NUMB

2 - A deadly attack

!W! Mention of strong language and violence.

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Ragnor's angry eyes kept glaring at him as he walked towards the couple. He knew he was screwed but still hoped that they would understand.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS, BANE!?"

"Jeez Ragnor, calm down. You're acting like I've committed a crime. It was just one-"

"Just one!?" Catarina yelled, "say that to your itching and trembling hands!"

Magnus glanced at his hands which were twitching, and he was subconsciously itching all over his palms. He just had one bud, just one and this was the result. Groaning, he turned towards the couple, but mint-flavored chewing gum was shoved into his mouth by Ragnor.

"The hell Ragnor!? You could have done that a little easefully too!" he said while chewing on the gum when a box of the same chewing gums was slammed on his hand along with deadly glares from both Ragnor and Catarina.

"Do you want to go back where you were five years ago!?" Ragnor yelled.

"Jesus Christ, Ragnor! Are you going to keep busting my eardrums like this? I'm fine, okay? I can control myself."

"Whom are you trying to fool, Magnus!? And what were you doing with that cop? Trying to get into his pants?"

"Why do you always think I'm trying to get under someone's pants!? It could be more than that for god's sake!"

A high-pitched, loud snort escaped from Ragnor's throat. "Isn't that what you did with Henry or James or Talia or-"

"Stop it! They all agreed with no relationship- only night stand- thing, so stop counting them as my exes!"

"So why were you talking with that cop, Magnus?" Catarina questioned, her tone flat, "Coz it certainly wasn't for the interrogation as you both were smoking like two long-lost best-"

"Cat! First, yes we were talking about the attack, and second, that officer, there's something about him. He's not what he shows, and it's... doing something to me. I want to know him, heal him." His voice slowly softened as he finished his sentence.

Catarina and Ragnor exchanged a look, their shoulders slumped and a worried frown crossed over their foreheads as they gazed at Magnus who seemed to be in deep thought.

"Magnus..." Catarina spoke, "don't tell me you have started to like that officer in just a single meeting?"

"Maybe... yes."

Ragnor sighed. "Wasn't he rude to everyone here? Including you? How can you even be sure he's a nice person, Magnus?"

"Didn't you people see how he was with that dog-"

"Magnus-"

"And his eyes, sometimes eyes speak what a person cannot. I saw it in his eyes, the pain, the hurt. Like he needs someone by his side but doesn't want to get hurt again. And that's why he's like that, trying to push everyone away. I know that behavior, Ragnor, Catarina. Don't you people remember me from six years ago?"

"It's not important that he's like you, Magnus." Catarina spoke softly, "You try to find yourself in every person like that. Maybe he really doesn't need anyone, or he's actually like that, and you're misinterpreting-"

"No, I know what I saw, Catarina. He's much more than he shows. There's something about him that's attracting me. That smile.... It was there for barely a second, and it was the most beautiful smile I've ever witnessed. I want to be there for him, I want to know the real him...." He trailed off, mind wandering to all the possibilities that made the officer like that.