Smoke That Heals
Isabel had… gone into a coma.
The call had come in while he was throwing punches at the heavy bag. He’d been left grasping for words, unable to ask why the hell they had told him the girl had been doing well, making progress they’d said, officially out of the danger zone.
A life wasted. If he had to trust the doctors words this time around, for the chances of her waking up again were… extremely slim, she might as well be dead already.
He was no stranger to death. He’d been the one who had made many people face the other side.
And truly, humans, they died all the time.
In his youth, Kate her biological parents and sister, it was a necessary evil of life.
But when it came to the girls who should have been under his protection…
his gut clenched together into a tight ball.
“What’s that?”
He turned to Kate, choking back a laugh at the panic lighting up her face. The ache in his throat deepened his voice.
“This, my dear.” The lighter clicked to life, the small flame dancing in front of his face as he lit the joint, careful not to inhale the smoke himself. “Is weed.”
“Weed.” She squealed, shifting in her seat on his couch. Pressed comfortably between Ghost and a large pillow, she still looked all but ready to run upstairs like a spooked hare.
Lucien followed her widening stare as her eyes trailed along the curling smoke already blurring the room.
“You smoke… weed?”
“Rarely.” He admitted, watching the orange blaze in the homemade joint flare to life. “But it has some good uses, more than creating a good old chill in the mind. In fact, it has many medical uses.”
And she could use that. Judging from the way she pressed her fingers into her temple to lessen the obvious ache, paired with the audible creak her hip had made when she dropped herself into the couch.
And it was evident that she was suffering from her disease.
The one he… wasn’t supposed to know about.
He raised his eyebrows in question. “Never smoked some?”
Kate peered at the burning joint with suspicion, her nose crinkling from the smell. “Euhm, no. It wasn’t exactly welcomed.” She leaned back against the pillows, creating a bit of distance from the smoke. “It was rather frowned upon.”
Lucien snorted loudly. “Ridiculous, beating up kids is fine, but oh…” He waved around in mock horror. “Beware of the rolled up plant.” Rolling his eyes, he inched closer. Holding it up for the skeptical woman in front of him. “Wanna try?”
He saw her bite the inside of her lip. The supposed common sense of her abusive foster family warring with the urge to just give it a go.
“Wanna feel light for once?” He winked at her teasingly. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you from doing anything stupid… probably.”
She sighed. “Comforting words as always.” Rolling her shoulders back and forth, she asked. “You’re not letting this go, huh?”
“If you don’t want to try it, that’s your choice, sweetheart. No pressure.”
None but the pressure building in her body, her mind. It grew a little day by day. He bet she didn’t even consciously notice it anymore. The stress resting on those strong shoulders which was poisoning her fighting body.
How was he supposed to break the news of Isabel? After seeing how the shock had held her in its grip after the fight. It had to wait, however long was necessary.
“That’s not what I meant, I mean this.” Kate gestured between the two of them. “Standing up for me in front of that man. Noticing how the cameras were disturbing me.” She tugged on her lip, cheeks reddening. “Now this… wanting me to feel lighter?”
He bent forward, tapping her lightly on her socked foot. “Now we’ve established I’m quite the catch—,”
A light hearted laugh escaped her while she shook her head. “Gods, you’re so full of yourself. And,” she shook her finger accusingly. “Twisting around to evade my questions. Again. It’s an expert skill of yours.”
He smirked painfully. “Right?” And took in the way her blue eyes sparkled, how her hair, with a tangle still trapped in its strands, caught the light. So similar to Isabel that his gut clenched even tighter.
It could have been her, would have been her. If the situation had gone down differently, if he’d given her the spiked water bottle.
I could use a puff myself. If only to quiet the voices for a little bit.
But not tonight. Tonight was for her.
He would take a chance, and maybe… she would too. He lit the joint again, just a mini puff to get it flaring to life. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. “Trust me?”
She has literally no reason to do so.
Kate pulled in a deep breath, slouching deeper between the cream pillows. “Let me think about that one.”
Precious seconds ticked by, increasing the tightness in his gut, like a fist closing around it. She shifted, resting her chin on a delicate hand. “I do trust you.” She shot him a side-eye. “To a degree.”
Figures. “I appreciate your honesty.” He grinned like a wolf. “I can work with that.”
Taking a deep puff of the joint, he leaned closer to blow the smoke toward her. She waved a hand around, parting the grey tendrils. “What was that for?”
“To see if that trust of yours is working.”
She sighed. “Here goes to taking chances.” Her fingers skimmed over his palm as she took the offered butt.
Lucien winked. “And risks.”
Her mind, the strength of her stubborn brain… clear as day when she sparred with him, when she slid that key card out of his pockets. That was about to change. Lucien hid his smirk. First time touching weed. This will prove to be interesting.
Perhaps she could resist its strong effects, stubborn as she was. He’d have the answer soon enough.
Kate rolled it between her fingers with care. And pouted, trying to imitate an actual smoker’s hold over a cigarette.
He chuckled at the sight, shaking his head. “Try it already before I blow another one of those in your direction.”
“Okay, okay.” She set it to her lips, about to take a breath when she raised her eyebrows at him. “Why aren’t you smoking though?”
He closed his eyes in exasperation, groaning. “Oh, for goodness sake, woman.”
If only I could go for it.
“What? I’m just curious.”
“No, you’re suspicious. I’m not about to poison you with weed, dear girl.”
She crossed her arms over each other, waiting for an explanation.
“It’s just that one of us needs to remain level-headed. Take a swig already before I have to help you take it.”
She smirked, a hint of a challenge lighting up in her tired eyes. “How would you go about that?”
“Don’t tempt me, sweetheart.” At her curious tilt, he added, “something with holding one’s nose closed. Now come on.” Seeing the way her cheeks flushed red, he pleasantly surmised that his threat had been received.
They were teasing and threatening, as they always did.
But he couldn’t ignore the look in her eyes, that glint of darkness taking hold for a couple of seconds before receding again, like waves lapping against the shore.
The moments when she thought about the little kid left to his own devices.
When Isabel popped up in her mind, making her clench her hands.
Like now… when that darkness in her pupils deepened before she sighed, making her decision.
This time, when she set it to her lips, she did take a careful inhale only to start coughing right away, face scrunching up. “The taste is pretty good but oh—,” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “—the burn. For. Goodness. Sake.”
Taking a couple of seconds to steady her breathing, she reached for a pack of tissues.
But Lucien was faster, grabbing the blue pack off the coffee table before graciously extending it to her.
Receiving a grunt in thanks, she wiped her nose, holding the joint up in one hand. Experienced smoker indeed.
After handing her a glass of water which she gulped down like a fish, she took another swig. This time regulating her breathing and taking a surprisingly deep tug before slowly exhaling. Closing her eyes she muttered softly. “This actually feels quite relaxing.”
Time to steal it back. Lucien fished it out of her hands in a swoop. “That’s quite enough.”
“Those two puffs… seriously?”
He smirked. “Damn serious. You’ll see.”
“I’m supposed to believe this will get me off my rocks?”
A feline grin took over. “As a first time smoker? Give it a couple minutes before it kicks in.” Tilting his head slightly, he added. “You might cuss me out after.”
“And you’re telling me this now.” A sigh passed her lips.