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It’s getting late, and Jesse starts to get nervous.
Knees pulled up to her chest and eyes set on the fire, she frowns as she pokes at a crooked piece of kindling with a stick. The clearing is quiet, save for the crackling fire and the distant ambiance of chirping critters and rustling leaves. The normally comforting sounds only make her more uneasy, though. She knows Petra is more than capable—if anyone can handle the wilderness, it’s her—but that doesn’t stop the endless loop of what-ifs running through Jesse’s head.
But the thoughts don’t last for long. Suddenly, the sound of boots on dirt and dead leaves pulls Jesse’s attention from the campfire. There’s no doubt in her mind as to who it is. Thank goodness. She looks up, ready to greet Petra with a comment about her taking so long, but the sight she’s met with instantly makes her freeze.
“…Petra?”
The warrior stumbles into view, her hand pressed tightly to her side, and her shirt is noticeably stained with blood. Breathing unevenly, Petra tosses a small bundle toward the fire, gesturing toward it with a nod. “Dinner is served, " she grins tiredly, her tone laced with amusement.
Jesse is not amused in the slightest. “What the hell happened?” She gets to her feet in nanoseconds, rushing to her girlfriend’s side.
Petra gives her a shrug, though it comes with a wince. “Relax, I’m fine. Just had a little… uhm…” She glances away, lowering her voice, “...disagreement. With a goat.”
“…A goat?” Jesse’s voice pitches higher than intended, her hands hovering near Petra but unsure where to touch. She then notices how red Petra’s occupied hand is. “How far did you go?!”
Petra shrugs again as if the answer doesn’t matter. “Couple miles, maybe?”
Jesse glares daggers at her.
“T-There’s this grove I spotted,” Petra goes on hurriedly, “and I… figured we could use some fruit. Then I got distracted.”
Distracted???
“Are you—“ Jesse stares at Petra, incredulous. Her eyes flicker down to Petra’s bloodied hand again. Sighing heavily through her nose, she shakes her head, bending down and reaching into her satchel for a cloth. “You need to sit.”
Petra sighs, taking her time as she approaches the log. “Hey, relax. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
Jesse is already holding a cloth in one hand and a flask of water in the other, her eyes set on the blood seeping through Petra’s shirt. “Sit.”
“It’s just a scratch,” Petra goes on insistently. “Probably the most boring one I’ve gotten.”
Jesse steps closer. “Sit down, Petra.”
“Jesse. I’m fine—”
“Would you just sit?” Jesse raises her voice this time, irritation lacing her words, her expression leaving no room for argument.
Petra stares at her in silence, clearly stunned, but eventually, she relents. Defeated, she falls onto the log with a pained noise, her arm still draped over the source of the blood staining her gear. Jesse sits beside her.
“…You don’t have to,” Petra, her voice noticeably softer than before, mutters the words with a hardened gaze. Though her voice lacks any real conviction as she watches Jesse unravel the cloth.
“Of course I do,” Jesse shoots back. “You think I’m just going to sit here while you bleed all over the place?” The Hero takes a moment to pour a small amount of water over the cloth. She sets the flask to the side, carefully tugging at the hem of Petra’s shirt. Gentle fingers brush against blood-smeared skin. Jesse grimaces but holds firm. “I need to see it.”
“I—”
“Please, Petra,” Jesse looks her girlfriend in the eyes. “Let me help you.”
At this, Petra hesitates for a moment longer but eventually lifts her arms, allowing Jesse to pull the fabric up just enough to reveal the wound. Jesse’s breath hitches as her eyes fall on the gash along Petra’s side. It’s a jagged line a few inches above her hip. It’s not deep, but it’s not a thin slice, either; there’s a decent amount of skin lost, and the sight makes Jesse shudder. Ouch.
And it’s not just the fresh cut that catches her attention. Scars litter Petra’s stomach, dried and faint, some more deeply colored than others. Her eyes continue to wander for a brief moment before she suddenly becomes very aware of the growing silence between them. I’m staring. I’m totally staring.
Jesse’s cheeks warm, and she focuses back on the wound. “Okay, er… hold this up for me.”
Petra obliges with less hesitance now, taking the hem of her shirt with her clean hand. She raises an eyebrow at Jesse’s sudden awkwardness but doesn’t comment.
Jesse holds the damp cloth and begins dabbing at the blood, her touch as gentle as she can manage. Petra, her eyes set on the ground, hisses softly.
“Sorry,” Jesse murmurs, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
“S’fine.”
