[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/TbxObcK.jpeg[/img] [sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][color=962929]#962929[/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] hell's angel [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/9vPeZoF][color=808080]outfit[/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [color=217c85]#217c85[/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] jinx [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/RNcjFR1][color=808080]outfit[/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [color=feffb5]#feffb5[/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] redback [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080]pink shirt & lorax pants[/color] [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] tower kitchen[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][color=d6d6d6]"Hello, Myla."[/color] Roger’s voice echoed through her head like it was shouted in a narrow tunnel. It reverberated and overlapped, going quiet and then getting louder again. Once it seemed to be fading, his words came back deeper and more vindictive like a snarl. [color=d6d6d6]"A little Rohypnol… [i]Easy.[/i]"[/color] Then a high pitch screech shot through the void like a sonic boom. Myla shot up in bed with a raspy gasp that probably would have been a scream if she hadn’t stripped her throat bare the night before. She brought her knees to her chest and crossed her arms over them as she tried to catch her breath. Her hand slipped to her side, cupping her ribs tenderly. After three nightmares in a row, the skin around the cut had grown irritated and the stitches were close to popping. She sighed and as she pinched the bridge of her nose she winced at the presence of a bruise that wasn’t there the night before. Her nose wasn’t broken, but her face [i]was[/i] slammed into a desk. So what did she expect? She made a mental note to ask Theo everywhere she was bruised, if only to avoid causing herself further pain. Her headache had only gotten worse with each nightmare. Myla couldn’t tell if her muscles were screaming from her fight or the constant thrashing in her sleep. She felt like she maybe got three hours of rest and knew it was early, but she couldn’t bring herself to try again. Her head turned and tilted to the side like an owl as she listened for Theo’s calm, rhythmic breathing. [i]Well, at least he was sleeping.[/i] She lightly brushed his arm with the tips of her fingers before she swung her feet over the edge of the bed with a grimace and clenched jaw. She sucked in a sharp breath and got to her feet before she remained frozen in place for the next handful of hours. While she knew Theo would be mad she was moving around without him or that she let him continue to sleep, it was one of the few times Myla was ok with asking for forgiveness. He shouldn’t have to suffer through exhaustion because she couldn’t rest. She had no doubt that she could lull herself back to sleep in his arms. The thought even made her consider slipping back beneath the blankets for a moment. But she couldn’t handle another nightmare. [i]Not right now.[/i] She made sure to take her phone with her like a tether to Theo, so even if they weren’t next to each other she was only one call away. Myla’s limp wasn’t as bad after giving her leg some much needed rest, but she was still far from a normal stride. She paced herself and used the wall for support as she made her way to the elevator. Once inside, she slipped the flip phone onto the waistband of her pajama pants. Rather than run her fingers along the braille and try to recall the floorplan of the tower, she opted to ask the tower A.I. for assistance. [color=962929]"It was J.A.R.V.I.S., right?"[/color] she croaked out the question sounding like she swallowed a bucket of sand. [color=d6d6d6]"Good morning, Ms. Murdock. That is correct. How may I help you?"[/color] A British monotone voice replied from a speaker somewhere in the elevator. She leaned against the back wall of the lift, wincing as she shifted her weight off her bad leg. [color=962929]"Can you take me to whichever floor has the kitchen, please?"[/color] [color=d6d6d6]"Of course,"[/color] he answered and the elevator lurched as it began to descend. [color=962929]"Um, J.A.R.V.I.S.?"[/color] Myla asked as struggled to find a comfortable way to stand. Crossing her arms hurt, dangling them at her sides hurt. It all fucking hurt. [color=d6d6d6]"Yes, Ms. Murdock?"[/color] [color=962929]"What time is it?"[/color] [color=d6d6d6]"It is 6:17 a.m. The sun will be rising in an hour and ten minutes."