Hunting for a way home - Shalnark x Reader

Chapter 12 - Well, you want to play a game?

The next morning you found yourself sitting beside Shalnark and across from Phinks. It was like a battle of wills between you two as you glared at each other over breakfast. Shalnark sat between you both and just watched patiently. "You have a problem?" Phinks finally snapped. "Yeah it started the moment your face walked in this room and sat down." It was hard to not feel confrontational when it felt like someone was openly challenging you. You wanted to butt heads back.

Yesterday the whole reason you kept your mouth shut was more out of fear of Feitan than the man in front of you. Shoveling your last bit of food in your mouth you stood up to put your plate in the sink and turned to Shalnark. "Can we get out of here now?" You thought for a moment, "Please." Shalnark had turned around to watch you, "I'll be just another moment." He thankfully was always pleasant and wasn't turned off by your unpleasant mood. Phinks just ate his food ignoring you.

You closed your eyes as a sudden pain seemed to be cramping up your abdomen. 'Fuck, you better be kidding me.' Without another word you angrily made your way to the bathroom. The second you pulled your pants down and sat on the toilet you knew today was fucked. Between the Hunter Exam and essentially being kidnapped it was easy to completely forget about your monthly friend.

Shoving your palm into your eyes you felt yourself pushing back frustrated tears. Why did your life have to go to shit all at once? You only showered last night after Phinks and Feitan had disappeared to their rooms and that left you back in Shalnarks clothes until your clothes were clean again and his loaned sweats now had a blood stain all over them.

If Phinks saw this he'd have something nasty to say you knew it and he'd hassle you the rest of the day. You didn't even begin to know how to approach Shalnark. This was too damn embarrassing and the pain was finally starting to make it hard to concentrate. Tears had started to form and immediately froze when a soft knock came to the door. "Hey Y/N.. I forgot to give you a change of clothes for the day. It's supposed to be a little colder out today. Can I open the door to set these down on the sink?" Shalnarks voice was soft as if to not startle you, "uhh yeah sure... Thank you." What was this about? The door quickly opened for a bundle to be deposited on the sink and was swiftly shut again.

Carefully getting up you grabbed the bundle to sort through it. Tucked in the folds between the fresh shirt and sweatpants of his was an extra pair of underwear you had, a pad, and pain relief pills from your satchel. They almost fell to the ground you hadn't expected to find this.

You felt your heart begin to beat a little faster as you looked at it. He noticed..? ..And he did something about it without you even saying anything. Why did he care? Wordlessly you popped the pills in your mouth and swallowed with a bit of water cupped from the faucet. It didn't take long to change into the new clothes and take care of the rest of your needs. Walking out the bathroom you headed to his room and deposited the clothes in the hamper in the corner of his room.
Looking to his bed you wondered if you really had to do anything today. It would be so nice to just lay there and sleep. Shaking your head and turning you headed to the front door he was already standing there waiting, "You ready to go?" "Yeah." You felt strangely timid. His actions had you feeling conflicted. But as he held the front door open you followed him out and trailed closely beside him as you both made your way towards the wood and down the path to the clearing.

It was hard trying to find anything to say and the pills still hadn't taken full effect. He hadn't said anything to you since asking if you were ready to leave. Looking over to him you saw he just pleasantly walked forward like there wasn't a care in the world.

"Shalnark?" He looked over to you in return, "Yes Y/N?" You were going to regret this later. You were sure someone else was pulling your strings now because you pulled at his hand until he came to a stop confusion in his eyes.