Beautiful Disaster - Chapter 5

Rated: T

Alleviation

Chapter Summary: Ash continually tends to his wounds as Johnny struggles to admit to her what happened tonight.


LOL. I had no idea this little plot bunny would get this out of hand but actually, it's going to end up to be longer than previously intended. Hope y'all don't mind. ;-3

Also, thank you so much for the constant support! Hope you enjoy! xoxo


"...it was an old rival gang of my fathers…" the words that filtered from Johnny's mouth were barely audible but it still caused a chill to slip down her spine - one she swore she'd never experienced before.

Ash's hands froze above her work; a mixture of uneasy trepidation and anxiety that had been steadily rising all night was now at an all time high with those nine words. To physically hear there was some type of reasoning didn't make his injuries any less worse or the pain any less severe considering it was his father's old gang doings that caused his son to get hurt tonight. The father Johnny was doing everything in his power to try and get a lighter sentence; one who Johnny would visit as often as possible and spoke so highly of - it was inadvertently because of him that Johnny almost got killed tonight...

The porcupine swallowed down the abrupt burn of anger, complicated frustrations at this entire damn situation before she trusted herself to speak.

"B-But - W-what…" a flustered sigh fell from her lips, "What do they want with you?" her voice was terse, tense as she spoke, "You've never done anything to them, right? So why would they target you?"

Johnny grew silent for a long moment; chestnut-colored eyes not really focused on anything; rather lost in his head and stewing over the words he ought to say next and struggling with muttering out anything.

Ash, sorely tempted to ask again to try and speed up the answer, remained silent; worried that perhaps with goading, he wouldn't answer her prodding questions.

It was a miracle he was opening up at all so she did not intend to screw it up.

Yet, after long drawn out and rather awkwardly silent moments, it was obvious he didn't intend to speak further…at least not yet. With this latest acknowledgment, Ash let out a sigh before reluctantly continued to work on stitching his wound closed if only to keep her hands and mind occupied. Hands that were unsteady and shaking a bit from the stress but she was determined to finish what she started.

The events of this evening began hitting her all at once and Ash could have laughed at the ironic bitterness of it all. How little her problems seemed in comparison to this - holding absolutely no fortitude whatsoever in her minuscule mishaps back at her apartment. Lance may have been loud and annoying as all hell but was not threatening whatsoever. And here was Johnny - dealing with ex-gang rivals who didn't hesitate to try and end his life tonight for what she assumed was no reason other than simple association…

That thought of tonight going differently began holding connotations she was in no mood to confront.

Anger, hurt, and deep-stemming anxiety was steadily building in her gut only intensified when she neared the final few stitches. Gently slipping the needle into his skin a few more times more for good measure before suddenly, Johnny was offering her a small pair of scissors which she took into shaking paws. The last stitch in place a moment later, Ash gingerly cut the final string.

Looking back her handiwork, Ash had to admit that unsteady hands were not the best in this situation; work a bit crooked and bumpy but it would at least keep it closed and clean. It was the only relief Ash felt in this moment - that the wound wasn't terribly deep and hit his rib which most likely saved his life.

The fact he'd been stabbed at all was still terribly upsetting…

"I have some gauze and tape if that'll help keep it covered." Johnny interrupted her thoughts, digging back into the first-aid kit before handing her the roll of gauze and medical tape.

On the tip of her tongue was still coercing him to go to the hospital but his earlier freak-out still reigned fresh in her mind. Ash didn't to want to push the issue because he may push her away after he'd finally began opening up, so instead she just muttered out -

"Yeah...gauze will work."

The gorilla silent as he watched her fingers brush his palm to grab the tape and in that moment, Johnny had to admit his relief with Ash being here and her willingness to help him.

Furry fingers small and dexterous - perfect for the type of work the stitching needed. His giant fingers would have been worthless in this situation; it would have been utter hell had he been forced to bandage himself up. Yet, in some ways, he hated that she was here - finding out about him basically squatting at the theater and that he'd inadvertently been caught up with his dad's past. The worst part was his best friend having to see him looking like he'd been pummeled with a runaway truck. Her beautiful blue eyes widening with concern and fear that shouldn't be there - he didn't want her to worry about him…and now he seemingly didn't have a choice.

