Lucielle

Teddy couldn’t let her walk into Public looking like this, there was so much pain and suffering on her face that could literally worry anyone with a heart, he was careful to check their surroundings to pull over, the car tires hitting the gravel as other cars that were going about their business as he turned off the engine and sat there for a moment trying to compose his words, he new she was going to say something like this and while he couldn’t preempt what she was going to say and could only really just listen to her words, he tried to think of what his next words were going to say to her. 

“Yes you did something wrong but it’s not the worse thing in the world to have happened here” he started off wanting to at least put things in perspective for her; “There are people that have murdered others that have gone to trial and come out the other end” he didn’t want to worry her here but he was trying to paint a picture for her; “You have a case that can be made, a case that I can help you with if you let me. I know what you are trying to do and Luci-…” his words trailing off as he reached a sweater paw’d hand out to hold hers, while handing her some tissues he pulled from the glove box; “You are a good person, despite what bullshit your boyfriend tells you, you are a good person”

There was no way on Earth that he could just sit here, with the money he did and wasn’t going to help her, it was basically in a woman’s nature to deny things because they felt like they didn’t deserve them but Teddy knew better then that; “I need you to stop and listen to me okay-…” he wanted to touch her; hold her hand, her cheek, something but he couldn’t, instead he took some tissues dabbing at her cheeks; “Victims of abuse are made to think they are not worth anything, it’s called manipulation but if I have to stand here, day after day and make you realise you are worth something then I will-… because I know it-… deep down in here” pointing at her heart softly. “So please-… let me help you”

Luci really needed a way to bring herself down when she sent herself into these spirals. There was something so familiar about the fact that she could slip so easily into a panic, She wished it was different but right now she couldn't see an end to it, and that was a part of her problem. "I still broke the law, Teddy, someone could commit murder but that's a different law. Laws are meant to protect people, aren't they? According to the law, I'm one of the worst things to happen." It didn't matter to her how many times someone told her she was worth something, she would always see the worst in herself, even when there was nothing bad beneath the surface. Her hand reached out, wanting so badly to hold his hand, but her hand was bandaged and unable to do so. "He tells me a lot about how bad I am. How nothing I am. I'm sorry I don't mean to be so negative but it's hard when all you hear is about how worthless you are."

She sniffled, looking up at him with such big puppy dog eyes, it was hard to see anything but Teddy's face right now, and that was something new for her. She usually just looked past people assuming they were going to treat her the same but Teddy was different. Her little sad face was turned to him and the more he spoke to her, the more she felt like he really knew what he was talking about, and for the briefest of moments, she was staring at his lips, wishing she could kiss him. But he was married, and she had a more gentle heart than to try and take a married man. "Your wife must be so happy with you. I can't believe someone managed to get so lucky to be married to you."

Teddy didn’t like to flash his wealth around, he figured it only down graded a person and in all honesty he hated the kind of impression that it gave off with someone who most likely didn’t have the kind of fortune he had; “Oh sure you were-… Nice try Chicken” she probably was joking and that was okay, he just wanted her to feel something other then this pain she was feeling right now; “You will not be dying, at least not on my watch. Which I just put new batteries in so save your funeral arrangements” he didn’t want her to fade away from him, sure this was the only time he had really talked to her but if she knew Teddy well enough like Lola did then she would know the attachments he got to people and objects.

In all seriousness, the accent imitating was fun but at the end of the day it seemed like she was in a very real situation; “Never say there is no way or no place to do something. If it doesn’t exist then I will create one for you. We can rent a place or you can stay at mine-… whatever the situation is -… I will create one for you-… Chich” the tears in her eyes literally broke him, twenty four hours and he would have gotten on her knees for her, the hazel orbs were already beautiful on their own but to add a glassy veil over them? He couldn’t handle it. He opened the door for the other making sure that she was able to sit down, snagging the pillow from under his arm to place on her lap making sure to tuck her in and pet her head before leaving going around to the drivers side;

“I know-… but you do have a choice-… you may not be able to fight it-… but I can, with a good lawyer, someone on your side-… you can do this Luci-… I know you can. And I’m not going anywhere unless you physically push me away-…” with one hand on the steering wheel and one on the gear stick he allowed his arm to rest behind her head on her chair as he pulled out of the driving parking lot, allowing silence to fill the car; “You’re not alone in this Luci-… you know that right?” he honestly felt for her and he couldn’t leave her in the dark like this not when he could do something about it.

