Once Bitten (Chris Evans Multiverse Character AU) 18+

1

The cabin is smaller than the pictures made it out to be, but I guess that's what I get for putting my trust into others when they say accommodation will be sorted out for my arrival. Even now as I stand in the empty living room, I can hear the constant drip, drip, drip of water on the wood flooring and wonder to myself how the fuck they expect me to live in a place like this.

I didn't take this job because I wanted a free home - I took it because the town was desperate and so was the doctor himself. In fact he all but offered me the job straight away during the interview.

So here I am, weeks later with a couple of suitcases to my name and what seems to be a broken promise. "Fuck". I mumble to myself as my eyes scan the room, then finding the apparent leak in the roof.

I'm gonna need a bucket for that or something. It's a good job the trees provide enough canopy from the downpour that's happening outside - but not enough for the roof.

Putting my bags into the bedroom that's partially behind a partition wall, or at least the area where the bed is at considering this is pretty much open plan, I turn and hunt around for a bucket to catch the water - eventually finding one under the sink. That'll solve the problem for now.

I turn to survey my new home again and let out a small huff, wondering why exactly I was mad enough to come here. Because you were romanticised by small town living Mor, my mind tells me. That and you saw the desperation in the Doc's eyes. They need all the help they can get. You are 'help'.
I suppose also wanting a sense of adventure was part of the reason too. My parents have always told me that I was never that outgoing, always being too comfortable back home. I suppose I was, and I suppose that I wanted to prove them wrong with this. Even when I moved into my first apartment and started work at the hospital, my shift patterns meant I was mostly too tired to accept any invitation out on my day off to go for a drink or something, or to even go out with girl friends and scour bars for a potential boyfriend.

Not that I was bothered about wanting one.

I need to head into town, now wondering whether this place has a hardware store that can recommend anyone to come out and fix this leak. Plus I need groceries.

Making my way out to my car, I try to take in the setting between the pines for a moment or two. There are houses dotted around this area, but no one is close enough to be considered a neighbour. It's secluded, however with the house in the current state it is, I would deem it more a murder setting.

A rumble of thunder rolls overhead and for a moment, I'm sure that I can hear the sound of an engine - one that's not a car, and not my own. Instead it's someone on a motorcycle coming down the beaten track that leads off the main road to my home. He kills the engine before getting off, a bag slung over his shoulder. His longish hair is wet from the rain, biker jacket that he wears also sporting the droplets of rain sliding from it, making it shine a little. I catch sight of the jeans that have dirt and what looks to be oil or something over them, but as he now looks at me? I am fixed to the spot - eyes locking for the first time.

"You're the new Nursie, right?" He says, coming over to me.

I nod, but also wonder whether he's about to smash me over the head with a hammer and bury me out here. No matter how ruggedly gorgeous this man is, I have to be on my guard. "Yeah..."

He grins. "I was asked to come fix the leak in your roof".

"Oh, right!" I now relax a little, "I was actually about to head into town to see whether anyone would come out about it".

"They knew, sorry I'm late - only just taking my break from work. It shouldn't take too long to fix though". He now looks to the cabin. "Is there anything else in there that needs doing?"

Other than me?

Stop it Morrigan.

"Not that I can tell, but I've only been here for almost an hour. I found a bucket though". I say feeling a little pathetic.

The man nods, "I'll check the plumbing and electrics. If they're not up to scratch then I'll get someone out here to see it's all done for you". His eyes revert back to my own again. "I'm Ari by the way", now extending a hand.

I gently take it, feeling the electric surge through between us and shake it. "Morrigan".

"Morrigan..." He rolls my name over his tongue in such a way that it almost makes me want to combust in flames. I wonder if he felt the kind of surge that I did? But I'm jumping to conclusions - for all I know he could be happily married with a couple of kids and I can't help but feel a little jealous for whoever is waiting for him at home. "Well I'll get on fixing the roof, before the storm rolls in, you heading into town?" He asks, eyeing my car key in my other hand.

"I need groceries and a few other bits". I tell him. "I didn't really know what to expect to find when I arrived here". 

Certainly not him for sure. 

Ari shoves his hands into his pockets. "Stan's is the place for that. I'll make sure to be gone by the time your back - like I said, it shouldn't take too long to fix". Now jerking his chin in the direction of my new home. 

I shift slightly. "Thanks, I really do appreciate it", and get in my car, exhaling a little before there's a small knock on the window. I roll it down and he looks in, one hand resting against the roof.

"Oh, and Nursie?"

"Yeah?"

"Hope to run into you again soon. Any car trouble then bring it to the garage and me or one of my brothers will take a look at it for you". His eyes trail from mine down to my lap and then back up again. "Welcome to Sierra Ridge".

Pushing himself off the car before I can answer, I watch him make for the cabin and around the back to probably find a ladder or something - and as promised, when I return later, the leak is fixed and he is nowhere in sight.

Doesn't mean to say that he's going to be out of my mind anytime soon though. He knows that in a town this small we're bound to cross paths again - and I can't wait.