in his arms | BOOK II

TWO // unedited

♠️

blaze
**two months later**

IT SEEMED LIKE he was running out of options. His hands stung from the unbearable pain of beating his anger out on the punching bag, its limp lifelessness only making him grow more and more frustrated. He needed something alive and breathing, not some inanimate object that did him no good. Though the pain made him want to scream to stop, Blaze could not seem to; blood was decorating both his hands and the leather punching back in a gory red painting from how long he had been going at it, but he was never left satisfied the way he hoped.

Archer tried to tell him that working out and constantly using violence as an outlet would never help him, but Blaze never listened. He had found his way of punishment for letting what happened happen, and he would continue to until the day they were found. Blaze was supposed to be there to protect them—it was what he promised, and he broke it. He deserved the pain he felt.

"You know, as your assistant, I shouldn't be allowing you to put yourself through this pain without at least trying to stop you," a soft voice spoke, causing Blaze's jaw to tick in annoyance.

"And as your boss, I'm telling you to fuck off and help someone else," he muttered back, turning around and spotting the head of black hair standing at the doorway. "Like Archer."

She ignored his harshness, smiling at him. "Sir, I'm just doing my job. Besides, Archer's been helped and I'm more than sure that he's had enough with me at his every wish and command."

Blaze decided not to respond, turning his back to her.

One month ago, Archer told Blaze that he believed it would be a good idea if there was someone to help around the house more. With Archer still unable to leave his bed (unless to go to the washroom, of course) and Blaze being malnourished and refusing to take care of himself, it was much needed, too. He ended up hiring Grace, who was way too optimistic and outgoing for Blaze to handle. He despised her, but it never stopped the small woman from trying her best to become acquaintances with him.

"Dinner's ready whenever you're hungry," Grace spoke, deciding to change the subject. "We've got steak, sweet potato fries, and fried asparagus tonight."

Blaze froze and could feel his muscles tense up at the food she had spoken—it was almost painful how stiff his body had become. His mind instantly began to scatter, flashing with thoughts of the woman he had lost months ago. He remembered the night perfectly, too. Ellie and Blaze had just gotten on good terms after, yet again, another fight that he had caused. She decided to make him dinner and cooked the exact same thing: steak and sweet potato fries. Then, following after that was Blaze and Sebastian having a fight, Blaze easily winning, and Ellie immediately being able to calm him down.

Back then, the worst that could happen was that bastard of a guard, Sebastian, getting too close to Ellie; it almost made him laugh at the mere thought of how ridiculous he acted back then, all because he had no idea how to speak how he felt. But since things had changed, she was no longer here, and he did not want to eat dinner.

"Leave it for Archer," he said, moving around the punching bag and standing on the matted floor in the middle of the room. Everywhere he goes, she's there. "Knowing him, he'll try to eat it all, anyway."

Grace released the smallest of sighs and Blaze went to the dumbbells. They sat peacefully in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror that resembled the entire wall. He picked two up, ignoring the pain that shot up his arm from his knuckles, and continued to ignore the annoyance that was his assistant.