SOLACIUM

DEREK

They got a meeting with Butler within twenty minutes. He had apparently been in the area, maybe even waiting for their report. They gave it to him, leaving nothing out. Or rather, the others gave it to him. Derek didn't say much, and he didn't really remember what happened. He just remembered that by the time they finished, the sun was almost completely gone, and they were back at the dorms.

He really needed that shower.

He stumbled through the lobby, ignoring his friends' attempts to guide him by the arm. He didn't jerk out of his fugue until he bumped into Emily, standing between him and the elevators.

“Whoa there,” the RA said in a friendly tone, holding him at arm's length. “You alright?” She frowned, looking him up and down. “You smell like a sewer. What were you up to?”

He sighed, some of his wits returning to him. “I... it's not important. I need to shower.”

“He'll be fine,” Ling promised with a smile, grabbing his hand. “I'm sure I'll be able to get him very clean.”

It took all of Derek's willpower not to jerk away. Was she serious? It was a nice offer, but more creepy than anything. Where did all this come from?

But Akane yanked Ling off him. “No. He's not going anywhere with you.” She didn't say anything else, and Ling just rolled her eyes.

“I... I...” He managed to get to the elevators. Ling kept trying to grab him, and Akane kept putting herself in the way. They sped up to the ninth floor, Ling making incredibly obvious “subtle” suggestions and Akane denying her with monosyllabic stoicism.

Silver and gold, what's going on? he thought. Since when were either of them actually interested in him?

By the time they reached Derek's floor, he had broken into a cold sweat. He couldn't move. What was he supposed to do? It wasn't like he could just ignore them, and even though he did like them both, kinda, this was really not the time to be making that kind of decision. Adam and Laura tired of waiting, and headed off without them.

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Rather than answering their flirting, Derek just kept his mouth shut and stumbled out of the elevator. He managed to reach his door without doing anything too stupid, just as Adam was coming out.

“I'm going to be staying with Lily tonight,” he said. “I'll be back tomorrow for lunch.” He hefted his backpack over his shoulder— Derek had no idea why he needed his guns, but decided not to ask—and headed back to the elevators. Derek seized on the opening he had given him.

“Ah, sorry girls, I think I just need to sleep. It's been a long day.” He disentangled himself, ignoring Ling's increasingly loud protests, and slipped into his room. Thankfully, Adam had left it unlocked. “Have a nice night.” He locked the door behind him.

And turned around to see Laura lying on his bed.

She was on her back, propped up on the pillows, reading one of his monster magazines as though she belonged there. He had his bed set up so that the pillows were next to the window. That way, he didn't have to turn around to see an intruder. It also meant that Laura didn't have to turn to speak to him. Some distant part of his brain noted that he would probably need to wash his sheets early to remove the smell of the sewer.

“You sure are popular,” she said. She wiggled her bare toes. She flipped the page, as though she were actually reading it.

Derek swallowed. “I guess... they're trying to make me feel better.” He shook his head vigorously. “But it's just confusing me more. I don't need flirting right now.”

“I'm well aware of that.” She put the magazine down on the short dresser in arm's reach. “I know what it's like to lose someone you love.” She gave him a level gaze, though he noticed that her hand inched towards her necklace before she could stop herself. “I know exactly what you need right now.”

It took him a second to realize what she meant

Derek stepped forward slowly... then I took another step and another. And then he was there, and she was close enough to touch.

Laura smiled sadly—pityingly, really.

She was right. He needed this.

He collapsed on top of her, his head in her lap, and cried.

He didn't know how long he cried. He didn't know when he ran out of tears, but he kept crying anyway. There was nothing else in the world except for Laura, gently brushing his hair and whispering that everything would be all right.