multiversallogs | I know it's hard but...

Entry tags:

I know it's hard but...

Who: Steph Brown, others [closed]
What: Monster fighting, rescues, healing
Where: All around Baedal
When: Over a two week period since Hasi broke reality
Notes: Everyone has their own thread starter, which are in no particular order, if there are any problems/questions please let me know!
Warnings: NPC death, gore, violence, monsters, PTSD, my inability to be succint, if I've missed any feel free to tell me

The monsters are new for her.

It's not that she isn't used to dealing with all the assorted bullshit that Gotham can throw at a vigilante, but there's nothing quite like this. There are people like Killer Croc and Zsasz and Black Mask, who might be horrific, but they're still people. These monsters are more like animals, but they're huge and violent and they hunt people. She's not trained for this, she's not equipped for this and she sure as hell isn't prepared for it. Getting the gun and new batarangs from Rex helps, and she adds a large hunting knife to her array of weaponry, but it still doesn't feel like enough.

It's terrifying, in a way that she doesn't have time to deal with, so she pushes that down and focuses on doing what she can. There's moments, as she faces down things that eclipse her worst nightmares, when she wonders if she should be hiding instead of out here fighting. But there are other moments, times when she wins, when she gets to reunite a parent with their lost child, and it doesn't matter that Steph is bleeding, bruised and exhausted, because she did good.

At the behest of Babs, and the reminders her own body sends, she forces herself to stop and rest once in a while. Usually she goes back to wherever Babs is, or Kate, if she happens to be resting at the same time. Her sleep happens in small bursts, a few hours here or there, curled up near Babs or Kate and letting the exhaustion take over. She tries not to eat too much, because she has no idea how long these monsters will stay in the city and she's scared that food will start running out. She's already started collect supplies, bringing them to the safe places and distributing them to people.

She doesn't think about the dead bodies she sees, or the injured people. A lot of Baedalites can look after themselves, but some of them can't and it's those who end up as smears on a wall. Except for when she has to stop to throw up, after seeing half eaten corpses; then she thinks about it, and she doesn't know how long she can keep going out and coming back alive.

She hopes no one will hold it against her if she gets killed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That thing cost as many as twenty scarves," Kate retorts, which is honestly and totally true. She bought it when she bought the team uniforms to replace the ones Steve and Tony seized from them. Okay, so as much as Kate hates throwing money around, she does like nice things sometimes. Sue her. Call the cops. She doesn't care.

They trundle along together, Kate more slowly than she's ever been before. Part of it is sheer exhaustion, the rest is the wound that she's currently unaware starting to breed a fever in her. "I'm so tired. I want to sleep for years."

"I need to teach you how to shop, if that's the case," it's an easy joke, nothing more than gentle teasing. Steph is used to people with so much more money than her, and she tries not to let it bother her. It's a lot easier to do that with Kate than it was with Tim, but maybe that's because Kate doesn't have access to her dad's credit cards here. Honestly, Steph hasn't put that much thought into it.

"Not until I have a proper look at you," not that she couldn't patch Kate up while she was unconscious, but treating someone is simpler when you can ask them exactly how they're feeling. And she doesn't say anything out loud, but this is really starting to worry her.

"I know how to shop. I just liked that scarf the best. Plus I figured it could be a legitimate tax deduction for work purposes." Even if Kate did have access to her fathers bank account in Baedal, she would use it for good, for other people, for Steph. She makes a raspberry blowing sort of sound at Steph mothering her. Contrary to popular belief, Kate kind of likes it. It's been a while since somebody's mothered her.

"Yes, Mom. But you only need my arm. I don't need to be awake for that."

"I didn't think superhero was an official career," She raises both eyebrows at the raspberry, amused at the antics and relieved that Kate is still up to banter. It's always a bad sign when people can't banter anymore.

"You need to be awake to tell me exactly what happened and how your arm is feeling," There are so many horrible things that could've been on the monsters claws. Steph tries not to think about the fact that it could be a pathogen they can't treat.

