These two went together too well, so I had to put them together. (Sorry Lyn, I’m bending your rules!) One had a 100 word limit and the other 200, so my goal is to stay within 10% of 300 words. Here goes! This is in the world of OFF THE RECORD, probably pretty late in the game.
I was curled up on Misty’s couch, sobbing and utterly lost. I couldn’t go back to the apartment. I could still feel Kent’s fingers clamped against my wrist, feel the gouges where my teeth had cut into my cheek, and where my glasses had broken against the edge of my eye. I knew the door bell had rung, but I couldn’t open my eyes to see what was happening.
There was a long moment of silence before I heard Misty call over to me. “Hats, someone’s here to see you.”
I looked up, but between my lack of glasses and the tears in my eyes, I couldn’t make out a single feature–but I could hear the strangled sound the person made as they came over to me–and I flinched away but when they knelt next to me, the tears just came back in force again.
“For the record? If I ever see that asshole’s face again, I’m turning it into ground beef.” I coughed out a laugh, and Damian sat next to me, putting an gentle arm around me, tugging me into his lap to hold me close. All I could do was lean into his shoulder, and continue to cry.
“I know I’ve been an idiot, and I know I hurt you. By the time I knew…I felt like it was too late to backtrack. But I’m done keeping you an arm’s length away. I’m done pretending. I love you, and I will protect you.”
I reached one arm up to loop around his neck and thread my fingers through his hair. “Thank you,” I managed to eke out. “I’m so sorry. I was so afraid I’d never see you again.”
“You’re stuck with me now, babe. I’m not that easy to get rid of.”
I am not lost... 