Finn nodded noticing Brinks blush and backed up slightly. "It's no problem. Fine but I have a dishwasher you don't have to fully wash them." He opened the dishwasher. It had a few dirty dishes in it but mainly just what Finn used to cook. "I'll be right back. Let me put Poppy to sleep then I'll show you the guest room."
He glanced at the dishwasher and nodded. “Yeah, of course. Go ahead!” He said, waving dismissively, watching as the other left before splashing himself with cold water. “Get yourself together! You’re not falling for him. All he did was help you, like he would do with anyone else. He’s doesn’t really care about you. Once you’re good, you leave. Say goodbye and never see them again.” He whispered harshly to himself, pulling his hair back and sighing deeply. The only problem was he didn’t want to not see Finn again. He actually liked being around him, despite him being an annoying hero. He laughed softly and shook husband head “damnit, why do you have to Be so goddamn good.”
Finn played with the hem of his shirt as we walked back into the living room. He tried to figure out of this was a good idea. It seems like a good idea. He can think of any downsides to helping Brink. Willow had texted him saying "Be careful." but she's just protective. Finn picked up an already sleepy Poppy and brought her into the bathroom. She set her in bed and tucked her in before going back into the kitchen.
Brink had finished up most of the dishes by now, putting the extra into the dishwasher. He hopped up onto the counter once finished and dried off his hands, fidgeting with the towel for bit before setting it down. He lifted his shirt slightly and saw that most of his side was covered in dark bruises. He was fairly certain that at least a rib was broken. He glanced up when he saw Finn enter the kitchen and pulled his shirt back down.
Finn saw his bare skin and bruise and bit his lip. "That looks bad. I'll get you a new icepack." He walked overcareful not to get too close this time. he opened the freezer and took out a fresh icepack. Haning it to Brink. "I have someone look at that if you want. Have a friend whos a nurse. Had to call her way too many times. No clue what she thinks happens but oh well."
“Thank you.” Brink muttered softly, pressing the ice pack to his side, sighing in relief as the throbbing dulled.
He paled (if possible) at the mention of the nurse and shook his head. “I don’t do very well with medical professionals or medical environments. Plus, I’m still technically a criminal. If any reports get out about me, they’d be able to trace me back to here. Unless you’ve already done that, dear.” He teased, glancing over at Finn playfully.
He tried to convince himself he wasn’t concerned about Finn but he was honestly he was done lying to himself.
Finn nodded. "You don't have to worry about that. I don't report much to the police unless they are asses like the guy you caught. He leads Brink down the hall next to the kitchen. "The cops don't like me doing their job and usually the people I stop don't repeat their mistakes." He opened the door to a decent-sized room with a queen bed.
He laughed softly and shook husband head, following Finn down the hall to the bedroom. “They don’t stop making mistakes. They stop making the mistakes that got them caught.”
His eyes widened at the large bed, certainly larger than anything he had slept on. “I don’t need this big of a bed, I can always sleep on the couch or something.” He glanced back at Finn then at the bed. “Are you sure no one else would need it?”
"Hey, I'm good at my job. Usually, after catching someone they think twice before robbing someone. Plus there's a reason I don't usually stop shoplifters." He shrugged and backed up from the door. "Nope, no one else does. Willow crashes here sometimes but she just got her own apartment so the rooms free," He said smiling slightly. There was another free room In the apartment but Finn hasn't opened that since his parents passed. "Like I said before there's the bathroom." He gestured to a side door. "There should be towels soap all that. I'll lend you some of my clothes but they are probably going to be a bit big so keep that in mind." He smiled looking down at the smaller man.
“If that were so darling, you would have caught me much sooner.” He turned and leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest as he looked up at Finn with a cocky smirk.
Brink himself had never really been stocky or tall, clothing always fitting loosely on him so he didn’t really mind the larger size.
“Don’t worry about it dear. I’ll manage.” He reassured, his smile softening as he gazed up at the other, holding his gaze
Finn kept eye contact as he stood there for a moment. His cheeks heated slightly every time Brink called him a dear or darling. Luckily it wasn't noticeable. "I umm I'll put the clothes on the bed then. Let me know if you need anything I'm in the room right next to you." Finally looking away and turning around.
Brink nodded and said a small thank you before slowly walking over to the bathroom. He pulled off all his bloodied clothes and steppe day into the shower, shutting his eyes in relief and the warm water soothed his aching body. He let the warm water wash over his hair, dulling it to a dark green. After an hour or so, he stepped out and covered himself with towel, peeking out into the bedroom to see if the clothes were there.
Finn had placed a new set of clothes on the bed only a few minutes after leaving. They were comfortable but once looking. Finn was in his room on his laptop. His mind drifting from the collage applications he was filling out to Brink. Wondering if the other man was ok or if he should go check on him.
Brink had found the clothing on the bed. He pulled it on in the bathroom before heading back out into the bedroom. The clothes, as Finn said, were very big on him. The shirt was almost falling off his shoulders and the pans were longer than his legs, dragging behind him slightly. He walked over to the window and pulled it open, sitting on the edge of the sill and dangling one leg outside. He shut his eyes momentarily, letting the cool breeze dry off his hair.
Finn's worries got the best of him after a while. He got up and pit his laptop to the side. Going to Brink's door and knocking. "Hey just checking in," He called standing outside waiting for an answer. What if he left? There was nothing keeping him in there and Finn knew Brink didn't fully trust him. Yet he still hoped he was still in the room. The idea of the man disappearing and Finn possibly never seeing him again was painful. He had no clue why.
(sorry I'm trying to do my mountain of school work)
(It’s alright! Take your time!)
