Eventually leaving the study room he had hauled himself up in, Erik walked along the corridor. He faintly overheard the chatter happening in the living room, moving away and in the other direction, he walked up the stairs. He didn't cross paths with anyone, clearly everyone else who inhabited this place was in the living room. Though to be honest, he doubted Hank was. That boy just seemed to like to hide away and stay clear of social moments. Not that Erik wholly blamed him really. Not saying that those gathered weren't good company.

At this he turned off and walked up the other set of stairs which led to a corridor. He had briefly heard Raven saying something along the lines off: "Seems they're basically inseparable, they can be neighbours." Her tone seemed laid back and joking enough, yet there was something else lingering in her tone. Erik couldn't even be bothered to muse over what, teenagers and their moods were a headache, they were a challenge and mystery unto themselves and he didn't have the time or the patience to dwell over whatever her problem was.

So, because of what she said, it didn't take a genius to figure out what she was referring to. She had basically put Liesel in the room next to his. Erik had sort of purposefully chosen a room where he didn't have neighbours. Least of all a possible tantrum prone teenage girl. Shaking his head he easily gestured to the door which was suddenly before him, it swung open silently. More silently than it ever would if he opened it personally. Stepping into the room, he looked about. The echoing sounds of laughter from downstairs dissipated as soon as he walked into the room. Shutting the door quietly behind himself, he looked about before looking towards the bed where the sleeping form of Liesel lay. 

She seemed to have changed out of the clothes she arrived in, in favour of a loose fitting vest, with wide enough armholes that it gave her room for mobility. But it also succeeded in showing off the bandages around her midsection, as well as the other dressings which were over deeper wounds on her back. The trousers she had worn were swapped for a pair of sleeping shorts, which managed to show off small cuts and bruises on her legs. She seemed quite content sleeping curled up awkwardly. Clearly trying to find a position to lay in was hard. Either way she'd come to rest on some sort of injury. 

Even from his position near the door he could spy a small brown glass bottle on the bedside table, along with a glass of water. Whatever painkillers they prescribed she had not that long taken. Hence why even as she laid awkwardly propped up she was still sleeping soundly. Padding quietly over, Erik stood and looked down at her. She seemed well, or as well as can be considering. Though cleaned of blood and dirt, and her wounds being properly dressed, she still seemed pale. Like she wasn't quite better yet. Yet.

Hesitantly sitting on the bed he merely looked around the room. It wasn't really any different than his. The only thing which seemed to belong to her was the holdall on the floor by the end of the bed. Though to be honest this had been raided through and a few items now rested strewn on the floor. She'd been here five minutes and was already settled and making herself at home. Not that he was surprised really. Sitting back and resting against the headboard, he merely crossed his arms and sat in silence. He didn't care. Honestly as long as she was within his peripheral vision he was fine. 

Looking suddenly down when there was movement, he was subjected to a tired look. "Now who's sneaking into rooms, huh?" Liesel asked while managing to awkwardly turn over. Now facing him she readjusted her hold on the pillow and looked up at him. "I was actually wondering when you'd appear." 

Now that she seemed semi-awake, Erik could safely say that she still looked exhausted. That no matter how much sleep she could get, it just wasn't enough. Along with having a slightly paler complexion, her eyes seemed darker too, usually so light and shining, literally at times, now they looked dully upwards at him. He did have to remind himself she had some sort of pain relief flooding through her system, so she probably wasn't all here at the moment. "Here I am."

"Low and behold," Liesel smiled and rubbed a bandaged finger across her eye. She was trying to wake up somewhat, though it didn't seem to work. Sighing gently she managed to push herself to sit, from there she looked at him sadly. "I'm fine, so can you stop looking like that?" Crossed between irritated, angry and concerned, it was a curious collection of emotions flitting in and out of his expression and gaze. Liesel was usually quite good at gauging his temperament. But at the moment she seemed at a loss seeing as how he suddenly just looked blankly at her. 

"You're fine."

"That's what I said." 

"You're not fine."

"Yes I am-"

"Look at you, how can you possibly sit there and tell me you are fine?!" He said shortly while frowning at her. "You can barely sit up without looking in pain. Even breathing seems to hurt, but of course it would seeing as how you've got a few busted ribs. You are not fine. Don't say that just to make me feel better about this all."

Liesel looked at him sadly, "If I told the truth you'd feel worse."

"Out of the two of us, it shouldn't be you trying to compensate." He said obviously while watching as she managed to lean against the headboard by his side. 

