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Donna huffed, looking through the medicine cabinets. Heisenberg came to her when he injured himself, as if she was a medical professional. To make it worse, he and Dimitrescu had a fight that evening. It started with yelling at each-other, then Alcina slapped him, clawed his face, and Heisenberg swung his hammer at her, hitting her side. Mother Miranda thankfully intervened. The meeting was cut short. Donna knew Dimitrescu, Mother Miranda and Moreau looked her way as she left, because they knew Heisenberg would go to her. She hated being the center of attention. She hated being stared at. Why did Heisenberg have to take interest in her?
He was waiting patiently on her couch, Angie perched on the table next to him. He smiled seeing Donna walk in. Donna tried to ignore it. She’s annoyed, she reminded herself, she’s not having it tonight. Heisenberg was fine. He managed to dodge in time and only his lip was grazed. It’s a sensitive area that swells easily, it looked much worse than it really was.
Donna poured tincture on a cotton ball and held it with tweezers from her workshop. First things first, clean the wound. Blood had dripped on his beard and a bit on his chin. She gently tapped the cotton against it. He didn’t say anything, silently smiling and looking up at her. Amused? Relaxed? She was never good with people and reading their emotions. This bastard arrived right after she took her veil off too, and it was too late to sneak back into her bedroom after it. Did he do those things on purpose?
For a long time, Donna got the impression Heisenberg didn’t like her. She didn’t blame him. She was always covered from head to toe, always in her mourning dress and her thick veil. She never spoke, he didn’t even know what her voice sounded like for a good few decades, her doll speaking in her place, with an obnoxious voice that hurt his ears. He too was loud, and rude and aggressive (rarely towards her). One moment he was calm and reasonable, and in the next he exploded, threatening murder. She thought it was best to avoid him, as she did with everyone else.
One day he had to pass by the Beneviento house. It was the first time he came over. Angie told him to be at ease until Donna returned, because they won’t mess with his head. Heisenberg wasn’t convinced, but he stayed put. He glanced around while he waited, at the furniture, the stairs, the photographs and paintings. His eyes fell and fixated on Donna’s portrait. Her portrait back from when her face was easy to look at. Angie’s voice startled him back to attention. She and Donna were looking at him questioningly. Why was he staring like that?
At the following meetings, she could feel his eyes on her, even if they weren’t visible through the dark glasses. She was grateful for her veil, hiding her own expression. Why was he looking at her? What was he thinking about? Did he wonder if she still looked like in the painting? Her heart was beating fast. Why was she so nervous? It’s just Heisenberg. Maybe he wasn’t even looking in her direction.
He was. He totally was. He took a long drag out of his cigar and tilted his head back slightly. Donna pried her eyes off him and willed her cheeks to stop burning. Stop thinking about it. Besides, if he saw her face in its current state, he’d certainly stop looking her way.
As the Lords made their way out of the mine after the meeting, Heisenberg walked in front of Donna. She always chose to stay in the back, even behind Moreau. As they reached the exit, Heisenberg moved to the side of the narrow corridor. Ladies first. Donna nodded in acknowledgement and walked forward. He followed after her, and she felt him putting his hand on her back as they passed the threshold. Donna tensed, and he surely felt it.
He touched her every chance he got, discreetly enough to not raise eyebrows. A hand on her back to warn her he was passing through, a tap on her shoulder, a helping hand over uneasy ground. He never pushed it too far, like during arguments with Alcina and Angie. He was testing the waters. Donna… didn’t stop him. Didn’t turn him away. She liked it more than she expected. She liked receiving attention. She liked being looked at, being noticed, being desired. It made her feel good and warm, even if Heisenberg got the wrong impression about her looks.
And Heisenberg wasn’t an ugly man, which made her even more flustered about the whole situation. Just a bit scruffy and ill-mannered. She liked his voice when it wasn’t booming and angry. He had a theatrical, sultry way of speaking. He was tall and large, with a shit-eating grin and sharp canines, and big hands always in leather gloves. She liked watching them wrap and grip his makeshift hammer-
“Donna!” Angie repeated, louder. Donna gasped, dropping the doll she had been assembling backwards while daydreaming.
“Sorry…”
“What are you thinking about?” Angie asked. Donna’s face turned red from ear to ear.
