"Ok. You're not lying." She gave into him there if only to avoid a verbal argument which would only complicate things. Gosh, he was being as stubborn as she was. This was quite annoying from the other side of things Amelia noted but she couldn't be pushed aside so easily. She would get to the bottom of this. He had helped her and now it was her turn to help him... If only she could figure out what was wrong. He was tense when wrapped up in her arms and she briefly worried that maybe she had overstepped her bounds. They were quite possibly friends again but maybe he still held resentment toward her for not believing him. That was his right and she had to be mindful not touch him if he didn't want to make physical contact with her in that form. Ok. So no more hugs she promised herself.
Still, nurturing him with a wet paper towel to make sure he wasn't covered in blood and dust was harmless enough, wasn't it? "I don't that I don't have to. I don't have to do anything I don't want to do." She corrected him as she continued her work, cocking her head to one side. "I want to." The Keeper stated simply lightly pressing one of his cuts with the wet cloth. "If you want me to stop I can but you'll have to take over. You can't just walk around like this. They'll get infected." Honestly, as a Quidditch player he should know better. "And since you're Puddlemere's resident poster boy I don't think swelling of your money maker would be advised." An attempt at a joke, given the situation, and hopefully he would take it well.
"Why you did what?" She tried to pull the answer out of him gently. Hopefully he didn't mean help her. That would have made her feel cruddy. "You were just trying to help. I hope that you don't regret it..." Because then what would have happened to her? Then again, maybe that's what he meant. That he wish something had. "Though I guess it would be fair if you did. I deserve it." Setting the cloth down on the kitchen counter she looked away, trying to hide her sad eyes. "I'm sorry that I didn't believe what you said Lucas. I really am. And I'm sorry I lied to you about what was happening here..."
Lucas had such a hard time letting people in and opening up. Amelia probably knew the most out of everyone, and even then there was plenty she didn't know. At least he had told her about the abuse, which was steps ahead of everyone else. But she had also stomped on that when he told her. Even though it had now clicked in her brain that he wasn't lying, there was still something to be said about feeling like that trust had been broken. Which was even more difficult with the fact she was the first person he had ever truly trusted back in school. She had been the person to drag him kicking and screaming out of his shell. And even with the pain of that broken trust, her hug around him was still a welcome feeling. He still cared about her. That wouldn't really every change.
He supposed letting her clean him up wasn't the worst. He'd have to do it anyway. He had just figured he'd get her place sorted before he focused on himself. But she wasn't letting him get out of this one. "I know you don't have to do anything you don't want to..." he said, letting her press the wet cloth to his cuts. "You can do it." He didn't want to fight, and since she was already cleaning him up, what harm did it do to let her continue. "Ah yes, the resident poster boy. Wouldn't want to affect my team lowest salary." It was said slightly in jest, but there was truth to it. He knew, or at least his father had said it was true, that he got paid the least. And not only that, but he had actually gotten a pay cut in the last couple months. If only he could have actually left at the end of the year when his contract was up.
"Strangle him..." he said quietly. Wood had been sober. He probably didn't need to strangle him like that. What had he been thinking? Would it get back to the rest of his team? Did that indicate anything about what he was capable of? The fact Wood was the furthest thing from a friend, and was a big threat to the person he cared about the most was just flying over his head. "Of course I don't regret it." he said meeting her eyes. The fear was still there, but the truth was also there. "You don't deserve it." No one deserved that sort of abuse. When he was younger he had believed he deserved it. It was still hard to separate from that belief, but he also knew it hadn't been his fault. Right? "It's okay Amelia. You can't change it." No they couldn't go back and change the fact she hadn't believed him. But as for her comment about lying he sighed and looked down at his hands. "I knew it was happening. I didn't have firm proof, but there was just something that told me he was. Plus he socked me in the nose that day you had the black eye."
"Good. Cause I was gonna do it anyways." She joked flatly, giving him a playful raise of the brow as she dabbed at one of his cuts then went up on her tip toes to blow on it softly. Her mom had done this for her when she was very little and scraped her knees well before her Quidditch playing years when she was told to walk it off or tough it out by men she didn't really know. Would it help Lucas now? She couldn't be sure but she had to attempt it. She owed him at least that much for saving her.
"It's not the money that matters though is it?" She asked him absentmindedly dipping the cloth in some warm water in the sink before doting over him. She pulled up a wooden chair from the kitchen table and made him sit before standing close to him and hovering above. "We play for the love of it. Not for money." At least that's what she wanted to believe because that's how she felt. Then again Amelia was super frugal and careful with most money, a trait inherited from her money conscious father, so she wouldn't have noticed even if it was true. "Besides, I'm always going to make more than you so lets not have a pissing contest in my kitchen, huh?" She teased feeling the urge to try and lighten the mood. Their old banter was a way of that. She was sure of it. She had to try.
