Baby Steps

Who: Dan and Nic
When: Morning
Where: Their room

Dan had actually gotten up early that morning. 'Early' being just after 9am, but that was early for him, damnit! He'd showered, once he'd pushed Izzy off of his feet and primped for a while, as he always did, then taken the dog down to the kitchen for breakfast - stopping on the way to greet Zhen, since she was outside their door as per usual. That done, he grabbed a couple of bagels and two mugs of coffee and headed back upstairs, knocking on their bedroom door to be let back in, Izzy sitting on her hanuches at his feet.

Nic had slept in, so glad that he could finally get some well needed rest. When Dan wandered down for breakfast, he'd risen, put the bar on the door, and then jumped in the shower. Being alone for a few minutes didn't hurt, and there was a knocking on the door soon after he got out. Walking to the door, Nic paused, hands on the bar, then lifted it, smiling softly when he found Dan on the other side. "Morning," he said, still waking up despite his shower. His hair was still wet, though he'd procured pants, little droplets of water still clinging to his chest.

"I brought breakfast," Dan told him as Izzy slipped past him and into the room, jumping up on the bed and lying down. Dan handed Nic a cup of coffee balanced on top of the plate of bagels - not the easiest act to pull off up five flights of stairs with a hyperactive dog at your heels. But it was worth it for that smile. And, admittedly, that chest with the little rivulets of water still running down it - very hot.

"Thanks," Nic said, taking the cup of coffee and helping to relieve Dan from half his balancing act. "Have any trouble with Izzy?" he asked, looking from Dan back to their dog. He knew Dan hadn't been a dog person before Izzy had arrived, but he seemed to be adapting extremely well. As for Nic, he'd felt safe enough last night to sleep through it, and that spoke worlds to how much better he was doing. If he hadn't loved dogs before, then he certainly did now.

"None at all, actually," Dan said, setting his own mug down on the desk before closing and barring the door, locking the rest of the house out. He wondered if they'd ever reach a stage where they could leave the door unbarred when they were both up and moving. Possibly, but not yet. "I swung by the greenhouse, since we couldn't go outside," he added. He was deciding that he didn't much like clearing up after their dog, but there wasn't exactly a choice. It had to be done and if it was a choice between that and not having a guard dog, Dan would take the scooping every time. At least she was well trained. Hyperactive, sure, but very well trained.

"Hopefully the storm'll pass. I'd love to take her out, but the idea of a wet and muddy dog isn't all that appealing," Nic said, climbing onto the bed to pet Izzy. He could just see her running and jumping in puddles, having the time of her life until Nic called her to come back in. At that point, she'd need a bath, and while they'd have to keep her groomed, Nic was hoping it would be a bit longer before they actually had to bathe her. "See anyone on the way?" Nic asked. Seeing as how he hadn't left his room the past few days, he was starting to feel a bit like a hermit. He knew there were other people out there, but unless they came to him, he didn't see them. At least, not yet.

"Just Zhen," Dan told him, being that he'd near as damnit had to step over the girl. "She's still on guard duty," he added, realising that he hadn't actually talked to Nic yet about how he felt about Zhen standing watch for them. He sipped his coffee, then put it down in favour of joining Nic on the bed, on the other side of Izzy.

"I should talk to her," Nic sighed. He hadn't minded at first, as any extra protection made him feel better, but at this point it was unnecessary and probably put her in danger as well. If something happened to her while she was sitting outside their door, he'd never be able to forgive himself. Not that it was his fault, but he should do something about it. "With Izzy, and the bar, and the bat, and did I tell you Lina got us a taser? We're probably the most well equipped room in the house. I'd feel better if Zhen slept in her bed with her door locked and a bar on it."

"A taser? No - you didn't mention that. Did she show you how to use it?" Dan asked him. "Actually, I should know that too," he added, thoughtfully, scratching behind Izzy's ears. He was surprised at how quickly he was getting used to having a dog, but he appreciated having her so much he figured he was putting in extra effort. That and Dan had never had a problem coming to care for someone or something. "I think I'd feel better if Zhen would start sleeping in her own room again. I was talking to Emma and she was saying lots of people were going to check up on her, but still - I don't want to be a burden to our friends and I don't want her putting herself at unnecessary risk."

