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Damn allergies. I sneezed, shaking my head and rubbing my nose, trying to focus on the smells around me and /still/ unable to smell anything. Frustration drew a whine from me as I turned, planning to head home instead of staying in the lab. Research was too delicate for me to be this distracted during.
As I reached the door, I took a moment, drawing a deep breath of unpollinated air, something familiar but untraceable filtering through for a moment before fading quickly. With a shrug I opened the door, going to step forward into the rain, only to freeze at a soaked form leaning against the wall next to the building. A shape I quickly recognized as Juniper as she stood and turned to me.
A low growl left as I saw the bruises on her face, something feral in me tearing to be let free, to find whoever had hurt her. Immediately I moved forward, startled as she collapsed against me and clung.
“Hey woah, what happened,” I heard myself asking, looking behind her before pulling her inside, the air unnaturally still, like someone was waiting. As the door closed I let go of her, watching as the water dripped off her.
“Shit, sorry Val. I know you’re ridiculously busy, but I just didn’t know what to do. Where to go. And then the rain hit halfway here and-”
“Woah, slow down. I don’t have anything going on. Talk to me. What happened? Who the hell punched you?” Distantly I felt my tail reappear, felt it still where it was, felt the anger boiling under my skin.
It took too long, far too long for my liking, and long enough I noticed the tears down her face amidst the water. Getting no response still, I moved closer, taking her wrist in my hand carefully.
“Come on, let’s get you dried off. Can’t have you getting a cold, I don’t think that brother of yours would like that,” I joked. tail stiffening at the immediate and overwhelming scent of fear that slipped through my worn sense of smell.
My voice dropped immediately, darkness lacing each word as I spoke. “Juniper. Did he do this. Did he hurt you like this?” I was fully prepared to track the bastard down and give him a piece of my mind, only stopping as she shook her head.
“No. Not, not exactly at least,” she replied, nose scrunching as she conceded to following me deeper into the lab. “He tried to keep me locked in again and when I got free I was distracted. Then my ex found me while I wasn’t paying attention and he’s the one who-” she cut off and oh. I did not like that look on her.
“Tell me about him. What’s his name, I’ll handle him.” My wolf tore uneasily within, wanting to find the person. To make them pay for what they had done to her.
Before I could ask more information, her small arms wrapped around me. Shock flooded me, and I froze for a moment before wrapping my own arms around her. Fuck. She was trembling. And cold. Instinctive kicked in then, and I picked her up. cradling her in my arms and heading towards the back room. Quietly I set her down, pulling away.
“Go ahead and change into something dry. I really only have my own stuff here, so you’ll have to use one of my shirts, but it should be large enough,” I urged, softness edging in to my voice. Clearing my throat I turned to leave, intending to give her some privacy. “I’ll bring some snacks and water back, you can stay as long as you need,” I added.
I stepped away for a few minutes, silently trying to get myself under control, before I looked up at a small noise. I couldn’t hide the slight jump as Juniper startled me, less than 3ft away. Seeing her in my shirt, practically drowning in it, I couldn’t hide the low rumble in my chest quick enough.
She smells like me now. And was still trembling. Those two thoughts flooded my mind, and quickly I closed the distance between us, lifting an arm for her to fit against my side.
She was quick to, almost burrowing against me as my arm wrapped around her. I felt it then, that bond I had been ignoring, as it now tugged against my heart once more.
“Promise if I tell you you won’t leave me alone tonight?” Fuck. Her voice was so small
“I promise you won’t be alone tonight. Talk to me about what happened?”
I felt the deep breath she took, and the hesitation, and quickly scooped her up, hands tightening as I felt her bare skin under them, before carrying her back to the small room. Rather than setting her down, I sat and pulled her into my lap, leaning her against my chest as I gripped onto her.
Silence reigned for a few minutes, and I was about to let her sleep when she finally spoke.
“The Bloomshore explosion a few years back. That was my house, as you know. I found out Caleb was back when I infiltrated the Farspace fleet for answers. Only he caught me. And held me hostage for 3 months. Locked me in his apartment, drugged me at one point so I couldn’t leave. Threatened to find a way to track me. And then he admitted he felt for me in ways I can’t feel for him ever. He’s always just been my brother. Having his memory erased for a few weeks was the only way I was able to leave eventually.”
A growl rolled low in my throat at this information. How dare he touch her, hold her hostage. Hold my-
I shook myself as I listened to her continued story.
“I thought we had gotten better but yesterday he started acting like that again and I was....terrified. My worst nightmare was happening again. Today he had no choice but to leave and as he was in the shower I slipped free and just....ran. Halfway here, my ex snuck on me. I was so distraught, and weaponless since Caleb had hidden them, that they got the upper hand for just a few moments. But it was enough, they got a few good hits in before i was able to get one of my own in. Just enough to distract them so I could run. And then it started raining and I- I had two options. Return to Caleb and face the consequences, or come here and hope you were here. So I came here.”
Her words seemed to have drained her, and she fully collapsed against me now, seeming to be absorbing my heat as small shudders left her, breath hitching with each memory that came through.
Silently I moved us, laying down on my side and pulling her against me, before pulling out my phone and sending a message as my innate protective instincts took hold.
“You can stay here tonight. We’ll deal with things tomorrow, but get some rest for now. I’ll be here when you wake up.