Chapter Text
Blinding lights surround me.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
My eyes still blurred, a shadow comes over me, shielding me from the glare of the unnaturally bright lights.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
As my senses come into focus, I feel a warmth on my cheek. It's comforting and soft. I realize I'm on a hospital bed. Again.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Then I realize something else. That silhouette. It's him. The one who sent me here to begin with. 007n7.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
I see him clearly now. His thumb gently brushes against my cheek back and forth. I smack his hand away, although it comes out as more of light slap. I feel a frown forming in my face.
"Why are you here?" I spat, glowering at him.
His face wrinkles slightly with the realization that I'm awake. "A bit early for this, don't you think? You need to rest. Relax."
"Why do you care?" I retorted, my features crunching up even more. "You sent me here to begin with."
He sighed. "I tried giving you a heads-up, but you didn't listen, idiot. I carried you out myself." He held up the arm that held me a moment earlier, showing it to me. It had bandages all over it. "You're not as banged up as last time. I used the c00lgui to partially shield you, but since it only protects one person completely, I wasn't entirely invulnerable either."
He protected me.
From himself?? That doesn't make sense!
"That's not an excuse. Why do you even burn down buildings in the first place??"
His eyes flick downward, and he says nothing.
I sit up. "What, that lollipop still in your mouth? Or do you realize how much you've fucked up?"
"Just quit it, Elliot. Rest."
A bright red panel pops up in front of him, and I'm sure he was about to teleport if I didn't say, "Don't. Stay."
And surprisingly, he did, letting himself fall back into his bedside seat with eyes cast off to the side.
I chew him out. My voice increases in intensity, although I start to control my features to retreat into more of a soft glare. "This isn't you. Where's the sass, the endless retorts?"
"I just wanted to see you. I didn't think you'd wake." His voice remains calm, despite my tone.
"Stop doing that." I point out in distaste. "Stop pretending. Stop acting like you care."
"I'm not pretending. I do. Why do you think I visit you? This isn't my first time." He glances at me for a split second. He says this one quietly, almost as if he doesn't want to say it at all. "Why do you think my hand was..."
"But...but you don't! You can't! Why would you??"
Seven folded his arms, eyebrows knit. No response. He still wouldn't meet my eyes, either.
"Answer me!!"
Head tilting in desperation, and his shoulders raising higher, he barked, speaking louder than either of us thought, "I don't know, Elliot! I don't know!! I just..."
"You what?"
"I just...care..." He pauses, looking down at his shoes. "...for some reason." He trails, voice going soft.
"If you cared, then why would you hurt me!?" I hear my voice break.
He finally turns to look at me. His eyes widen, staring at me in silent shock. I'm about to push him, to repeat myself, when I feel his hand grazing my cheek.
I gasp softly. "Wha-"
"You're crying." He said plainly, erasing all emotion, holding his tear-stained finger out for me to see.
Fuck. I can't believe I'm crying. Because of him, too...
"...I'm sorry."
Now it's my turn. Eyes downcast, I whisper, starting to feel a little fragile now. "If you really mean it, stop burning down BBP."
He was silent for a second, but he ultimately whispered back a quiet "yes". He leveled his head to meet my eyes. Both of us went still for just a moment, until he reached out again to wipe the rest of my tears off my face.
"You don't look nice when you're crying." He remarks, voice flat.
"That means you think I look nice when I'm not." I default back to how I usually treat him, not knowing what else to say.
His hand comes to rest on my cheek, cupping it gently just like before. "Maybe. It doesn't necessarily imply anything." He said, angling his head playfully. He's going back to normal.
"Maybe," I retorted, throwing his words back at him. "But it still can."
A small smile unknowingly creeps up his face. I would never say it out loud, but I thought he looked good when he was happy, too.
He takes a deep breath, huffing a sigh. "I'll find you the next time you're out of this place. Don't let anyone else hurt you, 'k?"
"Wait." I put my hand over his on my cheek, trying to prevent him from pulling back.
"What is it this time?" He glances back at me, expectant.
Maybe...
Maybe it's all a trick...
...
Maybe. But right now, I don't care.
And if there's even the slightest chance it's not, I want this to be the first...
My other arm pulls him closer as the one over his firmly stays. I lean in. A kiss. Not a deep one, it was really more of a quick peck, but a kiss nonetheless.
If he proves himself down the line, maybe we can do that someday, too...
No. I can't get ahead of myself.
And yet...
Just that one thought gives me such a confusing tangle of feelings I can't even begin to unravel. The only thing I do know for certain is that I don't regret it.
He pulls back, studying my face, before flashing a teasing smile.
"You admit it, too?"
"To what?" I struggle to understand.
"To caring. About me."
Realization hits me like a truck. I try my best to keep myself under control. "...maybe."
He chuckles. "I guess both of our facades broke today."
"...yeah..." Was all I could say.
And then he teleported away. Out of my reach.
Sometimes I "hate" him. Sometimes.
All the other times...I think I enjoy his company.