She wanted to respond to his advances. How do you do that? How do you flirt? How do you make it not awkward? Donna didn’t know how to romance. But what if it worked and they got together? Donna’s heart pounded and her face burnt at the thought. He’d see her face sooner or later. Her excitement crumbled away.
One day Donna felt bolder than ever. She was gonna do it! She saw the opportunity to walk behind Heisenberg and she did. As she passed by she gently, lightly, ran a finger across his back, from shoulder to shoulder. She didn’t look back to see his reaction. She was so embarrassed. Oh heavens, why did she do that? It was too much! She overstepped! Heisenberg had been subtle and she just went all in! Who did she think she was?
She was done cleaning the wound and reached for stitches. About two should be enough. Heisenberg furrowed his brows a little when the needle first went in, but otherwise didn’t wince. Donna raised his chin up to her with the tips of her fingers. She could tell he liked that. His eyes gave away everything, and she guessed her good one did as well. She wasn’t sure if his eyes were brown or green, or both. Donna wondered for a while if he was a sort of lycan. The idea of being his prey made her shudder in a way it shouldn't have. He didn’t wear his glasses at the moment and she could see him looking at her, shamelessly studying her face. Stupid handsome bastard with pretty eyes. He smirked when Donna tugged at the stitch harder than necessary.
Heisenberg liked it when Donna was bold. It didn’t happen often. He tried to provoke her. Donna took some of them, flirting back, but would immediately feel guilty and ashamed afterwards. Despite him being clearly into her, she still doubted she had a chance. She dreaded the reveal of her scarred, mutated side. She just knew it would be over. She hated it, so how could anyone else not hate it as well?
When he first saw it, it was a complete accident. She misunderstood the time Heisenberg would come over to check something for Mother Miranda. She thought she had plenty of time to get ready, only for Heisenberg to appear in the garden and see her without her veil. She saw the surprise on his face and she wanted to cry. She ran and hid in the house while Angie cursed him out and made him leave. It was over, she thought and her heart hurt. She didn’t want it to be over. She wanted to keep flirting, keep daydreaming of love. She wanted to be wanted, she wanted him back. She hated the cadou, she hated Mother Miranda for making her scar worse, she hated everything that day.
Heisenberg didn’t stop courting her. He started walking her home, her hand holding onto his arm. Then holding hands. He called her “buttercup” when it was just them. One time he kissed her knuckles as they parted ways. Donna was bewildered. What was his deal? He still wanted her? Why?
“Why are you grumpy, buttercup?” He asked while she finished the stitch, looking up at her.
“You keep getting in trouble.” Donna said, willing her face to remain severe.
“I can’t help it.” He smiled.
Donna was done. Angie was taking the tools back in their cabinets, she could hear the elevator doors close and descend. Donna made to move her hands away. Heisenberg caught the one that held the needle and kissed her fingers, sweet and lingering. “Thank you.” He said. Donna looked away, pouting. Such a charmer.
“You can go now.” She said, very much grumpy.
“Please don’t kick me out.” He said. “Can't I stay a little longer?”
“No.” She said, obviously avoiding eye-contact.
“Why not?” He asked.
Because I like you and I don’t know how to deal with it, she thought, face turning red.
“I can’t do this…” She mumbled, her hand still in his.
Heisenberg’s smile faltered. “Hey, if you’re not interested, then I’ll stop it, no worries.” He said.
“No!” Donna said, turning her head back to him. “No, no, that’s not it…!”
“What is it?”
“I-I… I don’t know… how to explain…”
“Give it a try.” He said, gently.
Donna’s heart was pounding. “I… I like you too… B-But… I don’t understand…”
Heisenberg laughed a little. “You don’t understand why you like me?”
“No, why you like me…” She finally said. She felt ashamed again. What a stupid conversation. Heisenberg was free to feel whatever he wanted. Donna was the insecure one. He probably saw things much worse than her face. Donna felt so stupid. She should have stayed quiet.
Heisenberg didn’t say anything for a moment, her hand was still in his, thumb over her knuckles. He looked worried and unsure how to proceed. She never saw him like this. She felt even more guilty.
