[LOG with Elektra] Bandages

[itsadeadmansparty]

Owen had never made house-calls before the last virus had hit. He'd been strictly against them, actually, if only for the fact that he was far too busy to make his way around London - or Cardiff - patching up victims of whatever abuse they might've encountered.

That, however, had changed, because now here he was, getting a worldhop into Elektra's little training ground. He was finding it a little obscene, really, that he now knew random, intimate details about the lives of other people; and yet, he was unable to keep himself from feeling at least a little protective of the people who had been under his care. Even Gale, that little bastard.

He'd brought along some of the basic first aid supplies he had in his flat, tucked into a messenger bag that had seen better days, if its frayed edges indicated anything. "I hope you realize that I don't do this house-call thing for just anybody," he said to Elektra as he approached her.

Comments

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

She was not sure how she felt about people knowing so much about her life now. Owen knowing where she lived and her (less than healthy) habits was a little unnerving. Before the virus she hit, Elektra would have been dismissed Owen for even suggesting coming to see her. Out of everything that happened during this virus though Owen's part seemed the easiest to cope with.

And so she sat there unmoving against the wall because yes he was right. She finally pushed herself too hard and was now stuck sitting here. Good luck getting her to admit that. "Are you trying to make me feel special?"

[itsadeadmansparty]

"A bit, yes," Owen admitted with a wry smirk, using his foot to brush away shards of glass from the mirror. Crouching down, he dropped his bag in front of him and pulled out a bottle of antiseptic and some cotton swabs. "You know, just because it was a virus doesn't mean I was lying about you taking it easy." He knew that, now that he'd already felt as protective as he had about these stupid community members, he wasn't going to let any of the things he'd scolded them on drop. (That meant, of course, that he would have to find Bruce... eventually.)

"Hold your hands out," he told her, opening the bottle as he ordered her.

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

Elektra frowned slightly. She should have figured he meant it. He never struck he as a bad person. Just weak willed. Though coming from her background anyone would seem weak from her perspective. "I just needed to get it out of my system," she admitted reluctantly as she presented her hands. Not that it worked.

[itsadeadmansparty]

Owen covered a swab with antiseptic and took one of Elektra's hands in is own, not bothering to warn her about the stinging. She was a big girl, and she was well aware of how much cleaning up these sorts of messes could hurt. "Did you?" he asked in a conversational tone, "Because if not, I'm sure I could put you in a cage with a Weevil for a few minutes. That worked it all right out of me."

Well. Not really, but he could pretend. He wiped her one hand a few quick times and then let it go, repeating the entire process with the other hand.

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

She was well aware. After a lifetime of getting injuries like this it did not even phase her. "... Not really." As much as she hated to admit it Elektra was still obsessing over the whole thing. "You shouldn't offer me things like that. I would do it you know. Fight one of those things." Elektra looked up from her hands to offer a little smile. She was entirely serious but, that probably wasn't the right thing to say now.

[itsadeadmansparty]

"You would," Owen agreed. "You'd probably beat it, too. Not without getting a few cuts and bruises to show for it, but all the same." Tucking the antiseptic wash away, he dug around until he pulled out a small, aluminum tube with nothing but the words "TORCHWOOD: 838297" on its side. He held it up to her line of sight.

"Now, I'm not meant to use this outside of Torchwood, but I am never one to follow orders. Don't ask me what it is, just trust that I use this on my own cuts from time to time and it speeds up the healing process." In truth, nobody knew what it was. It was just some Alien Artifact that he had taken for his own purposes. "It's going to be cold," he warned, putting a small amount of the grayish salve on a swab and picking up one of Elektra's hands. "Now, are you going to tell me about what's bothering you? And more specific than "the virus," please."

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

Elektra nodded, a small smile forming. At least there was someone else out there confident in her abilities. "I appreciate the vote of confidence especially considering you haven't seen even a fraction of what I can do." Smug? Maybe. Considering she was sitting here getting treated she was more like trying to save face. The last thing she ever wanted to been viewed as was weak.

"Consider yourself trusted. I need to heal up quickly anyways." Elektra grew quiet at his last question. Before this should would have brushed him off. Now... well like it or not he already had intimate pieces of her life. More importantly, there wasn't anyone else to talk to about it. "... I've lived most of my life alone. To suddenly have people that I..." That she loved. "...and then not having them..." She sighed. "I don't know how to deal with it."

[itsadeadmansparty]

The truth was that Elektra, if she weren't (in Owen's opinion) critically flawed in character, would make an excellent addition to the Torchwood team just from viewing the accidental video that had brought him here. Actually, the character flaws would probably make her better suited to the job, but hey.

Running the salve-covered swab over the cuts and bruises of Elektra's right hand, Owen raised his eyes briefly to her, gauging exactly how she was handling the change. He was taking it with his usual customary sullen annoyance - mostly for the fact that he hated the idea that something could get into his head like that, but also because he wasn't blood related to anyone in this particular scenario. He was just doing his job, and that was something he could do no matter what he thought he was.

"Well," he said after a moment, lowering his eyes back to her hand, finishing with it and moving to the next, "I can tell you that this isn't exactly healthy. Not that I'm one to judge, really, given that it's exactly what I did, but still, I am nothing if not fantastically hypocritical. Have you talked to anybody, then? Candy, Morgan, Banner...?"

