Ted lets out a soft groan. He's not enjoying having to tell this whole story over and over. Even without delving into the traumatic bits, it's still just... not very nice to talk about.
"I mean, I'm sure they'll have my back," he answers, massaging conditioner into her hair. "Roy had a whole little speech about it. But it'll probably upset some of them. And I'm just... already kind of tired of talking about it, you know?"
"I get that." She knows it's never easy for a trauma victim to have to repeat their story over and over. "Do you think Beard could talk to the team for you?"
"No, I want to do it," he answers, even though she's sure Beard would gladly do it for him. "They deserve to hear it from me. Just wish I didn't have to, that's all."
She can understand that. She wishes she could go with him and be there for moral support. She reaches back with her right and and gently brushes her fingertips against his legs, wanting to offer at least a little bit of comfort.
Ted smiles at the gesture, and bends down to give her a soft kiss. He's glad they can both give each other support, even when they're both struggling with their own things.
She smiles into the kiss. She loves that they love and support each other, even when there are things they have to face on their own for one reason or another.
She goes back to scrubbing at the gunk on her chest. "I hate this stuff," she comments. "I mean, I love it when it's doing its job, but I hate the residue."
"Is it from those.. measuring thingies?" he asks, grabbing the shower to start rinsing out the conditioner. Ted obviously has very little clue about what any of that stuff is called, or even what it really does.
"The electrodes," she says. "It's important that the adhesive not come off with the moisture and oils from the skin, but that also means soap and water are less than effective."
The spots are starting to wash away now, though, much to Joan's relief.
"Makes sense," he answers, nodding. "Like band-aid glue," he observes, combing his fingers gently through her hair to make sure he's getting out all the conditioner. He just likes standing here, being affectionate while doing mundane grooming rituals. Such a moment of comforting normality, which they've been sort of lacking in lately.
"Exactly," she says, the last of the adhesive peeling off and washing away.
She puts her hands in her lap, leans back against Ted, closes her eyes, and just enjoys the moment, the warmth of the water and of the man she loves, the feel of his fingers gently combing through her hair. She takes a deep breath and sighs it out, feeling a lot of her worry and tension washing away.
Ted stands there running his fingers through her hair longer than he needs to, it becoming just a comforting gesture as he smiles at the way she's leaning against him and relaxing.
Eventually he sets the shower back, then holds his hand out for the loofah. "Shall I do your back?"
Part of her wishes they could just stay that way indefinitely. She's so comfortable, and feeling so safe and loved. But she knows it has to come to an end eventually, if only to prevent becoming wrinkled beyond recognition.
She smiles and sits up, then hands him the loofah. "Yes please."
"Could really do with a bathtub in here," he muses. He'd love to combine the hot water and grooming with cuddling and comfort. He puts some more soap on the loofah, and moves her hair in front of her shoulder, and just starts gently washing her back and sides.
"We have a bathtub back in New York," she says as she bends forward a little. "Apartments in London are too small in a lot of ways, but you really see it in the bathrooms."
While she has no intention of leaving London any time soon, there are things about New York that she misses, things even as small as the brownstone's bathtub.
"Yeah, and you get a lot of those really narrow, tall apartments. I'm sure you have those in New York too, but you don't really get that in Overland Park, you know," says, moving around her and carefully crouching down in front of her so he can wash her legs and feet.
She smiles down at him and touches his cheek, then his hair.
"There's a lot more space in Kansas," she remarks. "London and Brooklyn are both on islands." Then, more softly: "I would love to go to Kansas with you someday."
"We'll get there," he answers with smile and a quiet confidence, a belief that everything will work out in the end. "After all this excitement, we really need a vacation," he adds with a soft chuckle.
"We do," she agrees, smiling back at him. She shares his belief that everything will work out in the end, but she does wonder where that will be. London might be the best for the two of them, but she wonders if he'll get homesick for Kansas, or if she'll get homesick for New York.
She smiles a little at the question, Ted demonstrating his attentiveness. "Just wondering about our hometowns," she says. "And what to do if we get homesick at some point."
"Oh, I get homesick all the time," Ted answers honestly, idly scrubbing himself with the loofah now. "But at this point I'll get homesick for London too, whenever I end up leaving it."
"Yeah, me too," Joan says softly. She pauses, frowning faintly, thinking about his use of the word 'whenever.' "Do you think you'll end up leaving it?"
"Unless Henry decides to move to London," he answers, giving her a soft smile. "I'd like to at least be on the same continent at some point. Maybe not next month, maybe not even next year... But yeah, definitely."
He might have unfinished business here, but... there's only so much time he can justify missing of Henry's upbringing. Almost dying has only made that even more clear.
She gets that, even if it makes her sad. She's not sure where she would fit in that picture, but she's always known that he will choose his son over her if it ever comes down to it.
"He could come here," she offers quietly. "You could share custody with Michelle. We've talked about that before. It could be a wonderful thing for him to have a home here with you in London."
"Or he could come live with us in New York," he points out. He gives a shrug. He's not saying that's what they should do, he just wants her to know that he considers the option to be on the table. That he does very much consider her wants and needs when it comes to this stuff. And he knows he's most of the reason she's even staying in London to begin with.
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theodorelasso) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trashchildren2021-06-24 07:33 pm
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"I mean, I'm sure they'll have my back," he answers, massaging conditioner into her hair. "Roy had a whole little speech about it. But it'll probably upset some of them. And I'm just... already kind of tired of talking about it, you know?"
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She goes back to scrubbing at the gunk on her chest. "I hate this stuff," she comments. "I mean, I love it when it's doing its job, but I hate the residue."
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The spots are starting to wash away now, though, much to Joan's relief.
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She puts her hands in her lap, leans back against Ted, closes her eyes, and just enjoys the moment, the warmth of the water and of the man she loves, the feel of his fingers gently combing through her hair. She takes a deep breath and sighs it out, feeling a lot of her worry and tension washing away.
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Eventually he sets the shower back, then holds his hand out for the loofah. "Shall I do your back?"
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She smiles and sits up, then hands him the loofah. "Yes please."
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While she has no intention of leaving London any time soon, there are things about New York that she misses, things even as small as the brownstone's bathtub.
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"There's a lot more space in Kansas," she remarks. "London and Brooklyn are both on islands." Then, more softly: "I would love to go to Kansas with you someday."
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He might have unfinished business here, but... there's only so much time he can justify missing of Henry's upbringing. Almost dying has only made that even more clear.
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"He could come here," she offers quietly. "You could share custody with Michelle. We've talked about that before. It could be a wonderful thing for him to have a home here with you in London."
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