Sorry for the delay! Thanks for all the great feedback, and I really do love hearing from all of you.
And kansaem, Oh my god that would be so amazing! will probably cry tears of joy and I will be wonderful. :) I'll definitely reblog it if you put it on tumblr. I will majorly geek out if I see any Breegma /Bredward/BreEd fanart, for the record.
Yeah if anyone ever feels like making random fanart for this, you will win me over forever. 3
The smell of gunpowder and anesthetic drifted into her nostrils before anything else. She vaguely heard the distant sound of chatter. She felt a dull throbbing at her side. Her brows furrowed as she rolled her head to the other side, eyes fluttering open hazily. She let of a soft groan as she attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her abdomen causing her to inhale sharply.
A hand rested on Bree's shoulder, pushing her back down onto the cot she appeared to be laid out on. She looked up at the figure of the hand to see a concerned-eyed paramedic leaning over her. She blinked in confusion, trying to sit up again and look around.
"Oh, no. You need to stay down," the paramedic insisted, keeping a firm hand on her shoulder and releasing her to grab a small paper cup and a handful of pills.
Hesitantly, she took the cup and pills from him.
"What happened…?" she asked softly, her voice hoarse.
"You were stabbed…from what I can tell you're going to be okay, but you need to stay laying down for now. I bandaged you up, but it's going to need quite a few stitches."
She swallowed hard as she remembered the last few moments before she blacked out.
That tearing. So sharp.
"We're waiting for another round of ambulances to come back from Gotham General from the first round…"
"…..first?"
"There were a lot of injuries…..and I'm sorry….I heard what happened to your captain."
"Wa-what?" she said, her voice sounding weak even to her own ears. He paused, eyeing her carefully as he realized it was news to her.
"From what I understand….there were several officers killed, and the Captain was shot by the crazed ring leader of the group…." He said with a slight scowl pulling at his lips.
Bree's lips pressed together into a tight line.
A shout was heard from a corner of the room, and medical personnel rushed over. The medic looked up and glanced back to her.
"Stay still, I'll be right back—!"
She nodded glumly although he had already left. She stared at the ceiling, feeling numb despite the dull ache in her abdomen.
Essen is dead.
Tears shot to her eyes and she couldn't stop the hot streams rolling down her cheeks. She thought of the Captain's face, world-weary, but kind. Bree had to admit, she had looked up to Essen. And now…..she was just gone.
Bree's hand came up to her mouth as she stifled a sob. Her eyes closed as it sent another spike of pain jolting through her body, but she didn't care.
She suddenly felt a hand on her arm, grasping for her desperately. Her eyes shot open, her vision still blurry, but she could make out Ed's familiar face leaning over her. His brows were furrowed, mouth slightly agape.
"Bree…" he breathed, gulping as his eyes drifted over her, "Bree…..oh god…I should have been there," he muttered. She blinked away her tears as she offered a weak smile.
"I'm not entirely sure what happened myself…." She said with a wince as she tried to move.
"But you should see the other guy," she jested, forcing herself to laugh despite herself.
But her laugh turned halfway into a sob as she met his eyes. It was a broken, heartbreaking sound. She bit her lip, fighting back waves of emotion. His gaze moved across her face, lips pressing together into a flat line. She distantly registered that he was grasping her hand painfully tight.
It was then she realize he was not wearing a coat or jacket of any kind. In fact, he was standing in his undershirt, arms bare, holding his button-up in his other hand. How did she not notice until now? Her eyes rested on the bandage wrapped around his upper arm. She wet her painfully dry lips, and his eyes darting down to them for a split moment did not escape her attention.
"You're hurt…." She said brows furrowing. His eyes dropped to his own arm before quickly darting back to her.
"It's nothing, I-I just got graze," he said dismissively, his gaze dropping as he suddenly seemed like he was excluding something.
"Where's the sonofabitch? I'd like to give him a peace of my mind…"
This actually made Edward genuinely laugh, a smile stretching across his lips; a seemingly odd sight in such a grim environment. She smiled.
It was nice to see him smile like that again.
But suddenly she noticed a figure approaching from behind Ed.
"Mr. Nygma…..oh—"
Kristen Kringle peered around Ed's shoulder at Bree, laying on the cot. Her brows furrowed in concern and her hands wrung together in front of her.
"Oh, God. Miss Taylor are you alright?"
"Never been better…." She muttered glumly, a drowsy smile on her lips as she felt the pain meds begin to take their toll, "you know, aside from that part where I got stabbed."
"Oh…..oh dear….I'm glad you're okay. I certainly would not have been if it wasn't for Mr. Nygma here. The bullet that hit his arm likely would have hit me if he didn't knock me out of the way."
