the pause between breathing

Despite the fact that the infirmary is officially back up and running, there is a helluva lot to do. From copying patient records, sterilising new equipment, ensuring all surgical tools are present and accounted for, it's a good thing that Isla doesn't need to sleep, because she'd absolutely not have the time. She's leaving the Temple once again in the dead of night after checking her overnight patients will be alright, a refreshing breeze ruffling through her hair as she sets off home. Whether Varus will be there or not when she arrives is another surprise she's looking forward to uncovering. The soldier and the medic hardly live in each other's pockets, especially with how demanding her job is most of the time, though she does feel a little thrill of anticipation that he might already be there when she gets back. Such is the perks of a relationship, she supposes, and the thought brings a soft smile to her lips as she strolls through the domiciles. Isla the flesh is weak

honey, i rose up from the dead. i do it all the time

He hasn’t wanted to surprise her, but since the training and everything, he’s gotten a bit back in his soldier mindset, with a hard set jaw and the mask set in place because he doesn’t want to take it off unless he’s inside where he knows it’s safe. He spent a few moments walking through the Domiciles, heading toward Isla’s before deciding against it until he can get a hold of himself, but finds it absolutely pointless in the grand scheme of things. He’s too in it, all he can focus on is the surge of adrenaline his body tells him is there even if it’s been a while since the spar, and a mind that takes him deeper and deeper into his mind.

He’s actually leaving the way from Isla’s when he finds her, a bit of a surprise that flashes in his gaze, keeping to the shadows of the moon out of pure habit from where this mindset takes him, but he pulls himself out of it enough to go to her. Isla. His tone is deep as it is a bit hoarse mentally, using her name in such a sound that it surprises even himself. But he doesn’t stop, reaching out with his metal hand to snatch her by her wrist, to get her to spin toward him in the shadows of a building. Are you heading home? It seems like she is, but he’s not quite ready to yet. He’s got a lot on his mind he needs to burn off.

VARUS

He's spoken into her mind before, but it isn't a regular enough occurrence for Isla to be entirely comfortable with it, and the way she flinches a bit upon hearing her name growled through an unexpected mental bond says as much. It doesn't even sound all that much like the man she's been hoping to find at home, but Wessex aside he's the only one she knows with the ability. "Cal?" Falling to a halt, Isla is just in time for him to reach out and snag her by the wrist, spinning her towards shadows that her eyes can penetrate all too easily. She spots him there, dressed to train and obscured by the mask on his face, and her surprise softens into something altogether more worried. "Yes, I was," she says slowly. "Is everything alright? Did something happen?" Isla the flesh is weak

honey, i rose up from the dead. i do it all the time

Yeah. He sends automatically, noting the way she flinches but having no other way to prevent it, he keeps on. He reaches out to get her to focus on him and she’s met with tired blue eyes, smudged marks around the edges of the mask that blend him in further, but he doesn’t let go of her wrist. He keeps a hold of it, if not a bit more gently now that she knows where he is, and he steps forward toward her, something almost apologetic crossing his gaze.

There’s a moment of silence as he shakes his head. No, nothing happened. Everything’s fine. I just… I can’t go home yet. He sends over after a moment, gaze scanning her face before he’s scanning the domiciles. I have to clear my head and I just… Wanted to tell you so you weren’t concerned. That’s all. Hopefully that’s enough of an explanation. Hopefully she’ll understand what he means by it.

VARUS