0023

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Spam]

[Scorpius has always been something of a light sleeper, but the Barge has lulled him into the belief that actual, direct homicide is a rare thing. He has no true enemies, but still he keeps his door locked, out of habit and a want for privacy.

The room is black with red fringe; the usual, for Peacekeeper command. It's sparsely decorated, with a bed, a desk, a few minor science projects brought from the lab stacked neatly on top. The only spot of real color comes from a flower in a vase. And on the bed, Scorpius sleeps.

All the while underneath him, the room starts getting progressively hotter.

Scorpius was never someone who dealt well with heat: hence the reason for the leather suit, keeping him cool at all times. But there's no chance it has against real, actual fire so close. And it's already well underway by the time he wakes up with a startled, dry rasp, already in the throes of heat delirium.

The room, by now, is unbearably hot and he can't think straight, for want of a clearer mind. When heated, he loses memory and motor function: thus, it's little surprise that when he struggles to make it out of his bed he ends up sprawled over the floor.

Death was not ever something he wanted to face twice, and bound and determined as he is, Scorpius begins crawling his way to the door. He can't stand up; he keeps forgetting which direction the door is; everything becomes a distraction.

He almost makes it.

Comments

[lastincident]

[ Bruce is conversant with all of the medical issues of everyone's who has come through the barge. Or, at least, he tries to be. IT's a lot to remember, but he's a very smart man that way. ]

[ When the heat wakes up, he realizes there's a problem. Fire, somewhere, nearby. It sets his heart to racing -- but he does not lose control. Not yet. Think, Bruce, think! Fire below. Alright. Who is in immediate danger, since you aren't? ]

[ ... who lives next door and has extreme problems with heat? ]

[ He's already growing as he barrels through this door, bangs on Scorpius's. ]

Scorpius! Are you awake?

[ When he doesn't hear an answer, he doesn't wait. Thick green fingers pry into the door, and pull it right off it's hinges with the shriek of metal and a funny, tinny pop. The Hulk pokes his head in -- the heat is worse here, but he doesn't really... care. It no longer bothers him. ]

[ Probably can't say the same for Scorpius. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Scorpius knows Bruce well; his medical problem is unique to the Barge, and requires frequent trips to the infirmary to replace his coolant rods. He knows the doctor as both a neighbor and in his job's role.

He hears the banging, but it feels distant and muffled, as he begins losing awareness. There's a ragged hatred in his gaze as he glowers at the door he can't reach. No - he will not die like this!

The door is pried off, but he's already spitting up yellow bile, the heat overtaking most of his senses and leaving him both blind and mute. Every inch of him rebels in protest, urging him to give up.

He centers his gaze on the Hulk, breathing raggedly through clenched teeth and unable to stand, to go to him]

[lastincident]

[ Scorpius is like a tiny, wrinkly rag doll in fetish leather -- but the Hulk, still partnered with Bruce's mind, is careful with him, picking him up and folding him against his (very warm) skin. ]

[ He does not wait, striding down the hall as big, lumpen monster, an bangs his way up the stairs to the second floor and the infirmary. Time to get the cooling mats out, get new cooling rods, and start work. ]

[ After Scorpius is down in a proper bed, Bruce shrinks down -- and he's not going to stop working just because he's in stretchy yoga pants and not a stitch more, okay. He grabs a labcoat to prevent stray hair from getting anywhere, but in the end that's the only major thing he does before he gets down to the business of keeping Scorpius alive. ]

You're safe in the infirmary now, Scorpius. There was some sort of fire on the deck below. But I've got you out. I'm sorry about your door.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[If he weren't in absence of half his senses and in very real risk of dying, Scorpius would likely be mortified about being carried like an infant in this way. Even still, a low growl enters the back of his throat involuntarily. What was going on again? Who the frell was holding onto him?

He calms when it's clear he's being taken away from the flames. It's difficult to remember the chain of events, but slowly he begins to regain muscle control.

Once in the infirmary, he seems to do somewhat better, even though he's panting like he's just run a 5k. When Bruce speaks, his eyes turn to him with what barely constitutes recognition.

Heat delirium is a bitch.]

[lastincident]

[ That's why Bruce doesn't stop while he talks. He's getting the cooling mats down, laying over Scorpius to bring his temperature down slowly, safely. No icebaths (yet) - they don't want it to plummet and send him into shock. ]

[ The rods have to go next. They're gross, but what do you do? He's got to have them. Medicine is gross in general. ]

[ Gross, but amazing. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Finally, by and by, Scorpius' inner temperature cools down to where he becomes coherent again. The rod replacement provides the most significant benefit: as the canister in his brain closes, he's able to focus on Bruce, finally able to understand who he's looking at]

...

[He opens his mouth to say something, but all that comes out is a dry rasp]

[lastincident]

Here. We'll get your fluids up.

[ Don't mind Dr. McSexy here, shirtless under his labcoat, being very calm and competent, Scorp. He's just doing his job. (Sexily.) ]

[ Sadly getting his fluids going is not as sexy as it sounds -- as he's literally just sticking him with an IV. Not sexy at all. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[If it was gonna be a dude...

Nah. Too volatile. Scorpius gives a slight scowl at the intrusion into his suit, but he deems it a necessary function, and lies back down on the bed. He breathes cautiously, now having time to really understand how lucky he was not to come out with any burns. Perhaps his room had yet to flame up.

Although...]

In my...


In my room. There's a flower.

[Is it safe, his expression demands]

[lastincident]

Don't move. And I mean that literally. Stay still and don't tug that loose.

[ And then Dr. McSexy walked out and went downstairs to the roaster that was Scorpius's room, and made sure to get the flower out of it. Maybe it'll make up for him being way too volatile. ]

[ Tony was following him now -- he'd been a good boy and gone to wait in the common room, as is his Hulk emergency behavior, and the pitbull took his place in the office to wait for Bruce to finish his work.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[He's always been something of a model patient, Scorpius. Rule of thumb: don't piss off the people who stand between life and death when you have a serious life-threatening medical condition.

He sits back on the bed, troubled and angry. Who the frell decided to even light a fire?

He lies still, not giving much attention to the dog, and waits for Bruce to return]

[lastincident]

[ Ta da. One flower. ]

It doesn't seem damaged.

[ He's calm, at least. Heat doesn't bother him, not really. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[His eyes light on it, and there seems to be a calmness that stills his rage.

Good. At least that wasn't harmed.

He gives a nod to Bruce, hoping to express his gratitude in the gesture; first for the rescue, and then for the flower. Not too many on the Barge would go to such lengths. Not for him]

[lastincident]

[ Bruce is not most people. ]

Is there anything else you need? The heat -- won't bother me.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[He pauses to make sure his communicator is still on his person - it is - and then briefly shakes his head. No; he's got everything valuable out of the room.

He doesn't keep a lot of personal possessions.

Scorpius clears his throat carefully, in order to ask the question burning in his mind]

Who..?

[lastincident]

Don't know. I'll find out when someone comes in for emergency medical.

[ Someone else can play hero -- he's going to get the infirmary ready for burn care. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[He nods, and closes his eyes, setting his head back to rest.

Scorpius considers alerting his warden, but in all likelihood, Stephanie will think he brought this on himself. He doesn't currently have the energy to argue with a teenage girl.

He'll wait.]