Phoenix's Revenge

16.

SMUT ALERT YOU FREAKS

Nikolai POV

I watch as she falls asleep on my chest, I count her breaths, I check her wound, I shift slightly to make sure she responds.

Doctor said it was a very serious concussion and the fact that she puked immediately afterward is very concerning. I look up as Tommy hobbles in the room clutching his side. Some asshole manages to clip his side, the bullet narrowly missing anything important.

"How is she?"

"She'll be fine. Thank you for getting her out of there."

"She saved my ass, not the other way around."

I nod and we leave it at that. We were never very affectionate towards each other thanks to my father dearest. I can still hear his words banging around in my head.

Emotions are weakness and I don't raise weak men.

Asshole.

The fact that this woman has me wrapped around her finger within mere months is beyond me.

"How are you?"

He breaks the silence. I look at him completely prepared to give him the company line, but I see in his eyes that he's not asking about what just happened.

He's asking about Gonzo.

He's asking because he was the one who had to put the pieces of me back together the last time. I was riddled with PTSD and couldn't get through a day without having multiple panic attacks. I still can't but she doesn't need to know that.

"I'm okay." I say looking down as shame washes over me.

"Cut the bullshit. I will not walk in on you sitting in a puddle of your own blood again." His face looses all of its humor that he normally has.

Ouch.

I'm not proud of that. Listen, it got bad and really, really dark for a second and I'll have the scars forever. Thank god for tattoos but I'm fine now. I haven't done anything like that in years.

"I'll be fine. I have to be."

He nods and runs his hand through his hair as he turns and walks out of the room. I sink back in the bed and try not to let the thoughts eat me alive.

I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice when she grabs my arm and looks down. She runs her thumbs over the scars before she brings them to her mouth and places little kisses all over both of my forearms. She looks up at me through teary eyes.

"Stay with me." She mutters before her handle on consciousness falters and fades out.

My own cheeks feel wet. I quickly wipe my cheeks.

Fuck me.

"I won't. I promise" I whisper into her hair.

...

Phoenix POV

We sit around for the rest of the day. I sleep for most of it while I feel his eyes on me.

Sap.

Tommy came in this morning and told us he had to go debrief Mr. Petrov. Asshat. So now, we're sitting downstairs on the couch getting shitfaced and playing strip poker. We are now both down to our underwear.

"Want to make this interesting, Phoenix?" He says with a smirk while his eyes trail all over my body.

"Yes."