[/color] As he finished responding, the elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open. [color=d6d6d6]"The kitchen is just across the hall. You should be able to find Mr. Pennyworth inside to assist with anything you may need."[/color] [color=962929]"Thanks, J.A.R.V.I.S.,"[/color] she replied before pushing off the wall and limping her way out into the hall. As Myla made her way into the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed tea, frying eggs, and toasting English muffins filled the room. Her hand reflexively clutched her stomach as it groaned loudly at the wave of hunger that followed the smells. [color=962929]"That smells amazing."[/color] The thought slipped off her tongue before she could catch it. Alfred spun around, startled, one hand holding a spatula and another pressed to his chest. A jovial laugh, laced with concern, resonated from the man as he realized it was just Myla. [color=d6d6d6]"Apologies. I’m used to being the only one up at this hour. Mr. Coulson likes his beauty sleep, and while Mr. Stark and Ms. Wayne are allergic to the concept of [i]rest[/i], I often have to hunt them down to get them to eat."[/color] He motioned toward the empty table in the corner of the kitchen with a place setting for one. [color=d6d6d6]"Please, Ms. Murdock, have a seat. You look like you could use this more than me."[/color] Myla managed a tight lipped smile as she slid into one of the empty seats that wasn’t in front of the prepared spot for him. [color=962929]"No, I couldn’t,"[/color] she tried to refuse graciously while she attempted to get comfortable in the hard chair. [color=962929]"That’s [i]your[/i] breakfast."[/color] [color=d6d6d6]"I insist,"[/color] Alfred argued, with kindness, as he already began to fish another plate out of the cabinet. She sighed softly and settled for compromise. [color=962929]"We can split it,"[/color] her voice cracked from the soreness in her throat. The tension in Myla’s smile faded to something more genuine and gracious. [color=d6d6d6]"Fair enough,"[/color] he conceded with a smile as he brought over a plate and silverware to set on the table in front of her. [color=d6d6d6]"But you’ll have to humor me and allow me to make you some honeyed tea for that throat."[/color] [color=962929]"That sounds wonderful, actually. Thank you, Mr. Pennyworth."[/color] [color=d6d6d6]"[i]Alfred,[/i]"[/color] he corrected her with a smile as he flipped the eggs in his frying pan. [color=962929]"Only if you call me Myla,"[/color] she rebutted with a weak laugh. [color=d6d6d6]"Touché,"[/color] he chuckled. Alfred made quick work of filling their plates with half of an English muffin topped with an egg fried over medium, salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of cheese. He poured them both a cup of tea, making sure to add a substantial amount of honey to Myla’s. Then, before he sat down with her, he brought her two aspirin for good measure and placed them gently in the palm of her hand. [color=d6d6d6]"I imagined you might want these… For the pain."[/color] She nodded her head. Without hesitation, Myla tossed the pills into her mouth and swallowed them down with a sip of the warm, soothing tea. She wasn’t in the habit of accepting medicine from people she wasn’t overly familiar with, but nothing about Alfred told her that he was untrustworthy. His heart rate was steady aside from the jumpscare she gave him and the only thing that filled his calm voice was compassion and concern. As they ate they had a normal conversation that wasn’t plagued with questions about Myla’s dad, Hell’s Angel, or her various injuries. Alfred asked about her career, how she met Theo, and other natural topics that came up with ease, while she asked about working for the Waynes, the academy, and his hobbies, like breeding roses and backgammon. They even scheduled recurring backgammon nights on Sundays after dinner. Alfred was what she imagined a grandparent would be like. His warm friendliness made Myla more comfortable in her new surroundings while also making the tower feel more welcoming and homey. Just as Myla finished her cup of tea, she heard the elevator doors open and the sound of bare feet carrying the person toward the kitchen. The scent of champagne, leather, and sex preceded them as they stepped into the room. Beneath the wave of overpowering smells, she caught a whiff of vanilla, cashmere, and something that faintly reminded her of Theo. Myla’s back tensed and her carefree expression fell away as her emotionless mask slipped into place. [i]Ronnie.