Charles laughed at that, the way she was so skeptical and seemed to think he was a horrible person. The real Charles would absolutely hate that. With a shrug he said, “Actually… and I’m really sorry about this, but you can only eat ice chips for a couple hours because of the tubes we took out. I’ll get you some though.” He didn’t give her enough time to say anything to him before he was gone.
Charles had left her alone for maybe ten minutes. He realized he didn’t actually know where the nurses got the ice chips from, so he had to search for them. They ended up being in the family waiting room which made sense in hindsight. Charles filled three cups and went back to her room carrying them all in one hand. “You can’t even drink water yet, you might vomit if you do.”
Fucking ice chips. Love frowned at the thought of not getting to enjoy a real meal, not having anything on her stomach for hours. She stared at the wall as she waited for the passenger to return, wondering how much this was going to end up costing her. She couldn’t afford medical bills and there was no way that she wanted to rely on her father for it — maybe Jewels was an option again. A necessary one.
“... Seriously? Maybe you should’ve let me just die, then,” the ghel said, holding her hand out to accept one of the cups. The movement was much more painful that she anticipated. Shit.
Ridley knew that Love would freak out about his missing arm, so he chain-smoked on the way back to his apartment and let the toxins settle in his lungs just as a sedative for what was to come. He could get another arm, perhaps even a better one, but of course he had to run interference before he could even dream of making it to a repair shop. He quietly entered the apartment, hoping they were both asleep as he removed a half-finished cigarette from between his lips and discarded it in the ashtray by the door.
Love
Love was worried sick about Ridley going out to confront the bolug. So much could happen — right down to her own death if anything happened to him. So she stayed awake as long as she could, crashing on the couch when she couldn’t stay up any longer. The smell of smoke startled her slightly, her body instinctively going into fear of a fire. “B-Babe?” She asked, not awake enough to process what she said.
Ridley
Ridley's eyes flickered up whenever he heard Love call out, unsure whether or not he should process that nickname as his own - but, well, no one else had been in his apartment aside from her father. Who else could it be? "Hey," he said. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."
Love
Love yawned, stretching her arms over her head. “S’Okay. Come over here,” she said, starting to sit up.
Ridley
Ridley was hoping that his jacket would keep disguising his missing arm for as long as possible, slowly making his way over to Love and sitting beside her. "You all good?"
Love
Love instantly moved her head into his lap, letting out an anxious sigh as she made herself comfortable. “I worried about you. A lot.”
Ridley
He placed a hand in her hair and worked his fingers through the dark strands carefully. "I'm fine. There was nothing to worry about."
Love
“Are you sure?” She asked, letting tiredness kick in. “What happened?”
Ridley
"We just had a scrap, really. Nothing remarkable. I think he might stay away from your dad's ship for a while, though."
Love
“Take your jacket off, it’s too warm in here for that,” Love insisted, looking up to him. She always liked it warmer anywhere she went — it reminded her of her home. “I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
Ridley
"Nah, I don't get hot." Ridley said, clearing his throat. "Yeah. I'm good. Is your dad doing alright?"
Love
“Well, you’re home. Take it off,” she replied, playfully tugging at his sleeves. “He’s doing okay. We’re both doing okay.”
Ridley
"It's fine," he insisted with a quiet laugh. "That's good. I'm glad."
Love
“If you loved me you would take it off,” she laughed. “Good thing we have a trusty kitchen droid to keep us alive.”
Ridley
Ridley glanced away self-consciously. "It's just a jacket, Love," he said. "Oh, yeah. What would you ever do without me?"
Love
“Then it’s no problem,” Love said, perking up in her suspicion. “I don’t know. I’d die. That’s for sure.”
Ridley
"Definitely. Both of you would. But alas, I'm your savior."
Love
“My savior, hah.” Love sat up slowly, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. It was there that she realized something was off. “... T-Take off your jacket.”
Ridley
"Really? It's comfortable," Ridley said, keeping one arm secure around her.
Love
“N-No, take off your jacket. Now,” Love insisted, moving one of her hands to feel under the jacket.
Ridley
Ridley let out a huff before surrendering and shrugging off his jacket, exposing his missing arm.
