Whale and Dragonfly // OC x Childe Genshin Impact fanfiction

Chapter 53: The Loving Care

Being surrounded by your family always feels great. You have someone to watch your back, someone you could turn to anytime. Family is always there to catch you if you fall.

However, not everyone gets such privilege.

"Should we call the doctor over? Look at her..." Tatyana had a worried expression on her face as she watched her brother hold the hand of the girl who's been unconscious for way too long now.

"Do we have a choice?" Ajax sighed, his thumb gently moving on Charlotte's hand.

It's been a month already. Anyone would be able to tell that she was in awful condition: her hair was oily, her dry and rough skin gained greyish colors, and bones were nearly visible through it. Not to mention, 3 days ago, she got a high fever, making the situation even worse.

Ginger stared at her sleeping face, his ocean-blue eyes full of worry. It was unusual to see a 12th Harbinger who survived years of treasure hoarders' torture and developed a strong warrior spirit now lay there like a fragile, vulnerable flower. It seemed like the slightest touch could make her wilt.

He sighed, gently letting go of her hand.

"I will go get the doctor. Look after the fireplace, so it keeps burning. Add a few logs of wood and some coal, if needed. If you open the window for some fresh air, make sure to cover her with an extra thick blanket and only keep it open for 5 minutes."

"Worry not, little brother." Tatyana smiled softly seeing her brother so mature and caring.

"Good. I'll see you in an hour."

~~~

"Hmm..." The doctor hummed before sighing.

Such a reaction made the boy's heart race in both excitement and great worry. Childe was sitting in the corner of the room, watching the whole treatment from afar. He wanted to stay around so if a doctor had any questions or requests, he was there to lend a hand. On other hand, he knew that Charlotte got wounds on her chest and as a man, he knew he had to give her privacy. No peeking allowed.

"How is she, doctor?" he asked carefully, seeing that the doctor was now starting to pack up her things.

The not-too-tall woman straightened her back before glancing at her patient again. She then sighed again before turning to Ajax.

"Infection got inside the wound. It gave her a fever and slowed down the healing process greatly. She will need to get her bandages changed every day or every 2 days at most. Apply cream of luminescent pollen and wolfhooks. This should give a disinfecting effect and make the healing quicker too."

"Understood." Childe stood up, getting a bit closer. "Would that be all?"

Doctor silenced once again. Naturally, the young male took it as a bad sign.

And he wasn't wrong.

"She has lost nearly half of her body weight - you can almost see her skeleton through her skin. She's losing fluids and nutrients quickly. If she doesn't wake up soon and get something to eat..." the doctor sighed. "I'm sorry..."

It felt like time around young ginger has stopped after he heard those words. The doctor didn't point it out directly but Ajax understood the meaning behind her words way too clearly: she's dying. He stared ahead of himself not blinking for a minute, trying to cope with his world shattering around him.

"I see..."

"Restoring fluids is possible, but nutrients... I'm afraid Teyvat's medicine hasn't yet created such invention that could let us do so."