[/i] The woman must have been dressed… [i]precariously[/i], only on the basis of Alfred’s spike in blood pressure and the way he immediately busied himself. He got up from his seat in a bit of a hurry and collected their dishes, his focus only on the task at hand and Myla. [color=d6d6d6]"Would you like another cup, Ms. Murdock?"[/color] [color=962929]"Yes please, Alfred,"[/color] she replied, flashing him a brief smile as she held out her cup for him to take. The moment he turned away Myla’s smile faded with her attention focused solely on Ronnie. The woman sauntered in like she owned the room. The reek of sex gave Myla more information than she ever wanted about Ronnie. The woman remained calm as a fake smile grew on her lips. She pulled out the chair opposite Myla and slowly lowered herself into the seat. She laced her fingers together in the way people often did when they were plotting something. Then her attention shifted to Alfred as she all but looked down her nose at him. [color=217c85]"Three espressos for me, Alfie."[/color] [color=962929]"Where are your fucking manners? He’s not your maid,"[/color] Myla snapped with a sharp tongue. It looked like her patience was shaping up to be nonexistent that morning. That didn’t bode well for a day in the academy. Alfred returned to the table, placing the cup down gently in front of Myla. [color=d6d6d6]"It’s alright, Ms. Mur—"[/color] Myla held out her hand to lightly rest her fingers on his forearm and shook her head. He didn’t need to reward a rude attitude. Both women knew that while Ronnie might have arrived for a different purpose, the moment she saw Myla her goals changed entirely. She could handle the woman on her own. Alfred didn’t deserve to catch strays from her ire. [color=962929]"I’ve got it, Alfred. I can clean up the kitchen when we’re finished,"[/color] she offered so he didn’t feel the need to linger. He wanted to argue that she was in no condition to be slaving over dishes but he had also learned through his time with the Waynes, and at the academy, to not get involved in those kinds of squabbles. [color=d6d6d6]"It was a pleasure having breakfast with you, Ms. Murdock. I look forward to our engagement on Sunday."[/color] He nodded his head to her, hung his apron on a hook on the wall, and left. [color=962929]"You too."[/color] Myla smiled at him. Then she waited in a tense silence until he disappeared into the elevator and she heard the whirring of the lift carrying him to a different floor. Ronnie broke the silence first, letting out a forced gasp of shock. [color=217c85]"I’m not invited to backgammon?"[/color] [color=962929]"It’s a two person game,"[/color] Myla replied plainly before taking a sip of her tea. [color=962929]"Theo’s not here. So you can drop the act."[/color] She leaned back in her chair with a wince, keeping her hands resting against either side of the warm tea cup. [color=217c85]"I wouldn’t be surprised if his little spidey sense is buzzing right now and he’s racing down here to tell me to [i]‘leave her alone,’[/i]"[/color] she mocked with a laugh while rapping her fingers along the table. [color=217c85]"He’s [i]very[/i] protective of you."[/color] [color=962929]"How perceptive."[/color] Myla sighed and took another sip of the tea, enjoying the temporary reprieve it gave to her vocal cords. [color=217c85]"How long before he shows up?"[/color] Ronnie asked like they were making bets. She leaned back in her chair making herself comfortable, showing that she had no intent on going anywhere anytime soon. Myla tapped her thumbs on the brim of the cup. [color=962929]"Guess we’ll find out,"[/color] she replied, unamused. So far, she couldn’t hear him making his way down the tower but also the sounds of two people having loud sex toward the top of the tower seemed to drown out a lot of more subtle sounds. For Theo’s sake she hoped he was still asleep and he never had to know this conversation happened. She appreciated how much he worried about her and protected her, but she didn’t need him stressing himself out over a simple conversation either. She could handle it. [color=962929]"What do you want, Ronnie?"[/color] she asked, already exasperated by the conversation before it even began. [color=217c85]"He won’t do anything,"[/color] Ronnie chuckled, ignoring Myla’s question. [color=217c85]"He’s all bark."[/color] [i]Pissing contest it is then.[/i] Myla sighed trying to prepare herself for the onslaught of insults, underhanded comments, and mental gymnastics. It was a lot for seven in the morning, but she’d manage. At least she had caffeine and aspirin in her system. Small victories. [color=962929]"You’d be surprised what he’s capable of,"[/color] Myla commented with little to no emotion in her voice, like she was debating fact rather than trying to fuel a petty argument. Ronnie rolled her eyes and while Myla couldn't see it, the quiet scoff got the message across just as succinctly. [color=217c85]"I’m fully aware of what he is capable of. I’m [i]more[/i] surprised he let this happen to you."