Okay…so the thing at the mansion was a whole…thing. In all fairness, Booker should not have been there. He was a liability. He was an adapted and this was a mutants versus mystics fight. He was literally hampering not only his friends, but his boyfriend, and was vulnerable against the mystics and their strange abilities. It simply was not a good move. But, while he understood all that, he really just wanted to do his best to help. There was nothing wrong with wanting to help – at least that was what he convinced himself.

But, today was a new day and after a clean bill of health (no concussion!) Booker was feeling pretty okay.

…okay maybe not OKAY okay, but he was alive, his boyfriend was alive, and he had a sweet souvenir.

It was morning of the next day and while Javier slept in, Booker busied himself in the kitchen. Dressed in only his pajama pants, the librarian looked like he had had quite the time. A few bandages were wrapped around his midsection, gauze upon his forehead, and a few scabs from scrapes and cuts. He had looked worse! Though…maybe not by much.

Right now Booker was looking up at a shelf where once sat his vintage 4th Physician Sonic Socket, Booker had to remove it a few months back after discovering that it had actually been a fake and the certificate of authentication was forged. He had been wondering what to put there for a long time but wonder no longer!

Booker smiled as he looked up at the Dragon Dagger that now took up the space. It would forever remind him of the most awesome, and terrifying, night of life…where he piloted the Dragonzord against an honest Kaiju! Squeeee!

In his joy, however, Booker winced. There was that throbbing pain in his shoulder again. While he may not have had a concussion, he did get a few brusted ribs and lacerations and burns and a very slight stab wound when the zord exploded at the end. The worst part was that the mansions healer, DocProf, could do nothing for him. Immune to mutant powers and all that. But, he guessed that was always going to be the risk. He had to heal like a normal person now, bandaged and downing pain meds.

But that didn’t mean he could stop his life.

He glanced to his bedroom where Javier, he assumed, was still asleep. He was so brave last night that Booker wanted to honor that. A fresh pot of designer coffee was brewing, as well as a fantastic breakfast was on the way! Already the bacon had been placed in the oven (not without some wincing effort on his part) and he was getting ready to cook the eggs!

Now…he just needed…to figure out the best way to do that single-handed. Booker glanced down to his arm, still casted up and in a sling. It seems in his escape from the dragonzord, his arm got the smallest, tiniest hairline fracture, but it was all good! He could still wiggle his fingers, after all! Still…the difficulty had been upped. There was a small clatter as Booker reached under his cabinet for his bowl for the eggs. He could manage it. Truly! He didn’t need to wake Javier at all!

CLATTER!!!

Booker sighed. He was sure that the loud tumble of the steel mixing bowls was capable of waking even the sleepiest of super sexy tailors with a first name beginning with J.

Unlike his boyfriend, Javi had been healed by DocProf, but the mental strain and the aftereffects of the potion he had taken still made him pass out for several hours, dead to the world. He didn't stir when Booker got up and started to make noises in the kitchen. However, when the crash came, he bolted up on instinct. Before he knew it, he was in the kitchen door, making a not-so-perfect superhero landing by catching himself against the door frame, blinking sleepily at Booker. "Everything okay?..."

Cursed Maria Talbert Homemade Kitchen Collection! Booker grumbled as he squatted down, trying to pick up a few of the items with his remaining good arm. While he loved those bowls, and they were perfect for his baking needs, this wouldn't be the first time that they had betrayed him in this manner. Yes, what seemed like eons ago, when he had been dating this particularly yoga instructor, and Nessa was still living with him, both he and Atticus were – ahem…well, now wasn't the time.

Booker continued to mutter threats of scape heaps and goodwill stores to the bowls as he picked them up when he noted the form framing his kitchen door. Immediately the librarian straightened up, a little too fast because he winced at his injured ribs reminding him they were injured, and shot Javier a smile.

"OH! Um, hey babe!" he smiled and then jestered to the bowls in his remaining free hand. "Sorry! Didn't mean to wake you. Bowls just escaped my grip. Everything's okay though. Just…trying to get some breakfast started. Did you…sleep ok?"

