Who:Lydia and Rocket When: Early April Why: Lydia was lost in the woods for 2 days Where: Woods/Rockets place What:Rocket saves the day lol Ratings:Low for language Status:Closed/On-going
The messaged from Lydia was alarming to say the least, and with the coordinates in hand Rocket hurried out the door to his car. He hadn’t had this much excitement in his life since the war, but it wasn’t the good kind. He sped down the streets following the GPS to a remote wooded area. A lump grew in Rocket’s throat as he feared that he wouldn’t find Lydia alive in this area.
He jumped out of the car, headlights still on while he held a flashlight in his hand.
“Lydia! Lydia!”
*** Lydia had no idea how she got in the woods. The last thing she remembered was screaming in the hospital shower. And now she was in the woods, alone, naked and scared. Not to mention dirty. Her phone was dead, which meant she had no way of reaching anyone. She just hoped her message to Rocket went through before the phone went out.
It wasn’t long before Lydia could hear Rocket screaming out her name. She came to stumble. “..Ro--Rocket!” She screamed out as she stumbled through the woods. “Ro--RICHARD!” She screamed his real name at this point as she came to stumble along her own feet. It was dark, and so far she couldn’t see anything.
*** It could have been his imagine was Rocket swore his ears twitched when he heard Lydia’s voice, like a raccoon’s ears would at a noise. And for one quick second he grit his teeth at the thought of turning into a literal raccoon if he stayed in this town any longer. He threw it from his mind though and focused on the girl. He heard the sound of movement in the brush, and he moved toward it.
“Lydia!”
The sound of branches cracking underfoot came from the right, and he rushed to it with his flashlight guiding the way. He spotted her shortly thereafter, naked and stumbling through the woods.
“Jesus…” he muttered as he rushed to her side. “Lydia!”
Rocket wrapped his arms around to hold her, trying to shield her from the cold night air. “It’s okay, I’m here.” He let go of her long enough to unbutton his shirt and wrapped it around her shoulders. Thankfully it was big enough to cover her down to mid-thigh. He bent down to look at her face, rough hands cupping her cheeks as he wiped away the dirt on them. “What happened? Who did this to you?” Because why in the world would she have done this to herself?
*** If Lydia knew about Rockets dreams, she would have laughed and teased him about it. Perhaps next time. For now, she was happy he was able to find her. As he came to cup her face, he would see the visible dirt along her cheeks and forehead. Her red hair was a mess as green hues stared at him. Thankfully, his shirt came to cover her up and was long enough to keep her hidden finally. Not that it mattered after two days in the woods like this. She was going to need a bath for a hundred hours.
When he asked who did this, Lydia thought for a moment. “Dreams…” Is all she could say. If Rocket had looked at her frame, he would have noticed three large scars along her right side. Something her dreams gifted her a few weeks ago. “I was dreaming, I was in the hospital after my attack.” She replied as she came to look at Rocket once more. “I ended up in the hospital screaming in the shower after hallucinating and ran. Got lost in the woods for two days.”
She replied as she came to a trembling stand as she watched him closely for the moment. “Next thing I know, I woke up in the woods… Two days ago.” She stated as she came to wrap the shirt around her tightly for the moment.
***
Anything anyone said about him being a raccoon was tame compared to what he said to himself. So Lydia could tease him all she wanted, and he’d laugh along and probably add a few things to it. But now, though, now was not a time for laughter and jokes. Rocket reached out to smooth out Lydia’s red hair, and pushed a few strands away from her face. He thought working with bombs was going to be the extent of the excitement he’d have in the OC, but he was so very wrong.
“Fucking dreams,” he said with a scowl, and shook his head. At least no one had done this to her, but he wasn’t sure that was a consolation considering the state she was in. The large scars on her side were old, but he knew it was because of this place and these dreams. His worry only increased when she said she had been lost in the woods for two days now. Rocket’s brow furrowed, and he placed his hands on her shoulders to help steady her.
“I got you now,” he said reassuringly. There was no way he was going to make her walk to the car so he bent down slightly to scoop her slight body into his arms. “I’ll get you home, okay.” And he held her close to keep her away from branches that would scratch her further.