[/color] The woman then reached across the table and plucked the tea cup straight from Myla’s hands. She swirled the liquid around, examined it, spun the cup around to put her lips somewhere Myla’s hadn’t been, and took a sip. [color=217c85]"You look like shit."[/color] Myla didn’t fight over the cup of tea even if she desperately wanted the honey for her throat. She knew Ronnie was trying anything and everything in her power to get a reaction out of her. Not reacting was her best course of action… But Myla wasn’t known for having the coolest temper or the best impulse control. The only small benefit to all her wounds were they kept her complacent for the time being. [color=962929]"For someone who [i]knows[/i] him so well, you’re pretty fucking clueless."[/color] [color=217c85]"Let me guess."[/color] Ronnie cocked her head to the side. [color=217c85]"He took you to Momma Parker to patch you right up."[/color] She clapped her hands together softly, concluding her speculation with emphasis. [color=962929]"He saved my life,"[/color] Myla corrected. Maybe he did take her to his mom, so what? While she feigned indifference, a pang in her heart made her chest tighten and jealous prickle up her neck. She needed to keep her emotions in check. This was what Ronnie wanted and the last thing she wanted to do was feed her ego. [color=962929]"I just assumed since you [i]know him so well[/i] that you’d know the lengths he’d go to."[/color] She shrugged, sending a flame of pain down her left side that she did her best to ignore. [color=962929]"Or maybe you don’t know"[/color] [color=962929]"What has he done for you besides keep you out of prison?"[/color] There were a few times she could recall having run-ins with Jinx during the window of time they would have been dating. Myla distinctly recalled the cat burglar slipping through her fingers or miraculously escaping on her way to jail. Knowing how steadfast Theo could be for those he cared about, it wouldn’t surprise her in the slightest if he helped. Just the possibility that he might have blurred the lines for her, only for her to break his heart made [i]several[/i] violent thoughts flash across Myla’s mind. [color=217c85]"Mind blowing orgasms… For a start."[/color] Ronnie clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth as if she’d just said checkmate. It took more self control than Myla wanted to admit to not react. The one positive to being blind was it was harder for her to be plagued with images she didn’t want stuck in her mind. On the other hand, that didn’t stop the thoughts… or sounds. Her hands slipped from the table and fell to her lap. Out of sight her knuckles went white as she dug her nails into her palms until she drew blood. [color=962929]"That’s very mature,"[/color] her calm voice masked her internal struggle as she tried to keep the volcano of her temper dormant and locked away. [color=962929]"If your goal is to make me jealous or offended by recounting every sexual encounter you and Theo shared then just get it over with and save me time."[/color] [color=217c85]"You really think you’re better than me, don’t you?"[/color] [color=962929]"Yes,"[/color] Myla replied simply, coldly, like the answer was so obvious there was no point in denying it. [color=217c85]"I didn’t realize you were such a narcissist."[/color] [color=962929]"[i]Are you serious?[/i]"[/color] [i]That was rich.[/i] She probably should have left it there, but the thought of someone thinking she was self absorbed was too laughable to pass up. [color=962929]"I hate myself,"[/color] Myla confessed with such clear conviction that it was hard to argue her sincerity. [color=962929]"Theo deserves [i]so[/i] much more than me. But I didn’t disappear and let him think I was dead… So I know I’m at least doing better than you."[/color] Ronnie drank the rest of the tea then set the empty cup down in front of Myla. [color=217c85]"But I didn’t corrupt him."[/color] An abrupt, sardonic laugh burst forth from her lips out of pure shock and disbelief. [color=962929]"The fuck are you talking about?"[/color] [color=217c85]"Theo was what’s light and good in this world and you infected him with your darkness. He was never angry like that with me. I bet he’s killed for you too… Broke his moral code for [i]love.