Checking in (set after Halloween event)

[juststeverogers]

In the aftermath of the Nightmare incident in the Nexus, Steve knew the most important thing in the immediate was making sure people were okay. Hell, he'd spent most of his time tending to Amelia's wounds such that by the time he was finished most of the cafe had cleared out. He's glad the rogue got the care she needed but he hasn't seen her since.

In fact, he's not seen most of them since. He waited a bit to see if he'd spot familiar faces in the Nexus, but with things quiet he takes matters into his own hands and sends out a message to several of his friends.

Hey, it's Steve.

I know you were involved in the mess during the Halloween party and I really want to make sure you're alright. I'm sorry I haven't reached out sooner. I wanted to make sure you got the time and care you needed after everything that happened. The coordinates to my apartment are listed at the end of this message.

Please let me know you're okay.

Comments

[volurofthehearth]

Without meaning to, she sighs softly in relief when he says he'll help. She cares about Viatorus, and about Isidor, but she's still an outsider to them, she can feel it, and this is all far beyond her. Knowing Steve is here to help brings her some comfort after such long days and even longer nights.

She fidgets with the hem of her sleeve as she breathes deeply and thinks. "When this happened before it started as very little, but grew worse, so Isidor is doing everything she can to keep this as an isolated event. Viatorus is staying here now, in the Nexus, in his office apartment. He also has seizures sometimes, when he's too tired or stressed, but he's not sleeping. So he needs to drink his special tea and take sleeping tablets, but... sometimes he's too scared to..." She sighs again. "He's just... scared. All the time. He's a little better, but... When you see him, he won't look well. Isidor is worried about what people will think of him if they see him. I know you won't judge him, but she's worried what people will think of a Durant dreamwalker being afraid of sleeping. She doesn't want this to affect his future."

[juststeverogers]

Anger ripples under Steve's skin at the thought that Viatorus' own family would judge him rather than help one of their own while he's so clearly suffering. He nods to Runa and gets up.

"Just a moment, alright?" It's not the same, the suit he owns now. Not the same as the hand me down two piece he wore despite it not fitting him when he was small. But Steve isn't that scrawny guy anymore so he'll have to make do as best he can. He brushes his hair down the way he used to wear it once he's dressed and comes back out for Runa to get a look at him. It's as close as Steve can look to the wisp of a man he used to be.

Maybe he'll find comfort in it. Steve doesn't know.

"I'm ready to go when you are."

[volurofthehearth]

Runa smiles gently and nods when he asks her to give him a minute. She finishes her coffee while she waits and starts to cover any of the food that has been left out. She's sure Steve will enjoy it later, but for now neither of them have much of an appetite.

When he reappears she stands, slipping on her coat and shoes again. "You look very handsome, Steve." She hesitates at the door. "I'm apologise in advance, his apartment is messy and Viatorus isn't very presentable."

[juststeverogers]

"I don't know if it will help any, but if I can give him something familiar to latch on to it might help. I'm grasping at straws though."

Steve tucks his small leatherbound sketchbook into his pocket and moves to get the door for Runa while they head back into the Nexus proper. Her apologies he smiles through, knowing full and well he's seen worse but that will be of no comfort to Runa right now.

"Of course. I understand. And if there's anything I can do for you as well, you only need to ask."

[volurofthehearth]

"You're too kind, Steve." She smiles warmly at him before they both head out the door.

The walk to Viatorus' office is mostly quiet. As the year reaches its close the air has cooled significantly and although Runa is used to the cold it doesn't mean she doesn't do her best to stay bundled up warm. So when they reach the warmth of the building she gives a happy shiver and tries to plaster that smile firmly in place for what lies ahead.

It isn't immediately obvious that anything is wrong when they enter, except for the serious faced patron standing to one side. Isidor relaxes when she sees who it is, and nods to them. She looks haggard. Though she still has perfectly tailored, neatly pressed clothes, her hair is falling out of its bun and neither her makeup nor her stony expression can hide the exhaustion of her red eyes and sloping shoulders.

"Steve." Her eyes flick to Runa and back. "I didn't know you would be visiting."

"He couldn't do nothing after he heard about Viatorus," Runa explains brightly, touching Steve's arm. "He's too good. Now, Isidor, why don't you get some sleep? I'm back now. We can take care of Viatorus for a bit. Steve, I can take your coat."