*** Once she felt his arms reach under her and lift her up, Lydia brought her arms around his neck. She held tightly to him for the most part as he made it a point to carry her to his car. “Thanks for finding me..” She stated lightly. Sure, she could have reached out to Scott. But, she didn’t. She reached out to Rocket and she was glad she had. So far all Lydia knew was her dreams were dangerous. And it involved werewolves. For now.
My dreams are about me in high school.” She replied shaking her head lightly. She wasn’t that old. But she wasn’t in high school anymore. She was in college and she was working. She was past high school. “It has werewolves in it.. It’s what caused me to get those scars. A werewolf attacked me in the dreams and I woke up bleeding from my side.” She exhaled as she held onto Rocket a bit tighter. Her dreams were a lot to handle. Especially with what was on her plate already.
So she wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to keep his distance now because of it.
*** Rocket listened quietly, allowing her to speak freely without interruption. Seemed normal enough until she mentioned werewolves. He would have facepalmed himself if he had a free hand. What the hell was up with this place and werewolves? He was guessing this was the universe’s way of telling him to get over the fact that his best friend was engaged to one by putting another one in his life. Or at least another person associated with them.
He felt her arms grasping tighter onto him, and he held her closer. “Don’t worry about that now,” he said to her. “We can talk once you’ve got your strength back.”
Rocket finally reached his jeep, and moved to the passenger side. He leaned in to lift the handle on the door, and then used his foot to open it the rest of the way. And then as gently as he could manage he settled her onto the seat.
*** It wasn’t long before they reached the car. Once she was settled in she would buckle the seatbelt around her. She came to glance in the mirror and tried her best to fix her hair. She was dirty and her hair was a mess. She was pulling leaves and twigs out her hair for the most part. This was insane, her dreams were proving to be dangerous.
Once the car had started up Lydia had adjusted the shirt to cover her thighs. She was after all fully naked under it. Why? She still wasn’t sure, but then she realized it was because of the way she slept. “What are your dreams like?” She asked with a kinked up brow for the most part as she came to settle back in the car.
She didn’t bother giving him directions since he knew where she stayed it from their coffee date a few weeks ago.
*** Rocket might have been a diamond in the rough, but his Ma taught him manners and it was the only thing that kept him from not staring at Lydia’s bare legs. She was a beautiful woman, and he enjoyed her company, so he had to focus on other things. Like conversation and mental images of his grandmother.
“I think I might have a blanket back here,” he said to her after she adjusted the shirt. He reached back blindly with his right arm, searching in the darkness while he continued to drive. He paused though when she asked him about his dreams, and raised a brow.
“Not sure if my dreams are interesting compared to yours,” he said just as his hand touched something soft. Rocket tugged at it, and pulled it to the front of the car. It was a towel, not a blanket, but it would have to do. “Here.” He handed it to Lydia while taking one more quick glance at her legs.
“But uh, yeah. I blow shit up in my dreams… as a talking raccoon.” He winced a little, completely unsure of how a woman would react to having a date with a man that was a raccoon in another life. *** When he mentioned a blanket Lydia was relieved. Her legs were starting to get cold. So, once that towel was presented she took it with no objects from her. Once placed over her lap she rubbed at her thighs to get feeling in them. She had asked what his dreams were about, so when he said he liked to blow shit up she snickered. But when he said he was a raccoon, she came to blink and stare at him.
She didn’t know how to process that, but she smiled soon. Placing her hand over his. “Hey.. Raccoons are kinda cute. “ She teased lightly as she watched him closely for the most part. “Just hopefully it doesn’t turn you into one.” She said as she smirked once more. “Because if I have to get you rabies shots this is going to be the weirdest relationship ever.”
She said laughing lightly as she coughed a little. It didn’t take them long to reach her house. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was enough for her. “Want to come in?” She asked, since she still wasn’t ready to be left alone. She was after all alone in the woods for two days. That was enough alone time she needed for the time being.
*** Yep. That was the reaction he was expecting. The blinking and the staring. Rocco just didn’t imagine any woman getting over that fact. That is until she put her hand over his. He looked down for a moment, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips when she spoke. Her joke lightened the mood, and the smirk turned to a full on smile.
