Chapter 12

Yelenas pov:
I head back to the compound, my heart growing heavier, the further away from her i am. I park up my bike and walk to the kitchen, quietly making a drink when nat taps me in the shoulder. “Hey tasha, i have so much to tell you about today-” “Well thats going to have to wait.” I see her solemn expression and worry makes my stomach flip. I turn around and see alex there. “Alex?” “I made a mistake. When you guys were leaving i said a thought about gays getting the cutest relationships and david was stood right there.” Panicked thoughts race through my mind as i quickly look between him and tasha. “Did he hear you? Definitely?” He slowly nods and nat puts her hand on my shoulder. “Alex came here because he hoped we could get through to you. Her dad left with some of his friends too.” I look at him and go to punch him but nat pushes me back. “Dont do that, yn wont forgive either of you.” I start to raise my voice slightly. “Why are you both still
here?! We need to go! We need to help
her!” “We had to wait and see if she was with you first.” I grab my keys and natasha follows me to the garage and we both get on my bike. We dont waste time putting helmets on and i race through the city, definitely going faster than i would on a motorway.

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Yns pov:
I slowly walk towards my run down apartment and twist the knob. When i open the door i see david there with a couple of his regular drinking buddies. Clearly pissed and clearly waiting for someone. I wait for him to shout at me to leave but instead someone locks the doot behind me and thats when i realise. They were waiting for someone. They were waiting for me. He throws the first punch right into my face. He hits me so hard blood spatters on the floor. I go to stand up but he kicks me in the stomach, making me fall. He kicks me in the mouth, making my head snap back and blood fill my mouth. He shouts inbetween each kick to my stomach. “NO- CHILD- OF- MINE- WILL- BE- GAY-” Blood drips down the side of my mouth when he flips me on my back, pressing his foot down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. “Dad- please, i cant breathe!” “If you can talk, you can breathe, now listen, if you dare even look at a girl in a weird way, i will find a shotgun and shoot her and then you!” He moves his foot and i suck in air as quickly as i possibly can. “Youre a monster!” His friends take it in turns kicking me in the ribs and then they swiftly leave, not even botherinfng to shut the door. I curl up in a ball, just trying to breath properly, eventually i drag myself up and hold onto the counter for support as my whole body shakes in pain. You take a step towards the door, but fall and just wait for someone to find you.

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Yelenas pov:
When we get there, i barely remember to turn off the bike before we run in. I go straight to her apartment, nat following closely behind. Her door is open slightly, i take a deep breath and slowly push the door open. Its empty except for a broken yn on the floor, her face smeared with blood. My heart stops. Nat pushes past me and rushes to her side, seeing if shes conscious. I feel like i cant move, like im in a dream, being held back while her dad kills her. Nat shouts to me from yns side, “Yelena! Get here now!” That pulls me out of my trance. I rush to her side, cupping her face as she groans in pain. “Yn? Do you know where you are?” She cries out in pain when nat touches her ribs and i snap at her, “CAREFUL!” “Im just trying to help!” I use my sleeve to try and wipe blood from her mouth but more spills out. “Yn, what happened?” Nat tries to keep her talking, but she hasnt said a word since we got here, she just groans in pain. She lets out some quick breaths as she tries to speak. “He got to me. H-he brought-” she cuts herself off by grunting in pain. “I know, its okay, everythings okay.” She keeps trying to speak, “friends. He said a-about me being gay-” “Yn, its okay, save your energy.” Nat gives me an annoyed look. “What are you doing, she needs to talk so we know if somethings seriously wrong!” “Shes in pain!” “If you arent going to let me help, then you can go call bruce and tony and tell them to bring a car!” I storm off to by the door and take out my phone with my shaky hands. I call them and panic, talking quickly. “Tony bring bruce and some medical supplies in a car to yns apartment, now! And tell peter to get to the compound, he shouldnt be alone.” I hang up before he can respond. And im right back by yns side. She seems like shes about to fall asleep so nat pushes down on her ribs and she cries out in pain. “What are you doing?!” “Keeping her awake! Atleast until tony and bruce get here.” I turn to face yn whos face is enshrouded by pain. I cup her face and stroke my thumb over her cheekbone gently and hold her hand so she can squeeze it through the pain. “Im so sorry yn, i knew i shouldve walked you in.” “N-no they would have come for you too.” She takes some more quick, shallow breaths and panic starts to overwhelm me as i feel tears prick my eyes. Dont cry. Dont cry. Dont cry. Shes fine. “Shes definitely got broken ribs, thats why shes breathing like that and in so much pain.” “Come on yn, i knew you wanted to spend time with me, but this might be a tad dramatic.” She laughs and wheezes in pain. “Ow.” A few minutes later tony and bruce walk in and their eyes widen at the sight of her. “What happened?” “Some guys beat the shit out of me.” Bruce flashes a light in her eyes as he speaks gently. “Okay yn, i need to know exactly what they did.” “H-he punched me in the face and then-” she coughs, wincing in pain and letting out wheezy pained breaths. “He kicked me in the stomach and then the face and then the back a few times. He stepped on my chest, making it hard to breath. And then his friends took it in turns kicking me in the ribs.” Bruce and tony shared a worried look. “What? Whats going on? Is she okay?” Nat tries to pull me back but i push her away. And tony looks at me nervously. “If her ribs broke before they finished hittkng her in them, she could have lung damage.” Shit. The breathing. I knew something was wrong. Bruce sees yn falling asleep and presses on her ribs, making her whimper in pain. “Will you stop doing that to her!” He ignores me and focuses on yn. “Yn we need to move you, okay? Can you help?” “You want her to walk?!” “No i need you and tony to help walk her to the car.” “No screw that, ill cary her, go open the car door.” Everyone just looks at me, doing nothing. “Go!” Tony rushes out to open the doors and i scoop her up, carrying her as she breaths shallowly.

