Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men.
Recommended that you listen to 'Fall For You' by Secondhand Serenade while you read it, since that's basically the theme song for this piece.
Nori's hand slipped out of David's as she turned away.
Her eyes slid closed and she unconsciously ran her hands down her gauntlets as she moved to stand in front of the mirror.
The air was tense and charged between them. David held still, a feeling of barely restrained emotion around them. His hands fell to his side, helpless, as he watched her. Nori wrapped her arms around her chest, watching the liquid surface of the mirror. Her reflection was unfamiliar.
She could barely see her dress underneath David's coat, draped over her shoulders. Slowly, she shrugged it off, letting the black fabric collapse to the floor behind her bare feet with a soft breath of wind. Neither of them made any move to pick it up.
David took a step forward, holding out his hand and slowly letting it slide down Nori's shoulder. She watched his movements in the mirror, her expression blank. He moved forward again, running his hand down to her collarbone and leaning closer until he could rest his cheek against her hair. His other arm found it's way around her waist.
"I - I can't..." Nori's voice failed and cracked, and she closed her eyes again, shifting her weight. David just nodded, closing his own eyes and pressing his chest against her back. Nori felt small and frail like this, shaking and scared. Lonely.
David swayed slightly to the side, holding Nori to him and tucking his face into the crook of her neck. Nori leaned back, head falling to rest on his shoulder, and opened her eyes to watch the ceiling. Her hands came up to hold onto the arm wrapped around her shoulders, and David could smell the blood spattering her front. He just nodded slightly, gently rocking them in front of the mirror. Nori tasted salt and wondered when she'd started crying.
His hands smoothed over her dress, the dark blue fabric fluid beneath his warm fingers, and Nori held back a sob. Blood stained his fingers. Innocent blood. Blood that could have been prevented had Nori kept her head.
He turned her around in his arms, carefully, and the moment she faced him, she buried her face in his chest and wailed. David helplessly combed his fingers through her hair, caressing the small of her back, cupping her head in his palms. Nori hated to break down like this.
Her sobs subsiding, she pulled away and wiped her hands over her face, but her gauntlets didn't smear her tears into her skin - instead, sparks jumped over her cheekbones, illuminating the hollows under her eyes. David smoothed the tears away, and stepped back, just watching her. His breath caught. She looked...
Nori shook her head and forced out a laugh, but it came out hysterical and small. "I'm a mess," she whispered. David shook his head. God, she had never looked more beautiful - static springing in her hair, her knee-length navy dress, simple as per her tastes, streaked with blood, her feet bare and wet from the rain, her gauntlets scratched - she looked pure and...honest.
"Nori, it's not your fault, you know that, right?" She looked up at him, grungy cheeks cleansed by tears.
"How is it not my fault, David?" He shook his head.
"It's just not. There was nothing - we did all we could. Nori, think how many people we saved just by being there - "
"Think how many we killed." Her voice was hoarse. She stood for another moment, meeting his eyes, then turned and stepped into their bedroom. The door closed behind her.
David stood by the mirror and tried not to fall apart.