Love
“What — what ha-“ she started, covering her mouth as she started to feel immediately nauseous. “What — “
Ridley
"It's not a big deal," he said immediately. "I can get a new one."
Love
“It’s a big deal!! That’s — that’s your arm!” she exclaimed, pulling back from him. “Did that thing do that to you?! What else did he do?!”
Ridley
"Yeah, he did," he admitted, rubbing between his eyes. "That's all, I swear. I drank some blue blood before I got here and I patched it up, I can get a new one for cheap."
Love
“What — what if he killed you?” she asked quietly, starting to shake. The ghel stood up from the couch, suddenly very awake and very stressed. “... You could’ve killed me. You could’ve — you could’ve killed me. Because you — you just had to go after him.”
Ridley
“He couldn’t have killed me. If I shut down someone would’ve found me and brought me to a repair center,” he said. “Hey. Calm down. I’m fine.”
Love
“Unless he broke whatever keeps you you, and then you’re just — you’re not you anymore,” Love insisted. “I don’t lo- uh, look at other droids like I look at you. That’s — stars.”
Ridley
“Look, I survived. You don’t have to worry about the what-ifs. It’s just an arm and I can get a new one.”
Love
“Shut up!” Love said. “You’re — you’re going to end up killing me one day! Because you’re so dumb!”
Ridley
Ridley let out a sigh, "C'mon. Don't be overdramatic. Once I finish this last job then I'll never have to go to Sevian again."
Love
“You say this like you’re going to live some normal life after that,” Love said, heading back to the couch to grab her blanket.
Ridley
"I'll try my best to," he said and reached out with his still intact arm, grasping her wrist gently. "Don't be mad. Or — or be mad but don't shut me out over this."
Love
“I can be mad all I want,” she said, tugging her arm. “You did something so-so stupid! I have every right to shut you out because of this.”
Ridley
"I was just trying to defend your dad," he replied. "And I did! I shot the damn thing twice."
Love
“You didn’t defend him, you went out looking to kill it! That’s not the same!” Love said, before pausing. “...Did you kill it?”
Ridley
"... No, I didn't. I mean, I might've. I didn't stick around to check if he was dead for sure."
Love
“So you might’ve just pissed him off even more. And you’re down an arm and, ugh! I-I hate you! You made it worse!”
Ridley
Ridley sighed, then relented, figuring it was better for her to release her anger rather than be the subject of passive aggression for weeks to come — although that was still very much a risk.
Love
Love finally yanked her arm out of his hold, looking at him with teary eyes. This got so out of hand. She wished she never met him. “I think — I think I’m going to ask Papa to take us out of Avalon tomorrow morning.”
Ridley
"What?" Ridley said in momentary disbelief, "That's—" Then he remembered what the bolug had said about destroying Avalon, and he knew that he should've protested but he couldn't find it in him to. "... If- If that's what you want."
Love
“I think that’s what I need,” she said, despite knowing the effects it was going to have on her body.
Ridley
"Okay, um... Then you should go." he said, avoiding her gaze.
Love
Love nodded. “In the morning. I’ll just — I’ll let my father sleep before we have a big day.”
Ridley
"I'll help you," he offered. "If the bolug's there, you'll need my help."
Love
“No. No, you — you stay here,” she denied. “I don’t need any more of your help.”
Ridley
"C'mon. You're both in rough shape still. You need it."
Love
“And you’re missing an arm, Ridley! You’re in rough shape. Take care of yourself.”
Ridley
"I can get an early appointment in at the repair shop tomorrow and be good as new!"
Love
“No!” Love snapped, trying to push past the sadness on her tone. “I don’t want you there! It’s going — it’ll make it harder!”
Ridley
"... Okay," he surrendered. "I'll... I'll stay here, then."
Love
Love nodded, her lip quivering as she teared up. She hated this. “You better. Or I’ll never talk to you again,” she replied.
Ridley
"Okay," he repeated. "I hear you."
Love
“Th-Thank you,” she said, walking away from him slowly.
