“oh god, you’re bleeding.” with Huscal?
The front door was wide open.
When Hubert peered inside, he saw a complete mess. Chunks of metal, varying in size from tiny to massive, littered almost every inch of the floor. Various pieces of brightly coloured equipment filled up the rest of the space.
Pascal herself was nowhere to be found.
Wondering for the umpteenth time how she can live like this, Hubert turned to go. But the moment he stepped on the front doorstep, it creaked.
A loud thunk of bone on metal, followed by a cry of pain, sounded from within the room.
“I’m heeeeeeeereeee…” came the weak reply from beyond a particularly rusty and large purple metal chunk, leaning precariously against one wall. Hubert rushed over as quickly as he could, stepping in holes of empty floor as if he were playing the weirdest game of twister.
Pascal was lying underneath a horizontal piece close to the base of the purple metal, a line of red trickling down her forehead.
“Oh god, you’re bleeding.“ Hubert knelt down. Sliding his hands beneath her arms, he lifted her carefully out. “Healing Wind!”
The cut stopped bleeding, and Pascal smiled gratefully, leaning back against his shoulder.
“What on earth were you doing down there?” he demanded.
“There’re several lines of code engraved into the metal there, so I was trying to read it,” Pascal explained. “But then I heard your footsteps, and I forgot where I was, so I sat up, and…” she gestured to the sharp broken edge of the base metal, and giggled sheepishly.
Hubert rolled his eyes. “Carelessness aside, most normal people would turn the whole piece over and read it from a safer position.”
“Well yes, but it’s kind of heavy, and there isn’t really much space here to move it around, ya know? I’d have to shift everything else out first, and that’s such a waste of time. I’d much rather be deciphering the code!” Pascal beamed.
“Stop looking as if that explanation justifies everything, because it doesn’t.” Hubert sighed. “Come on.”
“It’s time for lunch. Did you forget?” They had agreed to eat together a week ago.
Hubert grabbed her wrist. “We’re going to eat. Then I’ll come back and help you shift everything.”
Pascal’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yes, really. But you have to eat first.”
“Yayoooookay!!” Pascal leapt at him, throwing her arms around him. “You’re the best, Hu!”
Hubert hugged her back, his lips tugging into a reluctant smile.
“I warn you, we’re getting a proper meal. Not just chocolate bananas.”
“Yes, yes, okay, you fusser.” Rising on her toes, Pascal kissed him on the cheek. “Can we get choco-banana pie for dessert?”
Hubert chuckled. “Only if you promise to shower tonight.”
“For you,” she whispered. “I’d even use soap.”