She watched him get an idea. “If you don’t know why, then let me enlighten you.” He smiled, tugging her to sit next to him. Donna flushed and stammered, then sat down next to him, their legs touching. He was so close. She got a close up of him kissing her hand.
“First things first,” he said, his breath against her skin, “You are beautiful.”
Donna frowned. “Don’t lie…”
“Oh, I’m not.” There was a smirk on his lips that made her shiver. “You are so beautiful, Donna.” He said, voice low, leaning closer. Donna made a high-pitched sound in the back of her neck and covered her face with her hands. She heard him laugh and felt his other arm going around her, pulling her closer. “And I like messing with you.” He said. “It’s so easy to do.”
“You’re so mean…!” She said, peeking between her fingers.
“You think is this mean?” He asked and leaned to whisper in her ear. “I’m just getting started.”
Donna burst into giggles and covered her face again. It was too much! She liked it, she was smiling like a fool behind her hands, but it was too much! She’s a grown woman, it shouldn't be so easy for him to fluster her. His body was so close and his arms held her tight. She loved being held.
“Hey…” He said, lips against her ear. “Can I see you again?”
“I don’t want to.” She said, muffled by her hands.
“Come on, don’t be so shy.” He whispered, something wolfish in his voice. Donna gradually pulled her hands away, milk-white skin now pink. He was almost nose to nose.
“Let me take a better look at you…” He hummed, lifting her head by her chin. She held back a shaky breath. Heisenberg's thumb brushed against her bottom lip. His other hand lay heavy on her lower back. She felt almost dizzy from excitement.
“I’m surprised the Dimitrescu clan hasn't claimed you yet.” He said. “You seem just their type. Did they ever invite you for a girls' night?”
Donna felt hot all over and unconsciously pressed her legs together.
“If not, then that explains it.” He continued, the hand sliding down to her throat. “Why you’re so bashful. I’m barely touching you and you’re red like a tomato. What if I touched you more? How would you react?”
“I-I-…” She stumbled. It was escalating too fast. She put her hands against his chest, between them. “Not now… not yet…”
“Oh, don’t worry, love. I won’t force you.”
“Thank you…” She said and felt awkward for saying it.
“I want you to like me.” He said, hand going up against her clean cheek, cradling it. “But I don’t have to work much for it, do I?”
“No…” She smiled.
“Is kissing your pretty face alright for now?” He asked.
“Uhm… Yes.” She said. As she expected, Heisenberg kissed her scarred cheek, just under the nasty bulges protruding out. Did he do it to make her feel better? She appreciated the gesture, but she was hard to convince.
Heisenberg was surprisingly gentle. One of Donna’s hands moved higher, resting against the tendons in his neck. His heart was beating fast. Was he excited too? She felt him kiss around the mutation, on the corner of her mouth, the side of her nose, the bridge of it. Didn’t his lip hurt? “So beautiful.” She heard him say and her heart ached. Both of his hands came to cradle her face, turning her to get better access to her jaw or temple or cheekbone, on either side. Donna let him. It felt so good to be kissed and touched. His beard scratching her skin felt good too. She couldn’t remember the last time she received so much affection.
He peppered kisses down her jaw line to her throat, hands sliding down her arms and resting around her waist.
“K-Karl…” She gasped. He kissed harder, hungrier. She could feel his tongue on her skin.
“It’s alright. I’m just kissing you.” He said and she felt his teeth. He laughed in his cocky way. “You’re so cute when you squirm.”
Donna sighed and shuddered, letting her head against the back of the sofa. She felt Heisenberg nip at the middle of her throat and his hands on her hips.
“What’s going on here?!” Angie’s voice startled both of them. Donna jumped to her feet, Heisenberg narrowly moving out of the way.
“I-uh, ah, we, he was leaving!” Donna babbled, pulling the collar of her dress higher over her neck.
Heisenberg glared at Angie and got to his feet as well. Angie watched Donna walk him to the front door with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot, like a disgruntled parent.
“I’m so sorry…!” Donna said as Heisenberg walked outside.
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” He said, adjusting his coat. He looked back at Donna, who hadn’t closed the door yet, face very much still red. Heisenberg smiled and leaned to kiss her on the lips. Somehow, it made her heart flutter more than everything else. “See you around!”
“See you!” She smiled and watched him walk away before closing the door.