Page 44 of Omega's Secret Guardian
“It’s not okay! Your blood is everywhere!”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Let me get the first aid kit,” Linus begged.
“Alright.” Storm released him, watching as the professor scampered into the hallway bathroom.
A moment later, Linus dumped the box on the kitchen counter and wrenched it open.
“I appreciate what you’re doing, but I don’t think you’ll have what I need in there,” Storm said quietly. Linus’ shoulders bunched up; Storm backtracked. “Hey, no. That’s not what I meant. Don’t feel bad. I could still use some of the stuff in the kit.”
“I hurt you.” Linus looked so guilty that Storm squeezed his shoulder.
“It was an accident. Besides, I’ve been hurt worse. I’ve broken my nose before. I know how to fix it.”
Linus wrinkled his brow.
Storm made sure all the burners were off. Then he picked up the first aid kit and headed into the bathroom. “Do you have a makeup pencil? Or any kind of thin pencil?”
Linus dug through his makeup bag and handed him an eyeliner.
“Perfect.”
Storm turned it around and stuck the blunt end into his nose. Linus squawked.
Carefully, Storm realigned the cartilage, using the eyeliner to adjust the soft bone from inside his nostril.
Linus watched him through the mirror, his face pale.
“Don’t worry, I’ll wipe it down,” Storm said.
“I don’t care about the pencil!” Linus wrung his hands. “Will your nose be okay?”
“Probably. I’ll need a splint just in case. Otherwise, I could accidentally bump it and mess up the alignment.Thatwouldsuck to fix. I would have to wait for the swelling to go down, and break my nose again.”
Linus blanched. “I’ll go out and get you a splint.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“But what about dinner?” Linus glanced at the kitchen.
“We’ll come back and continue. There’s a drugstore not too far from here; it shouldn’t take long.” Storm thought about it. “I won’t be able to ride my bike, though. The helmet fits snugly, which means it’ll bump my nose putting it on.”
“You could wait for me here.”
Storm gave Linus a crooked smile. “Nah. I’ll ride in the Jeep with you.”
“O-okay.” The professor blushed prettily.
Secretly, Storm wanted to do a happy dance. He’d never been inside Linus’ vehicle; it was difficult to get Linus’ key during school hours, and at night, Storm would much rather guard Linus at the apartment than poke around in his Jeep.
He wiped down Linus’ eyeliner and double-checked that the oven and stove were off. Then he followed Linus out of the apartment, to where he had parked.
“Are you really okay?” Linus asked again, frowning.
“I’m keeping pace with you, aren’t I?”
“I just don’t want you collapsing in the middle of the store; I wouldn’t know what to do.”