[/i]"[/color] Myla bit the inside of her cheek as her head fell. The tightness in her chest constricted until it made it difficult to breathe. Hearing the dark festering thoughts that plagued her mind thrown back in her face stung in a way she wasn’t prepared. Her left leg started bouncing subconsciously as her nails dug deeper into the tender flesh of her hands. She tried to focus on the acute pain rather than the truth in Ronnie’s words. She could handle most insults with humility but having her demons read back to her cut deep like a blade between the ribs straight to the heart. She took a deep breath trying to ground herself. [color=217c85]"You can’t even deny it,"[/color] Ronnie broke the silence with piercing arrogance. [color=962929]"I’m not denying it."[/color] [color=217c85]"You can take that holier than thou shit and shove it right up your pious ass. I may be a criminal, but at least I didn’t change him."[/color] Myla’s head cocked to the side like she heard the acute sound of a pin dropping on the roof of the tower. [i]Pious[/i]. Ronnie said pious. While she might have been struggling with her religion since her father’s disappearance, her Catholicism was never something she broadcasted. It was private, personal. Religion was between her and God. Only trusted people got to know that about her… like Theo. [i]How the fuck did she know that?[/i] Her temper was building, edging closer and closer to boiling over. [color=962929]"What the fuck do you want, Ronnie?!"[/color] Myla snapped, her raspy voice nearly shouting as she slammed her bloody fist down on the table. [color=962929]"You left. Is the guilt eating you alive? Does it make you feel bigger targeting me with your bullshit? Because I don’t, for one second, think it’s because you love him."[/color] Theo had woken up when the door clicked shut quietly behind her, the remnants of his dream still fresh in his mind. He blinked wearily up at the ceiling, trying to wake up enough to process that the warmth of Myla’s body was no longer being cradled in his arms. He’d woken up briefly each time she had, able to fall back into an exhausted slumber not long after. It was the kind of sleep someone could only get if they’d spent a week hiking through the countryside and sleeping in trees, and he’d desperately wanted to get more rest. He couldn’t though, not without Myla there. Her absence sent a jolt of panic through him, the events of just a few short hours earlier so frightening still that there was a blinding moment in which all logic seemed to have escaped him. He was up, out of the bed, and down the hall before he even registered what he was doing. He doubled back, putting on a pink Pepto Bismol T-shirt that clashed horribly with his Lorax pajama pants, before he followed the distant voice of Myla through the tower. There was a lot of noise in the tower, he’d have to ask one of the Starks if soundproofing was something they had some weird aversion to, but it was only when he was closer to the kitchen did the owner of the second voice register for Theo. Ronnie let out a cold laugh that said she finally got what she wanted, Myla to snap. [color=217c85]"And do you?"[/color] [color=962929]"Do I what?"[/color] [color=217c85]"Don’t play coy with me."[/color] Ronnie’s voice was calm, but cold and sharp. [color=217c85]"Do you love him?"[/color] Myla remained silent and unmoving while her pulse pounded in her ears. She wasn’t going to dignify the bitch with an answer. There was no way in hell that the first time she admitted her feelings out loud it’d be to fucking Ronnie. While the feeling had taken root in her heart for far longer than she dared to admit, that confession was for Theo’s ears and his ears alone. He felt frozen, too stunned to speak. The anger from yesterday had resurfaced a thousand fold, but the silence after that question…did Myla not notice he was just down the hallway? Once he moved closer, he was certain she’d notice. Likely, the only reason she hadn’t yet was because fucking Ronnie was being so antagonistic. Ronnie rested her arms on the table and leaned forward with a smug smile. [color=217c85]"So you do,"[/color] she whispered it back at her like it was a secret between friends. [color=962929]"Go fuck yourself, Ronnie."[/color] Myla’s voice was quiet but venomous as it reverberated from deep in her chest. [color=962929]"Stay away from him. You broke his heart once. I won’t let you hurt him again. Descendants team be damned."