Unexpected Bond

Touch

It's almost near morning and I wake up by grunts and movements. As I open my eyes I see Ever groaning, his eyes are tightly closed, his jaw is clenched and so are his fists, and his head is moving side to side with drops of sweat running down his forehead. It looks like he has a nightmare.

"Ever, hey I'm here!" I jump up and move to the bedside.

"A-argh..." His expression is pained and his breaths are heavy.

"Ever I'm here, it's okay I promise, it's just a bad dream." My chest is tight and I feel so helpless.

I hate seeing him like this. I want to hold his hand, I want to make it go away and help him but at this moment I don't know what to do.

"Ever please, it's okay, it's me Y/n. You're safe. I'm here." I keep repeating myself over and over.

Finally his face softens and his breathing returns to normal. He looks relaxed again and relief washes over me.

"Fuck, you really scared me... I hope you feel better now... I'm here, I won't leave you, I promise." My voice shakes and I'm holding back tears.

"You know, I don't even know when I got so fond of you. You are a real jerk and I hated you so much in the beginning but now... I don't. You... You're not that bad, I just wish you'd open up to me more." I talk to him while I sit on the bed edge, looking at his face.

"I don't know why I'm telling you this or where it's coming from, but ugh... You really scared me yesterday Ever..." I wipe away the tear that escaped my eye.

I'm probably saying this because he's asleep and can't hear me anyways. I'd never mouth it otherwise, but with all the shock from yesterday and tiredness, I had to let it out just a bit.

I then move back to my chair and fall asleep again. Marina comes to bring me some food but I'm not interested. I slept for most of the day, except for occasional Ever checks and toilet visits. Soon it was evening and time for Ever's wound change. I let out a puff and get to it.

"Ever, I'll have to touch you just to change your gauze, okay? I won't hurt you, I promise." I take a deep breath and start to remove the tape around the gauze.

I remove the first two tapes, and as I slowly pull away the third tape my hand is snatched by my wrist and my whole body moves, in a blink of an eye I find myself face to face with Ever. I open my mouth to say something but we just stare at each others eyes without a word.

"I - I..." I try to get some word out of my mouth but can't, my whole body is in shock. I feel a mix of happiness and fear.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He growls at me and tightens his grip.

"I'm sorry... I - I tried to change your bandages..." I'm trembling, the touching must've set him off.

"Just go, I'll be fine. I can take care of myself, kid." He lets go of my hand and pushes his body to sit up.

What's with the kid again? He's acting like the time we first met. Cold and distant. We made such good progres, why is he acting like that?

"No, you can't. Ever, please let me help you!" I want to stop him from getting up.

"Back the fuck up!" He gives me intense look as his voice raises.

My lips part slightly, but I don't say anything. I just stand up from the bed and take a few steps back. My chest feels tight and I feel so sad. My body screams to help him, hold him, and do whatever he needs to feel okay, but I just stand still with misty eyes. Did I start caring so much for him in such a short time?

Ever gets up and takes a few steps toward the window.

"Aarg... Fuck this shit!" He grabs his side and winces.