Brink tilted his head towards the door and smiled softly, getting off of the sill and walking over to the door. He opened the door and gave him a lazy grin “is that slight worry I hear, dear?” He laughed softly “I’m alright. I think I’m the one who should be concerned about you. It’s almost 4:00 at night. Shouldn’t you be asleep?” He asked, his brow creasing in true concern for Finn.
Finn checked the time on his phone. He didn't even realize how late it was. Well I guess early now "I um had some stuff to do but I have all of tomorrow off so I'm going to catch up on sleep then." He wasn't sure if that was true. He was feeling a bit tired but he just looked down at the other man. "Do you need anything at all? I can get you a drink or something."
“Is that so? So your telling me even the hero gets days off. That’s a trick I would have killed to know about earlier.” He teased, gazing up at the other, shivering a bit from the cool air that blew in from the open window. He shook his head at the mention of a drink. “I’ll be alright, but thank you anyways.” He glanced away momentarily, biting his lip in though before returning to look at Finn. “How come you haven’t locked me up yet? I clearly tried to murder someone in cold blood. Surely that warrants some sort of charge.”
Finn shrugged. "I'll still go out tomorrow night or if I hear anything. Just free from any other responsibilities," Finn corrected looking at the open window as he felt a breeze. "You didn't kill him though and I see your reason behind what you did. Plus I have no actual solid proof since I let you go the first time." Finn leaned on the door frame. "You know if you put that energy to good use I wouldn't have to stop you. Make both or lives a lot easier."
“I would have if you hadn’t interfered dear. But I guess you are right. No prof,
no charge.” He laughed softly and ran a hand through his hair, finding that it was dry now. “Where’s the fun in that? I want things to be hard. I want to fight for the purpose, whatever that may be. Good or bad. I want some fight back, some resistance to what I do. Otherwise what’s the point?” He argues gently with a casual shrug. “You do the same. What’s the point in being a hero if all your criminals just turn themselves in. You need that risk. We all do. It makes life interesting and worth living. I like to think I provide that risk, even in a small way.”
Fin listened staring at Brink until he stopped talking. Then he pried his eyes away from him and stared at the window. "I-" He trailed off as he thought. "I guess that makes sense." He straightened slightly. Thinking about what Brink is saying. Is he actually right? "It's just that things are just more awarding on the other side."
“Sure it is love, but you’ve never been to this side, have you?” He took a step back, using the threshold of the door to prove a point. “We have different views. I’m not going to try to convince you mine is better or whatever. But try seeing it from my perspective. Everyone needs a bit of chaos darling.”
"I think there's enough chaos in my life. If I could just make it all normal I would," Finn said not sure if he really believed what he was saying. He tried imagining having a normal life. Not having powers and gain to constantly save everyone. Then again he wouldn't know what to do. Especially now that he already knows the thrill of helping others. "I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning?"
Brink broke out of his little reverie act, seeing that he had gone too far. What was he thinking? After Finn had helped him and brought him to his home, all he could think of doing was trying to change his moral values? Have him go against everything he had worked for and known most of his life? Yes, it was all he could do. Because admitting he grew feelings for a hero who had turned against his good morals was easier to say than growing feelings for someone Brink clearly didn’t deserve.
He rested a hand on the door and nodded slightly, having grown quiet. “Yeah, uhm, go ahead. I’ll see you then.” He replied, not being able to look Finn in the eyes. “Night.” He added on before gently shutting the door and walking over to the bed. Still thinking it too big for himself, he curled up on the edge in a tight ball, welcoming the pain that throbbed on his side
Finn smiled at him before closing the door and walking back to his room. He just sat there for a bit of thinking. The apartment was quiet. The rushing sound of cars didn't reach this high up. Finn laid down in bed but didn't sleep for a few hours later. His mind kept drifting to Brink but he wasn't sure why. Why he kept thinking of this villain who he should have just taken to the hospital or better yet the police station. Finn wouldn't though. Even if he had evidence for anything he couldn't turn him in. Not at this point. Not when he was already invested in helping him.
Brink barely slept that night, despite being comfortable. He was used to the night life sounds, he loved the soothing sounds as the city from wherever he slept that night followed him. He sighed softly and slowly sat up, curling his knees to his chest. He glanced out the window, smiling when he could at least see the few cars and lights from the 24/7 businesses. He wouldn’t go, not until he was healed. But would Finn allow him? He technically was a danger to the girls, at least a bad influence. He slid out of bed and went to sit on the edge of the windowsill, breathing in the night air.
The next morning Finn was still asleep. Willow let herself in around the time Poppy woke up and made breakfast. She made some for brink and, after setting poppy up to eat, decided to invite him to the kitchen. She walked into the hallway and knocked on the guest bedroom door. Poppy was in the living room watching cartoons as she ate her pancakes. "Hey no sure if you're awake but its Willow. I made pancakes if you want some. I'm not as good as a cook as Finn but they are edible."
Brink blinked awake with a start, somehow now on the floor beneath the window sill. He groaned softly as he shoved himself up and wrapped the blanket around him. He cracked open the door and looking up at Willow, not very surprised to see her at the apartment this early. “Morning, uhm sure.” He mumbled with a small smile, knowing he probably looked like a zombie to the girl in front of him, with his disheveled green hair and the dark circles around his usually bright green eyes .
“Thank you, I’m sure they’re great.” He reassured, following her to the living room, smiling and waving to Poppy as he settled at the dining room table beside her
Poppy wave back smiling wide. "The pancakes on the counter. Help yourself," WIllow said sitting up on the kitchen counter. She was drinking some coffee. "So Brink was it?" She put down her mug. "Finn and Poppy are like family to me. I was once in your position. So I know that Finn's helpfulness rarely has any bounds. Don't abuse. He might not do anything if you do but I definitely will. Understand?" Finn curled up in bed a few rooms over.