keep this secret
Vaggie had fallen hard on her back while training, practising in the back lot of the old building she and Charlie had started renovating together. She’d landed on a rock, or some scrap, or some building materials - something. And she’d known at once she’d opened up the year-old scars on her shoulder blades - she’d felt the sharp pain, the wetness of blood on her skin and fabric.
She raced back inside to take care of it before Charlie saw.
But Charlie must have sent the Goat Bois after her.
She was in front of the bathroom sink, just getting her tunic off and groaning at the golden stain blossoming on the band of her bra… when the door slammed open, and Razzle and Dazzle fluttered in.
She yelped and tried to hide her back - eye wide, chest heaving. It was no good - she knew her blood would be reflected in the mirror and in the goat bois’ eyes.
But Razzle and Dazzle didn’t react. They just hovered, and kept on looking at her with expressions of absolute concern.
Dazzle was the first to move. He fluttered forwards, proffering a bottle of ointment. She accepted it numbly.
“You… you knew?”
Dazzle nodded.
“And - and you don’t think I’m a…?” A danger? To Hell? To Charlie?
Both Goat Bois resolutely shook their heads.
Vaggie swallowed back tears. “Please don’t tell her. If she knew…” The thought terrified her.“...I don’t want to lose her.”
Razzle looked a little wary at that, but he nodded along with his brother. He made his exit.
But Dazzle stayed behind. He approached Vaggie again. She couldn’t help but reach out to stroke his head; and he purred and nuzzled into her hand. He trusted her, despite all she’d done.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
She was going to strive to trust Dazzle back.