#it's already begging for a part three smh /lh

[befuddled-calico-whump]

the last two wildfire drabbles have awakened an intense craving for lex comfort…. guy is split between wanting to be a lone wolf and kinda wanting someone to care for him. the part where he‘s unsure if he even wants to be alone………

can i humbly request more of lex caretaking? he needs it. i need it. everyone wins (of course only if you have the time and energy for it)

part one //// part three

cw: aftermath of a fight, broken bones, adult language

When you were hiding from the law, the best way to gather any kind of information was to take a leaf out of a fantasy novel and hit up a tavern. Or in Sarah's case, a Neath bar. Her team had been safe long enough that she wanted to move to the next step, and the next step was gathering allies.

Which was admittedly really hard. Even when she overheard a promising conversation, she had no idea how to approach the speaker and make it covert. So far, listening in was as far as she'd gotten.

It was nearly three in the morning by the time she gave up and walked away from another night of rumors that were interesting, but not particularly useful. The streets were practically empty when Sarah stepped outside, and she kept one hand on the miniature stun gun Hugo had insisted she bring.

She knew this was the dangerous side of town, but the nicer parts wouldn't offer much in way of help for the rogues. Most believed whatever safe lies Corp fed them, and the rest just couldn't be bothered to risk their own security.

Sarah kept her eyes peeled and her ears sharp as she started to make her way back to the house. Half the streetlights seemed to be out, which was sketchy as fuck, but also easier on her hearing than the full-blown buzz she'd usually be up against.

A sound cut through the background noise; the chtunk of something heavy hitting the pavement, accompanied by a human cry.

Sarah froze, holding her breath and trying to listen. The sounds were followed by a panting that was either fearful or frustrated, and the drag of cloth on concrete. Had someone been hurt? Should she check on them?

Because that wouldn't add to her already-towering stack of problems.

Still, it didn't sound like there was an active fight going on, and she only heard one person breathing. Worst case, she'd only need to deal with one attacker, and she had the stungun for that.

Sarah crept towards the sound, turning a corner and seeing a figure sprawled in the street, trying to pick themselves back up without much success. Her breath caught when she saw the metal arms, shimmering red in the light.

They really had to stop meeting like this.

"Cinder," she said, nearly regretting it when the assassin flinched, but how else was she supposed to get his attention? "Cinder, hey."

The man stopped moving, his limbs going slack, head sinking onto the pavement, and Sarah couldn't tell if it was because he recognized her or because he'd passed out.

She inched closer to him, crouching a few feet away from his face. His eyes were open, but there was a glazed-over look to them. Was he drunk? No... Not that.

There was a fresh cut on his cheek, a bruise forming under it. When she sharpened her hearing further, she could hear the wheeze in his breath and his racing heart, and under those, the click of grinding bone that came with every inhale.

Broken ribs. Sarah dulled her ears with a shudder.

"Cinder," she murmured, leaning closer. "Can you stand?" Probably not, considering where he currently was, but she hoped he'd appreciate her asking.

"Don't... think so," he mumbled. His teeth were bloody.

"Can you stand if I help you?" Could she even support his weight? She'd have to. She wasn't about to leave him here, and it wasn't worth the risk to go and grab a helping hand from the house. Someone else might get to Cinder before she returned.

The assassin seemed to consider her question, her offer, eventually giving a slow nod. Sarah came up on one knee, hoping it would give her enough leverage, and extended her hand. No cover, no protection from his metal if it started to burn. But he wouldn't do that, would he?

His fingers curled around her own, the metal cool and smooth on her palm. Seeing his artificial hand move had been fascinating enough, but actually feeling it was a whole different story. Aside from the texture, it moved and curled exactly like a human hand would.

It is a human hand, she corrected herself. It's still a human hand.

She expected Cinder's grip to be crushing as he struggled to stand, but it was gentle. Even with her help though, the man couldn't manage to get his legs beneath him, falling back onto the pavement with a whimper he tried to bite back.

She'd need to get closer. It wasn't like she hadn't been close to him before. She'd sat right next to Akeela on the way home from the river, Cinder's legs draped across her lap. But he'd been completely unconscious then. This was different.

"I'm... I'm going to come up right beside you, okay?" Sarah said, waiting for the assassin to give another nod before moving at all. Once she was lined up next to his shoulders, she carefully took his wrist.

"On three?"

"Mm."

"One, two, three."

He half-pushed himself up as she pulled his arm around her shoulders, somehow managing not to stumble as she stood, legs shaking with the effort. Cinder leaned heavily on her, his head lolling forward, but at least he was off the ground.

He was also warm. Way too warm. She could feel the heat radiating through his clothes.

"I think you have a fever," Sarah grunted as she tried to adjust herself beneath him.

"I think so too," Cinder murmured back. She honestly couldn't tell if he was being a smartass or not.

What now? The house was at least a mile away, and it would be an excruciating walk with a half-conscious assassin hanging off her. But... would that be what he wanted?

"Where to?" Sarah asked.

"Ch-Chopper."

Was that a person, or was he talking about helicopters? Both were equally plausible. She wouldn't be surprised if he was delirious with the fever he was running.

"Okay," she said, carefully taking a step forward. It was difficult. Made even more difficult by the knowledge that she'd have to take a thousand more just like it. "Where's the chopper at?"

"No... th' auto shop. McCarthy's."

Sarah had no idea what he'd want with an auto shop in the middle of the night, but she wasn't about to question it. Maybe it was code for 'Healer for Neath Assassins'. The guy sure as fuck needed one of those.

"I haven't heard of it."

"I'll... g-guide you," Cinder said.

Sarah nodded, taking another step. Navigating would hopefully keep him awake long enough for them to reach their destination.

She just hoped it wasn't too far away.

•°•°•

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