Hunched over the toilet, spilling your guts for the third time that morning, you groaned as you flushed then fell back against the wall. The cold stone sent a welcomed chill through your body, cooling you off in your flushed state.
"That's it, get it all out." Jeremiah said, rubbing your shoulder as he let go of your hair. You leaned over the toilet once more, spitting out what was left in your mouth, the vile taste lingering and burning your throat.
"I've been sick for over a week now. I don't get it." you mumbled, leaning against him for comfort. "You need to go to see a doctor." Jeremiah mumbled hesitantly. You closed your eyes, sighing as you knew what that meant.
"You won't let me. Besides, it's not safe out there with Jerome on the loose." you replied, feeling the nausea slowly subside. "Besides, I'm fine. Probably just food poisoning." you said as you got up. Jeremiah helped you up, allowing you to lean on him for support. You stumbled for a moment, before regaining your balance.
"Thanks..." you said, making your way to the bedroom to lay down. "I'll send Ecco to get some medications." Jeremiah told you as he pulled out his phone and started dialling.
You simply nodded, too tired to fully process what was happening. You felt the bed sink as Jeremiah sat on the edge, glancing over for a moment to catch his gaze as he spoke into the phone.
He rubbed your shoulder, giving a concerned look as he hung up the phone. "Ecco will be over shortly, until then get some rest my dear." Jeremiah spoke, getting up and walking to his study, quietly closing the bedroom door behind him.
Rolling over, you clutched your stomach in pain. You could feel a headache creeping up, urging you to close your eyes. A welcomed darkness engulfed your vision, providing a cooling relief to the pain as you began to drift off into a blissful slumber.
Jeremiah's POV
Hunched over my desk, plans sprawled from one end of the table to the other, my eyes scanned the papers for inconsistencies.
Yet no matter how hard I tried to distract myself, my attention kept diverting back to Y/N. I cringed remembering how I snapped at her, regretting hurting her like that. The look of fear in her eyes in that moment, I'll never forget.
She was afraid of me.
Me.
In all our years together, I'd never hurt her like that once. Jerome was clearly getting to me, making me act irrationally. Someone had to stop him, permanently.
My ringtone broke the silence, bringing my attention back to the task at hand. Flipping open the lid, I answered.
"I've acquired the medications." Ecco spoke from the other end. "What about the other objective?" I asked. "I'm picking it up now, I'll arrive at the bunker shortly." she replied, ending the call. Leaning back against my desk, I breathed a sigh of relief. For now, everything was going smoothly. Well, aside from Y/N.
Pouring another glass of whiskey, my thoughts drifted back to her. She was constantly on my mind, plaguing my thoughts with her intoxicating presence. Being around her was like a high, my own personal shot of heroin. Something about her made me feel different.
Alive.
She was my only friend, sticking by my side through everything. She kept me grounded through the chaos, anchoring me in my time of need and calming my nerves. I'd always had a soft spot for her, allowing her to slowly pull my walls down, brick by brick until I was left vulnerable and exposed to her, and her alone.
She sees a side of me I keep hidden from the world, a side I've pushed behind my exterior mask, behind layers and layers of a front I can barely keep up on my own. I can feel myself slowly crumbling, my mask cracking as the days go by.
If it weren't for Jerome, I'd be fine. None of this would be an issue. For years, I've hidden away from the world behind the alias of Xander Wilde. All in an attempt to avoid Jerome and his lunacy. He'd always been a bit unhinged, mutilating animals behind dumpsters and muttering madness under his breath. He just needed a little... push.
I did what I had to, anyway. To get people to see his lunacy, though by then it was a little too late. My poor mother... A bitch, no doubt. But I so dearly loved her. That lunatic killed her, and I despised him for it. Sure, she'd always shown a preference for me over him, but that was his own doing. If he wasn't the way he was, she might have loved him too.
"Miah?" A soft voice snapped me from my thoughts, bringing my attention to the doorway. "Why aren't you asleep?" I asked her, walking over to her and holding her shoulders. "I- I had a bad dream." Y/N confessed, resting her head against my chest. I sighed, resting my chin on the top of her head. I glanced at the clock, realising two hours had gone by.
"I'm in the middle of some important work, love." I mumbled, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Please, come to bed." Y/N pleaded, her voice heavy with sleep. Sighing, I gave in and lead her back to the living quarters.
"What did I say about going through the maze without me?" I grunted as we made our way back. She mumbled something, however her voice was too groggy for me to understand her. Opening the door for her, I couldn't help but smile at her dragging me back to the bed, not even giving me a chance to undress before pulling me under the covers.
"Stay." she grumbled, burying her face in my chest. I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist as I took off my glasses. "Just get some sleep." I whispered gently in her ear, placing a kiss to her forehead as I laid down.
I couldn't help but watch her as she slept. She just seemed so... peaceful. It was one of the few pleasures I had, watching over her sleeping body whenever I got the chance. It just reminded me that she was alive. Watching as her chest rises and falls with each breath, how her soft skin brushes against my own in the cold of night, and waking up to her with gentle kisses every morning. She was my angel.
My everything.