[Complete]

[jewelofgardios]

Who: Guy jewelofgardios and Asch flameoflorelei
What: Asch is hurt, so Guy goes to lend a hand.
Where: The neighbourhood area near the school/Guy's bar
When: After Asch's arrival
Rating: PG/PG-13, at least. HOLY HELL NC-17.
Open: Nope!

Comments

[jewelofgardios]

Guy was inwardly grateful that Asch wasn't going to start an argument about it - really, he had no justification besides "You're a reckless idiot and I'm babysitting you" or something, and that wouldn't exactly work. Asch was even more obstinate than Luke, which was an accomplishment all on its own. Remaining silent, knowing that any comments he made would probably earn him a sharp retort, Guy shifted closer and moved his hand behind Asch's head, tilting it up just enough to set the glass comfortably by his chin, pulling it back after a moment to let Asch take another.

"I don't know how strong they are," he admitted, "But it's better than nothing."

[flameoflorelei]

"I'll deal with whatever pain they leave behind." He was plenty accustomed to ignoring it. "The worst will be over when you're finished cleaning."

Asch opened his mouth and swallowed the water and pill. The water was refreshing and it was only then he realized how parched he was. When Guy pulled away, he spoke before putting the second pill into his mouth. "I want to drink the rest of it." He figured that a statement wasn't as helpless-sounding as a question.

[jewelofgardios]

Both amused and exasperated - honestly, sometimes it was like Asch didn't even know how to ask a question - Guy shrugged in response and lifted the glass again, slowly helping him drain the glass. It was no surprise, really, what with how Asch's voice had sounded when he'd first arrived. Dehydration and bloodloss were not a good combination.

Drawing back the glass when Asch was done and setting it on the floor beside him, Guy gingerly lay his head back down and shifted back to continue working on the wound. It had bled more since he'd left it, but it was looking cleaner, at least. "After I get you patched up, I'll make something to eat. You look like you could use a good meal."

[flameoflorelei]

Part of Asch believed that asking for help was tantamount to admitting you couldn't do it on your own. He gulped down the water gratefully, and rested his head as comfortably as he could against the cot. He was just barely starting to feel better.

He hadn't even noticed the extra bleeding. Asch was so used to it bleeding on its own that he hadn't bothered to point it out. His stomach gurgled as Guy spoke. "I haven't eaten since before I entered Radiation Gate." He liked the idea of eating, so long as his body allowed him to keep it in. He was so exhausted, from both the trek and the hyperresonance, that he wasn't sure just what it wanted to do.

[jewelofgardios]

"Damn. Even we got ourselves a last meal of old rice balls," Guy grinned faintly, finishing up with the cleaning and switching to the bandages. He hesitated as he looked it over, lips pursed, as he pressed a piece of dry gauze over the wound to soak up the water so the first layer of bandages would stay on. "I don't like the idea of just covering it up," he spoke again after a moment, reaching back with one hand to sort through the kit for the disinfectant before moving the gauze to apply it. "It should be sewn up. I can try to find a doctor for that, if you want..."

Granted, he hadn't met any yet, but he knew there was someone at the city's hospital. Though he doubted Asch would trust a stranger.

[flameoflorelei]

"I don't want you going back out there," Asch said firmly, and for a number of reasons. The display in the front room had shaken him deep down, and he did not want to be lying helplessly if that were to happen to him, nor did he want to lie in wait for a Guy who disappeared on the trek out. Until he had a chance to learn this place, he wasn't sure he wanted to be alone.

He'd sewn up wounds for others before, but never himself. On the battlefield, you just had to make do without doctors. Even with his condition, he'd never be able to position himself properly to sew it up alone. "I'm not a contortionist." He sighed, rubbing his head for a moment. It was something even he couldn't deny. "What about you? Can you do it?"

[jewelofgardios]

"Me?" Guy blinked, lifting a brow. The question wasn't a surprise so much as the fact that Asch was asking him. "Sure, if you trust me to. I've handled this kind of thing a few times before."

He wasn't bad at sewing (Luke had once commented on how he did it better than some of the maids, which would have been embarrassing if he didn't have a good sense of humour), though he'd fixed ripped clothes more than skin. There wasn't really time for anything else, and admittedly, he didn't feel much like going out on a trek to the hospital anyway.

There were supplies in the kit for that as well, thankfully; a sealed set of special thread and a needle, which he pierced and tugged free, leaning over Asch a little more. "I hope those painkillers kick in," he murmured, half to himself, and gentle pressed the torn edges of skin together to start binding them.

[flameoflorelei]

"You've had plenty of oppurtunity to kill me by now. If you haven't yet, I shouldn't expect you to." He was a weak mess on the ground when they'd first reunited, and he was still weak now. There was still a hint of doubt inside of him, but he brushed it off with a deep breath. Guy was someone he knew, and not whatever the fuck was out there that had killed him before.

"I trust you," he said finally, closing his eyes. He'd settle for getting stitched up, no matter how badly it hurt. He wrapped his fingers around the edge of the cot, waiting for the pain.

[jewelofgardios]

That was... comforting. Guy nodded absently, concentrating on the task of sewing the wound shut. He tried to work quickly while still being careful, knowing that the longer it took, the more pain Asch would be in. He seriously doubted Asch would want him to prolong it.

"The bleeding's starting to slow down," he commented when he was half-finished, knowing a distraction often helped with this sort of thing. He wasn't a big fan of long silences anyway; as long as he himself didn't get distracted, keeping Asch occupied might help him just as much as the needle and thread. The wound was coming together neatly enough, at least.

[flameoflorelei]

The wound itself had been much less painful in retrospect. Van had made a clean slice through him, and the pain had been quick. Dragging himself across the world and back had hurt, but right now, the feeling of the needle going through hurt more than anything. Asch clenched his teeth, gripping the edge of the cot tightly. He made no sound.

He nodded as Guy spoke, not opening his eyes. This would all be over quickly, he was sure. Asch just wasn't going to think about it.