Bar Red's Redemption (Edited)

12: Their Quiet Language

"I thought about how there are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don't dare to let out."
― Ally Carter 

Hey guys! I hope last chapter wasn't too rough and that you enjoy this one! Originally, this and the last one was one chapter but it was over 7k in words so I decided to chop it up. Now there's this one too. Don't be afraid to comment!

Chapter 12:
Their Quiet Language

He's still sitting on the edge of the tub when his phone rings.

With red, puffy eyes and a chest shaking with silent sobs, Bar looks up with vision blurred from tears as the tone blares out from the speakers. He had forgotten he brought it in there with him, that he was supposed to be keeping track of the time.

Wiping his tears, Bar stretches to grab it, tilting the screen to face him to be able to see the name flash on the screen. 'The Little Goddess' with a heart stares back at him.

Fuck. Fuck.

He swipes a hand over his face, clearing his throat as he drops the phone back onto the counter. Standing, he's quick to pull sweats up his legs and a shirt over his head—swearing when it's backwards before flipping it the right way.

He grabs the phone in trembling hands, heart pounding, swiping to the right.

"Hey." Leaving the bathroom, he goes straight to his bed and sits down, trying to reel in his tears but they just keep coming. "What's up, sweetheart?"

Dense piece of shit who can't even stop crying.

Pathetic.

"Are y-you okay, Oly?" Clementine asks, tone tight with worry. Throat dry, Bar coughs, realizing how hoarse his voice sounded.

Rubbing his puffy eyes, he sighs as he drags the hand down his face.

He has to get his shit together, he has things to do.

"I'm fine." He's grateful that his voice doesn't shake too bad. "Some water just got down the wrong pipe."

With a start, Bar realized he could hide the fact that he was crying but Bar knew he wouldn't be able to hide the bruises all over his face and the busted lip when they met up later.

"You, you know you're not supposed to inhale l-liquids, right?" Clementine giggles out.

The little goddess' voice soothes a small part of his aches and helps him relax as he shuffles around his room, carelessly pulling on his jacket. It's easier to ignore the pain with her here, distracting him.

"Yes, babygirl, I know that." He goes along with her teasing but can't quite match her energy, drained from the fall of adrenaline. "But I do a lot of fucking stuff that I'm not supposed to do and thought my lungs would like a bath."

"Did, did they?"

"Hmm... I don't think so. I wouldn't recommend it."

"Noted," she said, pausing awkwardly for a second.

"You okay?" Where the fuck did he put his keys?

"Yes but...but—it's embarrassing!" She whisper-yells like it's a secret. "Can I-I think for a minute?"

"Of course," Bar said, rubbing his wrist with a grimace as it banged against the headboard, moving too quickly from grabbing his keys off his dresser. "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you," Clementine muttered out.

Bar hummed in return, taking a moment to think, putting the phone on speaker.