A/N: I thought I wouldn't be that writer who doesn't update for a year but I'm only a couple months shy of hitting that mark so, to anyone who hasn't forgotten all about this weird fic, I'm so very sorry! I love the lunar chronicles to the moon and back and I'm hoping to keep writing despite the small fandom so here I am with a slightly bizarre chapter and the promise of me attempting more :) (Review replies at the end x)
Chapter Nineteen: Bruise
She hasn't gone blind by the time Kai makes it back to the garage, which is why she gasps as soon as she sees him.
"I'm fine," Kai assures her before she's even said anything but she doesn't believe him.
"What happened?" Cinder asks, dumping the toolbox she'd picked up on the floor and rushing over to him.
She changes her mind halfway and goes over to the shelf where they keep the first aid kit, pulling out one of the instant ice packs and cracking it before wrapping it in a tissue.
Kai hasn't moved by the time she gets back to him but he has adopted a guilty expression. "Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have-"
Cinder glares at him as she places the ice pack over the angry bruise on his cheek, gesturing for him to hold it in place.
He does so, reluctantly. "Thank you."
"So? What happened?" Cinder asks again.
Kai takes a moment to adjust the ice pack before shrugging. "I don't really know."
When he sees the doubt clearly written on Cinder's face, he adds: "I think I just acted as the trigger for someone who needed to let off steam."
That's not really what Cinder was looking for. She was looking for names and addresses because she's sure she and Iko could get revenge for this by the end of the day. But she doesn't tell him that because she remembers he doesn't like violence.
"Are you, uh, hurt anywhere else?"
Kai shakes his head, then bites his lip. Which causes Cinder to notice the small cut on his top lip, but she doesn't mention it since there's very little she can do about it.
"Actually, I'm fairly certain I twisted my ankle," Kai admits, interrupting her staring, "could we please sit down?"
Only slightly mortified, Cinder nods, but a quick look around tells her there isn't actually any stools free and the bench is covered in metal parts. Kai notices this too and just chuckles before sitting himself down on the floor, leaning against the wall.
Cinder hesitates for a split second before just joining him. "Wait, did you walk here with a twisted ankle?"
Kai turns to her with a small smile. "Of course, I said I'd drop by."
She isn't sure how accurate the feeling of her heart melting is but she does know she's sort of grinning like a fool. "This was a perfectly good reason not to," she says, gently tapping the ice pack.
"I'm not the sort to let a small bruise stop me from seeing a princess."
"Cinder, where- woah!" Iko chooses exactly the wrong time to come in.
Cinder groans to herself because she doesn't have time to wipe the blush off her face before Iko is staring at the two of them in both confusion and concern and she knows Iko will have a bunch of questions she's not really in the mood to answer right now.
"I'm fine, no need to ask," Kai blurts before Iko can even open her mouth.
Clearing her throat, Cinder finally looks at Iko, hoping her embarrassment isn't too obvious. "What did you need?"
Instead of replying, Iko pulls out her phone, takes a photo of the two, and then sits down opposite them.
"Hey!" Kai protests, just as Cinder lunges for the phone.
Iko just giggles and pockets the device, sticking her tongue out at Cinder. "Don't worry, I'm only keeping it for future reference. Now, who do we need to have a stern talking-to about giving the first guy my best friend likes a bruise?"
Cinder covers her face with her hands as Kai makes a startled noise and turns to her with something like happiness in his eyes. "You like me?"
Iko stays smugly silent as Cinder sighs deeply and nods slightly, still not looking at him.
"Well, that's reassuring to know or else our date this weekend would be incredibly awkward."
Both Iko and Cinder splutter at the same time, Cinder in the nice kind of embarrassment this time and Iko in surprise.
"You have a date?" Iko demands immediately.
When Cinder finally peels her hands away from her face, she sees Kai glance between them strangely. "I thought the two of you shared information about everything, my apologies."
It's addressed to Cinder but she chooses to just smile as Iko positively beams and claps at the idea of him being okay with their kind of friendship. "Oh, I knew I liked you! Cinder, if you don't go on that date with him, I'll go myself!"
"No, you will not," Cinder argues, folding her arms.
It's only after she's done so that she realises getting a reaction was the purpose of Iko's comment. And at that moment, she's glad she's surrounded by two of the best people she's ever met or else so much embarrassment may have just killed her.
"This is really cold," Kai announces as he places the ice pack on his lap, rubbing his hands together to warm them up.
