Chapter Text
When Lex showed up at Ethans doormat unannounced, he didn’t know what to think. He obviously wasn’t angry, but usually she would text him if she was coming over, to give him time to prepare. So when Lex showed up with a suitcase, a black eye and Hannah next to her with a red handprint on her cheek he didn’t know what to think. He immediately let them in and was essentially tackled into a hug by Lex. With tears streaming down her cheeks she mumbled into his shoulder many apologies. He just shushed her and stroked her hair, making sure that Hannah was in the house before shuffling over with Lex to shut the door behind them.
When Lex let go of him they immediately walked over to the couch where Hannah was already situated. He turned on some show that he knew Hannah liked and asked them “Are you guys hungry,” Hannah shook her head and Lex said no, but he still took Lex’s hand and lead her to the pantry while Hannah was encapsulated in her show.
“So, babe. Do ya wanna tell me why you showed up to my door at 11pm?” He ran his thumb over her knuckles as he talked. He reached to grab an ice pack from the freezer and rested it on the counter next to Lex.
Lex sighed, tears already forming in her eyes, “I couldn’t fucking do it anymore. She hit Hannah. I can deal with the shit she does to me but now Hannah? I just packed our shit and walked out. Your place was the only one I knew by heart,” She took the ice pack and muttered a thank you, a tear starting to fall from her eye . “We don’t have to stay here tonight or anything. Hannah and I can find a motel and go back in the morning when she’s passed out again.”
Ethan almost interrupted her, and wiped the tear away with his thumb, “Oh no- you think I’m lettin’ you guys go back to that shit hole? You’re crazy babe. You guys can stay here tonight. My beds kind of small so one of you can take the couch and then I’ll sleep on the floor. Are you guys hurt anywhere else?” He glanced her over but couldn’t notice anything.
“Babe, it’s fine I’ll figure it out. I think my rib or something might be bruised,” She lifted up her shirt a little to show a large purple spot on her upper stomach, “Shit,” she said blatantly.
Ethan let go of her hand and scrambled around to find another ice pack. He usually only used one when he got into a fight with his mom or something, but he didn’t care about his safety as much as he did Lex’s. He couldn’t find one anywhere so he just grabbed a handful of ice and wrapped it in a bundle of paper towels. “This is shitty but it’s the best we’re gonna get until I can go out and buy another one tomorrow.” He pressed the homemade ice pack to Lex’s stomach, she winced and mumbled a few profanities . He looked up and gave her an apologetic look, “You're staying here tonight. I don’t give two shits if I have to sleep in a goddamn trash can, you’re not going back to that place. At least not without me” As he held the ice to her stomach he thought about Hannah, how fucking cold hearted do you have to be to hurt that sweet girl.
A few more tears slipped out of Lex’s eyes, a few from pain and a few from happiness. Sure, this situation was shitty, but if she hadn’t had Ethan, it would’ve been much worse. She looked at him for a few seconds before whispering a soft, “Thank you.” If he wasn’t paying so much attention to her he definitely would've missed it.
But he didn’t, he heard it loud and clear. He smiled up at her and said “Any-fuckin’-time, babe.” He kissed her forehead lightly. “I'm gonna check up on Banana. Try to juggle both ice packs while I’m gone, okay?” She nodded and he pecked her one last time before returning to the living room.
He grabbed the remote and turned the television down, which made Hannah frown slightly, but once she saw who it was her frown disappeared. He looked her over, “Hey ‘nana, how’re ya feeling?” She looked at him and said “hurt,”
Ethan could’ve started crying right then and there, with her tear-filled brown eyes and the irritation on her cheek, “Well, lemme tell you. We have a fun night planned. I’m gonna very quickly ice your face and then, you get to stay over, howabout that?”
Hannah’s face lit up, everytime she had come with Lex to Ethans apartment she had always pretended to fall asleep so that she wouldn’t have to go home, but Lex would always take her back anyways (Despite Ethans attempts at convincing her to do otherwise). She flapped her arms around happily and smiled wide. Ethan smiled at her before running to grab some ice and a napkin for her mark. When he came back, the TV show was already turned up to its initial volume and Hannah was already glued to it. He sat on her side so that he could hold the ice to her face in a position more comfortable for her. He had known that she didn’t really like the feeling of cold things on her face after The Ice Cream Incident’, so he tried his best to make her comfortable and to keep her calm. Meanwhile she was hyper focusing on the show so that she wouldn’t freak out. After a few minutes Lex came to sit on other end of the couch, resting her elbow and holding the ice on both of her injuries.
About 10 minutes passed by and the ice had done as much as it could for Hannah’s face, when Ethan removed his hand and the ice pack he kissed the top of Hannah’s head, “You did so good, I’m so proud of you,” she kept her focus on the show, but smiled. Ethan retired the ice and the napkin, putting the ice in the sink and throwing the napkin into his makeshift trash can (a laundry basket). He came back and sat between the two sisters, but closer to Lex than the younger.
He looked over at her, “So, babe. How’re ya feelin’?” He said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“A little better. My eye is as good as it’ll get until the swelling goes down, so it’s really just the stomach.”
Ethan smiled at her, leaning his head a little bit on top of hers to let her know that he accepted the gesture, and kissed her hair, “I’m glad, Lexie. Do you want me to take the ice back?”
She groaned, “No~. Please don’t leave,” She set the ice pack as far as it could go without her needing to bend forwards. Which was on her thigh.
Ethan laughed and said, “As you wish,” He took the ice pack off of her and leaned over to set it down on the table. He was content with his little family. He hoped that they felt the same way.