|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:26 pm
Oliver tried to ignore the complaints. From the little he had seen of Ian, he knew the man was more likely to blurt out something without thinking about it beforehand if something was bothering him. Oliver could forgive him for that. having lost a great deal and then being injured like this, he could forgive a lot of things. Pulling a small knife out of his coat pocket, Oliver sat on the bed and began to unwind some of the soft gauze. "N-no, I-I h-have," he started, blushing worse under Ian's scrutiny, and very pointedly focusing on his task. "A-and it's not that either!" The blushing hand reached near critical levels as Oliver cut off a section of gauze and folded it up, and then began to do the same with another, longer segment.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:34 pm
"For someone who says he's seen a guy half naked before, you sure are blushing a lot," Ian remarked with a roll of his eyes. "Granted, this is probably the least sexy situation you'll ever see me in, so don't get used to the fact that I'm always bloodied up."
A pause.
"Hopefully that's not your thing, because that would be weird."
Ian shifted a little, the throbbing in his back beginning to feel terribly painful now. He tried not to let it show, teeth gritted, his eyes moving back to where Oliver sat next to him, his face a rather fascinating shade of scarlet now. He didn't quite understand the kid, or why he hadn't run away from him by now, but there was something oddly likable about him, even with the tears and the fear.
"Hurry up," Ian growled. "I can't sit like this forever."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:58 pm
Oliver couldn't muster a reply, he could just shake his head quickly, long bangs getting in his eyes. He couldn't manage to look up at Ian even when he replied to the man's impatience. "I-I'm trying," the kid stammered, unrolling a third section of the gauze. He placed the tail end against Ian's ribs as though afraid to make skin contact. "H-hold this. P-please..." He pressed the larger of the two impromptu gauze pads against the deep cut on Ian's back, and then wound the gauze around to hold it in place. The smaller piece was put against the chest wound with much blushing and still no eye contact to speak of. But Oliver was quick from that point, winding the gauze around Ian's body several times until both sides were secure. " Th-thanks," Oliver stammered after taking the tail end back and tying it off. That would do, and with a little extra padding it would be less painful and more absorbent if the wounds were re-opened. Mission completed, he scrambled off the bed and tried to look at Ian without actually looking at Ian. " S-should I stay?" He asked nervously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:02 pm
He lifted his hand and placed it back over the gauze, pressing it flat against his skin. It hurt, but not nearly as much as the winding of the gauze back around his torso and between his shoulder blades, Ian letting out a sharp hiss of pain through his teeth, which were clenched together.
But then it was done, and it was much better now, and he exhaled a long breath.
"Thanks, kid," Ian muttered, and eased himself back down onto the bed, lying on his stomach this time, rather than his back. It wasn't great, but it was better than putting pressure on the cuts to his back, and he closed his eyes, breathing carefully.
"Only if you want to," he said, without opening them. " 'fraid I'm not much company, though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:16 pm
Oliver took a couple steps towards the door. But instead of leaving, he put his back to the wall and slid into a seated position, his knees drawn up to his chest. He wrapped his arms around them, and rested his chin like he was settling in for a time. "D-did you need anything for the pain?" He made no comment about the quality of Ian's company. Hurt people didn't need to be company, they needed to be healing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:29 pm
He didn't answer for a long time, long enough that Oliver might have thought he could have fallen asleep. But after several moments had passed and silence had fallen throughout the room, a single word could be heard from Ian's mouth, his face half pressed into his pillow, his eyes still closed.
"Nevada."
But then he twisted around his head to look at Oliver, and there was a terribly bitter smile on his face, a deep sadness welling in his eyes. "But I can't have her," he said, "or Shiloh. So I just have to deal with the pain."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:42 pm
The smile on Ian's face was heart-breaking. It was the smile of someone who put on a pleasant face, but was afraid to show the world he had lost everything. Oliver got up, and without a word he sat on the floor next to the bed. Tucking his knees to his chest once again, he didn't even spare a thought towards Ian's reaction, whether he would be told to leave, or punched or something... But he rested one arm on the bed, and squeezed Ian's hand. Sometimes words weren't the important part.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:48 pm
The corners of his eyes felt damp, and his face felt hot. Ian closed his eyes again, willing himself not to break, not yet, not yet, I can't break, not here, not now, not here, not now, hold on, hold on, don't let go, don't let go -
The gentle touch of Oliver's hand on his startled him at first; he very nearly pulled away, but then a shudder ran through his body, and he curled his fingers around Oliver's, gripping them tightly. Such a simple gesture; a small thing, a seemingly meaningless movement that could have meant nothing, and yet, strangely, it was just what he needed right now.
Ian let out his breath in a long exhale, his lashes fluttering.
"Don't leave," he mumbled, only half coherently, and then he had fallen asleep, head tucked onto the pillow, his fingers still wound through Oliver's.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:57 pm
Oliver rested his head against the mattress, shifting slightly so it rested comfortably against his arm as well. "Okay," he replied gently. For all the grumping and complaining and bravado, Ian was vulnerable right now. But nobody else had to know. The kid didn't move his hand away after Ian fell asleep, and slowly the anxiety slipped from his mind. It still took some time for him to find sleep himself, but if Ian needed him, he would be right there. All night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
