this needs to stop happening

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Who: Gilbert Nightray & whoever wants to visit
When: afternoon of the 17th
Where: Skye Medical
Summary: Xigbar's creepy monster dog-thing messed him up good for his part in the newcomer hunt raid. He never saw it coming.
Warnings: slight spoilers for PH, mentions of blood and injury

Gil has been overcome by the darkness a few times in the last few years. For the most part, every time he's gotten out of the situation with scratches and bruises, a couple larger wounds, a bullet wound once. But this time had been different. This time the monster seemed far more interested in hurting him; in killing him. And it was quick enough to do damage while he floundered through attempting to use Raven and failing, miserably. The familiar pain in his left hand told him that he was putting too much strain on the Hatter and B Rabbit's seals, and he'd hesitated as he'd been struck.

Again. And again.

If he'd been conscious, he would have told whoever transported him to take him home. If the Core reacted the same way that it did last time, he'd be healed in no time. A day or two, and he wouldn't have to waste time away from his master in the meanwhile. But he stays asleep during the pick up, transport, and the initial check-in to the hospital. He doesn't wake until halfway through the day, several ribs shattered, a wrist and ankle broken, a concussion, bruises and cuts and gashes up his neck and across his chest and legs.

And every single one of those injuries is healing, slowly but surely, without anyone needing to lift a finger to help him.

Crap.

His eyes snap open at the sound of familiar, rhythmic beeping. That's all it takes for him to realize where he's ended up, the memory of this morning rushing back all at once. Crap, crap, crap! Not good!

He doesn't bother to check if anyone else is in the room first before throwing back the blanket and attempting to run as fast as his healing feet will take him, no matter how many wires and tubes are currently attached to him. Stop him, egg him on, catch the aftermath upon failure. He'll be here for a couple of days.


[ooc - have at it, visitors. also I'm still sick, so tags will probably continue to be slow, but I promise I'll get to them all! thank you for putting up with me!]

Comments

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"There's fewer hours of daylight in the winter, but things still need to be done..."

He lulls his head to the other side, giving Oz a better look at the bandage on the side of his neck. A bandage that he won't even need much longer, but remains for show. His existence here has become little more than a series of smoke and mirrors, he's starting to feel.

[his_own_will]

He frowns, staring at that bandage and everything it represented. Earlier this morning, he nearly lost an irreplaceable servant.

He could hardly sit idly by for that.

"Then you'll just have to take me with you next time. That shouldn't be a problem, right Gil?"

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He winces, and for the first time he looks like he's in genuine pain.

"I won't willingly put you in harm..."

[his_own_will]

Nope. Nope, Oz isn't backing down on this one. "Then stop putting yourself in harm's way and I won't need to worry. At least take the car next time." Which means Gil will have to take Reim...

Wait, that might be worse.

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"Until now I've been fine!"

See, it's just a fluke! He does this all the time...

[his_own_will]

... "So you've done this before?"

Gil, Gil, that's not the point. The point is simply that it can't happen again, regardless of the frequency.

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"...I've been here for two and a half years now."

He answers, mostly muttered under his breath.

"If I'd never learned how to navigate the darkness, I wouldn't have survived that long."

[his_own_will]

"Then you'll just have to teach me how to do the same otherwise you're not getting out of this room until you do."

And Oz isn't doubting that Gil knows how to defend himself. He's doubting Gilbert's decision to risk it at all. Gilbert was his servant. Oz was supposed to protect him!

In this, Oz just had to protect him from himself.

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He stares across the room in silence. Back home, Oz had told him that he was finally strong enough to fight at his side, and Gilbert had allowed it. He'd allowed it, and Oz had proven himself to be that much stronger in a fight, but...

There's still something holding him back. Fear. Fear that he'll have to watch Oz struck down someday, that he'll take a risk that costs him something important.

Or maybe I'm only afraid for myself...that I'll have no reason to go on after he's gone again. Selfish...

He swallows and ends up coughing before replying.

"If that's what you want, I..."

I do not have an appropriate icon for this :(

[his_own_will]

His heart clenched, nearly toppling Oz off the bed with the suddenness of the silence that followed Gil's words.

Of course it's what he wanted, but to have Gil agree so readily could only mean one thing. What happened last night must have been so bad, so terrible that even Gil wasn't sure he could make it alone.