Once the wound is clean enough to work with, Jesse sets the cloth down and reaches over for her bag again, searching for a roll of medical wrap. She finds it with ease and starts taking off the packaging. As she does, her eyes keep drifting back to the scars etched across Petra’s skin. Sure, they’re smaller than the one she’s tending to now, but there are so many of them. She can’t help herself.
“How did you get these?” She asks softly, breaking the silence like she’s set foot on a sheet of ice. The medical wrap is ready for use already, but instead, Jesse lifts her other hand, gently running the pads of her pointer and middle fingers along one of the scars.
Petra goes tense at the touch but doesn’t pull back. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as she thinks of what to say, and then exhales slowly. “Here and there,” she answers. “A few from accidents, some from fights with monsters that got a little too close. Mostly from me being reckless.”
Jesse’s fingers linger, continuing to trace the edge of a particularly long scar. Petra shivers, but she still doesn’t move.
“This one’s barely a scab…” Jesse murmurs, concerned. She glances up at Petra as she applies light pressure to it. “Does it hurt?”
“…Not anymore,” Petra replies, her tone soft. Talking about this is clearly unfamiliar territory, but Jesse can tell with the way she’s answering that she doesn’t mind. “Most of them don’t.”
Most? Jesse’s hand finally pauses, and Petra turns to look at her. Eyes locked, their faces are closer than Jesse realizes, and heat buzzes beneath her skin. They’ve been dating for nearly a month now, but Jesse knows that she’ll never get over how beautiful Petra looks in the firelight.
Petra’s face noticeably gets redder at their proximity. Jesse, feeling her face warm up too, clears her throat and pulls her fingers away. The moment has to be cut short.
“I need you to lift your shirt up.”
“I-” Petra’s face instantly gets even redder. “What?”
“Lift it up a bit more,” Jesse clarifies, holding up the fresh roll of medical wrap. Her voice is a little firmer than before. “I need to wrap this around you completely so it stays in place. And so it keeps pressure on that,” she gestures with pointed eyes towards the wound.
Petra hesitates, glancing down at Jesse’s hands. Her blush is now creeping up her neck as she shifts uncertainly. “Uh…”
Jesse bites back a grin. Too cute. “It’ll be better this way. C’mon, I’ll be quick.”
Petra furrows her eyebrows, clearly reluctant, but still trusting. It doesn’t take long for her to comply. “Okay.”
Slowly and carefully, the redhead sits up straighter and proceeds to lift her shirt with both hands; calloused fingers lift a ripped, dirtied shirt, gradually exposing more skin. Unfortunately for her, Jesse’s body betrays her, her breath catching and her stomach doing an unsteady flip.
Don’t get her wrong, she’s seen Petra like this countless times: worn down and scuffed up after a fight or traveling, tension running through her body, her expression all serious, and her hair unkempt. But this is…different. Petra doesn’t really…well…showing skin isn’t exactly a daily occurrence between them.
It feels vulnerable, almost, in a way Petra rarely allows herself to be. She’s letting me do this, Jesse thinks, the notion hitting her harder than it should have. Only me.
She bites the inside of her cheek to keep her expression neutral, fighting the blush she can feel creeping up her neck. Now is not the time to get distracted. Not when Petra is hurt. Not when she’s bloodied, and sweaty, and half-shirtless, and—
“You can…um…”
“Right, yeah. Sorry.” Jesse mentally smacks herself. She’s gonna be the death of me.
Jesse steadies herself as best she can, slowly unrolling the bandage and shifting closer. Her hands tremble as she reaches around Petra, brushing against her bare skin to start wrapping the wound. The warmth radiating from Petra’s body doesn’t help her flustered state, and neither does the way Petra sits so still, her sharp green eyes flicking between Jesse’s face and her hands. Jesse’s heart is pounding so loudly she’s certain Petra can hear it.
“Does this hurt?” Her voice comes out softer than expected.
Petra shakes her head, her shoulders relaxing. “Nah. You’re good.”
Nodding, Jesse lets out a small breath as she finally finishes off the bandage, careful not to pull too tightly as she tears it from the roll. She leans back to get a better look.
“How’s that feel?” She asks, lowering her hands to her lap. Her eyes dart up to Petra’s face, watching for any sign of discomfort.
Petra moves a bit, testing the tension of the wrap around her torso. After a beat, she nods, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “It’s fine. Feels snug, but in a good way.” She lets out an amused huff. “Nice job, Doc.”
