Aria suggested they call someone. Lucas blood was still going, but she was right. He called the police and reported the man. After that they started walking.
"My place is kind of far. You're closer."
At her nod they walked the remainder, talking about little things. It was a nice night.
When they got to her place they walked up the stairs to her door. It had changed since he was here last. There was a boot print on the door and splintering around the jamb.
"Hold on. I think someone broke in."
Aria wasn't exactly happy they were going to her place. She hadn't cleaned anything up. The door was still busted, she didn't remember where the man's gun had fallen, much less the bag he'd left. But it was closest and she didn't want to leave Lucas' company either, so to her apartment they went.
Aria caught Conleley leaving the bottom landing as they went up stairs. She was surprised to find that the door was mildly fixed. It still had the tell-tell signs of being busted though, but it was at least closing.
Lucas comment didn't surprise her, she smiled at his protectiveness. Aria shook her head.
"Nah, that happened earlier. Conleley must have fixed it since I left."
Aria could only hope that everything else was picked up too. She carefully unlocked her door and let Lucas go first, to prove it was safe. It was rather nice having him around. She had a new found appreciation for him. She smiled as he walked in front of her.
"See, no bad men anymore."
Aria went into the bathroom and grabbed a clean wash clothe and ran it under the water before returning to Lucas. She handed him the cloth. Aria didn't want to talk off his jacket. She enjoyed the warmth but she wasn't exactly sure the state of the dress beneath. Her shoulder hurt like crazy and she was afraid to see if it was soaked in her own blood.
"I need out of these uncomfortable clothes."
Aria grabbed some clean clothes and went into the bathroom to check it off, Lucas needed his jacket back after all.
He smiled at here comment about the bad men but still, he didn't like it. It wasn't good that someone had broken in and she acted like it was nothing. He remembered her weapons and saw them hanging by the door, a sword, a dagger, and a gun. Aria got some clothes and went into the bathroom to change. She was still in his jacket and probably wanted to give it back to him.
While she was in there, he picked up the dagger and slid it out of its sheath. It looked pretty cool. The design etched on the blade was cool looking. He brought it closer to examine it. When he heard the door up he looked up and saw her and jerked. The blade twisted in his hand and he cut himself. He hissed.
Aria checked the wound and the bandage. Thankfully no blood had gotten on the dress she wouldn't even know how to get blood out of it. Stupid fancy dresses and their annoying care directions. Aria popped the last pill Conleley had given her. It would take the edge off for now. She really wasn't looking forward to explaining it to anyone.
Aria came out with a long t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Seemed to be her typical outfit when he was over. Aria didn't have long to muse over her attire Lucas hissed and she turned to see he'd cut himself. She shook her head with a grin.
"Well now some of the blood is definitely your's. The first aid kits in the night stand by my bed. I'll get something to clean it with."
He felt like an idiot, of course. Then again, she was a beautiful woman and those shorts showed off very nice legs while the t-shirt was tighter than he expected. He shook his head to dispel the fog.
"Heh...I guess I'm clumsy today."
Blood was welling along the slice in his palm. She disappeared back into the bathroom-
a very nice view popping into his head- and he went over to her nightstand. The bottom drawer was bigger so he figured that's where the kit would be.
When he opened the drawer, however, Lucas' eyebrows raised and he grinned wickedly.
Well, well, well. He looked at her as she came over to him, reappraising her. And trying very hard to suppress the images that suddenly would not stop coming to his mind.
Guess that was the wrong drawer.
Aria walked out of the bathroom with a dark bottle of peroxide. She laughed to herself as she saw which drawer he'd opened. She walked up behind him and reached around closing the bottom drawer.
"Not that one."
She opened the top one, softly laughing to herself. Aria was well aware of his emotions, her own weren't far off, she blushed at her own feelings, not out of embarrassment, it is what it is.
Aria quickly pulled the plastic box with the red cross on the top out of the drawer. It was difficult being that close to him and feeling what she felt, but that too was what it was. She sat it on the bed and then sat down beside it, taking Lucas' now cut hand in hers and shook her head. She looked up at him with a grin.
"You should be more careful Mr. Gym man"
She grinned before she started cleaning the cut. Thankfully he didn't require stitches, just a good cleaning and a band-aid. Aria wished for one of those kid band-aids, but she didn't have any.
