Kiss With A Fist

He twitches at every touch, but stays silent, eyes closed.

 

It's awhile longer before she undoes the straps, then snaps her fingers, points. "Step onto the scale."

 

He starts to rise, shakily, almost falling as he gets off the table. He leaves bloody handprints as he catches himself.

 

She catches his arm, steadying him.

 

He jerks away and falls to the ground. So there's that.

Picking himself back up, heading for the scale.

 

She watches him with unveiled judgement in her eyes.

Then she follows, switching the scale on and watching him.

 

He glares back at her, ignoring the scale.

 

"....take the rest of the day off. Put the rest of your belongings in storage. Break your lease. You only go home when ordered, anyway, don't you?" Her voice is sharp. "Take Sakach and Filliar. Get it done as promptly as possible, and bill the hours and any food and drink required. I'll do their installs on Monday." She pops her knuckles, expression dark.

 

"And where are you going to be keeping me?" He crosses his arms, like he's trying to protect himself and not show it.

 

She stares at him, then scribbles an address out onto a sheet of paper. "I'll be monitoring you directly until your health is at a stable and sustainable level. I want you functional."

She tucks the pen back into her clipboard. "And I'm very curious as to what your work is going to look like when you're not actively destroying yourself."

 

He growls, but doesn't argue. "Can I have my clothes now?"

 

"...I suppose."

 

He dresses fast, shakes his head hard like he's trying to clear it, stopping almost immediately when it tugs at his wound and the Contract within. "Should I bring anything to your... residence?" He says the word like 'lair', darkly.

 

"Anything you consider necessary," she replies, running her fingers over the back of her neck before stalking over to press her the fingers of one hand against a wall and slide it open.

Something inside sobs.

"Send the other three back in."

 

He stares, watching. Eyes dark. "... fine."

He stalks out, still looking... unsteady.

 

The assistants look up from their huddle, and Abigail hesitates, looking like she's barely holding off from rushing over to keep him steady.

"...how'd it go?" Sakach asks slowly.

 

He rolls his eyes, touching the back of his neck. "... Fine. She was toying with me. I suspect your time will be... less exciting. On Monday."

He pauses, gathering his thoughts. "She wants you three in her lab. And you two with me. Apparently I'm not permitted my own apartment."

 

Abigail looks at Scott, then back at Yosef. "...what? I. She can't. Do that, can she?"

 

"... Fillar," he says, almost gentle. "She's performing involuntary medical procedures on us, under threat of death."

"I've been taking her wrath. Don't waste it. Understood?"

 

Abigail's hands tighten at her sides, and she swallows hard. "...understood, Boss."