fandom_clinic | Fandom Clinic, Monday 8/29

Entry tags:

stark

Fandom Clinic, Monday 8/29

Class this morning had been... awkward. But Stark had survived and maybe that one suitcase hadn't followed him to the clinic. Or the other one that might have belonged to Summer. Or maybe they just hadn't arrived yet.

"I didn't bring coffee," Stark told the nurses with a sigh. "Hands were full." They were still full. He was moving a lot of baggage around town.

"Wait. What does Stabby have?"

"Crab baggage," one of the nurses said without looking up, busy with their own unpleasant luggage. "Obviously."

What kind of emotional baggage could a crab have? Who could say. It was shaped like a crab and that was all Stark knew for certain.

"Of course," he said after a pause. He shoved one of the two large jewel-toned suitcases marked 'She Died'and 'She Left' aside so he could get to to the desk, moved the 'Never Enough' bag off the chair, and sat down. At least the numbered trunk hadn't appeared in here yet.

The clinic was open, the alien was in and not yet crushed by the weight of the physical representation of his emotional baggage, and the crab had a bag of his own.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Where there's an alien with a lot of baggage and a crab with 1 item.

And here came the alien's . . . boyfriend? Friend with benefits? Love interest? . . . with his own set of bags, including a duffel labeled "internalized generational homophobia" and the small but incredibly heavy backpack that read "dead husband".

And a box of assorted pastries from the bakery.

"I, uh," he said, giving Stark a weak smile. "I felt like maybe we could use more sugar today. And hey, I'm overdue to visit you at work, right?"

Stark looked up tiredly but perked up when he realized who was there.

"I could always use more sugar." And attention. That 'Abandonment Issues' case was prominently featured.

"I'm glad you're here."

It sure was well coordinated with the little "commitment issues" pouch dangling off the side of Travis's backpack!

"Yeah, I --" Travis started, eyes going a little wide as he looked at all Stark's bags. "-- That's. Wow."

Oh look, a nice little satchel reading "awkward". Wonder what that could be in relation to?

"I have a lot of them," Stark said with a sigh. "Sorry."

Was there a bag about unnecessary apologizing? Maybe. There was definitely another 'Awkward' one in there.

He stood up, carefully to avoid crashing into or tripping over any of his baggage, and came around to the front of the desk.

The nurses were right there but he was very tempted to ask for a hug. Or offer one. Or both. Or something more.

A hug would definitely be appreciated. And offered. Though that "dead husband" bag might get in the way.

(It usually did. And though it got a bit smaller every year, it was always just as heavy. . . .)

"Yeah, I'm thinking the universe should apologize to you for that."

He was more than a little annoyed that that declaration apparently prompted his "conflicted relationship with religion" bag to reappear.

"I've never known the universe to do anything like that." The universe tended to be cruel.

Stark's own relationship related bags were often in the way but weren't weighing him down. Usually.

"I... can I give you a hug?" That was easier than asking to be held.

"I, uh." Travis tried to adjust the weight of the backpack, but it was difficult with the little dangling pouches that would appear and disappear from time to time. "Yeah. A hug would be nice."

Had that 'Desperate for Affection' bag been there before?

"Good. Thank you. I... good." Stark was going to go in for that hug now and cling more tightly than was necessary.

Travis spotted the bag and swallowed a sudden lump in his throat (like, he'd guessed that, but there was guessing and there was knowing), then hugged back as firmly as he could. Trying not to think about how Stark's arms fit around or over or under the backpack.

What Michael would think about Stark if he saw them together.

Stark had spent part of his summer taking blacksmithing classes. His arms could fit under the bag and maybe even take a little of the weight. And they were very good at holding things. Or people.

He gave a little sigh, resting his head against Travis's.

"Thank you." The words came out barely more than a whisper.

If he knew what Travis was thinking he would have said he hoped Michael wouldn't be upset. And Zhaan, almost certainly, would approve of anything that seemed to be making Stark happier.

. . . Oh. That did help ease the weight a bit. Both Stark helping hold it, and -- and a little of the bag's actual weight disappearing for a bit.

Okay, so maybe he needed a little bit of affection these days himself.

"Thanks," he said into Stark's shoulders. "You're pretty good at that."

He was very good at that. Somewhere, Michael absolutely approved.

"I try," Stark said very softly, still not letting go. There was a bag with very short straps somewhere about holding on to things too tightly. That probably didn't apply here.

The nurses, while very interested, were at least pretending not to stare. Maybe they were too busy looking at the collected baggage. Stark did have a lot.

"I think I needed a hug." Or several dozen.

"I'm always happy to hug you," Travis told him. "You just have to ask."

Not that he was ever good at asking himself.

"Oh." Stark loosened his hold just enough to pull back to look at Travis properly. "I...can be bad at that. Asking for things." Was there a bag for that, too?

"I'll try to remember."

Travis gave him a small, wry smile. "I'd appreciate it. I think maybe we've done enough walking on eggshells around each other."

Easier said than done, but he was doing his best!

They were hopefully both trying their best. They were just very awkward and uncertain fellows.

"Can you stay for a while?"

By the looks of their combined baggage, they came by that uncertainty at least a little bit honestly?

"I've got no other plans for the day," Travis said, pulling back but hanging onto Stark's hand.

Very honestly.

"Good," Stark said with a relieved smile and a small squeeze of Travis's hand. "Thank you. For coming to see me." And for putting up with him, but he wasn't going to voice that out loud.

Don't mind the 'Constant Fear of Being a Burden' bag over there.

"Do you want to sit?"

Sure, most available seats were taken up by baggage but Stark did have that roomy trunk with the large number printed on it. They could both fit on top.

Travis was both very curious about that number and pretty sure he really didn't want to know.

"Sure," he said, and proffered the pastries. "We can hang out and have a snack."

Stark would answer any questions about any of the luggage. He just might be a little quiet about it (and a lot awkward).

"I'd like that. And there's room here," he said, gesturing at the trunk with his free hand. Enough room he wouldn't need to lean against Travis's shoulder while sitting but he was still absolutely going to. It was going to be a long day.

He was just pretending the nurses weren't there.

That worked for Travis. They could mind their own business. And their own baggage. (Surely they too had baggage, right?)

Travis settled onto the trunk as best he could with the backpack on, ready to lean into Stark in return. He opened the box.

"Wasn't sure what you'd be in the mood for. So I got one of everything."

"I like nearly everything," Stark said softly. He was just pleased to be thought of.

"Chocolate I think. Chocolate is always good. But anything would be good. Thank you. For this."

Yesterday I was a few feet away from Hugh Jackman.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Re: Front Desk

Exam Rooms

OOC