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Chapter 23 by micdan282 micdan282

What's next?

Confronted

It was late when Rikki finally got home. Her body although healing quickly still ached. Her ribs throbbed with every breath.

I need a drink.

But her peace was disrupted by a knock on the door. She quickly stashed the crate Thomas had given her before heading for the door. She opened it to reveal Finn, dark circles under his eyes, his face a mix of relief and frustration.

“Rikki.” His voice was tight. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Out,” Rikki replied turning away from him and walking into the living room.

“That’s it? Out? I haven’t heard from you in days. You ignore my calls. To see you I have to just show up at your place and you look like you've been hit by a train.”

“I don’t owe you a schedule, Finn.”

He scoffed. “That’s what we’re doing now? Playing the cold, mysterious, loner card?”

She turned, her voice sharp. “I told you, I’ve been dealing with stuff. Work’s been hell. I’m tired. Can we not do this right now?”

Finn stepped closer, trying to keep his voice calm, but his words came out edged. “Rikki, I’ve seen people with bruises before. They don’t get them from being a parole officer. You look like you’ve come from a fight. What are you mixed up in?”

“I’m not mixed up in anything,” she snapped, turning away from him, her shoulders tightening.

“Then talk to me!” he shot back. “Because you’re shutting me out! You disappear for nights at a time and when I do finally see you, you seem miles away. And what, you want me to pretend like everything’s normal?”

Rikki’s fists clenched at her sides. She didn’t want this, not now. Not when she was still hearing the impact of her body being hit. Still feeling the wind as she plummeted. Still seeing Rogue Knight’s armor behind her eyes every time she blinked.

“I never asked you to pretend,” she said quietly, almost bitterly. “I never asked for anything.”

Finn stared at her, eyes narrowing slightly. “So that’s what this is? You push me away until I stop asking questions? Until I give up? Because that’s what it feels like.”

“You don’t get it,” she said, her voice rising now. “My life isn’t some perfect fairy tale. It’s complicated and messy but it’s my life and I decide when I get to talk about it!”

“Rikki, I'm only acting this way because I care about you. I want to know what’s going on with you. Why you come home looking like you’ve been at war. Why it’s so hard to spend time with you.”

She turned to face him fully now, her jaw tight, her expression fierce but it was her eyes that gave her away. Tired. Torn. Haunted.

“Because I don’t want you involved in every aspect of my life. I don’t want you asking questions.” Her voice cracked, just barely. “So just... stop.”

Finn stared at her, stunned into silence by the sudden vulnerability.

“Please,” she said, her voice now lower, shaking with restraint. “Just leave it alone, leave me alone.”

The silence stretched between them like a chasm. Finally, Finn stepped back, his face unreadable, hurt, confused.

“If you won’t trust me with the truth, then what are we even doing?”

Rikki didn’t answer. She didn’t have one. With a heavy breath Finn headed toward the door, stopping only momentarily like he wanted to say something but didn’t. The door closed behind him with a quiet click. Rikki was alone again, with her bruises, her pain and her secrets.

What's next?

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