Entwined fire | #Wattys2016

Man behind the demands

Spending the day with Zak meant hanging out at his house doing anything and everything. From playing with Gracie in the garden to watching rubbish on TV.

Occasionally I caught Zak watching me, especially if I did anything that caused me to wince slightly.

One thing I loved about Zak's?

His couch. It was probably the most comfiest couch I'd ever sat on. We were watching a rerun of Ghost Adventures when I decided to bring up a topic I had put off..

"You're quiet demanding aren't you?" I asked looking at Zak.

"Sorry?"

"As an investigator I mean. You are quiet bossy."

He pulled his arm away from my shoulders and folded them.

Yep. Now I've pissed him off.

"Is this where we have the conversation about Aaron? I mean. I have been expecting it." He replied.

"I know your lead investigator and that but.. Maybe be a little nicer to Aaron?" I suggested.

"No." He replied.

I blinked as a response and looked at him. "What?"

"No, I won't be nicer to Aaron."

"You're such a jerk sometimes." I sighed getting off the couch and going into the kitchen.

I went through his cupboards, trying to push my annoyance away. What does it take to be nice to Aaron? All he literally has to do treat him with some respect instead of barking orders.

I slammed the last cupboard door and held the side breathing deeply. My body was hurting bad, turning I found Zak watching me.

"I can't be nicer to him." He spoke watching me walk to the fridge and go in it.

"Hungry?" He asked sarcastically.

I pulled out a bottle of water and opened it drinking it back.

"Where are the bloody painkillers in this place?" I asked annoyed.

"What's hurti-"

"Advil. I need Advil or anything." I breathed.

He disappeared making me groan, and hold my chest. I sat on a barstool staring at the granite when a pack of Advil slid into my view.

"Thank you." I breathed going into the packet and popping two out. I took them and shook my head.

I should have just stayed at the hotel.

"About Aaron." Zak spoke making me hold my hand up.

"Forget it."

"No, I want to explain. I'm hard on him because.. Because I know he's stronger than he gives himself credit for. Sometimes I get scared, things shake me up and I look at him. He's got this... This blank expression as if he doesn't know why I'm so scared. He's got balls of steel. But he doesn't really know it. I guess I push him to be brave for both of us sometimes, because if I lose my shit he'll always be there to pull me out if I need to be." He answered.

I looked at Zak with my brows knitted together wondering how much of that is really true.

"Makes me a coward right?" He asked.

"Not if that's the truth.."

"It is. I'm hard on him because he's an amazing investigator deep down but he's just not willing to push him enough.. Which is why I do." He answered.

I guess it made sense in a way.

"Can I see your ribs... Please?" Zak asked.

"Why? You'll only get annoyed. I'm fine." I answered.