Lisa fell back to sleep on the sofa, exhausted from the events of the previous few hours.
Len's eyes drooped as he stepped back into the kitchen, exhausted but ready to get the explanation out of the way so he could rest.
He was met with a gentle hand on his arm guiding him back to the living room with the makings of a bed "Get some rest dear, we can talk about it in the morning" his eyes grew heavier and his breathing evened out as soft blankets were tucked up around him, he missed the soft kiss placed on his forehead-
an unspoken promise to do whatever it took to take care of them.
He was startled awake, forgetting where he was for a moment, residual fear clenched between teeth, growing as he sat up and beginning to take over once more before memories of the night before filled his head as he turned, expecting to see his favourite Snart. Instead, he was met with empty space.
"Lise?" he called out, waiting for a reply as he stood, his everything ached,
he began to step to a better vantage point to see where the younger had disappeared to,
sharp stabbing pains left him doubled over clutching at his torso while trying to force his body to move through the pain.
He gasped, feeling winded, the pain only increasing as his breaths became more shallow, fear creeping up on him, both for the pain he was experiencing and the absence of Lisa.
His pained groans caught the attention, Wood rushed towards him in a panicked daze, arriving in time to see his knees buckle beneath him. Her steps quickened as she drew closer, reaching for him in efforts to help him up
"what happened?" As he was helped back to the settee, gently lowering himself to sit on the edge,
"don't know" the absence of Lisa's presence began to worry him more that the pain "Where's Lisa?" He suddenly asked, hoping that nothing had happened while he was sleeping.
"She's ok, I took her to school, you looked like you needed the rest. What wrong?" She asked again hoping for an answer that she could work with.
"I'm fine just a bit winded I guess" he bluffed as he gave the kind lady a shaky smile.
She met his eyes with her own and called his bluff
"will you let me have a look?"
He knew that he should probably let her, but was ashamed, knowing that she'd see the scars that layered over most of his skin and would know that he wasn't who he had led her to believe he was; he wasn't some innocent kid.
He relented, hoping for all hope that she'd still look after Lise, knowing that she'd probably think it was worse if he didn't show her. With a steadying breath he gave a single nod and gripped the hem of his top, it took it another beat to actually left it over his head and off. He hadn't realised he had closed his eyes until the gasp from the now kneeling lady drew his attention.
"Geez Len what.." her voice trailed off as he looked down, his chest was covered in the usual bruises and silver lines from scars long since healed and the cursory fresh pink ones.
The focus (he assumed) was the mottled mess that coloured his lower ribs to his pelvis. The sight of the recent damage seemingly caused it to ache with a new passion. The pain filled his every thought as his breath came in fast short bursts and his ears rang, he couldn't look away from his purple abdomen, he didn't notice the increasingly worried look from his host.
He missed the frantic calls in a bid to get his attention, as the sound of ringing fell away and his breaths evened out, enough to notice the sounds of worry from the occupant of the room.
"Len?" She tested, wanting to make sure he was responding, she was met with a faltering smirk.
With false confidence "Wood" he replied, hoping she wouldn't notice the way his voice broke and the still too-quick gasps for air or at least wouldn't mention it,
"Len? It going to be OK, just breathe with me" She led by example with exaggerated deep breaths, after a few iterations with the same sentiment he followed suit, his brain working overtime to figure his next plan with the welcome additional supply of oxygen.
"You're going to be OK, Len. There's an ambulance on the way but it's nothing to worry about ok? Just want to be safe" he'd blame the tiredness that still filled him but the false reassurances worked in soothing his mind.
"You keep taking deep breaths ok? I'm going to go get you some water"
her too gentle glare was met with a soft chuckle as she left the room. He continued the slow breaths, trying to ignore the sharp pain that filled his chest with worry with every intake of air.
The sound of footsteps headed his way, he was sure that she was making the noise for his benefit, but he was grateful rather than his patented stifled annoyance. He reached for the water, realising how dry his mouth was only as his throat was quenched with the cool drink.