escordvi | [ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

Aside from dealing with that black eye I gave him, he'll have to deal with being locked up for as long as they say. The higher-ups are wondering why they're after the seamstress.

[And Zack will be right there to keep G'raha standing by scooping his arm around his waist.]

I know you can. But you're helpful when you can breathe straight.

[He's just worried... He should have been faster at getting to G'raha.]

For a moment I thought you might have broken his jaw.

[ G'raha chuckles and it turns into something like wheezing. Thankfully, there will not be any coughing up of blood. Nothing vital has been struck. Zack's hold is distracting though. Gentle yet firm. Probably going to whatever serves as quarters here until someone with more medical knowledge than G'raha can get there. ]

Spoken like a true hero...

[ Okay there might be something of a small fever starting to kick in. Nothing life-threatening, but the body's response to trauma. ]

[He'll carry G'raha if he has to. Zack's expression is concerned but firm as well as he watches G'raha's condition. He doesn't like seeing him hurt like this.]

Yeah. I had to hold myself back for a second there.

[He probably would have done worse to the guy...]

There's a room down the hall. You can rest there and I'll grab the doc.

[Some random npc that can do some stitches idk]

Hold back? That was you holding back?

[ BUT ALSO WHAT DO YOU MEAN HOLD BACK? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?

Raha sighs, coughing a little on the exhale. Is Zack also going to be someone that fusses and feels protective? To the point of startling people?

He's only a little distracted by the thought of that, as Zack leads him to this room. A doctor. Stitches. Doe they really need to go that far?]

Zack, I promise. I'll be all right.

Raha.

[Zack's voice is deeper, a little firm. But it's also just ... concerned.]

Let me just be sure. Okay.

[... He cares about G'raha. He just has to be sure that he's not going to bleed out here and now. So will G'raha please just sit on the guest bed-]

[ Now why does this man have to sound like that? Say his name in that tone... Raha's tail stops moving altogether and his ears fall back against his head. When someone is just that earnest, how can the Miqo'te ignore it? ]

All right. If it will help you feel better.

[ He can allow it, if it's something like that. Adhering to a request because someone else needs it, not necessarily G'raha.

Not the healthiest way of thinking about it, but baby steps.

When Zack leads him to the guest bed, G'raha will need just a little help sitting down. He is in pain, sucking in a breath and trying his best not to flinch at the movement. ]

[That's better, Zack is a little more satisfied once G'raha agrees. He knows it's not the best way to get someone to do something but it's for the best right now. G'raha needs to have this wound treated sooner rather than later. He knows how nasty a stab wound can be. The blood loss is the worst part.]

Easy does it.

[He'll even keep his comments to himself as he helps ease G'raha to a sit on the bed. Then it won't be long before Zack gets the ship medic in to help with the stitches before Zack is handed the bandages to do the rest on his own. ~~handwaving the stitching part~~]

Alright, ready for the last part?

[ it is the best that Zack could do right now. If roles had been reversed, G'raha would probably have used the same methods. Whatever would get him the results that would ease his mind. And he's not unaccustomed to blood loss. This body, however, feels it more keenly than his last.

Yet he allows for Zack to help him sit down. Allows for the other to rush out of the room and bring someone in that might take care of the injury. And really, the bleeding had slowed considerably by the time the cleaning and stitching process takes place. ~~That we are handwaving~~

Bandages are left for Zack and G'raha himself is feeling the exhaustion start to set in. He nods, somewhat put out by the fact that he knows he is essentially going to be told to stay put. ]

[He can already see that look on G'raha's face and how the other man might not like being told to stay put a second time. He can sense that G'raha's not going to like that part. But right now he'll let the moment stretch on. Because G'raha also looks like he's still worn down and needs to take it easy.]

There, look at that. You're looking a lot better already.

[Which is maybe more of a relief for Zack than it is for G'raha. He'll take the bandages in hand and place a hand gingerly just below the stitches to inspect them. Then he'll pull the bandages roll open so he can start to wrap G'raha's torso.]

Arms up.

[ Zack is 100% correct. Even the very tip of G'raha's tail is still twitching. Despite the tired look to his eye, his lips are still turned down in something like a pout. ]

All thanks to my hero, yes.

[ But he can't find himself too upset, especially when there's a lightness that returns to Zack because of it. Something that has chased away a more immediate fear - one that probably runs deeper than G'raha rightfully knows right now. Regardless, if it makes Zack feel better -

Sigh. ]

Yes, yes. As you say.