Jesse scoffs at that, feeling relieved. “Don’t flatter me,” she says, reaching for the bloodied cloth she’d set aside earlier.
Petra chuckles, letting her shirt fall back down and resting her elbows on her knees. Now that the worst is over, the warrior is noticeably calmer. “Seriously, though. Thanks.”
Her tone softens as she speaks, and when Jesse glances back at her, she catches genuine, heartfelt gratitude in Petra’s eyes.
For a moment, Jesse forgets what she’s supposed to be doing. A bit flustered, she averts her gaze, turning to put the used cloth back into her satchel. “It was nothing,” she mutters.
“Didn’t feel like it was,” Petra replies, her tone teasing. “You were acting like I broke something.”
At this, Jesse furrows her eyebrows. “Uh, you came back bleeding, Petra. I think I’m allowed to worry a little bit.”
Petra smirks, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Whatever.” She then pauses, her gaze flicking to the fire for a moment. When she looks back at Jesse, her expression has softened again. The silence that passes between them feels like at least a few minutes.
“Regardless, though. I’m uh- I’m glad it’s you.”
The words hit Jesse with a flurry of butterflies, her heart swelling with affection. She smiles at her girlfriend sweetly. “Of course, Petra,” she murmurs. “You know I’d do anything if it meant helping you.”
At that, Petra’s smile falters, replaced by something a little different. She shifts uncomfortably all of a sudden, sitting up straighter. “I… I know,” she responds, quietly. “That actually scares me sometimes, y’know.”
Jesse blinks, taken aback. “Scares you?”
Petra hesitates, absentmindedly picking at her nails. She stares down at the ground, ginger hair casting a curtain over her face. “I feel like you care too much. About me.”
Jesse frowns at that, opening her mouth to retort. Petra doesn’t let her.
“About everyone. It’s like…” She continues with a sigh, shaking her head. “It’s almost like you forget to think about yourself.”
Jesse tilts her head, studying the warrior carefully. Her heart aches at the level of care being expressed, even if she disagrees. “I’m fine, Petra. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Yeah, well, I do,” Petra mutters, her voice tinged with frustration. She looks up all of a sudden, green eyes locking with Jesse’s. “You push yourself so hard, Jesse. Always putting everyone else first, even when you’re exhausted or hurting. It’s one of the things I—”
Eyes going wide, Petra hesitates, lowering her voice. “It’s… one of the things I admire about you. But I just,” her voice softens. “I just don’t want you burning yourself out over me.”
After taking a few moments of silence to process, Jesse’s expression shifts. “Petra,” she says gently, reaching out to touch her hand. “I don’t think you understand how much you matter to me. Helping you doesn’t burn me out,” she lets out a gentle laugh, leaning closer, “it grounds me." Her words are reassuring, "You ground me.”
Petra’s eyes widen, her gaze dropping to where Jesse’s fingers rest lightly against hers. The world seems to narrow to just the two of them.
“Besides,” Jesse adds with a grin, “you don’t get to lecture me about pushing myself when you came back here bleeding from pissing off a goat. A goat, Petra.”
Petra’s demeanor cracks at that, the taller girl huffing out a laugh. “Okay, okay. Fair.” Her calloused thumb brushes against Jesse’s, the touch subtle. “I guess I’m just…lucky you’re stubborn enough to deal with me.”
Jesse rolls her eyes, feeling herself blush. “You’re not as tough to deal with as you think.”
Petra raises an eyebrow challengingly. “Oh? So you’re saying I’m easy?”
“I’m saying that you’re worth it,” Jesse corrects gently, her tone serious but her eyes full of warmth.
At that, Petra’s smirk fades, replaced by something much more tender. She doesn’t say anything at first, just stares at Jesse with an expression Jesse can’t quite read. But then, as if suddenly commanded to, she leans forward and presses her lips to Jesse’s forehead. It’s a brief yet heartfelt gesture that leaves Jesse completely awestruck.
The redhead pulls away quickly, her smile bashful. Jesse simply sits there, blinking in surprise. Her face is definitely very red.
“You’re worth it, too,” Petra eventually says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jesse sits frozen for a moment longer, her heart racing. She really just did that. She then looks up at Petra, meeting her eyes. As always, her smile is as contagious as ever, and Jesse can’t help but let out a small giggle. “You are too cute.”
Now it’s Petra’s turn to roll her eyes, her blush deepening as she immediately looks away. “Okay. Stop that.” But her smile gives her away.