“You can.” Envy didn’t like when people hid their feelings, or tried to push them down. As an entity when he wasn’t attached to a body, he wasn’t able to emote. He wasn’t able to feel and that made him envious. Envy wanted her to feel rage and despair because she could and she deserved to. “Even if he’s beating himself up for it you have a right to be upset too. You were attacked, Love, beat so bloody bad you flat lined. Maybe you’re not mad at him, maybe just the fact that it happened at all. You can be angry, you should be furious.” It wouldn’t help him at all, and he wasn’t entirely sure why he even went off on a rant about it.
“Ah… sorry. I got carried away. Listen, you should get some rest I’ve talked your ear off enough. Do you need me to grab anything for you? Normally I’d send in a nurse, but I don’t mind.” Envy was annoyed with himself for even trying to help her, he didn’t have to be nice to her anymore. He finished his job and let Charles complete the surgery, he was done now.
“I know. I know all of that happened, Charles,” she said, looking at him uncomfortably. “I’m... I’m really upset it happened. I wish it didn’t.”
The ghel looked at him with confusion, wondering why he was so willing to do anything for her. Any vibe she got from him back at Jewels just made her think he was selfish and self-serving, more than anything else. “Can...Can I eat? Or do I have to starve?”
“Okay, so maybe twice or three times is enough for me to consider it annoying.” Envy raised both eyebrows in surprise, “You’d think your droid wouldn’t be busy doing something else while you’ve got a client over.“ He didn’t feel like walking on glass now that Charles was packed away.
“That person went into your home and attacked you and your security, I don’t think it should be considered murder.” Love was too delicate, he thought, for working outside of Jewels. So maybe… even though he didn’t care about her at all, he could offer her a place there again, just in case she was feeling vulnerable. Not now though, for now he’d wait. “Good thing it takes a lot to kill a droid, huh?”
“I-I know... he made a mistake, that’s all,” Love replied, frowning. It was a struggle, knowing that Ridley left her long enough to be literally killed before she was thankfully brought back by him. “He beat himself up over it... I can’t be upset.”
“You know how the cops are with droids. They look at someone wrong and it’s the end of the line for them,” she said, coughing slightly as she talked too much. “... Y-Yeah. Good thing.”
“Honestly? I wouldn’t have if they didn’t come up to me personally bitchin’ about you being gone every night I went in. If I wasn’t there, they’d ask my manager what happened. It’s just easier for me to not deal with it. You swore you’d be safe, so I didn’t think anything of it.” Charles, or Envy rather since Charles had been packed away now, didn’t care about Love. Didn’t care to lie to her either. He was pissed at her, sure, but a little happy she got what he warned her about too. Envy had moved on now and was on the hunt for a new best girl. When she said the problem client was dead, he wasn’t surprised.
“Should be.” he locked eyes with her, “Didn’t deserve to live after what he did.” It was just a fact to Envy, it wasn’t meant to sound as devoted to her as it came out. “Your droid okay too?”
“They didn’t demand me that much,” Love said, shaking her head through her discomfort. “I was safe, my droid was just busy for the moment.” And tortured the client to death, from what he had explained to her.
“I don’t know... murder isn’t really my thing,” she admitted. “He’s fine. Johnny just stabbed nicked his ribcage in the fight, he’s okay.”
Charles tilted his head in question, but continued checking her vitals in silence only talking when he gave her instructions to follow. Look here, follow my pen, etc. Finally, when he was done he sighed and rubbed his face. “Thank you for cooperating. It’s going to take your lungs a bit of time to heal. I’ll get you an incentive spirometer to assist.”
Charles looked down, somewhat ashamed, “It’s possible…” He knew that wouldn’t be enough, so he explained further, “I was trying to help you get started by sending a few of your regulars. I didn’t think any of them would be violent.” It was only a half truth. That night, that particular client was kicked out for causing problems. “If I could have known beforehand, I wouldn’t have sent any of them.”
Love followed his instructions quietly, not speaking to him out of discomfort.
I was trying to help you get started by sending a few of your regulars. “Wh-Why would you do that?” Love asked, trying to figure out why he would do that. Who gave their competition clients? And of all clients, it had to be Johnny? The nastiest man hellbent on having her fall in love with him? For play? “He’s... he’s dead now.”
