Chapter Text
Melissa sat next to her brother’s bed. Her hands on yet another apple, how many has it been? The third, the fourth? The repetitive motions of peeling and cutting the apples had become a rather calming motion for her.
Her hand, the one holding the knife slipped and a small pin drip drops of blood started to pool from her thumb. This didn’t faze Melissa a lot. But it did cause her to pause.
“Melissa! Your hand!” Benson stood up quickly to find something to bandage it with. The blood flowed drop by drop. But all Melissa could think of was, if it hurts so much from a single cut, how much more would it have hurt for Klein, who had a hole dug into his chest. A terrorist, a damn criminal who thought they would rather end it. And that almost took away her brother.
Her bloody hand was gripped tight and the blood seeped from between her fingers. A hand gripped her wrist, forcing it to loosen her grip. It was one of Klein’s coworkers. They . . . had been a welcome intrusion into her spiraling thoughts. All things aside, they were a good group of people, she just wishes they met in a less stressful situation. After all, they covered all of the medical expenses and had sat with her by her brother’s side.
They distracted her from her fears and doubts with stories about Klein. About how kind and polite Klein is, about how reliable he is, about how much of a trouble magnet he is..
“Melissa, it's going to be alright. Klein will make it through this,” it had been said to her however many times it had been but still Melissa still finds herself calmed through this single promise. Melissa found herself nodding numbly.
A roll of bandage was held by Benson and it looped over her thumb, one, two. Still her mind was wandering. All the stories about Klein, a good number of them came from Klein’s self proclaimed friend of his, Leonard. Melissa didn’t know what to think of Leonard, but a single thing that came to her mind again and again was ‘that’ night.
Melissa was laying on cot in the medical room, the company had let her stay the night with Klein. She was sleeping until all of the sudden her mind was brought to clarity by the door opening. Was it the night guard?
She didn’t sit up to check, it didn’t matter anyway. All of the people here were good people, and she didn’t find it that weird for someone to check up on Klein at night. They were probably gonna take a look and walk past them. It didn’t matter.
But unlike her guess, the guest instead walked straight to Klein and she found herself looking at a man’s back through the sliver of opening between the curtains. Wasn’t that Leonard? The one that said he was Klein’s friend?
Melissa kept herself quiet and pretended to sleep. The intruder didn’t seem to notice her awake as he bent down over Klein. She didn’t dare blink, what was he doing? He got closer and closer, he was whispering ? He was talking!
“Klein, don’t you dare die. Aren’t we supposed to be the protagonists of this era? I..” Protagonists of this era? How childish. . . Who are you?
“Klein?” a sudden word brought her out of her memories. And she swung around to look at Klein. He- He was awake. Klein tried to sit up, slowly and with a bit more force than he could handle. He stopped and grimaced, someone ran to get the doctors while the captain quickly sprang from his own cot to stop Klein, slowly pushing him back down to his bed.
“Wha- Captain? What happened? Leonard! Leonard, is he okay?” Klein was covered in bandages and revealed no skin. Leonard! Him again. What does he have to do with Klein??
Nevertheless Melissa stood aside as doctors in clean uniform rushed in. She stood there as the Captain calmed Klein down. She stood there as they said Leonard requested to be transferred to Backlund. She stood there as Klein asked if he was here right now. She stood there as they told Klein that Leonard is already in Backlund.
Why do you care so much, Klein? Melissa wanted to ask but she stayed quiet, instead getting closer to grab his hands. It doesn’t matter whether that Leonard or whatever is here right now, all that matters is that Klein is awake. She felt tears brimming in her eyes.
“Klein! Don’t ever ever do that again!” She grabbed his hands tighter and closer. Benson stood up as well, holding Klein by the shoulders “Klein all that matters is that you are alive! We don’t need all this money, after the examination I’ll get a good job with a good salary”
“No- no I didn’t do this for money! I had to- If I didn’t Leo-” Klein started but stopped himself, “It’s usually very safe, I promise! Who would’ve thought that a madman would walk in?” He continued. At this both Benson and Melissa shared a look but decided to ignore it for now. It could be asked about later, all that matters is that the Moretti siblings aren’t losing a member.
After a while, the captain coughed a bit, grabbing attention to himself.
