Perfect Illness || lookism x reader

53. #Goals

Click. A general fastened a handcuff on her wrist. The other one was fastened around Vasco's wrist. "The fair lady is correct. I trust the noble girl to guard our criminal."

"HUHHH??"

53 """"""""""

The generals removed the pillory, and Vasco was permitted the privilege of sitting on the cot next to her. Her right hand was cuffed to his left. He hid his face in his hands, yanking her wrist along with. "Oh sorry!"

Jace grinned widely. "So YNnnn..."

"Jace..."

"I'll let you rest up. Everyone else, get out I need to interview you."

The room cleared out, but with grumbling from Zack.

So it was just her and Vasco. Vasco scooted as far away from her as possible, dragging her arm with him. They sat in awkward silence for a few moments.

"Are you okay?" said Vasco finally.

"Yeah thanks..."

Something about her tone must have been unconvincing because Vasco clasped her hands with a worried look. "Are you sure?"

YN pressed her lips together and nodded.

"Is it about Johan?"

Goddamit why is he so perceptive??? You wouldn't expect it but Vasco definitely had the best understanding of people, probably because he broke it down so simply. She recalled his disastrous first date... Maybe not women. It would do no good to lie. "A bit yeah." She drew her knees to herself on the cot, wrapping one arm around them. The other was tied to Vasco.

"He's not a bad person."

Those five words soothed some indescribable pain she didn't know she had. The hollowness was still there, but it wasn't painful anymore. "Thanks Vasco."

"And you don't need to run anymore."

"...what do you mean?"

Vasco hesitated, then tangled his fingers with hers. His grip was too tight and awkward, but the strength was reassuring. "I know you run when things get hard. I noticed it. I notice a lot of things... about you." He sighed awkwardly. "But the Burn Knuckles will protect you. I will protect you."

YN tried to smile but it was wry. No one can protect me against Gun. "Thanks Vasco. I appreciate you." No one but myself...

"Of course, YN–uh what are you doing?"

YN had started rummaging the drawers looking for something. "Here!" She held up a massive safety pin probably used to pin bandages. She jammed it in the lock of the handcuffs, fiddling around. It clicked and the cuffs slid off. Vasco was gazing at her openmouthed. "What?"

"You're kinda a bad influence..."

"Says the gang leader." Fuck. She had an almost identical exchange with Johan. That painful hole was back.

"It's different!" Vasco insisted.

"Sure sure... Cmon lets go." They quietly crept into the hallway. "Are you game to ditch?"

Vasco looked a little appalled at the fact. "Ditch... school?"

YN rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, what else?"

"Are you sure we should..."

YN was pulling him down the hall before he was finished. "But if any of your generals catch us then I'll get my head cut off too."

"I won't let that happen YN!"

"Thank you, I appreciate that–" she let out a small yelp as Vasco yanked her into a closet nearby. She heard the rambunctious roar of Burn Knuckles passing outside. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness she realized that her hands were resting on Vasco's chest as he pinned her against the door with hands on either side of her, listening intently to the outside. She quickly put them down, twisting her fingers nervously before Vasco could freak out. But when he glanced down at her, it didn't seem like that helped, as a blush suddenly flooded across his cheeks and he stumbled back quickly, banging his head on a bucket, which flipped and covered his head.