Crutches and Crushes

## Content Information

"Nerd!" Arsling shouted teasingly from her bed towards Tamzen, having just been informed of Tamzen’s plans to go to the Library. In truth she'd been teasing Tamzen all day, spring break had started but Arsling's body was too broken and even standing up straight hurt her back and ribs the only thing to entertain her being Botato and the theatrics she was doing on twitly with 'His majesty' oh and teasing Tamzen, to be honest part of her was just scared of being left alone with nothing to do, that she might go mad

“Guilty as charged!” Tamzen shot back with a grin as she unplugged her laptop and shoved it into her bag. “Now that the good meds that the hospital gave you have worn off some, I know that I can trust that Botato is enough to keep you from doing something stupid for a few hours…” In truth, she couldn’t be sure that pain would be enough to keep Linny in one place, but she expected it was only a matter of time before a horde of well-wishers descended on their room, and she really wasn’t in the mood to socialize.

She slung her bag over one shoulder, and headed towards the door. “I’ll be back in a little while, do you need me to bring anything back for you?”

Arsling rolled her eyes before responding "Wolfsbane and some silver forks"

“They stopped stocking that in the herbal medicine aisle a few decades ago, and I’m afraid Kitty packed up all my dad’s good cutlery when she moved him in with her after Christmas,” Tamzen chuckled as she turned the handle on the door and opened it. “Oh!” she paused in surprise. “Hey, Didi...um…” she took a step back, resisting the urge to hide behind the door.

“Oh, hey Tam. Tamzen.” Didi felt at least as awkward, even though she’d known Tamzen would probably be here. “I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of Linny. I mean, Ash… Arsling. You’re so thoughtful and… I mean, Botato is such a big hit.”

Tamzen blushed and rubbed her hand against the back of her neck. “Ah...thanks.” Even though they had agreed that everything was back to normal, Tamzen hadn’t quite managed to shake off her attraction to the other girl. “You’re c- he! *He’s* cute, isn’t he...um…” She looked around, desperately searching for a distraction that’d get her out of this conversation. Ah, yes. “Linny! Didi’s here to see you!”

"Didi! Get your butt in here, before I die of Didi withdrawal! Also Botato wants to say hi" Arsling shouts from her room before coughing a few times, she hasn't really shut up all day and it just now backfires on her

Didi blushed at Tamzen’s adorable stammering. She was about to say something playful before thinking better of it, given that Tamzen seemed to want them to maintain some distance -- in this form anyway.

“I’ll see you later,” she said, instead, with a wan smile and a hand half outstretched to touch Tamzen’s arm before she stopped herself.

With that, she stepped into the room. “Thanks for keeping Botato company in between my visits, Ash! And how’s the king himself?” She pretended to fawn over the plushie, waiting for Ash to get jealous.

“Yeah…later...” Tamzen murmured as Didi turned her attention towards Arsling. Taking her opportunity, she slipped out the door and headed for the library.

Arsling smirks and gets Botato to sit up and say in the Botato voice "You are not here to see Botato! You are here to see my most loyal subject" 'Botato' then waddles out the way sitting in a open drawer like a little throne Arsling smiles "well you heard the cat"

“Ah, if it isn’t the royal jester,” said Didi, grinning at Arsling’s antics. It was so easy to forget that she was the cause of Ash’s injuries, that Ash had celebrated when she cracked her bones on the asphalt. It was much harder to forget the redhead’s confession at the hospital -- though of course it had just been the concussion and the trauma speaking; Ash probably didn’t even remember.

"Only the best Jester in the land at your service" Arsling pulls herself up and tries to stand up too quickly, grunting and showing clear strain on her face as she clutches her ribs "ow fuck"

“Down,” said Didi, stepping closer and pressing a hand to Ash’s shoulder to keep her seated on the bed as she met her gaze. “I know you’re excited to see me, but I want you intact, alright?”

"Yeah yeah ok Tamzen, I've been stuck in bed all day I need to stretch my legs" Arsling said trying again to push up obviously getting nowhere due to their weakened state "ah damn you sports star" Arsling says in a mix of feigned and legitimate frustration "come on I wanna get out before it gets dark out"

Didi pet Ash’s hair. “Fair enough,” she said, softly. “You mentioned food? Up for a walk to get a bite? My treat.”

