wounded healer [[ vixxy ]]

His brain had been correct in the assumption she'd be near the horses. Today, Helena was brushing down her favorite in camp, Honey, and making sure she was warm before their ride. The daughter of Eros heard the crushing of the frozen grass and looked over, smiling. "Hey stranger. I was afraid you were avoiding me. Can't be if you'd come so close to the horses." She teased playfully. She was looking better than ever. She was eating properly, staying away from booze, and best of all, dressing like herself. Since she'd stopped dying and cutting her hair (other than to remove the black ends), it grew out bright blond, curling down to her shoulders now.

Blue eyes glittered with a genuine smile as she placed a heavier blanket on the horses back, before a saddle. "Wanna come ride with me?"

Helena smiled. "You can ride on Honey with me if you like, or we can get you Cherish. He's an easy one to ride." The blond couldn't help but chuckle as he moved skitterishy around the creatures she so adored. Honey was a calm thing. "She was only saying hello. No need to jump out of your skin." She teased, taking his hand carefully and placing it on the yellow horse's nose. Holding his hand, if allowed, she would guide him in gently stroking her nose gently.

"So, where have you been lately, Mister Healer?" The daughter of Eros finally asked, glancing at him. Her smile faltered, and it was obvious she had been worried he'd run off on her. Looking foward, she cooed to Honey, stroking her nose. The horse would snort, nipping at Helena's curly hair.

Helena peeked over at him as he spoke of where he'd been lately. She noticed the trail-off easily, and blinked as he switched to a compliment on her hair. What was he hiding? Weird. The blond chuckled, handing him a brush to start his brush down of Cherish. He needed to get less fearful around horses! They were her babies. "I know you like it better this way. That's why I wear it like this at all. You're face is all red. I've been riding and doing summer school over the internet to make up my failing grades." Reaching around her own neck, she took off her scarf and wrapped it around his neatly. It smelled like her perfume and was made from soft, teal cotton. "You should keep warm. It's chilly out you know."

She was teasing, smiling at him with a raised eyebrow. "So, why haven't you been able to see me then, Lykos. Have you found yourself a pretty, new friend to try and mend?" she asked. It was obvious, the thought had been nagging her badly by the way her crystalline eyes avoided his face.

Helena looked at him in shock for a few moments, her mouth agape. It took a cold wind drying her mouth to make her shut it, and finally take a few good blinks. "I.. What?" she asked at first, trying to comprehend properly. No one liked her. They liked her looks, her money, her face. Never her. At first, she felt terrified. Her heart thumped, her blood ran hot. It was the need again. That need to be in love and be loved. It coursed through her... But this... seemed different, maybe? It didn't feel irrational, for once, and he didn't seem to be leaving out words from his sentence. He liked her.

After a deep breath through her nose, and an exhale through glossed lips, she smiled. "I think I like you a lot too. It's hard to tell, not because I don't like you. I mean... I know I like you, but I can't tell if it's because I'm not afraid of you like other men, or if it's my stupid love blood, or if it's just...I like you. I don't want to disappoint you because I'm a mess... Can you still like me even though I'm a mess?

Helena's face went dark red, and she began chewing on her lip. She hadn't meant to insult him. She'd meant to explain that he deserved better. Way better than her. Someone who was sweet to him, and not ill. But the idea of him disappearing again, seeing him in the arms of another girl, made her see red and her blood boil in her heart. No. Lykos was hers. She wasn't going to let him go. Ever.

Looking up at him, there was a suddenly clarity in her eyes. A decision had been made. Without much warning, she was leaning forward to press her lips to his.

Helena blinked at him, chuckling. Her lips were puffy from their kissing, and her glitter gloss had clung to his. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she let her weight lean onto him, her face close again. "I kind of thought the kiss was the answer, but yes. I will be your girlfriend, lover, anything you want, so long as you stay mine." He would be hers. And she'd do whatever it took to keep him happy. At least, this time, it was all healthy and good for her and him. Maybe love wasn't so wrong.

Leaning in, she would kiss him again, but only for a moment. "Honey is going to get aggravated if we keep sitting here kissing and don't get to her morning run..." She mumbled. Maybe because the honey-colored mare was nudging her in the back quite insistently.

It felt, safe. This kind of love. Before, it never was. This, was safe. Like her new parents. They wanted her healthy and happy and loved. And not in the wrong way. So did Lykos. Her Lykos now. Smiling up at him, she let out a laugh. "It's not unheard of in the camp from rumors I've heard. But I don't need a brother. I need you. I'll try not to bug you while you're working in the infirmary though. I know how important that is to you."

Folding her hands behind her back, she blushed. "Yeah, we might have to carry around wet wipes if we're going to be kissing a lot. I liked my lip gloss even before I decided it should be pink and taste like pink lemonade. And Honey isn't going to hurt you, Lyle. You don't have to ride with me if you don't want, but she does need her morning run." Slipping her foot in, she swung herself up onto the saddle and rested there. It was surprising how just a few months ago, she would have died of alcohol poisoning had he not come by.

"Of course it's tasty, I wouldn't wear it if it wasn't!" Lykos was making her so happy. She'd have to find a way to make him happy. Maybe she could learn to sew or something, then she could help stitch wounds in the infirmary, right? Ehhh, maybe not. Leaning back against him, she grinned. "Honey will not hurt you. On purpose at least. Just don't get under her legs. I won't run her today so you don't slip off." Turning, she kissed him on the cheek reassuringly, before turning forward again and urging the blond horse to trot.

"I won't bug you while you're healing people, Lykos. You're important there, and I want you to do what you do best. I'll just sit around and draw if you're busy, until you're not busy." She smiled. "I've waited how long for you? I can wait between time with you too." So long as other demi-goddesses didn't look to hard. Jealousy was a serious problem for her.