Work Text:
Something that Lila quickly learned upon living with Diego full-time was that he was in pain. A lot.
The doctors hadn't ever been able to give him a straight answer on what it was. Some said it might have been brought upon by his childhood trauma. Others suggested it was a build-up of tension from the years of fighting. A number of them said it was nothing more than bad posture.
No one gave him answers. No one gave him fixes. He didn't care, or at least he told himself as such. He didn't want to be weak, because his father had taught him from a young age that weakness wasn't an option. Or, it technically was, but the consequences would be dire- No food for a week, three days locked in a closet, you name it.
Lila knew something was wrong, though. She could see it in the set of his jaw. The small breaths and occasional grunts of physical discomfort.
"Are you okay?" she asked bluntly one day over breakfast. He tilted his head in confusion.
"Yeah?" he replied uncertainly, not understanding what she was going for. "Why?"
"You just kinda look in pain, like, all the time" she replied with a shrug, biting a piece of her waffle. Diego frowned.
"I'm fine" he deflected.
"Uh huh, right" she responded sarcastically with a nod and a roll of her eyes. "Well, when your done bein' all big and mighty at seven in the fuckin' mornin', let me know"
"My shoulders are just sore" he finally answered, a bit annoyed. "Often. It's like a burn almost- It's not a big deal"
"It sounds like a big deal"
"Drop it" Diego said firmly, though Lila saw a bit of desperation in his eyes. Lila didn't say anything for the rest of breakfast, contemplating a solution in her head as she finished her waffle, lulling her boyfriend into a false sense of security before standing up with her plate and fork to put in the sink.
"I'm goin' to the store an' gettin' you some muscle rub er somefin'"
"Lila-"
"Text me if you want any snacks" she added before leaving a slightly embarrassed but relieved Diego alone in their apartment.