(no subject)

[notonemoment]

Steve feels messed up, tired and shaken after the nightmare. It isn't how it happened: Shepard wasn't killed by a Banshee, Garrus didn't die, and neither did he. But it was real enough, used real enough memories, that even after talking it out — fucking it out — with Agron, even after trying to run it out during his morning run, he's still feeling it.

He shakes his arms out; he feels restless, too energized. Agron is at work, and he just wants to exhaust himself into a dreamless sleep. There's a quick flash of guilt then. It's not Agron's job to tire Steve out. He just needs . . . something.

He draws up his omni-tool and messages the only person that comes to mind.

Hate to do this, he sends to Bull. Could really use a sparring partner if you're free.

Comments

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

Bull snorted a quiet laugh. "I'm a problem solver," he said with wry amusement, his eye gleaming. "You're not the first person that's come to me for help, I doubt you'll be the last. I'm good at what I do. And I'm an easy target to hit."

He was quiet a moment, then added, "Besides, when I get messed up it helps me out to get hit by something. Or someone. So if I ever ask you to swing a two-by-four at me, consider the favor returned."

[notonemoment]

Steve isn't sure how he feels about that, but he laughs a little and nods. "Yeah, okay," he agrees.

He lets that sink in for a moment or two, then says, "Why a two-by-four?"

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"Eh, solid enough to be a good hit, not so big that you can't wield it and not sharp, so no intense damage beyond blunt trauma."

Bull chuckled and shook his head. "It's a Qunari training exercise for dealing with fear. Don't ask me why. It works."

[notonemoment]

"Sounds like something my buddy James would do," he says with a thoughtful frown. Then he chuckles and shakes his head. "Not my thing, but if that's something you need, I'd do it for you." He smiles over at him wanly. "You've pulled through for me more than once, it'd be the least I can do."

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

Bull snorted. "Steve, you asked to spar with a Qunari. I'd say stress relief through blunt force trauma is your thing."

He grinned and gently elbowed Steve.

[notonemoment]

He huffs a laugh and rubs his head a little shyly. "Well . . . there was a lot of stress, though."

[shok_ebasit_hissra]

"Uh huh. Anything else you wanna talk about?" They'd covered the stress of not being where they left like they needed to be; Bull understood that intimately. "What made you think about it? Or does it just pop up now and then?"

[notonemoment]

"It just pops up now and then," he confirms. "I have dreams about it almost all the time," he adds. "But this one was just . . . really rough." The dull ache already cropping up in his ribs, his jaw, his shoulders from this sparring match are helping to ground him, though. He takes a deep breath, sighs it out, and smiles over at him.

"I think I'm okay, now," he says. "Really. I really appreciate this."