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The Pauldron

She stood at the threshold of Toby’s bedroom. He had plonked the empty tote on his bed and was studying his shelves, unaware that she was frozen in the doorway.

‘I’ve never gone into a boy’s room, not even Bobby’s. That’s probably just as well. Oh, wow, I don’t know if I can do this.’ She studied the edge of his rug. It might as well have been an electrified fence with razor wire.

“Oh, hey, check this out.” Toby said gleefully. “It’s Hellion’s pauldron that I told you about.” He held it up and waggled it in his hand.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and stepped into his room. It smelled so fresh and clean. Poor Irene must have been working double-time to get the sheets and blankets laundered before they got back.

She opened her eyes and looked around. Irene had done an incredible job tidying up. Things were stashed tidily, but she could tell they weren’t where Toby would probably put them if he had done so himself. Okay, Angela had a point about him living at home.

“Here, have you ever felt Hellion’s armor before?”

She drew close, pressing herself against his back. One hand slid down his shiny red sleeve, feeling his large muscular arm. Another reached up to feel the piece of armor he was holding out to her. She rested her head on his back and closed her eyes. “They had one of his helmets at Sentinels Station, but I didn’t get to touch it.”

“Uh-huh.”

She could feel him shudder as she slid her hand up his sleeve to his broad shoulder. “It’s smoother than I thought it would be.”

“Yeah.” He gasped as she walked her fingers up his neck and into his hair. “It’s the matte finish. Makes it look rough, but it’s actually…”

“Mm…” She slid away from him and took the pauldron in both hands. “Surprisingly smooth.” She sat down on the edge of his bed to study the artifact.

‘You can say that again.’ He tried not to jump out of his skin. “So, that’s going to Frank’s for show and tell.”

“Definitely. Where’s the video?”

“Yes, here in the frame, with the certificate of authenticity. Check this out.” He handed her a wooden frame.

She put the pauldron down gently on the bed beside her and took the frame from Toby. She caught his eye as he handed it to her. He stood mesmerized by her dark eyes. “You know?”

“Hmm?”

“We’ll never get to Frank’s at this rate.”

“Yes, we did promise we’d get some stuff together to take to his house.”

“I like being here with you.”

“I like being here with you, Toby.” She took the frame from him and looked down. “How do I…”

“There’s a little button in the corner.”

“Oh, wow. How did they get that footage? I wouldn’t think a supervillain throwdown would be the healthiest place for somebody with a camera.” She was sitting there kicking her feet.

‘That is so adorable.’ He itched his forehead. “Ow!”

“Oh! Are you okay?” She put the frame down gently and stood to look at his head.

“Yeah, it was itchy. I’ve been trying to ignore it, but-”

“Do you need to put on a new bandage?”

“Maybe, but-”

“Where’s the bathroom? I’ll help you.”

“Oh, Meri. You don’t have to. It’s really-”

“Come and show me.” She grabbed his hand with both of hers.

“But it’s gross.”

“Toby, it’s okay. I want to help you. Do you trust me?”

When he looked into her dark, mysterious eyes, he had no choice to admit that he did. He nodded and led her to the bathroom. “Are you sure you’ll be okay with this?”

She cupped his bearded cheek in one slender hand and nodded. “Trust me, Toby.”

He closed his eyes and waited for her to pull the tape aside. There was no way he could bear to see the look of horror and disgust on her face when she saw what awaited her.

“That’s healing up nicely.” She cooed. “Let me clean that up for you.”

He could hear the water running. Tension in his neck and shoulders resolved as she dabbed gently with a warm washcloth. She had a dry one above his eyebrows to keep the dripping water out of his eyes. He waited as she continued introducing him to unfamiliar sensations. He opened his eyes to a view of her chin and throat. She was kissing it.

“There now. Where’s the ointment?”

He gasped. “It’s, it’s behind the mirror. It’s a tube with my name on the label.”

“Toby Belzer.”

He closed his eyes and drank in the scent of her perfume. “That’s my name. Don’t wear it out.”

“Oh, he’s a comedian, too?” She dabbed some ointment on his wound and spread it around lightly in a radiating spiral until she’d covered it all. “Your poor head. You’ve got to be more careful.”

“I usually am.”

“That’s good. I’d hate to think your dad wanted to marry me off to a careless lout.”

“Meri, I-” He started but she cut him off with a finger on his lips.

“You can check with me later.” She giggled. He heard her pulling tape from the roll. “Come down where I can reach you. I don’t want to tape your boo-boo.”

“That would be unpleasant.”

“And we’re having such a pleasant time.” She taped one side of the gauze.

“We are.”

“Thanks for inviting me.” She taped the other side.

“I wish we could stay here forever.”

“In your bathroom?” She taped the top.

“Anywhere, as long as we’re together.”

“I’d like that.” She taped the bottom. “Alright, handsome. We’ve got you all patched up. Let’s get back to work on your collection.”

“Wait until you see my prize piece.” He opened his eyes to find her putting away his ointment and the surgical tape.

“Something even better than the pauldron?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s gonna knock your socks off.”