Maybe it was seen as a bad thing in his eyes, but Luci didn't like to judge a person based on what they had or what they didn't have, as difficult as it was to admit she didn't have enough, she also wasn't the type to judge a person who did have enough. "I was, you never know!" She said with a shake of her head, a small smile peeking through the sides of her mouth, quickly shutting it away in hopes he didn't see it. "So don't go dying because you just put a new battery in and you can't afford the flowers?" She enquired, a far more genuine smile making her way through her facade.

Luci figured that he had enjoyed intimidating her accent and she made a mental note to tell him he shouldn't try hers again. "There isn't, Teddy. You've done so much for me just helping me because I'm stupid and clumsy, I'm not a good person in this, Teddy. I'm not, I came here  illegally, I did all of this because I wanted to support my parents, and look at me now." The tears in her eyes were flowing down her cheeks, she brought her arm up to wipe away the tears that were flowing and she shook her head. "I missed my own papas funeral because I couldn't afford to go home to see them." It was one of the things that cut her the deepest, the fact that she had missed so much of her old life and she was still here struggling to just exist.

"I don't... You've already done too much for me Teddy, you're not... You shouldn't even be talking to me, I'm a terrible no good person and no one in their right mind should want to talk to me." They were all things that her boyfriend had drummed into her from the first day she met him, and if you got told something often enough you really did start to believe it. She covered her face with her arm, just wanting the tears to stop, but she was starting to have a panic attack and she didn't know what she could do to stop it.

“I am definitely the most gorgeous thing in town, you said so yourself and don’t think I didn’t hear you because I did” it was nice to have a change of atmosphere, he wouldn’t be able to have this kind of banter with his wife at home and it was almost a foreign concept to him but atlas it was just nice to experience even if it was a rarity; “Even if I did, I definitely wouldn’t mind paying the medical bills. Who else is going to right?” it’s not like her boyfriend was here to support her, which annoyed him to no end because even if he hadn’t spoken to someone in twenty years, if they called him up and said they were hurt and needed help-… he would have been there in a heart beat for them

“What if I funded you while you were on sick leave” pausing to hold his hands up to her preempting what she was going to say; “I know you, you are going to be like ‘oh Teddy please no’-…” doing a terrible attempt at her accent before continuing;  “…- But you need to understand that health is important to-… can’t have those animals harassing you” his lips forming the word differently as if to send a message to say he understood; “I don’t think you are sensitive to it just a mishap, it happens. But let’s get you that Luke Warm Iced Chocolate-… whatever it is now” his arm under hers as they walked and exited the building not really sure when to detach himself; “Hey-… I will not touch your butt-… your phone will touch your butt” sliding it into her back pocket without touching it but also being very jealous of the piece of technology; “There! See!” 

"Damn you got me, I was definitely only joking, absolutely, that's what it was." She said with an almost roll of her eyes, but it was nice having this kind of conversation with anyone, she was too used to every conversation she ever had with her boyfriend being stiff and unyielding. "You know who will pay my medical bills? Me when I die probably. It would certainly make things easier." It might have been harsh but it was the truth, she couldn't pay for her medical bills if she wasn't alive to be there to pay for them, and that was truly the way that she saw things happening.

"Tedd-" she huffed when he figured out what she was about to say, it was hard to find that he had her figured out already, but a part of her was also about to laugh for his attempt at her accent, she didn't want to laugh though. "What happens when the animals that are harassing me are at home and I have no place to go to escape them?" She questioned, a few little tears forming in her eyes, but whether it was from the abuse or the pain in her hands she would never say. "Definitely a lukewarm slightly warm cold chocolate. I think that makes sense." She didn't want to let go of him, it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her, in fact, she kind of wanted to rest her head on his shoulder but she thought that was too far. She waited until they were all in the car to turn to him, no time like the present. "Teddy... I can't leave him. I can't because I'm not a legal citizen and he knows it. And he won't let me go." Her eyes welling up and tears forming in her eyes. "I put up with it because I have no other choice."

“I actually think they are really clever because I mean-… you know me with my handsome good looks and winning personality-… I would be sparing a lot of women a lot of medical bills with giving birth after getting them pregnant you know-… couldn’t have that” he could be a little shit sometimes when he was comfortable and it was when he was with someone like Luci who he could be at ease with that this side of him came out; “Rosies-… I know that place, it’s near where I work I actually walk that way sometimes when I go to my favourite cafe so you will see me there-… though I personally think you need more then three days” He had seen her hands, they had been in terrible condition, and there was no way he she would be able to do anything with those hands after three days; “Or we get you a Iced Chocolate with those gloves that have a heating pad in them so you don’t actually feel the cold” waiting for the nurse to return his card and the okay for her to leave before turning his attention back to her pulling his hand back immediately after he felt her nibble wiping his hand on her leg with a smile on his face as he offered her a hand; “Come on Chicken-… let’s get you that treat.”

