I'll Miss You
Leksa had been staring at the wall in front of her for a while. Abbie had come in to give her a new bit of pain medicine and she hadn’t been able to fall back asleep. She looked down at her hands and imagined the blood on them from those she killed. She shrugged it off and went back to staring at the wall. She had been so zoomed out and in trying to make sure she remembered everything in the games for her interview, that she hadn’t even noticed Amora had entered her room and sat down in the chair over by the door.
Amora had been studying her, trying to imagine the outfit she had designed on Leksa..
“How are your ribs?” Amora broke the silence. Leksa looked up and reached for the nearest object to defend herself with, having forgotten for a moment where she was. She winced as she had violently reached for a cup and when she realized it was just Amora, she went back to how she was with her hands in her lap.
“Sore but the medicine helps.” Leksa looked over at Amora. “How are you going to dress me?”
“That depends on how sore you feel. I’ve designed an outfit for you but it has the belted cage around the waist that goes up a bit and I don’t want you wearing it if you’re going to be in pain.” Amora had noticed her slight wince when Leksa had reached for the cup.
“I’m going to need help getting dressed.” Leksa told her. “My-”
“Your arm. I know.” Amora smiled at Leksa. “I know just who can help with that. It’ll be just a second.” Amora stood and quickly exited the room. Leksa went back to staring at the wall. Feeling nothing in this moment was a small comfort to Leksa. It meant she didn’t have to deal with what was bothering her. Meant she didn’t have to deal with the deaths she had caused.
Leksa heard boots against the tile floor of the hospital and glanced up when the door to her room was thrown open. Leksa couldn’t help but tear up at the sight before her. Klark’s hair was disheveled except for a braid on the right side of her head. She had dark circles under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in a week. Her shirt was a baggy black shirt and she sported her usual black pants with combat boots. Klark let out a strangled sob as she took in Leksa sitting on the hospital bed.
“You made it back to me.” Was all Klark said. She crossed the room in 3 quick steps and was sitting on the bed beside Leksa. “Thank you Leksa.” Leksa nodded, finding that her hands were seeking out Klarks.
“We weren’t suppose to see each other today. Caesar wanted our first reunion on screen. You know how he is. Act surprised at the interview. We don’t want them thinking any more rules were broken.” Klark rolled her eyes. Blue met with green and Leksa felt her mouth twitch up into a smile.
Leksa leant forward, closing the small space between. She softly kissed Klark, as if not wanting to break her or wake up, finding she was still in the games. Klark kissed back, harder and then softer, as if remembering what Leksa had gone through to get to her.
“I’m supposed to help you get dressed.” Klark frowned against Leksa’s lips, remembering why Amora and her mother had looked the other way when she went into Leksa’s room.
Klark hesitantly got up, not wanting to be apart from Leksa for too long, and closed the door to Leksas room.
“I’m going to need to change the bandage around your back. Atleast it binds your breasts so we don’t have to worry about that with your outfit.” Klark shrugged.
“Whatever you wish to do.” Leksa’s voice sounded small. She had been crying since Klark had come into the room and hadn’t even noticed until a drop hit her hand. Leksa wiped at her face, the betrayal from her eyes leaving her ashamed.
Klark entered some random numbers and a 4 digit passcode into the wall and grabbed the medicine and bandage as soon as it was out of the wall. She went back to her spot on Leksas bed and frowned.
“You can be upset. It’s okay. I am not from your District. I don’t see it as weakness Leksa, only strength.” Leksa nodded in reply and decided to just leave the tears be. She shrugged off her hospital gown and with her good arm, threw it as hard as she could toward the door.
“Turn please.” Klark half commanded her. Leksa did as she was told and turned so Klark could undo the binding and get at the wound that needed cleaned. Klark gently unwound the bandage from around Leksa’s torso. When the bandage finally came off and she peeled off the cloth from the wound, tears sprang to her eyes. The star had cut pretty deep. They had surgically stapled it closed, seeing as how they had to go in to remove it. Klark gingerly touched the area and put the new white bandage on, it had the medicine in the cloth itself, so when applied, it was immediate relief to the area. With the same amount of pressure taking it off, she put the wrap back on. Doing her best not to linger over where Leksa hadn’t given her conformation that she could look or touch. Once the new bandage was on Klark ran her fingertips lightly down Leksa’s spine. She smiled to herself at the goosebumps that showed on her skin.
“Okay. Now, the hard part. Putting your clothes on.” Leksa turned to look at Klark as she headed back over to the chair. The clothes must’ve been set there as Amora left, Leksa decided.
Klark held up the shirt and wrinkled it up.She put it over Leksa’s head, letting Leksa use her good arm to put one sleeve on. The shirt was rather long and Klark knew it would cut off at her waist in the front but fall to the back of her knees in the back. Klark wrinkled up the side of the shirt that Leksa’s bad arm couldn’t get through and slowly snaked Leksas arm through it. Leksa hissed at the movement from her arm and how it stung her back.
“I’m sorry.” Klark kissed her cheek and then went to grab the belt for around Leksa’s waist. She put it around her waist and then started to buckle the two straps. She set them to what she assumed was a comfortable belt hole and moved onto Leksas pants.
“I can put those on.” Leksa insisted. She hadn’t ever been taken care of like this and it was making her a little uncomfortable.
“No. I’m helping you.” Klark left no room for argument as she wrinkled up the pants legs so that the leg holes were easier to step into. Leksa slowly stood and put her good hand on Klarks shoulder, using her to steady herself as she put her legs into the pants. Klark swiftly had them up and buttoned before Leksa could protest.
“Sit back down.” Klark instructed her. Leksa sat, rolling her eyes as she did. Klark slid a boot on a zipped the zipper up. She did the last shoe and took a look at Leksa.
“Stunning.” She breathed out. The last thing she held out was a thin but long piece of red fabric. The clasp being to swords crossed in an X. She pinned it to Leksas left shoulder. The red fabric hung loosely but the clasp did as it was supposed too and kept it in place.
Klarks arms were suddenly around Leksa in a tight hug. She buried her face in Leksas neck, breathing her in. She set a kiss on her neck and then sat back up. Klark wiped at a few tears and then shakily breathed out.
“Amora’s team will be here soon to do your hair and what not.” Klark tried to focus on something that wasn’t her heart.
“Thank you Klark. For sending me everything. For keeping me alive.” Leksa locked eyes with Klark and moved a strand of her sun kissed hair behind her ear. She softly touched Klarks cheek and Klark leaned into the touch relishing it. Klark’s hand went up and trapped Leksas between her own and her cheek.
The door opened suddenly and Amora was standing there, obviously uncomfortable at having broken up the reuniting pair.
“You need to go Klark. Before they notice you’re missing.” Amora exhaled sharply and then quickly turned, leaving.
“I’ll see you on the show. Remember, act surprised.” Klark kissed Leksa’s forehead and then the tip of her nose, only to go to her cheek. Her final destination being the sweet taste of Leksas lips.
“I’ll miss you.” Leksa said to Klarks retreating form. With her hand on the door, Klark looked back at Leksa.
“And I’ll miss you.”