[ Though it is a slow process, lifting his arms. In fact, he has to rest his wrists upon the man's shoulders, to ease the tension of torn muscle. ]

[Zack has seen enough of the people he loves hurt. If G'raha can just let Zack take care of him that would be an ease on Zack shoulders more than G'raha knows.

It actually makes the job a little easier when G'raha rests his wrists on his shoulders. Zack can come in closer, his arms slowly wrapping around G'raha's body as he uses the bandages to wrap nearly and firmly around his torso. Taking care to not tie them too tightly or aggravate the clean stitches.

He'll be able to tilt his head enough to glance at G'raha's face.]

Once we're sure the bleeding has stopped enough we can go talk down that corsair.

[See? Be good and let Zack take care and they can go investigate the job together!]

[ That much G'raha can understand. Too much suffering, too much loss. Now that he is here and the immediate danger is gone as well as the rush of adrenaline and all of the emotions that come with it? G'raha can acknowledge that this, really, is for the best. It also means that his body feels a little heavier. To help himself out - but really more for Zack's benefit - his hands shift so that he can comb through black strands of hair. Soothingly.

Helps him by keeping him focused on a task instead of the tightness about his abdomen. Zack is doing a good job and Raha makes a note of that. This man knows first aid and seems a little too familiar with this. Red eyes meet brilliant blue-green and Raha hopes they aren't as worried as they had been but moments ago. ]

I'm done fighting you on it, Zack. If you need me to behave, I will do just that.

[There's been one too many times that Zack has wrapped his own wounds too. He's pretty damn used to bandaging himself and other people up. It's a good skill to have and he wonders if he should brush up on the rest. Maybe Aerith could teach him a thing or two.

The small show of attention and giving in from G'raha has him glancing at him. Zack catches his gaze and he eases into a less worried expression. A smile, even.]

Oh, good. I was worried I was going to have to tie you down.

[He's not quite done with the bandages but almost. Another wrap around G'raha's torso and there. Snug as a bug. He gingerly lets his fingers rest on G'raha's sides.]

How's that feel?

Edited 2024-01-25 05:09 (UTC)

Surely you would not have done such a cruel thing to a wounded man...

[ Ah, a smile. A smile is so much better. Raha wants to ask him questions. Wants to ask him why he had been in such a panicked state. Why had Zack been so insistent, so stubborn? What is with the almost terrified look in his eye and the anger in them upon initial approach?

So many things he wants to know. G'raha realizes that Zack has a history of loss, but more information. To know more about this man that is patching him up out of concern.

In truth, he's feeling tired. the shock of it all is wearing off and G'raha feels like he could fall over. ]

It feels like you have too much practice...

With how much you were fighting me before, you'd be surprised what I'd do.

[A playful little threat in return. Zack grins and with the work done Zack might actually leave G'raha to rest here. But his shoulders sag lightly and he doesn't have it in him to leave just yet. So he plants his hands on either side of G'raha's hips on the bed and leans there.]

As for the practice... Yeah. You could say I've had way too much practice wrapping bandages. But that's the life I had before as a soldier. But hey, it's coming in handy, right?

I wouldn't call tying someone down due to being stubborn a fitting punishment....

[ His words are slugging. Slow. G'raha is coherent, yes, but it's clear that he is growing more and more tired. He should shoo Zack away. Should tell him to go take care of things now that the bandages have been applied and G'raha is in no danger of bleeding out.

Yet he attempts to coax Zack into at least sitting - either on the bed or on the floor. If on the floor, then the man can still keep arms around G'raha. Rest his head in Raha's lap so that the man can continue to stroke dark strands of hair. ]

I've never seen you so livid.

[If G'raha coaxes him into sitting it will be where G'raha can still rest on the bed. So he does that sitting on the floor and resting his back on the side of the bed. He lets out a short sigh.]

He hurt you. [It seems like a pretty simple explanation why Zack was so instantly pissed.] I don't want to see you get hurt. It scared the hell out of me.

[He tilts his head with a small grin.]

What, wasn't it cool how I came out of nowhere to avenge you?

[ As long as Raha gets to continue to stroke Zack's hair. It's genuinely a soothing gesture for him right now.

'He hurt you.' A simple explanation that has Raha smiling. Someone getting that mad on his behalf. While he has come to understand that there are people out there that do not want him to come to harm, this hits different. Perhaps because his feelings towards this man are different. ]

Hmm. I didn't mean to scare you. [ How many people has Zack seen be hurt for him to react that way? ] Just remember that it would be the same for me if you were to be hurt.

