Monique's pen nervously tapped the wooden desk as the girl concentrated on her homework. She was almost finished, but, as usual, she'd left the tougher subjects for last. She was therefore pretty grateful when she heard the door to her room opening. She looked up and smiled.
“Oh hey girl. What up?”
Kim gave a weak little smile in return. “Hey.”
Monique noticed the tone of voice, and quickly noticed the way Kim's eyes avoided her and how her body trembled imperceptibly. Imperceptibly, that is, to anyone who wasn't Monique.
Monique carefully put her pen down, got up and walked past Kim to close the door with a soft click. Then she took Kim's unresisting hand and guided the girl to the bed. The two sat down on it, facing each other. Monique didn't ask what had happened, Kim didn't ask for what she wanted. Monique embraced Kim tightly and the redhead buried her face in her friend's shoulder.
It was a great and noble thing to save the world time and time again and Kim didn't do it out of a sense of duty or habit, but because it was her calling or because it had become her calling or whatever. She had stared Death boldly into the face numerous times and Death had always blinked first. So far. Keeping the world safe fulfilled a need in Kim nothing else ever could.
But when all was said and done, she was still a teenager. Sometimes she needed someone else to keep her safe for once.
Kim breathed out slowly and looked up at Monique. “Thanks.”
“Hey, it's what I'm here for.”
Kim smiled again and this time it was a lot more genuine. “Could I… I mean… I'd like it if…”
“Sure thing,” said Monique. “Want me to call your parents?”
“No, they probably already know where I am.”
“If you say so.”
The world had probably been saved once again from something threatening it and Monique suspected she would hear all about it tomorrow. But right and here now, in this room, Monique held Kim and shielded her from the world outside.