It wasn't exactly how he pictured tonight going whatsoever…

Ash said nothing further as she took the gauze; handing the needle and scissors back before she picked up the rag and alcohol pad she'd long ago discarded and gently cleaned around the now stitched wound once more for good measure. Johnny handed her another alcohol pad and she placed the package at her side before softly blowing on the stitched wound to dry it before she could think of applying the gauze. Once significantly dry, Ash began rolling it out to cover the wound but found his torso much to broad for her short arms.

"Uh…little help here?" she asked, handing him the end of the roll and Johnny took the hint.

Gingerly, he sat up. Ash's legs celebrating the release of heavy weight before she set back to work of unfurling the tape. With Johnny's help, Ash began wrapping it around his chest to significantly cover it and once repeated thrice, he held the end as she ripped off a piece of medical tape to hold it all closed.

"That's gonna hurt like a bitch taking it off but I think that'll do." Ash muttered, flitting her fingers over the thick black fur the tape would indeed pull on when he removed it.

"Eh…It's alright." he replied, looking a bit apprehensive as he tried somewhere for his eyes to focus.

Ash ignored how uncomfortable Johnny looked and one more glance to his profile gave her the next task.

"C'mere." Ash said, gently grasped at his arm and Johnny willingly went. The confused tilt of his brow apparent but Ash further ignored it as she guided him to lay back down. This time, Ash slipped her legs more by his shoulders, face near his where she could easily discern the blood still clinging to his fur and flesh marring his bruised face.

Being this close to her, Johnny felt his cheeks burn further. He told himself it was because of he felt positively exposed without a shirt and her close distance to his face but those thoughts faded when her paw had suddenly reached forward and gingerly touched the rag to his injured cheek, brushing back the thick black hair with a gentle stroke of her paw.

Johnny stared at her in astonishment, inwardly questioning if he should pull away…but he didn't.

Silently allowing her to wipe off the blood from his aching face, the rag cooling the swelled flesh and the cold sweat he found himself in. Still filled with the anxiety and panic he'd felt during those moments he was fighting for his life and now trying to relax while in her laid-back presence. Earlier words she spoke to him calming his breathing and shaking hands.

This was Ash…

Ash, his pretty best friend who was helping him; she wasn't those that hurt him tonight - not one who would judge or ridicule him for making stupid decisions. One he could tell anything to and did numerous times before. Without asking, she offered her help, stitched him up and was now running a cool rag across his battered, bloody face. Gentle strokes of the cool cloth and her hands cradling his cheek calmed him immensely. Johnny's breathing evening out and slowing as she continued the ginger brushes of the damp rag. The worries he'd just fought with; growing anxiety and nervousness, earlier panic slipping away with every stroke. The alleviation of her touch was able to calm him enough to think about what to say next.

There was no pressure from her. Just calm reassurance in her presence and touch that had him relaxing into her gentle ministrations. Neck muscles slowly un-clenching to finally fully rest his head back on the couch end nearby; her legs instantly slipping underneath the back of his neck in the process. She didn't seem to mind the weight and silently continued to clean his face of the blood he'd acquired tonight.

In this moment, a calm fell over him and he knew she deserved answers. Accepted that tonight happened - that she knew about it… and she deserved to know the full story. So, any inhibitions and any hesitation he may have still clinging to faded away and he began to speak…

"I-I don't know what they wanted with me...they didn't really say." Johnny muttered and the abrupt sound made Ash flinch slightly.

Mind awash with his words and their context, Ash couldn't help but ask the same question she'd been asking all night it seemed, "…What happened tonight, Johnny? "

Johnny grew silent again, lips slightly pursed even if it appeared to cause him some discomfort before he took a deep breath; chestnut eyes glazing over a bit as he started from the beginning…


I know I'm evil for breaking it up but it just seemed WAY too long to be a single chapter so I broke it up. Don't worry though - the next chapter is already finished. ;-3