Darlin'~ Striker x OC

Scars

I woke up coughing. Alessio had pulled me out of the rubble. I sat up from the ground and looked around. 

Most of the loan sharks were dead, Crimson looked tired and beat and was lighting a cigar, and Alessio was looking me over for wounds. 

I felt fine, but I didn't see Striker anywhere.

There was fire in the distance, and I had no idea what had happened. I stood up and started walking around. The surrounding fire made it hot. 

I heard muffled crying nearby, and moved some junk from where I heard it, and I saw Striker with burns all over him. I took a step back to give him some space.

"I fucking failed again! Damn Blitzo..." He growled, and slammed his fist to the ground as tears kept falling from his lemon eyes. "I can't do nothing right... can I? A-And now I'll look like a fucking mess." He sniffled. 

I crouched down beside him. "Don't say that. You're fine." I said gently. He looked up at me, and wiped his face, then stood. 

"You shouldn't be over here, Darlin'. You shouldn't be over here with me." He drawled, and I stood up to match his height, almost match his height. 

"Why not? You were crying, and you're hurt. Let me help you. Please..." I placed my hand on his arm but he pulled away. He just stared at me, his stare cold. 

Eventually, his look softened and he folded, and just nodded. I took his hand and led him over to where Crimson and Alessio were.

...

Once we were back at Crimson's estate, I brought him straight to the bathroom. It was large and fancy, definitely expensive. 

I took the first aid kit out of the cupboard while he sat on the edge of the tub. He watched me as I got things to treat his wounds. 

I had him take off his shirt and inhaled a sharp breath when I saw his toned body. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. He raised an eye brow at me when I didn't do anything, so I started treating him quickly, ignoring his questioning gaze.

I heard him hiss when I rubbed in some antibiotic cream onto one of his burns, but I didn't stop and continued with another one. After I was done doing that I put bandages on the burns to keep them from getting infected.

He ruffled my hair when I was done. "Thanks Darlin', you're a good nurse." He sighed, the soft smile on his face faltered. "But now I'm gonna have scars all over..."

I looked up at him from where I was sitting. "Scars mean you got through something tough. Something life threatin' or painful hard work." I ran a hand over one of the wounds covered with a bandage. 

He looked me over, placing one of his hands on my cheek, rubbing his thumb over my biggest scar, the one over my eye. "How'd you get yours?" His voice echoed in the silent room, and I froze.

I always looked back on that experience because I never could forget it, but I never talked about it out loud, because it was too painful for me to speak about. Even when I thought about it I could feel every single scar I have, getting ripped open again. I don't know why I do it to myself. But I still wasn't ready to talk about it with anyone, let alone a stranger who I barely knew, like him. He must've sensed that, because he took his hand away, and spoke softly to me. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." 

"It's okay... I-I just don't wanna talk about it yet." I pulled my hand away too, and stood up. "I'll set up the guest room for you, it's getting late anyway." 

He just nodded and stood to, and followed me to the guest room. We never talked while I made the bed, and he leaned in the doorway, watching me. 

Once I finished I went to my own room and flopped on my bed. I just took off my boots and then climbed into bed, I didn't have the energy to change or brush my teeth at all.

That night I had a nightmare, the same one from before, with Cain doing those things to me again, but I always woke up before he managed to kill me, cause in that dream, he did. 

I woke up with a small scream, and sat up. A cold sweat covered my body and the sheets on my bed stuck to my body. 

I know I shouldn't be scared, Cain was dead, his horns were on display in Crimson's lounge, but I still feel scared at night.

The things he'd do to me at night... 

I broke down again, for like the thousandth time. I'm a crybaby, I know, but it just hurts so much. 

The one person I loved and worked on perfecting my relationship with hurt me so bad. Everyone I've ever loved has hurt me one way or another, except Crimson, he's always been there for me surprisingly.

I jumped when I felt arms around me. 

"I heard you cryin'. you alright, Darling?..." Striker held me tighter, and I melted into him. He nuzzled his face into my hair. I wasn't expecting anything like this from him, but I was happy non the less.

I shook my head, and I cried some more, my tears falling on his arms. 

I must've fallen back asleep, cause when I opened my eyes, the room was filled with light, and I was still in Striker's arms. I could hear him snoring. 

I felt his chest rise and fall when I laid on him, and I tired to get up, but his arms tightened on me.
"Where do you think you're going, Little One?" He said gently, pulled me against his chest. 

Satan, how many nicknames did he have for me? 

I shamelessly cuddled up against him, turning over so I was on my stomach and facing him.

"No where. Why would I leave?" I smirked, and he smiled down at him. He ran a hand through my hair, giving my scalp small scratches. This was Heaven if I ever felt it, and I never wanted it to end.

Way to jinx the moment with my thoughts, because I heard Crimson call downstairs for Striker, and me.

He reluctantly pulled away, and I got up as well. We walked downstairs to the lounge, and Crimson was smoking a cigar.

"Striker. You let them get away?!" Crimson snapped, and Striker hung his head. Crimson took a drag, and blew smoke at him. "I have a mean to fire you right now, but I'm low on workers now, so I guess I'll keep you around..." 

I let out a small sigh of relief, because I didn't want him leaving anytime soon...

I have another book being wrote, Legally Bound. It's not a Hellaverse story, but I would be very grateful if you could check it out! I'm proud of it, and I'll post new parts frequently! Thank you!🫶