In Sickness, Health, and Full moons

Chapter Ten [Azrael]

Aside from that horrible, overwhelming buzzing in her ears, the first thing Azrael heard was her name, spoken multiple times and loudly. Even though most of her senses hadn't returned yet, she'd recognize that voice anywhere. I'm fine, Tanner. Not quite good, but fine.

A few seconds later, she blinked her eyes open, pain spiking in her forehead with the light no longer hidden behind her lids. When she finally managed to focus again, Tanner was all she could see, all pretty gold-green eyes wide and brow furrowed with worry. Aside from the pain screaming in every part of her body, from her own injuries, those she'd taken from him, and now magical exhaustion, she felt his hands on her and the warmth of his body pressed against hers.

He caught me.

"Azrael? Azrael, can you hear me?" God, she hated how fear sounded in his voice, especially directed at her. She nodded and her brain, now turned to mush through a desk lamp and magic, rolled around in her skull, flaring more with his harsh tone. "Oh my god, Az, what were you thinking? Why would you do that?"

"If you're going to yell at me then I can't hear you", she mumbled, not bothering to raise her head from where it had slumped against his chest. She could try to move, try to stand and get away from him, clearly she'd only been out for a few seconds and the rest of her body had now woken up, but... Tanner was holding her. Not out of love or affection, just to keep her from collapsing to the ground, but that didn't change the fact that he had her in his arms, protecting her, keeping her safe. That's where she was supposed to be. But I don't have a right to be here anymore. "I'm okay, really. Just sit me down on the bed, I need a minute or two."

Gently, so, so gently, Tanner moved her toward the bed, to place her on the pillows so her back rested against the headboard. Too quickly, he ripped his hands away even though she knew she wasn't hot enough to burn him. Don't go.

But he did, taking a few steps away from her before crossing his arms. "You're really okay?" She nodded and his arms uncrossed just as quickly, voice raising in volume again. "How fucking dare you not tell me that was going to happen?" Azrael winced at his raised voice and wished it was only because of the pain. "You should have told me! I would never have let-" He cut himself off, the realization softening the hard lines of his face. Please stay like that. No more worry, no more anger.

"I'm sorry", Azrael couldn't look at him anymore, couldn't see the anguish return to his face when he looked at her. She was supposed to make him feel better and now her presence seemed like a knife in the ribs. "Now you know." A drop of blood slid down the side of her face. "I don't like seeing you hurt if I know I can make it better."

"Can I make you better now?" He asked, voice steady and controlled.

Azrael nodded. "You're not going to find a clean towel anywhere in this room."

"I'll go get more." Footsteps moved away from her, toward the door. "I'll be right back."

Something, anxiety or anger, shot up through Azrael's spine at the idea of him even leaving the room. You will come back, won't you? "I'll be here." She didn't look up until she heard the hinges of the door move. He didn't close it all the way.

A little unsteady on her feet, Azrael fetched her sheet from where she'd dropped it and the blanket from where she'd thrown it and climbed back onto the bed, piling them around her for some sense of comfort. I want a shirt. The bruise she'd taken from Tanner distorted her pale skin with golds and greys, ugly and horrible. Better on me than him.

The silence as she waited for Tanner soothed her aching head as it drilled holes through her heart, each passing second hissing that this was it, he'd finally run. He'd seen her bare, gold blood and all, felt her do magic on him he didn't agree to. That was too much, he just couldn't take it anymore. She didn't blame him; he deserved better than that, better than her and if he left this hotel and just kept on driving, did she really have a right to be mad?