Matteo pulled to a stop at the stop sign, fingers tapping a beat on the steering wheel as he watched the street. And then his gaze landed on a woman leaning against the sign, dressed very much like the hookers in his neighborhood. Only…she looked almost distressed. He pulled up closer, keeping a decent enough distance so as not to scare her as he rolled down the passenger window, the one she was closest to. "Uh, ma'am? Are you alright?"
Her head hurt so bad. Damn hangovers… he had made her drink too. She blinked at the car. It wasn't a cop car, and the driver actually looked concerned. Now was as good a time as any to tell the complete and utter truth. "No…" she whispered hoarsely. "I'm not…"
"You look hungover as hell." He commented, unlocking the car doors. "I've got water bottles in the back, sealed, promise, and advil. Need a ride anywhere?" She looked about to fall over, and it was worrying him.
She laughed quietly. "Hell." She was being completely serious too.
"How 'bout a hotel instead?" He asked, furrowing his brows. "Or, god, I've even got a bed you could crash in, if you really needed." He seemed unaware of the accidental double meaning for a moment, before blinking. "I mean, like, I could take the couch, and you-ugh. Just…let me give you a ride somewhere? You look, no offense, like shit."
"That's what happens when you're treated like shit for 5 years," she shot back. "I feel like shit too… My whole life is shit."
He frowned, tilting his head. "I'm…not entirely sure what to say to that. Er-I could always…lend an ear, if you need to vent pr something?" This was all weird, but he wanted to help, for whatever reason.
Robin eyed him and sighed. "You're not going to take me to any brothel, are you?" she asked suspiciously.
Matteo blinked, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "First of all, the whole idea and practice of brothels is disgusting. Second, no, I'm not. Maybe a McDonald's, but not a brothel."
Robin nodded silently in agreement and opened the car door. Suddenly, someone yelled behind her. "You whore! You slut! Get your sorry ass back here now!" Robin froze. "My whore wife! My slutty wife!" he continued berating her, closing the distance.
Robin glanced back art the driver. "I understand if you don't want to take me, now," she whispered. Her eyes had given up.
Matteo's eyes flickered from her, to his rear view mirror, the pieces clicking in his brain. "Shit. Get in, hurry." He reached over, quickly pushing open the door for her and waving for her to climb in.
She looked shocked, but climbed into the car anyway. Her hand clutched her little bag tightly.
He locked the doors, not wasting any time in starting down the street as fast as he could. "Husband?"
Robin nodded, looking straight ahead out the windshield. Her usually rosy lips were pressed into a thin line.
Matteo nodded, jerking his head in the direction of the seats behind them. "There's water, if you need it. Where d'ya want me to take you?"
"Away from him," she replied sourly, closing her eyes.
"Very unhelpful, but alright." He thought for a moment, before making a turn.
Robin winced over seemingly nothing. "He's going to kill me. He's going to find me and kill me."
Matteo glanced over, frowning again. "D'you have anyone to go to? Somewhere out of state you could go? Or, there's a shelter near here…."
"I'm not going too a damn shelter," she snapped. Normally, she was a very kind and compassionate person, but not when she was hungover.
"Look." He said, fully looking at her. "I'm trying to offer a bit of help where I can. I was making a suggestion, not holding up a contract. Advil's in the glove box, I recommend some. Now, if you won't go to a shelter, what other options are out there? Plane ride away, maybe."
Robin felt herself being weighed down with fatigue. "I'm tired," she mumbled.
"Sleep then." Matteo shook his head, focusing back on the road. "I'll wake you up when we get there."
"Get where?" Robin asked, but she was already asleep before she could hear his answer.
Matteo flickered a glance over at her, sighing. You're gonna be okay. At least, he really, really hoped so. It wasn't long before he reached his apartment, pulling into the small lot next to the building.