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Language:
English
Series:
Part 3 of Frightober 2022
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Published:
2022-10-03
Words:
330
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
3
Kudos:
1
Hits:
25

Dying Embers

Summary:

Frank learns of Lucy's fear of fire.

Written in the context of the fandom event of Frightober 2022.

Day Three - Fire.

Notes:

I know, I know. It wasn't really posted on the third, but I'm trying to catch up. Keep in mind that I have a baby now, so my already-limited writing time is meager, and when I do write, I've been having a bit of a block with Frighteners.

But it's here!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

"FRANK!"

Frank had barely stepped through the door before he heard Lucy screaming his name from the kitchen, even over the nails-on-chalkboard-annoying beeping of the smoke alarm.

Without a moment of hesitation, he dropped his work bag to the floor and rushed into the kitchen.

Though his attention was briefly stolen by the flames emanating from the gas-range stove, his eyes were fixed on Lucy, who was still frozen where she was standing.

He recalled the only time he had seen such terror on her face.

"Luce, move!" he called.

She didn't dare to move a muscle.

Carefully, so he wouldn't upset her any further, he reached out to take hold of her hand and pull her away from the flames.

In what seemed like a flash, he had grabbed the fire extinguisher and activated it.

The flames disappeared as soon as they had been sparked. Frank set the extinguisher down on the ground and turned Lucy around to face him.

"Are you alright?" he asked, quickly looking over her various times for burns.

She tried to answer him.

She really did try.

But all that could come out of her mouth were little cries.

He took her hands back into his, briefly examining them, before asking again, "Luce? Are you alright?"

She shook her head as tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Where're you hurt?" he asked. "Do you need me to take you--"

"No," she choked out. "I-- the-- the fire--"

"It's over, Luce," Frank assured her. "We got it out."

His heart broke in two as she collapsed into his arms, sobbing.

For about an hour, the two of them sat on the kitchen floor. Lucy remained curled up in Frank's lap as he comforted her, his hand running up and down her back as she cried into his chest.

She looked up at him, her eyes rimmed red, as she finally spoke up.

"I never told you... told you how my dad died, have I?"

Notes:

This is the beginning of a loose trilogy of oneshots surrounding the circumstances of Lucy's father's death, and how it effected Lucy.

Anyway, I just want to say that I love you all.

~ Marissa

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