A few moments later they're near the safe house, and Steph easily enters the codes to get the doors open so she can take Kate inside. She bypasses everyone else for now, leading Kate straight to the bathroom -- the most sterile room, and the one where the first aid kit is kept.

Bantering is what's keeping Kate walking and awake. If she was still alone, she would have just taken a break on a rooftop somewhere and fallen asleep. Thank God for battle partners. "Back in New York, the government wanted all of us to register officially with them," she muses softly, "But I don't think we would get tax breaks from that."

One day, she will tell Steph all about the Registration bullshit and how it tore families and friendships apart. She will tell her all about how Tony Stark is an asshole and why no one likes him even with all his money and brains. But that requires another day and more time than they have right now. For now, in the safety of the bathroom, she leans against the wall and slides down to the floor, looking up at Steph. "Aren't you going to check in with Babs?"

"Your world is so fucking weird sometimes," the no offense is kind of implied. Everyone's world is weird when considered by someone not from there, but Steph can't imagine making superheroes register. That seems counter productive.

She smiles at the question and tries not to worry too much about Kate sliding down to the floor like that, "She knows we're here." There's no hesitation in her voice, Babs must have this place filled with cameras and assorted surveillance. And Steph knows that if she's needed, Babs will send someone to her.

Steph removes her gloves and dumps them in the sink, then adds her cape and cowl to the mix before grabbing the first aid kit from where it's stashed in the vanity.

"I say the same thing too. I love the people in it, though. Most of the time." Kate has no reason to disagree. Compared to what little she knows about Gotham, New York seems like an entirely different planet, aside from that being what it is.

Kate nods at Steph confirming Babs' knowing they're safe and leans her head back onto the cool tile. It feels good, but it would feel better if her forehead was touching it. Little beads of sweat pop up on her forehead, not too noticeable for now, but in a very opposite way, the wound is now red and angry, skin puffing up at the edges of the claw marks. Her left arm feels heavier, almost numb, and that's a worry Kate is keeping quiet about right now.

"I know how that feels," there's amusement and fondness in her voice, both for Kate and Gotham. She misses it at times like this, when there are monsters bleeding through cracks in reality. Supervillains are easier to deal with.

Her hands get washed thoroughly, and she's so grateful the water is on at the moment and then she gets a pair of medical gloves from the first aid kit and pulls them on, "How are you feeling?" When she crouches down in front of Kate to start taking off the bandage, she notices the sweat on her brow and curses inwardly. That's not a good sign.

Neither is the swollen, red skin under the bandage. Steph can't help it, she just stares for a second, gripped by sudden panic. It's been too long since she's worked on someone she cares about and she's forgotten how to compartmentalize those emotions. What if she's not good enough and can't save Kate?

"Tired. Hot." Those two bits are the truth, but still, Kate is stubborn enough to keep the numbness to herself right now. Why, she doesn't know. Maybe it's to keep a little control of the situation to herself. She's been injured before. She's gotten blasted by a Skrull, her heart stopped, and she jumped right back up to fight. This won't keep her down. She refuses to let it.

It's a little show for her, watching Step get prepared like she's about to perform surgery. There's a slight amused smile on Kate's face, but it disappears once she notices that Steph is staring at her arm like a deer in headlights. "What?" Kate asks as she looks at Steph with glassy eyes and then down at her nasty looking arm. "Fuck." Whatever is inside her is moving fast. Hopefully fast enough to leave her system quickly.

She takes a shaky breath, then another and forces down the tears that are threatening. This feels so stupid, she's getting overly emotional because everything feels so fragile at the moment. She's just high strung; everything's going to be fine. She closes her eyes briefly, and when she opens them her expression is schooled into something determind.

"Kate, I need to know exactly what your arm feels like," there's no room for argument, her tone is dead serious and firm and she's already pulling out a second antisepetic wash, ready to wash the wound again. But first she gives it another careful look, checking for any foreign substances or pus in the wound, to tell her how fast the infection is going and how Kate's body is responding to it.

