THE DARK RAVEN

PIZZA!!!

Finally, after what felt like an entire body's worth of blood had poured out of my arm despite my putting pressure on it, Leo pulled up to my apartment in Queens.
"Come on, Addie. I'll bandage up your arm for you" Leo says, as we got out of the car.
"I can do it myself" I snap involuntarily from exhaustion, hunger and what Leo calls my 'stubborn independence'.
"I know you can" he assures as we climb the stairs to my apartment. "But it's the least I can do."
"Whatever" I sigh, too drained to argue.

I unlock my apartment door and close my eyes in relief as I breathe in the familiar, comforting scent of home.

"I missed you" I smile.

"We only saw eachother yesterday" Leo states.

"I'm talking to my apartment."

"Ouch. What I'm not good enough to miss?"

"My apartment and I have a very close relationship. It gets lonely when I leave." I explain.

Leo chuckles at our regular banter, though I see the light die down in his golden coloured eyes as they drift towards my injured arm.
"Time to get you cleaned up" he says, and leads me to the kitchen counter where I perch myself upon and peel my bloodied suit from my upper body. I have a sports bra on underneath, so it doesn't feel weird with Leo in the room. I don't dare look at my arm, knowing from Leo's low whistle and wide eyes that it was bad.
"You know you should really visit the hospital, Addie" he advises as he uses damp cotton to gently wipe any blood away from the wound.
"And risk S.H.I.E.L.D. tracking me down?" I point out.
"Hydra's infirmary then" Leo offers.
"No thanks. Anyway, why bother suggesting it? You know I hate hospitals".
I wince slightly as Leo begins applying antiseptic onto my arm.
I'd always despised hospitals, the overwhelming stench of bleach that's used to clean up and mask the scent of blood and death but is only a reminder of them.
I know it doesn't make sense for me, an assassin, to feel repulsive towards those two things but it has never been my choice to have this life.
"Just saying" Leo puts his hands up defensively and I smile to assure him I'm not serious in my annoyed tone.

As Leo works, I glance around my one bedroom apartment. The living area and kitchen are both part of one large room so from where I am sat, on the marble kitchen counter, my back pressed against the black and white tiles, I can see my living space.

There is a purple corner sofa and arm chair which matches with the purple walls, my white, fluffy cushions contrasting nicely against the deep colour. A wooden coffee table stands in between the sofa and TV which has its own place on the wall beside my wooden bookshelves which contain my classics alongside my year organised records and red record player. My music dates all the way back to the 40's. On the other side of the TV, my collage containing my favourite movie and book quotes and song lyrics hangs in its mirrored frame. It's one of my most special belongings, a piece I had spent a good few hours on one rainy day. I used to go and look at it during the early morning hours when I woke up from a nightmare, uncaring of the cold laminate floor beneath my feet. Now my nightmares, though less frequent, have expanded into something more terrifying than fear itself. I daren't even leave my bed till sunrise on those nights.

"All done" Leo's voice snaps me out of my daze.
I now had a bandage wrapped around my arm, the pain now reduced to a dull throb.
"Here" Leo's offers me a couple of painkillers and a glass of cold water.
"Thanks" I reply earnestly, sending my bestfriend a grateful smile before taking them.
"Time?" I ask.
"12:34a.m." Leo answers, examining the silver watch he always wears on his right wrist.
"Pizza time!" I cheer.
"Finally! Tell you what, you get in the shower and I'll order the food. It'll most likely be here by the time you're done" he reaches inside his back pocket for his cell phone.
"Shower? With this?" I raise my eyebrows, cocking my head towards my bandaged arm.
"It's called clingfilm, Einstein" Leo sasses.
"Hey! Being sassy is my job! We've talked about this."
"Yeah, yeah" Leo waves me off and I grab the clingfilm off the counter before sending him a grudging look and heading to the bathroom.