Averting Disaster

[Marta]

Marta went with Jackson upstairs hand in hand. His reassuring squeeze was appreciated even if it was unnecessary. She knew she hadn’t done anything to necessitate it. Jackson went to one side of Nox and Marta went to the other, putting Nox between them. Marta didn’t even look at the strange things that Sky was projecting. Marta knew Nox wasn’t okay. She had an idea why - his power was gone. Splash sat down on the floor next to Marta, and she patted the wolf with one hand and placed the other in Nox’s shoulder reassuringly as Jackson asked if he was okay.

Marta looked at him, holding Lily there. She was adorable, and it proved that Nox truly had a heart. The thing with people who had hearts - they were the ones who could truly feel the pain of loss, and they were usually the ones who didn’t deserve it. Marta knew Nox was a powerful and dangerous man. He had probably done bad things, but he had ultimately just tried to protect others. This house full of kids was a part of it. He knew someone he was helping Elyse too - and apparently they had some sort of romantic history too. Even she had been accepted into his ever growing family. She didn’t know why, but she appreciated it all the same. The biggest thing was - he didn’t deserve to feel the way he did. He deserved to be happy.

”We’re here for you,” she said in support of Jackson’s question, and if that’s all she could do for this man - well - that’s what she would do.

[Nox]

Jackson and Marta both sat down next to him and tried to comfort him. Though Nox wasn't sure there was any comfort in anything. He prided himself on knowing his emotions, his faults and his outlook on life. Depression was a thing he'd dealt with his whole life. The anxiety of never performing to what his father wanted. Never being enough for him. The two things never playing well and he'd found purpose in life -- even if the Atharim path had turned against him since he was what he was. Which he was no longer.

There should be more sadness. Anger. There should be something more. Numb was a new feeling. Lily's cooing in his lap should bring a smile to his face. And he remembered the feelings of love and joy she brought but it was just not there. He knew he'd been silent for a while and Jackson started to fidget in concern. "I'll be okay. It's just a new thing to deal with."

Nox glanced over at Marta. "Hayden tells me you'd like to learn some meditative techniques. There are things I do when I'm in the middle of an attack and things I do to prevent it."