[juststeverogers]

Steve obligingly slips out of his coat and lets Runa take it, never once breaking eye contact with Isidor. He knows all too well what she must be feeling, and while the anger simmers again underneath his skin there's also pride. Being able to be here for Isidor and not letting her shoulder this alone.

He knows how much it can bend and break a person.

"Regain your strength, Isidor. I've got it for a few hours." I've seen worse, his tone says not unkindly. "We'll watch over him."

[volurofthehearth]

Isidor doesn't move, her gaze flickering between the two people. It's only when Runa walks over to her, puts a hand on her shoulder and reassures her some more that she eventually relents, allowing herself to be directed to the spare room. In the brief moment he's alone Steve will find the apartment silent but for Runa's muffled coaxing and the soft rustling of papers from Viatorus' study, its door ajar.

When Runa returns she takes a deep breath, smiles, and then fixes her hair as she approaches the study. She raps twice on the doorframe. "Viatorus? It's Runa. I'm coming in now..." She opens the door slowly and steps inside with a wave for Steve to follow. "Look who's come with me!"

White cloths have been draped over the furniture as though it's about to get painted, all the edges and corners tucked away nicely underneath each piece of furniture. The corner of the study that has always been brightest has thin cream blinds pulled down to allow in the light without it being blinding. It's over in this corner that Viatorus stands, dead centre of the circle marked out on the floor that is decorated similarly to the ward above his bed. The scholar turns slowly, looking between pages that hang suspended mid-air all around him. He points vaguely at some, taps others, frets and mumbles to himself. As Runa warned, he doesn't look his best. He still has his suit shirt and trousers on, but they're mostly hidden by his dressing gown, and he seems to have forgotten to put on shoes or socks. His hands come to his face again and he whimpers at something he's read, or something he's thought.

"Viatorus," Runa says, stronger this time, to catch his attention.

Viatorus' eyes snap to them and he stays stock still, staring with red eyes and through loose strands of wild hair.

The lack of reaction worries her so Runa gently prompts him. "It's Steve."

"Steve!" The scholar lets go of the breath he was holding and closes his eyes, nodding and half collapsing before he pulls himself up again. "Steve. Yes. Hello."

[juststeverogers]

He's a lot more lucid than Steve would have assumed. Moving around is good. His distant preoccupation isn't, but it's a lot better than him sitting there listlessly and not being aware of them. Steve smiles warmly and waves with one hand.

"Morning, Viatorus. I thought I'd come over for a while. Brought my sketchbook, figured maybe we'd take some time and relax drawing over tea like we used to. It's been a while since we've done that."

The scholar's appearance doesn't seem to bother Steve any. He hadn't been joking when he said he's seen worse before. So far at least this is infinitely less heart wrenching than the cases he's usually dealt with in the past. Then again, the other shoe could still drop. Steve's ready if it does. He thinks he is, anyway. He's never dealt with a mage going through this kind of thing, after all.

"Runa was kind enough to come over for breakfast this morning. You really ought to come over to my place sometime and meet Sarah, Ethel, and Bucky. I'm sure they'd love you."

[volurofthehearth]

The wave of Steve's hand is met with a flinch and Viatorus half turns away, eyes flickering to Steve's feet. As Steve speaks Viatorus' gaze slides back to the papers around him.

"No. No," he whispers. "I've got to... to... to... My work. I... I need... my work. To do it. Work. My work." His brow furrows and his fingers tremble across pages. "The veils can't break, need to bend, need to twist, twist, twist is better. Blink, but not. No break. A sigh. C-Can't..." He whines and it looks to take effort for him to cough out the word. "C-C-Can't have a wound..."

After watching him ramble Runa tries to hide her sad expression behind an encouraging smile which she turns to Steve. Then she moves to grab the back of a wrapped up chair, but the moment she tries to lift it the entire room trembles. Every piece of furniture shudders while a tense Viatorus watches her with a sidelong glance, his eyes wide and wild, terrified. Only when she lets go again do his hands uncurl and the room falls silent again.

"I only wanted to get you a seat," Runa murmurs to Steve as she steps back beside him.

Crisis averted, Viatorus sags with relief, runs a hand through his hair, and starts his muttering again.

[juststeverogers]

The flinching is more familiar. As is the tone Viatorus takes when he talks about his work. Something cold and heavy settles itself over Steve's heart and his blue eyes dim ever so slightly in pain to see this here and on Viatorus' face. He can't let it show. Holds his head high and shoulders square when the furniture shudders around them and Viatorus stares terrified at his wife to be.