[ Red eyes meet blue green. Zack is so full of himself. Honestly, it makes Raha feel better. He huffs a small laugh then groans with pain. ]

It was "cool." I suppose.

[He'll sit there like a good boy, enjoying the strokes through his dark hair. It feels good and it's soothing his antsy energy too. He'd been about ready to go crack some more thug corsair skulls (can't sit for a long while!!) but he could sit a while longer.]

I wouldn't want you to break a knuckle for me, but yeah. You get it then.

[Hearing G'raha's laugh even with the wheeze from the pain has Zack nodding. He better take it easy...]

I've seen a lot of people that I care about get hurt before. There's been too many times that I've done everything I can to protect them and they still get hurt somehow. I can't let it happen, anymore. That's why you should let me protect you.

[So it's a bit of trauma for him as well. Things he wishes he did better, regrets and what ifs...]

[ Oh Zack will be able to get up and move around as he pleases after a bit. G'raha won't keep him long. Won't want to. They are here for a reason, after all. ]

I wouldn't break a knuckle...

[ But he does know what Zack means. Raha says nothing as the man continues to talk. It confirms some suspicions that G'raha might have had. The man has suffered loss. Loss that he had believed he could prevent. Things of that nature make people - at least in G'raha's case - think that they aren't strong enough. That they should have been able to prevent that suffering.

"Can't let that happen." Oh does Raha relate. ]

Zack. Come here.

[What else can he say, he's a bleeding heart. Even now he has a bit of guilt for not being there before G'raha got hurt. He knows G'raha is capable but it still just stings.

He shifts to glance up at G'raha. Then he moves to get up to come to him.]

Hm?

[ He takes Zack's hands in his own. Raha looks up at the man in front of him. Looks at this person that he's come to care a great deal about in such a short time. A man that reflects him in so many ways. G'raha knows the emotions that Zack is speaking of. The pain and anguish. Wanting to do better and be better and yet thinking that there is yet more that could be done.

Even when it isn't true.

When he speaks, it's with an even voice. ]

The last thing that I need is a protector, Zack Fair. Had I been in need of one, I would have elected to hire you as a bodyguard or something to that effect. Thus I cannot and will not give you that.

[ But then his hands slide up Zack's arms. They rest on Zack's cheeks and pull the man down so that Raha can press foreheads together. ]

Though I will not refuse a partner - one that I might stand beside just as readily as they remain by mine. This is what I can offer. Life moves forward, Zack. We cannot protect everyone from everything that may yet lie ahead.

[ "We" not "you." Raha is telling Zack that he knows. That he's been there too. Nightmares about those that have lost their lives and the notion that he might have been able to do something more. The feeling of guilt and failure. The unworthiness. ]

Someone reminded me that it is a lonely existence, but it doesn't have to be. So why do we not walk it together, you and I? Offering and accepting aid in tandum? Look after me and I, you?

[He hears it. Some of it he expects to hear. He knew that G'raha would tell him exactly that, that he did not need a bodyguard or a protector. Zack knows that he doesn't need to be that for G'raha either. It's just old habits that die hard. An uneasy worry in his head all the time.

But the rest of it...? Zack keeps his brow against G'raha's. Leaning over the red head with his arm coming to rest near his head to prop himself there. He looks at G'raha and he has to shut his eyes because for a second he can barely stand just how fucking beautiful G'raha's eyes are.]

Do you even know what you're saying right now?

[Seriously. Zack can not stop the way his heart makes a painful squeeze hearing that. The last time he felt that sort of painful squeeze had been back with Aerith years ago. But now...

... Does G'raha know what he sounds like right now?]

[ Zack closes his eyes and Raha wonders what Zack is thinking. What he feels about that. He believes that he is going to get some sort of answer, but instead Zack asks him that question: does he know what he is saying?

His brows pinch together for a moment, the Miqo'te confused about why he would ask it like that. It dawns on him, after replaying everything over in his mind, what it ah. What it might come across as. There's a cool flush of embarrassment that washes over G'raha. But then he decides that he won't be teased for it, his cheeks coloring and puffing out a bit. ]

Is there something wrong with what I said? I won't take it back, I'll have you know.

[ With another huff, he brushes noses together. ]

You asked me to keep seeing you. Well, Zack Fair, I am seeing you.

[ Not the same type of seeing. But G'raha is going to use it to his advantage regardless. ]

[ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

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