"And you didn't deserve it either." She said carefully, not wanting to overstep but also wanting to make sure that her words registered. There was a silent promise in his eyes as they trapped hers and she wasn't sure what it was. All she knew was that he meant whatever it was. "Don't kick yourself over it. I probably wouldn't have accepted your help even if you gave it." She patted his shoulder before turning her back on him and dropping the cloth in the water in the sink ringing it. "I'm sorry he hit you." That he hit anyone. "I didn't know that he did that."
"Of course it doesn't" He said as she made him sit in a chair. He had never gone into quidditch for the money. The bigger issue for him was how his father used his powers to abuse his contract and his ability to check out other options. The extension on his contract had just been announced days ago, with him sitting there smiling, acting as if this was the best thing for his career, even though he was filled with nothing but dread. "I don't keep his money anyway. I pay my rent, bills, and donate the rest of it." He lived very modestly, and his savings only had money from his team in Australia and the England national team. His checks from Puddlemere went to bills and then got donated. All to causes he was sure his dad would hate. "Hey you never know. I could make it big one day and earn a huge paycheck." He said light-heartedly. Their familiar banter was comforting. Sure it hadn't been present recently, but it was still comforting.
"I was the reason he lost his wife..." he said trailing off. It was so hard to separate it all. As far as Lucas knew, his father hadn't ever hurt his mother. But of course that was going off his mother's family who lived all the way in Spain, and had only communicated with their daughter by letter. His father could have been censoring her letters. "I could have acted without coming to you. Maybe make it clear after practice or something..." There was no way he would have done that. But letting it get to that point had been too much. She shouldn't have been in that much danger. He had a feeling it was going on and did nothing. Why couldn't he have even half the courage she had had when standing up for him all those years ago? "Don't be sorry Amelia. It's not the first time I've been punched in the nose. He didn't do any real damage. And really that punch was the reason I knew to come here tonight." That punch had all but confirmed to him that Wood was dangerous.
"I heard a little rumor that you might." She noted lightly. She was sure in one of his drunken rants Oliver had spewed some annoyance about it. That Lucas donated his salary so that the papers would know about it and he would be well liked. Amelia knew better. At least now she did. "You will never be better than me Hartwell." She swore through and through in a quiet but warm and knowing voice. "And I think that you know that." There was some bit of normalcy as he sat and she tended to him even though the instance that had caused them to be in this position had been anything but. There was a calm in the two of them dealing with one another, being back in the same room together, that she found that she missed and had easily slid back into. Not that she would comment on it now. It probably wasn't anything Lucas was interested in or cared to discuss. Even so she felt it.
"Oh..." Anyone else may have taken his admission wrong but not Amelia. She had known Lucas since they were very young and even though they had their differences there wasn't a foul bone in his body. At the same time though she knew better than to argue seeing as they were only now just starting to get along again. She would give him a moment's peace here but if they continued to grow closer than she definitely would call him on it whether he liked it or not (he probably wouldn't).
"Listen, what's done is done. No matter how you handled it you helped me today, ok? And I owe you one." She wasn't sure what that one would be but she would definitely try and figure it out so to repay him. "I'm sure it wasn't." She laughed a little bit when he mentioned getting knocked in the nose but stopped abruptly short when she became light headed and exhaled suddenly in surprise. Her right hand moved to lightly hold her temple and she winced. Maybe she should have stayed at the hospital or, at the very least, had laid down when Lucas had suggested it but she wasn't about to now. She was too stubborn.
"Yeah. I just can't stand having his money. And I try to keep the rumors small. Can't be having him know where I donate." There were rumors he donated to charity, but his donations by in large were anonymous. There were a few he didn't mind being out there, but he wanted to keep most of them under wraps. He didn't exactly need his father knowing he donated to charities supporting abuse victims and risk losing even more money that could go to them. "You never know, stranger things have happened." Of course he knew he wouldn't. She had been playing professionally since they had been kids. He had only gotten the try out in Australia because of his father (or at least that's what he had now come to believe). But his tone was lighthearted, teasing her a little. He found it easy to talk to her. He always had. Even when he was an extremely shy scrawny kid.
Lucas had a deep fear that he would turn into his father. While that likely meant he wouldn't, he still worried he would end up like his father. He didn't want to hurt those he cared about. But had his father ever actually cared for him? He had never even heard his father tell him he loved him. It was just accusations after accusations. He had never been good enough for his father, and now he was just hostage to the guy. "You don't owe me anything Amelia." He hadn't done it to have her owing him. He had done it to protect her.
