ο½’ XVII ; vodka & story time ο½£

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SEVENTEEN ; VODKA & STORY TIME

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Β  Β  Β TARON WALKS ALONGΒ the streets of Boston, racking his brain for the route to Eleanor's grandparent's house; he has only visited once or twice. Meanwhile, Eleanor is hanging limply in his arms, her broken leg resting oddly, her arms folded on her stomach, and her head resting against Taron's chest and part of his bicep.

After deducing that Eleanor was in fact breathing, Taron figured that the best thing for him to do would be to get her to her family as soon as possible.

Taron rounds a corner and immediately sighs in relief, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. Eleanor's grandparent's house stands perfectly intact at the end of the street.

"Eleanor," Taron says, opening his eyes and looking at her peaceful expression. He didn't try to wake her up earlier in order to let her get some much-needed rest. "Eleanor," he repeats, shaking her slightly.Β 

Eleanor wakes with a jolt, her eyes flying open and her body tensing. Her wide eyes meet Taron's and she relaxes. Taron smiles in relief.

"Hey," Taron says.

"Hi," Eleanor replies, looking around in confusion. "What happened?"

"You passed out, but it's all right. Look," Taron says, nodding ahead of them to Eleanor's grandparent's house. Eleanor turns her head toward the structure and grins.

"We made it."

"Mhm," Taron replies, proud.

"I owe you my life, Egerton," Eleanor declares as she looks up at him.

"You don't owe me anything, Rigby." Eleanor smiles.

The two of them look up at the sound of a door opening. Taron slows to a stop as they watch Mary Ann step onto the porch, a mug in her hands and her eyes wide. The cup falls from her hands as she covers her mouth; she doesn't even mind when the ceramic shatters at her feet. Eleanor's grandparents and Tim wander behind Mary Ann, the three of them completely baffled by the sight of the two teenagers standing in the roadΒ β€” as if they didn't expect Taron to be capable of bringing Eleanor home.

"Do you see them?" Eleanor asks Taron as he sets her on the ground, Eleanor keeping her arm around his shoulders and Taron holding her waist. He glances at her as her eager eyes search past her mom, step-dad, and grandparents. "Robbie and Ray, do you see them? In the house? Do you think they're inside?"

"I-I don't know," Taron stutters, unsure of what to say. He is saved from giving a response when Mary Ann finally rushes forward, eventually engulfing the two of them in a hug.

"I was so worried!" Mary Ann mumbles through her tears, squeezing the teenagers with all her might.

Although she is tremendously relieved to know that her mom is alive and well, Eleanor can't help but be rather disappointed. Taron managed to convince her that Robbie and Ray would be waiting for her when she returned, but where are they? Maybe her worst dreams came trueΒ β€” maybe they really did die in the explosion.

Taron thinks the very same thing, anxiously looking at her when Mary Ann finally lets her go. Her eyes are unfocused and gazing at nothing in particular. His heart plummets at the sight; heΒ was the one to give her false hope, after all.

Taron starts to say her name as a premise for some sweet nothing to make her feel better, but Mary Ann unknowingly cut him off by saying, once she glanced behind her, "Tim! Go get the boys from the backyard!"

Taron looks at Eleanor, who has noticeably perked up; her wide eyes have resumed their anxious search as Tim disappears back inside the house.

"You're both so paleΒ β€” you must be freezing!" Mary Ann says, putting her hands on their cheeks and inspecting their faces as she continues to fuss over their appearance.

Eleanor covers her mouth the moment the door opens to reveal both Robbie and Ray, the two of them stepping onto the porchΒ β€” Robbie with his hands on his head out of disbelief and Ray trying his best to not collapse on the ground.

"Holy shit," Taron mumbles. Mary Ann turns her head, glancing at the two of them before smiling at Eleanor and stepping aside.

Robbie doesn't hesitate another moment; he takes the steps three at a time before sprinting toward Eleanor and immediately wrapping her in a hug, thus separating her from Taron, who looks on with a grin.

"I have half a mind to punch you in the face right now," Eleanor tells him, clutching the fabric of his jacket. Robbie doesn't say anything as he lets out a choked sob; he regretted leaving her as soon as he crossed over the hill.

Robbie lets go, saying, "You're all right, yeah?"

