Chapter Text
I could hear Steve breathe my name in a panic from somewhere to my left. I was heaving up petals and full-fledged flowers onto the floor of the hallway absolutely praying that no one else would stumble onto the scene. I mean, what would people say if they saw me vomiting up a bridal bouquet or three's worth of flora and fauna like a rabid cat with a nasty hairball? I could barely keep myself from sobbing as I leaned forwards on my knees and elbows, and not just because the pain was as if a giant fist was clutching at my stomach without relent. Oh, how poetic. No, I was holding back my tears because--
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE MY CRUSH THAT HAS TO WATCH THIS??
Genuinely losing it right now.
Anyways, I was just about finished choking up the last of the bloodied floral matter when Steve kneeled down next to me with a cup of water like the angel he is. I didn't hear him leave, but I wasn't miffed in the slightest to see that he had returned with a thinly veiled horror that I'd spotted in the slight shake of his hand, and the cool cup of water that he offered in that shaking hand with a quiet concern, and a gentle rub upon my back and shoulders that were still jolting from the tickle in the back of my throat.
"Don't hold it in, it'll just make it worse," he said.
I nodded and coughed up the rest until the crawling sensation went away.
It was quiet for a moment as we sat. Then, wordlessly, I accepted the waiting glass, gulping down the icy chill with an eager relief. I could taste a mixture of the bitterness of petals and the iron of my blood rinse down my throat.
Mm. Fantastic.
He waited until I finished it off with a swipe of my hand across my mouth before speaking again.
"How--"
"If you say one word of this to either of our friends or family, I will personally hunt you down."
Steve frowned at my withering stare, though it was just about as intimidating as a button or a teacup piglet. Regardless, I refused to back down as he mimicked my stare with an unimpressed raise of a brow. For as quiet and shy as he seemed to those who weren't acquainted with him, he could be quite snarky and determined to those he was close with.
"How long have you been hiding this?" He asked with a sigh, ignoring my "promise".
I wanted to remain stubborn; to roll my eyes at his impatience for the truth woven with his undeniably charismatic lean towards loyalty and care for his friends and chosen family, but it was hard to pull away from the magnetism of those twilight eyes that then shone with fear. Afterall, it would be hard not to feel concerned after seeing a good friend collapse to the ground nearly drowning in their own blood and unrequited love.