“Oh dear, the poor ladies would have a time with you wouldn’t they? Good thing I don’t think of you that way then isn’t it? You never have to worry about paying more medical bills with me. Although I will say… Birth control is cheaper.” She poked her tongue out at him, feeling entirely comfortable with him, and of course it was absolutely a lie considering she had just told him how attractive he was. “Well hey, that makes it super convenient right? I probably do, but if I did that I would be more broke and my circumstances mean I can’t apply for aid.” She didn’t want to get into the nitty gritty more than she had to, she would explain that later. “Hey, that sounds like another idea, something to stop me being so sensitive to all that.” She chuckled when he wiped his hand, shuffling herself up and wrapping her arm under Teddy’s. “Okay! Oh hey, you can put my phone back in my pocket if you want. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you touched my butt.” 

“You know-… I would like to say this face got me attention but I promise you-… the only attention I got was the wrong attention” besides the ring on his finger tended to ward people off, it wasn’t that he hated the ring but it was more just a reminder of the prison that he considered himself in right now; “I really want to see this dog, I will have to stop by when you are feeling better” he would use it as another excuse to see her, because this was definitely not going to be the last time, it couldn’t be; “So you drop them if they are too hot and you get frost bite if they are too cold-… I don’t know if we can have a silver lining here” he gave her a look that told her to not even play that card but since her hand was in bandages he took the time to cover her mouth playfully with his big hand forcing the nurse to take the card; “Girlfriends-… never want their partner to pay” knowing that would get the nurse on him side leaving her to exit to charge him for her medical bills.

“Well, then those people were either totally blind or incredibly stupid.” She said with a shrug, being almost completely undeterred by the fact that he had a ring on his finger, because talking to other people were some of the only times when she felt like she had any kind of freedom. “Well, I imagine I’ll have about three days off and then I’ll be back to work, so three days from now? Down at Rosies pet store.” She was already looking forward to seeing him again if she was being honest. “see the silver lining would be an iced chocolate next to a roaring fire so I can warm my bones while the iced chocolate cools me down.” Luci felt a little helpless as she watched the nurse walk away, she didn’t know how she was going to pay him back for this, or how she was even going to explain. But she had to get a little playful with it, and she provided him with a cute little delicate nibble to the palm of his hand.

“I mean if you came back after I said hi-… you would probably be the only person to do so. I promise I’m pretty lame” Teddy didn’t think he was at all endearing in terms of personality in fact he thought he was pretty boring so for her to come back and want to talk to him was a feat in itself; “So-… many dogs I mean have you seen their paws? Some of them just-… can tear you apart if you aren’t careful” wanting to sell the lie for her, because he could understand that if he didn’t then she could find herself in a bigger situation then necessary and he didn’t want that for her; “Luke warm chocolate sounds best-… but have you tried a Iced Chocolate? That might work better in your favour” the nurse tapping his shoulder to ask how the financial system was going to work before passing her his credit card and letting her know to charge what was necessary before turning back to the darling brunette; “That’s right-… my high school girlfriend use to call me that”

“Are you kidding? The only person? I’m surprised you aren’t spoiled for choice with that face.” She realized very quickly what she said and bit her lip, a blush crawling in over her cheeks as she wished the floor swallowed her whole. “Yeah, that’s right. Mean dogs except for that one I was telling you about.” She said it so happily, almost like her heart broke every time she thought of such a good dog living its life without an owner. “I do like iced chocolates but I must say I feel like I’d shiver myself into a wreck if I had one with how cold it is.” When he handed his credit card over she frowned. “Wait... What are you doing? These are my medical bills I can’t expect you to pay for me. No no I won’t allow it, please add it to Lucielle Martinez’s outstanding balance.”

“See it sounds so simple but it’s not actually that simple. I mean I should have but I felt like I would have been really weird like saying ‘Hi’ then walking away” he was standing in the corner when the nurse lifted up her sleeves, Jesus Christ this was so bad. Teddy knew enough to know that this was more than just a terrible relationship; she could say all she wanted to say but he knew that animals didn’t leave hand imprints on her arms; “Terrible animals aren’t they?” keeping up the appearances for the nurse so that she didn’t report and get the other in more trouble; “how about we get you a hot chocolate and get you a straw so you don’t burn those hands again” making a mental note to ask her about it; “By the way-… did I say what my name was?” laughing at the odd question.

