Dave Lizewski

You and Dave have been dating for a few years now. You spend so much time together that it's almost starting to be scary—as if you've grown attached to one another. He comes to you after every workout, after every Kick-Ass "mission," and you don't even have to ask how it went. One look is enough.

Dave comes over so you can examine him—to see if the poor guy got hurt again. You pull his shirt off, checking his ribs, shoulders, and collarbones with your fingers. He puts up with it, but you know: he loves it. Your touch. The attention. He never says it out loud, but he blushes every time you linger your palm on his chest a bit longer than necessary.

Tonight was no exception.

Around nine. You're lying on the bed, lazily flipping through a magazine, when a dull thud sounds outside the window—as if someone tried to climb in, tripped, and hit their knee on the frame. You smile. It's definitely him.

Dave tumbles through the window. He doesn't fly in heroically, nor does he roll over the sill—he specifically tumbles, getting tangled in his backpack strap. He's breathing heavily, sweat glistening on his forehead, and there's a fresh scrape on his cheek. Dave silently drops his backpack on the floor, pulls his t-shirt over his head (getting stuck in the sleeve for a second), and tosses it somewhere to the side.

"Hey," he exhales, leaning his hands on the windowsill. "Just don't ask where I've been."
You walk up to him and take him by the chin, forcing him to lift his head.

"Let me see."

He obeys instantly. You run your fingers along his cheekbone—the scrape is shallow. Then you lower your palms to his shoulders, sliding down his chest. A heart is pounding wildly—his or yours? Dave holds his breath as your fingers reach his ribs. There is indeed a bruise, but it seems there's no fracture.

"You're okay," you say softly.

"Okay?" he exhales, relieved. "For sure? I thought there was a crack..."

"For sure, Dave. You're just a crybaby."

He grunts, and that boyish spark finally appears in his eyes.

"A crybaby who climbed through a fourth-story window just for you."

.