Kate's afraid to answer. On one hand, nothing hurts anymore. On the other, the fact that nothing hurts anymore is a big problem. She shouldn't be feeling nothing at all in her arm. It should burn or tingle... something. She tries to wiggle her fingers and while she can, it's hard. The joints are stiff and like the rest of her arm, there's little sensation. Biting her lip, Kate looks away from Steph before admitting, "Numb."

A numb, useless arm means a big difference in between being able to do what she loves and having to depend on other people to help her. It's not a choice Kate will ever want to make.

"It's infected," her voice sounds oddly detatched, which is really the only way she can deal with this right now without having a freak out. She wishes Alfred was here with an almost desperate ache; he'd know what to do, he'd make everything better.

But he's not here, Steph is, and it's up to her to help Kate. She holds Kate's arm with her left hand and uses her right to pour the antiseptic, saline solution over the wound, spending longer on it now because she has time for it and it's imperative that the wound gets cleaned.

Being right handed, Kate's never given much thought to her left arm, but if she's at the risk of losing the use of it in the very worst case, it's all she can think about. A fever and some aches she can deal with. Those aren't anything she's never had before. But something this big, something mysterious, worries her more than words can say.

She watches Steph's movements carefully with wide eyes, not sure what to say to break the tense silence that's covering the room like thick blanket. "Be honest with me." About the arm, how it looks, if she can fix it.

"It's spreading fast," her tone is as gentle as her hands, because she doesn't want to scare Kate too much, "The problem is that I have no idea what pathogens could have been on the creature's claws, but I'm going to start with a broad spectrum antibiotic, and if there's no progress in a day or two, I'll try magic."

Not her own magic, obviously, she has none, but she can ask someone to help her. Hermione can heal broken bones, surely she can deal with a pesky infection. With the wound cleaned, Steph puts down the bottle of antiseptic and pulls out a tube of cream, which she carefully applies to the wound.

"It's going to be a nasty scar, I don't want to stitch it up while it's infected; that could make things worse," Which means it won't be a straigh scar, it'll be rough and jagged and probably pretty big.

She listens to Steph and huffs a joyless laugh at the notion of magic fixing what science can't. It's not that Kate doesn't believe in magic--which would be silly of her considering who her friends are--it's just that they might as well skip the antibiotics and seek out Billy or somebody else.

"A scar is the least of my worries right now," Kate replies, sighing as she pushes drenched hair off her sweaty forehead with her healthy hand. She definitely has a fever now and her eyes burn to let her know this. "I still want to sleep more than anything."

Kate suspects Steph won't let her just yet.

"Not yet," there's still a little bit to do, and then she'll let Kate sleep, "Are much are you gonna argue if I tell you to get changed?" Kate needs rest, and Steph knows how hard that is to do in costume, partly because they're just uncomfortable, and also thanks to the association of costume with fighting.

The next thing to go on is a pad of gauze, although it's packaging shows it's not the normal kind - it's designed for infected wounds - and Steph tapes it onto Kate's arm with medical tape.

"Stay awake for a little longer while I go get the antibiotics." They aren't kept with the first aid kit, nothing injectible is.

"Do I have a choice?"

She knows she doesn't, not right now, not with the way she's feeling. But as little as Kate will argue, she needs a change of clothes. There's a full guarantee Steph isn't going to let her walk right out Babs' door and all the way to her apartment for it, not with outside being as dangerous as it is right now. She's slowly sliding towards the bathtub now that Steph has patched her up, and rests her head on the edge.

"I don't have anything on me."

"Yes," she says it carefully, because when it comes to the doctor's orders, Kate shouldn't really have a choice, but Steph is her friend and when it's little matters, like wearing a costume to bed or not, that's more important.

