Javier had a mixed relationship with hospitals. On the one hand, getting checked out and treated by professionals relieved a lot of his anxiety when he did not feel well, or could not quite tell what injuries he had acquired from fighting giant animals. On the other hand, they induced almost as much anxiety as they relieved, mostly through possible complications, hospital bills, infections, allergies, and looks from the doctors that made it seem like they were hiding something. The tailor, placed on a bed in the ER, sighed and rubbed his temple with his free hand. This was going to be a long night.

They said he probably did not have a concussion, but wanted to observe him anyway. Not sleeping at least was not gonna be a problem.
They put his shoulder back where it belonged. That hurt. Now he was on painkillers, and had his right arm in a sling.
The tiger scratches on his hip needed some stitches, and several shots. They were probably going to leave a mark.
Various other bruises and scratches had been checked and treated. He even got an X-ray on the shoulder, and got checked for internal injuries. All in all, he got away easy, thanks to his powers taking the brunt of the damage. Now, of course, the adrenaline was gone, and Javi was dying for food. Any food.

The ER was busy with the aftermath of the incident. Roxie refused to go to the hospital, and Javier was too ashamed to call his family. He decided to wait it out, go home, and pretend he never played superhero at the Central Park Zoo. Maybe the media would be kind, and there would not be any footage where he was recognizable. He had the ambulance to thank for taking him away before the media got there.

Now he just had to sit tight and wait.

So...this was unexpected. When Booker had gotten home from his day at the comic store, he was expecting a quiet day at home. A chance to unwind, to look over his latest purchases, add them into his collection, maybe call Javier to see if he was up for going out later. But it seemed that he would never get that chance. The second that Booker had climbed out of the showered and lounged on his bed in his boxers, he flipped on the TV as he searched his closet for his comfortable clothes.

That was when he saw it. The headline about a mutant attack in the Central Park Zoo. Booker often made it a point to read or watch these kinds of stories, just out of interest, really. He still remembered the Christmas Tree attack on New York. That was a hell of a story to follow. This one seemed to offer the same about of intrigue, only with giant animals and a nefarious man who was using them to kidnap people.

It was amazing to watch. Booker sat on the edge of his bed, in only his boxers, enraptured by the information that was coming in. The eyewitness accounts, the theories, the worries, it was all just so damn interesting! And then, he saw it. The names of those film of those two people who were heroically pulled from the fray and lauded by the victims as the heroes of the day.

The second that he saw Javier’s picture, Booker had grabbed his phone, his keys, and ran out of his apartment. He was mostly through the hallway outside before he realized a key fact -- he didn’t have any clothes on. After a quick dash back in, a flurry of finding coverings, Booker ran back out in his sweats and t-shirt, hopping as he pulled on his shoes, and made directly for the door.

***

It seemed like only seconds had passed before Booker was jogging through the hallways of the hospital, worry on his face. He tried searching for more info online about the incident but most of it was stuff he had already ready. By the time he got to the hospital, there was still no info about the two ‘heroes’ of the day. When he finally reached the right floor, and after some convincing that he was Javier’s boyfriend (he had to show them selfies he had taken with the man) Booker was finally allowed through.

His pace slowed, his throat dried, and by the time he made it to Javier’s room, he moved as softly as a whisper. Stopping at the corner, he peered his head in and spied the man in his bed and breathed a sigh of relief. The news reports all said that the heroes hadn’t received much injury, but now that he was seeing him with his own eyes, he felt infinitely better.

Stepping in, he gulped as he shared a slightly shy smile with the tailor. When he caught his attention, he chuckled. ”So, I may or may not have had plans to invite you to the zoo this weekend,” as he approached the bed, he leaned over and planted a kiss on Javier’s forehead, then his lips. ”I take it I should probably come up with a plan B?”

Javier felt the wave of sudden fatigue hit a moment before he noticed Booker walking into the room. The adapted aura did away with the last of his powers clinging to the adrenaline of the aftermath, and he suddenly felt more tired, and hungrier, than ever. On top of that, more embarrassed. There was a reason Javier did not call Booker from the hospital. He did not want his boyfriend to worry, but also, having been in a superhero situation as a total amateur, and getting badly banged up in the process, was not something he wanted to flaunt in front of Booker. It was 12% of a plan at best, but he was too tired to come up with a better one.

Booker, on his part, looked relieved, and despite the embarrassment, Javier's heart warmed as he gave him a kiss.

