Spades and Angels

A Seemingly Simple Proposition

Maddox

Helping Lo with the arm around her shoulders I tried to navigate to where I parked since she seemed ok but I wasn't convinced she didn't have some sort of low-grade concussion. Especially when she trips, slipping from under my arm and collapsing. "Shit I-" She slumps enough that I just manage to catch her, avoiding her hitting her head for a third time. "I'll have to carry you again, you're not in a position to walk,"

"Can too, just need a hand," Stubborn and feisty as ever Lo glares at me from her position and sticks out a hand. "A little help?"

"Sure, sure," I refrain from arguing with her, no matter how much part of me wants to, instead helping her up and making sure she's not going to trip again. "Thank you," She huffs, sounding adorably agitated, "That wasn't so hard now was it?"

I laugh then, keeping moving where the sounds of Shadow Night festivities move closer. Closer than before as we try to slip out the back, hoping that we manage to make it to where Riv said I'd need to go if Lo still wanted to hear about what I was trying to do. What we are trying to do. Under my arm, my companion grumbles but I could have sworn I saw her smile too. Leaning on me where the asshole who'd hurt her left his mark.

Finding the backdoor I remember the steps at the back. Sighing I unlock the door and help Lo outside, the crisp fall air seeming colder as we draw toward November. Next to me Lo shivers and pulls closer with an arm around my back. "Oh shit, I-I forgot about those." I chuckle once and she sighs, "I might have to take up that previous offer of-"

"-Figured as much," I laugh, pulling her back into my arms as I do and having to fight off a groan at how good it feels. How right. A thought process not helpfully derailed by Lo's contented sigh, or how she moves her head to fit underneath mine. Reminding me of how I felt after we spent the night together after Homecoming and how we seemed to fit together perfectly. "Are you doing ok?"

"Mhmm." her face spasms in pain when I walk as slowly as possible down the steps, holding her as close as I can. "A little sore, but I think, no I know, I'll be okay," She amends her words and makes me smile a little as we make it to the bottom, her face losing some of its pinched, pained look. "Thank god they're done. They hurt."

"Sorry Lo, I tried to go slow." She half smiles and murmurs once, eyes half closed. "No more stairs though. At least I don't think so."

"Ooh that's good," She laughs and bumps her head with mine. She's silent for a few moments as I keep walking before she whispers something else. "Who are they?"

I frown, "Who is who Lo?" Tapping her shoulder her eyes meet mine, blinding me as they always do with their stormy grey depths. "Who is who mi querida corazón?"

She sighs a little when I say that, face in a relaxed grin. "This friend you keep saying you need me to see. The secret one," She gives a wider smile and settles more so her head's still on my shoulder but her eyes can rest on mine, not speaking again. At least until I've found the car and we've set off, my phone chiming with a reminder from Riv of the meeting space. "Is...are they nice? Whoever this friend is."

That gets a smile out of me, even knowing this conversation could drive me away. "Yeah, I think you'll love her. And it is a her. I can't tell you her name but I think you'll like her." Taking one hand off the wheel where I'm driving and placing it on her leg to rub soothing circles in the way she's told me calms her. I feel her small hand hesitantly move on top of mine and the warmth it creates. "I'm sure you'll love her and she'll love you too."

"Ok," Lo doesn't say another word but when I catch her reflection in the glass she's smiling.

In the half hour or so it takes me to drive us there Lo drifts off to sleep. Something that worried me since I wasn't sure if she had a concussion from hitting her head. I'd checked her at the library but I didn't have the same sort of medical training needed. But I know someone who did.