Softly, i lay her on the back seat and she groans. I sit with her head on my lap and nat gives me a confused look. “Take the motorbike, im staying with yn.” Tony and bruce slide into the front and slowly drove back to the compound. “God could you drive any slower?” Bruce sulks as he speaks. “Its the speed limit.” Tony raises his eyebrows clearly flummoxed. “Why are you doing the speed limit? I knew i shouldve driven. This is an emergency, put your foot down!” “For scientists, you guys arent very smart.” He finally floors the pedal and we get back to the compound in minutes. I carry her to med bay and hear a strangled sob, i look over and see peter watching. “Ill get out of your way, but ill be right outside watching.” I stand next to peter in an awakward silence. He speaks first,”What happened?” “Shes got some broken ribs and maybe a concussion, maybe a little lung damage too. She should be okay though. It makes you reconsider what really keeps you safe, doesnt it?” He gives me a kmowing look before guiltily looking at yn. “She doesnt want me to admit whats happening.” “Why?” He looks away. “She has her reasons.” I scoff, annohed by their secrecy. “Yeah well her reasons has got her laying in a hospital bed.” He sheepishly glances back at her through the window. “I dont know her reasons, all i know is that its to do with our mom.” Dammit why does she keep everything in. “Okay, well ill talk to her and find out, why dont you help us put your dad in prison, where he belongs.” His tears start to flow again, “how do i do that?” “Go find nat, tell her things he has done. Make a verbal and written statement.” His gaze dances between me and yn, his mind clearly racing with potential outcomes. “If you dont help us now, this could get much worse.” He sighs defeated and walks off. I dont take my eyes off of yn after that. An hour later tony comes out, relief painted all over his face. “No lung damage, mild concussion and 8 broken ribs.” “How longs her recovery time?” “6 weeks ish, thats until shes fully healed anyway, she can return to her normal activities in about a week or so with the correct pain relief.” “Can i see her?” “Yeah of course, just be cautious of her ribs.” I thank him and walk straight to her bedside, her face no longer contorted with pain. “We need to stop meeting like this.” She laughs, wincing in pain. “Dont make me laugh.” I frown and fold my arms, “But thats my whole thing, how am i gonna keep a friend without my jokes?” She smiles weakly, “When can i leave?” “Med bay? Im not sure, the tower? Not until your dad is arrested.” “Dont please, he-” “Yn, pete is talking to nat as we speak, giving us evidence, and your dad has given us all the evidence we need today. You are the only one who wont, why?” She looks away unsure and chews the inside of her cheek. “You can tell me, i wont tell a soul.” “He killed my mom.” Wow okay that is not what i was expecting. I didnt even know their mom was dead, i figured she would have skipped town. “What?” “Yeah i was only 7, but something like that sticks with you. It hasnt even faded. Not a single moment. It haunts me every night and i dont have the strength to tell peter.” “It was traumatic, you dont have to tell anyone you dont want to.” “But it was his mom too, even if he only knew her for 4 years.” I shake my head, “Yn you dont owe that part of your life to anyone. Even family. They dont have an automatic right to know what you experienced.” “The worst part is that he killed her because of me.” My heart is in my throat. How could she blame herself? “What do you mean?” “I tried to tell my mom about what he was doing and she told me to get a grip. She didnt believe me. If she wasnt going to stop it, i decided that i would. So later that night i sneaked into their room and tried to stab him, he woke up and stopped me, but i managed to slice his arm.” My throat grows dry and i suddenly understand a lot more about her. “He was furious. So much so that he didnt speak, just strangled my mother and when she tried to speak, he leaned in and asked ‘what was that?’ And then he let go, grabbed my knife and plumged it into her heart.” I dont know what to say. I just sit there like an idiot with this shocked expression. I reach out and hold her hand as she continues. “He turned to me after and told me that that was my fault, that it was a lesson to be learned, that just because me and pete are relatives, it doesnt mean he wont kill us.” I see tears drop down her face and it makes me want to set him on fire with his favourite alcohol. “So thats why you wont tell us? Youre worried that any attempt to stop him will end with david killing you or pete.” “Exactly, so i cant.” “Yn we wont let him get to either of you. I promise. But if you go back there, he might kill you.” “I dont care about me, but if he gets pete…” “i care about you.” “Lena-” “No! You may not care but i do! I care whether you die, you are my friend!” I can see the pain in her eyes, it might be a selfish thing to say but if it keeps her alive, then im going to be selfish. “If you die, it will onky be a matter of time before he kills peter too, because you wont be here to take it!” She chews the inside of her mouth nervously. “Fine.” I take a step back, i wasnt expecting her to actaully agree. “Oh, uh okay well i can get nat in here soon to take a statement.” She just nods and holds my hand. “Im sorry i put you guys through this.” I give her a reassuring smile, “It wasnt your fault it was davids.” “Do you wanna watch a film?” I let out a lighthearted chuckle. “Youre in the med bay and youre thinking about films?” “How else am i
going to make you more cultured?” I grab my laptop and go to sit on the chair next to the bed. “That chair looks really uncomfortable.” “Its fine.” “You can sit in the bed with me if you want.” “God even when your in med bay, youre trying to get me in bed with you.” She chuckles and hisses in pain. She pats the bed next to her and i climb in. She instantly cuddles up to me and my breath hitches. I put on the second percy jackson film at her request and not even 10 minutes into it, shes asleep on me. Its too late for me to turn the film off, im already invested, so instead i watch it, cuddled up next to her. Until nat comes in. She always shows up at the worst time. Always bugging people. She smirks when she sees us. “Wow she really did make herself comfortable huh?” I throw somehing at her and she chuckles. “Its sweet yel. I spoke to parker, he has given me some good statements, but we need yns if we’re going to put him away.” I have a cocky smile on my face when i speak, “Dont worry she agreed.” Her smirk grows, “i wonder why that was.” “We are friends tasha. Thats it.” “Oh yeah im sure thats why youre blushing.” “Says you, ive seen you around wanda.” Her face turns red, i think she was oblivious that other people had caught on. “How did you know-” “The whole compound knows, you guys were always mysteriously ill at the same time and you would sneak into each others rooms at night.” “How is yn?” I smile at the change of subject. “Shes coping. She actually seemed perfectly normal when she woke up. Well, yn normal.” “I wouldnt call either one of you normal.” She leaves a small recorder on the table. “When she wakes up, ask her to recall what happened. Remember, no leading questions, just let it come from her.” I nod and she slowly turns and leaves. I dont know if its the worry i had for yn, or just everything thats happened, but im asleep within minutes of nat leaving.

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Authors note: there is more coming, it might just be a little slow. Hope you enjoy.