>>”So, I may or may not have had plans to invite you to the zoo this weekend. I take it I should probably come up with a plan B?”

"I was hoping the media didn't notice me" he muttered, sounding defeated "The zoo is probably a mess..."

Booker wasn’t upset or mad at Javier because of what happened. It wasn’t like he could blame him for being put into danger. He knew his boyfriend and he knew that he was the type who would rather spend as much time as possible running away from danger. Not that he was a coward, but he was careful and he would rather let officials handle situations like this. The fact that he was involved at all meant that he didn’t have a choice in the matter. And Booker was relieved that he was okay.

Though he looked worse for the wear.

As he stepped into the room, Booker didn’t think anything of his adapted field. There didn’t seem to be any mutant healers in the hospital and though he knew that Javier was strong, he didn’t make any connection that his aura was affecting him. So he didn’t stop as he stepped forward, leaned down, and planted a kiss on his forehead and another on his lips.

Javier winced but he returned the gesture, much to Booker’s gratefulness. He couldn’t handle the idea of having nearly lost him and he didn’t bother to think on it.

>>"I was hoping the media didn't notice me...The zoo is probably a mess..."

He smirked. Grabbing a nearby chair, he pulled it up so that it was at Javier’s bedside, where he reached over and took the man’s hand. ”Yeah it seems that there were a couple people there filming from their cell phones. Not the best camera work, but I recognized you.” He then shrugged. ”It ran a couple times with you and whoever that woman was as anonymous, but someone here must have spilled the beans. Count yourself lucky, though, most of the reports seem more focused on the woman, Roxanne.”

He thought back to the footage. It wasn’t complete, just the end of the fight where it showed a shaky image of the shorter woman chasing the man calling himself Beastmaster around and then throwing him into an oversized tiger. The shots of Javier were more distant but nonetheless impressive as he took on the massive tiger for a couple rounds. It was impressive, yes, but also so very dangerous.

With a heavy sigh, he squeezed the tailor’s hand. ”I’m glad you’re okay. Were you hurt bad?”

Of course there was footage. This was New York City. If it had been closed circuit cameras, maybe it would have leaked slower, but even people scared half to death by giant animals somehow found the courage to film on their phones. Instead of, for instance, fleeing.

>> ”Yeah it seems that there were a couple people there filming from their cell phones. Not the best camera work, but I recognized you.”

"I think you were not the only one" Javier sighed, feeling the after-power fatigue.

>>”It ran a couple times with you and whoever that woman was as anonymous, but someone here must have spilled the beans. Count yourself lucky, though, most of the reports seem more focused on the woman, Roxanne.”

"Well, she did most of the heavy lifting... no pun intended..."

>>”I’m glad you’re okay. Were you hurt bad?”

"Some stitches and a dislocated shoulder, mostly" Javier noted; bruises and scratches were not worth the mention. Some of the injuries would need more time than others... which raised a whole new set of problems. Despite being exhausted, Javier's eyes flew wide open. "... Dios, do you think my parents saw it?!... I didn't want to call them..."

>>"I think you were not the only one"

Booker smirked. He hated the idea of Javier’s secret being out but he had faith that there was enough blurriness in those cell phone videos that he wouldn’t be immediately recognized. Hell, even some of the X-Men who ran around without masks could hardly be picked out of a crowd. Unless they were the likes of Cafas, of course, and constantly flaunted their power about while sporting blazing pink hair.

Javier was a bit more average in that regard. Not a bad thing, mind you, just a quiet person that would take several moments of hard looking before you realized he had been on the news. Booker firmly believed that, at least for the time being, his identity was safe.

That woman on the other hand, hah, she was definitely going to have some cameras in her face.

>>"Well, she did most of the heavy lifting... no pun intended..."

Booker smirked as he settled into his seat. He was sure that the other woman was going to receive the brunt of the attention. The videos had mainly been focused on her and her antics as she ran about, punching animals and spinning mutants around by the length of their capes. Truly her face was going to be plastered everywhere.

But she wasn’t Booker’s concern. Javier was. He looked pretty banged up but not as bad as he would have feared. Therefore, he asked, how was he feeling?

>>"Some stitches and a dislocated shoulder, mostly... Dios, do you think my parents saw it?!... I didn't want to call them..."

