as fragile as a dandelion

a ticket

Two's POV

Times Square, New York. The sounds of constant car horns, tourist's laughter, vendors yelling to uninterested potential customers, and delivery boys ringing the bells on their bikes, were apparent. It smelled like car exhaust, greasy food, and cheap perfume. There were bright screens advertising hundreds of products and streetlights that looked more like Broadway spotlights. The place was teeming with excitement and optimism, and I couldn't help but let some of it rub off on me.

I knew August brought me here to relax and enjoy a week far away from my dad, the Scorpions, and other sources of my anxiety. And I was trying to do just that: relax and enjoy. The large crowds somewhat scared me because I thought I would get lost in them. Sensing my anxiety, August kept his arm over my shoulder, snaking down to rest just above my hip. I felt safe like that, his warmth and weight around me.

It has been a week and a half since we left the hospital, and I had gotten my prosthetic leg. It was ugly and mechanical, so I wore baggy sweatpants that only showed my shoes. I was using forearm crutches until I got used to the leg. I hated it. I hated feeling weak. Standing out because I was different. I bit my tongue to keep angry tears from springing into my eyes as people threw sideways glances at me. August glared at them, and I smiled at his protectiveness.

•••

Standing in JFK Airport in the middle of rush hour was a terrifying experience in and of itself. But to make matters worse, I had lost August and his guys in the commotion. My eyes frantically searched the crowd for August's almost black hair and tall, broad shouldered build. I stood up, attempting to enter the flow of people, before I was roughly shoved as someone tried to get wherever they were going. My heart rate was rising by the second as I tried to even my breathing.

In... 1... Out... 1... In... 2... Out... 2...

I sat back down in the uncomfortable chair in our terminal. I knew they would have to come back here to get on the plane, and I would try to catch a glimpse of them. I nodded confidently, collecting my suitcase and small backpack. A large tattooed hand grabbed my shoulder. I whirled around, dropping one crutch as I swung the other one up to hit whoever it was. My eyes traveled up an inked arm and were met with beautiful black eyes that made me sigh in relief. He pulled me in, squeezing me tight enough that it almost hurt.

"Oh god. Oh thank god." He repeated over and over, stroking my head as I relaxed in his arms.

"I- I thought you- I couldn't- You-" I stuttered, shaking in relief and leftover fear.

"Shhh. I've got you. I'm so sorry. I thought some of the guys were staying here with you but they misunderstood, and..." He trailed off, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

I nodded against his chest and let go of him, leaning down to grab my crutch.

A blaring voice came over the terminal speakers. "All mothers with children under the age of 2 and anyone with a physical disability, may begin boarding at this time."

I heard it repeated a few more times as I hobbled over to the door. August was right beside me and showed the attendant our tickets. She waved us through.

I took a step forward and a shrill voice behind me screamed, "WHAT?! YOU'RE GONNA LET THEM GO THROUGH BUT NOT ME WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD SON?!"

I turned around slowly and August whipped his body around, a fire in his eyes. The yelling woman was red in the face with anger. She was short and round, with shoulder length blonde hair that was browning at the roots. She was holding the arm of a small boy tightly, as he played games on her phone. Everyone in the terminal had their eyes on her, and a few of them even had the phones out, recording her.

The attendant rolled her eyes before responding. "Yes ma'am, you'll have to wait until your group is called. Please stop making a scene, the airport is on a tight schedule and we need to board as fast as possible."

The woman's eyes widened in anger as her brows furrowed. "Why the hell should she be allowed to board before me? I have a child! Therefore, we should be priority!"

I stepped forward and August laid a hand on my arm as the woman continued her rant. "Just because she has crutches doesn't mean she's disabled! Look at her, she's just a kid who's fooling you so she can get better seats! Plus she doesn't need to bring all those thugs with her! I mean are they even cleared to fly?" She pointed at August. "Look at the tattoos on this one! He probably just got out prison or something! Do you guys fly prisoners? Around kids?!"

Oh this motherfucker. Nope. That's it. You can insult me all day long but you do NOT insult August, and my family like that. EVER.

"Hey lady! You would've been on the plane a lot faster if you weren't too busy insulting my family! But since you're already holding us up, I might as well explain. First of all, I am disabled, not that it's any of you business." I pulled my sweatpants up to reveal my mechanical leg and she looked taken aback. "Second, 'these thugs' are the ones who saved my life which also makes them my caretakers." I took a deep breath and walked forward, glaring as I got right up in her face. "Third, the man that you just called an ex-con because of his tattoos, is the love of my life, and if you EVER say ANYTHING like that again, I won't just be yelling at you."

The crowd whistled and she scoffed in my face, her breath smelling like stale coffee. I spun on my heel and walked onto the plane.

August smiled warmly at me when we sat down in our seats, planting a kiss on the crown of my head. "Badass, Two. Badass." He winked at me as he stuck his foot into the aisle, tripping the woman who had just entered the plane. She fell on her face, knocking over her luggage, and the crowd, including her own child, snickered.