“He’s resting?”she asked, her voice pitched low as she smiled gently down at me.
I nodded, wrapping my fingers around the cup.“Doctor said the sedation should wear off soon.”
Ada nodded, taking the chair opposite mine.Dark circles shadowed her eyes, matching the ones I knew ringed my own.She didn’t push conversation, didn’t try to fill the silence with empty reassurances.The quiet comfort of her presence spoke volumes about the kind of family Oktober had built.
An hour later, Violet appeared carrying a small duffel bag.Her orange-red hair hung loose around pale cheeks, her usual vibrant energy dimmed but not extinguished.“Thought you might want fresh clothes,” she said, setting the bag at my feet.“You’ve got two changes all the way down and some comfortable shoes.I guessed at the size, but they’re Uggs.Even at the wrong size they’ll be pretty easy on the feet.”
“Thank you.”My voice cracked from disuse.How long since I’d spoken?Hours, at least.
Violet’s eyes lingered on Oktober, her expression a complex mix of worry and relief.“The big idiot is tough,” she said softly.“He’ll pull through just fine.”
“I know.”I tried to infuse certainty into those two words, more for myself than for her.
“He’s a good man.I’m glad you let him choose you.”She squeezed my arm before leaving, the touch brief but grounding.These people barely knew me, yet they’d folded me into their circle without question, as if Oktober’s choice to come for me was all the vetting they needed.And I really liked the way she phrased her statement.I had let Oktober choose me.Probably from the very beginning.It just took nearly dying to throw myself all in.
“Oktober?”I whispered, leaning in to brush my fingers through his hair as I spoke to him.His eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, then sharpening as they found my face.“Hey there.”
“Kätzchen,” he murmured, voice rough from sleep and smoke inhalation.His fingers tightened weakly around mine.“Du bist hier.”He cleared his throat.“You’re here.”
“Of course, I’m here.”I blinked back sudden tears.“Where else would I be?”
A shadow crossed his face, something dark and pained that had nothing to do with his physical injuries.“Noose…”
My throat tightened and tears burned.“I’m so sorry, Oktober.”
“He’s been my friend for a long time.We had each other’s backs more than once.Inside and out.”
“He saved me.”My voice broke.
“Ja, Kätzchen.That’s who he was.”
The doctor arrived minutes later.He examined the burns and did medical stuff, but I clung to Oktober’s hand, simply grateful we were both still here and able to hold each other.
“You’re doing well,” the doctor announced.“The burns are painful but healing well.No signs of infection.Your lungs are clearing faster than anticipated.”
Oktober absorbed this with a slight nod.“When can I leave?”
The doctor raised an eyebrow, clearly used to patients wanting to escape his care prematurely.“Tomorrow, if your pain remains manageable and your oxygen holds through the night.Will you have someone to help you change your dressings?”He glanced in my direction.
“I’ll be there,” I said immediately, the promise coming without hesitation.“I’m not leaving him for any reason.”I stuck my chin up defiantly.
Oktober’s shoulders relaxed slightly at my words, though his eyes remained shadowed with grief.He looked up, giving me a nod of acknowledgment.
“Tomorrow then,” the doctor confirmed, making notes in the chart.“We’ll review home care instructions in the morning.”
When he left, Oktober’s gaze found mine again.He lifted our joined hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles despite the effort it clearly cost him.
“Danke, Kätzchen,” he murmured, gratitude and something deeper woven through the simple words.
I leaned forward, resting my forehead gently against our linked hands.“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised.Not now.Maybe not ever again.
Knight entered, his tattooed face drawn tight with his own grief, the black sclera of his eyes making his stare more intense than usual.Lavender followed, her small frame almost invisible in his shadow until she stepped beside him, her blonde curls limp as if they too mourned.The sight of them together, so obviously grieving yet functioning, sent a fresh wave of guilt through me.Everyone here had lost someone precious, while I’d survived.
“Oktober.”Knight nodded, his voice softer than his appearance suggested.“Good to see you awake, brother.”
Oktober’s hand tightened around mine.“Knight.”He attempted to sit up straighter, wincing with the effort.“They’ve had me drugged pretty good.”I thought Oktober tried to smile but couldn’t quite commit.“News?”
Knight moved to the foot of the bed, his fingers drumming once on the metal frame before going still.“Inferno got in after the fire burned itself out.He…” Knight cleared his throat and Ada gripped his shoulder for comfort.“We’ll have a service for Noose when we get home.Figured we’d all want to be there.Knuckles and Hannah are handling the details.”
