𝘐𝘛'𝘚 𝘈𝘓𝘓 𝘈 𝘋𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘔 . . .

“ Seems like a done deal to me. ” Indifference met with mild sarcasm and a snort of laughter. He’s seen plenty before he decided to announce himself. A quiet wall to smoke on became less so when this all started. It’s not in his nature to get between trouble; he gets into plenty by himself and it’s not his business until his nosiness makes it his — but the thought was hardly needed. Almost unfair for the one who started it.

“ Tempting, but I’m more of a do-rae-mi sort of guy. Dont got anything ya want to get into. Just bored and noticed technique. ” Charlie had finally peeled from his spot. This guy doesn’t look like much but obviously that was a front. “ Dude wanted to shake ya down like you owed him money or somethin’. Soo let me guess…fugitive from another city or planet, drug dealer, in a gang, in debt-lemme know when I’m close. ”

oh well. he'll let that woman on the ship have it. call that charity — his good works for the day. a cigarette plucked from his pocket, ‘ you got a light ? ’ and call this . . . whatever. ‘ just a bounty hunter with bad intel. ’ the kid, sincere as he seems to be, could remind him of someone else if he squints. ‘ what's your story ? y'lose your rhythm section ? ’

"I guess you have a torelable personality..." They pursed their lips as if in thought. A smile held back. "I wouldn't mind dealing with it when we're old and wrinkly." Another peck, already in their own world. "I bet they would agree with me. Handsome, funny..." Julia threw the remaining of the cigarette to the ground. "Who wouldn't want to follow you wherever you lead them?"

❛ ⸻ the  sound  of  her  engine  cut  through  like  a  blade.     peach  barely  slowed  before  tires  bit  into  pavement,   car  swerving  hard  around  the  corner -  sharp,   and  possibly  reckless.          ❝     hey  !!     ❞          voice  snapped  through  the  open  window,   vehicle  making  a  rough  stop  at  the  curb.     she'd  noticed  @spiegls  surrounded,   possibly  caught  up  in  some  trouble.     the  passenger  door  unlocked  with  a  sharp  click.     whether  the  help  was  needed  or  not  was  entirely  his  choice   ;   she  figured  she'd  offer  anyways.          ❝     get  in...  !     quickly  !     ❞

𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙸𝚂 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 𝚆𝙸𝙽𝙳. 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙰𝙻𝚆𝙰𝚈𝚂 𝚂𝙻𝙸𝙿 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷 𝙼𝙴.

caretaker.

i'll  stay  until  you  fall  asleep.

you're  not  a  burden.  not  to  me.

you  don't  have  to  act  tough  with  me.

let  me  help.

if  you  need  to  cry,  i'll  look  the  other  way.

you  don't  have  to  talk.

let  me  handle  it,  just  for  a  minute.

rest,  i'll  watch  over  you.

i  don't  care  if  you  think  you're  fine.  i'm  staying.

deep  breaths.

just  lean  on  me.

you're  safe  now,  okay?  just  breathe.

i  know  it  hurts.  i'll  sit  here  as  long  as  it  takes.

i'm  not  leaving  until  i  know  you're  okay.

you  don't  need  to  hide.

let  me  take  care  of  you  this  time.

shh.  i'm  right  here.

you  don't  have  to  put  on  a  smile  for  me.

i  don't  think  less  of  you.

i'll  be  here  when  you  wake  up.

you're  allowed  to  lean  on  me.  that's  what  i'm  here  for.

you  don't  have  to  be  okay.

scoot  over,  i'm  not  letting  you  sleep  alone.

your  hair's  a  mess.  let  me  brush  it.

don't  apologize.

cared  for.

i'm  tired,  that's  all.

please  don't  go.

i  don't  know  what  i  need.

you  didn't  need  to  come.

you  shouldn't  have  to  see  me  like  this.

i  hate  feeling  like  this.

i  was  trying  to  push  through.  i  think  i  made  it  worse.

this  is  so  embarrassing.

can  you  just...  stay  a  little  longer?

i  didn't  think  anyone  would  notice...

i'm  not  safe  in  my  own  head  right  now.

why  are  you  being  so  gentle  with  me?

i  don't  want  you  to  fix  me.

today's  just...  one  of  the  harder  days.

i  didn't  know  i  needed  to  hear  that.

can  you  stay?  after  i  fall  asleep?

sorry.  i  didn't  mean  to  flinch.

i  don't  always  know  what's  going  to  help.

this  is  the  nicest  anyone’s  been  to  me  all  week.

i'm  sorry.  i  know  i'm  a  lot.

i  don't  even  know  why  i'm  crying...

i  think  i'm  broken.

you  didn't  have  to  do  all  this  for  me.

i  don't  want  to  be  a  burden.

Endearing. A peck to his lips. "I don't know, you should ask them." Another peck to his cheek. "If I were them, I'd go to the end of the world with you." A hum and another drag. "I'm telling you, you're a good looking one."

✴ 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙲𝚘𝚠𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝙱𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚙.

⸻ 𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 (𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯 — 𝘮𝘪·​𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦) something 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 and 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞

Did they hear correctly? A smile hidden, forehead against his chest. The darkness in the room camouflaging the red flush on their face. She could feel her ears burn up. His willingness to protect them, no hesitation. Goosebumps all over her body. Is this what it felt to be lo⸻ Their train of thought abruptly interrupted by his voice.

An accident — they recalled. It all made sense now. Off to war. Running away. The reason a night like this could be possible. Never would have they imagined the so-called accident involved Spike. Of course, there were no accidents when Vincent Vicious was involved. She let out a scoff, disbelief written all over their face. They should've known.

Of course, he would not dare face consequences. Not when Spike could fight back.

Julia pushed back, catching his face again. Eyes focused on his. "Your left eye and right eye are different colors…" Julia couldn't say much more. They didn't dare rub salt on a wound that was not healed yet.

Vicious... what a fitting alias.

Hand rested on his cheek, thumb caressing his face. A feeling they couldn't pinpoint washed all over them. "I should've taken care of you." Guilt. They wondered if there could've been a way to stop it. To stop HIM. Maybe if they were courageous... Maybe if they had known... Could they? Or would she be another victim? They leaned in, softly kissing the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry."

‘ julia. ’ if he could say any more in the moment, he still wouldn't. all the words that could be mustered, or laughed, or screamed at the top of his lungs would always boil down to the one sound anyway. julia. he's aware that they're still watching his eyes when they close, forcing back the sting of tears. one eye feels the pain. the other never will again.

i should have taken care of you, they say. with whatever will he still has, he holds them to his chest, chin resting over their head — searching for closeness, or another way to hide ? even he can't be sure. ‘ we could go. ’