Fist Feast

It was raining cats and dogs. Even though she refused at first, Blair was now glad that Patrick decided to drive her home. Truth be told, she lived a good 30 minutes away from the hospital. Patrick was a huge man and always had a harsh look on his face. Blair was always too scared to be left alone with him, she didn't want to upset him. She was shocked to find out he was actually a kind person. He opened the car door for her and carried her bag on the way to the car. Before leaving he made sure she was comfortable in his car. Of course, he still spoke on the same harsh tone, but she could tell he meant no harm.

On the ride to her house, neither said one word. Blair was anxious to start a conversation and Patrick didn't seem to be interested in her even in the slightest.

"Which building?" Patrick asked as he drove slowly.

"It's the blue one." She said as she looked out the car window.

"Did someone die?" Patrick's question made Blair jump in her seat. She looked ahead and noticed a person with baskets of flowers in front of her apartment building. She shook her head. Patrick was watching her from the corner of his eyes. "I see." He shurgged and pulled in the parking lot of the building.

As Blair got off the car, she noticed that the person around the baskets of flowers was a man. She thought to herself that maybe one of her neighbours was going to be asked in marriage. Smiling to herself, she gathered her things.

"Who would wait outside with dozens of flowers on such a rainy day?" Patrick scoffed. "The guy must be mental."

"I thought it was sweet, but now that you mentioned, it is quite unusual." Blair replied. "What are you doing, Patrick?"

"I'm walking you to you apartment. It's raining and you don't have an umbrella. Also that guy might be some type of freak, Abra would not cease to bother me if something bad happened to you." Patrick said, hovering an umbrella over him and Blair. "Let me carry that." He said that and grabbed her bag.

Before she could protest, Patrick already threw the bag over his shoulder. He started walking ahead, forcing Blair to follow close by.

"Blair?" As the two of them approached the entrance of the apartment building, the man with the flower baskets called out for Blair.

"Dave?!" Blair stopped dead in her tracks. "What are you doing here?!"

"I'm here for you, babe! I was such a fool! Please forgive me!" It was David, the boy who broke her heart. The one she vowed to love with all her being, the same one who stained those vows. "Who is this? Why is he handling your bag?" David inquired, getting closer to Patrick, trying to intimidate him.

"Scram." Patrick simply said and walked past David, bumping into him. "Blair, come on, you'll catch a cold." He said, sternly.

"I-.." Blair opened her mouth to speak, but David grabbed her and shook her.

"What is the meaning of this?! Finding another already? You stuck-up bitch!" David pushed her and raised his arm.

"That's enough!" Patrick shouted as he stopped David from whatever he was going to do next. "You lay one finger on her and I'll break your legs. Come near her again and I'll beat the shit out of you, fucking mouth breather." Patrick continued slowly, but firmly, gripping David's wrist tighter. David let out a yelp.

"You motherfucker!" David yelled and punched Patrick. "You have no fucking idea about what happened here, you shouldn't interfere with another man's issue."

"Dave! Stop that!" Blair jumped in between the two. Even though David was a gym rat, Patrick was bigger than him.

"I'm not paid enough." Patrick mumbled and with a groan, he shoved Blair behind him, throwing punches at David. He knocked him off his feet, David falling down and hitting his head against the hard concrete.

"Patrick, please!" Blair started to cry, frantically grabbing onto Patrick's clothes. "Please!" She cried into his coat.

David started to bleed, but he was not unconscious yet. He stood up and trashed the flower baskets, cursing Blair out. Patrick took a hold of Blair's hand and dragged her inside the apartment building. While leaving, she could hear David screaming and shouting while kicking and punching the remaining baskets. Her heart was racing.

"Punch in the number of the floor." Patrick huffed. Snaking a hand through his hair, he waited patiently for Blair to get inside the elevator as well. She was shaking, too scared to go against him, she hurried and followed orders.

Once on her floor, she walked ahead of Patrick, leading him towards her apartment. She was too afraid to ask him to leave. Patrick was a scary man, but she never believed that he would actually get physical. He had a bad temper, but he never seemed the type to get involved in a fist fight.

"Do you have ice around here?" Patrick asked in a hushed tone.

Blair hurried to get him some ice. After handing him a package, it finally hit her. David was about to hit her and Patrick stopped him. Patrick wasn't a bad person, he just tried to help her out. She sat herself on the floor in front of Patrick, watching him tend to his now bruised cheek.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Patrick asked quietly.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-..!" Blair answered yelling, all tensed up. She stopped herself. Patrick wasn't his usual angry self he portrayed at the hospital. He was gentle while talking to her, even during the fight when he shoved her behind him, he was careful not to hurt her. "I'm sorry." She looked down.

"Why?" Patrick asked, sliding down the couch on the floor.

"I got you involved in a messy situation." Blair started, but before she could continue, she noticed Patrick sitting inches away from her face. His dark green eyes glistening, his dark locks covering now the bruised cheek as he leaned in to look into her eyes. "I-.." She pulled away, shocked from the sudden approach. "I am sorry, Patrick!" She started to tear up.

The man raised an eyebrow in confusion. Blair hugged her knees and hid her face in them. Patrick wrapped his arms around her, pulling the girl on his lap and hushing her, gently stroking her head.

"Maybe it's because I'm an old prick, but I don't recall blaming people for being victims of shitty people's hatred." Patrick said softly, fondling her hair. "I did slurp one punch, but I sure as fuck served him a whole meal of punches in return." He continued, chuckling lightly, still holding Blair in his arms.

"Patrick-.." Blair opened up her mouth.

"Blair." He cut her. "I might be the big bad wolf at work, but I would never sit by and watch you get beaten up. I'm not a monster." He explained, his eyes hurtful.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to make you feel bad." Blair put her hands on his shoulders. "Thank you, Patrick." She started. "Thank you so, so much!" Blair smiled and let out more tears.

"For nothing." Patrick shook his head and pulled her in a tight hug. "Is it okay, if I-.." He started. "Nevermind." He sighed.

"Please." Blair looked up at him. "Continue."

"May I linger around here for a while? Just to make sure that guy won't give you more trouble?" Patrick said, cupping Blair's face. She gasped, making him pull away his hand quickly.

"It's fine." Blair said, looking away. She got up and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll prepare some tea."

Patrick just gave her a nod, his eyes stuck to the ground.