"True. You should totally be fussing over me, seeing if I'm truly okay, not sitting here seemingly having a go at me. But that is you. You hide concern with anger. If I wasn't used to every moment you have, I'd have had a breakdown by now." Liesel smiled up at him, easily using words he had said to her not that long ago. "I'm fine, Erik. I will heal, like always and then I'll be back to normal."

"Normal, and you?" 

"Don't push it!" She exclaimed only to rub her stomach. Putting pressure on herself to raise her voice hurt. "Look, even you can admit that it has probably been nice not having me buzzing around." She said while looking dimly at the duvet beneath her. 

"I've never known such quiet." He said honestly, she nodded her head slowly. "But I wouldn't say I enjoyed it." Erik looked down at her as she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"So I was missed?" Liesel smiled slyly. 

"Don't push it." Erik replied using her earlier words. "Liesel," he said shortly when she decided to try, being the important word, to hold onto him. Only, because she ached and mobility was apparently tricky, all she managed to truly do was to wrap an arm around him and lean against his shoulder. It wasn't what she was quite aiming for, but she was accepting it. After all he hadn't moved her away. When it came to emotional things, and even comfort, Erik was a little closed off from it. It wasn't something he partook in often. 

"You were missed greatly." 

"That doesn't surprise me."

"If you're going to sit here being a cocky git, you can leave and let me rest." Liesel said with a frown, yet didn't seem to have any intentions of letting him go even if he did wish to leave. 

"I'll stay, if it's all the same to you. But if you're going to go back to sleep, don't sit up." After all that wouldn't do her ribs any good really. The upright strain would surely cause more problems. 

"You do care." Liesel teased and laid back down. She wasted no time in holding onto the pillow and shutting her eyes again. 

"I never said otherwise." Erik looked down at her as she settled quickly enough. 

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?" 

"Lay too, you sitting there watching me sleep is hugely off putting and creepy." She really didn't like being looked down on, even if it was him. Listening to quiet fidgeting, she opened her eyes when it came to a stop. 

Erik had taken to laying on his back, arms crossed and looking up at the ceiling. Liesel sighed as gently as she could. He looked a little awkward. And tense, he was still frowning over something. Though the frown promptly disappeared when she reached up with a bandaged finger and poked him on the cheek. "Do you mind?"

"Do you?"

"Excuse me?"

"You sitting there all grumpy looking isn't exactly pleasant. Calm down, relax, Erik. Whatever it is that's going through that mind of yours, just forget it for now and just relax. Enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts, yes?" She joked with a small smile. 

"I was simply thinking how could I possibly repay him for this?" Erik said while turning his head and looking down at her. Liesel looked puzzled and a little worried for a moment. "There's only one solution, really isn't there?" He questioned not that he expected an answer. Instead all he got in return was Liesel awkwardly shuffling closer to him, uncrossing his arms and placing one around her shoulders while she took to using him as a pillow, again. His other arm didn't get left out though, she reached out and held onto his hand.

Shutting her eyes she buried her face in his jumper and only seemed to relax when she felt his hand trail through her hair. Opening an eye she looked to the wall opposite to where they laid. "He needs to go anyway. Regardless of petty revenge on my behalf."

"It is far from petty, believe me." Erik replied while resting his head on top of hers. "Get some rest, Liesel, you need it to heal." Leaning away when she looked up, he wasn't surprised to see a small frown on her face. Managing to get his hand free of hers, he tucked wayward locks of hair behind her ear. "Now who's the one looking grumpy?" He questioned with a half smile. Running his thumb across her cheek gently, his action just resulted in her leaning into his touch. His smile slowly disappeared from this feeling, with a now thoughtful look sent in Liesel's direction, he didn't expect it to be countered with a look of hesitation. The hesitation didn't last long before it was replaced with one of content surprise. Mainly because he had closed what little distance was between them, and placed his lips gently, yet firmly against hers. The hand against her cheek carefully pulled her closer, while his other hand buried itself in her hair. She in return found herself fisting her hand on his jumper, while her other hand tentatively reached up; and she trailed her fingers along his jaw.

----

Listening to the quiet sounds of footsteps stop in front of the door, Erik naturally looked over his shoulder when there was an even more quite knock against it. Looking back down he managed to somehow, without waking Liesel, get his arm free and stand. She had tossed and turned in her sleep, rather restless and unable to get comfortable. That was until she came to rest on her other side surrounded by pillows one side, and him the other. Needless to say, his arm was used as another pillow, and in fact was tucked under the main one she was using to better try and support her. It seemed to work because she stayed in that position for the longest time.