Bree tried to smile softly, but a frown tugged at her lips, making it more of a grimace.
"He didn't mention that…..but I'm glad you're okay," she said with a nod, meeting Kristen's concerned gaze. Bree looked back to Ed, who at first seemed mildly flustered at his omission of saving Kristen to Bree, but eyes seemed to be transfixed on her once more.
"Y-you're bleeding…." He said, his expression growing stern as his eyes flickered down to her abdomen. Spots of blood began to seep through the stark white of her bandages.
She groaned as she accidently moved and sent another shock of pain through her.
Edward's hand remained on her arm as he quickly looked around the room.
"She needs medical attention—medic!" he said, calling over his shoulder.
Bree blinked and closed her eyes, trying to drown out all the noise. The sound of her own breathing filled her ears, and she focused on Ed's hand on her arm.
Just breathe.
She hardly payed attention as she distantly realized there were two more people beside her, lifting her onto a gurney.
Just breathe.
/
A week had passed since the latest incident at GCPD. Nothing seemed to feel the same, but life kept rolling onward.
Bree's expression remained blank as her fingers lightly traced the jagged edges of the healing skin across her abdomen. They ghosted over the edges of the stitches that soon would be taken out. Her eyes remained glued to the mirror as she allowed herself to take in the damage done to her.
She knew she had gotten lucky….but she also knew the gash would leave a rather wicked scar across her still bruised skin. Her throat tightened. She forced herself to take a deep breath. She reached for the fresh bandages set on the bed beside her and winced as she carefully wrapped them around her middle. After they were secured, she turned and grabbed the neatly pressed dress hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
Meticulously, she slipped the dress on, shrugging her shoulders to zip the dress up on her own. When she finished, she stared at herself once more in the mirror. Her hands smoothed the dress down and she couldn't help but to let out a small laugh.
With her makeup done, hair neatly styled, and dress professional and ready to go, she almost felt like everything was back to normal.
Almost.
She was graduating. Years of hard work and student debt finally meant to be paid off.
She smiled to herself in the mirror; forced, but doable.
It's showtime.
/
The graduation ceremony itself went quickly and the day passed in a blur. It was filled with typical cut-and-paste type words of congratulations, handshakes, and overused, half-hearted quotes of inspiration.
Bree simply plastered a smile on her face and was quick to cover her obligatory social duties. The after party was something of a sigh of relief as she finally had the chance to interact with people she really wanted to see.
"God, you're so old!" Jessica half-squealed as she threw her arms around Bree. She laughed, a genuine smile tugging at her lips as she rested her head against Jessica's.
"Careful," she breathed, half-jokingly.
"Oh, I forgot!" Jessica said, eyes wide as she quickly released her. Bree shook her head, pulling her back in for a hug.
"Love is pain, my friend," Bree remarked wryly as Jessica laughed into her shoulder. Jessica pulled back once more.
"But really, though…are you feeling alright? I know this must be extra-exhausting…"
Bree nodded with a half-sigh.
"Yeah, it is what it is…..but come on, let's grab a drink," she offered with a wry smile.
As the two turned in the direction of the open bar, Bree's gaze met with a familiar face. Harvey began to walk towards them and his eyes lit up as a smile stretched across his lips.
"Where do I get one?" Jessica muttered teasingly and Bree quickly elbowed her side, eliciting another laugh from her.
Bree smiled, falling into a hug as Harvey approached and stretched his arms towards her.
"Hey, Harv. Thanks for coming."
"Oh, I wouldn't miss it," he said, giving a quick peck on her lips as she pulled away. Although it wasn't the first time he had done that, Bree couldn't help but to blush slightly as she felt Jessica's eyes on her. She could sense the teasing comments that would inevitably come.
As he leaned back, resting his hand on the curve of her lower back, his eyes met with Jessica.
"And I don't believe that we've become acquainted," he said with a smile, offering his free hand to Jessica.
She took it with a polite smile, her eyes flickering to Bree's for a brief moment.
"Harvey, this is one of my best friends, Jessica Gold."
"It's a pleasure," he said, releasing her hand, "I'm surprised I actually haven't met you before, I hear great things about you. You're the art student, right?"
She nodded, brushing aside her jagged dark hair.
"Yeah, I'm still working on my undergrad at GCU."
"So, you're a few years younger? If you don't mind me asking, how did you become friends?"
"It's a bit of a story but in we met way back in high school."
"She was my precious little mini-me…..except not at all," Bree cut in with a laugh, "We're pretty different, but we just like to say I adopted her."