“If it’s all the same to you, Love, I’ve like to make sure everything is fine myself.” Charles rolled to the side of her bed and put the stethoscope in his ears, “May I?” Without waiting for her answer, he placed the chest piece above her breast bone. “Deep breaths, love.”
“I want a different doctor... I don’t trust you,” she said, uncaring that he placed the diaphragm on her chest. He deserved to hear her voice blaring in his ears. Finally she conceded, however, taking painful deep breaths for the doctor. “Did you send him to my home?” The ghel assumed he knew that it was a client she had back at Jewels that did this to her, figuring that it was him that sent him her way.
“I just own Jewels, Love.” Charles chuckled and turned around to grab a rolling chair so he could sit next to her bed. “I’m your doctor. It’s just coincidence they took you here and not my old hospital.” To prove he was telling the truth, he removed his badge and passed it to her so she could have a closer look. “I need to check and make sure everything is okay.”
Love weakly accepted the badge, trying not to look outwardly horrified about it. He was her doctor? He was her actual doctor? Her eyes tried to focus on the badge, the sedatives in her system making it much harder than she anticipated. “I... I — I’m fine.”
It was a surprise for Charles when she was rushed in, but he didn’t have time to dwell on the coincidence. They had a lot of work to do fixing her up. He wasn’t the only surgeon in the room, but he did request to be the one she’d talk to when she woke up. Whether it was the Passenger ready to gloat, or just Charles’s concern, they were there when she woke up.
“That’s good news!” Charles said with a smile as he pulled up the tablet with all of her medical information. He quickly entered the time and date along with some other notes before setting it back in it’s original place. He walked around the bed, unsure of how she’d take the news that he was her doctor, “May I check a few things now you’re awake?”
•
Love felt like she was going to have a heart attack the moment she saw her boss. No, former boss. Shit. Why was he here? Especially when she was in a situation like this?
“Why —— why do you need to check anything? I’m — I’m not coming back to work,” she said, the beeps of her heart rate increasing.
Ever since she was escorted out of the surgery, Love was horribly groggy. She remembered Ridley and her father being there, she remembered the droid questioning her to her newfound fifth band on her wrist.... and she remembered admitting to Rune that she loved Ridley. A nightmare. It was a relief when they were finally escorted out, although the cold and quiet hospital room was starting to get to her.
Pain medication had been pumped into her system the second they were able to, making every move and word groggy and miscalculated half the time. Shit. She heard the door open, likely a doctor or a nurse to see if she hadn’t died from her healing lung yet. “I’m awake,” she slurred, tilting her head to see who was coming in.
It didn’t make any sense to Charles because even if the droid was there all the time. Droids, despite some being sentient, were still machines with code and could be hacked just like people with cyber implants. The passenger inside wanted him to react violently, to yell at her and force her to stay, but Charles (unaware of it’s presence) assumed they were just intrusive thoughts. Maybe he was just jealous, or sad because he wouldn’t see her every time he came in anymore.
Wrath was boiling up inside of him and his jaw ticked, but he turned away from her so she couldn’t see it. Despite the protests inside, he still managed to say, “I’ll miss you, you know?” Then added softly as an afterthought, “I just wish you would stay.”
It would be a lie for her to return the sentiment, to say that she would miss him too. But no, the only people she’d miss in that place would be her co-workers. “I just can’t. I hope you understand,” she said, wondering if she should acknowledge him missing her. “I’m sure you’ll get some girls that will make as much money as me. It’s a big city, there are plenty of ghel girls around.”
𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙽 » toothy grins, stories around the campfire, clothes covered in pet hair, hot temper, old jeans, heartbeat in head, potatoes and steak, beaded jewelry, bruises like galaxies, mementos, backpack stuffed full, craigslist furniture, spontaneous road trips, air ripped from lungs.
𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙳 » homemade bread, white lies, easily excited, trying on hats, band geek, pep talks, no impulse control, sunsets, vintage fashion, long showers, selfies, following dreams, rosy cheeks, song mash-ups, pink lemonade with tequila, loves easily, animated storyteller, full of comebacks.