Iko is not subtle in the way she stares at the bruise on his cheek. "That is one nasty battle souvenir," she says.
Kai almost looks confused, as if he'd forgotten why he'd been holding an ice pack to his face. "I'm not sure you could class it as a battle."
"Then what would you class it as?" Iko asks, leaning forward keenly.
Kai shrugs. "It's just something that will fade away in a few days. No need to worry about it."
Cinder begs to differ but she sends Iko a look and the two of them agree to talk about it later when Kai can't stop them from plotting.
Iko seems to decide she doesn't want to have a conversation unless it's about revenge so she stands up and smiles down at them. "See you two lovebirds later."
Kai waves at her as Cinder glares; Iko laughs at them.
"I'd hate to be a bird," Kai says once she's gone.
Cinder raises an eyebrow. "Why? They're free to fly wherever they like whenever they like."
She won't admit it out loud but she'd definitely thought about the prospect of being a bird before. Sure, they may not be as cognitively advanced but they definitely wouldn't have Adri on their tails about stupid chores.
Kai just shrugs. "Their idea of love isn't even nearly as heartwarming as ours."
Oh.
He was referring to Iko's comment.
Cinder takes a moment to feel like an absolute fool before nodding thoughtfully, pretending she hadn't been thinking about being reincarnated as a bird. "I guess so."
"Sorry for worrying you, Princess," Kai mumbles after a few beats of silence.
Cinder just elbows him. "It's not your fault so leave the apologising to whoever gave you the bruise."
Kai narrows his eyes, but not menacingly. Although that isn't saying much since she can't him doing anything menacingly. Either way, he narrows his eyes just suspiciously enough for Cinder to feel slightly bad for still wanting to hurt anyone who'd hurt him.
"I just meant that they should be apologising for hurting my favourite barista?" Cinder offers, wincing internally at how high-pitched her voice becomes.
"Favourite?" Kai echoes, raising an eyebrow.
Cinder smirks. "Don't get all smug on me, It's not like I've met many."
"Surely you've met some on the days you get coffee when I don't work there?" Kai asks, oblivious to the fact that Cinder only goes all the way to his cafe on the days she's certain he does work there.
"I don't fix cars for all of them," she replies instead, hoping it sounds reasonable.
Kai laughs brightly. "You make an excellent point."
Cinder blushes again and just about recovers but when she glances to Kai, she can't help but think that he looks so much better with a blush rather than a bruise, and she ends up practically as red a ripe tomato.
"If Thorne were here, you'd be a rose with a thorn," Kai comments absently, then catches himself and grins sheepishly.
Cinder's not sure if she should appreciate the beauty of that pun or the beauty of Kai's lovely, flattering words.
"Both is good, Princess," Kai whispers.
Oh, stars.
She really hates that she sometimes unknowingly says things out loud but what she hates more is the fact that Kai is nice enough to go along with it. But does she really hate that?
Annoyance and embarrassment flicker through her mind as she opens her mouth to apologise to Kai but she finds her emotions replaced with frustration and rage as she sees Kai smile widely at her only to wince as he pulls on the small cut on his lip.
She ends up just closing her mouth again and frowning, wondering why it even affects her so much. He's just a friend, right? Surely there's no need for her to be so alarmed at his bruise.
"Cinder?" Kai asks softly, clearly puzzled at her unexpected silence.
"Huh?" She snaps back to the present. "Sorry, I was just- I had a thought."
Kai nods, understanding in his eyes. "No worries."
Except there is. Kai's bruise might fade by the end of the week but she doesn't think her worry will go away any time soon. She's stuck with worrying about why she cares so much for the annoyingly endearing nerd currently sat in front of her.
Although, as Kai waves his hand in front of her and raises an inquisitive eyebrow, she decides it's not the worst worry she could have.
Okay, first off, almost 13k views? I am absolutely flattered, thank you so much, guys! Love y'all :3
Bella: no problem, you deserved the cameo! Love you too x
Anna-Mae1242: Why would he punch Thorne? But thank you so much, that is so sweet of you!
Book lover with no life: Thanks so much! Yh, them being ooc is an issue since I still don't own the books yet! I'm from UK, which explains why my word choice may be different! Thanks again and sorry for the long wait :p
Bookloving Freak: No problem, and thank you so much x
CrazyForCresswell: your username is a mood and thank you! Sorry this update is like five months later than your comment!
Oriande Moonshadow: Definitely a laundry date ;) And yeah, I thought it suited him x
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