He had drifted off to sleep briefly, but not for too long. He was just lying awake and thinking over things of no great importance for once until the knock sounded quietly in the room. Making sure she was still asleep, Erik moved silently to the door and waved a hand casually at it. It swung open on the hinges, yet stopped when he caught the door and kept it pulled more to a close than open.

"I had a feeling you'd be here." Charles smiled from his position in the corridor. He simply remained unmoving with his hands in his pockets as he looked up at Erik. He in return looked a little confused as to why Charles was even here. As if getting the hint, Charles snapped to attention and looked back down the corridor before looking at Erik again. "You've been up here for the last four hours."

"So?"

Charles sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You know," he tapped a finger to his temple in thought before smiling. "I'm rather sure even you can't ignore basic human needs." Erik looked even more confused then by his odd choice of words. "Dinner," Charles stated with a thumb pointed down the corridor. "You missed it. No one else seemed up for trying to persuade you to come and eat."

"So you thought you'd try?"

"I had hoped if you listened to anyone, it would be me. So yes, here I am. Is it working?"

"Well I've not shut the door yet, so yes. Let's call your attempt a success, shall we?" Erik smiled and drummed his fingers gently against the door.

"How is she?" Charles asked quietly, Erik moved aside and opened the door more. The shorter male winced at the sight of so much bandaging, yet stepped back into the corridor. "Anyway, are you coming down to eat? I'm not bringing it up to you, I'm not acting servant. If you want though; I'll allow you to bring your dinner up here to eat." Charles said jokingly, yet somehow managing to retain some seriousness. He could see that Erik really was rather reluctant to leave.

Erik rolled his eyes, "You really know how to spoil someone, don't you? If you're not careful, with house rules like that you'll lose most of your tableware." He was rather sure teenagers would hardly leave their rooms, if given the chance, and even less so to return tableware to the kitchen; let alone wash said tableware up and return it to its rightful places.

"This is a one-time thing. Special conditions, and whatnot..." Charles trailed off with a thoughtful hand rolled in the air.

"If you two continue going on, even I will personally leave in search of food just to get some peace." Liesel grumbled irritably. Though they were being as quiet as they could with their tones, it still didn't matter. Propping herself awkwardly onto an elbow, she looked over her shoulder at them both. "Good evening." After all she caught a glance at the window and saw that it was now dark. She guessed she'd slept for a good few hours. Not that it made her feel any better. If anything she woke up stiff, sore, and aching. This all just contributed to her mood reflecting as such.

"Sorry for waking you." Charles offered and got a look sent his way before Liesel managed to stand from the bed. The stretch she attempted just resulted in her wincing and hissing through her teeth. "Hungry?" He thought he'd continue on from why he was actually up here.

Liesel padded silently around the bed, muttering something under her breath which Charles couldn't quite catch, or understand. Erik however watched her every move with a frown and concerned eyes. He did roll his eyes though when he seemed to understand what she was muttering about. Something along the lines of: "What is this, room service?" Shortly followed by: "Please be better than hospital food."

With that in mind, Erik looked to Charles, who still looked rather confused. "What is it?"

"Ah!" Here he seemed to become quite animated, rubbing his hands together he took a step back as Liesel finally moved out of the room. She had quickly pulled her cardigan on, and pulled it closer around herself. She looked from Charles to Erik as he shut the door and fell into line beside her. "There was a bit of a debate, so really there's a bit of everything." They looked confused this time. "Multiple takeaways were ordered." Charles sighed simply. It was perhaps the best answer, and the one he should've given first.

"Pizza?"

"Yes," Charles answered and got a happy smile from Liesel. "You can thank Sean for that."

"Are they all settled now? When Moira came to visit, she mentioned something about everyone staying to themselves." Liesel asked while they made their way down the stairs.

"It took a day, but yes." Charles replied. "How are you finding it?"

"Well, considering I've spent most of my time asleep; yes, settling down is going fine." Liesel laughed quietly, though this resulted in her rubbing her ribs tentatively.

"You know, there is something I must speak to you about actually." Charles said while they walked towards the kitchen. At the moment it was only them up and about, everyone else had retired to their rooms for the night. Seeing as how everyone was elsewhere, he thought it would be a safe time to go and see and get Erik without him being bombarded by curious people wanting to know how Liesel was.

