Broken Healer 2/?
So, per request of my friend, I am uploading the next installment :)
Rating: K+
Notes: This chapter is more Hurt/Comfort. Blargllargllargl. Enjoy.
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"This is some good soup, kid."
"Thanks, but my name is James."
"James," Abel repeated before going back to his soup.
James had already finished his third bowl. "Do you live out here all on your own?"
"Yeah. Town life was too much of a hassle."
The blind male smiled and imagined a rough and tumble guy. "Um, do you think I could...feel your face?" Silence. "To know what you look like," he quickly explained. He felt his face get warm.
The sound of a chair moving back recaptured James' attention.
"Alright."
James slowly felt his way around the table and felt Abel's hand grab his own.
"Here," Abel said softly and led James' hands to his face.
Nervously, the avian male began feeling Abel's face. With each touch, a clearer image of Abel began to form in James' mind.
"Shaggy, brown-ish hair," he whispered aloud. "Rough face...you've been through a lot. Blue eyes...so much hurt in them." He felt Abel stiffen. James dropped his hands. "Sorry. I should've explained that there are some things I can "see" depending on what and where they are." He bit his lip. "It's a bird thing."
Abel laughed, breaking the uneasiness between the two. "Ya certainly are somethin'," the man said with a hint of amazement in his voice. He saw James give a small smile and turn away. "What is it?"
"You really loved her, didn't you?" James said quietly.
Abel quickly shot up, but calmed himself down when James backed up with fear.
"I'm sorry," James squeaked out.
The man gently walked over to James and looked into the younger man's sightless eyes. Abel sighed and placed his hands on James' shoulders, leading him towards the living room. He sat James down before sitting down himself.
"I did. She was the best thing that ever happened to me."
James swallowed.
"She died two years ago. She and the baby." Abel's voice began to waver.
James said nothing and reached for Abel's hand.
The man grasped James' hand and squeezed tightly. "You're the only person I've ever told since it happened. There were rumors, but I didn't bother to tell the truth. The truth that the two of them just couldn't handle the birth." Abel let out a small sob.
James was at a loss for words and only responded with rubbing his thumb across the man's hand.
"Are you going to leave too?"
The blind male reached up and felt the tears on Abel's face. "I don't know."
For the first time in his life, James felt completely lost.
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James heard the sound of logs hitting the ground at his feet. "More?!" he exclaimed. He had been stacking wood all day, while Abel had been chopping and collecting it.
"Have to get ready for the winter, birdie."
It had been two weeks since James' arrival at Abel's home in the woods. They had quickly adjusted to each other and did daily chores together. Abel had also come to calling James everything but James.
The avian male stuck his tongue in his cheeck and went back to stacking.
"Speaking of which, does your kind migrate?" Abel was getting less and less delicate when asking personal questions.
James scoffed. "No. That's where we're more human-like."
"Hmm," Abel replied.
Well, at least he's not grunting anymore. James thought to himself, smiling.
Evening could not come soon enough as James raced into the house to make supper.
"Want eggs?" he called out. No reply came, but he felt the hair on his neck stand on end. He jumped away with superhuman speed. "Don't do that!"
Abel burst with laughter. As he was gasping for air, he managed a, "It's so funny."
James glared at him as best a blind person could.
"Easy, easy." Abel quickly backed up around the table, still laughing.
"What am I going to do with you?" the blind male said and went back to the refridgerator.
"I don't know." The man came over and draped an arm around James' shoulders. "Just going to have to deal with me for now." He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down.
Still hanging on the refridgerator door, James felt warm and he missed Abel's arm on his shoulders. Oh boy...just the emotions I need right now...
"Ya going to keep the door open?" Abel asked from the table.
"Oh, sorry." James snapped out of his thoughts and grabbed the eggs. Immediately, he got to work cooking.
Abel took a swig from his beer. "I don't get how ya do it." He watched James at the stove, flipping eggs better than any professional cook. The man felt something stir inside him that he hadn't felt since his days with Carrie. He shook his head and pushed the feeling to the back of his mind.
"It's the one thing that nobody has to worry about with me." The avian male stopped. Always needing help. Useless. Good for nothing. Why on earth would they want me back? Why does Abel even...
"Hey."
James spun around. "What? What?"
"The...um...eggs are burning."
"Shit!"
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And that's it for now. Who's ready for some steamy stuff in the next chapter?! Hahaha.