"No, but she suggested I go down to the meat locker and try it out of if you want to come with me," Nic said with a little smirk. He had no issues attacking the meat, only to further solidify that he did not love it. "She couldn't really show me without something to practice on. I was just glad she thought of us." It was just one more thing that gave him a chance to feel safe. Zhen did as well, but the payoff wasn't worth it. There were enough other things protecting him that she didn't need to at this point. "I'm glad people have been checking on her. I didn't even realize she was out there till yesterday cause I haven't been out. But I think you're right."

"Hmm, the meat locker - does that come under 'practice' or 'vengeance'?" Dan asked with a grin. He considered it. "Possibly it'd be therapy - oh talking of which, Emma was suggesting that maybe we should go and talk to Kaori at some point." My, wasn't that a smooth link and not at all thrown in there? He cringed inside - he could have been more subtle with that. "She suggested a possibility of post-traumatic stress. I'm not sure I'm convinced myself, but I thought I'd bring it up," he added, hurriedly.

Nic raised a brow, looking back at Dan. He couldn't tell if the comment was purposeful or completely unplanned, and he decided it didn't matter. "It's probably a little of both," he said, then pressed his lips together, considering. "I went and saw Kaori once. Not really for a session, but just... It was after I hit Twitch with a 2x4. And I thought about it then, and before I ever got around to it, things seemed to get better. Now, I... I'm not sure." Maybe if he had Dan's support, he could make the decision, but it had seemed daunting on his own.

Dan leaned on one elbow, stroking Izzy, but watching Nic. "I don't know - I guess I don't know if we need it or not. Or really what good it would do. Right now I can't help but think a good dose of paranoia is healthy," he admitted. "What do you think?" he asked.

"I don't mind the paranoia to some degree. I mean, I want us to be safe, but..." Nic took a deep breath. "I doubt that locking myself in our room is real healthy for me. There aren't exactly a ton of instances where someone was attacked while walking through the halls, but... maybe I can do it with Izzy? I'll take her out later, or... something." It was an idea, maybe just to get some fresh air.

"I think that might be a good idea," Dan agreed, glad that Nic wanted to get out of the room - because he agreed, locking himself away wasn't the answer. "Did you want me to come with you, or is this something you'd want to do on your own?" he asked. "I'm good with either option, so, whatever you want to do, I'll support you with."

Nic chewed on his bottom lip, trying to decide. He'd feel safer with Dan there, that was for sure, but that almost defeated the purpose. Having Izzy there should be enough, if she could do what she was supposedly trained to do. "How about I try on my own, and... and if that doesn't go well, we can back up and go out together for a while. I'd like to go down and make us dinner maybe."

Dan nodded and reached over to pull him into a hug. "Tell you what," he suggested. "You go, take Izzy and I'll stay here. I will be right by the phone. If you want me, call me and I'll come running," he pulled back and gave his boyfriend a soft smile. "Okay honey?"

"Okay," Nic said, his arms tightening around Dan slightly. His eyes shut for just a second and he kissed Dan softly before pulling back. This wasn't that big a deal. It was just going to make dinner. He'd done it almost every day since his arrival and never had anything out of the ordinary happen. "I won't be too long," he said, heart starting to pound. Despite telling himself it was nothing, he was nervous as hell.

Dan gave him a small smile. "Take as long as you want - I'll be right here when you get back," he promised, telling himself that this was a good thing, that Nic needed to get out by himself, this was a positive step forward - and that the fact that he was having to fight to control the butterflies at the thought of letting the guy out of his sight out there was stupid.

Nic took a deep breath then flopped back on the bed. "I'll go later, and make us dinner," he said, realizing that if that was the plan, he didn't need to go now. "I kind of need to build up to it," he said, curling on his side to face Dan. "Do you think that's okay?" He felt silly making a big deal out of this, but he couldn't seem to calm himself down. No matter how easy he told himself it should be, it just wasn't.

"You making us dinner, or you building to it?" Dan asked him, raising an eyebrow. "Not that it matters - the answer to both is the same." He leaned in and kissed him softly. "That, my dear - is absolutely fine."

"Going later," Nic clarified with a small smile. "I figure that if you had a problem with my cooking, you'd have told me by now." At least things felt somewhat normal, if not completely. Nic supposed this would happen again, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it. It was only a little over a month in and they had almost nine more to go. Getting past this was the first step, and then they'd deal with whatever came next, together.