“You and me both. I ain’t looking forward to being furry and short.”
When they reached her place Rocket wasn’t expecting the invite in, but he agreed. “Sure,” he said as he put the car into park. He moved quickly to the passenger side to help her out. She was still weak and he wasn’t going to take chances by letting her walk on her own. He scooped her into his arms, kicked the door close, and headed toward her place.
“You.. uh… got an extra key hidden somewhere?”
*** Lydia kept her smile. After all, she knew how strange the dreams would be. Especially since after her lunch with Scott when she had arrived. But she learned it was easier to be shown than explain. But Lydia still had no idea what she was, or if she was even anything in her dreams to begin with. She almost hoped she was normal who was surrounded by a lot of crazy, but even she had a feeling she wasn’t that lucky. Once they arrived to her place, she would step out the car with help from Rocket.
And than the question about a key came up, and she came to make a face.”...Um...No..” She replied rubbing her eyes. Realizing she was going to need to make a new lock for the door. Green hues coming to stare up at Rocket, since he was taller than the 5’3 red head that stayed close in his arms, since her legs were still a little weak from lack of food in her system.
“This sucks…” Is all she mumbled as she rubbed the bridge of her nose with annoyance. Her dreams were annoying as of this moment.
*** Rocket wasn’t known for smiling. Smirking perhaps. Letting out a raucous laugh, definitely. But a genuine deep down caring smile was rare. But he did whenever Lydia spoke, and it surprised him that she brought that out.
“I can break in,” he said. “If you want. Just pick the lock or whatever…” Because that was a skill that wasn’t going anywhere. He had done enough of it in his youth that it was like riding a bike. He had some tools in his car that would work for it, but only if Lydia was okay with the idea.
“Or… I can take you back to my place. I ain’t leaving you alone tonight. We might want to get you some food, too.”
*** Lydia wasn’t sure she wanted him breaking into her place. Especially with her standing out here half naked. Noisey neighbors and all. “We can go to your place.” She stated with a light shrug of her shoulders as she came to give him a light smirk. Since he was determine to not leave her side right now, it was easier to go to go his place.
“Might have to steal some of your clothes thought.” She said with a light tease escaping her lips for the moment. She still managed to make light of the crazy situation they had found themselves in because of her dreams. “Don’t worry, when you turn into a racoon, you better be sure to call me first.” She teased him on his dream lightly.
“But in all seriousness. It doesn’t bother me.” She assured him as she came to hold his arm lightly. After all, Lydia still didn’t know what she was in her dreams and still hoped she was just human.
***
Was it kind of weird that Lydia was so easily convinced to go to his place? Just a little. Did Rocket find it hot? Yeah, he did. She was a beautiful woman and he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t daydreamed of getting her back to his place. But he didn’t want it to be under these particular circumstances. He nodded at her, and took her back to his car. “We’ll call a locksmith in the morning,” he said. “Or you got a friend or something that has an extra key?”
Once Lydia was settled into his car once more he started it up, and headed toward his place. “Uh, yeah… I got some clothes that might fit you.” He would have said more if she hasn’t joked about the raccoon thing. He laughed, and shook his head. “My best friend, Gabe, he’s a talking tree in this other life of ours. He ain’t turned into a tree yet. I don’t think I will.” At least he really hoped he wouldn’t. “Not unless I’m wired differently or some shit.” He shrugged.
“I’ll worry about it if it ever happens.” He looked over at her and smiled. “You sure you’re okay with staying with me the night?”
---
Once Lydia was lead back to his car and settled in, she would relax a little more as she came to look over at Rocket. There was a reason Lydia didn’t want to stay at her place. She was hoping sleeping somewhere else would have an effect on her dreams. When he asked if she was sure, she nodded her head. “I am.. Are you?” She questioned,since he seemed to be second guessing his offer now.
“If it’ll be to uncomfortable, I can stay at my place and you can break into it.” She stated as she brushed her hair from her face for the moment. She didn’t want to put him in an uneasy situation. When he mentioned his friend being a tree Lydia thought for a second.
“I think I’ve seen him on the net actually. Everyone has these crazy ass dreams. It’s kinda interesting. Enough to make someone write a book on all this.” She said laughing lightly.