as fragile as a dandelion

blink

Two's POV

I opened my eyes, slowly, my eyelids ached. Everything ached. My whole body was on fire. Every nerve was tense. I blinked in the too bright, fluorescent light. It smelled like bleach, alcohol wipes, and whiskey. I could hear beeps and pings from machines.

I'm in a hospital?

I reached my aching arm up to itch my nose and found that there were wires and tubes attached to it. When I tapped where my nose should be, there was hard plastic instead.

An oxygen mask?

I lifted my head up and pain ripped through me like a bullet. I whimpered, which made my chest feel like it had been hit with a sack of bricks. I tried propping myself up. Bad idea. The pain was so bad I got dizzy and saw stars.

I looked around. This wasn't a normal hospital room. There were no windows. No curtains. No medical supplies apart from a cabinet. That's when I saw him.

Everything came flooding back. Me getting caught. Them barely beating me up like normal. But it wasn't like normal. They didn't stop. They killed me.

THEY KILLED ME? THEN WHY AM I HERE? IS THIS HELL?

I stared at him. He was asleep. I pinched myself to make sure I was alive. Yep, still hurt.

As I rubbed the red spot on my hand from my pinch, I examined August. I had never seen him up this close before. The hair that I always thought was black is actually dark brown, with hints of red and lighter brown. His chin was on his chest, so I couldn't see his nose with the slight bump on the bridge, probably from breaking it and never setting it. I knew that his eyes were a deep black, matching his long, luscious black lashes. I could see his thick arms, tattoos peeking out from the sleeves of his oversized gray hoodie. He looked concerned, worried, and stressed, even in his sleep. I shook my head, sparking a whole new world of pain.

What am I doing? He's my enemy. He wanted me dead. HE ORDERED IT FOR GOD SAKE!

I backed away from him, forgetting for a second, about my physical state. I yelped in pain as the world around me spun.

August's head shot up, apparently he was a light sleeper. His gorgeous black eyes filled with concern, relief and... love?

What's that about?

"Thank god you're awake."

I blinked at him. "Where am I?" I croaked.

He noticed my scratchy voice and stood up, probably to get a glass of water, but I flinched.

I watched him cringe. My one little movement hurt him that much?

He walked slowly and grabbed a plastic cup off the end of the bed I was on. He held it out, putting his other arm up in surrender.

I reached out my hand, shaking. I grabbed the cup and brushed his finger. It felt like sparks. I almost dropped the cup but he put his hand underneath it.

I took off the oxygen mask and immediately regretted it. It felt like an elephant sat on my chest. I gasped, which just made it worse. I lifted the cup to my lips and drank as fast as possible. I put the oxygen mask back on my face, instantly feeling relief.

He was sitting back down, watching me. "You're still at the warehouse. You've been in a coma for almost 2 weeks."

2 WEEKS?! Dad will definitely notice that I'm gone now!

"Shit. No, no, no I gotta get outta here." I lifted myself up, gritting my teeth against the pain. Knowing that I would face way worse when I got home.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, gently pushing me back onto my back. "You're in no condition to go anywhere."

"No you don't understand. I have to go. I really have to go." My voice picked up, I was going to start hyperventilating.

"Two. You. Can't. Even. Sit. Up. You're. Not. Going. Anywhere."

"I'm not gonna be your fucking prisoner." I snarled.

He looked surprised and hurt. "Two I would never keep you prisoner.

I was thinking that was bullshit but something in the way he said it, the way he said my name, made me think he was being genuine.

"Let me go. Please. I'm begging you August. I have to go home."

"Why are you so desperate to go back there? Why even come here if you just want to leave?" August demanded, sounding irritated.

"I- I- Well-" I stammered, trying to come up with a reason.

"I saw the fucking marks Two. I saw your fucking ribs for christ's sake. I know you don't want to go back there. I don't want you to go back there."

I gasped, wincing when I did so. NO ONE had ever seen the marks. No. One. And now he had seen them? My enemy. My enemy had seen me at my worst.

•••

August's POV

I watched her crumble. One sentence rocked her world. Tears welled up in her eyes, diluting the emerald color. She started breathing, faster and faster.

Shit shit no. Please don't cry. I didn't know.

"Fuck no. Fuck. I'm sorry Two. I'm sorry. Please don't cry." I panicked.

"No you're right. You're right. I don't want to go back there. To go back to them. But I don't have a choice. I can't sit here. I can't even fucking do anything." She sniffled, silent sobs wracking her tiny body.

My heart broke with every sob. I'd never seen someone in that much pain, and I had seen people die. I didn't want her to feel like that. Especially not because of me.

Here I was, with a girl I barely even knew, falling harder for her every second. Where's the tough gang leader? The ruthless boss? The playboy? He was gone. I can't say I missed him.

But Two still thought of me like that. She'd seen all the horrible things I'd done. She didn't know I loved her. She didn't know I'd changed.

In one swift motion, I was on her bed. I gently lifted her torso up, and I could hear her gasp in pain and surprise. I sat behind her, propped up on the pillows, and laid her between my legs. I held her, tight enough that she knew I was there, but not so tight it hurt her.

I felt her tense up, even though I knew it was causing her pain.

"You're okay Two. I'm here for you. I will protect you no matter what happens. I promise. I will always be here for you. Always." I whispered into her ear.

I felt her relax. Her sobbing stopped and her breathing evened. She fell asleep right in my arms. In that moment I knew I would do anything for her. That I would wreak havoc on the people who did all those terrible things to her.