“Such a flirt all of a sudden,” Jesse goes on, leaning back against her hands, “I remember when you could barely hold my hand.”
Petra lets out a groan, tilting her head back dramatically. “You’re never gonna let me live that down, are you?”
“Absolutely not,” Jesse laughs. “You looked like you were gonna combust. Your face was so red when I asked.”
“It was not—” Petra cuts herself off, narrowing her eyes as Jesse’s laughter grows. “Okay, fine, maybe I was a little dramatic.”
“A little?”
“I was trying to be respectful,” Petra argues, crossing her arms over her chest, though the faint blush creeping up her neck betrays her. “I didn’t want to mess it up!”
Jesse’s laughter softens, a playful smile still tugging at her lips. She leans back in again, her tone turning more affectionate. “Well, for what it’s worth, you didn’t mess it up. You never could.”
Petra’s gaze softens as she looks back at Jesse, her eyes tracing the curve of her face as if she’s seeing her anew. The defensive edge to her smile fades, replaced by something more vulnerable. “Thanks, Jesse.”
“Always,” Jesse then abruptly gets to her feet, holding a hand out to her partner expectantly. “Now, let’s go get some sleep. There's a lot of spots I want to hit tomorrow, and we’ll need all the energy we can get. Especially you.”
Stubbornly, Petra glances at Jesse’s outstretched hand and completely ignores it, letting out a sigh as she pushes herself up, only to immediately grunt in pain. Her side protests the movement, and she brings her hand back to the wound.
Jesse rolls her eyes, already expecting as much, and reaches out without thinking, hands steadying Petra by her arms.
“So,” Jesse starts, gripping her firmly. “Maybe let me help you this time?”
Petra groans under her breath but doesn’t resist as one of Jesse’s hands slides around her waist. Instinctively, Petra throws an arm over her shoulder. “I’ve got it,” she insists, though the way she leans into Jesse’s support says otherwise.
Jesse gives her a look: half fond, half concerned. “Sure.”
Petra only huffs, clearly flustered at this point. Admittedly, Jesse can’t lie and say that she isn’t either, and the feeling only worsens as she pulls Petra just a little closer, lessening what little space remains between them. She knows that Petra needs the support, but she can’t help but feel all fuzzy being pressed against her like this.
“I, uh—” Petra starts, only to go completely silent as Jesse glances up at her.
Jesse stops too. She’d only wanted to hear what Petra had to say. But her gaze lingers, maybe a second too long, on her girlfriend’s face. Her faint freckles. The curve of her lips. She can tell that Petra is doing the same; dim lighting be damned, Jesse knows what it means when Petra's breathing gets all uneven like this. She can feel how Petra is looking at her.
And that's when it hits her. It would be so easy to kiss her right now.
She could lean in, close the small space between them, feel the warmth of Petra’s mouth on hers. It’d be soft, she thinks, maybe a little unsure at first, but sweet. She wonders if Petra would let out one of those surprised little laughs afterwards, or maybe try to hide her face.
Ugh. The image alone is enough to send her mind spiraling, her stomach twisting into knots. Jesse has to look away, forcing herself to focus on anything other than that, anything other than the way Petra rests against her so trustingly, so lovingly.
She wants to kiss her so badly.
And yet, Jesse clears her throat, shaking the thought away as she shifts her grip to better steady Petra. “C’mon, let’s get you to bed before you pass out on me,” she jokes a little loudly, trying too hard to sound normal.
Petra blinks, startled by the sudden shift, but she doesn’t mention it. “Pff. Yeah, right.” She lets out a small noise that sounds just the tiniest bit content. “Somehow you’ll still crash before me.”
Jesse doesn’t respond, continuing to guide Petra towards their tent. They quickly fall into a comfortable silence, and random thoughts run through Jesse’s mind.
I’ll have to rewrap her tomorrow morning.
Shit. I have to go back for the fire.
She smells like fire.
She’s really warm.
They reach the tent in no time. Petra pulls her arm off of Jesse’s shoulders, her expression exhausted yet grateful. “I can handle myself from here,” her voice is hoarse, but she holds firm. “You should go put out the fire.”
Jesse eyeballs her for a moment, but Petra clearly feels some type of way about accepting help. We’ll work on it.
“I’ll be back in a second,” Jesse answers, waiting for Petra’s nod before turning away. As she does so, she finally feels like she has room to breathe.
She has no idea what’s gotten into her. Kissing her? I seriously considered kissing her? Get it together!
Deep down, though, she knows that those lingering thoughts are far from anything new.