"Thank you" I say to the taxi driver as I close the car door behind us.
Hex had stumbled out, still holding his arm to his stomach. He tries his best to walk without being hunched over, I know he's only doing it to not worry me but he's just causing himself more pain.
The drive home had been filled with anxiety. I saw the driver look back at us in the mirror, his eyes widening when he saw Hex, and I prayed that he wouldn't kick us out of his taxi.
I press my hand to Hex's back as I walk behind him, worried he'll keel over. He grunts in pain as he climbs the couple of steps to our front door.
My eyes well with tears but I swallow them before he can see.
I push in front of him as he waits for me to unlock the front door. I hadn't noticed my hands shaking before but it becomes impossible to get the key in the lock even when I try and steady my hand.
Hex reaches around and takes the keys from me and enters the key into the lock with no problem.
Our door opens revealing the dark apartment, Teddy's meow echoing from somewhere as he hears us entering.
I close and lock the door behind us, listening as Hex stomps his way into the kitchen.
I take a moment to lean my head against the door and breathe. Knowing that I'm going to have to ask some tough questions when I enter the kitchen that Hex most likely won't want to answer.
The wooden door is cold against my forehead and the texture is rough under my palms as I feel Teddy walking around my legs.
Hex's pained grunt pulls me away and towards the kitchen.
He has his back to me and is trying his best to pull his shirt over his head using his one hand, his lower back visible.
"Here, let me" I step in and grab the shirt off of him, slowly pulling it over his head and off his body.
I gulp once I see his skin. His chest and abdomen is red and splotchy and I know that when he wakes tomorrow he'll be black and blue.
Guilt starts to eat away at me as I think about how I thought he had left me at the club all the while he was getting beat only metres away.
Hex is eerily quiet as he walks over to the sink and begins washing the blood from his body. He painfully bends at the waist to wash his bloody face too.
I lean against the kitchen island observing him. His back seems to be okay but it's kind of hard to see with his tattoos hiding any markings.
"The police station opens at nine tomorrow morning" I break the silence, watching as he tenses and uses the tea towel to dry his face.
"I'm not pressing charges, Poppy" he exclaims.
I'm not surprised one bit. I hadn't expected him to go to the police but I still had hope that I could convince him. They can't get away with this, they'll only do it again if there's not a consequence for their actions.
"We have to Hex, they'll just do it again" I stand straight as he turns to face me. His hands grip the counter behind him and the hair around his face is wet and hangs limply.
He had washed off the blood from his face but it only revealed his already bruised and swollen skin. His cheek and eye look especially painful.
"No" he stubbornly refuses again.
I slam my hand down on the island top "why?" I demand.
For the first time since I found Hex he looks me in the eyes, they fume silently with anger and something else I can't name.
"I killed Alex, Poppy" he looks at me from under his brow as he continues leaning against the counter. "I deserved it".
He punches the cupboard closest to me, making me flinch at the noise but it doesn't break. I wince, seeing the pain it inflicted on Hex's joints as he moves stiffly.
The air is knocked out of me and I stagger back like the words he spoke had physically pushed me.
"W-What? I-Is that why you didn't fight back?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He looks away, releasing me of his intense gaze as he turns to look to his left and leaving me to look at his side profile.
He doesn't answer me but the clenching of his jaw and fists answer instead.
"I'm going to bed" he finally breaks the silence in the kitchen as he speaks softly. He pushes off the counter and leaves just as quietly. The bedroom door closing behind him before I hear the shower running.
I don't know what to do. Do I continue trying to get him to press charges or just drop it? Do I ask how the fight started? Why did he go outside?
I groan and rub my head as a headache begins.
I lock up our apartment for the night, turning off the lights and double checking all the windows and doors are locked.
Hex is still in the shower as I take a seat on the bed, lying back so that I'm looking at the ceiling.
I've lost complete track of time. I have no idea how long we were at the club or how long Hex had been missing before I found him.
How had Amos and Ace found us? The only explanation I can think of is someone at the bar recognised us. I mean, Hex is kind of hard to ignore with his height and tattoos.
The only other option is that they had been keeping tabs on us. Almost as soon as the thought enters my mind, I have to push down the vomit that wants to rise. I can't even bring myself to think about that option. We're not going back there. I will not go back to that.
"Baby" I hadn't even heard the shower shut off but Hex's voice brings me out of my thoughts as he calls from behind the bathroom door.
"Yeah?" I call back as I sit up, my back cracking in the process.
I make my way to the bathroom when he doesn't answer. The opening and closing of the basin drawers can be heard as he looks through them.
The bathroom is steamy and Hex only has his towel around his waist as he leans against the sink with his head hung.
"I'm gong to bleed on the sheets" he grumbles, wiping the steam from the mirror in front of him.
I step inside and go to the cupboard that I know holds the first aid kit.
"Here" I say softly as he turns to face me, bending slightly so that I can reach his face.
He looks down the entire time as I apply ointments, creams and much to his dislike; bandaids on his skin.
Hex shakes his head and pushes my hand away when I move on to his chest.
I place the cream down on the basin and gently wind my arms around Hex's waist.
My lips press to his bruised and red skin. At least the skin I can see through his tattoos.
"I'm sorry" I apologise, my voice cracking as I whisper.
Hex wraps my hair around his fist and pulls my head back so that I look at him. "What for, baby?" He questions, just as quietly before bending so his forehead rests against mine.
I swallow, afraid a sob will escape when I speak. "I thought you left me, I didn't know where you went". I don't sob but my voice wobbles.
Hex's eyes skim across my face, looking for I don't know what before coming back to my eyes.
"I would never leave you" Hex uses his hand to press my head harder into his own, accentuating his point.
My hand covers his as he holds my face but I let go quickly when he winces.
"Sorry" I whisper. He presses his lips to my forehead silently before walking around me and towards the bed.
I had just finished brushing my teeth and was about to get into bed when a thought occurred to me. Hex had obviously been either hit or kicked in the head; the sight of his injuries proving that.
My whole body chills as I look into the bedroom and see him already lying down with his eyes closed.
"Hex" I say loudly, probably too loudly but I don't care. He jolts before his eyes open. He looks somewhat annoyed to be disturbed. "You can't go to sleep" I make my way to him and sit on the side of the bed.
"I'm going to sleep, Poppy" he grumbles and turns on his side carefully.
"You hit you're head, you shouldn't sleep" I say quieter as I lean over his body to see his face, swiping his hair off his forehead.
"I'm going to sleep, get in the bed" he demands grumpily.
I sigh deeply wondering if I should push it further or just drop it. He's had a hard night as it is and staying awake all night won't make anything easier.
"Okay" I whisper as I turn the light off and crawl in besides him. "I love you" I hush.
He uses his hand to pull me closer to him so our bodies touch but I try my best to resist, he is hurt after all.
"Love you, baby".