Neon Nights

She opened her eyes, looking over at him again.

"Are you okay...?"

 

"I'm just so glad to be out of there," she said softly. "I'm so glad you're okay, Abel... I was so frightened."

 

She winced as he worked, taking a deep breath.

"We're going to need to talk about all of this," she said quietly. "All of it. But maybe not right now."

 

She hesitated, reaching out to cup the back of his neck gently.

"Is your back okay? Can I help you?"

 

She watched him, tilting her head.

"Go get some sleep," she said quietly.

 

She took it, stumbling slightly.

"Maybe... Honestly, at this point, I don't really care."

 

She sat, looking up at him, her brows furrowing.

"Thank you for taking care of me," she said quietly, still holding his hand. "Thank you for not leaving me behind."

 

"But you could have," she replied, tilting her head. "You could have gotten out of there so much faster if it weren't for me, and you stayed." Her voice trembled a little and she looked down, dropping his hand self-consciously. "You stayed for me."

 

She folded her arms, looking conflicted.

"Yeah. I do know. But you still... you could have died. You so easily could have died, Abel..." Her voice broke and she fell silent, trying to keep her composure.

 

She winced as he touched her where the lashings had landed, reaching out and catching his hand and cupping it in the two of hers gently. She didn't say anything else, her fingers tracing his knuckles and his skin gently.