[/color] While what they were trying to do at the academy was important, she’d put a torch to all her alliances without a moment’s hesitation if it meant she could keep him safe. Myla pushed off the table, leaving behind bloody handprints as she stood up. She picked up the empty tea cup and limped over to the sink. She needed to busy her hands and her mind. Anything to keep her from reaching out and slamming the bitch’s face into the table. A trembling hand reached out and turned on the tap to the faucet. She tested the water with the tip of her fingers until it ran warm, then submerged her bloody hands under its current. She sucked in a sharp breath as it stung the small crescent cuts in her palms. At a leisurely pace, Ronnie slowly pushed out her chair and stood up. But rather than leave, she made her way over to Myla and rested her hands against the counter on either side of her. She slowly leaned in until her mouth hovered dangerously close to Myla’s ear. [color=217c85]"Or what?"[/color] Myla tried to ignore the woman’s presence as she closed the drain in the sink and let the water slowly pool. [color=962929]"I don’t have Theo’s moral compass,"[/color] she replied with a calm indifference as she sniffed to catch a whiff of where the dish soap lived. She side stepped and opened the cabinet beneath the sink fast enough that the door slammed into Ronnie’s leg. After putting a dash of soap in the sink, she put the bottle back away, unfazed. [color=962929]"But if you’d like me to detail the various ways I’d torture you before hanging you from the top of the tower, I’d be happy to site my sources."[/color] All at once, the surprise and anger that had frozen Theo in place drained away. He strode down the hallway with purpose, not bothering to hesitate before he stepped into the kitchen. His eyes were very pointedly only on Myla, and he moved to close the distance between them without so much as a glance toward Ronnie. He didn’t care what happened to the blonde, not anymore, but he wouldn’t let her carry the burden of trying to protect him like this, not when he’d failed to protect her yesterday. [color=feffb5]"I was worried when I woke up and you weren’t there,"[/color] Theo ignored Ronnie, wrapping a protective and secure arm around Myla’s waist. He took a moment to breathe her in, to center himself and not let the anger take over. [color=feffb5]"Your hands, Myla…"[/color] Concern colored his tone as he noticed how the bubbly water was tinged pink, and he gave her a very soft tug away from the sink. [color=feffb5]"I’ll do it, and then we can go back to the room."[/color] Regardless of Ronnie hovering over her shoulder like a vulture, Theo slipped in like the woman didn’t exist and that his arm didn’t nearly brush her as it wrapped around Myla’s waist. The tension in her shoulders immediately vanished as she focused on his warmth and the April fresh detergent that still clung to his pajamas. She turned her face toward him, following his lead to try and ignore Ronnie, even if her hot breath pelted the side of Myla’s neck. [color=962929]"I’m sorry… I couldn’t handle another nightmare."[/color] Ronnie scoffed, noticing the blood in the sink and nail shaped imprints in Myla’s palms. [color=217c85]"Not so good at curbing that temper,"[/color] she mused, letting her gaze slowly drift over to Theo. While she acted as if she was unbothered, her pulse elevated. Knowing she must have out stayed her welcome she pivoted on her heels and headed for the exit. [color=217c85]"Catch you lovebirds at training later."[/color] It wasn’t until Ronnie had disappeared up the elevator that Myla let out a breath she felt like she had been holding in the entire time. She reached out and pumped a small bit of hand soap into her palms. A wince hissed between her teeth as it ran over the small cuts but she wanted to clean them at least. [color=962929]"How long were you listening?"[/color] she asked quietly as she rinsed her hands. [color=feffb5]"You’re hurting yourself,"[/color] Theo’s voice was laced with anxiety, and he gave her another little insistent tug away from the sink. [color=feffb5]"I only caught the end of the conversation, I didn’t mean to…"[/color] He let out a soft sigh, dropping his head onto her shoulder. Would saying it now be enough to let her know it was her, and only her, or would it feel rushed because of the conversation he’d overheard? Was this the kind of place where you confessed something like this, in a kitchen? No, he could do better. Myla turned her head away slightly as she reached for a paper towel. Her heart still felt like it was halfway up her throat even if Ronnie was gone and he relieved some of her tension. She felt like a ticking time bomb since the night before. She was restless. Her head fell with a sigh as she pressed the towel into her palms. [color=962929]"It kept me from breaking her nose,"[/color] she admitted. There was no subtle laugh or thread of sarcasm. Honestly, she didn’t know if she would have been able to stop herself at a broken nose but Theo knew that without her saying it. [color=962929]"You can probably guess how it went…"[/color] She inhaled a sharp breath. [color=feffb5]"We’re going to rest today before training, and have one of those robots check you out, and then tomorrow, if you feel up to it, I want to take you down to the beach."