Wage War *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Frustration

I'm mad, but I can't tell what exactly I'm mad about. I'm not sure if I'm mad at Obi, the clock, Eiro's stupid dead self, getting injured, or what, but I'm not handling it well. All I've seemed to be able to do so far is snap at Obi for trying to help me. I just hate being injured because it means I have to rely on someone, usually a man, and I'd sworn when I left home I'd never have to rely on a man to help me. Sadly, putting off getting my stab wound cared for has left me a little woozy and now I can't see so I have two options: let Obi help or die. Dying is a pretty decent sounding option though...

"Stitch my side, but be quick about it. I can't see shit anymore."

I find myself laying on my side with my shirt pulled up enough for him to work on the wound without getting a show out of it.

"Why did you leave home?" He asks quietly, breaking the silence. "You were considered a Lady, right? You could have had everything handed to you."

"That may be but when you're set to marry someone you don't love, who tells you that you're incredibly hideous and stupid but the dowry is worth it, you re-evaluate your life's decisions." I sigh, then cringe as the needle scrapes my rib. "Then of course, when you try to refuse the marriage, Daddy Dearest and Step-Mommy Nightmare Fuel beat you mercilessly and lock you in the wine cellar for three weeks. Only good that came from that is I'm now an alcoholic and I got- well, had my clock."

I sit upright once he's done stitching and wrapping my side and reach for my cigarette pouch but his hand gently lands on mine to stop me. I arch a brow and open my mouth to tell him to shove off, but he gives me a look. I roll my eyes and sigh as I tell him to ask his question before I change my mind.

"Why do you smoke so much now? You never smoked this frequently all the years we were working together."

"Because I'm speeding up my race toward the inevitable, one inhale at a time. Also, stress. Lots and lots of stress."

"What could make you more stressed now than you were over the past seven years? Nothing's changed."

One thing changed, one major thing... But I can't say that.

"It's nothing." I say instead.

"I know you better than that, you're lying through your teeth."

"If you know me so well, you'd know the answer." I retort as I slowly return to trying to grab my cigarettes. Obi withdraws his hand so I pull one out and light it. "I really need a drink... A lot of them."

I get to my feet to search the kitchen for any hidden liquor bottles I may have. I know for a while I had a really good stash, but some were used as antiseptic and I chugged several more. I find five bottles in a lower cabinet and grin. Now I can get drunk and clean the house. There's nothing I can do about the windows right now, but I can at least clean it up... then I'm probably going to abandon it and skip out on the rent. I don't exactly want Obi around since he's asking so many questions but he said he was going to help... I turn toward him and find him awkwardly standing in the main room, looking at war with his thoughts. How pitiful.

"Ah Hell, you'd die the moment you stepped foot outside the door in that condition. You owe me for saving your ass anyway, so you're going to help clean up as we- mostly me- get drunk."

Things are going better than I expected with the cleanup effort. The kitchen is finally put back together with the exception of my table, and the furniture in the main room is at least upright and put where it belongs. I've also drunk two and a half bottles and another bottle that I found, plus the one I remembered I hid in the oven. It's safe to say I'm feeling good. I have to clean the glass up now though. If I stay I'm going to be finding pieces for months. I won't be able to walk around barefoot.

"Shit!" I hiss as the large piece I tried to grab slices my palm.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I just need a bandage."

I grab the medical kit on the way to the sink and let the blood drip into it while I search for a bandage.

"Hold still, I've got it."

I look up at Obi as he grabs the bandages and carefully takes my hand. I tear my gaze away to the counter top as I feel his hands gently work. For an assassin, he's always been very careful with his movements when he wasn't fighting. It was one thing I'd always liked about him...

"Arowen...?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened to us?" He asks quietly and I force myself to look back up at him. "We were partners for so long, then we let that job ruin everything."

"Well we couldn't see eye to eye, then decided to kill each other instead."

"I miss how things used to be with us."

"We did have our moments, didn't we?" Part of me realizes that he's still holding my hand but I can't get myself to pull it away.

"Those were some of the best nights I ever had." He chuckles and I feel his grip tighten slightly.

The nights when we didn't have jobs, we would spend the night sparring each other, crashing noble or royal parties, or just simply getting drunk in random fields. Nothing else mattered and we had each other to depend on. I loved the way his eyes looked in the moonlight when we didn't have a care in the world... I never told him that though. He always just looked so happy and carefree, something I never was. We balanced each other out and I think that's what made us so great together. Honestly, I'm not even mad at him anymore and I never really cared for the bounty, I think I just wanted a way to keep him close even though we weren't working together anymore. I never told him anything about how I felt about anything...

"Arowen?"

"Yeah?" I mumble as I break free from my thoughts only for his lips to touch mine.