Booker smirked as he reached over, stroking Javier’s unbandaged arm. ”I think you’re okay for now. Like I said, the didn’t show you for long and most videos seem to be focusing on the woman.” He shrugged his shoulders. ”But maybe give them a call anyways? Just to check in? When you’re feeling better, of course. It’ll give you a chance to gauge if they saw anything and, if they did, you can at least appear like you are communicating with them first.” He beamed innocently.

There had to be plenty of footage from the zoo. Most of it had already been published, probably, but there was always a chance that someone was still holding on to something, out of fear or stubbornness, or sheer patience while waiting for the highest bidder. While the chances of anyone recognizing Javier were low, they were far from zero, and Javier never liked chances that were not zero. Not zero meant he had a reason to worry. Especially because he did not want his parents to think he had been running around playing superhero.

>>”I think you’re okay for now. Like I said, the didn’t show you for long and most videos seem to be focusing on the woman. But maybe give them a call anyways? Just to check in? When you’re feeling better, of course. It’ll give you a chance to gauge if they saw anything and, if they did, you can at least appear like you are communicating with them first.”

Javier sighed, closing his eyes as Booker put a hand on his arm. He was relieved his boyfriend was there for him. The idea of a phone call and a confession was far from comforting, but at least he didn't have to do that right this minute.

"How do I keep ending up in these situations?" he muttered, looking up at Booker "I'm the farthest thing from a superhero that I can think of... not to mention I almost got knocked out by a lemur. I mean, New York has a lot going on... but I just feel like I get unlucky a lot recently..."

Booker really was relieved that Javier was okay. However he didn’t share his boyfriend’s anxiety at being caught on film. The fact that they may have to explain things to his family was...understandable...but Booker was too outgoing and bold to really care what people thought. He stepped away from 75% of his family ages ago and has never looked back. His sister was all he needed.

But deep down he knew that not everyone was like him, Javier especially. But he would be there, supportive, understanding, and would see him through his dilemma to the best of his ability.

>>"How do I keep ending up in these situations?"

Javier looked exasperated and Booker smirked. He pulled the chair a little closer, holding onto his hand. He sighed as he reached over, running his hand tenderly over Javier’s scalp. ”You’re just too damn pretty,” he said with a sigh. ’You lot attract all the trouble.”

He was grinning, of course, his attempt at making the other smile. Truth be told he had to admit that it was strange how many times things like this happened to him. It was as if he were some poor character in a book under the diabolical machinations of a sadistic writer. But that was ridiculous, wasn’t it? Life wasn’t a book -- as much as he would have liked it to have been. He liked happy endings.

>>"I'm the farthest thing from a superhero that I can think of... not to mention I almost got knocked out by a lemur. I mean, New York has a lot going on... but I just feel like I get unlucky a lot recently..."

Javier continued his tirade until he finally just rested against the bed. Booker smirked sympathetically as he leaned over and kiss him on the cheek. He really wished that he had an answer for him but he just didn’t. Sometimes life happens and sometimes it happens in the shittiest of ways. He knew Javier didn’t like the spotlight, he didn’t want to be a hero, but he wanted to help. That would inevitably cause problems.

”Sorry Javi,” he said, taking his hand. ”I know you don’t like the whole superhero thing,” he said. ”But you’re a good person and you try to help anyways. Unfortunately, it’s one of those trials good people have to face.” He smirked as he squeezed his hand. ”Being good isn’t always easy, Javi. But I’m still proud of you every day.”

>>”You’re just too damn pretty. You lot attract all the trouble.”

Javier chuckled a little as Booker moved closer. He always felt safe around Booker, which was ironic, since he was the only person who could literally take his powers away. The smile, the touch, the kind words... if he could have anyone at his bedside when he was hurting, Booker was the best choice every time.

"That doesn't make sense. Then you'd be in trouble all the time too."

It was nice Booker thought he was pretty, but really, the librarian was... kind of perfect.

>>”Sorry Javi. I know you don’t like the whole superhero thing. But you’re a good person and you try to help anyways. Unfortunately, it’s one of those trials good people have to face. Being good isn’t always easy, Javi. But I’m still proud of you every day.”

Javier had a shaky hold on his emotions, thanks to the events of the day, and the painkillers they had him on. His eyes teared up a little as he smiled at his boyfriend, holding his hand.

"Couldn't do it without you" he admitted with a sigh "I just... I thought you'd... I thought about what you'd do if you had my powers, when I was there."