A gentle breeze blows through the cracked window, hitting you in the face. You stare out exhausted into the night sky from your spot on the couch. Between you and the outside world is a screen, keeping any bugs at bay. You can smell the rain from earlier in the day hanging in the air. You curl into your blankets, checking your phone.

It's late, very late. And Jackie isn't home yet. Usually he'd be home on time after his shifts, but for some reason, tonight he's two hours late...

You wouldn't mind, he has his own life after all. But it's difficult to fall asleep. Especially when your brain decides to kick into high gear with the 'what if' scenarios well past 2:30 in the morning. So, you decide to wait until Jackie gets home. He has this way of making you feel safe. Maybe it's his hugs, maybe it's how warm and friendly he is, heck, it might even be the simple fact he's willing to help you through anything. Almost like a super hero...

You grin at the thought, watching outside the window, grateful for the breeze. It had be hot these past few days and the air conditioning is out. Someday you'll get around to fixing it. Maybe...

From outside the window you hear the crunch and scrape of shoes on pavement. You consider rushing to lock the door but decide not to when you see Jackie's familiar silhouette walk by. You smile, sitting up from your spot "I'm glad you're back!" he steps up the rest of the way through the door. "I was getting-" he tilts his head up to see you better as he takes his shoes off "worried..." you finish the sentence, taking in his worrying state. Jackie's lip dribbles blood from a split and his nose is on the brink of bleeding through its tissue stopper. His left eye is starting to swell and a large bruise takes up most of the space on the right side of his cheek. "What happened?!" You ask, rushing to your feet to help him sit down.

"Nothin..."

"Oh, bull. Be serious." You demand, sitting him down on the couch before pushing back his hood.

"I am serious!" Before he has a chance to fight back, you yank the hoodie over and off his head in one quick motion. You stare at him, speechless.

"Jackie..." You almost breathe. What's with the red jump suit? And where did these cuts come from? Is that his blood or someone else's? "What happened?"

"It was just a little fight, that's all, no need to fuss..." he moves to stand up, only to be be forced back down by you..

"I'll be right back, let me get the med kit." You leave to room too quick to give space for objection. You can get your answers later, right now you gotta patch him up...

When you get back you find Jackie holding his head in his hands. You set down your gathered supplies and without a word, tilt his chin up with your thumb and forefinger. "This'll sting, I'll try to be careful.." for a second you make eye contact that feels like a sucker punch to the face. Jackie's face freezes into a look of guilt, irritation, and a light trace of...fear? Regardless, you set to work.

Along with the first aid kit, you've brought a cloth and little bowl of water. Carefully, you dab at his lip "If you don't want to tell me the truth, that's fine..." you rinse the rag and prep a wad of tissue and gauze which you hand him "but I need to know, is it all yours?" You grasp the soaked through stopper with a pair of tweezers and with precision pull out the old one. In a flash Jackie pinches his nose "No...some of it is, most of it isn't..." he staunches the blood with the new stopper

"I see..." you move on to investigate the cuts along his body. They don't look too deep, but it's hard to tell. "Jackie, I need you to take off the..." costume? Pajamas? "Suit. It's hard to treat these proper.."

"Why? I can do it. It's my fault and responsibility. I don't want you getting tangled up in this. It's dangerous so-"

"Why won't you let me help you?" You ask him with confused and hurt sincerity. He stares at you, unable to think of an answer. For a long moment you force him to look you in the eye. "Answer me."

He sighs in defeat, letting his shoulders slump forward "I didn't want you getting caught up in all of this.." he gestures stiff and vague with his hands "stuff."

"Well, it's hard to get sucked in if I don't even know what the 'stuff' is." You have a point.

"Yeah but it's.. they... it's still..." Jackie groans knowing that right now you're right. He pulls a tucked away zipper and unzips the suit to the waist. He ties the sleeves in a loose knot around the middle. "Fine.."

"Thank you.." You find yourself shocked by the sheer quantity and size of various cuts and bruises. Your gaze lingers just a little too long as he raises a brow at you, in cocky confusion and amusement. You shake your head and set to work getting him cleaned and patched up. As you work you notice something. "Have you been going to the gym?"

"No, why?"

"Just curious" just curious about the fact that his muscles were not this toned before. He's not shredded by any means, but this is lean muscle that he definitely didn't have before...

You watch Jackie's breath rise and fall at staggered intervals "Have you broken a rib?!"

"I dunno...probably just bruised."

"Jackie, we should get you to a doctor"

"No! No, I'll be fine. Don't worry about it."

You nod a moment. It sounds like he's done this before, and while you don't want to, you have to trust him to get himself taken care of. You keep any touch to his chest light and quick, not wanting to make him uncomfortable by lingering too long.

"This one may hurt..." you grab the peroxide again and tap it to the

"Gah!" Jackie his, flinching away in tense pain.

"Sorry!"

"It's- fine." He grits through his teeth "just caught me off guard is all.." Jackie's body stays tense and rigid as you continue working. You can only assume he's holding back many an angry curse. You finally set aside the disinfectant and antibiotic to wrap the wound. It takes time, but you get a good way through, round and round it goes. You reach the end of the bandage roll and look up to grab the securing pin. Only now do you realize how close you've forced yourself to Jackie. You're only an inch away from being flush with his chest. You glance up at his pink cheeked face, making awkward eye contact. His eyes tear away and he grabs the pins "You might, uh, need these.." he clears his throat while holding his upturned palm with the pins inside to you.

"Right, thank you." You grab one, fingers just brushing his palm. You let your stare scrape down his face for what feels like an eternity. For a second you glance at his lips before forcing yourself back to work. 'Stupid! He probably thinks your a creep now...' you grumble inside. With a few clicks you have the clamps in place.

You start to stand when Jackie lightly takes your arms "Wait-" he looks you in the eye then to the ground "thank you.."

"Of course...don't mention it." You stand, his hands sliding off your arms "Want some tea?"

"Sure," Jackie's lips turn in a patient kind of grin "I suppose you'll want an explanation as well..."

"So...you're a super hero?"

"Yep,"

"And you've been at it for how long?"

"Three years,"

"I see... and you weren't ever going to tell me?"

"Well, not at first... I don't want you getting hurt..."

"Oh come on, how bad could it really be?"

Instead of an answer he gives you the kind of look that says 'very bad' the kind of look that says he's seen things. A mix of fear, sadness, with a very light twinge of anger.

"Oh... well, does anyone else know?"

"Yeah..." he starts before shrinking into a wince "Henrik,"

"You told Henrik before you told me?!?"

"The man's a doctor!"

"Yeah, but I'm your friend!" You slam down your mug of hot tea, letting it slosh out of the cup "or, at least I thought I was." Your grip on the handle loosens.

Jackie's face sinks. How do you reply to that? He sets aside his own mug "that's why I didn't want to tell you..."

"Because I'd get mad?!" You snap.

"Because you're my.." he pauses

"Jackie?" He blinks, covering his mouth before continuing.

"You're my friend. I don't want people coming after you."

"Well, why should I be worried? I've got you on my side." You grin and punch him in the shoulder.

He winces before laughing "easy, easy, I'm still human." The two of you settle down again, taking sips from your respective tea.

"The next time you see Henrik, make sure he looks at your shoulder,"

"Will do, hun,"

"What?"

"What?"