"I used to have a better looking nose." he said with a small chuckle. But then he heard her laugh stop short and he quickly looked up at her. Her hand had gone to her temple and he saw a wince cross her face. Something wasn't quite right. And now he was concerned. It had gone from light hearted to worrisome in a flash. He stood up and guided her to the seat he had been in just moments before. "Are you alright Amelia?" He said, the concern in his voice clear. He lowered himself to he able to be on the same level as her eyes. He really hoped his decision to let her out of the hospital hadn't been a mistake. He wouldn't let himself live with it if she wasn't okay.
"Yeah. I'm okay." She responded to his question breathlessly as she didn't put up much of a fight while Lucas guided her down to the chair he had inhabited seconds before. "Just a small headache. It's not a big deal. Please don't worry about it." She didn't mean to worry him. In fact she was the opposite that she was on the Quidditch play. When she wasn't playing her beloved sport she didn't want all eyes on her. She was quite the opposite. Her eyes briefly caught his concerned ones, blurry as is and she smiled weakly. "But you're gonna worry no matter what I say aren't you?" After all of these years, even with a few fights between them, she knew that much. Lucas was going to be concerned, sweet, and smart no matter what she or anyone else threw his way in the same way that she would be loyal, stubborn, and brash. It was just the way things were.
He was kneeling in front of her blocking her from standing, not that she was in any rush right now feeling like she did. Her stomach was even a little woozy. No, maybe sitting was a good idea "I'm fine Hart. I'm fine. I swear. Just give me a second." She wasn't trying to be rude, she just sounded tired. Her eyes closed for a moment as she sat there trying to get her body to settle. "My head just hurts a little. That's all." And that was probably a mistake to tell him.
"You don't look okay." he said matter of factly. She looked like she was in pain. It had gone from being okay to not being okay quite quickly. "It could be a big deal.." Of course he had read up on and had explained to him several times what could go along with a head injury. It could be anything, even not enough to drink. But it wasn't something to just brush off. He shouldn't have let her out of the hospital without all the tests being completed. Why did she always have to sway him to do things so much. Their eyes met and she gave him a weak smile and asked if he would worry no matter what. He nodded slightly and said "I worry about my friends..." He had told her once he was checking up on her to make sure she was alright because she was his friend. Even if they hadn't talked, those feelings were hard to shake. He was no Gryffindor (in fact if the sorting hat had to rank the house would probably fall 3rd or 4th), but he could be loyal to those he cared about.
She needed to sit and rest. Really she should probably lie down and rest, but sitting was good enough for now. "Amelia you don't look fine...." He was certainly concerned, and it was evident in his voice. He watched her close her eyes and look like she was trying to ignore something or right the world. It was concerning to him. Especially when she said her head hurt. "You should lie down Amelia.... I know I shouldn't have brought you home..." No she should have stayed right? Gotten a thorough once over. What if there was something serious in her brain? He'd never forgive himself if there was.
"You're just not going to take no for an answer, are you Hart?" She asked with a tiny smile, trying to weather through the throbbing pain in her head. Oliver didn't listen to nos in another way but when Lucas did it at least it was because he cared or was worried. Man, these two men couldn't possibly be more different from one another. "It doesn't feel like my head is gonna pop off or anything. It just hurts a lot. Just a headache. I think we've all had those before." She covered not really wanting to make a fuss about the whole thing. She'd rather just stay in her home, undisturbed, and sleep the day away. "I worry about my friends..."
"So we're friends then?" The American couldn't help but cut right to the chase with her very forward, but light question. Was a year or so of hating his guts really that quickly remedied? Apparently so. How very Lucas Hartwell. "Are you saying that I look gross?" She grumbled, stubbornly adjusting in the chair before making herself stand. She would get on her own two feet if it meant less of Lucas worrying and acting like she was some frail china doll. "Listen Lucas, I wanted to come home. I practically dragged you out of that room and legally you can't force me to do anything so nothing is your fault. Chill out." She waved him off making her way to the living room with her dog at her side licking at her fingers she went about slowly meandering around the room and seeing that everything was in its (sort of) right place. "You can go home if you want. I'm fine." She announced with her back to him. Except she wasn't. For so many reasons she wasn't.
"Not in this case, no." No he was worried about her and wanted her to be okay. He couldn't just ignore it all and it be something more serious. Then how would he manage dealing with that. He cared for her too much to let that happen. Regardless of if she wanted nothing more to do with him after that night or not. "A headache after a head injury could be a concussion, or a brain bleed Evans." he said. How many times had he been told that or listened to a doctor tell his father what to look for. Like his father had cared. They were there because his father had hit him, not because he had fallen from a tree or something equally made up.
