Fixate on the frailty

To Keep Her Safe is All I Know

Her Lipstick Stains Like Acid Rain, Dissolving Away My Sense of Restraint

Chris POV

As we drive back to her apartment, the silence is deafening. She knows I'm not happy, and she knows that I won't allow her to work in the club. As soon as I can, I will call my former band member and best friend and ask him to keep an eye on her. I don't want guys at the club seeing her, she's too precious.

Calm down, Chris, she's not even yours yet, I chastise myself in my head.

"We're here," Raven says quietly, interrupting my thoughts.

I shake my head and follow her out, walking into the lavish apartment building. I look at her with a skeptical look and she blushes.

"Don't ask," she replies.

I nod and follow her into the elevator. She hits the button for the tenth floor and we wait in silence. I glance over at her and she is staring at the floor, fidgeting a bit. Once the door opens, we go to her apartment which is already set up with furniture.

"I have water, if you want any?" She offers.

I shake my head and nod towards the couch, "Sit down, Raven."

She nods and lets Syl out of the car carrier. He mews and sniffs us a few times before padding off. I sit on the chair across from her. She studies me and I do the same to her. I bite my lip ring before opening my mouth, "I have had the pleasure of getting to know you for a month or so now, and I know that hasn't been a long time, I can't help but feel protective of you, I mean, you are so special and amazing, I want you to be mine so bad, but I want to take it slow..." I sigh, "This is not coming out how I wanted it to."

She smiles, "No, Chris, I get what you're saying and I agree. I want to be yours and I want to take it slow because I really like you and I don't want my past to fuck things up between us, so, yes, let's take it slow and work our way up."

I smile, "Thank you, thank you so much."

She smiles back, "No problem. Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"That, and I'm serious about you working with Angelo. I don't want you working at the club, don't get me wrong, I trust Endymion and Sophie, but I don't trust anyone else."

She nods, "I understand, Endymion isn't happy that I waitressed at the club, either. It must be the dom in you guys. I would love to work with Angelo. I mean, this is Angelo-fucking-Parente. The other guy behind Motionless In White and your friend since college!"

I laugh, "Yeah, Angelo is pretty great. He'll love to work with you."

Raven nods and laughs before yawning.

"Bed, I'll let myself out, okay?" I ask her.

She rubs her eyes with the back of her hands, "Chris, can you stay, please? I don't like sleeping alone during this time."

"Of course, Raven," I reply as I take her hand and gently pull her to her feet. We walk into her bedroom and I sigh internally as I see the bed isn't made. Raven pulls a face, "I guess I can sleep in top of it, the chaise is the living room is really comfy, I had one like it back in New York."

"Absolutely not, Raven. I'm going to make up the bed, you go change and stuff, okay?" I command gently.

She goes to argue, but I give her a look and she just gives in, too tired to do anything about it, anyway. I quickly out the sheets on the bed and I shrug off my hoodie and socks, folding them and placing them in top of her dresser. I slide out of my jeans and my shirt as Raven comes out wearing fleece pants and a long t-shirt. She snuggles in bed and I curl up next to her.

"Thank you, Chris," she says sleepily.

"For what?"

"Staying with me."

"No problem, Raven. I'll be here to keep the nightmares away."

I wake up up to the sound of rock music softly coming from the kitchen. I stretch and feel the empty side of the bed next to me. I walk out into the kitchen to see Raven making breakfast with my new album playing.

"Crawling from hell, fallen from grace. And now there's nothing left to take, leaving the past to the grave, so we can reincarnate," I sing along as I walk up behind her.

She jumps slightly and whirls around, "Jesus, Chris, you scared the shit out of me!"

I smile, "Sorry, Rave. Whatcha making?"

"Pancakes, which should be done soon if you're done giving me heart attacks," she quips.

"I am, I promise." I sit down at the breakfast bar and she hands me a plate before sitting next to me.

"Your phone buzzed this morning when I got up. I left it alone, but I thought I would tell you," she says. "I did put it to charge over there," she points to a little docking station at the other end of the counter.

"Thank you," I lean over and grab it, "It's from Devin, they want to rehearse today and hang out. You wanna get Endymion and Sophie to join us?"

She smirks, "I would love to, but they're busy designing their new playroom and maybe punishing Sophie for whatever misdemeanour she's down this time."

"She gets into trouble a lot, then?"

"Yes, one of the many ways we're similar. I, however, know when to stop. Sophie just can't get enough," she smirks. "Are you sure you want me to come with you?"

"Absolutely, we've spent enough time away from each other," I reply, kissing her head. I take our plates, "Go get ready, I'll wash up."

"Thanks," she replies.

"Don't expect that often, though." I call after her jokingly.

We go to the recording studio where we have our practise rooms. We walk in and Raven makes herself comfortable in the chair in the corner. Balz was playing scales on the keyboard while Brandon was tapping out a rhythm. Ricky and Ghost looked like they were in a deep discussion about one of the basses. They look up when I come in and Balz sends me a look which I ignore.

"What do you guys wanna work on?"

"Mostly the older stuff since I'm still getting used to it," Brandon replies, "If you don't mind."

I shake my head, "No, I don't. Raven, what do you think we should play?"

Raven looks up from her phone and smiles, "Billy In 4-C Never Saw It Coming."

Ghost chuckles at her song choice while Horror looks amused. Brandon counts us in and we begin the song.

"Oh my god, I could barely sit down to write this line. And I'd give anything to hear your fucking voice again. So apathetic and I know you must be dead inside, you don't know what real love is..."