Smoke

Iva leaned over the sink, the rushing of water drowning out her sobs, and went to dip her hands in again. How long had she been in here? Hours, maybe. It was painfully long- long enough for the skin on her hands to start to wear off and reveal the red within.

The little things had triggered a relapse. The little smudges and spots on everything... just drove her wild. She could feel them on her skin- in her skin.

If Papa found out... she doubted she would return to school. Ever. With another sob, Iva pressed her forehead against the cool, wet rim of the sink, and let out her panicked tears.

"Inno....?" Tre whispered hesitantly, stepping into the kitchen. Her sobs reached his ears, and he was next to her in a millisecond, biting his lower lip. "Are you alright?" His golden irises were filled with concern, and he reached out to touch her hair.

Then he saw what she was doing.

"Stop it!" He told her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her away from the sink. He dropped his hands off her just as suddenly and kneeled before her, frowning at her hands. "What have you done to yourself, Inno?" He asked softly, his eyes staying on her hands. He was careful not to touch her as he reached out for the water still pouring out of the sink.

Soon, the water was surrounding her hands, floating around them. Tre bit his lip in concentration, and the water slowly began to glow gold. His hands fisted, and the healing powers took over, healing Iva's hands.

Then, with a suddenness that made Tre jump back, the water had crashed to the floor, as if gravity had returned.

"....I'm not so good at that..." He said feebly.

Iva shied away from his touch, another pathetic wail rising in her throat. She attempted to push him away, only to find his touch already gone. So, she let him use the water again as she stood, wide eyed like a child.

Stepping into the puddle of water, Iva took Tre's face in her hands. "Help me, Tre, Help me.." Her voice was broken and gravel toned, "It burns. It hurts! I'm so..." Iva forced her eyes closed. "Dirty."

Tre's eyes widened. Dirty? But- but she was a-

This was bad.

"You're going to have to trust me." He whispered. "Close your eyes." Without waiting for her to do so, he'd scooped her up into his arms and was running. The closest bathroom was on the second floor, so he sprinted up the stairs, careful not to jolt her too much as he went. In about a minute he'd gotten from the Kitchen to the only bathroom in the house with a bathtub.

He slipped inside, using the back of his foot to close the door, and placing Iva in the bottom of the tub. "This tub was just cleaned." He promised. "I bleached and alchohol-ed and - and sterilized it myself." He nodded, before reaching over and handing her some shampoo. Clearly not caring that she was still completely dressed, he turned on the water, talking his way through how the pipes purified and cleansed the water that came out of the facet.

Not taking any chances, he turned on the shower, making sure the shower head was low enough as not to hit her face and drown her at once. "There." He said, over the sound of water. "All the germs will be killed by the shampoo, and then they'll wash away down the sink, never to return." he nodded, his eyes still worried.

Iva leaned into his arms, her eyes clenched tightly closed and her hand around his, as if something was chasing them. She knew where he was going and couldn't help but be thankful. Her shoulders relaxed in the cool, china tub, but her hand never left his.

The water gave her relief and her cries grew quiet. A few moments past of calm, her blue eyes caught on his gold ones. The little Russian sat up and shook the water off her head, sighing.

"D-Don't tell Papa. Please. He'll... He'll..." she wasn't exactly sure what Papa would do, but it wouldn't be in her benefit. "Just don't, Tre. Please. For me,"

Tre was half past confused, and more than a little conflicted, but none of this showed on his face. Her gaze seemed to lock on his, and something fluttered in his stomach. "Of course I won't tell." he said softly. "What is there to tell, really?" He grinned and sat back on the floor, watching her. "Are you alright, now?"