“I dunno, I think it would fascinate me so much that I’d have to come back and figure out what was going on with the guy who just said hi to me and nothing else.” She could just tell that he knew exactly what had happened to her arms, she just hoped he wouldn’t think anything less of her that she was putting up with it. She just couldn’t see any other way that she could leave her diablo of a boyfriend. “Yeah... The dogs and their happy tails get too happy.” She tried to lie, offering a small smile in order to keep it quiet. “And maybe make it a little less hot chocolate. Warm chocolate if you will.” She tried to make a joke because it made things less difficult to face. “Theodore... Teddy... Like a teddy bear... Right?”

“No I think you should have gotten it, would I have met you if you didn’t” he really wanted to take her out of this she needed a bit of sunshine in her life and a reason to smile there were not enough reasons to smile; “Number four it is then, I’m glad you are keeping track I will need to put this in my phone and up my joke game” he wasn’t that great at telling jokes he had to be honest but he was gonna try-… “I tell you what, let’s just get you cleaned up. Bandaged up and if it’s not too late I’ll take you to get that hot chocolate-… which will be on me and then we can discuss what you want to tell me okay?” it will be better that way they can have their privacy and not risk someone else overhearing. 

"All you would have had to do was say hi." She said with a shrug, then again that's all she would have had to do as well. But it was hard to admit to that. "Oh no, I said don't count them! That's just rude." But she hadn't stopped smiling since he told the joke, even smiling through the pain of her hands being touched. "That really does sound like something good. Maybe I'm getting my hopes up... but maybe I might even be able to hold my hot chocolate. And maybe I ask for it a little less hot." The nurse had pulled her sleeves up to check for anything that might also be burnt, but the bruises where her boyfriend had grabbed her and bruised her arms were very visible. Instead of being honest about them she lied and explained they were from pets jumping all over her.

“I think I’ll be the judge of that-… besides from what I’ve seen so far the only thing I don’t think you are good for is that hot chocolate that got us in that mess in the first place” the nurse coming in at that point and distracting him from what he was going to say placing her phone in his back pocket so that he didn’t loose it; “Ah ha! Smile number five!” at least he thought it was number five anyways, the nurse giving him an odd look; “I’m counting her smiles since she thinks I can’t make her smile” he had to explain so she didn’t think he was an idiot; “that’s crazy anyone can leave anyone” says the person who has been with someone for the last 10 years and hasn’t been able to leave her despite what he knew

"I shouldn't have gotten the hot chocolate, then I could have really made sure that I wasn't hurt at all." She said with a sigh, sitting back when the nurse came in and holding up her hands so the nurse could start putting the thick cream on them to start cooling off the burns. "That's no fair, jokes don't count when they're meant to make me smile or laugh. And it's number four, not five." she corrected, raising a brow. It was hard to explain when she wasn't able to go into detail, especially not with a nurse in the room, but when the nurse left she decided to take a shot in the dark. "Can I tell you something and you not think any less of me?" She really wanted to explain it to someone.

“Sure someone might be upset but I mean-… you can be engaged in a lot of things, like engaged in a movie or a really good book-… but from what I can tell Luci, you’re a pretty cool chick” he wouldn’t have gone every day to the coffee shop if he didn’t at least fancy her a little bit; “To get to Al’s Toybarn of course” yes, he was a child, he had never grown up and that was both a perk and a con to him; “Luci-… I don’t mean to pry here but-…. are you okay? Like-… I know we just met and all but-… this guy doesn’t exactly seem like the best thing for you right now you know?”

“Engaged in a friendship then? That sounds good right? Ugh no I’m not, you just see me from what you’ve seen so far, I’m not good for anyone.” Maybe that was a little bit too far, but her current boyfriend really did start making her think that way. “Oh my goodness you are too much!” but at least she was smiling, that was at least one positive of it. He had managed to make her smile again. “I will be, I know he’s not the best for me, I can’t leave him though, he knows too much about me.”As much as she wanted to explain, she couldn’t put her life in danger. “I can’t say much more than that.”