"Why can't the furniture be touched?" Steve doesn't understand what he's seeing here. Why the furniture should all be covered. Is it dangerous? Steve can stand all day and then some--that's not an issue. But he doesn't understand the rules in this place nor what's likely to set Viatorus off again. In a louder voice, he's addressing Viatorus.

"What work? Tell me about it?" Will it soothe the mage to speak about what he needs to do? Steve needs to at least have an idea of the rules of engagement here. Otherwise he's going to be standing silently within Viatorus' line of sight for hours and while he can do that, he knows it's less than ideal.

[volurofthehearth]

"He's scared of making shadows," Runa explains in a whisper. Her eyes slide from Steve to Viatorus again. "Places for… for things to hide and crawl out from. He didn't like all the dark corners furniture makes. So we covered it all."

The sudden noise of Steve's raised voice makes Viatorus flinch again. His hands ball into fists and he closes his eyes, taking a deep breath before he relaxes again and wrings his hands instead. All Steve gets is the occasional glance while Viatorus talks and gestures.

"My… M-My work. My work. To get from here to there." His fingers point to his chest and then to the space in front of him. Then he waves at his head before waving vaguely at himself. "B-But not-not just this. N-Not just me, but… b-but all of me. Like… Like M-Mico-Mm-Micolash did. He didn't mean to." Worried eyes turn to face Steve properly then. "He didn't mean to." He turns away and scrubs his face with his hands. "But he did. He did what I-I want to do. He knows how, b-but he… I… I need to… to find the way myself too. My way. Th-The Durant way." A nervous laugh flutters through him and disappears as quickly as it comes. "W-W-Without a cage."

[juststeverogers]

Steve doesn't fully understand what Viatorus is talking about, but he thinks he might be able to connect the dots. The world of the waking to the world of dreams seems to be the most likely. All of the people who had been drug into the nightmare had been gone physically as well as mentally.

"You want to do that with your dream walking." It sort of makes sense. His body wouldn't be left behind and unprotected, for one. But he remembers the wounds Amelia had when she got back. That he heard many of them ended up with. It's not necessarily safer, just a different kind of dangerous.

"I understand." Steve's voice is soothing now. As quiet as he can make it. This is important to Viatorus, but there's something more here that he's afraid of. He can't do his work if he's barely functioning. If he won't eat or sleep. Steve moves slowly until he's in Viatorus' peripheral vision and folds his arms over his chest.

It's the fear, Steve reasons, that is the real enemy here. And that's a tricky thing. Not something easily overcome. He knows how much his skin crawls still and his heart rate skyrockets when he has to work in cold water. How afraid he is of being pulled under. Of falling and feeling himself freeze. Fear is not something you overcome and leave behind. It's something you manage so it doesn't manage you.

"I'll be here then. I'll keep a lookout while you work." His voice carries a confidence to it. He can stand guard for Viatorus. Allow the other to focus on his work.

Waiting for any sign that Viatorus is uncomfortable and only then filling the silence as best he can. Steve talks about Wakanda. About the people, he's met. The food and culture he's learned about. Their holidays, gods, beliefs. He talks about Thor and Asguard and everything the son of Odin has told him of his home. He talks about his pokemon, and about Adia's helping to train and raise them. About his attempts to find a house in the Nexus--a bigger place for a bigger man and his pokemon.

Steve stands there for hours and talks whenever he has to. He's done this before, for Bucky. He can do this for Viatorus. He can be there for his friend. how much it helps is anyone's guess.

[volurofthehearth]

Steve's assessment is met with a continuous nodding, though Viatorus doesn't look at him. His offer doesn't get a reaction either. It's as if the pages around the scholar mesmerise him as they occasionally flutter from one place to another, entrancing and concerning him at the same time.

Runa gets a coffee for Steve and herself and a tea for Viatorus, resting them on the covered desk. After she's finished hers she ends up sitting on the floor against a bookcase. Viatorus doesn't touch his tea.

There are times when small distressed noises slip past Viatorus' lips, though he doesn't always seem to realise it. More obvious are the times he fidgets and flusters, closing his eyes, holding his head in his hands and trying to calm frantic breathing. The threat of a panic attack feels eternally close and it takes all of Viatorus' focus to fight it. Stories of other worlds, other countries, gods, heroes and distant cultures… help. They take him away from the gilded, warded cage he's made for himself, away from the monsters that feel like they're waiting everywhere. Steve's deep, steady voice is a welcome beacon, a life ring for a drowning man to cling onto.