Javi rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, sleep-addled brain catching up to what was happening. Booker had dropped a bunch of bowls. That made sense. No one was expected to be dexterous with one hand broken. He padded over to help him pick up. Unlike Booker, he was also wearing a t-shirt, and he definitely looked less worn with all of his injuries healed. "Why are you even trying to cook with a broken arm?"

Booker was mostly done clearing things up when Javier had managed to rush in. At the questioning a guilty look crossed the librarian’s face. He knows he should be resting. As a matter of fact, if there were two people who deserved a day to sleep in, it was the two of them (and especially Booker because of his need to heal). But Booker had never been one to sit still for too long unless he was forced to. He was just someone who liked to keep busy and would often hear no alternative.

But not he was beginning to find some limitations. As Javier questioned him, Booker could feel the throbbing in his ribs flare up again. He was bent too awkwardly in an attempt to clean up. Thankfully he didn’t have to suffer it too much longer as his kind and generous boyfriend jumped in and started to help him clean up.

Booker smiled a bit sadly.

”Sorry darling,” Booker replied finally. ”Just…I guess my pain meds wore off and woke me up. After I got up to take them I got a really big hankering for bacon and eggs this morning so…” he shrugs innocently. ”...figured I could at least try to make breakfast. Though, sorry I’m sorry there will be no cinnamon rolls from scratch I DO have some leftover coffee cake if that’ll do instead?”

Javi gave him a soft smile, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'll do the eggs and bacon. Move over." He was already up anyway. And not injured, unlike Booker. Books was definitely the better cook between the two of them, but Javi could wrangle some breakfast if he needed to. And he found, now that he was up and the adrenaline was ebbing away, that he was indeed quite hungry. He had been too exhausted to eat much the night before. He glanced over his shoulder as he got to work. "Do you need more pain meds?... How are you feeling?"

Booker had experienced a heck of a night. And not in the same vein of “I finally beat my sister at her annoyingly over-lawed card game” kind of heck! This had been way more magical and cooler! He fought against mystics! He saw the Danger Room! He piloted a gosh darn Dragon Zord and flew in a pink bubble of magic! Memories were created last night that he may never experience again and he wanted to enjoy every single gosh darn second of it! However, pain made it difficult to remember it fully in a good light.

Wincing as he straightened up, she smirked softly when Javier came over to kiss him on the cheek. Booker’s good arm wrapped around his boyfriend’s waist to hold him close so he could lean down to kiss him back. However, the act of that caused another wince to his side. Okay, so maybe some help in the kitchen would be okay.

Self-harm wasn’t in Booker’s vocabulary. He would never willing make his injuries worse for the sake of doing it. However, truth be told, the librarian was a do-er. He did not like being ideal. He cooked, he cleaned, he worked, he had fun, he always managed to keep himself busy. Unfortunately these injuries were proving to be stern reminders that he had to take it slow and, despite his displeasure at that, the more he pressed on, the more he found himself needing to listen to them.

Finally Booker relented as he sidestepped Javi to allow him access to the stove. He wouldn’t hover. Much.

At the question he flashed the tailor a brilliant smile. ”Oh, I’m right as rain!” he attempted to say jovially – but grimaced at a throb from his bruised rib. With a guilty smile he slumped. ”Okay. Maybe I could be better. It’s, ugh, probably time for my pain med.” He then slipped away to get to the bathroom and the medicine cabinet within. From there he called back. ”One downside of being adapted, I don’t get to be healed by cool doctor mutants!” After the sound of running water and gulping, he returns. ”You? You went through a lot last night too. How are you doing?”

>>”Oh, I’m right as rain!... Okay. Maybe I could be better. It’s, ugh, probably time for my pain med.”

"Yeah. Go take your meds." Javi glanced over, watching him go. Booker had played the hero in the battle - was a hero - but there was no reason for him to play it brave now, and try to stick it out without the meds.

>>”One downside of being adapted, I don’t get to be healed by cool doctor mutants!... You? You went through a lot last night too. How are you doing?”

"Yes, but I was healed by cool doctor mutants" Javi pointed out, getting started on frying the bacon. "The... potion I drank was... strong, though. I feel like I have the worst hangover in history."

