Chapter 2
It's not that bad, right? It can't be that bad.
There's big red-purple blotches on Druig's chest and spreading to his stomach, from where Ikaris' eye blasts had got him. And... they were getting bigger, and they really quite hurt if he moved, or if he touched them, or after sleeping, or anything.
But they had bigger problem's than his sore chest, the rest of them of were missing and Thena had enough problems of her own without him being a little bitch. Besides, he knew for a fact that some of the others had also been on the bad end of their fallen team mate's lasers, and they were okay, so it couldn't be that bad.
Maybe he was just taking longer because his abilities didn't include increased strength, or superspeedy healing. It would take a while, but he would be fine, like he always was. No need to worry everyone with his stupid body not functioning as well as every other body.
So, he didn't say anything. He tried to hide the pain when he made any sudden moves, tried to pretend everything was just as ok as usual. He was good at managing his emotions, and he could do this. Just help finding others, sulk when there was no news, and be perfectly normal. He was not some fragile creature, he was as much as Eternal as the rest of them, and he could swallow his pain (he always had).
Sometimes it was hard, though When he and Makkari where sitting on a couch and they felt like cuddling, he really had to make an effort not to wince. Which was bullshit, because he loved cuddling with her, and some of the enjoyment disappeared when it just hurt that much.
These wounds were also a reminder that one of his team mates had actively almost murdered him, just after uttering that he should have been killed a long time ago. It was not a nice reminder - he and Ikaris, may not have been great friends, but it still hurt. It was painful, in more than one way. But the damn bruises refused to clear up, and if anything, they were just getting bigger. More painful.
Now Druig was having some trouble to just move around normally, and sometimes he felt flashes of pain so bad that they almost brought him to tears. It was getting worse, Druig and maybe he should be saying something... But no. They didn't have a lot of medical supplies in the Domo, they didn't have Ajak, this would only worry them and delay what they were supposed to do even more... No, he could push through.
Maybe the solution would solve itself.
It didn't, of course, because when had things gone his way?
Some days after, he was trying to get some popcorn when he nearly fell, crashed moderately onto the table. The pain was stronger than ever and suddenly... there was blood. He coughing up blood, until a big heave came with even more of it. Shit, it hurt. It hurt so much.
"Oh, no, no, no, no!" Thena's voice interrupted his agony. "What happened? Did someone attack you? Is there someone else on the ship?"
Druig just shook his head.
Suddenly Makkari was there as well (when had she arrived?) and looking at worry with a worry that could break through steel. Druig hated making her feel this way.
What's wrong?
Not waiting for his answer and noticing that he was holding his stomach (and that he would continue hiding his injuries, probably) Makkari just straight up ripped his tee shirt in two. And saw the damage, the ever spreading clouds of red and purple from Ikaris' attack.
Her face was a poem. It changed from horror, to worry, to anger.
What's this? Why didn't you say anything? Why wouldn't you? You should have been resting! How? Why? When?
"Did this happen when Ikaris almost killed you?"
Thanks for sugar coating it, Thena!
Druig felt... like crap. He wanted to answer, say that it wasn't that bad, say that he was okay, explain that there was no need to rest... But words felt hard now, and he somehow felt like he was disappointing them, so he just looked at Makkari with sad eyes and a chin full of blood. Makkari kind of melted. She never could tolerate him being sad.
Ok, baby. I'll be mad at you for not saying anything later, now why don't I take you to bed, clean you up a bit?
Druig almost teared up with joy. After so long working so hard to be his usual self, the thought of not doing anything and just going to bed and letting her look after him for a while seemed heaven.
It was not heaven for Makkari, though, not at all. She was beating herself up for not noticing something sooner, he'd been more squirmy than usual, eating less, but she thought he was just going through a bit of a mood. She should have known better, should have seen the signs, shouldn't she? He was the person he was the closest to, and he had been hurt and she hadn't noticed. The blame was mostly on him, of course, for keeping quiet and being such a stupidly good actor, but still.
He was quite bad for a couple of days, too. Vomiting blood and holding his stomach in pain. He said it wasn't that bad when asked, but it looked bad. Makkari wished she could do something more, other than just trying to distract him from the pain.
And there was, in the ned! A scream of pain triggered some of Thena's old memories, another in which Ikaris' lasers also hurt someone, and it got bad. Thankfully, after some fighting she came back, and told Makkari about Ajak's secret compartment of healing memorabilia, gathered around the space and the century, and how in that other timeline when Ajak was someplace else on mission, one of her gadgets (something that looked like an enchanted knife) actually took the extra blood and fixed things.
In a couple of seconds, Makkari found the thing. She was a bit scared about cutting Druig with it, but... she trusted Thena. Trusted these memories she wasn't supposed to have.
Druig trusted her too, which was good. He looked at her with exhausted blue eyes and signed.
Whatever you think will help with the pain.
It was a small on a side of a pectoral, and the other on the other side, downwards, on the stomach. Little, but effective. In a few seconds the cuts lit up, and something was happening.
Druig held Makkari's hand, in pain and discomfort, because shit this hurt, closed his eyes, kept them tightly closed.... And then the pain diminished, and then it stopped. His chest was once again its usual colour. He breathed, calmly and depply, and there was no pain.
Amazing.
Makkari was smiling too, and Druig felt incredibly grateful.
You have my eternal gratitude, beautiful Makkari. My saviour.
She smiled back, there was a small kiss, an "I'm so relieved you're well again" caressing of the face.
A nice moment.
Couldn't last forever.
And now that you're fine, you're getting THE SCOLDING OF THE CENTURY. Why would you hide something like this? You know how much you matter to me, to all of us, why would you be such a reckless idiot?
Druig just smiled.
He may be a reckless idiot, but as long as he had some saviours around... he could be fine.
(Makkari wanted to be angry a bit longer but he mentioned that now they cuddle properly again) (it was just too tempting) (she was still a bit angry, though) (but maybe some "you know you can always tell me" while cuddling would help) (yes, it would) (they would be fine).