Wolffe and Rex, where Wolffe is getting used to his new cybernetic eye and having to learn to 'see again' maybe? Or frustrated with some aspect of it?
(Hell yeah hurt/comfort)
When Wolffe stomps inside Rex’s quarters - he didn’t even tell him that he was going to visit - the Captain acts quite nonchalantly, not seeming so surprised by the intrusion, and all he says is “Bad day, huh?”
Wolffe doesn’t even reply, walking instead to Rex’s fresher. Soon the sound of the shower getting turned on can be heard.
Rex sighs, shaking his head. This isn’t the first time something like this happens, and although he appreciates that Wolffe thinks of him as his safe haven enough to come to him when he feels down, instead of keeping everything inside, he would still prefer to know what exactly went wrong that day before he lets Wolffe do as he pleases, but oh well, what is done is done. He’ll surely tell him once he’s cooled down.
He gets up from his bunk, walking to where he keeps his clothes in order to get a fresh pair of blacks for Wolffe. The least he can do is to give him something clean to wear.
When he knocks on the fresher’s door, though, he hears no reply. “Wolffe? You there?” he calls out, as worry begins to creep inside his mind. Did he pass out or something?
Since no reply comes this time either, he opens the door, expecting the worst, only to be met by the image of Wolffe, forehead pressed against one of the shower walls, gritting his teeth and… Is he…
He leaves the blacks over the sink, carefully moving towards the shower and sliding the door open, uncaring that he’s going to get the floor - and himself - wet.
“Hey…” he mutters, reaching for him with one hand, but still not touching it, afraid that if he’ll do it without warning, his flight or fight instinct will take over, and, knowing what Wolffe will choose, Rex would avoid having to fight him in the fresher while he’s all wet and naked.
Wolffe still doesn’t respond, but Rex notices that his eyes move slightly towards him, only to move back towards the wall, so at least he knows that he’s aware of his presence.
He knows this feeling very well, that last line before breaking apart, where all you can do is to try your hardest to keep it together, not to succumb to desperation, so he’s not surprised that, as soon as he touches Wolffe’s shoulder, he crumbles. What he wasn’t expecting was him throwing himself in his arms, getting him all wet, but that’s the last of Rex’s problem, not when he has Wolffe sobbing in his arms.
“I can’t, Rex… I can’t!” he cries, frustration evident in his voice.
“You can’t what? I don’t understand,” Rex replies, but there’s nothing he can do to get Wolffe to talk. Alright, he sees how it is; it’s ok, they can talk later. “Did you actually clean yourself?” he asks.
Wolffe shakes his head, which prompts Rex to get the lead. He steps inside the shower, still dressed, in order to help Wolffe; he’s particularly gentle when he scrubs his hair, which makes Wolffe relax and lean into the touch. He seems to have calmed down from the outburst from a few minutes ago, but now he looks drained of any energy.
Once he’s done, he guides Wolffe to stepping outside, and only then he removes his now soaked blacks. Should’ve thought about it earlier, but it hadn’t crossed his mind; oh well, a simple towel can do to cover him up.
He helps Wolffe dry up and get dressed, then he does the same to himself. After securing a towel to his waist, he ushers Wolffe out of the fresher and to his bunk, where they lay down, Wolffe almost entirely sprawled over Rex, head resting against his chest, though he soon assumes a fetal position.
Rex wants to ask him if he’s ready to talk, but he doesn’t think pushing him would make things any better, so he holds his tongue. Besides, he doesn’t have to wait too long to understand what got Wolffe like this.
“I’m not any good like this,” he says, tone bitter and full of self-loathing. Rex hates hearing him talk about himself this way.
“Did something happen during practice?” he asks, then, referring to all the shooting practice Wolffe’s undergoing to test his new cybernetic eye before he can be deployed again.
“I still can’t hit shit!” Wolffe snaps, body tensing again. Rex begins caressing his back in an attempt to calm him down. “They said the eye would help with perception problems, and yet I’d still be useless in battle!”
“Wolffe, this stuff takes time,” Rex replies, “you can’t expect to be immediately good at it. It’s still something you’re getting used to.” He caresses his hair, leaning to plant a kiss on his forehead. “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”
“But I can’t waste so much time like this! They need me out there!” Wolffe exclaims, then he lowers his gaze. “Maybe they should’ve just--”
“Don’t say that,” Rex interrupts him, knowing what he was going to say. “Besides, I doubt General Koon would’ve allowed that.”
“You’re right, he wouldn’t…” Wolffe replies, though there’s clearly something else he wants to say, even though he stays quiet.
Some other time passes before he speaks again. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t bring this stuff to you. It’s my problem and I should deal with it.”
Rex closes his arms around him in a hug. “You don’t have to be sorry. I’m glad that you’re venting, rather than keeping everything inside.”
That manages to bring a small smile to Wolffe’s face, as he can’t help but to counter with a “Just like you do, huh?”
For once, Rex ignores the clear jab towards him, not wanting to get sidetracked. “Listen, I get that you’re frustrated. I’m not saying that this doesn’t suck right now, but it’ll get better. You just need to give it time. Your men will be happy to have you back, but only after you’ve completely recovered; they’re not going to resent you for needing more than just a couple of days.”
It takes a while for Wolffe to respond. When he does, his voice is soft. “… I suppose you’re right. Thank you, Rex, for putting up with me.”
“Nonsense. I’m happy to do it,” Rex replies, punctuating the last word with a kiss on the top of Wolffe’s head, only to add, “Things will get better. I promise you.”
“I know, I know,” Wolffe replies, way calmer than before. “It’s just… so frustrating,” he says then, and after a moment of hesitation, he adds, “But I guess it would be worse… without you.”
He pronounces that last part so softly that Rex is barely able to hear him, but he understands what he’s saying. “I’m glad I’m helping you,” he says then, meaning each and every word of it.
He was distraught when he found out about the accident, just like everyone else, though he was also glad that Wolffe had just lost his eye and not his life.
Still, it’s been hard watching him struggle, which is why he intends to stay with him for every step of the recovery process, offering him his support and everything he needs.
As long as it helps Wolffe he’d do anything, and if it’s something like cuddling on his bunk, helping Wolffe fall asleep after a tiring training session, well, he’ll do that even more happily.
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