Hour pass. On the floor Runa has somehow drifted to sleep. Viatorus remains standing, though his legs have started to shake as badly as his hands which flit here and there needlessly. The door opens and Isidor steps inside. She doesn't look any more composed but there's more energy in the way she moves.

"Steve," she calls to catch his attention and then beckons for him to come to her. She keeps her eye on Viatorus until Steve is next to her. Her voice is all but a whisper when she speaks. "Has he slept at all?"

[juststeverogers]

The coffee is a blessed treat and one Steve thanks Runa for sincerely. It will be long cold before he's finished it, saving it for when his throat rasps for all the talking he's doing. He won't let up on the constant rainfall of stories and anecdotes whenever Viatorus seems to need them. His fear is near-palpable and Steve does as best as he can to be present and soothing.

When Isidor comes in Steve swallows down the last cold bit of his coffee and slowly takes a step back until he's out of Viatorus' line of sight and walks over to the elder Durant. He notes her drop in tone and instead of speaking up shakes his head ever so slightly.

He hasn't. Not a wink.

[volurofthehearth]

Isidor sighs and folds her arms tightly. "I was afraid of that." She looks over at her brother and heaves a slow, unhappy sigh. When she turns back to Steve her expression is one of determination. "He needs to sleep. The longer he goes without rest the more likely he is to have a seizure, and that's dangerous. I... I hate to ask you this, but we could use all the help we can get. We've been using sleeping tablets, because they're reliable and they limit dreaming, but he isn't always happy to take them."

Shifting her weight from one leg to the other and back again, she glances over to her brother and then tightens her arms. "Could you... Could you try and convince him to take them if I bring them to you? It's so much easier if he takes them by himself." As her voice falls silent her expression turns grim. "If that doesn't work, maybe you could hold him still while I make sure he takes them." She looks over him and a smile almost appears, but it doesn't last. "You could probably do that easily enough now."

[juststeverogers]

"How likely is he going to fight if I ask him to take them..?"

Steve frowns at the suggestion that he force Viatorus to be still, even moreso because it's Isidor making the suggestion. The last person who would even think of hurting or scaring her little brother further. But the seizures are a concern and one Steve doesn't want to witness in his friend.

"I'll help you get him to take the medicine, but I want to know what happened here." All he's been going off of for hours now are vague half explanations and Viatorus' own mumblings. Steve's worried.

For one of his best friends as well as Isidor and Runa.

[volurofthehearth]

"Not likely." Her initial optimism fades. "I hope..."

While Steve talks she keeps her eye on Viatorus, watching him. Although she hides it better it's easy to tell that Viatorus is not the only one who is scared. When he asks for an explanation her head snaps to him and she hesitates, caught mid-breath.

Realising herself she sighs and nods, half turning away from her brother with one last glance. "When... When he got back from the Nightmare... Something followed him. Just one, as far as I saw, and I..." Her jaw tightens. "I dealt with it."

She drags her gaze up to meet Steve's. "The last time he saw one of those things was... years ago. When he was... 'ill'. Years of... of seizures and insomnia, of possession and madness. The things I heard and saw..." Isidor's face cracks and she shakes her head to hide the pain. "He barely survived it. He came out so weak, so pale and thin... And by the time he came out of this living nightmare the whole world had changed for him. We never found out how to stop it. Not really. Not a real solution. Teas and wards, that's all."

She looks over her shoulder at Viatorus, watching him mutter and mumble for a minute before turning back to Steve. "I think... when he saw that thing again... He remembered. He remembered what happened and... and he must have thought it was going to happen all over again. I don't blame him for talking about work, trying to hide from it, trying to forget it."

[juststeverogers]

Possession. Having someone else, something else inside your head trying to call the shots. Steve's blood simmers at the similarities to the plights of other friends he's done this for over the years. He nods, shoulders squared. Accepts the medicine when Isidor offers it in one hand.

The time of day doesn't matter in this place here the curtains are drawn and the lights turned on. Their artificial light keeping any shadows that are present minimal and constant, unlike those cast by the moving sun. Still, Steve thinks carefully to the techniques he knows and finds his chest tight when he tries to come up with something to say.

