Athena
I sat on the massive, velvet coated couch in the living room staring at the TV but not watching. It was some stupid reality show I had no interest in but was bored enough to attempt watching. My face twisted in the pain I had been enduring from my wounds. The doctor had assured me it was more psychological than physical and that all I needed to do was get in a better state of mind, but I wasn’t so sure, or better still I didn’t care.
My thoughts were interrupted by Luciano stepping unto the room, dressed in grey sweatpants and a black tank top.
“If it isn’t my little ray of sunshine.” He smiled, walking up to me.
“Oh fuck off Luciano,” I muttered, trying to hide my blush as he bent to plant a kiss on my cheek. He smelled heavenly, his cologne intoxicating me as I fought to keep myself from throwing my aching arms around him.
He chuckled slowly, backing off, “What are your plans today?”
“A tour of the house would be nice you know?”
He shook his head, taking a step back, “Forget it, not now.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a big house, you still haven’t fully recovered yet. Plus you have all the time in the world you want to your when all this is over.”
I stared up at him for a while before rolling my eyes, this guy was stubborn as fuck. “I can’t just lie here all day, Luciano. I need to see what we’re dealing with.”
He frowned, “But your wounds are still fresh, Raven. You should be resting.”
“I can’t rest when there’s work to be done, Luciano. We need to make this place secure, and I can’t do it from the couch.”
It was his turn to roll his eyes, ” That’s not your job Raven, I already hire someone to do all that. Your job is to get enough rest until you are better-”
“Oh please spare me the bullshit Luciano.” I interjected, raising an arm. I hated people patronizing me over things like this. “I am not going to be bed ridden forever,”
“I did not say you were bed ridden!” He growled, his voice indignant, but I didn’t care.
“That’s what you are implying though isn’t it?”
Luciano sighs and reluctantly nodded, “I am sorry okay? I just want to see you back to your old self.”
“Then let me work it out Luciano, I am tired of being a couch potato, let me get active.”
He frowned “Fine, but please be careful. I don’t want to see you hurt any more than you already are.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
I slowly got up, wincing in pain as I put weight on my injured leg.
“Raven!” He called in alarm, rushing to my side and offering me a hand which I immediately slapped away,
“I”ll be careful, okay? Just stop worrying so fucking much.”
He backed away, raising his hands, “Okay, okay I get it.”
I gave him one last warning look before hobbling out of the room, trying not to wince with ever step.
Luciano followed me as I limped through the house, keeping a watchful eye on my every move. I could see him in my periphery, watching me like a mother hen with a hawk on her ass. Somehow, it even annoyed me more.
“Can you stop, that?” I paused, wheeling around to face him.
He looked at me innocently, “Me? Doing what?”
“Watching me like that? It’s seriously annoying, cut it out please.”
He stuck his hands in his pocket, “Fine, fine, I’ll try not to.”
“Thank you.” I replied turning away,
“But you’re moving quite well, considering the state you’re in.”
I smiled wryly, trying to hide how hard I was blushing at his compliment, “I’m tougher than I look, Luciano. Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
We enter the kitchen area, where the windows were massive, optimized to let in as much sunlight as possible apparently. I scanned the room, taking note of our surroundings.
It was all very impressive, that was for sure. Even for a safehouse, it was grander than the cast majority of houses I had visited before.
My eyes went to the windows again. Something about their open, transparent panes made me paranoid.
“We need to board up those windows.” I said, pointing at them, “We too exposed.”
Luciano nodded, “I’ll find someone to fix it all, trust me okay?. Just promise me you won’t overexert yourself.”
I rolled my eyes, when was he going to drop this?
“I am serious Raven.”
“You worry too much. I’m not made of glass, you know?”
He chuckled weakly, apparently still not completely convinced of my invincibility.
“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “You don’t believe me do you?”
He shrugged, “We will see.”
I moved on to the next room, my steps slow but determined. He followed closely behind, like he was afraid I would suddenly fall over as we entered a large, dusty bedroom with a bedframe covered in cobwebs.
My eyes scanned the room carefully, satisfied at what I saw.
“You like it?” He asked, his hands in his pocket, surveying the room with me.
I nodded, “Very much. This could be our temporary base. It’s farthest from the entry points, it’s well within the confines of the house, far from prying eyes.”
He looked at me, smiling, “Well look at you, an expert in siegecraft yeah?”
I shrugged, “I used to play World of Warcraft everyday when I was little, I have an eye for these things.”
Luciano looked at me, impressed, a mix of concern and admiration on his face. “How did you not get bullied in school for being a nerd?”
I smirked, “The ugly boys get bullied, the sexy girls get the attention.”
That seemed to set him off as he threw back his head, laughing hysterically, his deep voice booming over the room .
“I hope you liked that one,” I said smiling. The story wasn’t entirely true, and I didn’t much care for the meaning itself. But it made him laugh, which was in turn a win for me.
“Are you sure you’re up to this, Raven?” He asked when he finally stopped laughing, “We could find another place if you want.”
“No, we stay here.” I said, “I like it, I really do. It’s quiet and calm and most importantly, out of the public eye, I’ll be fine.”
Luciano sighed in defeat, realizing that I wasn’t easily back down, or even at all.
“Just promise me you’ll let me take care of you when you need it.”
I smiled, leaning in touching my forehead with his as I whispered shortly, “I promise, Luciano. We’re in this together, remember?”
We shared a brief moment of understanding where everything seemed right, no accident, no pain, no mafia drama, just the two of us, living in the moment, enjoying it.
Then, my resolute expression resurfaced as I snapped at him,
“Now, quit hovering and help me find some supplies. We’ve got work to do!”
Luciano shakes his head, his face showing he amused by my stubbornness.
He smirked “Alright, boss. Let’s get to work.”
* * *
We just spent a while, cleaning the office until it was noon. Well, he did most of the cleaning at least, I just sat back pointing out some specks he may have missed until we were both tired.
I collapsed on the floor, wincing as I slid down the door post. Luciano rushed to help me but I waved him off, patting the floor next to me for him to sit. “I just wanna talk you know?” I said as he joined me.
“Really? About what?”
“The shit that has been going on.” I looked at him, “Can you be honest with me?”
He hesitated for a moment before answering, “Of course, always.” But I knew he was lying, the little pause told me that immediately.
“Is any of it my fault?”
“Any of what?”
“The rebellion? Luca? The cops? Us having to hide here? Is any of it my fault?”
He knelt in front of me, gently placing his hands on my shoulders, “Listen to me, Raven, and pay some fucking attention. The bad things are not your fault. We’ve just been dealt a tough hand, that’s all.
“But…”
“No buts.” He interrupted “We’ve faced challenges together, and we’ll overcome them together. It’s normal, in the world I work in, in my fucking corner things like this are bound to happen, so don’t fret okay?”
I wanted to believe him, I really did. But something told me he was lying to protect me from guilt and that didn’t make me feel any better.
But there wasn’t much I could do, I had to drop it.
“Okay.”
“Good,” he muttered getting to his feet, “Now enough of this, it’s time for you to rest.”
“One more thing-”
He groaned, palming his face in frustration, “What?”
“Will you at least allow me outside?”
He shook his head, “Hell no.”
Ah, worth a shot.