Forged - [Donald Na x female oc]

Chapter 13

'Come on baby rip the bandage
Show me how you manage'

Silence followed after that, as Donald let go of her arm. He was going for "yes, sir" but the way she said his name...

Donald didn't seem to be startled by her anger, but he was surprised when a very fast hand slapped his face with force, making him turn his head to the side.

The slapping noise felt deafening after it echoed and combined with the darkness in the room, it seemed that the world had stopped for a second.
However, when he looked at her eyes, Donald was brought back to motion.

"Okay. I'm fucking leaving. Did you only have me stay so you could toy with me?" she stormed off in frustration while violently pushing him off of her.

She was genuinely upset, at herself for saying that dumb shit, and at him for going this far.

Focusing on the stinging sensation on his cheek, Donald seemed to also only now realise what was said and done. Although he did acknowledge he snapped at her due to his own frustrations, he wasn't exactly sorry.

"Oh, what, you cannot handle a little embarrassment?" he nagged.

In a more calm tone than what would have been appropriate, Donald followed:

"I already told you. You may leave once it's light outside"

"Like hell I am"

He didn't respond, just placed himself in the doorway. Annoyed out of her mind and still with red-tinted cheeks, Ray continued after placing herself in front of him.

"Besides the fact that you were deliberately crude, what is so wrong with this area anyway? It's not like I am defenseless, I am able to pro-"

"I know" he firmly interrupted her. "but you must consider what happened today already. Besides, it would only be fair for me to shelter you after what you have ... done for me."

"Oh god, you can't force me to stay here under the pretext of sheltering!"

"Just see it as the transaction of a debt being paid"

"...what?" Ray tried to make sense of his words, but they just didn't click. What debt was he talking about?

"I cannot be indebted to you, after you've saved my life, of everyone's. Any favour is a transaction that must be returned. That's how things work best."

She looked at him, not sure if she should laugh or feel sorry for him. What life had he lived?

She wasn't expecting anything in return for any good deed, let alone saving someone's life. She thought as much was obvious.

"And if you're still so vehemently against it, remember that I did not ask for your help, nor did I want it" he continued.

Utter shock. And disbelief. Her previous anger dissipated into the night. She stared at his blank and serious face, void of any sign that it could have been a joke.

Was this seriously the reason why Donald was so mad? Because he was unable to watch his own back for once?

"Have you never had any friends?"

Even though the question was rude, a sad and overwhelming silence filled the room.

"I had a friend once" he replied quietly, more to himself than to her.

"Well, I'm sorry they're not with you anymore. But just so you know, most people wouldn't hesitate to save someone else's life, be it a friend or not."

During a quick pause, the silence almost seemed comforting.

"I'm sorry for what happened in your life to make you forget that. You don't have to stand alone anymore...."

With a soft gesture, he placed his hand over her mouth, and even tho the feelings inside him called for it, he didn't apply any pressure.

"Stop it. You don't know what you're talking about" his low voice indicated the intensity of the situation.

He was given a soft nod in agreement, yet the eyes that looked at him screamed that they understood.

For the first time in a long time, Donald was the one to break eye contact, looking somewhere to his left.

Just as delicate as the initial contact, Ray guided his hand away from her face and while she walked past him, she placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

The same gesture he used to intimidate people, she used to comfort him. And without another word, she closed the door behind her, leaving the house once again in unbearable silence.

Donald didn't stay there for long, eyes focused on nothing. He turned around, sort of to check if he was really by himself, and felt grateful that Ray hasn't demanded any explanation or reaction from him.

Even though she was gone, Donald felt as if she was still looking at him, picking him apart, piece by piece.

Never has he felt so angry at being seen, yet relieved someone finally managed to do it.

He was conflicted. Earlier, while Ray was out cold, he watched her sleep and this same weird feeling troubled him. He felt as if he was close to figuring something really important out.

This house that he so much despised had a different mood to it, too. That's what made him return with the intention of spending the night. That's what made him not want to let her leave.

Sure, the area was dangerous, but taxis did deliver.

So what was it that was bothering him?
A flashing image of Jason crossed his mind.

"No" he shook his head. She's not a friend.

On the other side of the apartment, Ray sat silently at the table, wondering if she should leave.

~~~

It was long after that that he came out of the bedroom. The hallway and kitchen were dark, so much so that the house seemed to have gotten its old vibe back.
He pressed on the light switch, a dim light illuminating the thin figure dozing off, who came back to her senses at the sight of light. No one said anything for some time.

"Are you perhaps hungry?" he broke the silence

"Are you doing the mom thing? After she finishes yelling at you she asks you to come eat as forgiveness?"

They both shared a laugh. It was a weird time to make jokes, especially about parental figures neither of them had, but it seemed this one was well received and lit up the mood a bit. Maybe the irony behind it was what made it funny.

"It's literally the middle of the night" she added.

"...and?"

She let out a chuckle to let him know he won and he returned her smile.

The atmosphere seemed to have become less dense, or maybe it was just the utter exhaustion the two were experiencing, preventing them from realising who they were sharing a meal with.

[ A/N

Donald get a grip dude
And why is Ray still nice to him after that

Please refer to the fanfic I linked previously to understand who Jason is.  ]