Ethan/Kristina: Near To You (2/?)
Author: sarahbell05
Fandom: General Hospital
Characters/Pairing: Ethan Lovett/Kristina Davis
Table: Friendship
Prompt: Your Choice - Friendship
Rating: PG-13 for mentions of domestic abuse.
Warnings: Kristina is underage (16) and Ethan is in his early twenties.
Word Count: 1212
Summary: Ethan and Kristina grow closer.
Notes: Sorry about this taking so long! I hope to have the next chapter up much quicker. This chapter covers the author's choice option on the prompt table.
Friendship
"Who said you could change the channel?" Ethan snaps, rolling his eyes as Kristina takes away his football match and replaces it with one of those 'reality' shows on MTV he avoids like the plague. He looks over and Kristina just shrugs and grabs another handful of popcorn out of the bowl placed between them.
"I'll turn it back after the commercials." Kristina finally replies, and Ethan nods but knows she won't and decides it's not worth fighting over.
It's been about a month since Ethan had found Kristina on the docks. Since then, she's taken to showing up at his place once or twice per week. Mostly they just hang out and watch television or play video games. Kristina's surprisingly good, and Ethan has stopped giving her tips because he's fairly sure she'll soon be able to beat him. Under normal circumstances he would've found a way out of the situation weeks ago, but something told him that Kristina needed a friend. She'd assured him her relationship with Kiefer was over but she was obviously still shaken by the ordeal. If he could help the sweet girl move on by giving her a little company, it was a small price to pay. He also had to grudgingly admit it was nice to spend time with someone who was not a Spencer.
"I've got to go!" Kristina's statement pulls Ethan from his thoughts and he watches as she hurriedly gathers her things. "I completely forgot I have study group."
"Oh, alright." Ethan helps her with her things as they head toward the door. A moment after she steps through the door, she turns back around to face him.
"My mom's out of town on business so I have to swing by Sam's and pick up Molly after study group. We're going to stop at Kelly's for a burger if you want to meet us there."
As always, he feels a moment of hesitation at her invitation. He's not an idiot, after all. He knows when a girl has a crush on him, and Kristina doesn't make much of an effort to hide it. But, before he can think about it any more he agrees and she leaves. He knows he has two hours before she'll be done with her study group (and just why he knows that he's not sure) and finds himself quickly going stir-crazy in the newly empty apartment. Grabbing his jacket, he heads downstairs to the casino to waste time running through the bar inventory. He pauses, realizing that mere months ago he most certainly would not be having dinner with a teenager and her little sister, much less voluntarily doing inventory. Things certainly had changed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike greets Ethan with a quick wave from behind the counter as he steps into Kelly's and Ethan returns the greeting as he scans the restaurant, finding Kristina and Molly in one of the corner tables. Molly waves him over enthusiastically, which causes Kristina to look up from her book. Her smile as she meets his eyes makes Ethan smile wider as he takes a seat next to Molly, who immediately pulls him into a conversation about her latest science experiment.
He listens to Molly, but finds himself watching Kristina out of the corner of his eye. She's resting her head on her hand, her hair half-covering her face, reading intently. He only looks away when Mike brings them their food and Kristina puts her books away.
"So, how was study group?" he asks between bites of his burger.
"Fine." is all she says in reply, continuing to poke at her salad. Ethan shrugs and continues eating, but watches Kristina more closely.
He may have only known the girl for a few weeks, but he can tell that something is bothering her. She's not exactly frowning, but not smiling either, and she only says a handful of words during the meal. When he offers to walk her and Molly back home, she only gives a quiet 'thanks' and is silent next to him as they walk toward the Davis home. Even Molly seems to have picked up on the cues and is quiet, resting her head on Ethan's arm as they walk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Molly is practically asleep against him when they arrive at the Davis house. He follows Kristina inside and she pulls Molly away, leading her into her bedroom. Ethan wanders over to the fireplace, where a dozen framed pictures are resting. Most are of Kristina and Molly, as well as a few of Sam McCall. One in particular catches his eye. It looks recent, last Christmas if the multi-colored lights in the background are any indication. Kristina and Molly are in their pajamas, arms wrapped around each other. He holds the frame in his hands and examines the photograph. The casual happiness on Kristina's face, makeup-free and hair pulled up in a messy ponytail, makes him smile. It also makes him hate Kiefer Bauer for dimming the radiance of the young girl.
