Of Blackjack and stepping up

safety

(I promised this was not mcd. Its not

Tw: this contains hospitals and needles (i think))

The next time Alex opens his eye he is greeted with a bright light. His head hurts from it.

His hair feels nice on the side of his face. Its a nice length. He is glad its not shorter.

Something is in his arm

His hand is being held very carefully. "Shhh, I will soon fix your nightmares. Give me a few seconds until you are settled in that one" it's nothing more than a soft whisper. "You have been through a lot."

Alex is pretty certain he is in heaven for some reason. Maybe a silly mix up.

"This must be heaven." He whispers.

"Huh? You are awake?" The person who he heavily suspects to be Viktor from the very pleasant voice sounds surprised. "Though I don't think you are in heaven quite yet. You could pretty well come from there though. I hope you didn't mind the mild ability usage. I promise I didn't spend much time in your dreams, just enough to replace them with a blank canvas."

"Huh?"

"Porter told me he was worried you'd have nightmares here so I asked the staff if they'd let me in and calm your dreams a little."

"I hope they weren't too gruesome"

"Some were, but your comfort was more important to me. You seemed truly at peace sleeping for once and I think you needed that."

"Please don't waste effort on me, especially effort that hurts you. I would not want you to be in danger for a second."

"I understand. Is the light too bright?"

"You don't need to take care of me, I am fine. You have nothing to feel guilty for so you don't need to be here"

"I am not here because I feel guilt"

"Huh?"

"I am worried for you."

"That's quite unfamiliar. I… people like me aren't used to hearing that sentence."

"I understand."

"The last time I heard it I was 16 I think?"

They smile sadly. "While I am quite aware to have told you that, i didn't know it meant that much to you"

"I really appreciated it. I don't think i can be as vulnerable again i am afraid"

"That's alright. Alexander. I am fine with taking things as slowly as you need them to be"

"I appreciate that. May I ask why you got your nose fixed?"

"Breathing troubles. It was getting bad."

"I am very sorry that happened." Alex attempts to sit up.

"Would it be alright if I helped you?"

"I am fine" to demonstrate he sits up, ignoring the pain in his rips. His lower body is always in some sort of pain, he can ignore that. The rest fluctuates more assuming it's not the socket where his eye is supposed to be. That always feels at least uncomfortable which could be his refusal to let it get taken care of. It's covered by a big bandaid.

"I wanted to offer you help in case it would make your life a little easier. Things were hard enough for you."

"Yes, but i can do small things without help"

"I am not doubting your ability, i just wanted to offer"

"I don't quite understand but thank you"

"Are you ok with me getting a nurse to check on you? There's also a little girl who seems to really want to see you".

"Huh? Sure , I guess?"

Viktor leaves, smiling at him. "I will be back"

A few seconds later Jane storms inside. "You are ok!" Her voice is soft. "You aren't dead. I am so happy" she hugs him, squeezing too tight.

"I appreciate your joy but please try to ask next time."

"I am sorry but the urge got to strong. The last time my parents got driven somewhere like this they didn't come back and that…. That wrench took me."

"I promise, i am not that easy to kill." He doesn't mention the attempts. She really doesn't need that knowledge.

"I am so happy you are alright."

"I am glad you are fine as well. How have you been?"

"Fine. A woman named Sophie took care of me. She seemed quite distant"

"I understand. I am also pretty distant"

"Yes, but I feel safe around you. She was nice, but i didnt feel as safe"

"I do not understand but if you want I can hold your hand. If I get out we can go to my place."

"Thank you"

"I should even have a book you can read with some luck"

"A man who said his name is Porter gave me one. He told me it reminded him of him and his sisters"

"Thats nice of him"

"Its also abbout the war."

"What did Porter give you?"

She shows him the book.

"Huh? I never heard about that one. I should ask him about it"

Maybe now he doesn't only have to pretend to be ok to himself.  But that is ok. He can make sure she is ok.

He can do what none did for him and protect her from all evils.

●● Porters point of view ●●

Porter still can't believe it when he wakes up cuddled up to another body.

Emily is a clingy sleeper, being cuddled behind him. Her hands are around his stomach. He once told her he didn't want her hands at his chest if he doesn't bind and they settled on that. She didn't make a fuss about it or anything, she respects that boundary. Porter's ex boyfriends besides Viktor tended to be quite weird about his boundaries regarding his chest.

His girlfriend breaths quite softly. His head is at her chest and her heartbeat is normal as well. He usually feels more inspired to pretend to breathe when with her. While his heart keeps pumping blood, it doesn't really bring oxygen anywhere. It continues producing blood and Porter doesn't want to enter a hospital enough to check it out. He spends more than enough time in a few and he gets rid of the blood in a legal way so he doesn't care enough to do so.

He can't talk about the whole event yet. He possibly never can. Emily assured him she is fine. That's good enough for him to be ok with it. He will need to address his own feelings soon. Maybe he can visit his dad and actually talk about the worst events of his life.

No matter how well he can cope when with Emily, he is damaged. And he needs to take care of the damage.

They often nap together. Emily needs to and Porter finds it the best way to calm after social interactions. Eventually he feels her breath change and waits a little for her sleep paralysis to end, rubbing her shoulder to calm her down. "Good morning" Emily mumbels. "Or rather lunchtime, we should eat. You didn't have breakfast"

He gets up, helping her up and getting her cane. "Come on, I will make lunch" she smiles softly..

Porter truly feels a lot less lonely with Emily with him.

"Emily, wait a second."
She Turns around. "What is it?"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

(I hope you enjoyed

A small question: do you have any opinion on Viktor?(