“Then we become best friends-… Don’t you want to become best friends with me? Then at 4 hours we basically become engaged.” it felt good to have a bit of a banter if he was honest, he just wanted to relax and not have to feel so up tight about everything; “They aren’t useless-… the nurse is going to fix them up but okay-… why did-… the chicken-… cross the road” seeing her so upset like this literally broke his heart like how could someone treat her like this? “Do you want me to hang onto your phone just in case he calls again and then I can verbally abuse him?” { @unbrcakablc​ }

"Oh I think someone might be upset if you become engaged to me, I'm not someone you want to be engaged to." She tried to say it so quickly that he didn't have a choice but to agree with her. That way she could pretend she hadn't built him up in her head. "I mean they're a little useless you have to admit. Oh dear... why did the chicken cross the road?" She had grown used to being upset lately. As sad as that fact might be, it was true. "I would like you to hold onto my phone, but I don't think he will call again. He doesn't care enough. Please don't abuse him, I mean I want you to but it would be bad for me."

She didn’t have a lot to worry about, while Teddy didn’t like to boast about it; he did have some fortune behind him from when his adoptive parents took him in and he wasn’t a big spender so he still had a lot of finance in a bank account that even his wife didn’t know about; “You really don’t need to worry about a cup of coffee I promise you. In fact if it makes you feel better I will get one at the hospital just for you” allowing her consent first before doing anything he leaned in careful not to knock or touch her painful looking hands as he took the seat belt clicking it in place; “Sometimes these meetings are the best ones-… if we end up friends we can have a good laugh about it over some drinks one time” smiling at her before slowly closing the door and walking around to the drivers side.

Luci had made her way over here from Cuba by a tiny little boat, she was meant to be helping her parents back at home and so far she had been doing a terrible job of it, at least she had been in her opinion. It was hard to not think about the fact that she hadn't been doing good for them when things like this kept happening. "It might make me feel a little better actually, I might even manage a smile." She said, manoeuvring her hands so they didn't get hurt in the process of being strapped in. If she was more in her right mind she might have thought more about it, but her hands were hurting. "Hey, I'd like that if I'm being honest with you. A laugh might do me good." It was hard not to notice how attractive he was, it was one of the hardest things she had to do right now. "Thank you."

Teddy would cover everything, not because he liked to show off but because he was a gentleman and he would do this for anyone. It was just the person he was, he always was too accomodating to people and this is why he always got taken advantage of and walked all over but at the end of the day; he couldn’t walk away knowing he could have done something to help her; “No date-… and don’t worry cup’s of coffee’s are easy to come by” holding the door open for her as he balanced her by holding her elbow offering the passenger seat; “Don’t worry I don’t bite and it’s nice to meet you Luci-… I’m Theodore but you can call me Teddy. I would shake your hand but it looks kind of raw there. Want me to buckle you in?”

Luci really didn't want to put anyone out with her medical bills when she was stupid enough to take an incredibly hot chocolate out into the snow without thinking about it. It was just going to be one of those burdens, and once again she was going to have more medical debt to add to her growing list. "Still, cups of coffee don't exactly taste as good as certain spots." She climbed into the car, avoiding everything that might touch her hands and trying very hard to stop them hitting into anything. "It's nice to meet you too, Teddy, it would have been nicer to meet on... Less painful terms." She said, nodding and trying to move her hand in a way that she could avoid them getting touched. "Please?"

Teddy had a long day at the office and usually he would have been rushing to get home to see his wife but in all honesty as the years went on he found himself getting slower and slower and the way he did that was by stopping over at the coffee shop for his daily dose of caffeine to keep him awake; “Thanks Dave” giving him a salute before leaving when he heard the cup spill on the floor turning around as he laid eyes on the girl he had seen here the last couple of times flying to help her to be at her aide; “Hey-… are you alright?-… Can we get her the same order? It’s on me!” he called out placing his cup on the ground

If it wasn't one thing it was the other, so when Luci pulled the gloves off her hands her hands were bright scalding red and her skin was starting to blister. "Oh no." she whispered, her first instinct to drop and use the snow to cool her hands down. She looked up at the stranger sadly, shaking her head, and showing her hands. "I think I really hurt my hands quite badly." She said, pulling them out of the snow to show him, child-like eyes peering up at the other. "Maybe it's a lot more serious than I thought."

She had been dumped in an alleyway hoping that she wouldn't wake up, but as she stumbled up to her feet the warmth of the sun wasn't quite so warm and inviting as she had hoped, a hiss escaped from between her lips and she took off running, finding her way through all the shadows of the alleys and avoiding any light. She wasn't used to being this fast or being this strong, someone in the back alley was bleeding, she could sense it. She shot toward them, needing that blood, needing to feel it coating her throat.”I’ve got you now.”