𝙲𝙻𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙲 » list of wishes, biting their tongue, band-aids and neosporin, shoulder to cry on, morning sun, necklaces, trial and error, homemade quilts, formal clothing, astrology fan, messages in bottles, pleated braids, speaking up for friends, feathers, motivational quotes, vivid dreams.
𝙳𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙳 » bird watching, shy kid, wind chimes, trying to whistle, summer camp, apple orchards, lost in their head, glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, hoodies, thrift shopping, saving worms off the sidewalk, latin, bare feet, thunderstorms, numb fingers, braided hair, naming potted plants.
𝙵𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙴𝚁 » goosebumps, leather jackets, adventure, chewing nails, cares deeply but can’t show it, bronze locks, no sleep, taste of iron, netflix binges, never forgets, combat boots, stories behind scars, table for one, official soundtracks, sore calves, trusts themselves the most.
𝙼𝙾𝙽𝙺 » always trying to be better, wanderlust, meditation, sweatpants, old photographs, yoga, sleeping in hammocks, nostalgia, minimalist design, breath of fresh air, baby animals, volunteering, perfectionist, doesn’t care about fashion, healthy snacks, noticing the little things
𝙿𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽 » school uniforms, thick jackets, sleeping with the windows open, logical advice, scrapbooking, compasses, i fight for my friends, sculpture gardens, cold morning air, big soul, likes routine, secret romantic, last to get jokes, sunflowers, practical presents, misty weather.
𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙶𝙴𝚁 » herbal tea, smell of rain, blinking away tears, camping trips, collecting bones, swiss army knives, first impressions, anxious thoughts, bobby pins, burnt marshmallows, too competitive, clothes lines, messenger bags, holding grudges, gets along better with animals than people.
𝚁𝙾𝙶𝚄𝙴 » flirtatious sarcasm, candid photos, lost phone chargers, adrenaline rush, picking dirt out from beneath their nails, social chameleon, clashing clothes, self-deprecating jokes, claw machines, sits in chairs wrong, smudged eyeliner, has too many sunglasses, eats nothing or everything.
𝚂𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝚁𝙴𝚁 » infectious laugh, family trees, shivers down their spine, lipstick and roses, mood swings, clumsy, believing in destiny, high expectations, sleeping in darkness, collection of nail polish, passionate, good grades but never studies, poetry books, blowing kisses, not knowing their own strength.
𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙺 » knowing everyone’s secrets, backpack covered in pins, envy, being in walmart late at night, earl grey, selective memory, conspiracy theories and cryptids, keysmashing, need to know basis, can’t cook, bags under eyes, experimental art, flickering bulbs, black clothing all year long.
𝚆𝙸𝚉𝙰𝚁𝙳 » piles of books, cat in lap, keeping a diary, indecision, scented candles, studying alone in a café, lingering touches, museum dates, unanswered questions, taking on too much responsibility, collections, chalk dust, comfy robes, unnecessary apologies, coming home after a long day.
“I understand, Love.” It was a lie, he really didn’t understand. Bringing clients to her own home seemed… actually a lot more dangerous for her. Sure, someone was killed in the next room here, but that wasn’t one of his jewels. He attempted a smile, but behind that crocodile smile was enough rage and despair to fill this entire building. “But don’t you think it’s a little reckless bringing clients home? They’ll know where you sleep at night, effectively putting you in harm’s way twenty-four seven.”
“I understand the risks,” Love said, crossing her legs slowly. “I have a droid —— if I understand correctly, he’s willing to stay around all day for protection. I just need enough time to save money to leave the Slums. Then it won’t be a problem. I promise. I appreciate your concern.”
She stood up from the bed, courage far from building as she approached him. “Thank you, Charles. Really. For helping me get on my feet here in Avalon.”
“Out of home?” That made her leaving so much worse if she was still going to directly impact his business. Everything in Charles told him to stand up straighter and frighten her into submission, but Charles only walked closer to her and leaned against the wall. “I really wish you would stay, tell me what I can do to make you change your mind.”
“I know, I’m sorry —— it’s just... I don’t feel safe here, I already have someone working as protection as soon as I start. It just is going to work out better that way,” Love said, standing her ground as best as she could. She couldn’t deny the stress as he approached her. “I hope you understand.”