Booker rolled his neck as he took his next round of pain pills. As much as he wanted to join the festivities last night at “Hexes and Hos” (he was aware of it), he was in too rough of a shape from that explosion. Thankfully DocProf, even though he couldn’t heal him, was still trained enough in medicine to know what ailed him. Broken and bruised bones and a near concussion. He was lucky it wasn’t worse than that and could be treated with a simple cast and some pain management.

In the end Booker was able to get back home, but not until late. He was grateful to rest in his bed but he worried that he would make Javier worry – especially since whatever was in that potion would eventually wear off. At least Javi didn’t wake up in a panic and fuss over him. Booker still liked to be independent, after all, whether injured or not.

Looking over his bruised face and his scarred chest, the librarian sighed deeply. Last night was stupid. He should have in no way been involved. He knew that. God was it COOL though! Quickly that thought was stamped down before it could reinvigorate him. He needed to be hurting right now. To do otherwise would be making light of everything that the X-Men are now going through.

Returning to the kitchen, a smile drew across his lips at the sight of Javier cooking. Booker snorted a little as he walked by, his free, working hand, brushing across Javi’s shoulders. ”My poor sweetheart.” He said as he kissed his boyfriend on the cheek. ”So sorry you’re going through that. Let me at least get the coffee brewing. Caffeine should help with the hangover.,” he nodded.

Several moments passed as he moved around the kitchen, setting up the coffee maker. During this Booker lifted his gaze to his boyfriend and smirked a bit sadly.

”You think the X’s will be alright? Like, their entire home was just obliterated. I can’t imagine what they are going through.”

Javi was not sure if Booker realized what kind of potion he had taken for the fight. They certainly did not have the bandwidth to really discuss it the night before, between being healed and treated and being half dead from exhaustion. Not to mention trying to process having been in a pitched battle.

>>”My poor sweetheart. So sorry you’re going through that. Let me at least get the coffee brewing. Caffeine should help with the hangover.,”

"I'm not the one with the broken bones, cariño" Javi noted with a soft smile, but he let Booker do his thing. He knew his boyfriend enough to know he wanted to be useful.

>>”You think the X’s will be alright? Like, their entire home was just obliterated. I can’t imagine what they are going through.”

"Yeah." Javi frowned. Seeing the entire Mansion blown up like that... "It's a miracle no one died... It will take a lot of rebuilding. Poor kids... That... whole fight was a close call."

Booker smiled a bit sweetly at the affectionate term. Really Javi was the best thing to happen to him. He was glad things worked out this way. They seemed to compliment each other pretty well. Classic extrovert / introvert coupling. Seemed a little cliched on the outside but Booker couldn’t remember the last time he was this ridiculously happy in a relationship and he owed it all to Javi, a fact he constantly reminded the tailor of.

Still, the librarian had to defend his honor. ”Uh, excuse you. Bruise and hairline fractures,” he said with a cocky grin. ”I’m a little tougher than that.”

He smiled as he returned to setting up the coffee pot. Pouring in the grounds with his signature mix of spices that no one knew. Even Nessa because as much as he knew she wanted to use her powers to glean his secrets, his adapted field utterly prevented it. Mixing the spices and grounds together, he set it into the machine and stepped back as he pushed the button to activate it. The manual french press would have been better but given his distinct lack of two functioning hands, it probably was not going to be feasible.

Thinking about the X-Men however sobered up his usually goofy demeanor. He leaned back against the counter, his question asked. Javi spent more time with them than he did, so it was as much a lost for Javier. He only hoped that S.U.P.E.R. would make good on their word and help the X-Mansion to rebuild. After how much the X-Men did for the world, it was the least that could be done for them.

Booker turned his gaze back to Javi and gave him a soft smile. He thought for a moment and then placed a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder. ”Javi…I…I just wanted to say…I’m…sorry if you were worried about me out there.” He explained. ”By all accounts I…shouldn’t have been there. I was more a liability than anything. And…I’m sorry I put you in that predicament. I just…I wanted to help…I wanted to be there to help you and…I’m afraid I was more a hampering than a boon. And, for that, I am so, so sorry.”

[/font]

The smell of eggs and bacon and coffee was filling the kitchen, as if it was just another normal morning. Not counting the injuries... and the topic of conversation. Javi looked up when Booker touched his shoulder.