The fog that he had tried to dispel earlier was harder to get rid of this time. But she sat on the bed, seeming not to worry about his discovery. He was surprised but at the same time, it told him more about her. She took his hand and teased him as she cleaned the wound.
"Yeah, I guess I should."
As he felt her cool and gentle touch he felt a stirring. His heart was beating faster and he knew that if he wasn't careful, things could heat up quickly. That they had
already done so, in fact.
Part of him wanted to take it to that next level. But he also knew that he didn't know her all that well. And this whole thing had started with her calling him for help. He recalled her voice on the phone and the need and desperation it held. He was her friend. He said he would be there for her. They'd even gone to Mass together. And she had shared a special place with him. She needed him to be her friend still, not complicate things.
The fire in his chest still burned, of course. He was gonna be blue tonight, he knew that. But it was the right thing to do. He wouldn't confuse the issue for her.
When she finished, he told her,
"Thank you. You'd think that a guy who holds needles carefully all day would be able to not cut himself on a knife."
He smiled, aware of the silence.
Aria couldn't help but feel what he was feeling. It wasn't like she wanted to pry. They both wanted it to go someplace more, but they both held back, she didn't know his reasons, but hers were clear to her every time she thought about Lucas. Though the draw to his demons and his pain grew less each time. She didn't want to hurt him, she didn't want to be completely enamored with him that he drove everything that she did.
She laughed when he broke the silence.
"You'd think huh?"
Aria got up from the bed to clean things up. When her back was turned to Lucas she closed her eyes. Today was even more a burden to know what he felt and not be able to make anything happen. Fear kept her away. Good reasons, but still it hurt knowing...
The silence lingered for a moment before she answered. This was getting dangerous. She looked at him and he felt a spark. This could happen. She wanted it too, he thought. He breathed heavily. But....but she was so lonely. He wanted her badly, but there was more to her than this. Much more. Her abilities and the loneliness she lived with everyday and left a gaping hole. She ached for someone, anyone. He knew the desperation, the desire that had let him do the same thing. And the feeling of emptiness the next day. He didn't want that for her.
He wanted to sleep with her. But not now. He couldn't do it now. He just couldn't be that guy. He felt like he was taking advantage of her, to do something like that. Maybe she knew. Maybe she understood. Or maybe not. But he needed to leave before he didn't have the strength to do so. Down the road, after she learned she could really trust him, that this wasn't just a desperate attempt to satisfy a need, then maybe it could happen.
Each thought strengthened his resolve. He laughed at himself though. He was going to pay for this tonight though. He'd be kicking himself, he was sure.
Yep, definitely blue.
"Well, it's getting late. I should go. I'm sure you need to be up early tomorrow. And I have classes at 7:30."
Thankfully, he could stand without giving too much away.
"Thank you for spending the evening with me. And for taking me to Victor's. It means a lot."
It really had. He walked with her to the door.
"You're doing good Aria. You are doing really good. You made this a good day, despite whatever you were feeling earlier."
He smiled at her, looked into her eyes.
"You're gonna beat this Aria."
Aria was sad and glad that Lucas was leaving. She didn't want him to go, but the longer he stayed the more the desire would grow. It wasn't the first time they'd left everything hanging in the air. The chemistry kept coming back no matter how hard they tried to avoid it.
Aria tried not to laugh at her getting up early. She'd be going to bed closer to the time he got up. She was tired, but she had to reset. Living during the day was growing weary. She had things to do tonight, she'd have time to sleep when people were active, and the apartment was quiet. She nodded. She'd have joked but it wasn't there.
He got up and Aria walked with him to the door. He encouraged her, but it felt more like excuses at the moment. Her life was huge mess, that she knew. And it wasn't likely to straighten out anytime soon. But Lucas was helping, he'd gotten her to do something she'd not done in months. Things were looking brighter. She smiled up at him
"Thanks."
He turned and left, it felt so empty with out him but Aria shut the door despite the burning desire to watch him walk away. She leaned against the closed door and smiled, sadness, happiness, everything all positive nothing bad about the day remained, that was what Lucas did for her life. She'd appreciate it, appreciate him. But he wasn't the only reason why life was getting better. She wanted it too despite the call of her demons. She didn't want to hurt people.
Aria didn't think the Regus was going to like the new her anymore than he liked the old one.
[[with Lucas]]
Edited by
Aria, Aug 29 2014, 02:20 PM.
