and the name of the game is just the living

[more_magic]

They keep Alex at the hospital for a few days, as much for observation as for treatment. Darlington stays as much as he can, calling out of work and finding someone to take care of Kirby, making quick trips home to change and shower before he's back again. When they talk, it's stilted and hesitant, inconsequential things that only emphasize the enormity of what they're both avoiding.

It could go on like this. Maybe it'd be better if it did. But Darlington knows neither of them can ignore it forever.

He's there when she's discharged, the removal of all the tubes and wires from her slim frame only serving to emphasize how thin she is, and how unsteady. He hands her the change of clothes he'd brought, loose, comfortable things, going out into the hallway while she dresses. The cab ride from the hospital back to the Bramford is a silent thing, both of them looking out of opposite windows, their hands resting on the seat between them with fingers just barely touching.

Kirby jumps off the couch when they come in, nearly losing his mind with simple canine joy as he snuffles first at Alex, then Darlington, then Alex again, his tail practically a dark blur as it whips back and forth. "Down," he says, but there's no force in it. Alex goes to the couch, Kirby following, and Darlington scrubs a hand through his hair.

"I'll run you a bath," he offers. "If you'd like, and then...I think we should talk. Finally."

Comments

[takecourage]

"And you'll come here, right?" She saus, hating how needy she sounds, in that moment. "Hang out with us and stuff? Just...go home to sleep..."

[more_magic]

"Definitely," he says softly, soothingly. There's a part of him that wants to take it back, to promise he'll stay and that nothing has to change, but Darlington knows that can't be true. If they're going to move forward, and be stronger for it, this is what they need.

"I'll come over. We'll have dinner, take Kirby out to the dog park, see what Darrow has in the way of terrible summer reruns. All of it, and then I'll say good night." Her fingers are still around his wrist, holding fast; he moves and takes her hand. Their fingers still fit perfectly together. "And I'll be back again the day after."

[takecourage]

"It'll be like we're dating," she says, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she shifts to lean in against him, hi hand still held in hers. "Figuring each other out again."

[more_magic]

"It will," he says. Beneath the pain he still feels, the one he knows Alex shares for everything broken between them, there's something appealing about that. They can come together again, in a way that's theirs instead of with early days steeped in resentment, Lethe throwing together polar opposites just to see what might result.

Alex had talked before about finding a way to be Darrow Alex here; maybe it's past time for Darlington to do the same.

He looks over as she leans against him, smiling down at her. "In which case, it's good to meet you," he says. "I'm Danny Arlington." It might not be the time for jokes, not yet, not even mild ones--but it also might be the perfect time.

[takecourage]

Alex turns their held hands into a handshake, squeezing his fingers firmly and shifting so that she can smile up at him.

"Nice to meet you, Danny. I'm Alex Stern."