>>”Javi…I…I just wanted to say…I’m…sorry if you were worried about me out there.”

Oh. Javi sensed that this was going to be a longer conversation, so he pulled the finished food aside and turned off the stove. "What do you mean?"

>>”By all accounts I…shouldn’t have been there. I was more a liability than anything. And…I’m sorry I put you in that predicament. I just…I wanted to help…I wanted to be there to help you and…I’m afraid I was more a hampering than a boon. And, for that, I am so, so sorry.”

Javi looked at Booker with a soft smile, and reached out to hold his free hand. "A lot of things from last night are... fuzzy." He admitted. "But... do I remember correctly that you were piloting a giant robot against that monstrosity?..."

Booker really did feel bad. He had stepped in on an X-Man issue where they were fighting an impossible opponent. And not only that, he was at risk from harm for the first time in his life and he put any mutants around him at risk too! It was a lot to feel guilty for and the librarian was primed to accept all of it. That was why he had to apologize to Javi. The poor tailor already worried so much – having Booker out there probably made everything worse.

The nerves of anxiety began to circulate just under the skin. Booker could feel that serpent trying to coil around his heart as the highs from last night, combined with the pain from today and the devastation caused to the X-Men’s home just made him feel the absolute worse. He couldn’t apologize to everyone, but he could at least apologize to Javi.

He smiled a bit weakly when Javi confirmed that some of the details were still fuzzy (that was a hell of a potion). But after a moment he inquired if Booker had indeed piloted a giant robot. The reminder made Booker’s smile widen, confirmation that he had indeed done that. He turned to glance to the shelf where his new collectible now sat.

The librarian nodded his head.

”Yeah…” he said with a thick voice, the emotions held back but threatening to roll over again. ”...and almost got myself killed. I…I didn’t know what was going to happen but I still used those magic items. And…” He turned back to Javi, tears dotting his eyes again. ”...I was so…so close to not being here to have breakfast with you this morning…”

Booker then crossed the room and wrapped his one good arm around Javi's shoulders and buried his face in the tailor's neck. He wouldn't have missed mornings like this for the world -- but last night that choice could have easily been taken away from him.

Booker was... seriously shaken. He smiled at the mention of the robot, but even that could not wipe away all the other emotions playing on his face.

>>”Yeah...and almost got myself killed. I…I didn’t know what was going to happen but I still used those magic items. And..I was so…so close to not being here to have breakfast with you this morning…”

Javi wrapped his arms around Booker, holding him tight. He felt tears on his shoulder through the shirt.

"It's alright, love... It's okay. We made it. I got you." He remembered the dread he felt when the robot blew up. In that moment, he had thought he'd lost Booker too. "It wasn't your fault." He murmured. "You wanted to help. It's who you are, and I love that about you... People were losing their home, the world was in danger, and you helped. And you actually... did a lot. We were all putting ourselves in danger."

Booker could feel the tears stinging his eyes. He didn't like that. He didn't like getting this emotional because, if his own past traumas were any indication, it could really blow out of proportion and sendshim into another one of his episodes. It had been awhile since he had had one, though he guessed that was mainly because he hadn't been involved in epic battles with psychotic mystics. That was territory he tried to avoid.

But thankfully he had an anchor to keep away the bad thoughts. As he felt the anxiety swell and choke his chest, the heavy, warm arms of Javi circled his shoulders like a warm, fresh from the dryer coat. The words were sweet and caused more tears but they were dissolving through the ones brought by fear. It felt good, safe, like Javier was his own personal book jacket. And he was so, so grateful for.

He nodded along with Javier, digging as he buried his face in his neck. Helping was one of those things that Booker couldn't help but do. It was why he became a librarian! Sure it wasn't super helpful like a doctor or fireman, but he did help in his own way.

Booker then leaned back, looking down as his own exploits were listed. He had fought off a few mystics, saved a life, even threw his time bomb of a mecha onto the villain. He had done a lot. Some would say stupidly but not the people that mattered.

A gentle, sad smile crossed his lips as he looked into Javi's eyes. "You were…pretty great out there too. Fighting bad guys, mystics, even riding waves of water and pummeling demon dogs…" He wiped more tears away. "...I-I'm glad…we both got to walk away from it."