"You've always been my friend..." he said trailing off while looking away. Really she had been his first friend. Thinking he had lied hurt, but for him it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. She was still his friend and he still cared a lot about her. Worse than the feeling of betrayal of calling him a liar and throwing him out was the not talking to her for all that time. He had missed her a lot. "Of course you don't look gross." No she looked pale and as if she was in pain. But not gross. She got up, and he didn't stop her, but he also didn't let her stray too far from him. He didn't need her falling down on his watch. "I could have tried to convince you to stay. Or convinced you to rest more." He'd probably find someway to convince himself it was all his fault. If he had acted sooner on the Wood thing none of this would have happened in the first place. He followed her and her dog into the living room. "You're not fine. And I promised the doctor someone would stay here until the morning, so I'm not going anywhere." He'd lie on the floor if he'd have to. He wasn't going anywhere. Not that he was planning on sleeping.
"It's not any of those things. Don't you think I would know if it was?" She knew that wasn't true necessarily but even so she was going to stick by it. She was not going back to the hospital and Lucas ought to know better even with their year of avoidance between them. "Fine. Worry all you want but keep it to yourself ok? You mention that hospital one more time and you have to go. Got it?" Her eyes strained to look at him but never the less they were very serious and imploring. She didn't want to hear one more word about it and though she wasn't any good with spells she would attempt to hex him if it would save her the trouble.
"If we're friends you'll stop." Stopping by the couch she let out a tired sigh helping herself to a seat. "So if I rest you'll stop going on and on?" She asked then, as if figuring him out, she patted the opposite side of the couch. "Fine. You sit here and I'll sit here. If you're going to insist on lecturing me and not leaving me alone we both might as well take a load off." She curled up on her side of the couch her dog jumping up to join her and snuggling under her arm awkwardly.
Post by Lucas Hartwell on Mar 13, 2018 3:00:10 GMT
"You don't know that." He said matter of factly. He was nervous, but only because he was worried she would be hurt more than she was letting on. He didn't want anything to happen to her. They could go back to not talking in the morning and he would still feel the same. "Got it." he said with a nod. He could keep his worry to himself. Or at least not say anything about his worry. It would likely show in his eyes, but there wasn't much he could do about that. He cared about her. He may not have admitted it yet, but he had deep feelings for her. He had pushed them down and tried to not think about them for a long time, but they were still there.
"Fine." He said, giving up. Though if she started to get worse he may have to drag her at least to a doctor to make sure there wasn't anything wrong. "Yes if you rest I'll stop." he said as he watcher sit down on the couch. When she patted on the couch he stayed where he was until she basically told him to sit. He went over and sat on the other end of the couch from her, trying to figure out how he was going to stay awake for the rest of the night. He let out a sigh as he relaxed a little bit. Oh how the evening had turned out. "I'm sure it's probably nothing. I just don't want anything happening to you." he said quietly. He might as well admit it.
"I know everything..." She responded calmly with a little smile from where she was curled up on the couch. This of course wasn't the least part true but she felt the need to lighten the mood because of all they had been through in just the last few hours. She watched him in quiet for a few moments, studying him closely, before closing her eyes with a sigh. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" She asked bluntly but in a soft voice showing just how exhausted she was. "You look nervous is all..." She added for good measure, curling up a bit more as she tucked one of her hands under her face for support.
"Nothing is going to happen to me, Hart." She sighed again, this time more heavily. "You're here. What could happen?" And with that she drifted off not even hearing his response.
Post by Lucas Hartwell on Mar 18, 2018 4:00:17 GMT
"Sure you do." he said with a small smile. He wasn't going to challenge her response this late at night. They had been through a lot in the last few hours. They both needed to relax after all of that. He could tell her eyes were on him, but kept looking forward. There were still so many thoughts and feelings he'd have to muddle through, between feeling as though he had let her down, to the pain of her not trusting him for so long. "Perhaps I have." He said. Seeing Wood attacking her had brought back so many memories of his own father attacking him. "Ah, well." He couldn't help looking nervous, but it seemed see was tired and settling in. Best keep it calm. She needed the rest.
"You never know." he said quietly. When she sighed, he looked over and saw how she was curled up with her eyes closed. He knew she was close to sleep again. "Plenty could still happen." She could have a brain bleed. He could drift off unintentionally and have Wood come back and hurt them both. But it was clear she hadn't heard that statement, having fallen asleep. He settled in a little, but was determined to stay up and keep watch for the rest of the night.
