember kissed him. For a moment, he didn’t do anything, only returning it just as she was pulling away. Her thanks brought a small, crooked smile to his lips. “I’d do anything for you, Emby. You know that, right?” He shivered just then, now he was coming out of his adrenaline rush. Christ, he hated being cold. He pulled Ember closer to him, half to comfort her, half in an attempt to warm up. “… Do you wanna stay with me, tonight? I’ll protect you.” He’d also act as her personal heater, if she needed. Right now, he just wanted her to feel better.

[November Adams]

The ghost of a smile pulled at the edges of her mouth as the comforting words tumbled out of his mouth. He really was the most comfortable person she knew - they could spend hours laying on each other, talking about whatever came to mind. Or not talking at all. She never figured out what truly attracted her to him in her first year at Hammel - or maybe they just associated because they shared a room. But it was something she would never regret, "Yeah," She whispered shakily, "I'd... like that." Having another person with her, even just standing by her, would probably help her regurgitate the event more easily. Instead of breaking down and sniffing in front of the unfamiliar professor that she really can't remember talking to very much.

Feeling the obvious temperature difference between his center and the hands that were wrapped around her lower back, she pulled away gently. November held his hands in her own, the trembling muscles twitched the appendages unevenly - but he should know by now that she shook. She did even without time jumps and pain. It came with her ability. Along with the tremor in her voice, it was just another one of the quirks Ember possessed. Bringing his hands to her chest, she pushed them against the warm flesh, hoping to heat up his normally warm hands.

That was proof. Proof that she would be okay. It was November Adams after all - if she isn't the chillest person you know, then you were probably at Woodstock. She hummed in response to his question, laying back into him, snuggling into the smell of her best friend. "Yeah... Stay with me tonight," She laid her head against his chest, eyes fluttering closed as the spikes of pain in her head lessened ever so slightly. A few more hours and she'd be good as new.

[Samuel Rixon]

Sam might not know how to do a great number of things right. He’s a champion little brother, with a degree in annoying his older siblings. And he’s excellent at slacking off. But one thing he’d learned to do very, very well was comfort someone. Especially females. Wait, scratch that. Especially Ember. She was special, though he couldn’t figure out why. He was just as happy hanging around watching stupid movies with her, or talking about everything and nothing, as he was bedding down with her. He smiled as he trailed his fingers through Ember’s hair, glad she’d let him go with her. “I don’t even have to say nothin’. ‘Cept that I wanna catch the little creep and burn his nuts off.” ... I’m not so sure that’s going to help anything, but it would make a certain pyro feel better. But he would go with Ember, even if it was for nothing more than to hold her hand.

Ember shook. It was just one of those things Sam had gotten used to. They all had their quirks. It was what made them human. Well, meta-human, in this case. But human was still human, and humans had quirks. He wasn’t entirely sure what Ember was up to with his hands, until she pressed them to her chest. Most guys his age would probably take advantage of this, and, if it wasn’t such a serious moment, he would have as well. As it was, he knew how to behave, and just inhaled deeply. Heat. Fuck, that felt good.

When Ember leaned back into him, Sam was a little more relived. Ember was normally cuddly, but he couldn’t feel the need to cuddle in her touch anymore. This was more normal. Well, as normal as any of them got. He smiled and removed one hand from her chest in favour of trailing it through her hair again. “Sure I’ll stay with you. I won’t let anyone get to you. I promise.” He moved the other hand now, so that he could hug her. “An’ I won’t even try nothin’ on you.” He was flashing a little grin now, in an effort to make her smile. If there was one thing he was even better at than comforting, it was making others smile.