We Live Forever

Chapter 3: Testing My Patience and My Blood

Crimson's POV:

"How much blood do you need?" I asked exasperated. 

"I'm running pretty much every test ever, since you don't heal I can only take your blood once a month. So, I need to get as much as possible," Hank explained. 

"Can you stop making sense?" I begged.

"Nope. And we're done," Hank announced.

I opened my eyes and saw about twenty vials of my blood sitting on the table. 

"I will never undertsnad the human body."

Hank chuckled.

"And why is that?"

"Look at how much blood you took, and I'm somehow fine? It makes no sense."

"Well, humans have several liters of blood. A person can lose- sorry I'm rambling."

"No, no go on."

A Few Hours Later

I looked over at the lab table and saw the increasingly large stack of notebooks. One of them looked quite familiar.

"You never did get to explain the Dreamstride to me..."

"Oh! Okay, so in theory the dreamstride is a sort of serum that would allow one person to experience another person's memory like their own."

"Holy shit!"

"I know! It's very exciting, but it's gonna have to be on the backburner for a bit. You're my priority."

"Hank, what if we don't figure this out? I mean look at all tests we've run today and we still haven't learned anything."

Hank walked over to me and took my hands in his. He looked me dead in the eyes.

"We will figure it out, I promise."

"If-"

"Shit. There's a mission, I gotta go!"

"Be safe."

"Always."

I watched him dash out of the room. I didn't realize how stressful it is to not be there. To not be able to see that he was okay. 

I decided to get up and find something to distract myself with. I stood up and felt my legs buckle. I caught myself on the table. It's probably just from all the blood he took. 

Hours Later

Charles informed me that the team would be back very soon. I waited and watched as the jet gently landed. Of course he land it perfectly, he designed it. 

The team started to exit the jet. Erik stopped briefly and teased me.

"Your pretty boy isn't so pretty anymore."

"Huh? Oh-"

Hank exited the jet, his jacket unzipped. Across his cheek was a large gash, droplets of blood covered his face. Hank bowed his head in mock shame. 

"Let me guess, I should see the other guy?"

"It'll be fine."

"No, that's getting stitched up love."

"I'm fine-"

"I don't care."

I pulled Hank into the lab and continued to shut down his protests. He finally sat down and reached for the needle to stitch himself. 

"You are not gonna stitch yourself up."

"I can manage-"

"It's your face, you can't see what you're doing!"

"Fine. You go on ahead, and fix it."

I grabbed the needle and carefully threaded it. I leaned over and tried to angle my hands to get the needle in the right position, but it wasn't working. I thought it through and came up with a unique solution. 

I moved on my legs up and over one of Hank's thighs and then the other, strandling him. His hands instinctively came to hold my lower back. 

"Fuck." He muttered under his breath.

I shifted my position to make it easier to stitch him up. I cupped his face with one of my hands and used to the other to gently force the needle under his skin. I carefully started to stitch up the gash. 

I tried to focus, but it became increasingly difficult as Hank shifted his hands lower and lower. He was smirking to himself as he did it. 

"I should really get hurt more often..."

I finally finished the stitch. I carefully tied the ends of the thread together and trimmed off the excess. I put down the needle and instantly Hank's hand moved up to my neck. He pulled my face to his and we began to kiss passionately. 

I felt something wet drip onto my cheek. I ignored it and focused on the moment. Hank's remaining hand had made it's way all the down and had a firm hold on me. 

"Kinky."

Hank and I quickly pulled apart. We turned and saw Erik standing in the doorway. 

"God damn it! AGAIN?" Hank called out. 

"Cockblock!" I called out flipping Erik off.  "Wait kinky?"

"Uh- my blood's on your face..." Hank trailed off awkwardly. 

"It's time for your shift to check on the kids," Erik informed before leaving. 

"Here, let me get it," Hank spoke. He licked his thumb and gently rubbed it across my face. "All better."

Thirty Minutes Later

Hank's POV:

I slowly opened up the next door mentally praying that it wasn't more teenagers making out. Fortunately, it was not. I walked down the hall to final door on that floor and it was also nice and quiet. Most kids were in bed or up doing homework quietly, it was an easy night. 

I walked down to the last floor we had to check. I noticed Crimson had already made it there. We went one by one and opened up each door. We had almost reached the center. 

I was about to open up another door when out of the corner of my eye I saw something. I turned my head and saw Crimson start to suddenly collapse. I rushed toward her, but she was already on the floor. 

I moved my fingers to her neck and felt for a pulse. One was still there and very consistent. I moved my ear close to her chest and I could hear she was still breathing, but somewhat unsteadily. 

"No, no, no."

I lifted up one of her eyelids and shined my flashlight in them. Her pupils didn't respond at all.

"No, no, this can't be happening."

I took one of her hands in my own and gave it a gentle squeeze. I waited for her to squeeze back. She didn't.

"Love? Please..."

I squeezed again. I waited again. Still nothing. I felt myself start to cry. 

"Why?"

Author's Note:

Oops did I break your hearts?

Remember she is breathing and her heart is beating normally. 

Also, shootout Erik for cockblocking two chapters in a row. I promise he won't interrupt, eventually...

Thoughts on this chapter?

Any predictions?

Thank you!