To make things worse [cw]

Lucius left Zaira with Kurtis who still seemed to figure out what was even going on. A nurse came in at some point to administer his pain medication but when she saw Zaira she looked at her notepad. “I can give him a bit less so he’ll be more talkative. His father didnt seem like a very nice person, so I did give him full doses so he wouldnt have to be scolded.” She explained, taking out a tray with different small vials of liquid. “Are you the girlfriend?” She asked as she prepared the first dose.

“Okay. Then I wont have to worry about him looking so sad and troubled.” She said, giving him the meds through the IV in his hand. Zaira’s question made her sigh as she thought about it. “Well the family had made clear instructions to not let him have any visitors. From what they’ve told us, he was in a fight and they dont want to take any risks.” She said but then she made a slight shrug. “We’ll ask him when he’s more awake.” She remarked. “Do you have any questions? Well I guess you do have a lot, but any I can answer?”

“Not at all. But I guess you could guess how annoyed his family would be if their wishes werent met.” She said with a sigh. Kurtis wasnt seemingly changing much except his hand that tensed from time to time. The question made the nurse fold her lips like she wasnt quite sure how to answer. “Well by procedure we do have to contact emergency contacts and when I asked the family they said that you had already been contacted. But what girlfriend doesnt show up when her boyfriend’s in the hospital? I wanted to be sure.” She said, before she looked at Kurtis. There was clearly something she held back on saying but it wasnt something she seemed comfortable with disclosing either.

Zaira’s insistence didnt seem to make the nurse react much other than pulling on her brows a little in contemplation. She packed away the meds and glanced at Kurtis as Zaira spoke of them. “I’m sorry they didnt tell you, but he asked about you last night so..” she paused for a bit before she frowned. “Well I guess you dont know all that they’ve done then, but I’d feel bad for telling you.” She admitted before she pulled a paper on her notepad and placed it onto the little fold out table that Kurtis had for when he would come to his senses once in a while. “I’ll just forget that I put this here.” She mumbled before walking off. It was an extensive report of all the surgery Kurtis had gone through, from the reconstruction of one of his arms to a whole other procedure that wasnt really injury related at all. But more just another example of how horrible his family truly was. Like having set him up for a surgery that would prevent any future mishaps.

Kurtis eventually came to his senses, groaning as he was still in a lot of pain, but he told himself that that meant he at least was healing. He opened his eyes carefully though the world seemed a little blurry and the light too sharp. “Zaira…” he mumbled, closing his eyes again as he was collecting himself.

She was here. He felt relieved to know that. He wasnt sure how many nurses and doctor’s he had asked and all of them just completely ignored him. He held her hand in a loose grip, opening his eyes to look at her, blinking a few times as his eyes were still adjusting but eventually he could see her. “They havent… hurt you, right?” He asked his voice tired and strained.

He would always put her first even if he was hurting the worst. She pointed out how shit he looked and he chuckled to then grit his teeth in pain, looking down at their hands. “I feel better now that you’re here.” He said. It wasnt true in a physical sense but at least he didnt have to worry about her being terrorized by his family. “How long has it been? They dont tell me anything. They just dope me up and then… my parents take turns on watching me.” He explained, though no one was here yet. Which meant that his mother was on her way.

It felt longer than a couple of days but also not. Maybe it had been because he was so bored and he hadnt even been allowed to smoke so he also felt nicotine cravings like crazy. Her whisper made him frown a little but then she spoke words that made him confused until he realized. “Fuck…” he mumbled, squeezing her hand carefully with what power he had in it. He could guess that it wasnt what she had wanted by the way she kept her eyes closed. “I’m sorry.” He whispered, feeling like it was his fault for putting her through all that stress.

He just looked at her, listening as she went on to explain. She hadnt wanted to keep it but had wanted to do it on her terms. He could understand that. But then she spoke of regret and he didnt follow. What did she mean? He was handed the file but all the letters felt mixed together, so he had to have her read it out to him. Though when she had, he wished he had never known. He sat there and started onto a blank spot on the ceiling, not saying a thing. He just couldnt believe that he had been mutilated like that. “Zaira.. I’m going to need a favour.” He said after a while, his stare still blank. “Take that paper to social services… the police… fuck I dont know which, just someone that will care. And show them. But dont tell them who you are. Dont get involved, Lucius… he would stop at nothing” He said. He couldnt ask her to have to deal with it all on her own and he clearly wasnt in a state to do anything himself.

The remark about his father knowing didnt put his mind much to ease. “What a sick fuck…” he groaned, looking at her as she prepared to leave. It would be easier if she was gone when his mom came around. He still hadnt forgiven her for telling on them, but she behaved like he had been in the wrong for not telling her to begin with. She kissed him and he looked at her as she made her promise. “I’ll make sure you’re safe.” He assured her. He carefully reached up to a patch that was attached to his chest, pulling at it and making the machine flatline even if he was alive. He then just leaned back and waited.

“It’s fine.” She assured him and she put down the coffee. She seemed to have calmed down on the grudge she had on Zaira ever since she found out the baby was gone. Maybe it was her feeling less threatened about her son, even more now when she never had to worry about it again. She placed down a hot chocolate next to Zaira before she gave Romeo a coffee. She didnt like her husband and she didnt like Romeo much either because he was everything Lucius loved in a kid. “How’s the cheek? Do you still have to wear a bandaid?” She asked as she looked at him, taking a sip off her coffee.

“Well arent you lucky.” She replied a little dismayed at the notion, taking a sip off her coffee. She wasnt sure why Romeo was here, but she guessed it was something that had to do with Kurtis. Or maybe to keep an eye on her and Zaira. She never knew what Lucius planned. And she was fine with not knowing. “The weather was nice.” Was all she had to say but that was about it. She hadnt even been looking over her son that day, luckily the nanny had chimed in and told her how Kurtis didnt want to be there. She just glared at him rather than saying anything else. “No, you are right, that is not your job.” She agreed, scoffing before she got up and grabbed her bag. “I’m going for a smoke.” She said, eyeing her nephew once more. God an annoying kid.