Wes was home with the cat cooking some dinner. He cut some onions and garlic for his broth, the sharp scent stinging his eyes slightly as he chopped. He got noodles from the cabinet, their dry weight clinking against the pot, and sprinkled the water with a few tablespoons of spices that filled the air with warm aroma. He was humming to some music playing softly from the kitchen radio and everything was almost perfect. He had a little thought cross his mind, if only they were there to taste test.

Unfortunately because they were a known villain at this point, they couldn't just come and go as they pleased. And currently, he very much wished they could come. Being wanted meant medical care was more dangerous than just dealing with it alone. They were always careful, never needed doctors before and were set on maintaining that record, but tonight plans had crashed spectacularly.

They had been working on a new project - luring authorities by eliminating lower level criminals to draw out the specific cops trying to catch them. It had been working for a while, a twisted form of vigilante justice that crossed every line Wes had sworn to uphold. If they hadn't slipped up with the bait, it would have worked again. The woman used as bait this time was an influencer scamming people out of thousands on social media. They lured her away easily and almost completed the job with an axe, but she'd secretly sent her location to someone who intercepted.

It took enormous effort just to get here. They were generally battered and bruised, but the worst damage was the stab wound in their side. Wes would recognize that type of bleeding anywhere - arterial, pumping bright red with each heartbeat. They'd managed to stuff a bundle of gauze in the wound but it was already saturated, blood soaking through their shirt and jacket in darkening patches. They stumbled to Wesley's door as best they could, vision narrowing at the edges, bleeding and panting heavily. Not sure how the hero would react but knowing it was the only chance at survival.

Wes heard the cat perched on the windowsill suddenly meowing urgently, tail twitching as she stared outside. He tried to ignore her while stirring the broth, but the persistent sound finally drew him to the window. Through the glass, he could just make out a familiar silhouette collapsed on his doorstep as his dinner bubbled forgotten on the stove.