Claire's Apartment (Join with Permission, Mature)

Claire smiled a bit as their eyes locked, leaning forward to give her a quick peck. She pulled back, keeping eye contact. Slowly, however, her eyes went wide. She dashed to her feet, racing to the bathroom with a hand over her mouth.

Sarah glared pointedly at him, not noticing Claire's departure. "I'd like to believe they both have the common sense to avoid something like that while we're in the apartment."

Jasmine's face showed alarm as she darted off, and though she followed, she appeared increasingly more sheepish as Sarah spoke.

Tony shook his head, "You never know." With a shrug, he proceeded to toss some salt into the boiling water, as well as a bit of oil.

Claire gripped the edges of the toilet bowl, retching into it. She pulled back, falling into a seated position and leaning back against the bathtub. She groaned softly, pushing some of her hair out of her eyes and closing her eyes, leaning her head back.

Sarah chuckled softly, adding some salt and pepper to the sauce, tasting it and nodding. "Actually, I do. Claire's too shy to try anything like that when others are around."

"And the firecracker?" He asked, just as Jasmine made it into the bathroom and began tying Claire's hair back. Afterwards, she clicked the light on, wet a washcloth, and began cleaning her face gently, murmuring to herself.

Claire mumbled out a thank out, moving her head so as to give Jazz an easier time. Fatigue seemed to be setting in once more, and Claire seemed more lethargic with each moment.

Sarah shrugged, opening the oven and sliding in a frozen garlic bread to start cooking. "I trust her to not do anything too rash when others are around."

He burst into laughter, but he said nothing. "Let's try to find something less acidic as well... I can make milkshakes?" Tony seemed unsure of his own suggestion, not sure what Claire would like.

Jasmine gave her a worried look and reached around her, turning on the bathwater before closing the toilet lid and flushing it. "Let's get you feeling a bit better."

"I'm fine..." She clearly lied. "Just a little tired..." She rubbed her eyes, smiling at Jazz, though in her eyes hid the fatigue that she was doing her best not to show.

Sarah opened the freezer, handing him the ice cream that he'd bought for Claire. "So... Anything happen today besides you taking Claire around for some errands?"

He shrugged, "Not really. Rogue's a lil MIA; not sure if he's at the apartment or off training. He doesn't have class today." Tony offered her a sideways glance, "What about you?"

"Bath," she said, helping her out of her shirt before redoing her hair into a high bun. "Then eating, then rest."

Claire helped pull her shirt off, then undid her pants, pulling them and her underwear down in one motion. She sat up, sliding into the bath, sighing and smiling in thanks at the revolver.

Sarah shrugged. "Dropped by Justice's party for a bit, but I didn't feel like staying for too long."

"That seems to be a theme with our group," he shook his head. "I left soon after Jasmine did. Never a good thing when she's running away from something."

Jasmine smiled, reaching over to unclip her bra for her, tossing it aside before looking around for a candle or some incence to light.

Claire settled into the tub, closing her eyes and letting the water come up to her chin. Jazz would find a few candles under the sink.

Sarah nodded, rubbing her eyes. "I didn't see her leave. She was just gone."

She pulled them out soon, setting about searching for a lighter. When she found one, she lit each candle and shut off the light, positioning a trashcan close-at-hand for Claire before proceeding to her room to gather clothes.

"She's lightning." He said simply, shrugging as he pulled out the girl's blender. "She's a faster sucker. Track girl and whatnot."

Claire simply relaxed in the tub, letting out a long sigh as she felt the warmth replace the fatigue in her bones.

Sarah shrugged again, turning the heat on sauce down so as not to burn it.

It took her a while, as she spent most of the time cleaning up the room, but she came back with a pair of loose shorts, underwear, a sportsbra, and a t-shirt, setting them down on the toilet just as a serious of startled sounds came from the kitchen. She ran out to find Tony covered in milk, ice cream, and vanilla extract, his hair a rainbow of neutrals and a guilty look on his face.

Sarah laughed, wiping some splats off her arm and offering him the lid. "You might want to use this next time." She chuckled, setting it beside him and setting about cleaning off the counter and floor.

Claire soon found the combination of heat and water to be too much, and soon enough she was asleep in the tub, her head leaned back on the wall.

Jasmine shook her head, rolling her eyes as she began looking for paper towels, tossing the roll at him just as he got the lid secured properly. Before long, she went to check on Claire, clicking the light on as soon as she entered.

Claire was trembling a bit, eyelids squeezing and then loosening, and a painful whimper slipped past her lips. She had slipped to sleep quickly, and her imagination had quickly run away with her, flinging her into her fears.

Sarah sighed, tossing out a wad of paper towel as the last of the milkshake was cleaned away, turning her attention back towards finishing up dinner.

Tony, meanwhile, had, per his usual Tony self, discarded his shirt and tossed it into the laundry room, rubbing the area between his eyebrows as he set up the milkshakes.

Jasmine's face showed a sad concern as she came over, unplugging the tub and holding a towel out to carefully wrap Claire in. She rubbed the girl's arms gently with it, trying to wake her, cooing softly.

Claire woke with a start, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She looked over to Jazz, locking eyes with her for a moment before leaning in, resting her head on the others girls chest for a moment and letting out a shaky sigh.

Sarah looked over to him, teasing. "Be careful about using the lid this time." She picked one of the noodles out of the water, eating it. Picking up the pot, she carried over to the sink, and the caulander, draining the water from the noodles.

She smiled softly, remanuevering the girl a few times before lifting her out of the tub and carrying her to the bedroom. "Shhhhh," she whispered, "It's alright.... shhhhh..."

He flipped her off but continued to make the milkshakes nonetheless, his brain coming up with an array of dessert ideas in the process.

Claire shook a bit in Jazz's grip, splitting from the firecracker once they were in her room and taking a seat on the edge of her bed, pulling the towel tight around her.

"I'm going to get your clothes," she said, smiling softly. "Give me just a moment, alright?" She wouldn't move if directed otherwise.

Claire gave a small nod, letting out another sigh as she worked on calming her pounding heart.

Jasmine darted out of and back into the room in mere seconds, setting the clothes down beside her as Claire dried herself off.

Claire stood slowly, dropping the towel turning her back to Jazz to avoid any feelings rising in the two of them. She slowly slipped her clothing on, still shaking a bit.