comely

Stay

A/N: Anything potentially triggering will be listed up here from now on for your mental safety!

TW: shots and mentions of blood

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It had been an hour.

At some point, I gained a sign. On it, it had large bold letters, spelling out  'ACAB!'.

We had reached a standstill. The spot the girl had told me was where we were staying.

I blinked. I just realized something. Upon realizing this, I let out a small giggle. I was confident that she didn't hear it, but sure enough, she turned her head to look at me.

"You good?" She said, amusement evident through her tone.

"Yeah— I am," I replied with a light laugh. "I just remembered... you never told me your name."

She paused. I frowned. I caught her chest inflating, as if she was taking a deep breath. I lowered my head.

"I can't tell you that. There's people around." She said.

Her voice was soft among the shouts and white noise of the protestors' chorus. I understood her reason. It was for her safety. I had told her my name while the others had ran and while the police were out of earshot. She couldn't risk putting herself in danger. It still felt bad, though.

"Hey," She suddenly piped up, her sullenness no longer apparent in her gesticulations. "How about you call me... Athena? She offered. I smiled at her request.

"I like Athena." I said.

She put her hand on my back. "Thanks, y/n. I like you too."

I just knew my face was red. "No-no, I meant the name." I corrected out of embarrassment.

She let out a chuckle.

"A compliment is a compliment, though." She shrugged a shoulder, suddenly lifting her head to look up at my sign.

"You should... put it higher." She mumbled, lifting her hand and grabbing my elbow. She raised it far enough to where my arm was no longer bent, now straight. She kept her hand there, observing the angle. She dropped it, looking back down to me.

"Thanks." I whispered. I didn't want to risk saying anything humiliating, so I whipped my head to look forward. Athena didn't say anything, only doing the same as I did.

Her fingertips were electrifying. Each touch felt like a spark of flame against my skin. Her leather gloves only added to the tender feeling coiling in my gut. The way she carried herself, as well as her boldness. My lips parted as I understood my mental sentiment. I gulped.

I kept the sign up, but felt a churn in my gut from the slight tension.

"Athena—" I let out.

"Watch out!" A protestors voice suddenly shouted. Loud. I turned my head, only to see a car driving around the corner.

I felt hands press against me, protestors running past me to run away from the car. The car wasn't slowing down. They were not obeying the law. They were going at least 80 miles per hour!

I watched as people threw signs and rocks at the car, missing by a few inches. I frowned.

"Athena, are you okay—" I turned, only to see she was staring at the car.  

"I know that fucking person." She gritted through her teeth. My eyes widened.

"What?" I said, all before she began to march towards the direction the car had swerved towards.

"I know that car." She seethed.

I couldn't see her face through the plastic window of her helmet, but I knew she was frowning. It seemed like a betrayal if I had ever seen one. And I had.

"Athena, are you sure that's the guy you know?" I asked, watching her head rotate side to side, peering across the street.

"Her," She corrected. My mouth fell open in realization.

"Oh." I mumbled. Athena gripped the side of her head, exhaling loudly.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Athena stared, shaking her head in disapproval.

"Are you planning to confront her?" I asked wearily. I didn't want to push any buttons, nor seem nosy in a situation I didn't have a part in.

"No." She answered. I sighed in relief... for some odd reason.

"Y/n." She stated suddenly, tone completely shifting. I looked to her, confusion evident in my face.

"Yeah?"

She looked down to me.

Athena crossed her arms. "If someone ever teases you or makes fun of you for who you are, don't take that crap. Alright?"

I nodded. That seemed like a pretty good deal.

"Of course."

Athena nodded to me, walking back towards the road.

I didn't follow behind her closely this time. I felt like she needed space. After all, whoever was in that car seemed to tick her off. I do not want to get on her bad side.

Before I could initiate another conversation, it happened.

Shrill shots, like mini cannons. People scampering from their protest positions, yelling and running. They dropped their signs, some turning back and others vanishing.

Before I could react, I could feel Athena grabbing me, hugging my waist and dropping her head on top of mine. She picked me up, only an inch from the ground. She ran and ran, and I couldn't see anything. My face was smushed on her chest gear.

My mind fluttered. It felt like a running VHS tape, but the video stuttering and glitching from a overrunning film tape. The next thing I knew, I was being pulled in an alley and panting.

"They shot at us." I heard Athena breath, dropping to my side.

I blinked, looking towards her. "I blanked out."

"I know." She gritted her teeth, grabbing her side with both hands.

"Holy shit, what happened? Where does it hurt?" I hovered my hands over hers, waiting for a response.

Athena shook her head, but didn't shoo my hands away. "I moved too quick and cracked my side in a very uncomfortable way. It hurts, but I'll live."

"What can I do?" I asked, my eyes looking up to her helmet for guidance.

Athena exhaled. "Stay here with me."

"Okay." I responded, dropping to my knees in front of her.

I heard her huff from the pain, and I frowned. I hardly knew this girl but she didn't hesitate to protect me from the shots that were fired. How could I even begin to make it up to her?

"Y/n?" She said.

I looked up. "Yes?"

Athena lifted her head. I felt like her eyes were looking right through me.

"Take me to a hospital."

My eyes widened. She removed her hands. All I saw was red.