The Morning After

[Sebastian Arcturis]

The captain had tried to stay awake as long as possible. Had tried to assure his Princess and his charge that, regardless of what would actually happen, none of this was her fault. Had tried to consciously be there for her. But as bullheaded and stubborn as he was, even Sebastian couldn't brute force his way through blood loss. Thankfully the injury wasn't directly fatal, and once he'd been patched up, his biggest worry was infection.

He slept more or less peacefully through the rest of the night, shifting on his side slightly and mumbling a little, but that was indeed tame for him without a sleeping companion. Perhaps due to the sudden dire circumstances the night before and to being reunited with such a dear friend recently, his dreams turned sour in the late morning. Sebastian stumbled through the mist laden forests, pursued by some unseen attacker with dark features and needle sharp claws. He tripped and rolled through the underbrush, landing on top of Leti who pulled him into an embrace. He melted into the comfort for a moment, only to be grabbed from behind and ripped away.

Sebastian woke suddenly, gasping and twisting against some unseen attacker only to yelp and in that moment of real and not imagined pain, the dream faded out and reality faded back in and he remembered what had happened and where he was and that Leti would not be happy him. He tried to lie still, shifting slightly with soft groans to get more comfortable on his side. The captain surveyed the wing of the infirmary he could see and had to admit he was not very familiar with the layout of the room. He didn't like how open and public it was. He didn't particularly want to be in a public space for quite a few reasons. His negative desire to be social for one, his desire to downplay the injury for Cera for another, not to mention it was not the most conduce place for any additional healing.

Feleti Eidothea

[Feleti Eidothea]

Feleti hadn't been far. Despite being woken to such a dramatic event in the night he had risen early and returned to the infirmary. He was well within ear shot when he heard the captain startle awake. He himself hadn't been able to sleep much that night. He had struggled with the desire to sit up at the man's bedside all night, but that wouldn't have made sense to anyone. To the other healers Leti was just looking after yet another patient, a grumpy and higher status one but a patient nonetheless.
He flitted nervously to the man's side with a concerned expression. "how is it....? I wanted to.....but " Came the words helplessly as his eyes cast about the somewhat open space. In the cave he could have reached out and eased the man's pain, here he had to merely hand the man a tea and hope it was do the trick.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

It took him a moment to register the white haired man. Sebastian studied him, his dark eyes lingering on the man meaningfully though he didn't struggle so much with his expression or words. When it came to expressing himself, that was much more difficult. Hiding things was a lot easier. And, he realized, a lot more likely to be misunderstood. Not that Leti seemed to notice. It was almost like he knew. Somehow.

The man didn't need to say the words for the soldier to understand. This wasn't like before. Even though only a few people had seen anything, if was still more than just the healer. And this was certainly no place to even consider the use of magic. Sebastian was used to weathering injuries and pain and scars without the use of magic. Once more wouldn't hurt him. "Fine," he managed through his teeth, taking a breath.

He glanced at the tea and made a face. In the last five years, he had in fact had tea a few times. Mostly laced with herbs to help him sleep, though not very often. Still, he hesitated only a moment before shifting slightly so he could take the cup from the man. Better than nothing, even if he didn't like it. Looking back however, he had mostly fond memories of Leti forcing him to drink tea.

"I assume you got the arrow out?" He asked before downing the drink without hardly tasting it. It wasn't all that bad. He leaned back into the cot and moved aside blankets and his loose stained tunic to inspect the tight layers of bandages. Was he bleeding that much still? He felt present and awake enough to move. More likely Leti taking preemptive measures.

He glanced back around the room and frowned. "I'd prefer my own room." He was a captain, that meant something, right? Entitled him to privacy? The problem with that was the same they had had getting from the stables to here. Maybe he could walk. He glanced back at Leti and knew better than to suggest as much.

[Feleti Eidothea]

There was something sadly nostalgic about watching bastian force down the tea. He hadn't expected to be nursing the man back to health again quite so soon. He nodded at the man's question as he watched bastian inspect his work. "Gauis is a very talented healer, I expect to learn a lot from him." The man was old enough that he had known Cain when the man himself was a castle healer. It was part of the reason Leti had been able to settle in so easily. Though Gauis had only called him 'Cain's lad' for the first few days.