"Mostly," Eleanor replies. "You?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." Eleanor smiles. Robbie nods to Taron, which substitutes for a thank you. Taron nods back.

"Eleanor," Ray says timidly, tears in his eyes. He doesn't know if she will hate him more than she already does or not for abandoning her and has been wrestling with the thought of it for days. Eleanor looks at her father, then looks away.

Mary Ann decides to change the subject, putting her hands on Taron's cheeks in order to inspect him and saying, "What about you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," Taron replies, glancing between Eleanor and RayΒ β€” Eleanor is looking at the deserted street and Ray is looking at her, completely devastated.

"Good." Mary Ann pauses. "Thank you, Taron." Tears still cover her cheeks. Taron simply nods. Mary Ann hugs him.

"Are you hurt?" Tim asks Eleanor as Mary Ann lets go of Taron.

"Uh, I have infected cuts on my hands and my leg is broken," Eleanor replies.

"What? How did that happen?" Ray says.

"I'm sure Taron will explain everything," Mary Ann adds. Taron nods. "C'mon, let's get you guys inside."

Robbie and Ray both move to help Eleanor but Eleanor turns to Taron out of habit, him picking her up as she puts an arm around his neck. Eleanor's grandparents gesture for Taron to follow them up the steps and he complies, followed by Tim. Ray, Robbie, and Mary Ann hesitate, however, Ray and Robbie's eyebrows furrowed.

"Do you think they'reΒ β€” " Robbie says.

"Definitely not," Ray replies.

"You can't expect them to best friends forever, can you?" Mary Ann asks.

"I can, actually."

"Oh, come on. Do you see the way he looks at her? Reminds me of the way you used to look at me when we were their age." Ray looks at her as she walks away, smiling. "A lot can happen when you leave two teenagers to survive alien invasions together."

"Hey, don't pin whatever that was on us!" Ray replies. Mary Ann shrugs. Ray looks at his son, saying, "Did you know about that?"

"Kinda had a feeling."

"And you didn't say anything?"

"I didn't think it mattered," Robbie replies, beginning to walk to the house. "Besides, we haven't been on good terms until recently."

"I haven't forgotten," Ray says. Robbie gives him a thumbs-up before turning around. Ray's shock keeps him frozen in his spot.

Glancing back at his father, Robbie says, "Can't make her forgive you if you stand there all day."

Ray goes inside.


Taron lays Eleanor on the couch in the living room, sitting on the coffee table next to her. Mary Ann, Robbie, and finally Ray walk in a minute or two later.

"Okay, tell us everything, starting from the exact moment I ran after Robbie on that hill," Ray says. "And don't spare any details."

Taron gives them a summary, leaving out the bit where he told the most cherished member of the family that he is in love with her.

"That's about it," Taron finishes. No one is short of being impressed; Eleanor made sure to exaggerate the bits about him killing a man to save her, blowing up a tripod, and rescuing over fifty people.

"You didn't leave out anything?" Ray asks. Taron shakes his head. "Nothing... happened?"

"Jesus, Ray," Eleanor groans. He looks at her with a slightly baffled expression. "So, are we gonna fix my leg up or what?"

Everyone looks at Tim; he's a doctor, after all.

"Oh, right. Yeah," Tim says, stepping forward. "Which leg is it?"

"That one," Eleanor replies, pointing. Tim moves his hands toward the hem of her pants but Eleanor cuts him off, putting her hands up and saying, "Uh uh."

"We already tried that," Taron declares.

"Do you have scissors?" Tim asks Mary Ann's mother.Β 

"I'll get them," Mary Ann says, jogging to the kitchen before quickly returning and handing a pair to Tim.

Tim holds the hem of Eleanor's pants, gently lifting the fabric up as he cuts to her knee. Eleanor props herself up to look at the damage.

"Holy shit," Robbie says.

"Language!" his grandmother replies despite wanting to say a profanity herself.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Eleanor declares as she closes her eyes and lays back down. Taron worriedly glances at her, attempting to pull his eyes away from the sight of it.

Her leg from the knee down is swollen, discolored, and covered in dried blood.

"Eleanor, if I knew it was that bad I would've done something," Taron assures her.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not even worrying about it. I'm totally fine right now. We won't have to cut it off, right? Like, that's out of the question, right?" Eleanor rambles, her breathing becoming erratic.

