Mild Discomfort (Chase and Dru)

[Chase Firebrand]

"Family," Chase said. "My sister, and they just swept it under the rug like it didn't happen. Doesn't look good on the family when something like that happens right under your nose." Chase's eyes were dark, devoid of everything but simmering anger.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru's eyebrows creased, "That's horrible," she said softly. She reached up absentmindedly brushed her hand through his hair a couple of times. She tried to think of something to say, but wasn't able, no words would come. It was a horrible way to lose someone, especially someone like a sister.

[Chase Firebrand]

"If someone had just done something, instead of looking the other way because they didn't like what they saw..." Chase swore violently under his breath. "It's not going to happen again, I don't care who says it's not my problem, and I don't care if Michael's supposed to take care of it. He's not taking care of it if the bastard can still walk." So he'd take care of it himself.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru understood, it wasn't just because of what Emilian had done, it was, almost, a form of duty that Chase felt he was responsible for. "I understand," she said, she would still worry, she would always worry, but now that she knew what he had been through, it was easier to accept.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase looked away from Dru, shaking his head. How could she understand? Hell, he didn't even understand. "Just stay away from him," he repeated. Chase's gaze was dark and faraway as he worked to push everything back into the shadows of his mind. There wasn't anything he could do about the past. There was nothing but now, nothing but the present, he lived on that motto.

[Druscilla Grace]

"I will, I promise," Dru said, looking up at him. Her mind was full, did he think that the same thing would happen to her? She didn't want to think of the possibility, "Are you ok?" she asked, meaning both physically and mentally, whichever one he decided to answer.

[Chase Firebrand]

"Yeah, I'm fine." There was no casual shrug, no light toss of his head to punctuate his reflexive response. Chase dragged himself out of the past, back into the hospital. "I won't go after him today." It was the most he'd promise. He'd wait until he was healed up.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru didn't fully believe his assurance that he was fine, but let it go. When he said he would stay away for at least one day, she smiled, almost hugging him tightly, but stopping herself and letting her hand run down his neck instead, "Thank you."

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase closed his eyes, letting himself enjoy Dru's touch, since it was all he could hope for. "Thank you," he murmured, echoing Dru's words for an entirely different reason. He felt like he'd had a boil lanced, and all the residual pain was nothing compared to the relief. It was what he'd come to the hospital to find, even if he hadn't actually expected to find it.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru watched him silently for a few moments, hoping that everything would turn out alright. "Are you going to stay in here or go up to your dorm?" she asked, willing to let him leave since he had stayed long enough for the potion to take effect and he had made the promise.

[Chase Firebrand]

"I'll probably go back to the Common Room." If he was going to keep out of trouble, it would probably be better not to wander the corridors. "You'll tell me if anything happens," Chase said, though the words were almost a question.

[Druscilla Grace]

"Of course I will," Dru answered. She wouldn't keep anything from him, especially something that had to deal with Emilian. She finally pulled out of his arms, trailing her hands down to his and holding them for a few moments. "Thank you for staying."

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase made his good-byes and headed back to the common room.