The slightly grumpy complaint only earned an awkward moment of silence from leti. He cleared his throat "I...don't know which room is yours." He reminded the man. Sure perhaps he could have asked someone in the morning if there were guest rooms that could be used or where the captain's quarters were. But seeing as there was nothing that could have been done so late at night Leti had left that hurtle to after bastian woke up.
The thought of taking bastian to his own healer's quarters had vaguely crossed his mind, but they were trying to maintian some level of distance.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

This isn't exactly how he had envision their next secret rendezvous going. Or even just the next time they saw each other. It hadn't even been that long either. This was not at all what he had in mind.

The stitches felt alright, but he didn't press too much considering it hurt quite a bit and he was still sore and he couldn't really move that well anyway. "Good," he said distractedly. It took a lot of effort to lay back and settled the blanket again and attempt to get comfortable. He couldn't quite lay on his back without being in pain.

Sebastian closed his eyes, not really noticing the awkward silence and look from Leti. When he explained he didn't know where his room was he opened his eyes again. Right. He wouldn't. That made sense. He felt a strange sort of desire to show the man where he lived, after having stayed at his home. Not that there was much to show him, considering it was a room similar in size to the one he had stayed in with Leti. Just one room. But...that was counter to there attempt at distance. He imagined it would happen eventually. "Off the main barracks. It is...cozy," he attempted to explain.

He knew the white haired man had a room here as well. Somewhere with the rest of the healers. But he hadn't asked about it, for the same reason Leti hadn't taken him there.

IF Leti wasn't sitting there stare at him, Sebastian would have walked himself to his room. It wasn't very fair from here. But, as it was... His dark eyes studied Leti for a long moment and then he seemed to pull himself away from whatever he was thinking. "The Princess. Was she alright?" He only mostly remembered last night.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti still didn't know the layout of the castle too well. He had a fairly good memory for winding passageways as one would expect. Even so he still got turned around easily in the inter weaving corridors of the castle. He offered a half hearted nod to bastian's explanation of the location. He had some notion that bastian's room wasn't grand but a curiousity still lingered to see how the man lived.

He too abandoned his thoughts when a new topic was reached.'' She seemed...to take it in stride. " The ability to stay calm during such a sudden surgery was a fine quality.
" she held the light'' he added with genuine praise in his voice. She had seemed to be in a bit of shock when they parted but that was certainly normal all things considered.

Leti moved to fetch a wooden and iron wheelchair from around the curtain. He hadn't seen them much before, they took fine craftsmanship and broke to easily to use out in the countryside. He pulled it up to the bedside with a knowing look. Bastian wouldn't be allowed the crutches this time.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

The castle was quite the maze to outsiders. Sebastian sometimes forget not even some of the guards were as familiar with the space as he was. He'd grown up here, like Cera. Of course, while he could only assume she new many passages and shortcuts he did not, the guard likely knew some that were unknown to the princess.

The light? He was confused for a moment, though the way Leti explained, it seemed significant to him. If she had done it, than that meant Gaius and Leti had been busy...performing surgery, perhaps? That would fit. "Good," he forced out slowly. He was glad to know she hadn't been too rattled so as to not be able to function. It proved even more she had a good head on her shoulders. He would have to find a reason to speak to her eventually, but he wasn't about to trouble her while he was healing.

Sebastian watched the white haired man move away. He pulled himself up on the bed a little, wincing even from that movement. So, even if he could walk, it would hurt. Still... The captain couldn't conceal the dubious look at the...chair with wheels on it that the healer rolled over. He'd seen the thing once, though it never seemed to make it out of hiding for anything less than nobility. Where he had just been considering sitting up and asking for crutches, he now seemed to sink more firmly into the uncomfortable cot, folding his arms.

"No," he said firmly. The single word encapsulated quite a few meanings, such as 'put that fucking thing away,' 'wipe that stupid look off your face,' and 'I am not a cripple.'

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti furrowed his brows into something between frustration and a pouting. It never stopped being a surprise the levels of stubbornness that this grown man would stoup to. Exactly why did every hard line to salvaging this man's pride involve some level of self punishment. No one was asking him to endure more pain than he had to, yet he always found a way to pile on a bit more.
"Fine, then I suppose you can simply stay in that cot all day." Leti replied folding his own arms in defiance. Here he was happy to have a very convenient and time saving way to shuffle bastian somewhere a bit more comfortable, what a pipe dream. "I could be helping patients or tending to my new herbs. Instead I'll send my time babysitting a man who refuses to be helped." He chided in a way that betrayed, perhaps he had already planned on doing as such anyway. His eyes set in an equally firm defiant expression.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian wasn't trying to cause himself more pain. He was aware his chosen path often entailed that but it wasn't why he did it. He hadn't left the healer all those years ago because he wanted to rip holes in both of their hearts.

