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"Nah, I like you struggling"
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02
-Pilot-
'Same Old'
- - -
★★★
A few hours after seeing Nick—and a long, scalding shower that failed to rinse away the weight in her chest—Calliope found herself back at the hospital. She told herself it was nothing. A detour. A habit. But the truth was, something Travis had said wouldn't leave her alone.
She didn't plan on visiting Nick again. Not really. But the image of him strapped to that hospital bed, bruised and dazed, had rooted itself in her mind. Guilt twisted with something softer—nostalgia, maybe. Or something worse.
Flashing her volunteer badge at the front, she slipped through the quiet halls, the sterile hum of fluorescent lights filling the silence. The hospital had mostly settled. Less chaos, more waiting. The door to Nick's room was already cracked open.
She hesitated, then gave a soft knock.
Nick turned his head. His face—pale, battered—shifted as his eyes found her. Not quite a smile, but something close. Something real.
"Hey, Cali."
"I figured the least I could do is bring you something to eat," Calliope said, stepping inside and sitting on the edge of the bed. "I couldn't decide what to get, so... we have a variety."
She rolled his food tray toward her, pushing aside the sad little hospital bowl already sitting there. In its place, she laid out takeout boxes.
"Chinese, Mexican, and Italian," she declared.
She grabbed the Chinese for herself and handed Nick the Mexican, already knowing it was his favorite.
"Thank you. Hey, can you untie me?"
Calliope blinked, just now noticing the restraints around his wrists. She started laughing.
"You think this is funny?" Nick asked, grinning despite himself.
"Yeah."
She undid the strap on his right hand, leaving the other one in place.
"You're fine with one?"
"I'd prefer none."
"Nah," she said, taking a bite of lo mein, "I like you struggling."
Nick chuckled, digging into his food. A low groan escaped him—savoring it. "God, this is the best thing I've eaten in months."