"Well, I'm sure anyone she speaks that highly of is marvelous person," Harvey said with a laugh. Bree smiled, but her eyes drifted over Harvey's shoulder and met the gaze of another familiar face.
"Ah, Harvey, why don't you talk to Jessica for a moment while I say 'hi' to someone really quick," Bree said quickly, moving away from them and briskly walking toward Edward, who had just entered the room. She certainly caught the frown Harvey shot her as he turned to look at the new visitor, but she chose to ignore it.
She smiled as she moved closer, noticing he was clutching a small box.
"Hey, Ed!" she said, pulling is tall, lanky form into a hug. He seemed slightly stiffer than usual, but he still wrapped his arms around her.
"Thank you for coming….really. It means a lot," she admitted as she pulled back. He smiled, but it seemed hindered by something. His posture remained oddly stiff. She offered an incredulous look.
"Are you okay?" she said with an almost-laugh. He adjusted his glasses and offered another forced smile.
"Yes, of course. Sorry, I just really can't stay very long."
Bree's smile faltered slightly.
"Really? That's alright….but why?"
"I…..uh…..well you see….I may have gone on a date with Miss Kringle…."
"Oh? Well that's ah…..great. I'm happy for you," she nodded, her voice slightly strained. His lips pressed together into a flat line.
"Yes, thank you….but I may also...um….have another one tonight. Very shortly."
"Oh….okay."
"—I'm going to have to leave shortly, but first I wanted to give you this."
Edward handed her the small box.
"Feel free to open it later…..but….. We hurt without moving, we poison without touching. We bare the truth and the lies, but we are not judged by our size."
Edward's dark eyes met hers.
"What are we?"
She stared at him a moment, her expression blank as she blinked.
"Words…." She said softly.
"Correct."
He offered a small smile before he turned and took his leave.
Bree frowned, the box in her hand, limply by her side. She tried to suppress the disappointment she really felt as she turned to the open bar with a frown. She grabbed a glass of wine and took a large gulp. She couldn't tell if the bitterness in her mouth was from the wine or from their encounter. Or maybe it was all the same.
/
A light buzz warmed her system as Harvey opened to door to her apartment. With a satisfied groan, she kicked her heels aside, allowing her now sore feet to rest.
"There is a special place in hell for the person who invented heels," she remarked dryly, already reaching for the unopened bottle of wine on her counter. Her cheeks were warm and tied from smiling for hours on end.
Harvey's hands rested on her hips as he came up behind her and lightly placed kisses down her neck, smiling against her skin.
"I have to ask…..I found it interesting that you invited that Nygma fellow…."
Bree spun around, frowning as she met his gaze.
"Because he's my friend…..and we've been over this….you have nothing to worry about."
His grip on her hips tightened over so slightly, tugging her closer.
"Really? Because I'm not so sure…." He said softly, his gaze burning darker than before. She shook her head, avoiding his gaze.
"Really. He's not interested…." She turned back to the wine bottle and uncorked it, "and besides, he's dating that Kristen girl now," she added.
"Oh? Now that's interesting," his tone lightened, genuine curiosity creeping in.
"Very…" she said dryly, pouring them both a glass. She turned back towards him and offered him the glass. His expression had regained that sort of boyish charm he showed in public. The clinging of their glasses rung out in the quiet apartment.
"Perhaps we should have a double date together then?"
Bree nearly snorted out her wine.
"You're kidding…."
"Why not? It could be fun…..it's not a problem is it?"
"No….of course not," she shook her head, quickly dismissing the notion and taking another sip from her glass as she moved out of the kitchen area and into her main living area.
He followed her, setting his glass down as he moved behind her. She sighed as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck.
"May I?" he asked quietly as he toyed with the zipper of her dress. She nodded.
"Just…..be careful….I'm still healing."
He nodded, gently unzipping it, placing a delicate kiss on her shoulder. The dress dropped to the ground and she stepped out. He sat on the edge of the bed and delicately traced the edges of her bandages. His face rested close to her abdomen.
"It's going to leave a pretty decent sized scar…." She said quietly, breaking the silence, her hands running through his short, dark hair. He looked up at her with a reassuring smile.
"It doesn't matter…. battle wounds suit a girl like you…"
She laughed.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He tugged her forward by the hips to straddle his lap.
"You're a tough woman, Bree Taylor…" he whispered into her lips.
She smiled, her palms resting on either sides of his face and their lips met in a disarming kiss as
Edward's box sat on the counter, unopened.
Bree needed a little fluff, she's having a hard time, but Bree/Ed fans, don't be discouraged, there is a LOT coming your way. ;)