He's pulled from his thoughts when he feels Kristina step up behind him.
"I love that picture." she says, and suddenly finds her feet very interesting.
"It's beautiful." he replies, setting the frame back onto the mantle.
"So," he says after a few moments of silence. "Are you going to tell me what happened at your study group? You were alright when you left my place and now you're obviously not."
Ethan feels his throat constrict, watching Kristina's face as she sits on the couch. She's staring out into space, wringing her hands, and he sat down next to her.
"Kiefer was at the library." she finally whispers, and Ethan feels his hands bunch up into fists at the mention of Kristina's ex-boyfriend.
"He didn't say anything, just looked at me as he was walking by. I just...I don't know, it just shook me. Growing up with my father, I've never really been afraid of anyone. But seeing him..." her voice cracks and Ethan does the only thing he can think of and pulls her to him. Her head lands on his shoulder as his arm goes around her. She's quiet but her shoulders are shaking so he pulls her in tighter.
They stay like that for a while, and soon Ethan begins to suspect Kristina has fallen asleep. He pulls her arms from around his waist and leans her against the back of the couch. The moment he pushes himself off of the couch she wakes up and grabs his hand.
"Don't leave." she says in a tired voice. Ethan opens his mouth to argue with her but she cuts him off.
"Please?" her voice is so small that he feels his defenses crumble instantly. When did this girl learn to work him so easily?
"Alright, I won't leave." he replies, and Kristina nods, already asleep again. He figures he could safely leave now, but he knows he won't. Grabbing the blanket on the back of the couch, he spreads it over Kristina before turning to the tiny loveseat that will be his bed for the evening.
Struggling as he tries to cover as much of himself as possible with his own blanket, he looks over at Kristina's peaceful face and resigns himself to an uncomfortable night's sleep.
Fandom: General Hospital
Characters/Pairing: Ethan Lovett/Kristina Davis
Table: Friendship
Prompt: Your Choice - Friendship
Rating: PG-13 for mentions of domestic abuse.
Warnings: Kristina is underage (16) and Ethan is in his early twenties.
Word Count: 1212
Summary: Ethan and Kristina grow closer.
Notes: Sorry about this taking so long! I hope to have the next chapter up much quicker. This chapter covers the author's choice option on the prompt table.
Friendship
"Who said you could change the channel?" Ethan snaps, rolling his eyes as Kristina takes away his football match and replaces it with one of those 'reality' shows on MTV he avoids like the plague. He looks over and Kristina just shrugs and grabs another handful of popcorn out of the bowl placed between them.
"I'll turn it back after the commercials." Kristina finally replies, and Ethan nods but knows she won't and decides it's not worth fighting over.
It's been about a month since Ethan had found Kristina on the docks. Since then, she's taken to showing up at his place once or twice per week. Mostly they just hang out and watch television or play video games. Kristina's surprisingly good, and Ethan has stopped giving her tips because he's fairly sure she'll soon be able to beat him. Under normal circumstances he would've found a way out of the situation weeks ago, but something told him that Kristina needed a friend. She'd assured him her relationship with Kiefer was over but she was obviously still shaken by the ordeal. If he could help the sweet girl move on by giving her a little company, it was a small price to pay. He also had to grudgingly admit it was nice to spend time with someone who was not a Spencer.
"I've got to go!" Kristina's statement pulls Ethan from his thoughts and he watches as she hurriedly gathers her things. "I completely forgot I have study group."
"Oh, alright." Ethan helps her with her things as they head toward the door. A moment after she steps through the door, she turns back around to face him.
"My mom's out of town on business so I have to swing by Sam's and pick up Molly after study group. We're going to stop at Kelly's for a burger if you want to meet us there."
