Dollface

Part 28

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Simon was still asleep, and it was around noon. I'm not a cook, but boiling water is a challenging ordeal, for me I've never had to set foot in a kitchen and feel obligated to prepare a meal.

Well, I better get used to it because I can't rely on Simon to do everything for me, especially with a very bad gunshot wound to one of his arms.

I started by getting the ingredients out, going back and forth to the stove and the cupboards. Cooking became easier as I joined in with what the people at home around me were doing.

As I tried to fry the salami, the oil splashed over my arms, making me scream and jump away.

S: What... are you doing?

I turned around in a mad dash, my lips parting and my eyes looking into Simon's worn ones. His eyes looked around the kitchen and then stared at me blankly. His tired, hoarse and scratchy morning voice had fucked my insides.

I: I uh...I tried to cook for you.

I muttered quietly, just loud enough for him to hear me properly.

S: What?
I: I...uh...
S: Did you try to _cook_ for me?

He asked quietly, sending me a questioning look. My lip buried itself between my teeth as I crossed my arms over my chest.

I: Maybe.
S: I'm pretty sure it looks that way.
I: Well, I-

My voice trails off, I can't find the words. I hear his footsteps approaching me and as soon as I look up, he was close enough to reach out and grab mine with his good arm. The irritated patches on my arm made his eyebrows raise slightly in shock.

S: It looks like I'm protecting you from yourself more than anything.
I: I was trying to be nice to you. I felt bad that you got shot in the damn arm!
S: Who cares about my damn arm! Isabell, I don't want you to hurt yourself. I can cook for us. It's just a bullet wound, everything else I can just do.

I stared at him for a while, sticking out my bottom lip. Simon frowned at me too, until the corner of his lips began to spread into a grin.

I: What are you so amused by?
S: You.
I: What?
S: You look like a baby when you do that.
I: I look like a baby when I'm annoyed at you?

He shakes his head and giggles to himself at how hilarious I apparently look. Even though I was annoyed, I was more than pleased that Simon was showing slightly different emotions.

~~~~
S: We need to get out of here.

Simon starts after we've collected everything from his desk; maps, markers, files. The computer once again completely broken into many pieces.

I: Where to? And how?

He rubbed his hand over his face and shrugged.

S: I need to recover before we leave, and we need to come up with a much better plan. I'm not going to let us fully commit to this investigation without a clear point of view. We need to be ready.

I: Damn... okay...
S: Why do I get the feeling you're not taking this seriously? This is not a joke. These people are willing to do anything, and I mean anything, you can't just pretend it's nothing.
I: I'm taking you seriously.

I answer quietly.

S: Doesn't seem so.

The room soon fell into silence and I lay flat on the floor as a moan escaped my lips.

S: Let's just figure out where we're going next. It won't be long before those people come.
I: Right.

I agreed breathlessly, sitting up and spreading my hands over a map of Chicago. I frowned and stared at them in confusion as he sat on the floor across from me.