Steve J and Simon, backdated to December 30th

[om_clarius]

Steve finally gets to meet Jean-Paul's boyfriend. It doesn't go as badly as one might think.

Steve cradled his arm to his chest as he made his way to the infirmary. He knew he could - and sometimes did - blame his lack of offensive powers on the times when he didn't match up to another of his teammates, but he really wasn't that different from most of them. Well, except maybe Midnighter. He was just a plain weapon. Still, it wasn't anyone's fault but his when he was practicing his falls and ended up landing wrong. The immediate pain in his wrist notified him and the fact that it didn't immediately die down let him know that something was wrong. At least, he told himself, it wasn't broken. He was pretty sure. Moving it caused pain, but not searing agony like the one time he'd tried to learn how to skateboard and broke his arm in two places. He wasn't about to diagnose himself, though.

"Hey," he said upon entering the infirmary and managed a weak smile when he saw it was Jean-Paul's boyfriend. He lifted his arm a little. "It's the wrist. I took a bad fall."

The young man in navy blue scrubs glanced up from typing something in on the database and immediately frowned. For being a school, the infirmary got more injuries than a small town emergency center, and it was excellent practice, but it never made him happy to see an injured student. He saved his work and swung around the desk to motion the boy toward a nearby exam table. "What's your name? I'm Simon."

"I know." Steve followed his direction and hopped onto the table, careful to only use the one hand. "Steve. Jinks, to distinguish from the other Steve."

Simon held out a hand, just in case balancing on only one hand didn't work out, but took it away when Steve settled. "I know the feeling. Do you mind if I touch you? Do you know about my ability?"

Steve shook his head. "Go ahead. But at least for you, the other Simon's moved out if I heard right."

That prompted a smile as Simon touched Steve's good arm, his gaze unfocused as he did. "True. It was awkward for awhile, though."

"I know your boyfriend," Steve said, lowering his voice in case it would distract Simon. "And you know mine. Jack?" They had a bit of a common cause, after all, after the whole kiss incident.

Simon took his hand off of the young man so fast you would have thought he'd been scalded, his eyes snapping back into focus. A beat later, he winced, because he'd never quite broken off that quickly before, and it was a new and decidedly uncomfortable sensation. It also occurred to him that Steve might know what he'd done to his boyfriend in retaliation. "Ah, uh, yeah. I do know Jack."

Steve winced in sympathy. "You okay? It wasn't...nothing's wrong with me, right?"

"No. No...it's just a minor sprain." Simon smiled sheepishly. "I guess Jack's just a sensitive subject. You can treat this on your own, or I can have Faiza heal it for you?"

Steve thought about it for a minute and shook his head. "I think I'll just let it heal on its own. Remind me not to do something stupid again, you know?" But now he was more curious about something other than his wrist. "Are you two okay?"

Simon turned to a cabinet, retrieving a cold pack, an ace bandage, and some ibuprofen, then busied himself carefully wrapping the wrist, keeping his fingers on his skin at all times to make sure that he wasn't doing more damage. "We've had a few misunderstandings. I suppose we just don't communicate very well to one another."

Steve shook his head. "I wouldn't worry. Jack doesn't communicate well with anyone when it's something personal. He's great at things like shooting instruction. Bet he's great in the field." He felt a nagging bit of guilt at admitting that to someone else, but it was something that anyone who really knew Jack would find out.

"I wouldn't know about that. Apparently, I'm not allowed out in the field," Simon mentioned wryly. The bandage was secured carefully, then he moved to retrieve a water bottle from the fridge for Steve to take the pills with.

"Not allowed?" Steve asked, frowning. "Wouldn't it be useful to have a doctor? Thanks." He took the pills, tossed them in his mouth, and then took the bottle from Simon. He had to put it between his legs to open the cap, but he managed well enough. Maybe this wouldn't be so terrible.

Simon smirked softly, nodding at Steve's resourcefulness in getting the bottle open. "You would think so. Now, you need to ice it four to five times a day for no more than twenty minutes each time. Let me or Moira know if it isn't feeling better in the next week, alright?"

"I do think so," Steve said, wondering a little who was telling Simon he couldn't go. He nodded in response to the instructions. At least he hadn't hurt it for a month or more. Then he probably would have taken advantage of the fact he could pretty much get his injuries immediately healed.

"Unless you don't want to go out in the field." He could see someone wanting to stay and do research or something, but then why would Simon have mentioned not being allowed?

Simon shook his head. "I don't, honestly. I'm just anticipating a need for medical knowledge in the field. It's easily remedied by first aid knowledge."

"Count me in," Steve said and then glanced down at his wrist. "At least, once I have two working hands again. I can spread the work in JVX if you want."

Simon smiled. "Of course. But in the meantime, you need to rest it as much as possible."

"No basketball for a while," Steve said. "Got it." He slid off the table carefully. "Thanks."

"I'd say 'anytime', but I'd rather you not get hurt that often," Simon smiled, moving to open the door for him.

"Trust me," Steve said as he left. "I don't want that, either."