She curled up tighter, seeing how she might've pushed him just a little too far. She tried to blink back her scared tears but it was too much to handle. Even though she knew what happened when she pushed people, she did it anyway. She couldn't help it, it's what she did.
Draven growled low in his throat and punched the wall. There was no one he could talk to, nothing to burn, nothing to take his rage out on.
Except her.
But he wouldn’t do that. Deep down, he really did care for her, no matter how angry she made him feel. He took a deep breath and sighed, rubbing his face. The anger was gone, and there was nothing left in him except for a deep loneliness and exhaustion.
She buried her face in her knees, trying to stay as silent as possible so maybe he wouldn't notice her. If he forgot about her, he wouldn't hurt her. Right? "I'm sorry, just please don't hurt me." She whimpered quietly.
Draven turned slowly and saw her. He sighed. “Why would I hurt you?” It ceout harsher than he had intended.
She flinched, going silent. She was trembling, trying her best not to cry. She was stronger than this. So why did it scare her so much?
He sighed, running his hands through his hair. “Why would I hurt you when you’ve done nothing wrong?” He asked in a softer voice.
"B-Because people always hurt me w-when I make them angry. I-I'm used to it b-by now." It was sad but true. After all the abuse she's been through, getting beaten was normal to her.
Draven groaned. He wasn’t good at emotions. “I’m not angry at you,” he said slowly, “I’m angry at myself.”
Why? Because you care? Don't worry, I'm used to that too. She went silent once again, wrapping her arms around herself. If she held herself tight enough, maybe it'd trick her mind into thinking that someone didn't hate her.
Draven rolled his eyes. If she wanted to keep pretending like he was a monster, he would let her. He was used to it.
She didn't want him to be the bad guy because he wasn't. She was. And she didn't want to bring anyone else down with her.
Draven picked at the scabs on the back of his knuckles and sighed, leaning his head against the bars.
"It's my fault, I know. I'm disappointing, I know. I'm just like everyone else, I know." She muttered under her breath. She was just another freak in the world. Not like it needed any more of those.
Draven ignored her. She would be better later… right? Maybe then he could apologize, but right now, he couldn’t.
A sudden banging on the bars brought her out of her thoughts. "Lighten up little lady. Or I'm calling Doctor Sterling." Mariah warned before walking back to her station. Ivy's eyes widened and she seemingly snapped out of her mood. The last thing she needed was a visit from Doctor Sterling.
Draven stared at the woman blankly. “Is there any chance I could get some pants?” He asked.
"Nope! So don't bother." Mariah smiled at him before returning to her spot to talk to the other guards. "Mariah's kind of hardheaded. You'll get used to it."
He snorted. “I can tell.”
She smiled a little, standing from her spot. "After dealing with her for 2 years, I kind of know what I'm talking about when it comes to her."
“You sure?” Draven didn’t see a trace of the nervous, self-hating girl he had seen only moments ago. Except in her eyes.
She kept her gaze off his own. If she stared into his eyes, she'd break down. Breaking down meant another visit from the doctor. And she really didn't need that. "Yep. Pretty sure."
He smirked slightly. “Whatever you say.” He ran a hand through his hair and groaned. “I need a shower.”
"We all do. Unfortunately, showers aren't for another hour so we're waiting." She shook her thoughts away, lifting her eyes to his.
He looked at her for a moment, then away, guilt suddenly flashing through him. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Dang. I feel gross.”
So do I. But for a very different reason. "Yeah, it's a shame. But hey, I've been dealing with it for a couple years, you get used to it."
He shrugged. “I’ve been here for years too, but never in a cell like this. In all my other ones, we got to shower once a day.”
"Nope, they don't trust me. Mine is once every like two or three days." She shrugged, leaning against the wall.
“Why? Do they think you’ll drown yourself?”
"No, they think I'll drown someone else. I'm a bit aggressive with the other prisoners."
“I wouldn’t have guessed,” Draven said with a snort.