It was stupid, and maybe vain. They weren’t there for a scar that had already healed, but after Reed stared them down, they complied. The hand that clutched at Leo like a lifeline had been gifted with new skin. My mark was gone.
Something that had been so trivial to me, something I’d worn as a badge of honor, was a reminder of his shame. I told myself that when he woke up, I’d show him, and maybe that would help, somehow.
Idiot.
Light lashes started to flutter, and my breath caught in my throat as I sat up straighter, leaning in.
“Leo?” I breathed. “Are you awake?”
A low groan slipped through his lips as he blinked, finally opening his eyes. He glanced around, as if attempting to focus before his gaze finally stopped on me.
“What happened?” his voice was hoarse.
I grabbed a bottle of water beside me and slipped my hand behind his head.
“Drink first.” My throat swelled. “We’re safe; that’s all that matters.”
He took his time, grunting as he sat up and then downed the entire bottle. I studied him, my gaze flitting across his form; there wasn’t a scratch or scar to be seen. They’d put him in a hospital gown, and it hung off his shoulders as it exposed his bare back. The skin had been repaired there, too.
“My head hurts,” he said finally.
I pulled my lips into my mouth. “… You went into burnout. The VIA sent over Heroes that could help. You’ll be okay, but you need rest.”
Leo turned his head to me before snatching me by the chin, as if he hadn’t heard a single thing I said. He leaned in, and my cheeks heated as his eyes bore into mine.
“You’re not hurt?”
I cocked my head, scrunching my brows. He was the one in a hospital bed, and he was checking up onme?
“A few bumps and bruises, but nothing compared to you. I… I watched you burn.” My throat swelled.
He ran his fingers through my hair before thumbing one of the horns on my head. It buzzed on contact, sending a gentle vibration through my skull.
“But I didn’t burnyou.”
“What? No, of course not. I didn’t think that you would.”
“You trusted me.” He was breathless, and I had to check his oxygen again. “You savedme.”
Leo didn’t let me reply as he wrapped his large hand around the back of my head and pulled me in. He kissed me—harsh, passionate, and furious, like he was drowning and was desperate for air. Had his brain actually been affected? Or was this something that had been burning inside him, something I’d been oblivious to? We had that moment in the kitchen, but I didn’t even get a chance to process before he turned around and acted like it was a meaningless regret. That part, admittedly, hurt a bit.
And then everything was blood and fire, and frantic despair.
His skin was warm, and his lips guided me as I hummed, leaning into him. I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer, before he reared back and hissed through his teeth.
“I’m sorry,” I breathed, eyes wide. “Does it hurt?”
“No,” he sighed. “I just—is this okay?”
Leo lowered his brows, those eyes dropping back down to my mouth. He brushed his lips against mine, then moved to my cheeks, my temples. Gentle, hesitant,soft.
“Yes.” The admittance was honest, but a bit shocking.
There had been tension, but I thought it was a surface level attraction at first. Then Leo started to show himself. He started to open up, and I wanted more of him. This man, whom people feared, who everyone assumed was more Villain than Hero, had dropped his guard for me.
A smile crept onto my lips as he kissed the scar where my chip was, and nearly giggled as he buried his nose in my hair and took a large breath. This was a part of him I’d never seen—uncontrolled, but not full of rage or hate. It was adoration at its finest, andGod, I was eating it up.
When he finally pulled away, his breath labored and lips pink, he started to twirl my ponytail in his hand, as if mesmerized.
