Further Conversations on a Theme of Paganini (for bitunlikely)

[beforeyoucanblink]

Bart's room has gotten a lot of use in the past few days. Bart's been sleeping a good portion of the time- concussions suck like that- but at least he knows where he is when he wakes up, which is considerably better than he was doing in the infirmary. (Contrast between 'in danger' and 'safe' is always nice, after all. You forget which one's which, otherwise.)

...Bart's getting really tired of sleeping, lately.

Comments

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"Don't know," she admits. "It could be interesting but..."

Another shrug. Jenny's grown content with the family she has. "How are you doing?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

Rather than a proper response, Bart pulls himself into more of a sitting-up position. Thing.

It's very communicative.

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

It is, surprisingly enough. It means that he's not doing all that right.

Tentatively, "Bart?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

Slightly muffled, because apparently the icon is right and his head is kind of in his arms and knees right now. "Just dreams and stuff."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"What kind of dreams?" Jenny asked, as she gently wrapped her arm around his back. "Bad ones?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"It's kind of like... a replay."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"Of what happened?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"What did I tell you already?"

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"It was your grandfather, right?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Um. Okay."

Give him a minute to collect his thoughts?

"He was involved. In the, um-" he hesitates. "-accident. I- thought. That gave me superspeed."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

Jenny waits patiently for him to start speaking and even suppresses her urge to respond.

Instead, quietly, she whispers, "Yeah?" and waits for more.

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"So I guess he wanted a speedster for stuff."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

A nod. "Why?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"....I'm not sure. He didn't really get beyond trying to, um. Recruit me or something."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"Oh," she said quietly, nodding absently. "How did he get to you, Bart?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

Um.

Quietness time again.

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"Take your time."

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"There was another speedster. I don't... know how. Or why. Or why, if he had him, he needed me, too."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"Oh," is really all she can figure out to say. Because she's not made for these sorts of situations. And Jenny's trying her hardest to be understanding.

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"He used Th- the other speedster to drug me."

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

That would explain it. A good plan, a very good plan.

"And you don't know what he wanted?"

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

Slight shrug.

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"You're safe now," she decides upon, hugging him gently. "Promise."

[blinkandyoumiss.livejournal.com]

"I know."

He leans his head against her, lightly.



His voice breaks just a little, at the end.

[bitunlikely.livejournal.com]

"And you are," she tells him quietly. "You are now."

Unlike Bart's grandfather, who'll be dead if she ever gets her chance to meet him.