How Green Becomes Wood

"Good." Dark nodded, folding his arms over his chest. After a moment he said, "I lived in enough cheap apartments to know how to staunch the water, but fixing it is beyond my skill." He paused for a few moments and then said, "If you might forgive the awkwardness of me saying so, if there is a stranger coming by, you may want to take the time to change. I always like feeling some semblance of control."
 
Ciara's face went red again. "I believe you are correct," she said stiffly. "I am sorry, but I do not have anything that will," she glanced toward him, her gaze instinctively dropping up and down before she yanked her eyes back to the water, "fit you. I will be right back."

She hot-footed it into her bedroom and closed the door firmly behind herself. Then it was all about trying not to think about how she was essentially getting naked while a strange man was in her place. Taking off as little clothing at any one time helped as she changed rapidly. When she finished, she returned, now dressed in pants - not something Dark would have ever seen - and what was for her a simpler shirt.
 
"It is no problem, I would not expect you to," Dark replied, holding up one hand. Damn it. Cooger always told him to keep a spare shirt in his car. He even used to, but he had moved it into the diaper bag. Glancing at the pipe, he wondered if, since the water had been shut off, if his shirt could be run in the dryer. If Ciara had an in-unit dryer.

When she stepped out, he nodded to her, still doing his best to pretend like this was absolutely bog-standard, "If the water cannot be turned back on today, will you get a hotel?"
 
"I had not thought of that, but, yes, I believe I shall," Ciara confirmed, stepping through the water with care. There was tile in the kitchen, and the water had turned it into a tripping hazard. The absolute last thing she needed was to accidentally slip and slide into Dark like some sort of comedic romance scene or cartoon. If that happened, she might splash water into the electrical socket herself. No, wait, she couldn't do that because Dark needed to look after Ivy. She'd shoo him out first. Except then he might be considered for murder. Especially considering his state of dress. Never mind. She would simply not fall on him, and all would be fine.

As she thought this, she saw movement outside her window as two neighbors walked past. Resolutely, she did not look out the open window and stood as far from Dark as possible.

"I am out of towels and linens," she said instead. "I do not think anything else will get the water up." She was not volunteering her closet for this.
 
"Careful," Dark told her, moving with the instincts of a father who was used to trips and falls, "They have machines to suck up water. Daizi would allow you to stay with us, if you needed to."
 
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"No, thank you, I am fully capable of staying in a hotel for a day or two," Ciara assured him, edging away from him carefully. "It will be like a vacation, I am sure. Thank you for your kind offer."
 
"The offer will stay open, but do what you need," Dark replied, folding his tattooed arms over his tattooed chest, but then he paused and went over to his coat where it still lay limp and sighed heavily before taking the bracelet out of his pocket and handing it to Ciara, "Here. Why I came, after all. Unfortunately, my coat is too damp to wear, it would seem."
 
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"Thank you," Ciara said. "I will put it somewhere safe. Thank you for bringing it and keeping it safe." She headed for her bedroom again and placed the bracelet in her purse. She quickly returned and asked, "Would you like a blanket?" She trailed off, looking around at all her blankets and sheets spread out over the floor and not dry and safe in a cupboard. "Never mind. Apologies."
 
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For a brief moment, Dark felt a glimmer of hope which was quickly dashed. Honestly, at this point he'd take a grandmotherly shawl. "No, it is alright. There is certainly a good deal of laundry in your future, it would seem. I hope nothing too expensive has been sacrificed to the cause."
 
"No, I do not think so," Ciara sighed. "I think it will be fine." She paused and then left him once more. She returned after a moment, holding out her housecoat. "I do not think your arms will fit in the sleeves, though those are the largest sleeves I have so I might be wrong, but at least you can drape it around your shoulders."
 
"Thank you," Dark replied, draping it around his shoulders like an impoverished superhero or WWE wrestler. He didn't attempt the sleeves, this was already awkward enough. His arms tearing her clothing apart would only make things worse, "This is fine. It is better than before. I do apologize about this, it certainly was not my intention when I left the house this morning."
 
"I should be the one apologizing. I certainly did not intend for you to walk into such a dramatic scene and be forced to rescue me like a damsel in distress," Ciara sighed. "Thank you for your aid in this matter. You were very quick to solve the issue."
 
"I doubt this was your fault," Dark replied, casting a glance around the dwelling, "If you have ever lived in the apartment a waiter's salary will rent you in New York City... Leaks, rats, roaches... And my landlords were never as responsive as yours appears to be." He shrugged his shoulders and then, nearly smiling at Ciara, added, "Not to mention: I have had a crisis every other month at the minimum for two years."
 
"No, I was... fortunate enough to be able to live with my mother during those years, and I never had need of an apartment in New York. The worst housing I had was the collage dormitories where four were expected to share a space designed for two," Ciara said mildly. "Children seem very good at shortening your lifespan."
 
"I am fortunate enough to have never officially lived with more than three people until recently," Dark said, although he was perfectly aware there were periods where the unofficial number was higher, "We will see how long I end up living. They are seldomly relaxing, but I cannot say I do not enjoy having them."
 
Ciara nodded, desperately wishing the person the landlord had sent would arrive. "I am glad that it is not a burden to you. That you have found some joy in having them. They see quite happy and to be flourishing under your care."
 
"I have never been around children much, but it is interesting to watch their development," Ciara agreed. She looked around, wondering if there was something she could be doing. Should be doing. She was out of towels and blankets, not owning very many to begin with, and the mop had already done its best. The water was still everywhere, and her rug under her sofa was soaked.
 
"We allowed Alec to adopt a kitten, I am sure you heard," Dark mentioned, "Ivy loves her immediately." He glanced to the towels, "If you have a bucket, we can probably wring some of the water out of them. They are not doing much good as they are, and the main is off so no more water should flood in."
 
Ciara pointed toward the small mopping bucket she'd already given Dark earlier. "That is my only bucket. However, it is still a bucket. Perhaps we can work together to fill it and empty it into the bathroom tub. That line seems to be alright." She did not know that it was not, in fact, alright, and was actually slowly leaking into the apartment below her from a smaller brak in the pipe under the floor.
 
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