"I'm not going to cut it off," Tim replies.

"Good. Is it hot in here? It's really hot in here, huh?" Eleanor asks, looking at Taron.

"Eleanor," he says, holding one of her hands with both of his and leaning forward.

"I'm really hot right now. My heart is beating really fast."

"Eleanor," Taron repeats, remaining calm. "Breathe." Eleanor stops rambling and focuses on his eyes instead. "Breathe."

She breathes in through her nose and out through her mouth, trying her hardest to match Taron's pace. Within a few seconds they are both breathing in for seven seconds and out for eleven.

"You're okay," Taron says.

Eleanor nods, saying, "I'm okay."

"Tim's gonna fix your leg, and it's gonna hurt, but I'll be right here the whole time."

"Okay."

"And when it's over I'll try to make tea the way you like it and we'll watch a movie."

"Okay."

"It's gonna be fine."

"Okay," Eleanor says, tearing up. Taron nods, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. Mary Ann is grinning at the two of them. The others in the room are baffled by Taron's power to quickly calm her down, for none of them are nearly that talented.

"All right," Tim starts. Eleanor and Taron continue looking at each other. "I need towels, a sponge, a bowl of warm water, all of the first aid supplies you have, pain killers, the strongest bottle of alcohol available, and a wooden spoon." Mary Ann and Eleanor's grandparents scatter to collect the supplies.

A few minutes later they return, setting all of the supplies on the coffee table. Taron kneels on the ground next to the couch to be closer to Eleanor.

"Take these," Tim says, handing Eleanor a few pills. Eleanor swallows them. "Take a drink of this, too," Tim adds, handing her a bottle of vodka.

"You're joking!" Mary Ann exclaims as Eleanor sits up.

"It'll help, Mary Ann. Trust me," Tim tells her. Mary Ann nods, biting her nails. Taron watches Eleanor as she screws the cap off of the bottle and presses the rim to her lips, closing her eyes as she takes one long drink. She manages to swallow it and hands the bottle to Taron, who sets it on the coffee table.

"That is truly shit," Eleanor declares. Her grandma gives her a look. "Babs, I love you, but you really need to take a chill pill. The world is ending. No one cares if you cuss."

"Eleanor!" Mary Ann warns. Ray, on the other hand, stifles a laugh. Taron presses his lips together to hide any sort of smile. Eleanor shrugs, laying back down. She and Taron share a knowing look which nearly causes them both to laugh.

"I'd appreciate it if you all went in another room," Tim says. Everyone but Taron and Ray comply, knowing that they wouldn't be helping anyone if they stayed in the room. Ray stations himself near the supplies to assist Tim.

"Feel free to break my hand if you need to," Taron tells Eleanor. She smiles.

"I'm going to clean your leg up first, Eleanor, so it shouldn't hurt much," Tim says as he dips the sponge in the water before ringing it out. Eleanor nods. Tim proceeds to gently wipe the blood and other liquids off of her leg.

"How you doin'?" Taron asks her.

"Good," Eleanor replies.

Once Tim finishes, he explains that he needs to press in certain places to feel the damage, which will allow him to know what he needs to fix. Eleanor closes her eyes tightly when he begins, her free hand drumming on the cushion of the couch.

"Okay, this is the gnarly part," Tim says once he finishes a few minutes later. "I'm going to set the bones back, but some of them have already begun to heal as they are, so I need to sever the connection to position them properly."

"So you're saying that you're going to re-break my bones?" Eleanor asks.

"In a few places, yes."

"Great," Eleanor says. Taron hands her the bottle of vodka and she kindly accepts it, taking a drink before handing it back to him. "Can't one of you just knock me out so that I don't have to feel it?"

"The pain would simply wake you up," Tim declares.

"'Course it would." Eleanor takes a deep breath. "Okay, let's do this."

"Here," Tim says, handing her the wooden spoon. "Bite on it. It'll help." Becoming more terrified by the second, Eleanor swallows before placing the wood between her teeth and closing her eyes. Taron squeezes her hand to assure her that he won't leave.

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author's note ;

i saw the golden circle for the second time last night and it still has me fucked up. every time i hear take me home, country roadsΒ i turn into a complete mess

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