"I've not done anything." Was her immediate reply as she looked at him worriedly. She sat down slowly and awkwardly at the table. Reaching into her cardigan pocket she pulled out the small brown bottle which housed her painkillers. She figured she was in time for the next lot.

Charles couldn't help but laugh quietly. "No, no I know that. Don't worry," he reassured while pottering around the room. Pulling numerous boxed and tubbed up leftovers out of the fridge he along with Erik sought to putting them on the table, before finding plates and cutlery.

Liesel rested her chin against her palm and watched them both with a bored look. "So...what it is? If I'm not in trouble, what is wrong? You've never had a reason to have to talk to me about something before." Which was true. With an annoyed look she glanced at her white bandages and then at the chosen pizza slice she wanted. These weren't going to stay white for long. As if sensing her predicament, Erik did half the job for her and put it on her plate. She sent him a thankful look before awkwardly managing to hold the cutlery. Fingers were hard to bend when wrapped up in gauze.

"Well, you see," Charles started and immediately her eyes flicked up from her food to stare at him. The food had been forgotten to hear what he had to say. "You are all here to train, rather you need to be trained. None of you can go up against Shaw, or any of his friends without having some sort of training, some of you can't even control your powers fully."

Liesel listened and nodded now and again, apparently agreeing for once, she placed the cutlery down to promptly get two pills out of the bottle before continuing to listen. Placing one pill into her mouth she swallowed it with aid of the glass of water by her side, before repeating the action again. "And?" She wasn't really seeing where she fitted into this.

Charles looked at her sadly, he also looked hesitant like he didn't wish to say what he was going to. "You can't train all the while you're injured."

Liesel choked on her water and got a tentative pat on the back by Erik, though this action was gentle it still hurt her and he got a glare sent in his direction. "I am being ruled out, that is what you mean, is it not?"

"No! No, not at all-"

"But it basically is. You just said it yourself. I cannot train when hurt, so therefore there is not a whole lot else for me to do here, what's the point of me even being here if I can't help, right?" Liesel asked, now fully forgetting about the food before her. She was enjoying the pizza until now, it had lost its taste and become too doughy when chewed.

"Where else would you go?" Charles was asking hypothetically.

"Hm, let me think...back to Poland, sounds like a brilliant plan." Liesel replied with a frown. She pushed the plate away from herself, reaching out she pocketed the small bottle before painfully standing. "I'm going back to bed." She grasped onto the glass of water and shuffled slowly to the door.

Charles watched her before looking to Erik, he'd stayed silent through this little exchange. Hardly eating any of the food he'd picked out to eat. Catching the looks Charles was sending his way, he sighed and turned in his seat. "You can't go." It was more of a statement than an actual request.

Liesel turned in the doorway and looked at him sadly. "I can't stay here and watch you go and fight him."

"So it'll honestly be better knowing we're fighting him, while being back home?"

"I am not staying in this damn house." Liesel said shortly while narrowing her eyes at him.

"So what exactly do you plan to do once back in Poland?" Erik asked genuinely interested. "Return to your unfulfilling job? Maybe even hunt William back out?" Erik asked, his tone turning borderline angry at the mere thought.

"Don't you dare! Don't you dare sit there and say that! Need I remind you, again, that if you hadn't turned up on my doorstep with solid proof that you could find Schmidt...Shaw, and we could deal with him; that I wouldn't be here? If it wasn't for you, I would not be standing here right now! I am only here because you asked for my help, you and I were going to go deal with the one man who had caused us so much harm when we were children. Oh how much I wish I could help erase that pain for you, but I can't. But helping in killing that man would be the next best thing. Yet no! No, because I can't even do that because I am injured, by the same damn man we were looking for! He was right there! And I could do nothing. Okay, fine, you all train...I wish you luck, honestly I do. I am uncertain whether you will succeed, but I'll have hope. But don't you dare, don't you damn well dare sit there and say that to me. Do not bring past relationships up to get a reaction, because you bloody well know that they have nothing on you! You don't have to be so blunt and hurtful to make me see a point you know? Only because you freely know someone loves you, does not give you the right to be like that and not even give a damn or a second thought afterwards. Fine, okay, I won't leave, could've just asked me not to, you know? Whatever, you two are seriously as annoying as each other. Just...both leave me alone, you come close and I swear to God, injured or not; you will regret it." Liesel said through gritted teeth, teary eyes, full on rage and anger and hurt in her tone followed by honest truth before she just shot dark looks in both male's directions before basically trying to run off back down the corridor. She hurt, so much, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too. Her ribs seemed to clench and tighten around herself, before she realised it was her bandages constricting against her heaving breaths.

