Marcus smiled through the haze of pain and euphoria. “I thought so… but before I do— I need to tell you about Luc-“
The smile dropped off his lips, and fear shadowed his eyes. “My uncle- he told me of your dinner tomorrow- Winnifred you can’t go. He’s planning- he wants to- he’s going to rape you after you eat. He- he told me that I could not keep both you and Angeline safe. He called you delicious.”
Winifred blanked. "What?" She shook her head. "You must be joking…"
But he wasn't….
Winifred narrowed her eyes. Anger boiled in her. "How dare he?" She scoffed. "That old croon has hopes of getting me in his bed?" She stood from the bed. Something inside her that had been buried a long time ago began awake.The rage she had felt. At her mother, at those men, at the world… She remembered the nights, long and torturous. She remembered the pain. She remembered it all. She had ran from that life. She had escaped.
She'd be damned if she was going back.
"Who does he think he is? Condemning young women to lives of metal despair as such?" She could hardly contain the indignation she felt.
Marcus didn’t reply for a very long time. He usually felt rage burning within him at his uncle’s ways, but right now he was too exhausted to feel anything other than fear and… this new feeling. Love. For Winnifred.
But there was something in her eyes, a determination, as if this was all familiar to her. And it broke his heart.
“Angeline wasn’t his first. You- Winnifred- you have to get out of here. He’s not just going to ask. He’ll threaten you. He’ll threaten to kill you. And he will, if he doesn’t get his way. It won’t be the first time..” Marcus’s voice cracked on the last word.
Winifred turned with outrage in her eyes. "I. Don't. Care!" She hissed. But, she caught herself. Why was she getting upset with Marcus. This hardly was his fault.
But, Luc Crenshaw, that bastard, he had gone too far. "That disgusting pervert!" Winifred exclaimed as she though of all the other women he could've taken advantage of. Angeline included. Dread filled the pit of her stomach. But in her mind…
Something was forming.
Marcus closed his eyes, bearing the weight of her anger. "Winnifred," he whispered, cracks slowly breaking open his heart. "You should go. I don't want him to hurt you. I wish you could stay– but– he's already killed-" He paused, swallowing a hard lump of emotion, "He's already killed people close to me. I don't wat you to die."
He's already killed people close to me…. Winifred's mind went to his parents. Murdered ruthlessly and a murderer still hadn't been found. People suspected Marcus's uncle. Maybe they weren't wrong….
Her brown eyes softened on Marcus, endearment shining in them. She pressed a finger to his lips to silence him. "Shhh…. I'm not leaving. Not with the state you're in. Just rest…. we'll discuss something tomorrow when you wake." She sat on the bed and leaned close to him, her hair falling around him. She placed her hand on his face. "I'm staying right here."
Marcus's heart pattered lightly, and he kissed her fingertip lightly, realizing that any of his protests would fall on deaf ears. He hated to admit it, but her presence was immensely comforting. His hand, still cupping her cheek, drew her face closer for a soft, tired kiss that set his exhaustion alight.
I just kissed Winnifred. Oh my god. I'm kissing Winnifred.
He forced himself to pull away before his euphoria overflowed, wetting his lips before croaking out a question. "Angeline. She should- she should sleep here. Could you- could you move me to the sofa?"
(ooh other fluff idea: what if they cuddle in Winnifred's bed?)
(also get ready for some Angeline angst)
(((OOOOH YES!!!!! And I'm ready for Angeline, I was sorta expected it to happen soon anyway. I kinda like her.))
Winifred smiled and nodded. "Yeah… let her stay here." She stood, missing the warmth of his hand as she pulled away. She was slightly unsteady on her feet, a bit dizzy with the remnants of that kiss on her lips. She could get use to that. She went to the door and called a lingering butler in. She asked him to help move Marcus… but not to the sofa. Oh, no.
She pointed to the door that separated their rooms. The door that would never close and lock again. Not for a long time. "Move him there." She instructed the butler. He nodded and helped Marcus to a sitting position.
"Forgive me, my Lord. This may be uncomfortable…" He apologized before raising Marcus to his feet, and allowing him to lean against him.
(same here
she won't get in their way or be jealous though, just really sad)
Marcus shot Winnifred a confused look, but a burst of pain interrupted whatever he was about to say and he sagged against the butler, letting out a strangled gasp. Slowly but surely, they made their way over to Winnifred's room, his legs almost giving out multiple times. Before he crossed the threshold, he turned his head to try and catch the eye of Angeline, to give her a reassuring and apologetic smile, but she turned away quickly. His heart plummeted.
(btw he doesn't have feelings for her, but she's his best friend)
(( Don't worry Angeline! The next time they go out to the Swan restaurant! You go too and meet a nice waiter!))
Winifred followed after them, nagging like a mother hen. "Watch that step!" she chided. "Please, be careful with him." She sighed. And finally, before her heart burst, the butler had Marcus resting on her bed. Only then did she turn to Angeline and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Thank you…" she whispered. She had been the one to get her when Marcus was bleeding out. She had been the one to help, even in her pain. Winifred would check on…. that… very soon, but she'd give the girl more time to heal before she went poking once more. Something neither of them had enjoyed.
(omg that's a great idea
her and Thomas???)