"Ooooh yeah! Their's this TexMex place I've wanted to try called the Restaurant With No Name, it looks pretty good, y'know unless you got somewhere else in mind" Arsling says this their face beaming with excitement over the prospect of just getting to go somewhere

“TexMex sounds good!” Didi helped Ash to her feet, taking note of the sun’s position in the sky and guessing how long until moonrise. If all went well, the girl would be feeling ‘’much’’ better before long.

Arsling slowly pulled herself to her feet, her posture slouched over as she grabbed her coat, she's moving at a snails pace, the natural fear of getting hurt kicking in, shockingly Arsling does seem to have a self preservation instinct, she walks over to Botato, patting him on the head "be back soon your highness" before turning to Didi "let's move our butts"

A bit later, at the restaurant, the two girls sat in a booth across a heaping plate of nachos. Didi brandished a jalapeno. “How do you feel about spicy food?”

"Not had much if I'm honest, few currys in my lifetime but it's been a while" Arsling said a single nacho hanging from her lip as she looked over the menu beaming "thanks for bringing me out, really nice to not be stuck in my room with that crappy little window" Arsling says staring out the window they're sat next too looking at the sun hanging in the sky seemingly trying to make sure they'd have enough time to get back before dark

“I’ve been developing a taste for it,” said Didi. “I used to think it was just… unnecessary pain that went along with food. I’d eat jalapenos because the flavor made it worth it. Now though… it’s part of the experience. We’ve got that ‘Roast the Pigs’ cookout coming up and Alondra makes a ferocious chili. If you give it a try, make sure I’m there to watch your face.” She grinned and scarfed down another nacho.

"Of Course! I'd love to be in more pain" Arsling said jovially as she leaned her head back and swallowed the nacho whole before calling a waiter over and ordering chicken tacos

Didi ordered fajitas and the two continued chatting. They’d known each other casually for a while, but it was only since that day at the hot spring that they’d gotten close. Didi could barely remember what it was like during those few hours between the spring trip and Burgundy telling her about Arsling’s monster-slaying, when it was just new and fun and not a life-or-death struggle. She envied Arsling a little, being unaware still.

Arsling looked longingly at Didi in a moment of silence, she was well in love for the first time in her life, Didi was truly the woman of her dreams, strong and beautiful and accepting of her despite the curse, she was so excited to see where this goes, even with Werewolves on her back, she wasn't even thinking about the wolves when she was around Didi, she just felt normal

The gaze was eventually broken with Arsling pushing herself back upright and smiling "you look beautiful in that lighting"

The redhead’s earnestness made Didi smile. Ash was so much like a wolf already -- athletic, straightforward, playful -- she was just afraid to let it out. Except with her.

“Sounds like you have your next masterpiece all figured out: the Beauty and Her Nachos.”

"Hmm somehow has less grace than naked beauty being admired by a waterfall" Arsling smirks "don't worry you'll be in my sketch today I'm sure of it just maybe a bit more dignified than that" Arsling says going for her coat to grab her sketchbook "ah damnit left it back home" she exclaims sighing sadly before turning back to Didi "oh well, sometimes I find it's much better to appreciate the art rather than make it"

Didi smiled as she remembered the spirit of the springs.

“It was brave of you to come up to the spring and especially to get in the water, knowing as much as you do about magic and creatures. The spring seemed really nice, though.”

"I won't lie, I was a ball of nerves and anxiety, thought you might attack me but I think my main fear was just being laughed at or it turning out to be some kind of trick, you were my first...well a lot of things, first time, first definite love, first person I've trusted since my mother, you've awoken something in me, a Arsling that can just enjoy her life and just go to a restaurant without being so nervous, I owe you a lot Didi" Arsling admits softly as their orders arrive

Didi’s brow furrowed -- both because it was so touching and because Arsling’s words were tugging at her gut, guilt knotting her insides.

“I don’t deserve to be put on a pedestal,” she said, brushing back her hair with one hand. “I’m not--” She sighed deeply. “I’m really glad you can trust me, in spite of what’s happened in your life. I want you to know that, whatever happens… I’ll try to do right by you.”

"I have no doubt you will" Arsling smiles digging into a taco

~~Later~~

Arsling groaned her ribs deciding that now, on the way back to carter hall with Didi now was the time to hurt like a bitch, Arsling sat down at a bus stop the sun inching closer to sunset than she'd like "I'm sorry I need to stop for a second...how much longer until sundown?"