[/color] He pulled back, catching her hands in his own and pressing a soft kiss to the knuckles of each hand. She grimaced at the mention of the medical robots. The ghost of each individual prick of her stitches still raw in her mind. Myla tried to relax as his lips grazed her knuckles but her mind couldn’t stop reliving the attack as Ronnie’s words echoed on repeat. She was glad Theo only heard the end. He didn’t need to hear what Ronnie said. He didn’t need that burden. But deep down she was more thankful he didn’t hear her regrets, how she agreed with the woman's judgements of her… How she hated herself. She nodded her head slowly. [color=962929]"Ok,"[/color] she conceded, lightly running her thumbs over his fingers. [color=962929]"I told Alfred I’d clean the dishes… He didn’t need to hear all of that."[/color] The corner of her lips tugged into a weary, apologetic smile. Myla slowly stepped toward the sink once again, reaching out to shut off the water before the basin overflowed. [color=feffb5]"What didn’t I hear?"[/color] Theo tugged her back again once the water was off, clearly he was going to make a nuisance of himself today. He slipped in front of Myla, dipping his hands into the hot water so that he could wash the dishes instead of her. [color=feffb5]"Whatever it was, she’ll probably try to use it against me later. She’s a bitch, and I don’t want you to believe anything she’s trying to shove down your throat. Angel, if you find yourself agreeing to anything she says, I’m going to have to check you for a concussion."[/color] It was a poor attempt at humor, because she wasn’t smiling and it made his chest ache to know he couldn’t cheer her up. [color=feffb5]"If being here is too much…"[/color] He would take her and leave right now, Myla didn’t need to be strong for him. He didn’t want to have to watch someone he—he couldn’t watch her struggle for his sake. Myla begrudgingly let Theo clean the dishes. She limped back over to the table and lowered herself into her seat which had quickly grown cold absent her body heat. [color=962929]"I… I don’t think you want to know what either of us said,"[/color] she admitted with a sigh. And maybe part of her didn’t want him to know some of what they said. He had been carrying so many of her burdens over the past day that if she could alleviate a single pound she would. [color=962929]"No, Theo."[/color] Her voice was soft, more tender than it had been before as her head fell slightly. [color=962929]"This might be our last chance to find our dads. I can’t [i]not[/i] try."[/color] She sighed softly, strumming her fingertips along the edge of the table. [color=962929]"I can’t guarantee I won’t kill her before leaving this place though,"[/color] she admitted with a weak laugh. [color=feffb5]"Would you tell me everything, even if I begged?"[/color] His voice was unsteady, but Theo focused on the dishes, trying not to lose his nerve. He wouldn’t push her on it, but she seemed more upset about the conversation than he was comfortable with. He made quick work of the few dishes, setting them aside to dry before wiping his hands off on a hand towel that hung from the cabinet by his legs. [color=feffb5]"I wouldn’t stop you, and that’s a reflection on how I feel about it all, not you."[/color] Theo turned back toward her, looking her up and down for a moment before closing the distance once more. He leaned over her a little, hand bracing on the table, until their lips were just barely touching. He wanted to kiss her again, if only to prove to himself that she was still [i]there[/i] and that she couldn’t vanish from right under his hands. The urge to tell her now, to not wait for a better place like the beach, was all consuming. [color=feffb5]"Myla,"[/color] he breathed against her lips, eyes squeezing shut. [color=feffb5]"I…"[/color] She sighed, nodding her head while biting a little too hard on the inside of her cheek. [color=962929]"I would tell you if you want—"[/color] Myla’s entire train of thought was brushed aside when Theo was suddenly standing beside her chair. Her breath seized in her chest beneath the racing beat of her heart as he leaned down until his lips hovered dangerously close to hers. The warmth of her name rolled off his tongue and caressed her skin. She swallowed anxiously… expectantly as her body spun in her chair to face him fully. She wanted to hear it. The words had been lingering in the vacuum of space between them for months. It was safe behind their masks and their walls. They could push it away and ignore it behind the guise of not knowing each other [i]truly.