Mercy *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Better Together

Better Together - Luke Combs

I was right. I was so, so unfortunately right. Obi has taken full advantage of me being essentially bedridden for a week. He's been teasing and taunting me for getting sick and taking every opportunity to annoy me, but he's also been incredibly sweet. He's been cooking for me and making sure that my medicines get taken and stays by my side to make sure I'm not alone and safe. I really appreciate it but I'm not sure how to really communicate it properly. I just hope he knows. He's been telling me stories of some of the stupid things we'd done as children, like stealing a pie from the baker's shop and having to run through the town and across rooftops to get away. We made it to the field with it safely, then he tripped over a rock and face-planted into it. Sounds about right.

Obi is currently settled in a chair beside the bed waiting for me to take my next round of medicine. I'd tried to skip a round due to the taste but he caught me so now I'm under direct supervision during medicine time. I hold my breath and quickly drink the disgusting liquids, then down a lot of tea to chase the taste. I feel like in this day and age with all the herbs around, there should be a way to cover the taste.

"Satisfied?" I ask him as I set the cup down.

"Yes, yes I am." He grins before getting distracted by a bird outside the window.

I find myself studying him, trying to see if my brain will cooperate enough to let me remember more about him but nothing is coming to me except a thought I hadn't considered before.

"Hey, Obi?"

"Yes?"

"What is it like for you, knowing me like this compared to how you knew me?"

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "It's hard, to be honest. I don't regret finding you and everything that happened but it's like looking at the you I knew through a pane of glass. You look like the same girl I grew up with, fell in love with, and married, but I know that you don't know me in that way anymore. There's a part of me that's screaming to hold you and finally get to kiss you again but I've been holding that back because I'm not going to pressure you into falling for me or anything. I want you to do whatever is best for you without my influence. If that means we don't get to be together in the end, then that's how it has to be."

I hadn't really considered how all of this could be affecting him but it makes sense. I'm not sure what could be done though. I truly don't remember him beyond the bit I regained, but I know I feel a connection to him I'm just unsure of what it means. I'm just trying to understand my past and learn more about him as well. I'll just have to take it all a day at a time and see what happens. So far all I know is I feel safe and rather happy with Obi so I don't think I'll have reason to want him out of my life. I tell him that and he smiles slightly as he finally looks back at me again.

"I'm glad I can be of comfort to you at least."

"Can I ask you something uh, kind of personal?"

"I don't see why not but depending on what it is I may not be able to help too much."

"How do you know if you have feelings for someone...? I don't have any current experience on how any of that works... any of that I knew before is stuck in the fog."

He looks a little unsure of how to answer me but he starts to explain about different thoughts and feelings a person may have toward someone else and what they could possibly mean but that it's typically something that the person will realize on their own. That helps slightly but is rather disappointing because I'd hoped it would be a magically easy explanation. It does make sense though and according to his explanation, the signs are pointed toward me having feelings for him. I don't know how to handle it. I do know that with my lack of proper memory, it means the feelings I'm developing are built off the man I know now, not just who he was before.

"Your feelings for me... are they based solely off of us when we were younger?"

"Not entirely," he admits quietly. "I know that we're different people now and I loved you when we were kids and all, but I uh... well, um, I-"

"You need to start again before you burn out your final brain cell." I chuckle.

"Hush." He grumbles. "Despite knowing and loving you in the past, I'm falling for the you that I know now..."

"I'm glad."

"Why?"

"Because I think I have feelings for you as well."

His eyes widen and he straightens in the chair. "What?"

"Don't be stupid, you heard me."

"Alright Els, there's your infamous attitude again." He chuckles. "Yes I heard you, but I wanted to hear you say it again."

"I've changed my mind, now I hate you."

"Rude."

Obi and I didn't really make any concrete decisions after our slight confessions, but I'm okay with that. I'm not sure how to handle romantic feelings on top of being ill and overwhelmed with the unholy shit-storm that my life has become. Besides, I don't even know for sure how I feel about him. I'll have to figure that out as I go. We changed topic shortly after our confessions until I fell asleep. I woke up to Obi curled up beside me fast asleep with his arms wrapped around me. Callia said I am potentially contagious, but Obi would have gotten sick by now if he was going to at all. I'm rather glad, because I've been enjoying this contact that Obi referred to as 'cuddling'. It's pretty comforting and it makes me feel safe and warm. My eyes widen as Obi stretches in his sleep, crushing me to his chest until I can't breathe and he releases me again. Okay, so safe and comforting until he reminds me that it wouldn't take much for him to kill me... It's okay though, he looks so peaceful when he's asleep and something about looking at him makes me have this strange fluttery feeling inside of me.