forum One-On-One ((closed))

Started November 09, 2018 by @blue_topaz

tune

Lucian felt sharp pains in his knuckles. He breathed heavily, adrenaline coursing through his nerves. He looked over at Morrigan at the sound of her cry. “I’m sorry,” he quickly said.

"It– It's fine–" she stammered, hands shaking as she removed them from Lucian's arm and pushed them into her hair. "Let's– Let's just get out–" It was a plea, and a desperate one.

Lucian nodded his hair, throwing a look at the man, who was rubbing at his jaw. He walked out with Morrigan and to the car, unlocking it and getting in.

Morrigan shut the door after her as quickly as she could, fingers fumbling on the buckle of her seatbelt. "Thank you–" she choked out, pressing her hands to her mouth. "I– I'm sorry-"

“Please don’t apologize,” Lucian said quickly. “I should be the one saying that. He just- just touched you like that, and I got so mad…” he trailed off slowly, looking at his hand. It would be bruised later, he guessed.

Morrigan couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye, knowing that she'd made a complete fool of herself. "No– I'm grateful for what you did- and I am sorry. I just– I just freaked out, I thought–" She squeezed her eyes shut. "I thought that- everything that happened before– was behind me. That I wouldn't have to– deal with that. Again."

“You can’t help that. It’s a natural reaction to-,” Lucian stopped. What did Morrigan have. He made a quick diagnosis. “To PTSD. It was natural for you to freak out if it reminded you of what happened.”

Morrigan's eyes remained shut, her mind using the darkness as a canvas to paint awful scenes across. She inhaled shakily, breath catching in her throat. "I'm just– I'm just being ridiculous," she whispered, though it was more like she was trying to convince herself rather than Lucian. "I'm being stupid. I overreacted."

“No, Morrigan,” Lucian soothed. He wanted to take her hand. But he thought that might not be a good idea. “It was just your brains natural reaction. You wouldn’t have been able to help it. Just take deep breaths. I’ll get you home.”

Morrigan only nodded, her chest rising and falling in uneven patterns. She was pathetic, weak— why couldn’t Lucian see that? She could see it, plain as day, in the way her hands still shook, how her breath still quivered, how her body burned in every place she’d every been touched. Her father’s voice still seemed to whisper in her ear…

Lucian started the car and pulled out of the spot and parking lot. Both hands on the wheel, he drove down the street. Though when he stopped at a red light, he reached into the back and picked up the pitbull stuffed animal. “Maybe holding this will help,” he said and held it out for her.

She hesitated, fingers twitching before she took the dog into her hands. “Thank you..” Her voice has lost all its colour, its music, its volume. It was just quiet, defeated. Pathetic. But she held on to the stuffed animal as if it were a life line, the only thing keeping her in touch with the physical world at that moment.

Lucian nodded his head at that and drove again. After about 10 minutes, he reached Morrigan’s place. He parked outside of it and picked up the bouqet from the backseat, holding it out for her to take. “I’m sorry that happened to you,” he said softly.

Having somewhat calmed down, Morrigan gave him a sad, slightly shaky smile and accepted the bouquet. “It’s fine— I have to deal with them eventually, don’t I?” She climbed out of the car before he could respond. “Thank you— for everything. I’ll see you soon?”

Lucian had started to respond, but she was already out. You shouldn’t have to. You don’t deserve that. He nodded his hesd a little. “Yeah, I’ll see you soon,” he responded.

“Bye.” Morrigan gave a little wave, clutching the flowers and stuffed animal to her chest as she turned away.

She sat down heavily on her couch once she’d arrived at her flat, placing her head in her hands. Slowly, a single tear trickled down her cheek, causing her shame to rise even further. Lucian knew now— most of it, at least. She’d been weak, pathetic, useless— and opened up. to him like the attention seeker that she was. Dragging her nails down her face, Morrigan rose and crossed the flat to the kitchen, leaving the roses behind.
(Skip or stay?)

(Stay, i wanna do something)

Lucian sat there in his car. He looked in the back seat, seeing a few petals left behind. He thought about Morrigan. She hadn’t looked well. He was worried. He was scared for her. Sexual abuse. That had to be it. He picked up his phone and called her number.

(Kk)

There was blood dripping down Morrigan’s arm by the time she heard the unmistakable sound of her phone ringing. She dropped the knife and hastily wiped her hand on the table, heart pounding as she pulled her phone from her pocket? Lucian??

Swallowing, she picked up. “Hello?”

“Morrigan, hey. I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t- I’m still sitting out here in my car,” Lucian breathed out. “I’m too worried about you.”

Morrigan stared down at the row of cuts on her arms, at the blood dripping down her elbow and onto the floor. He was worried about her? Oh. “Lucian— I’m so sorry for making you worry— Listen, I’m okay, I promise.” An outright lie. “You don’t need to worry about me- but if it really makes you feel better, you can come up here right now.” She froze as soon as the words left her mouth, wishing more than anything that she could take them back, but it was too late. “I’m apartment 336.”

Lucian was quiet on the line for a moment. “I’m not going to do that,” he said. “After what happened, this probably wouldn’t be a good time to do that next step, as much as I might want to.” He let out a soft sigh. “You don’t seem okay.”

Morrigan shut her eyes, a huge wave of relief crashing into her. “Thank you,” she whispered into the phone, before swallowing and tugging down her sleeve. “And I am fine. What- What makes you think I’m not?”

“The way you were acting in the car,” Lucian answered. “Morrigan, you haven’t hurt yourself, have you?”

“Of course not,” she told him gently, though her heart was in her throat and her trembling hand struggled to her a good grip on her phone.

“Morrigan..” Lucian said slowly. It was obvious he was skeptical. He didn’t know how, but he just knew. He had a feeling in his gut that he couldn’t shake,