Predecessor (Connor x Reader)

27 - We've Done This Before

Cherry raises her eyebrows. "Define still."

"Still means you shut up and let your blood stay inside you."

She exhales. "Copy that."

You rise to your feet slowly, flexing your sore fingers. "Help me get her to the couch."

Connor moves without a word, slipping an arm under her shoulders. You take the other side.

"Wow, you guys are so awesome for this." She says. "You're both getting friendship bracelets."

You ease her down, propping a pillow behind her back.

Connor hovers nearby. "Do you want water? Painkillers?"

"I want whiskey," she mutters.

"No," you and Connor say at the same time.

She closes her eyes, smiling faintly. "Thought I'd try."

You step back, finally letting yourself breathe. She's still pale. Still bleeding a little. But she's upright. Joking.

Alive.

You head to the kitchen and run the tap. Your hands slip under the stream, sticky and red. The water hits them hard, then pink, then clear. It swirls down the drain in quiet spirals. A towel hangs from the oven handle. You dry your fingers slowly, pressing the cloth into your palms. They're shaking. Just a little.

You exhale. Then you open the fridge. There's not much. Juice. It'll do.

You pour a glass, steady your grip, and walk it back into the room.

You hold it out. "You've lost at least a pint. Drink up."

Cherry eyes the glass. "Is it orange juice?"

"Yeah."

She takes it. Sips. "Yummy!"

You glance at the wound again. The bleeding's finally stopped and the chaos has quieted. Connor's settled into the lounge chair, sitting on the edge of it—elbows on his knees, hands clasped tight. Trying, and failing, not to look like he's overflowing with questions.

You lower yourself onto the couch beside Cherry's feet. You rake a hand through your hair, grounding yourself.

Then you look at him. "Go ahead." You say. "Ask away."

He doesn't hesitate. "Wasn't she the one giving you some kind of... questionable sales pitch the other morning? If I recall correctly."

You shut your eyes. "Yes."

Cherry's voice is faint, but her spirit's still sharp. "Was I? God, I was probably running my mouth. Don't remember half the nonsense I say."

"When I asked if she was your friend, you said no." Connor says.

You open one eye. "Yes."

Connor glances between the two of you, visibly processing. "So you do know each other."

You sigh. "Yes. We're... old friends. We just recently reconnected."

"Why did you say you weren't?"

Cherry pulls a face like this is awkward, as if she wasn't the one who created this mess in the first place.

You shake your head, crossing your arms. "I just... didn't want the worlds colliding."

Connor tilts his head.

You glance at Cherry. "She's... a lot."

Cherry grins proudly.

"And you..." you trail off, trying to find the words. "You're not. You're calm. Steady. I guess I was being protective. Of that."