“I guess what scares me the most now is the thought that I won't be able to protect you”
“I’m here.” And he was. Carefully sitting on the edge of the bed, he held her. “I’ve got you.” A range of emotions conflicted his face as he watched her writhe in pain. He didn’t look away. The slight healing magic he had warmed his hands in attempts to calm her, soothe the pain. Making a deep sound in the back of his throat, he clutched her cheeks and pulled her face inches from his lips. Then stopped. He pressed his forehead against her, his ears, dark as night, bent down. When he pulled away his eyes darted across her face. Cursing, he set her back down as if she was glass.
Scrambling to his feet, he frantically searched the room for some herbs, or pain drugs. He threw open drawers. He didn’t bother to close them. The cabinets? Nothing. He growled, throwing his arms into the air; and then he saw it, across the room on the desk. Hiro had just finished making a bag from last night. He snapped it up in his hands and pulled out a pill. He dashed to the door. He flung it open. And then looked back at her.
His eyes ran over her as he whispered, “I’ll be back.” And the door slammed shut behind him. He was quick, running downstairs and filling up a glass with water. As he went back up the stairs, thoughts pounded with each step. Something was wrong with her, possibly more than just these wounds. He knew it, his gut felt it. Not once had he seen Ash hurt this bad, or go down so fast. As much as he made her out to be someone who needed protection, he knew that that was farther from the truth. Or was he? Had he put her on a pedestal?
Flinging the door open, he stormed back into her room and slid onto her bed. With care, he slid his hand under her neck.
“Hey, hey. I have medicine, I need you to drink it,” he whispered, “Come on, just for a second.” He readied the water for her lips and began to lift her head. “You’re almost there.”