The Gloves are Off

Untitled Part 17

Vik POV:

'Course the day fuckin' drags by...

Each minute feelin' like a goddamn hour, each hour feelin' like a whole fuckin' day just trickling through, takin' it's sweet time.

Never been so fidgety in my whole life, so impatient, so glued to my phone. Can't help but to check for messages every few minutes, hoping to see somethin' from her sayin' she's on her way back or that she made it home in one piece.

I glance down to see no new notifications and sigh, floppin' down on my couch and rubbing a hand over my face. It's gettin' late, the sun having set quite a bit ago, streetlights streaming through my window.

Guess she never really gave me a timeframe for when they'd be back. I'd kinda just assumed, and hoped, that they'd be back the same day. Can't even imagine the torture of tryin'a sleep while she's gone... not knowing what she's goin' through or where she even is, if she's alright or...

I shake my head and glance to my phone again, tossing it to the other end of the couch with another exasperated sigh, "fuckin' hell..."

My stomach growls and I at least got somethin' to distract me for a few minutes, gettin' up and rummaging through the fridge for somethin' to cook real quick. Only takes a few minutes to whip somethin' up, forcin' it down through my already fried nerves.

Goddamn... only been one day, her first gig since us bein' a thing, and I'm already fallin' apart at the fuckin' seams...

Manage to get and keep the food down, leavin' my phone on the couch while I go start the shower, thinkin' maybe gettin' away from it for a minute will help chill me the fuck out. Nice hot shower to relax my muscles, help me think clearly. Gettin' way too tense...

The water stings at first, just how I like it though, easin' in and havin' to adjust to the temperature, lettin' my muscles warm up as my skin starts to turn a light shade of pink by the time I reluctantly step out.

Run the towel through my hair, fluffin' it up a bit to get the main bit of water before I slip on a quick pair of sweatpants.

Still some drips here and there as I pad back out into my living room, tryin'a remember where I put that damn... oh, right.

I snag the phone off the couch, heart lurching when I see a notification.

Can't say I've ever opened a message that fuckin' fast.

Thankfully it's from her... not sure what kinda fresh hell I woulda been in if the one message I'd gotten today wasn't even her, pretty sure I'd've wanted to throw this goddamn phone.

'Just made it home, I'm in one piece like I promised! Gotta get cleaned up, but if you're awake maybe I can give you a call after?'

I finally feel my shoulders relax, a dull ache there from bein' wound so tight all day, typin' out a quick message back to her, knowin' she'll get it immediately whether she's got her phone in hand or not with those new optics, 'Good to hear, sweetheart. Call whenever you want, babe, I'll be up. If you need me to come over I can.'

Phone lights up again almost immediately, bringin' back that giddy fuckin' grin that's become synonymous with bein' around her lately, 'Don't have to do that, Vik. Sure you're tired, I'll settle for a phone call until I can see you tomorrow. Maybe grab lunch on your break?'

'Can do that, but you don't live far from me, babe. Just say the word and I'll head over. Might be having withdrawals being away from you so long already.'

I slip on a shirt and grab a few things I'll need for work tomorrow, stuffin' 'em into a duffle bag in case she says yes, chucklin' to myself when my phone chimes multiple times in a row. 3 unread messages flashin' across the screen when I pick it up: 'Oh, so it's a medical emergency is what you're saying?', ' Can't have you going through withdrawals, doc. That's some dangerous stuff.', 'Guess you can consider this 'the word', babe. Head on over whenever.'