MCA #9 | Tuesday Evening

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie was laying on her couch and - okay, she was not reading the crappy vampire book, because she'd gotten so bored that she'd actually picked up her phone, but it was close enough that she could pretend that's what she was doing.

Instead, she'd started googling around and trying to figure out what else was popular here that they didn't have back home, because it couldn't just be sexy vampires.

"What on earth is with these little, like, pills in overalls?" she wondered (aloud, to her empty apartment, yes.) Because they were everywhere and seemed to have little attitudes and she did not get it at all.

[for one! eta: also getting NWS, proceed at your own risk]

Comments

[knife_bender]

"I mean, he was always loner." It had not been surprising when Five told Diego to stay put while he went off by himself. "But, no, he was not doing stuff like that."

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie frowned a little, dabbing lightly at a cut. "That's...kind of bad," she said slowly. "Like, that's a little scary. I mean, those guys were shooting at you - " Okay, deep breath, don't start yelling again, "- and you have to do what you have to do in situations like that, but...yikes. Doesn't really sound like he's fine."

[knife_bender]

"I told him we were gonna talk about it later." See? Be proud of him for having a normal human interaction with a family member!

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie softened a little at that. "You're a good brother," she told him, smiling slightly for the first time since he'd come in. "I'll keep an eye on how he is in class, too."

Like she'd be able to tell if Five was upset versus how he just...was.

[knife_bender]

"Thanks," he said, relaxing a little at her smile. He reached out to place a hand on her knee. "I didn't mean to worry you. I honestly thought it was just going to be talking and donuts."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Of course," Annie sighed, shaking her head. "I know you didn't mean to worry me, but - it's just new for me. I've never...cared this much about someone who could actually go get themselves hurt like this."

Annie was addressing a cut on his hand as she said this, though she did shyly peek up after a moment. "Sorry for freaking out."

[knife_bender]

Did you want to be kissed, Annie? Because that was how you got kissed.

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie very much wanted to be kissed, yes. Her feelings these days were already verging on the fairly intense, and Diego turning up all bloodied and without his knives had a way of just ramping all of that up to, like, eleven.

So she was just going to put the whole worried nurse thing on hold for just a second and lean into him, her free hand going up to lightly cup his cheek as she poured everything she wasn't saying into that kiss.

[knife_bender]

He pulled away after a few moments, just resting his forehead against hers for a moment. "I have a confession to make."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"What?" Annie asked softly, a little dazed because, you know, super intense kisses. She wasn't even that mad-worried anymore, honestly; mostly just relieved he was here to kiss her, still.

[knife_bender]

"I really hate needles," he murmured. "Like, really hate them."

So unless you wanted to see him pass out they were going to have to figure out an alternate to stitches.

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie was actually a little surprised, and pulled back just enough to look at him. "Really?" The idea of her big, tough, knife-wielding boyfriend being scared of needles - and entrusting her with that knowledge - just made Annie feel even meltier, honestly, though she tried not to let it show. "Okay. We won't go to a hospital, then."

If he'd actually gotten for-real shot, it might have been different, but this really didn't look too bad.

[knife_bender]

"Good," Diego said, looking visibly relieved. "We'll figure something else out."

Couldn't he just let it air out and it'll heal that way?

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I have an idea," Annie told him, huffing out a breath as she leaned down to look at the wound again. "But it's probably gonna hurt a lot."

Like a lot more than stitches would, honestly. "And it'll give you a scar." For his collection!

[knife_bender]

"What's another scar?" It wasn't like you could do much worse than the one on the side of his head. "What do you have in mind?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I'm gonna cauterize it." And she was going to do it from his lap, both because of comforting reasons and also just in case she needed to hold him still. So don't mind Annie carefully making her way into said lap as she added, "But I think it's really going to hurt."

Seriously, could not be said enough. Literal burning and fusing of his skin was going to happen, here.

[knife_bender]

That did sound like it was going to be extremely painful. But you know what? It wasn't needles, so he'd take it.

"Okay," he said, nodding. He wrapped his good arm around Annie's waist so he wouldn't knock her off if he struggled. "It's okay, I trust you."

[defenderofdesmoines]

At least it probably wouldn't have to last that long?

Annie winced preemptively, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek before her eyes and hands illuminated simultaneously, and she drew one hand up to hover over his wound. "You ready? I'll be right here." Obviously.

[knife_bender]

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready, do it."

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie frowned as she focused, because now was definitely the time to exercise all of that finely-tuned control she was so proud of, and a small, concentrated, hot beam of light shot out of her hand and directly on Diego's wound.

She was so sorry.

[knife_bender]

Any ideas Diego had of stoically dealing with the pain pretty much went right out the window the second Annie started. "Fuck!"

His head dropped down, trying to muffle any noises of pain against Annie's shoulder. He dug his fingers into her waist, needing some outlet for the pain that wasn't moving the arm she was working on.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I'm so sorry." Annie watched closely as his skin started fusing together under the heat of her hand, silently offering up a little prayer that this would work and be over fast. She wrapped her free arm around his shoulders, swallowing hard. "Almost done."

[knife_bender]

Diego just nodded against Annie’s shoulder, afraid of what he would sound like if he said anything.

Okay, maybe the sutures would have been less painful. He understood that now.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"You're doing so good," Annie murmured, the lights flickering faintly as she worked.

It took a second or two longer, but soon as it looked like that thing wouldn't reopen immediately, Annie cut her power. "Okay." She blew out a breath, dropping her hand down onto his forearm. "Okay. I think we're good." And now she knew she could do that, though hopefully she would never, ever have to again.

[knife_bender]

Diego let out a sigh of relief, tension leaving his body almost immediately. “Thank you.”

He was going to stay where he was for the moment, head against Annie’s shoulder as he tried to catch his breath.