Through Heaven or Hell (William Macbeth X Female Reader)

Remnant

(Y/N) stared out the window, watching the rain streak against the glass. The water droplets rolled down the window. Raindrops pattered on the roof and speckled the cement down below the building. A warm blanket had been carefully wrapped around her and a warm mug of tea sat on the coffee table that sat in front of her.

She just listlessly stared outside.

Tired. She was just so damn tired. She had almost died - I was almost free - but it hadn't been enough.

So she just sat there under Steven's careful and worried supervision.

Ever since she had been discharged from the hospital, Steven had been watchful. He had said that he wasn't comfortable with her being left on her own after almost dying, so he had taken her to his flat to keep watch over her.

He would sometimes sit down and watch her before jumping up and rushing to the kitchen or linen closet to grab something else he thought would help her. It was sort of sweet, but (Y/N) also felt like it was unnecessary and pointless. She didn't deserve such a luxury.

Steven finally quieted down. He sat in his chair, sipping at his own mug, staring outside.

After a long silence, he quietly asked, "Are you feeling any better? Do you need anything else?"

Aches ran through her body, along the lines of bruises left from her falling to the ground. She always felt too cold or too hot as a remnant of her fever danced in her cheeks. And then there was that persistent, pounding exhaustion - no, she was not feeling okay.

(Y/N) pulled the blankets closer to her body as she stared off into the distance. "No." A strand of hair slipped from her messy bun that she had tossed up haphazardly a couple hours ago. "I'm not feeling better. I'm exhausted, I ache all over... I feel like I'm one step away from dying, but I can't die because you're not going to let me anytime soon." She gave Steven what would have been a glare if she had enough energy. Her voice was raspy and dry.

The scarred man awkwardly cleared his throat. Glancing away from her gaze, he murmured, "Why would I let you die? There's no point."

"I'm dying anyway, Steven. So the only pointless thing right now are your stupid attempts to save me!" (Y/N) felt her cheeks flare red as she stared him down. "I can feel myself slowly slipping away, further each day. So stop your pointless endeavors to keep me around!" Her voice cracked with emotion as tears filled her eyes.

His fingers grazed her arm in his effort to be reassuring. "It's not pointless, (Y/N). How could it be? You're an amazing person - so why are you giving up before you even really try?"

The tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. "You don't understand," she hissed. She tried to shove down the pain and guilt. Once again, she manipulated another person into thinking that she was worth more than the dirt on their shoes. But they were all so wrong.

"Then explain."

She looked away from him, ignoring his request. "Nessa watered down whatever story she told you."

He tilted his head, confused. "Why do you say that?"

"You're still talking to me. You're protecting me." (Y/N) bit her lip. Her emotions were going crazy and she didn't like it. "Why does she even care? Why did she tell you?"

Steven gave her an incredulous look. "She's your sister! She wants you to be safe!"

"Like that's any reason," she spat. "Just because we're blood doesn't mean anything. My mother made that fully clear to me."

That stopped Steven. "Your mother?"

His pause surprised (Y/N). "Nessa never told you?"

Brows furrowed, he shook his head. "She just told me that you let something loose and had to be protected."