As always, he feels a moment of hesitation at her invitation. He's not an idiot, after all. He knows when a girl has a crush on him, and Kristina doesn't make much of an effort to hide it. But, before he can think about it any more he agrees and she leaves. He knows he has two hours before she'll be done with her study group (and just why he knows that he's not sure) and finds himself quickly going stir-crazy in the newly empty apartment. Grabbing his jacket, he heads downstairs to the casino to waste time running through the bar inventory. He pauses, realizing that mere months ago he most certainly would not be having dinner with a teenager and her little sister, much less voluntarily doing inventory. Things certainly had changed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike greets Ethan with a quick wave from behind the counter as he steps into Kelly's and Ethan returns the greeting as he scans the restaurant, finding Kristina and Molly in one of the corner tables. Molly waves him over enthusiastically, which causes Kristina to look up from her book. Her smile as she meets his eyes makes Ethan smile wider as he takes a seat next to Molly, who immediately pulls him into a conversation about her latest science experiment.
He listens to Molly, but finds himself watching Kristina out of the corner of his eye. She's resting her head on her hand, her hair half-covering her face, reading intently. He only looks away when Mike brings them their food and Kristina puts her books away.
"So, how was study group?" he asks between bites of his burger.
"Fine." is all she says in reply, continuing to poke at her salad. Ethan shrugs and continues eating, but watches Kristina more closely.
He may have only known the girl for a few weeks, but he can tell that something is bothering her. She's not exactly frowning, but not smiling either, and she only says a handful of words during the meal. When he offers to walk her and Molly back home, she only gives a quiet 'thanks' and is silent next to him as they walk toward the Davis home. Even Molly seems to have picked up on the cues and is quiet, resting her head on Ethan's arm as they walk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Molly is practically asleep against him when they arrive at the Davis house. He follows Kristina inside and she pulls Molly away, leading her into her bedroom. Ethan wanders over to the fireplace, where a dozen framed pictures are resting. Most are of Kristina and Molly, as well as a few of Sam McCall. One in particular catches his eye. It looks recent, last Christmas if the multi-colored lights in the background are any indication. Kristina and Molly are in their pajamas, arms wrapped around each other. He holds the frame in his hands and examines the photograph. The casual happiness on Kristina's face, makeup-free and hair pulled up in a messy ponytail, makes him smile. It also makes him hate Kiefer Bauer for dimming the radiance of the young girl.
He's pulled from his thoughts when he feels Kristina step up behind him.
"I love that picture." she says, and suddenly finds her feet very interesting.
"It's beautiful." he replies, setting the frame back onto the mantle.
"So," he says after a few moments of silence. "Are you going to tell me what happened at your study group? You were alright when you left my place and now you're obviously not."
Ethan feels his throat constrict, watching Kristina's face as she sits on the couch. She's staring out into space, wringing her hands, and he sat down next to her.
"Kiefer was at the library." she finally whispers, and Ethan feels his hands bunch up into fists at the mention of Kristina's ex-boyfriend.
"He didn't say anything, just looked at me as he was walking by. I just...I don't know, it just shook me. Growing up with my father, I've never really been afraid of anyone. But seeing him..." her voice cracks and Ethan does the only thing he can think of and pulls her to him. Her head lands on his shoulder as his arm goes around her. She's quiet but her shoulders are shaking so he pulls her in tighter.
They stay like that for a while, and soon Ethan begins to suspect Kristina has fallen asleep. He pulls her arms from around his waist and leans her against the back of the couch. The moment he pushes himself off of the couch she wakes up and grabs his hand.
"Don't leave." she says in a tired voice. Ethan opens his mouth to argue with her but she cuts him off.
"Please?" her voice is so small that he feels his defenses crumble instantly. When did this girl learn to work him so easily?
"Alright, I won't leave." he replies, and Kristina nods, already asleep again. He figures he could safely leave now, but he knows he won't. Grabbing the blanket on the back of the couch, he spreads it over Kristina before turning to the tiny loveseat that will be his bed for the evening.
Struggling as he tries to cover as much of himself as possible with his own blanket, he looks over at Kristina's peaceful face and resigns himself to an uncomfortable night's sleep.