Beta Lodge

11

favorite Lana del Rey song?
***

I hold my breath and wait for him to lash out. His fists are bloody from beating our attackers and his white dress shirt had spots of red all over it.

To my surprise, he just turns around and walks up stairs. I stare at his large retreating form and let out a deep breath that I was holding. I turn off the warm water, and my hand begins to sting with pain again.

Apparently punching someone in the face is very painful for both parties. I didn't know that. Also in my moment of fear and anger I had forgotten to keep my thumb out of my fist. I was stupid and impulsive, but even an idiot like me knows that it's incorrect to have your thumb inside your fist when you punch.

By now, my hand was a nasty shade of purple and if I even put my finger on the bruise, pain seared throughout the whole limb.

My eyes flicked to Gabriel, who was talking down the stairs, first aid kit in hand. He had taken off his tie and jacket and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He sat down on the couch and then gestured to me.

"Come here,"

His voice was gruff and commanding as per usual. I dried my hand gently and then walked over to sit on the couch. I chose a spot about two feet away from him and then peaked up at his handsome face.

I saw his jaw clench before he reached out to me and swiftly placed me on his lap. His own, bruised and scarred hands grabbed my injured one and began inspecting the injury.

"Did you punch him with your thumb in your fist?"

My lips thinned into line before responding, "Yeah..."

He rolled his eyes and shook his disapprovingly before grabbing the gauze. He gently wrapped up my hand so that it felt secure and so that I didn't feel like it was fall apart if I let go of it.

When he is done with my hand, he wiped the blood off my cheek. Occasionally, I hissed in pain because he was applying too much pressure but he never stopped.

"You should not hit people with a closed fist. You are too small for that. If you need to hit someone, hit them with an open hand."

He looked at me seriously before grabbing the television remote and turning it onto the hockey game. Gabriel watched the game in silence, not letting me move from his lap. I wouldn't say I was uncomfortable because it was kind of nice being held by him, especially after today.

I just felt a little awkward. His knuckles were bloody and his shirt was permanently stained with it, most likely. My eyes kept flicked from his hands around my waist to medical supplies on the coffee table and before I knew it, I pulled his arms off me.

Gabriel let out a warning growl, but I quickly reached for an alcohol soaked pad and grabbed one of his large, rough hands with my much smaller ones.