"I have some clothes stashed here, you can borrow them," it's practical for Steph to keep clothes at Babs' place, even when the world isn't imploding. With practiced ease, the first aid kit is repacked, the waste and gloves thrown away, and then Steph stands.

"I'll be back in a sec," she gives Kate a reassuring smile, then heads into the main part of the house.

As much as this costume cost, there is no way Kate will ever wear this much spandex and leather and whatever else superhero costumes are made of to bed. That's just asking for a heatstroke. She would make this joke out loud, but the cool comfort of the bathtub is slowly lulling Kate into a light doze, just after she nods to Steph who leaves her to her own devices amongst the toilet and soaps.

It doesn't take her long to get the antibiotics from Babs - as well as giving her a quick update on the situation - and to grab a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt and a pullover, then Steph is back in the bathroom. She frowns when she realizes Kate is dozing, but can't really blame her and is just grateful Kate isn't suffering from a concussion. She'd hate to have to keep her awake.

"Kate," she wakes her with a soft voice and a light touch to Kate's right shoulder, not wanting to startle her too much.

Kate's not out long enough to start on any fever dreams just yet, but Steph's voice sounds weirdly hollow and far away. Her head feels full of cotton and so does her mouth; Kate would gladly pay for a glass of water right now.

"What?" Kate answers with a hoarse dry voice, picking her head up slowly. She's sweating more and the fabric of her uniform is sticking to everything part of skin it touches. It's a disgusting feeling, like she's trapped by an outfit she can't escape. "Give me five more minutes."

"Give me five more minutes and then you can have five hours," She thinks this is a fair trade. The clothes are put down on the closed lid of the toilet seat, and then Steph kneels beside Kate.

She's got a cotton ball covered in alcohol, and she wipes down a spot on Kate's left shoulder before uncapping the syringe, "This might hurt a little." It might be a bit of a silly warning, considering Kate's got a huge gash in her arm, but it comes automatically. Her hands are steady as she adminsters the injection, and then she recaps the syringe and tucks it into a pouch on her utility belt -- she'll dispose of it properly later.

"Are you gonna need help with the clothes?"

There's just the feeling of pressure, not pain, in her arm right now and it's not something that registers in Kate's mind. All she's thinking about is changing clothes and getting in a bed, somebody's bed, any bed. She'll take the floor if she has to. Feeling this horrible has never been on Kate's radar before and she's mentally beating herself up for doing such a stupid move that got her injured in the first place.

Help? Definitely and she shakes her head so. Her uniform's sleeve has been torn to shred by those claws but there's still the shoulder part and the rest that usually needs to two hands to deal with. There's not much in the way of underwear under that uniform, but suddenly, Kate doesn't care if Steph sees her naked, old scars and all. In a better mindset, Kate would question this.

Steph pulls out a knife - a small one, not the hunting blade she's been using against monsters - and carefully cuts away the rest of Kate's sleeve. It's ruined anyway, and this will make it easier to remove. The knife gets put away, and then Steph carefully helps Kate out of the uniform, tossing the pieces into the bath to be dealt with later.

Before she redresses Kate, Steph wets a washcloth and gently wipes down Kate's face, neck and injured arm. It's a strangely intimate act, but Steph stays professional the whole time, trying not to make Kate feel uncomfortable. Putting the fresh clothes on is a lot easier than getting the uniform off, and Steph has the job done within a few minutes.

She can't help but think about her mother, the cool cloths she put on Kate's forehead whenever she ran the slightest fever, the way her soft hands gently spread that stinky ointment on Kate's chest when she had a cold. Kate was a helpless kid then and she's a helpless adult now. Well, not much, but she still needs some assistance until she kicks this infection.

Or it kicks her.

But that's something she's not thinking about at this moment. All she's thinking about is how much she misses her mother and how she's grateful to have met Steph, to have a friend who is doing her best without even a blink of hesitation. It's truly what friends are for and it's enough to get Kate to fight the physical heaviness and push herself towards the bathroom door to wait for Steph to tell her where she can go next.

I know it's hard but...

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