Emma took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face.
"Hello, my lovelies!"
Her hair seemed a little limper, her smile a little more forced, her essence a little faded.
"On the Alex front-"
"Hello, Emma."
"Alex!" Her brown eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to be back for another week.
He raised his eyebrows and grinned, white teeth shining.
"Why the surprise? Now, shove over. There's no space on this tiny bench of yours."
She blinked twice then smiled slowly and warily, like an unprotected warrior donning his armor. When she spoke, her words were the same: bratty, teasing.
"What are you wearing? That t-shirt of yours is so old it can probably pass for vintage."
He bumped his shoulder against hers playfully. "Lay off. It's so hot! You're no better, with your office inappropriate shorts…"
His voice trailed off. Emma crinkled her brows, unsure of what had him staring so intently at her legs and glanced down.
"Emma", he choked, "what are those?"
Oh fuck. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
Alex looked up slowly to meet her eyes.
She swallowed. "It's nothing. Really. I just tripped."
He was beginning to get angry; she could see it in the tensing of his jaw so his scar stood out prominently, in the almost imperceptible hunch of his shoulders.
"Really?" he promptly replied, his teeth gritted. "And how many times did you trip, Emma?"
She let out a nervous laugh. "You know me, Alex. I'm just naturally…"
He flipped over the hem of her shorts upwards twice.
And there they were, a multitude of scars and bruises, some still so fresh they hadn't had time to become scars, still scarlet, most old. The bruises created a rainbow of colors- red, blue, green, purple, yellow and brown were spread across the tender, pale skin. Alex could catch evidence of some burns higher up.
He let out a sharp hiss.
"…clumsy", she finished.
He was veritably shaking. "Clumsy? How clumsy? So clumsy you accidentally put a lighter against your skin? So clumsy you accidentally dragged a knife against your thighs? You've grown real clumsy in the past few what? Weeks, months, YEARS?" he continued, his voice becoming louder with each sentence, ignoring her stricken face.
She reached out towards him. "Alex…"
"Oh my god, Emma. Oh. My. God."
He ran his hands through his hair, still shaking like a leaf in the autumn wind.
"How long have you been-why-how?"
His eyes looked almost demented, like those of a man whose life had shattered about his ears.
Emma looked almost desperate, still clinging to her bright tone. "It's not a big deal, Alex. Just go and deal with the boring stuff. I'll handle the camera worthy doings!" She surreptitiously tried to smooth her shorts down.
He looked at first her and then the camera in disbelief.
"The-the camera's on?"
She nodded and his countenance suddenly changed to blinding white fury. "Alright, we're going."
He held out his hand for her to take, with an impatiently expectant look on his face.
"Wha-? Where? Alex, let's sit down and discuss this like reasonable adults," she pleaded. "I tripped, that's all. I…don't know what you're thinking, but I fell. Really."
"That's it." He grabbed her upper arm and hauled her up.
"We're going to the hospital."
He bent over and switched the camera off.
(AN: This takes place in one of the later episodes. I'm not quite sure when. When Alex leaves after the Miss Bates debacle and comes back?)
This isn't very good. I rarely write fanfiction and would be happy for any criticisms or tips on how to improve.)