Coral

The amount of pain Drasus must be in would probably kill a lesser species. Yes, he could still kick like a mule and the bruise on my breastbone is pretty impressive, but the damage to his internal organs is such that the fact he can stand at all is equally impressive.

He moved so quickly to check on me, that when I came to a few minutes after I fell to find him curled around me, protectively. Unfortunately he was burning up and not in a good way.

More unfortunately, at that very moment, Drega decided to put in an appearance. Which made me look like a complete idiot, even if he could help me to pick Drasus up and put him back in the bed.

At least the heat rolling from him turned out not to be a bad thing as was his ability, in sleep, to shift his tail. And, growly though he is, Drasus doesn't seem any worse from his adventure.

On the other hand, I am emotionally wrecked. Not only did I make a rookie mistake putting myself in the firing line, but when I found him holding me, I let my heart do a slow flip and ascend my throat.

But we all know where losing your heart takes you, Coral.

I was laser focussed on my career. Relationships were messy. I watched my colleague go through a divorce in which he lost everything, having married young. It wasn't for me.

It still isn't for me. Certainly it is not seven foot plus of pure muscle and scales who could easily rip me apart if he wanted to. No matter how gentle he seemed or how warm. Or how his breath blew on the back of my neck.

I rub the bruise on my chest to remind me he's hurting more.

Drasus has gone back to sleep, although his tail has not disappeared. It remains stubbornly shifted, the tip twitching slightly every so often. Drega felt this was a good sign. All he wanted to do was get Drasus' pain under control.

"He won't tell you how much pain he's in. Drasus is a good warrior, one of our best. His injuries would have killed a lesser warrior. So, he's not going to admit to the pain. We have to deal with it separately."

A male who won't admit to pain—looks like they're the same the universe over.

Pain management, I can do. Issues of the heart can be forgotten for the time being.

I busy myself around the clinic, tidying because it's my coping mechanism. The Jiaka whose wrist was broken comes back with a basket filled with baked goods as a thank you. I go out briefly to get food for Drasus and to have a cup of hot Kolade, as well as collect a change of clothes from my quarters. I can use the aquium back at the clinic after all.

When I return and check on Drasus, he's sat up looking slightly bleary eyed but awake at least.

"Hi!" I say, unintentionally bracing myself for the usual snarl.

I get it, of course. It wouldn't be Drasus if he wasn't being beastly. Only this time it's cut off suddenly as he lifts his head, scenting the air.

"Drega left me with something which'll help ease the pain."

"I don't have any pain," he says, predictably.

"I could punch you in the head, then you'd have pain."

He blinks at me, as if the words don't quite register straight away.

"You're supposed to be a healer," he says, finally.

"I'm taking care of you, that's all. Any healing is being done by your Sarkarnii physiology."

"Is it paraxio?" Drasus says, giving me a side eye. "The ‘something' for the pain?"

"No. You've had more than enough of that. So much I suspect you're probably still feeling the effects," I point out.

He shrugs his shoulders and winces a little. "Yes. All of that is true. I didn't mind paraxio so much until now. If I never smell the stuff again, it'll be too soon," he rasps.

This is good news. Whatever Drega seems to think about paraxio as a way of knocking out a Sarkarnii, I've spent enough time around prescription drugs to know nothing is perfect and everything extracts a price, eventually.

"This"—I hold up the small bottle—"is for the pain you don't have. I'm reliably informed it is dissolved in water and has none of the effects of paraxio."

Drasus looks unconvinced. I pour out a goblet of water and put three drops into the drink. He watches me closely.

"Is that all?"

"That's all," I say with a smile. "Oh! And it needs to be taken with food." At the mention of a meal, Drasus' eyes light up. I hand him the goblet and go to collect the platter I filled earlier.

I add a couple of the baked items the Jiaka brought, one which looks sweet and the other savory, before returning. Drasus is smacking his lips.

"Tastes like nirni," he says.

"Nirni?"

"A traditional Sarkarnii aperitif," he says. "Only without the alcohol," he adds sadly.

"You've had more than enough stimulants." I laugh and produce the platter of food.

Yet again, I'm rewarded by the light in Drasus' eyes. This time his tongue, his forked tongue, peeps out between his lips in a way which is incredibly cute. It's basically a Sarkarnii blep.

"I presume you can feed yourself today?" I query.

He cocks his head on one side, the tongue tips still protruding, and my heart does that silly flip flop thing again.

"I can manage," he says, and I place the platter on his lap. Turning to go, I feel my wrist enclosed in a massive hand. "But I'd appreciate the company."

"You would?" I blurt out, turning back to him.

"I have to make amends." Drasus doesn't meet my eyes. Instead smoke curls from one nostril and a muscle twitches in his jaw as he lets me go suddenly. "For my behavior."

"If you mean behaving like a bear with a sore head, that'll take a bit of time," I reply, but sit on the edge of his bed. "But if you mean what happened yesterday, I told you it wasn't your fault."

If he wants to have company, I guess it could help the healing process, and the sooner Drasus is well, the sooner things can get back to normal.

Stopping the fluttering in my heart, in my head, and in other parts of me which keep having very bad thoughts about him.

"What is a bear?" Drasus asks as he folds some meat into his mouth.

"It's a hairy Sarkarnii-a-like with anger management problems."

"Oh, Daeos then." His lips quirk up at the corner.

"I definitely wasn't thinking of Daeos."