Deviants Fallen: A DBH Story

Chapter 62: Heavy

The ride to the closest of Clara's safehouses was quick and quiet. Jinx pulled into the driveway of the small structure and stepped out, hacking the street cameras as she did so to hide their presence. Once they were clear, she helped Connor out of the car and supported him on the short walk to the front door. Clara limped behind them, exhaustion dragging at her. Once they were inside, Jinx led them to the small sitting room off the entry way and dropped Connor down onto the sofa before disappearing into another room. Clara halted beside him and looked him over with a critical eye.

Jinx reentered the room, holding a small box of android repair tools in one hand and a first aid kit in the other. She deposited them on the couch next to Connor, then stepped back.

"Will you two be okay patching each other up?" Jinx asked, voice quiet and face unsure. "I need to go back and help clean up the mess, make sure they can't trace us and all that."

Clara glanced at Connor, then back at Jinx, nodding. "We'll be fine."

"I won't be longer than an hour, if that." She lingered, as if worried, then shot a suspicious glance at Connor.

"We're fine, Jinx." Clara mustered a smile. "Thank you."

Jinx opened her mouth as if to say something else, then stopped, nodding and issuing a small sigh. "Alright." She turned then disappeared through the front door.

Clara heard the faint sound of the car starting and pulling away. Once it was quiet again, she turned back to Connor. The air held a strange tension as she glanced at him, and suddenly, she felt unsure. She didn't quite know what to make of it, so instead, she ignored it and reached for the android repair kit. She flicked it open to take stock of the available tools.

"No." Connor held a hand out to stop her. "You first."

Clara sighed again, casting a bemused glance at him. "Connor, one of us is a few drops of thirium away from shutting down, and the other is just sore and tired. You won't do much good trying to fix me up if you pass out halfway through."

He opened his mouth as if to protest, then stopped, nodding. "Fine."

Clara glanced at him again then took a seat next to him on the couch. She turned to him, feeling a strange hesitation wash over her as she looked him over. She cleared her throat, swallowing hard, then moved a little closer. "We need to get your jacket and shirt off so I can see what I'm working with."

Connor nodded, then carefully shrugged out of his jacket, causing another splash of blue blood to leak out in the process. He looked up at her sheepishly. "I shouldn't move around too much. It cause more thirium to leak, and I can't afford to lose any more. I'll need your help."

Clara bit her lip, nodding. "Alright." She scooted closer, looking him over. The once-pristine white fabric of his shirt was soaked in blue, the entirety of his side drenched. She reached for his collar, then carefully loosened his tie, undoing the knot before tossing it aside.

She glanced up at him, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks as she grew flustered despite the circumstances. A spark of amusement flickered behind his eyes, causing her blush to deepen. She cleared her throat again, pushing the feeling away and instead focusing on getting the buttons of his shirt undone. The movement forced her to use both hands to work the buttons, sending a flair of pain through her injured shoulder. She hissed involuntarily, but maintained her focus, ignoring the concern that flashed across Connor's face. Her hands shook with both exhaustion and nerves, making the process difficult, but eventually, she'd gotten to the last one.