you, me, and the devil makes three.

<33

only after she’s pulled away from him does he realize that he has missed her embrace despite the fact that it caused him such discomfort for the moment. for a week and a half he had slept alone and afraid, a far fry from sleeping wrapped around her and waking early in the morning to Sam making her way into their bed to pressed between them. pulling off the hoodie and his shirt he lets the dirty and bloody items fall to the floor of his apartment. The skin underneath is unchanged minus the dried blood caked to it from that which had managed to soak through his shirt. on his arms a few new smaller cuts, the same as the ones he had always worn but without the time to heal.

ace knows in some still living part of his mind that he needs to clean up, get the blood off his skin and take care of the cut on his face but he knows in every other part of him that involves water and he won’t do that, can’t do that. with what little strength he had ace pulls himself up on the couch, leaving the clothing on the floor where it landed. “lis?” she’s out of his sight and he feels his heart rate pick up. but his voice is rough and weak.

the ache was unbearable, but now that he was here, finally in a place that was intended for warmth and comfort, there was the earth-shattering realization that another battle has only just begun. once an overwhelming sensation of relief, the tidal waves of pain were quick to sweep away whatever amount of joy his appearance had mustered; whether it was empathy, or it was the tether between their hearts, she didn’t know. all that she was entirely sure of were the tears, once again, stinging her eyes, sniffles ragging on her nose -- at his panicked voice, with a strong inhale, she poked her head around the corner; fixing a weak smile on her lips.

“yeah, baby?” at least his body wasn’t bruised, leaving the damage to something she could manage. she’s trying her damnedest to be quiet while soaking a rag, carefully wringing out the water as she walked towards him. “I can heal some o’ what you got, but it’s gonna scar up. I’m gonna have t’clean up this blood, baby, okay?”

baby, I’m thinking it over. what if the way we started made it cursed from the start? what if it only gets colder? would you still wrap me up and tell me that you think this was smart?

it’s too much, way too much, the impact of her smaller body feels like a searing blade down his body. he’s one exposed and aching nerve ending and every touch hurts, even the feeling of fabric on his skin is too much bu he can’t reach up, can’t wrap his hands around her to pull her away so he sits silently in his own special form of agony at the embrace he had craved since he was taken but now feels like hell. instead he sits still, lets her hold him in silence but when she speaks he has to shake him head, pulling away enough that he can turn his face away from her, the cut on his cheek obvious to her now though he hadn’t tried to hide it at all.

he’s not shaking or burning up, he’s just still and silent in a way that he knows isn’t normal for his body. ace is trapped in his own head, he was this way when he was a boy, had taken him years to find his own voice and even longer to sharpen it to the point it had been. now he’s stuck again. weak and afraid and more than anything in pain. holding up his bloody hand he hoped that was answer enough. 

it had to have been agony. in such duress, skin was aflame when touched -- even the lightest of touches felt like sandpaper on a wound. but, at the sight of him, there was little to no control in impulse. a mixture of emotions swirled in her tight chest, relief the predominant one. whatever his condition, he would be safe in her warms, anyone threatening the return of her happiness would be met with ferocity -- making it unlikely that he would see a face other than hers would be allowed without refusal. she only moved when he did.

once the text is sent the phone falls from his grip back to the table it has rested on for over a week now, there was barely any battery left when he picked it up and he cannot imagine it will last if anyone decides to call him but he doesn’t plan on picking up anyway. sinking to the floor at the front of his couch ace brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around it, forcing himself to look at his still bloody hand and knowing that the skin underneath the fabric of the stolen hoodie was just as coated. he’d known that the neck would bleed a lot. that’s why he’d gone for it but he hadn’t thought about the aftermath. this wasn’t the first death on his hand. but it was the first one done without his magic.

the door opening pulls his attention away from the blood but only just barely, if it hadn’t been lis he would have flown up and tried to put more distance between them instead he just stares with dark, unblinking eyes.

she breath catches when she seems him. it had felt like lifetimes, without him -- without knowing he was safe. when she was gone, she had least known he was as far from as he could be. this wasn’t the case. instead of resting on the blood, or the cold desolate look behind those dark eyes, her eyes move to his hunched form; that of a child, begging for comfort when, in their lives, there was little to be had. prior experience of leaving him be when in this state was out the window; very possible burn marks be damned. he was home.

her body carries her towards his apartment without a second thought; a mindless decision driving her feet down the very familiar path that ended with him gone. whether it was a ruse, a trap, she couldn’t give less of a shit. all that she needed was ‘I’m home.’ thankful that she was already wandering the streets, she didn’t need to worry about Sam – it was Piper’s turn. despite knowing that the little girl would want to see her father, she hadn’t a doubt in her mind that it was best to give Ace time to adjust; to give answers. Lis hadn’t bothered knocking on the door, a hand was twisting the doorknob, his name leaving her lips as wild eyes skimmed the apartment. 

LIS WAS THE ONLY THING THAT LEFT GENIE WITH WILL TO LIVE  ;  she storms through the doors to se the celebrating crowds of people.  looking for that familiar face  -  the gorgeous face of her lover.  genie was covered in blood, but her red locks managed to stay clean or maybe blood had blended in.  she marches through the forum before looking for Lis.  to hear from an elder that lis was looking for her before.  genie makes no effort to celebrate with her rebel brothers and sisters as she runs to her chambers.  the run felt like forever until she softly opened the door with little to no breath left.  seeing the familiar face was a relief.  she let out a deep  sigh as she runs over to the other hitting her with full embrace.  “  lis … oh my god.  “  she pulls away from the hug quickly before placing her hands on her face.  “  are you okay?  “