He doesn't want to spout false platitudes. Not to Viatorus. Not to a man who's lived through this before and who knows it's not alright.

"Sun's getting real low, Viatorus. You need to rest soon. Please let me help you do that, before you hurt yourself. None of us want you to have a seizure, least of all you. I know that. Let me help? I'll stay with you if you want. If you need someone to keep watch I can do that. But you have to rest."

Steve holds out his left hand toward his friend, still curled shut to keep the pills from dropping to the floor.

[volurofthehearth]

Viatorus' legs are shaking with the effort of standing, his arms tremble and his breathing is laboured. All his focus is on staying up, trying to work, trying to do anything but sleep. That is until Steve approaches.

He watches his friend with a sidelong gaze, but when he explains why he's approaching, Viatorus closes his eyes and turns away as if physically pained. It takes him a moment and a few shuddering breaths before he looks to Steve again, eyes full of remorse.

"I can't," he whispers. With a gasp he doubles over, resting his hands on his knees to keep himself up. "I can't. I can't. I..." He shakes his head. "Y-You don't... I can't sleep."

[juststeverogers]

"V, look at me please."

Steve keeps his hand curled shut but moves closer to help Viatorus stay upright. Support the other as much as the scholar will allow him to. "You're going to pass out soon. You can't fight it forever. Let's do it this way so you don't get hurt, okay? I can't keep you awake and even if I did your seizures...It's less me making you sleep and more you're gonna sleep one way or another soon and I can't stop it."

His grip on Viatorus' shoulder is soft. Steve doesn't want to hurt him. Not one of his closest friends.

"Please let me help. It's killing me to watch you like this."

[volurofthehearth]

Viatorus turns his head enough to look at Steve from the corner of his eye. Slowly his expression twists into one of misery and fear.

"I'm scared, Steve," he whispers and a sob follows. "I'm-m s-so s-scared."

With another sob he turns away, freeing a hand to wipe at his eyes.

"Th-They'll come b-back, and…" He sniffles and sobs. "I d-don't want them t-to come back."

[juststeverogers]

It's the broken sob that finally breaks Steve's calm resolve. He's moving when Viatorus turns away, pulling the smaller man into an embrace and doing his best to gather V up and convey as much safety and comfort as he can.

"I know. I know you're scared. But Isidor would never suggest something that would hurt you or be in your worst interest. You know that. Hell, I know that. And I'll be here. I'll stay with you if you need me to. Whatever you need, whatever will help if I can give it it's yours."

There's nothing Steve Rogers wouldn't do for his friends. Viatorus is one of the closest ones Steve has so it only reinforces Steve's determination to support the other.

[volurofthehearth]

As soon as Steve pulls him into a hug Viatorus loses the last of his strength and his legs give out from under him. He surrenders to the reassurance and support of his friend, and to the exhaustion overtaking him. It's hard to tell if he hears Steve, since instead of speaking he battles with his sobbing.

At this point Runa has woken up and gotten to her feet, but she stays back, looking between the other three for some point at which she might help. Isidor steps closer, but doesn't intervene, waiting for her cue.

After a bit, Viatorus starts to nod his head. In between sharp breaths and sniffling he says, "A-Al-Alright. I-I'll. I'll go to sleep."

[juststeverogers]

Steve doesn't seem to be encumbered in the least supporting all of Viatorus' weight. He nods to Runa and carefully puts the pills in her hands when he can get her attention to come over by him. Once she has the medicine Steve bends down and tucks one of his hands underneath the backs of Viatorus' knees so he can pick the scholar up and carry him.

"Could you get him something to drink please?" Steve murmurs to Runa before looking up at Isidor again. Nodding over to V's bed. There, right? He's pretty sure he remembers Viatorus has to sleep there to be fully safe. Something something runes and wards?

"Do you want me to stay here? Or Runa? Whatever you want. Whatever you need, V."

[volurofthehearth]

Runa takes the pills and hurries off to get some water.

"Through here," Isidor instructs, directing him with a hand to lead him from Viatorus' study to his bedroom. She moves ahead of Steve, holding open the doors for him while keeping a careful eye on her brother.

There's no energy left in Viatorus to protest getting lifted and taken anywhere, and he's light for a man his age and size so Steve will have an easy time moving him. "Don't leave me," he whispers. "P-Please don't leave."