Angeline's eyes widened in surprise and she flinched back, instinct screaming at her that she was about to be beaten. But when the hug turned out to be nothing more than a comforting embrace, she sank thankfully into it, tears blurring her vision.
She was torn, so utterly torn, between being happy for Marcus and being upset that– that he loved another. Between weeping at the fact that he had ben so badly hurt and running to comfort him, and staying away. But her thoughts didn't matter. Her heart was shattered either way.
Marcus sank into the soft mattress, stifling his exclamation of pain before it could slip out from him. Angeline. Winnifred. Luc.
There were too many things to worry about. Way too many things.
One step at a time..
(hehehehehe evil scheming laughter Mmmmm, yes~))
Winifred took a step away from Angeline, holding her at the arms. "You did good work today. You rest, too. I'll call someone to clean the mess." She instructed, pointing to Marcus's bed. She turned away and crossed into her room, over to Marcus. She smiled as she settled on her knees beside him.
"I'm sorry about the rough move…How do you feel?" She pressed a hand to his forehead and then his neck, a part of her expecting a fever. Like the last time… Hopefully he wouldn't be as stubborn.
(hehe)
"I'm fine," he replied hoarsely, but his tone suggested otherwise. "Thank you. For everything. And the kiss. Definitely the kiss. That bit was fantastic," Marcus stammered out, clearly flustered even through his exhaustion. "And for saving my life. And Angeline's."
Winifred laughed softly. "That is my job. This is what doctor's do…well-" she bit her nail. "Except for the kiss, on the contrary, it is well advised that do not kiss my patients…." she sighed. The rule was broken, and would be a thousand times more.
Her eyes trailed down to her damp sweater-gown, covered in blood. She sighed, she had no choice but to change into a nightgown, now. "I'll be back…" she murmured, slipping into the bathroom for a rapid change. She found herself humming and even…checking her reflection when she finished. She returned to Marcus, wearing the provocative lacy night gown she had only days before. But what the look on her face wasn't erotic and inviting, it was stern and warning. "Don't try anything Marcus, I'm new to the whole 'I-love-you' business. I will not hesitate to defenestrate you."
(Omg that’s one of my favourite words)
Marcus nodded, careful to keep his eyes on her face. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Winnifred, and… I’m new to this too.” He attempted to sit up, but pain ripped through his chest, forcing him to slump against the pillows. “What— I don’t want to hurt you, so— I want to know your boundaries. So that I do not make you uncomfortable or harm you in any way.” He suddenly realized that every single one of his defenders had been dropped, his heart was out for display, raw and hopelessly confused.
((Same. I'm gonna go for tonight. Good night!))
Winifred let a small smile return to her face. She moved and sat beside Marcus. "Stop moving, you'll make it worse." she instructed with a hand on his shoulder. She thought for a moment. "I don't want to make boundaries that we'll break. Which seems to be a pattern for us…" She laughed.
(Gnight!)
Marcus suddenly realized that he was still shirtless. A faint pink spread across his cheeks, but he managed a smile and a nod. “Good point. But— I don’t want to hurt you. So tell me if I’m making you uncomfortable.”
Winifred laughed. "At this point, you'd have to do a lot to make me uncomfortable, love. You act as if we're about to do something…. sacred?" She placed a bashful hand over her lips.
Marcus’s blush deepened. “N-No- of course not.” He suddenly realized how his words could have been interpreted. “But- I like it when you call me that. Love. I like it.”
"Good, because that is your pet name whether you like it or not." she winked at him. She brushed her fingers through his hair, almost unconsciously. Now that the things that mattered were said between them, she had so much freedom. She could run her fingers through his hair, and kiss him, and hold him.
She lay beside him and placed a cool hand on his chest. The skin was still a bit hot, but not as irritated as before.
Marcus sucked in a breath when her hand touched down on his chest, almost on instinct, but his muscles quickly relaxed under her touch when he realized that she wasn’t going to hurt him. Her skin was soft and cool, soothing on his own, and he tilted his head to the side so he could look at her properly.
She’s so beautiful……
“I must be dreaming…” he murmured, eyes sweeping over her face, her flawless, heart-stopping features. “You look tired…. I’m sorry for worrying you..”
"Well I was sleeping before I leapt into doctor-mode." She pointed out as she settled beside him. "But it's fine, because now I slumber beside you." She sighed happily, resting her head in the crook of his neck. "It was all worth it." Her eyes closed.
Marcus let out a contented sigh, slipping an arm around Winnifred and drawing her closer to him. His heart pounded in his chest, her name danced on his lips, the taste of her sweet mouth still lingered in his throat. He could feel his need for her pulsing deep within him, unavoidable, inescapable. Trying to roll onto his side so that he could face her, he whispered three words. “I love you.”
Winifred smiled against the skin of his neck and kissed it softly. A bold, but she wanted to show just how much she loved him. "I love you too…" She replied. And soon, she drifted to sleep, dreaming of things that were and things that would be. A life with Marcus at her side.
((I had an idea. What if Marcus sleeps the whole day? That night, Winifred slips away with her evil scheme and goes to dinner with Luc?? That way, when he wakes up, she's already gone and he has to act fast to get to Luc before things get….bad.))