The Unwanted Encounter (Ash Lynx x Reader)

49) His Safety

I quickly changed and pulled a hoodie on, taking deep breaths as I crouched on the ground, away from everyone else. I told Shorter I would be back to talk to Ash after I would finish changing my clothes, so he passed me a spare change of clothes and let me change in the corner of the abandoned place.

I stared at my wrapped up hand, the pain still coursing trough out my right arm. No one was specialised enough to fix a hole in my palm, so I didn't bother them with my injury since I knew it wouldn't be helpful. Cain kept his word, so he wouldn't tell Ash or Shorter about it—meaning I could put my facade on for a while longer.

I wiped my nose with the sleeve of my hoodie, stood up and took one last deep breath. I was about to go over where Ash and Shorter sat, but stopped in my tracks upon hearing ruckus between two people. I turned around, walking in the direction I heard something going down. The noise came from within the empty, abandoned train cart. It was Sing and Lao.

"Why are you so supportive of Ash Lynx?"

"He's the only one who can manage the whole of downtown."

"Are you serious? He's the reason why Shorter had to go trough shit so he could get his hands on downtown. Why him?!" Lao screamed.

"Look Lao, he's the only one who can keep downtown together. Without him, there'll be another Arthur and senseless killing all day! I've made up my mind! If you disagree, leave!" Sing spewed out, grabbing Lao by the collar, pushing him against the wall of the train cart.

"Fine, you're the boss." Lao said, pushing Sing off of him, walking away from Sing. I stood at the corner, my mouth agape by what I had accidentally eavesdropped on.

Lao could be a problem if he keeps being a bitch about Ash. I'll have to take care of him if he keeps this up.

I shook my head, already tired from the cruel night. Turning the other direction, I walked where Ash and Shorter sat. I could see from far that Ash felt dead. He didn't have any energy left anymore to even walk properly. Shorter had draped a blanket over him so he would be a little bit more comfortable in the cold.

I felt a little nervous upon walking towards him. It had been a whole month the last time I saw him, talked to him. So much had changed. He looked weak, his body was weak. Ash was always a slender built boy, but right then, he was on the unhealthy side.

I knew something must have had happened during the month he lived with Golzine. Was he eating well? Did Golzine even feed him?

"Y/n! Do you have a lighter?" Shorter asked upon hearing me walk towards them. It was pretty much dark, so I couldn't really see Ash and Shorter properly.

"Yeah." I said whilst squinting my eyes, taking a lighter out of my hoodie, burning it on and lighting the wood on fire which laid in front of them. "Let me guess, you forgot to bring lucifers despite me reminding you fifteen times yesterday?" I asked, cocking my eyebrows at Shorter as he held an apologetic look on his face.

"Ehh, sorry. Forgot it. Don't kill me now." Shorter chuckled out, grabbing the can of soup, pouring it in the big bowl to cook it on top of the fire. "I'll leave you two be. Don't overcook the soup." Shorter got up, leaving Ash and me alone.

I sat in a criss-cross position in front of the fire, waiting for the soup to get warmed up as Ash sat next to me, using the wall behind him as support for his back. I still hadn't said a word to him.

Why? Because I was angry. Angry at him for selling himself just for my safety! But I couldn't blame him, could I? What he did, said so much about his personality; selfless, kind.

Another part of me was extremely exhausted, and in pain too. All I wanted to do was disappear off of the face of earth.

"There, it's ready." I said, pouring the soup in a mug. I grabbed Ash's hand with my injured hand, and with my uninjured hand, the mug. Gently, I let Ash's finger slide trough the mug handle, letting him hold the mug. I could see he needed aid for the simplest things like holding a mug back then. "Sorry, it's just canned soup."