Disclaimer: I don't own these books.

A/N: I know I'm a horrible author, I keep trolling you and leaving you hanging for weeks on end (much like Rick, if I do say so myself). But anyways, here's chapter 11! I apologize for the length, I had a block. But enjoy!

Luke woke up the next day, in his own bed in his own black room and was quite content about it. The hospital had released him the previous night, despite all the cuts and bruises that dotted his body.

He stretched his legs out, and his toes peeked out from under his blanket. Curling back up, he flipped over and faced the wall, figuring he had a little time to sleep in until Thalia came. A sigh escaped his mouth as he burrowed into his pillow. He brushed a chunk of blue-tipped hair out of his eyes as he stared blankly at a band poster of Mayday Parade. Then it hit him like a blow to the head.

With a groan he sat upright, rubbing his eyes as he stood up. He struggled to pull off the shirt he had worn over his bandages and strip his bed of the sheets and covers, considering he had a scabbing gash down his left forearm. Glancing at the heap they had fallen in on the floor, he longed to hide in them and sleep again like he had as a child. He shook his head and frowned as he slid them into the corner.

"Gotta be able to protect her."

He stretched his inked arms over his chest, jerking them around to loosen the muscles and immediately gave a strangled cry of pain. He let a string of profanities fly through a slightly swollen lip as he held an arm around his injured torso. Working through the pain was crucial for him, though, and he heaved his mattress off his bed and leaned it against the wall.

"This one's for you, dad." he muttered bitterly as he threw a punch at the mattress and winced.

Kick. Punch. Punch. Kick Punch. He threw blow after blow at the mattress, training himself to become a better fighter. He fought roughly, using his anger at Ethan and his dad and everyone who had ever hurt him as his drive. Protecting his loved ones was more important than resting after his encounter with the neighborhood bullies, wasn't it? He was determined to be stronger and more skilled than them. He had to be able to defend himself and protect his beloved girlfriend. Muscles aching and scabs tearing open a little, he chewed on his snakebites as he continued to fight the mattress. At this point his knuckles were raw and starting to bleed, giving him a satisfying shock of pain every time a punch landed on the fabric. The springs squeaked and groaned louder with every kick. He didn't even hear the apartment door open or the footsteps rush to his room, the person belonging to them gasping in surprise.

"What the hell?!" Thalia exclaimed as her black-lined eyes widened. Luke didn't look up and kept attacking his bed, his bandages becoming red in places and his black-and-white plaid pajama pants dragging lower.

She walked around him and wrapped her thin arms around his chest, hugging him gently but tightly. His tense muscles relaxed instantly and he tilted his head to look at her.

"Hey, Thals." he mumbled, closing his eyes and leaning back into her. She held him tightly and kissed his bare shoulder.

"Hey." she murmured, tapping the back of his heel with her foot and glancing at him. He understood and took a step, and she led him out of his room and into the bathroom. He sat down on the cold tile floor and watched as she bustled around, scavenging around in the cabinets.

Setting the array of medical supplies on the floor, she sat on his legs carefully and kissed his face. Her thin, nimble fingers set themselves to work unwrapping the bandages that adorned his upper body, her electric blue eyes never once leaving his piercing grayish-blue ones.

She looked down then, examining the reopened cuts with a reproving tisk. Gripping her hand as she cleaned them with hydrogen peroxide, he winced softly but didn't make a sound. New bandages promptly replaced the old ones, which she tossed into the trash can. He let her tinier fingers rest under his long ones, scrutinizing his knuckles and bandaging them too.

It wasn't her determination that scared him the most, it was her complete and utter silence.

She put away the supplies and he stood up. Taking her small hand in his large one, he could feel how cold her fingers were. With a look she half-dragged him back into his room where she knocked the mattress down flat on the floor. Knowing she wouldn't be able to move it back onto his bed, she draped a sheet over it and helped him lay back down with his blankets wrapped around him.

"I'll be right back."

She strode into the kitchen and set a pot in the sink, filling it with water. Turning the stove on, she set the pot to boil while she found instant noodles in the cupboard. Meanwhile, Luke sat in his room, his feet lifted in the air as he inspected them. He tried amusing himself by wiggling and flapping them around like a small child.

Thalia reappeared a few minutes later and burst into hysterical laughter at the sight of him. She set the two cups of instant soup down and promptly collapsed next to him, still laughing.

After a few minutes she calmed down and sighed, sitting up and climbing into his lap. He smiled and kissed her cheek gently.

She handed him a cup of the ramen, which he took gratefully. Swirling a knot of the noodles onto his spoon, he ate them cautiously. Thalia copied his actions with her own soup and snuggled into his chest, sighing in contentment.

"Two of my favorite things. Ramen noodles and you."

He mock-pouted. "So you love ramen more than meeee!?" He whined, drawing out the last word for extra drama.

Thalia merely giggled and kissed his face, eating some more. He watched her proudly, kissing her head. "It's nice to see you eating." He said.

She blushed softly but a smile played at her lips. "I know this little blonde alien who always tells me how much he loves me and that I'm perfect to him. He helped me to start eating again." She mumbled, looking up at Luke. He grinned proudly and kept eating, then paused for a second and kissed her nose.

"I better be that blonde alien."