Vex stepped out of the back room and spotted Summer slouched over the bar. “‘Ello love,” he greeted as he made his way over to stand on the other side of the bar, a glass of jack and coke in his hand.
Despite her ever-common response, Vex didn’t believe her; it was the same kind of excuse he would have used. A coil of anger twisted in his body as he got a better look at the bruising on Summer’s face. “It makes a difference because if I knew who it was I could bloody kill ‘em,” he snapped, eyes flashing with black lightning. “Somebody ‘urt you…” he said quietly, angrily, almost impossible to hear over the music, a frown on his face.
“Yes, they did,” she said wearily. “Please don’t. I didn’t — ” She sighed again, and lifted the glass back to her face. “It’s bad enough this happened, without you — ” Summer cut herself off again. She’d only come to Carpe Noctem because she didn’t expect to see Vex there, and she knew they wouldn’t hunt her in there.
Having Vex chew her out, even before he knew what her stupidity had gotten her into, was not part of the plan.
Seeing just how upset she was managed to cool the Dark Fae’s temper, though not entirely. He let out a heavy sigh and stepped closer to put a hand back on her shoulder, leaning down once again so that he could use a softer tone and still have her hear him. “I’m sorry, Precious. I just want to keep you safe..” he sighed again, brown eyes softening a bit.
She tensed a little at the touch of his hand. “I can protect myself!” Despite the evidence manifest on her face — and the bits he hadn’t seen yet, under her clothes. “Look, Vex, I — ” She cut off again, blowing out a sigh. “I’m being blackmailed, okay,” she mumbled.