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They ran. After a few minutes, they slowed down, and the pain came flooding back as the adrenalin wore off. He groaned and touched the spot where he had been tased, but quickly cut it off. He was fine. Lucy doesn’t need to know about that.
As soon as they were safe, Lucy turned and confronted him. “What the hell was that?” she demanded. Lockwood did a double take as he tried to catch his breath. I guess we’re getting straight into it then.
“Flo was right,” he panted, gesturing back towards the Winkman’s. “Total psychos.”
“Not them, you.” Lockwood blinked. Him? “You were practically begging him to kill you,” Lucy continued, staring into his eyes.
Oh. Had she heard that?
“I prefer to call it a noble sacrifice,” he tried. It sounded weak even to him. Lucy cut him off.
“Oh, don’t give me that shit. If I hadn’t come to, you’d be dead .” Lockwood thought she almost sounded concerned.
“That's... That’s not true.” He tried to project his usual confidence into his words. “I had a plan.”
It didn’t work.
“Oh. Oh, okay, right. What was that, then?” Lucy took a step closer to him and looked up at him expectantly.
Lockwood opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Shit. “You know, I would've had a plan,” was the best he could come up with, “if it had come to it. In the moment, I always do.” He tried to smile at her.
Lucy just stared at him for a moment. “What is going on with you?” she asked softly, like she actually cared. Lockwood looked at her uncomprehendingly. He was expecting to be yelled at some more, he could handle that, but he had no idea what to do with this.
“You know you can talk to me, Lockwood.” His heart skipped a beat.
“Yeah.. yeah I do.” And he meant it. He hadn’t known he did.
Lucy looked up at him expectantly. “So?”
What was he supposed to say?
I used to think dying was the best way out but ever since I met you I’m not so sure
I don’t understand why you care about me
I’m constantly terrified that you’re going to leave too
I think I’m not okay
I’m scared
I’m scared
I’m scared.
Nothing came out.
Lucy sighed and turned to go. “God's sake. I don't even know why I bother.”
Lockwood didn’t know either.
But he hoped she would never stop.