Hell's Angel: Devil's Backbone (BK 2)

The Broken Girl

Dani's POV
(Nightwing27th)

I gargled warm salt water a few times, after taking probably passed the legal limit of painkillers. I'd like something stronger, like some kind of alcoholic beverage, but that'd only make my throat feel worse. I spit out the mouthful I had into the kitchen sink. Matt and Stick had been arguing for, like, twenty minutes. I don't know, I tuned them out. I'm sick of their drama.

I was still dressed as Angel, just minus the mask. Same as Matt. I stood and whipped my bottom lip. At least I got the taste of blood out of my mouth. I sighed and then tossed the paper towel in the trash. I pour out the glass of salt water as Matt walked into the kitchen. "You okay?"

I sat the glass down and nodded. Talking was not fun. Very not fun. This is the worst sore throat I've ever had. It's like someone took a razor and went to town on my throat. I swallowed, cringing. "Take a deep breath," he said. "I want to listen to your lungs." I rolled my eyes, but did as he said. I took a deep breath, slowly letting it out. I did that twice, watching him the whole time.

He nodded and looked away. "Thank you." I nodded. "No, for all of it." He sighed. "You didn't have to come. You...almost died."

I shrugged, then swallowed. "Yeah-" I stopped and cringed. He opened his mouth to protest and I held up a finger. He stopped, closing his mouth. I swallowed, rubbing my throat. "And I'd do it again," it came out a strangled whisper. He cocked his head, listening. But this time, I knew he was listening to me. "There's just something about you, Murdock, that..." I swallowed, "makes me want to die."

He smiled, knowing I was being sarcastic. "I'll remember that." I stared back at him as a slight awkward feeling crept in. Normally, if we were still together, this is the part where we'd say 'I love you' and most likely kiss. We'd talk a while longer and then head off to bed, being so exhausted that we'd pass out as soon as our heads hit the pillows. Normally...that's what we'd do.

But this isn't normal. We're not normal, anymore. This is something new. Something we've never done before, a new territory that we kind of skipped over last time. But somehow it felt wrong. It felt wrong not to touch him, not to kiss him and say 'I love you'. It felt wrong not to want him. And yet...it felt right.

After a few moments of awkward silence, he turned to leave. I inwardly sighed, my emotions caught in an unwinnable battle. I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder. He stopped and turned back with a questioning look. He probably thinks I want to say something more. Which is hard because I can't just right it down or mouth the words.

But I shocked both of us when I pulled him in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight. Probably tighter than 'just friends' would've. But we're not 'just friends'. We were once more than that, and I think part of 'us' still is. He cautiously wrapped his arms around me, probably thinking I'd go back on it any second.

But I finally felt them fully embrace me, squeezing me back. And holding him, feeling him hold me back, knowing it was nothing more than a hug after a dangerous mission...was, oddly, more satisfying than I thought it could be. It was what I needed. It was what we both needed. Someone just had to be man enough to ask for it.

We held the hug until we both wanted to let go. Secretly I think neither of us wanted to, but he had to. Life had to go on. The Hand won't stop until they have Stick and Elektra, Matt's head on a spike. The usual. When we separated I looked at him. His face had a silent 'thank you' written all over it. I nodded slightly and then we went our separate ways.

He left the kitchen and walked out into the living room. I sighed and then left the kitchen as well. But I headed for the hall leading to the front door. I stopped at the entrance to the hallway and then turned back. "I'm going home," I had to whisper it because of my throat. Those darn painkillers haven't kicked in yet. "Call me, okay?"