[/i] But that was all stripped away. There was nothing to hide behind, just one large unspoken burden that weighed on them both that they were desperate to share but also terrified to speak into existence. Myla cupped his cheek in her palm and traced the edge of his bottom lip with the tip of her thumb. [color=962929]"If you say it,"[/color] she warned him with a breathy voice barely above a whisper. [color=962929]"I won’t have the same reservations I did last night."[/color] His breath caught in his throat, because that certainly wasn’t the threat that she thought it was. Though, the fact that she could barely walk was enough to give him pause, there was no way she’d actually enjoy herself when she was in that amount of pain, and what if he popped her stitches or something equally ridiculous? Theo groaned, pressing his lips to hers instead of saying what he wanted desperately to say. [color=feffb5]"I need you to heal first,"[/color] he muttered once they’d pulled apart, breathing a little too hard, too many ideas about the things he’d do with Myla without any reservations on either of their part making him feel a little too stiff for comfort. [color=feffb5]"Can I do [i]anything[/i] to convince you to sit out of training today?"[/color] A sad chuckle hummed from behind her lips as they kissed. Myla expected his response. She would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed. But that didn’t mean she liked it either. It was only fair that he had to suffer through waiting along with her. If Theo told her he loved her, she’d only want him more. The torture of waiting would be inhumane. So… [i]healing first.[/i] She sighed. That could take weeks. Her hand slowly fell from his face to rest in the nook between his neck and shoulder. [color=962929]"Nothing you’d agree to,"[/color] she mused with a teasing smirk. Myla was likely to pop stitches that day one way or another. In the end it was up to Theo how it was done. Theo hummed against her lips, seeming to consider that for a moment. [color=feffb5]"I mean, if you’re planning to pop your stitches either way…"[/color] he trailed off with a grin she could feel against her own lips, but he straightened out in spite of his lesser judgment. He stretched and sighed, before lancing his fingers with hers. [color=feffb5]"We have a few hours to kill before training, want to go back to the room? I’ll read the Hobbit to you, I’ll even do the wizard's voice."[/color] He grinned at her, uncaring that the world was ending, knowing that they only had so much time left together before they were thrown into danger again. Today wasn’t the day, but tomorrow he would take her to the beach while the sun was setting. He'd tell her everything he’d been holding inside himself all this time, because Theo couldn’t bear to think of either of them dying without her knowing exactly how he felt. Until then, he’d relish in the before, in the peace of having her here brought him. Maybe waiting until she healed wouldn’t be [i]terrible.[/i] Myla couldn’t deny that there was a certain thrill at hearing the desire in his voice and the way he got a little flustered when she teased him. She slowly stood up, wincing slightly but never releasing her hold on his hand. Even injured, she let her chest press lightly against his, tucking their entwined hands behind her back. [color=962929]"[i]Mmm[/i] wizard voice? Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Parker?"[/color] she jested and placed a soft kiss along his jaw. Theo shivered at the feeling of her lips pressing against his jaw, and he trembled with the amount of control it took not to do all the things he wanted to do to Myla right then and there. Seducing her? Really? He was fairly certain she was the one trying to seduce him, not that he planned to tell her that he was having too much fun. [color=feffb5]"Absolutely,"[/color] he chuckled, adjusting his hands ever so slightly, pausing for a moment, and then lifting Myla up by the backs of her thighs so she could wrap her legs around his waist, mindful of the stitches on her thigh. [color=feffb5]"In fact, just for you I’ll do a different voice for each dwarf."[/color] If she could tease him, he should be allowed to tease her right back, so he carried her out of the kitchen like that, grinning the whole way back to the room.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] [@Sleepy Tani][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]