Kingdom Come

Chapter Nine: Medicine

I end up waiting for Zack by falling asleep. Again... still no idea why I've been sleeping so often.

I wake up to the door banging open. I yawn, sitting up,

"Hi Zack," I whisper softly, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I look up at him as he sets down his scythe. I stand up, "I'll get the cleaning stuff ready," I tell him softly, walking into the bathroom. A few minutes later he comes in,

"You really don't have to," he mutters angrily,

"I know," I tell him simply. I grab a rag, dipping it in the water. I lean toward him with the rag. He grabs my wrist,

"You know I'm a murderer. So why are you helping me?" he growls, glaring up at me. I hesitate slightly,

"Because... you saved me. And I don't really have anywhere else to go," I tell him softly, his grip only tightens.

"That doesn't answer my damn question," he growls. "You could've easily taken the damn money and left. So why the hell did you stay?" he snarls, I look at him in silence for a moment,

"I..." I mumble hesitantly.

"Just tell me!" he shouts, I gently pry his hand off my wrist, and start on his hair, avoiding his eyes,

"I'm staying because I trust you. You've been relatively nice to me, and even when you're angry, you don't try to trap me or anything. I used to have really strict rules around me. I had so many rules that I was practically drowning in them, and whenever I broke even the tiniest ones, I was severely punished. But when I broke your rule, you might've been angry, but you didn't try to punish me, and instead gave me something to feel safe as well as simply abolished the rule," I gently continue wiping the blood away. He doesn't say anything. I smile a bit, grabbing the shampoo.

"What are you doing?" he growls as I start massaging the foamy liquid into his dirty hair,

"Sit on the floor by the tub please?" I ask, he grumbles but obeys, "Lean your head back?" I ask softly, gently pressing on his forehead. I dip the rag in the water and start rinsing out the shampoo.

"What in the hell did you do?" he mutters angrily, glaring up at me accusingly.

"I'm just washing your hair, relax," I tell him, gently massaging his scalp.

"Why?" he growls, though a lot less angrily. I finish rinsing it out, and I grab a clean small towel, pressing it around his forehead and down to his ears for a moment before quickly drying his hair off best I can.

"Alright, go ahead and sit up," he obeys, though his forehead bumps against mine. I blush slightly, quickly leaning away. "Just lemme clean off the rest of the blood now," I mumble, looking away hastily.

"Nah, I'll just take a bath," he mutters, I hesitate, "go on then, out," he snaps, I quickly rush out.

I hear the bath turn on again, and I quickly toss the blankets back onto the bed and slip under them, closing my eyes in an attempt to go to sleep.

And of course, the one time it's probably a good idea to sleep, I can't. I bury my blushing face into the pillows, what the hell is wrong with me?! I sigh, pulling the pillow over my ears.

A few minutes later, and the door opens. I don't move, pretending to be asleep.

A few moments later, someone shakes my arm,

"Wake up, [F/N]," I hear Zack snap, shaking me more. I quickly get up,

"Y-yeah?" I mumble, blushing slightly, I don't look at him.