Luca remained calm as I carried him into the bedroom, and I gently set him on his bed so he could be at a sitting position.
He stared down at me when I pulled another one of my large shirts out from the dresser in here and set it on the bed.
“Where did you get that?” he asked me.
I then started helping him pull his arms through the sleeves. “I always have extras.”
He was silent then, and I pulled the bottom of the shirt up, pulling it off his head as he closed his eyes tightly.
He gazed down at me then, half-naked, but I couldn’t care less.
I balled up the previous shirt he had on because it was stained with blood, and I tossed it into a trashcan behind me, knowing I made it in without looking.
“You were serious about dressing me?” he said then.
I pulled the collar of the new shirt over his head and helped his arms through the sleeves. “Since when do I lie to you?”
He was silent then, and I just started unraveling the bandages on his head.
“I didn’t ask you if you lied,” he said finally. “I asked if you were serious.”
I continued undoing the bandages. “I was serious. I told you I’d take care of you, didn’t I? If that means dressing you, then so be it. Whatever you want, I will do it.”
His lashes lowered.
I just pulled the last of the bandage off. “Do you not want me to dress you?”
He shook his head. “No… I… I’m okay with it.”
I smiled slightly, eyes glowing a slight red when he gazed up at me with his marked eye.
In other words, you mean, “I like it”.
He just won’t admit it out loud.
I just stood and pulled back the covers, and he got under them, wincing a little as he struggled to lay down.
I just pulled the sheets over him. “Are you in pain?”
He just gazed up at me, cheek pressed into the pillow. “I’m just… sore, is all.”
I smiled then. “It’ll go away in the morning. Just rest.”
I then made sure his feet were covered before I made it to the door.
“Dante,” he said then.
I stopped and turned back to him. “Yes?”
His eyes sparkled under the lamplight, but there was a dark emotion in them. “Promise me you won’t leave.”
I blinked, staring at him for a moment.
He just stared at me, waiting for an answer.
A smile crossed my face then, and I bowed slightly. “I promise.”
I wanted to say, “are you getting attached to me?” or “are you saying you need me?” But I decided to go against the smart remarks.
Because I knew he was scared.
After everything that happened within the last twelve hours, I would be concerned if he wasn’t.
And I saved him, so he saw me as a form of protection.
I gazed up from my bow and smiled.
Which is what I want.
Luca’s brows drew together. “Did you just… bow?”
I smirked a little. “Maybe.”
He rolled over onto the other side of the bed, facing away from me. “Weirdo.”
I chuckled a little, hearing his flustered tone as I started to the door. “Good night, Luca.”
“Leave the light on,” he told me then, voice quiet. “Keep it on.”
I turned back toward him then, lips parting.
He’s still afraid.
Silence fell among us for too long, and I felt my lips tighten at the edges before they released.
God… I was so angry at the circumstances. I should’ve never gone to the store without him. That was stupid.
I was so sure that the contract would alert me if he was in danger… I didn’t anticipate that bastardwould cut the mark on his side.
My lashes lowered. “Whatever makes you feel safer.”
“Dante,” he said again.
I sighed a little. “Yes?”
He was silent for a couple seconds. “Don’t go.”
I kept my gaze on him. “Don’t go where?”
“Don’t leave again,” he said this time. “Stay here. Stay here.”
“Stay, where, Luca?”
“In this apartment… in your room or mine. I… I don’t care.”
I just stepped around the bed then, making my way to face him.
I just knelt down to his level, watching his marked eye glisten under the soft lights. “I won’t let him hurt you again. Do you trust me?”
He just gazed down to the bed.
I sighed.
That was a “no”.
“Luca, you are marked three ways,” I explained to him. “Nothing can keep me from saving you. If they cut your side, you still have your eye, if they hurt your eye, there’s still all of your blood.”
He then covered his right eye, sniffling.
I watched him for a moment before I lightly pulled his hand away. “Don’t feel so self-conscious. It looks fine.”
“I’m not self-conscious,” he defended. “I’m just… I just remember the pain.”
My lashes lowered.
“And maybe a little self-conscious,” he said then.
I smiled a little.
He just gazed up at me, half of his face under the covers as his eyes sparkled with curiosity.
I just leaned forward and booped his nose. “Go to sleep. We will find someplace new in the morning. Somewhere other than here.”
He nodded then.
I just brushed his bangs back over his nose. “And your eye cover will be here tomorrow morning. Are you excited?”
“I wanted to pick it out,” he said, annoyed.
“It’s a gift,” I stated then, smiling, “from me. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
He just stared back down at the bed.
“Good night,” I said then. “I’ll buy you clothes tomorrow, as well.”
He remained silent, snuggling with the covers.
I just smiled and stepped out from the room, leaving the door open as I made my way to my bed.
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