His frown deepened at the notion of staying there all day. He almost suggested that he ask one of the other healers for crutches. He imagined he would get them too, considering most had never really met him and he could be quite intimidating. But he didn't want to sound so ungrateful that he would take someone else's help over Leti's.

"Help patients or tend to your herbs then, healer," he suggested, as if implying he would be fine by himself. He sighed. Despite how hurtful Leti's commetnt about babysitting was, even Sebastian's words sounded rude and he knew it. "Or," he shifted again, gritting his teeth in pain. "You can help this patient get to his own bed." He swung his legs over the side of the bed, shoving the blankets away. The motion was slow and hurt. A lot. But it hurt more just trying to stay sitting up. Sebastian leaned on the end of the cot to push himself to his feet with a groan.

Nearly every healer and nurse in the room look over at him with alarm but he pointedly didn't make any eye contact. He was not fine and this was a stupid idea, but he was determined to return to his room and the solitary confinement it provided and to not be ferried there. Once on his feet, Sebastian leaned heavily against the wall, feeling faint already.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti knew that his own words had been more chiding than was necessary. He could see it had hurt the man's pride a bit. He knew he had perhaps poked the beast but it still made his hurt pang painfully to hear bastian coldly dismiss him by title. Before he could stew on that small proof of the distance between them here, bastian tried to stand up.
The sight of bastian gritting his teeth in obvious pain. He stumbled over his words as the captain maneuvered himself over the bed. His poker face being akin to none his features became immediately tinged with pleading concern.

As bastian rose unsteadily to his feet leti hurried to close the gap between them. His hands moving as if by instinct to help support him.
The healer only remembered himself once the warmth of the captain could be felt in his arms. He hesitantly withdrew gesturing for bastian to sit on the bed. His bluff called he sighed sadly. "please wait for moment at least....I'll fetch crutches." It wasn't ideal but if the man was determined to push himself then leti would settle for anything he could get the man to use.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

The captain was actually a bit surprised to feel Leti's hands on him. Even in the name of physical support that he clearly needed and no one would question. Still, he was glad the man moved away before it got too familiar. If they were somewhere more private he wouldn't feel that way, but he wouldn't apologize for the wall he forced between them.

Bastian glanced at he bed at the man's gesture, considering it for a moment. It had taken him far too much effort just to stand on his own and while he didn't want to have wasted it only to sit down again, the healer did have a point. Better he sit down and not pass out or he really would need that rolling chair. The soldier eased himself back down to wait for Leti to retrieve some crutches. He vaguely recalled the last time the man had done such a thing. Back then, they had been strangers. Well, perhaps they were again now. The white haired man was still so eager to please though, it made part of Bastian...hurt a little.

Once the man return, he held a hand out for the crutches, though he did accept help standing again if it was offered. At least his leg wasn't broken and he could in fact put weight on both limbs. He did keep most of it to his good side. "Bring your bag, healer," he ordered before hobbling his way out of the medical ward and toward his room. At least that way it was apparent he wanted the man with him for medical reasons. Even if that wasn't what Bastian meant it for. Though no doubt he would actually need some of the attention.

[Feleti Eidothea]

The healer of course hovered close by the second he handed off the crutches. It was only natural for someone as anxious as leti to try assisting even when help wasn't asked.
Feleti was grateful, if taken aback, for the que. He quickly reached for his bag from the bedside and slung it across his shoulders. Leti was right behind bastian as he hobbled out of the ward. As he followed along behind he found himself oscillating between being worried that bastian might topple over and being not sure what to say. When they parted at the inn he had felt that there was a lot left unsaid but now he wasn't so sure. Especially here out in the open he wasn't so sure what topics were ok, and what he was better off saying behind closed doors. It had been a long time since he had to be secretive about anything.
It was only now that he lived in the castle that he realized how different manners were in the city. He kept wondering if he was going to commit some faux pa out in the open.