30 Day OTP Challenge: Twelve and Lisa

Day One: Holding Hands

Chess. A game for pretentious people. Glasses wearing people. A game he was losing.

"Hey, can we play something else?"He needed an interruption. Nine narrowed his eyes. He always looked so angry. Twelve knew better. Besides Nine had a right to be angry. 

He opened his mouth to reply- right when the fire alarm went off, flooding the room with a sharp red blaring noise that echoed off the walls. At least it sounded red to Twelve. It was followed by the clattering of pans.They both knew what caused it. Or rather who caused it. 

Lisa.

 Nine shot him an exasperated glare. "She's your charity case. Go deal with this". 

Twelve sighed, running a hand through already messy chestnut hair. "Right", he said standing up and stretching like a cat.  As he walked to the kitchen the grin he'd been holding in stretched across his face. Who knew a day would come when he'd be glad that Lisa was burning food?After all he didn't like losing. He'd have to thank her later. 

The acrid smell of smoke slammed into him as soon as he stepped into the kitchen. When he saw Lisa, the grin slipped off his face.She was crouched against the gray concrete floor, cradling her hand against her chest.

"ow ow ow ow", she mumbled under her breath. She reminded Twelve of a bird with a broken wing. He crouched down beside her, taking her hand in his own. He leaned closer to examine it. Her hand was so small. It seemed fragile in a way, like if he wasn't careful he might break it. 

It looked like curry wasn't the only thing she'd burnt this time. An angry red mark stretched from her thumb to her forefinger. Twelve frowned, and Lisa crumpled, shrinking into the concrete. Her voice was shaky. "I-I'm sorry, I guess I can't cook after all...".

Twelve loosened his grip on her hand. Was that fear in her voice? He'd always wondered why Lisa was so jumpy. How could a simple facial expression make someone so frightened? What had happened to her? If anything, Twelve knew a thing or two about having a troubled past. Maybe they weren't so different after all. 

His face softened. "I don't care about the food. Are you okay?" 

It wasn't much, but something in Lisa's face shifted.it was almost imperceptible. But Twelve knew that look. That ghost of a smile. That fragile happiness. He'd seen it before. On nine.

"Yes... I think so" she said.

He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. For the first time in a while, he felt relieved. 

He was about to let go of her hand, when Lisa looked up at him. "Umm.."

He tilted his head. Maybe it still hurt? "Yes?"

A blush began to blossom across her cheeks.  Did she have a fever?It seemed like Lisa got sick pretty easily. "Umm..can..can we stay like this a little longer?" she mumbled.

oh.

He was definitely surprised, but also weirdly happy.

Twelve smiled and squeezed her hand tightly. He'd protect this fragile happiness. No matter what.