“Sorry Klein, I know this is still fresh but would you mind giving me a recount for the report?” the talking siblings stopped and Benson nodded knowingly. Of course such a large incident had occurred, it was obvious they had to get at least a statement. Yet the employee and the employer sat rather awkwardly looking at them instead.
“Sorry, it’s a bit confidential . . . “ Klein started, before Melissa and Benson realized the problem. Realizing the problem, they both got up to leave the room. One of the clerks, showing the way to the break room for a cup of tea. It’s a rather large place. Sometimes Melissa wonders, how can an unknown security company afford this but knowing it was connected to the police department, it was probably because of that.
The large wooden doors closed behind them, but before they closed something curious caught Melissa’s ears.
“Can you give me Leonard’s new address?” Melissa clenched her hand, reopening the bandaged thumb. And she subtly dragged Benson behind her to move away from the door.
“I- Do you think they are. . . “ Melissa started, she really had not expected the naive brother of hers to swing that way, or have a boyfriend for that matter. He is usually very quiet and reserved, it’s a miracle that Leonard guy managed to get it through his dense head, though he has been more outgoing recently.
“Yes. . . Now that I think about it, didn’t he come over with Klein to tell us Klein wouldn’t be home for a few days. Do you think that Klein was actually . . . “ Benson stopped talking but Melissa understood anyway. It did seem quite reasonable, having stayed here for a few days it was obvious this company had no reason for its employees to be sent out for days at a time.
She nodded along, wondering what to do about Klein. Klein whose first thought out of a coma was his boyfriend, only for that boyfriend to have run away to Backlund.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Melissa asked her older brother. .
“We go beat that bastard up?” Melissa almost had the thought to agree. But she stopped herself.
“Yes- wait no, I meant let’s not let Klein think about that guy anymore. Especially when he is this delirious”
The streets outside were quiet, it was quite late in the day. The mingling of people faded away into a serene silence. Melissa held her brother’s hand as Benson supported him on the other side.
With Klein being cleared to go, naturally both Melissa and Benson didn't want to continue to stay at the Blackthorn security company. Even if the staff there was nice and understanding, they still didn't want to overstay their welcome much.
Probably having been bed-bound for weeks on end, Klein was still a bit unaccustomed to walking.
Step by step, they finally found a carriage. They carefully helped Klein to sit in the middle and they both took the seats next to him. Klein protested a bit, but it only took a single word from Melissa to shut him up. Really, being covered in bandages can he really raise his legs enough to climb up?
A bit peeved Klein instead turned to look out to the changing scenery. He seemed a bit out of it. As if his mind was floating somewhere else. Melissa nudged him a bit, starting a conversation. Although, she didn’t want her brother to think about that Leonard guy any further, she had to at least probe some information out of him.
“So. . . Uhhh what was his name again? Leo something? I forgot it a while ago and I don’t want to ask him again if we meet . . . “ Abort, Abort . That was the most tragic, and awkward question she ever asked.
Klein turned to her slowly, as if the question hadn’t registered in his mind yet. “Huh?? Leonard??? Why- No, uhhh. It’s Leonard? “ His answer itself was like a question. Melissa found herself blushing a bit at the ridiculous probing, she sighed resigning herself to an apology.
“Do you- Do you like Leonard??? Sorry, Leonard won't be interested in you!” Melissa was startled by how quickly Klein talked, subconsciously she filed this under the files of “evidence”.
"No- I'm not interested, he seemed a little weird and wanted to ask you about that” Melissa desperately tried to protect herself. Even if that guy is a scumbag, wouldn't she be even more of a douche to be openly interested in someone else's boyfriend?
Thankfully Benson came clutch “Our stop is here” stopping both siblings from the continued awkwardness. Melissa inwardly sighed in relief. And changed her focus into helping Klein alight from the carriage.
Weak trembling arms, being held close as they step down. Isn't this just the perfect moment that would usually happen in romance novels but no, the love interest is busy shirking responsibility in Backlund. She was right in thinking that green eyed beast was irresponsible.
As her thoughts whirled she made a silent promise to herself. Klein was alright being on his own for a while, and he would surely find someone better than that beast after the honeymoon phase is over. Her cute little older brother should get someone he deserves, and she won't stop until he does.