"Hey! Woah! Woah, where are you off to in such a state?" The last thing she expected was to sharply turn the corner and crash into someone. Even by the casual yet concerned tone she could tell it was Darwin without even looking up.

"It's a waste of time."

"Sorry?" He asked while looking at her worriedly before looking around. No one else was around, putting an arm tentatively around her shoulders he guided her into one of the study rooms, only they ended up in the living room instead. Darwin was still trying to get his bearings of this place, it was a warren.

Liesel sat down, with her eyes shut she ran a finger across her forehead as if that'd relieve this ache niggling away. Her other hand still clutched onto the glass, though with the way it shook in her grasp it was clear she was going to be shaking with anger for a while yet. "Me being here is a waste of time."

"Nonsense." He sat down by her side, her eyes opened and looked at him tiredly and sadly. Unshed tears still lingered in the corners. "Who said that to you?"

"I can't join you in training, because I am hurt. So therefore it's a waste of time me being here." Liesel explained while her face scrunched up in pain. She placed the glass on the table before burying her face in her hands. She cried. And she wasn't usually one for crying.

"Oh hey, hey now." Darwin gently placed a hand on her back. "If you weren't here, I'd surely be dead by now." Her face lifted from her hands to look at him. "You saved my life." Darwin smiled and retracted his hand when Liesel looked at it hesitantly as it now rested on her shoulder. "So what, you can't train? But by looks of things you can already control your power, so what's the big deal? We're here for the foreseeable future, you'll heal in time to fight; that I'm sure of." He paused in thought. "I'm sure Charles was not completely ruling you out from the fight."

"He sounded rather certain." Liesel sounded defeated. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she exhaled heavily. "I've made it no secret that I want Shaw dead. It's why I'm here. Can you imagine how lost you'd suddenly feel if that one goal was taken from you?"

"He's the only reason you're here?"

"Erik did little to nothing to aid me in this argument. He made the matter worse. So much worse...and I really shouted at him..."

"It's not a bad thing." Darwin smirked, Liesel looked at him like he was mad. "Might make some sense sink in, yeah?"

"I thought sense had sunk in when he saw what had happened to me. Shared concern for each other, and all that. We always looked out for each other, when we first met...he was so scared, don't tell him that, and I really did try and look out for him then. Just...Darwin, I love him, he knows that. He's spent the last I don't know how many hours in my room making sure I am okay, yet again, don't tell him. And...as if to make the point that I don't actually have anything to return to, he brings up a job I walked out of, and a person I was sort of dating and was going nowhere with, because he knows how I feel, and he knows that apart from my sister, God rest her soul, that I would do anything for him. I'm better off useless here, than in Poland out of potential harm's way." Liesel literally deflated and hung her head. "To make it worse I threatened the both of them."

"Liesel!" Darwin was exasperated by this, yet not surprised. Shaking his head he thought over everything before nudging her gently. "Show them wrong."

"Sorry?" Liesel looked at him with full blown confusion.

"You've been ruled out of this fight because you're hurt right? Show them wrong. Heal, concentrate on yourself and come back stronger. Do not let these injuries stop you from your goal. Even if we aren't going to kill the man, yeah? Let that focus drive you. As for Erik, well, if he can't see sense in what you feel for him then he's an idiot quite frankly. The way I see it you two have just had a lover's tiff, give it some space and this will settle."

"You're a good friend." Liesel smiled thinly. "I am most glad I saved you."

"Okay, okay, now you're pushing it." Darwin laughed and shook his head. "Go get some sleep, Liesel, you look knackered."

"Now who's pushing it?" Liesel stood and grasped onto her glass before saying night to him. Walking out of the living room, she turned the corner while gently sipping from her glass. Looking up and down the other end of the corridor she saw both Charles and Erik leaving the kitchen at last. Upon seeing her they slowed their paces, Liesel in return smiled. She smiled really innocently at them while turning and walking up the stairs and heading towards her room. She already figured that they realised her earlier threat was nothing really. But it still didn't mean she didn't get some sort of enjoyment out of seeing them keep their distance. Between them both they had hurt her, sure Erik more so, but together they really did hurt her and that feeling still was present. It caused her heart to feel tight, and her stomach to feel like she was falling, like a sudden drop had caused it to lurch.

----

Edited: 10/June/2019

Reedited: 17/August/2021