Putz12 Plus One

TWENTY ONE | BREATHE

He gives me a reason to live. Even on the brink of death, I live for him. I can't die when I feel his touch, what revived me when I first met him. With his command I am immortal.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was his face, blue eyes and sweet, but he was crying. It felt dark outside and things were so loud. Her eyes were sensitive to the light, every crack in the faux sky bleeding in her retina.

"I...nkling?"

His glum face turned into the biggest smile. "IZA?!!!" And he... hugged her. She moaned in pain and he let go. "IZA!!"

"That's me." The effortless beauty of her voice even after all that... And that half-smile with those faded eyes, even wincing at the light above she was still beautiful, her complexion was glowing again and there were those rosy cheeks. She got up, rubbing her head. It was throbbing and nagging. "...At least I think it is."

Soon the others came out with snacks and cards and smiles. Felix was nowhere to be found, and last thing Iza knew she was about to die. So why was she there? "Someone tell me what happened?"

Everyone looked at each other, grave and disquieted.

"Maybe later..." Free suggested. "Right now, you need water." Free's voice was muted over her growling stomach. "And food."

The others left the two alone. Derek knew that look in Putz's face. He didn't want to say anything or be accused of projecting things so for now he'd keep quiet. Iza was barely conscious but sometimes what she'd say would be coherent. And yet not once did Putz's eyes move away.

"Mfth. up."

"Huh?"

"Move the fuck up?" She got up, her eyes closed still. "Why are you here?"

"Why am I here?" He growled a bit, and when she opened her eyes she saw his face wrinkled in a frown. "What do you mean?! I'm watching over you!" He coughed. "You... fuck!"

"I-" She giggled.

"You spit on me! Watch it!" He wiped the spit off of his face, yet was more angry than disgusted.

"I, haha. It's like you're trying to sound upset that we're together."

"We're not together!" He got up and put his arms out, as if he were surrendering. There was now considerable distance between the two.

She had him now, smiling, smug, laughing. "I mean here, together--"

"DEREK MADE ME DO IT!" He stood with his arms crossed. "Besides, you've been asleep for like, a day. You don't know what you're talking about."

Seeing him hover over her told her everything. She got up, wobbling, yet he reached out to catch her. She saw his eyes, and though she had the strength to get up, she let herself rest on his arm, like it was a hammock. Her fingers gravitated to his chest, but she found herself on the ground again. "Ow!!"

"Sorry, fingers slipped."

Before she could intimidate him further, Derek and Free came running with mountains of candy bars and chips. As expected, the boys dug in, but the ladies had something else on their minds.

"Um, guys?"

"Not now," said Derek. "We're eating. This stuff's good! I can't believe we didn't binge through it before!"

"No squiddin'!"

"Felix..."

"Cod." Chips crumbs splattered everywhere as Derek's maw kept yapping. "Who needs him?"

"He's missing, and you're not gonna go after him?"

"He went after Sera." Putz said. Iza was shivering now and he saw this, but continued eating and lowered his brows. "He didn't believe us when we told him what she did."