Lawless [h.s.] AU

Chapter Six

October 2313
Charlotte Reign

An apology from Rex certainly isn't what I expected to hear when I told him how hurt I was that he left me there for so long with Zayn, but I do think he meant it genuinely. I haven't been able to stop thinking about our conversation, sitting here tossing and turning instead.

I roll over and take a peek at the clock that's set a small ambient glow throughout the room the entire night, it's nearly 4am.

I get out of bed again and make my way down the hall to get myself more water.

What I saw, was nothing short of remarkable. Rex, crying on his couch in the dark.

"Rex?" I called out gently, not wanting to startle him since he was clearly upset about something. The rasp in my voice is surprising but speaks volumes about the kind of night I've had up to this point.

He was sitting on the couch, leaning on his knees with his head in his hands. He either didn't hear me, or doesn't want me to see him crying, even though it's completely obvious that he is, so instead I walk up to him slowly.

"Rex? Is everything alright?" I ask him. I might be angry and hurt that he forgot about me earlier, but I'm not heartless, even if I think he might be some times.

"Go away Charlotte, please." He murmurs, not removing his head from his hands. His tone isn't cold, or cruel, if anything he sounds sad and desperate. So I push.

"No." I tell him, sitting down with some space still between us on the couch.

"Charlotte." He says, turning my name into a warning. "You're mad at me, justifiably, so please just go back to bed."

"I may be upset with you, yes, but I'm not heartless. You calmed me down from my panic attack earlier, now let me be here for you."

"I don't deserve..." he starts, without finishing his thought before making to move up from the couch.

"Rex?"

When he whips his body around, the sight in front of me is one I could never imagine on my own. The clear shade of red around his eye, the slight mark on his cheek.

"Rex what happened?"

"I had a little talk with Zayn is all, now go back to bed."

I get up off the couch without thinking about what I'm about to do, but on instinct I approach Rex and caress the side of his face marked by what must have been Zayn's fist.

"You fought him?" I ask, needing to know exactly what's happened in the short time since I've gone to sleep.

"He upset you. He must have, and I was late because I got so distracted and I hurt you and Zayn made you feel-"

"Stop, please just answer me. You went and fought him?" I ask, gently pulling his arm with me and I retract to the couch, hoping that he'll join me sitting down.

He looks around, like he's confused on whether or not he wants to open up to me, but joins me in the end.

"Rex, please, tell me what's happened. It... it will help me move past the fact that you forgot about me today, if I know." I say simply.

He examines my face, wanting to call my bluff, but I mean it. If he really went down there to talk to Zayn about the way he treats me and speaks to me, it will help me move past the hurt I feel.

"I really did mean only to talk, that's all. I don't make it a point to fight my own men but he-"

Rex cuts himself off.