“We have time,” Didi said. She didn’t need any special senses to tell how anxious Arsling was about being out past dark. She rested a hand on the redhead’s shoulder to reassure her, all while watching the sky herself.

She squeezed her eyes shut, but then all she could smell was Arsling, that unique, enticing scent that drew her in. She wanted to comfort her. She wanted to turn her. Most of all she didn’t want her to ‘’suffer’’ the way she was suffering now.

And she didn’t want to keep lying.

But she did.

She sat next to Arsling on the bench and pulled her close.

“Why did you decide to come to school in the US, anyway?”

Arsling leans her head on Didis shoulder "I thought it would be easier, Fae are tricksters and I was tired of playing mind games, with no family to really hold me down I thought that I'd be better off taking my chances in the states, and I was right, life has been easier for the last two years, not had many things come after me" Arsling says hugging Didi "and hay America has cute girls" Arsling gives Didi a peck on the cheek

No family? Didi knew about Arsling’s mother, but not about anyone else who had been lost -- or maybe never been there.

“Cute? Who’s cute? You’re the cute one.” She huffed as Arsling’s injury meant she couldn’t get too physical without hurting her, and she relented in the redhead’s arms, with a distinctly cute pout on her face.

"Well if I'm the cute one you must be the seductive one" The sun started to be taken by the horizon Arsling takes note of this before trying to get up, grabbing her ribs as she tries to support her weight "ow ow ow"

“Hey!” Didi said sharply. “Let me help you. You don’t have to go it alone.” She stood and helped steady her, then paused to brush a strand of hair out of Ash’s face. “You’re not alone.”

With that, she gave Ash a kiss, then scooped her off her feet. “I’ll get you home.”

Arsling let out a sudden squeak as she's picked up obviously not expecting it, Arsling forze for a second before smiling and hugging her carrier kissing Didi on the bicep "I was right you are the seductive one" Arsling says fondly

As they waited to cross the street, Didi smiled at Ash, but then her expression grew more serious.

“Ash, remember when I said I’d still care about you if you weren’t human? If you got turned into a werewolf?” She swallowed. “You said you were afraid something would happen to me. What would you do if I were… turned into something?”

Arsling was shocked at the sudden question before swallowing "that depends, it depends on if you were still...well, you" Arsling says looking up "if you were made something like a vampire or a Daerng Due I'd…'save you'" Arsling says looking away not wanting to say the actual words "it also depends on if you would attack me or try to force me to change...I'd rather not entertain the idea...if you're already a monster than I have nothing to fear, you've already resisted, you've already proven that you can stop yourself from hurting me...I'd still care for you if you were turned" Arsling says solumly it's true she would still care for Didi, that's why she would do the things she would do if Didi was made into something like a Daerng Due

Didi frowned, nodding thoughtfully. “I’m sorry I brought it up; I know it’s painful. It’s just hard not to think about, you know? And I don’t want you to ever have to do something that awful again.”

"Yeh I get it" the sun had gone below the horizon, the place still illuminated although it wouldn't be long until the sun held no power over Nightfalls "but hay let's not think about that" Arsling takes out her phone and takes a selfie of herself in Didi's arms

The picture startled Didi and she came out looking wide-eyed and completely unprepared. “Dammit Ash don’t post that!”

"Awww what's wrong? Don't wanna ruin your badassry?" Arsling says showing Didi the picture "you look like scared little kitten, now it's gotta go on twitly"

With her hands full of arse, there wasn’t much Didi could do. Within moments, the whole school would see Ash in her arms at sundown. The whole pack would see.

She had to turn her. She had to stop this torment and treat her prey with the respect she deserved. She had to do what pack mother commanded her to do.

And, smelling Ash’s scent, knowing the beast in her was just waiting to be awakened, it was what Didi’s own awakened wolf commanded her to do, as well.

She shut her eyes, willing them to keep from turning yellow, trying to keep the beast at bay.

Arsling was too invested in her Twit smirking as she sent it out to the world "sorry Didi, the word is out, you're adorable" Arsling says scrolling thru the immediate replies

Arsling wasn’t suffering right now, thought Didi. And there would be more chances. She could just let this be a nice… date. With her prey. Give Ash a last, happy memory of being nothing but human. Before betraying her.

Fuck.