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

Owen was not lying about it being cold. When you spend your early childhood training in a pool you get some tolerance to it. Too bad her tolerance for pain or discomfort didn't extend to her emotions. Life would be so much simpler now otherwise.

"At least you're honest about it," Elektra conceded. Sure Owen was weak in her opinion but, at least he didn't try to pretend otherwise to her. "Candy and Bruce. The first one was more interested in why I needed to know how to fight than talking about what happened." Bruce on the other hand got right to the point as meekly as ever.

[itsadeadmansparty]

"I am nothing if not upfront," Ownen said with a smirk, glancing at her briefly. He had a feeling that she didn't really think much of her, but he honestly couldn't care. She was a weirdo who wouldn't even tell her his name. He had to learn it from a bloody virus.

"Candy's a bit too inquisitive for her own good, really," he continued, "Always wanting to know why we're doing something dangerous. Worries too much, really." Especially about people who she didn't really know. He finished with her hands, sealing the tube and going for some bandages, "And what about Banner? How's he dealing with this fiasco, then?"

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

Elektra had to laugh at that. Candy really did seem to associate with the wrong people. Bruce was on the run, Owen was fated to die in the near future, Dexter was a serial killer, and of course Elektra was an heiress kept under lock and key after witnessing her mother's murder. It was almost like she attracted tragic people. "

I guess it would be too much to ask she met some nice normal people her own age to worry about." Elektra glanced down at her hands. If it weren't for the fact her hands still needed to be bandaged she'd be toying with her necklace. She never did like discussing personal things. "He's taking it pretty well. We both agreed we wouldn't pretend it didn't happen. I think he was more worried about how poorly I was taking it than what actually happened." She shook her head. "He really is too nice for his own good." Elektra lifted her head to look at Owen. "What about you? It has to be a little weird to have all these random facts about us in your head now."

[itsadeadmansparty]

Owen shrugged. In all honesty, it only bothered him a little; he wasn't particularly perturbed by the fact that he knew what he did. They were just little bits of other people's lives, and Owen knew plenty of those. "I'm used to it," he said. "You interview enough witnesses, listen to enough trauma patients, and you gather all sorts of random factoids about all sorts of random people. At least I knew you lot. Well, you and Candy, at least."

Wrapping one hand, he slipped seamlessly into annoyed-doctor mode, glancing up at her. "These will only take a day to heal up. Which means you need to pretend you don't have a vast amount of internal anger to work through until then. And may I suggest finding a healthier outlet for your issues?"

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

"Just a day?" Elektra was impressed. Freezing hands were well worth it if it only took a dance for them to mend themselves. With any luck she could keep this little incident from reaching her father. "That won't be a problem. I promised Bruce I'd meditate next time. I guess it's less dangerous than wielding sharp weapons and breaking mirrors." She could not help smiling. The sad part of this was she actually intended to keep her word.

[itsadeadmansparty]

"Or so," he admitted. The cuts weren't really that deep, but if it ended up taking 32 hours instead of 24, well. It was better to give himself a little wiggle room. "And look at that. Banner's a good influence on you, you should listen to him more."

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

"Don't remind me." She sighed, faking annoyance easily. Truthfully she would not mind if any of them tried influencing her one way or another. It was nice having people who even bothered to try. A shame Elektra was too proud to admit it. "I still can't believe I'm listening to him."

[itsadeadmansparty]

"You're listening to him because you're smart," Owen remarked dryly, finishing with the other hand before settling back a bit to look at his handiwork, tucking the leftover bandages back into his bag. "You know that it helps him deal with his own, terribly tragic lifestyle, and you're thinking it might help you as well. Which," he pointed at her, "It will. Most likely, at least." He paused, then added, "If it doesn't, alcohol is your only other option, I'm afraid to say." It wasn't very clear whether or not he was being serious.

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

It really was not clear. Nevertheless Elektra could not help laughing. He was right this. As much as she tried to downplay it she cared about these people and wanted to help despite herself. It did surprise her that he was so insightful however. She might have to rethink her original assessment of him. "I'll be sure to give you a call if taking Bruce's advice doesn't work out. I think I owe you a drink after the way things turned out with virus."

[itsadeadmansparty]

Owen shrugged as nonchalantly as was possible. "Nah," he said, making sure all of his things were safely stored - especially the alien salve. He still wasn't sure if that was combustible or explosive yet. Not that he'd ever say that. "The virus wasn't too bad for me, really. Before Torchwood, I was a regular doctor, you know. I'm used to dealing with idiots who injure themselves in more mundane fashions than Weevil attacks. It wasn't as though I was related to any of you." He rolled his eyes upwards, though it was mostly talk. He really did care for all of them, especially after this virus. Not that he'd ever say it. "Still, I will never turn down an offer for a drink."

[namedfortragedy.livejournal.com]

Elektra straightened up. She sat long enough by now to feel a little better. Well that and her pride demanded that she didn't sit here all day like a victim. "Of course not. Feel free to cash it in whenever you want. Who knows? Maybe we can drag the rest of the adult members of the family out with us. I wouldn't mind seeing what Dexter and Bruce act like after a few drinks." She smiled sarcastically. Elektra was positive that would be worth whatever complaints either of them tried putting up.