Shifting, taking a deep breath, Oz stared straight at Gil and answered. "Of course it's what I want." Unflinchingly, unquestioningly, he'll protect you.

young masterrrrr

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Back home, eventually, Oz will say to Gilbert, I'm glad that I can finally fight at your side and Gil will have to accept it as an absolute. But Oz hasn't seen this yet, and all this time, Gil has meant to keep him ignorant to the future, but what he hasn't taken into account is that the future will come one way or the other, no matter what trouble he sees.

He isn't sure if he should be grateful or depressed by it.

So he just continues staring across the room at the wall instead, stress induced tears forming in his eyes.

[his_own_will]

Huh?

Wait...

Why is there crying? Was it really so horrible? So unbearably loathsome to have Oz fighting at Gil's side that it was worth shedding a tear? He knew that look. It wasn't happiness.

Shifting, Oz leaned forward and flicked Gil in the head. "Enough of that. I already said you could leave." He knows that's not what Gil's problem is, but a promise is a promise. At least this time it is.

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"Gah!"

It snaps him out of it a little, but he knows that there's no excuse past his own exhaustion and embarrassment. Which Oz definitely isn't helping at the moment, by the way! He sniffles and keeps himself from tearing up any worse, still refusing to look Oz in the eye.

"I know, I know..."

[his_own_will]

He frowns and sticks his face full into Gilbert's own. "Then what?" Oz only likes a crying Gil when he knows full well why there's crying. Otherwise it's not allowed!

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He hadn't been planning on being one hundred percent honest with his master, but with Oz's face in his he blurts it out without thinking.

"I'm just - scared! I'm scared for you!"

[his_own_will]

Oz blinks and then sits back and laughs. It's the first real laugh he's had in a long time.

Honestly, Gil. You're precious.

"Me too, Gil. Each time you go out there where I can't reach you, I worry." He shakes his head and wipes his eyes. Honestly, two sides of a coin they were. Constantly worrying for the other. He loved this feeling.

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As Oz laughs, Gilbert holds his breath to keep from clogging his ears with the pathetic sound of his own breathing in order to hear his master a little better. It's all he's ever wanted, to see Oz smile so genuinely, so for this brief moment he can allow his heart to be calm.

He closes his eyes, lets that breath out slowly.

...And then ruins the moment.

"Oz...do you think you can untie my arms now...?"

[his_own_will]

Oz stifles another laugh and then drapes full across Gil's body, using his arms as a prop to stare into Gil's face.

"Why, do you hate them that much?"

But he's already looking at the knots and contemplating. If he tugged there then that would come loose and then... Maybe he should just get out the scissors.

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He wants to wipe at his face himself, but since he doesn't want to admit that:

"My - my face itches!"

[his_own_will]

had the sudden urge to make Oz kiss Gilbert's nose right there He's already tugging at the knot when Gil speaks up and he represses another laugh.

"Just another minute then. I'm sure you can manage that much." He continues worrying at that knot until one hand is free. It does take a bit though because, honestly, he tied it pretty tight.

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And while he attempts to take out that crazy knot (seriously Oz why) Gil watches his masters small hands work; hands that look even smaller when posed so close to his own.

"Oz," he mutters, "thank you...for worrying about me, and letting me worry about you."

He's still terrified, but at least they're one step closer to being equals, just like Oz has always wanted.

[his_own_will]

(Because he couldn't risk Gilbert breaking loose, why else?) Oz shook his head and yanked, tearing that knot loose and rising in triumph!

"Ahah! I got it." He's practically beaming as he sets to on the second one. "Oh, right, did you just say something, Gil?"

His eyes are shining innocently, but no fear. He heard him. He just didn't know quite how to respond to the thanks. After all the trouble Oz has put Gilbert through, he really didn't deserve it.

Well... maybe not all of it.

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It takes him a moment of staring incredulously up at Oz before he finally just...sighs. Sighs and reaches up with that freed hand to poke the young man right in the middle of his forehead.

"I said move already - you're heavier than you look!"

[his_own_will]

Oz flails and covers his forehead, pouting and looking hurt. "I'm not that heavy. I've only grown an inch this last year!"

But he scoots and hops off the bed, dusting his pants and straightening out his shirt. Time to sneak out the window, hmm?

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"Then you're growing out, not up!"

He doesn't mean that either. If anything, Oz has lost weight since he's been here, but that's to be expected given the shock of this new place and the loss that they've all continued to feel. Still, it's the principle of the argument!

As soon as Oz is off of him, he rolls his shoulders and groans as one of them pops back into place. Ouch.