[Relationship] Return of the Manticore

[Leo Eskandari]

Leo had fallen asleep from the energy expenditure of his metamorphosis long before he was moved to a room from Doctor McCoy's lab. Now he stirred again and slowly opened his orange eyes to stare numbly at the cieling.

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley had managed to mostly stay out of the medical staff's way, only coming in for a visit once they stopped coming and going. He slid quietly into the room to stand by Leo's bedside.

[Leo Eskandari]

Leo turned his feline head to look at Ainsley. He looked absolutely miserable.

"Hey..."

[Ainsley Green]

"Hi." He greeted back in a familiar fashion, reaching out to take Leo's hand.

"How does your body feel?" He asked. He pretty much knew where his head was.

[Leo Eskandari]

Leo lightly squeezed Ainsley's smaller hand.

"Tired," he answered, smiling weakly but too down to be genuinely happy about hearing Ainsley again.

[Ainsley Green]

"You'll get your energy back soon.

Then we can go find that bracelet."

[Leo Eskandari]

He started to get angry but took a deep breath and let it go.

"I don't exactly care about that right now Lee."

[Ainsley Green]

"Then what do you?"

[Leo Eskandari]

"Not much of anything."

He sighed. "I was so close, Lee. So close to not being this for the rest of my life," he said, tearing up, "I don't... I don't want this..."

[Ainsley Green]

"I know." He replied, not sure of what else to say.

[Leo Eskandari]

"I was just startin' to accept things. Bein' given new hope just to get it taken away... hurts," he said, a solitary tear staining his black fur even blacker, "It hurts so much."

[Ainsley Green]

There was that awkward sort of silence that was always present with Ainsley while he thought.

Eventually, he broke it. "I can't tell you not to be upset, because it's the same as telling you not to feel your emotions.

Cry until you can't anymore. Cry until you're empty of it.

Then, we get up, and we move on."

[Leo Eskandari]

"I'm not so sure I can again."

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley paused again, trying to think on how to approach this.

"Alright... WELP. So what's the warranty on a slightly used giant teddy bear at the boyfriend store? Can I get them pro-rated? I barely got to use it before it blew-out. "

[Leo Eskandari]

Ainsley being a dork reminded Leo of the good in his life. He had the possibility of friends and of love. This was enough to pull him back from the edge of the abyss.

"Dork," he chuckled weakly, smiling a little.

[Ainsley Green]

"Should I let you rest now?"

[Leo Eskandari]

"Yeah," he answered with a yawn, "That's probably a good idea."

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley kissed Leo on the forehead and brushed his hands through his hair before leaving him to rest.