HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 32

Their transport was wisely parked at the back, away from prying eyes of potentially curious commuters. Without awaiting approval or protest, Coriolanus boarded the ambulance after Lilith. The pair of paramedics who had just loaded her in exchanged dubious, uneasy glances. Neither spoke their minds but he knew what was on them nonetheless. He was familiar with the protocol, too—family only.

"I'm her boss," said Coriolanus with finality. "Now you can get in, or answer to your boss why this call is at risk of breaching the stipulated response time limit."

Shortly, they were on the road. The hospital wasn't far, and their journey would have been considered a smooth one by ordinary standards. Lilith, however, could be heard wincing at every slightest jerk or bump of the vehicle. Her face, whiter than he remembered, was constantly scrunched up and glistened with a film of perspiration.

Coriolanus looked towards the medic who had stayed behind with them to man the back cabin. "Can't you give her something for the pain?"

Younger of the two emergency technicians, he who didn't look much of Lilith's senior recited information well within Coriolanus's awareness.

"We're not permitted to administer painkillers on suspected concussion cases until it's been cleared by a doctor."

At least his training's still fresh, thought Coriolanus, trying not to lose all hope.

"You have an ice pack, surely?"

His expression as if he'd just recalled, the youth fumbled in his kit and after several agonizing attempts finally produced a single-use variant. The article, however, seemed foreign to him. Another precious few seconds were squandered as he struggled to decipher the miniscule instructions inscribed on the back. Coriolanus fought to banish the suspicion that this was his first day on the job.

"Hand it over," he said, not asking.

Flushed with embarrassment, the medic immediately obeyed.

Groping for the inner pouch of liquid, Coriolanus twisted the sealed bag until there was a distinct pop, then shook it vigorously to ensure the released chemicals were well-mixed and thoroughly activated for optimal effect. Mechanistically, it worked the same way as Glostyx, except this one generated a coolant rather than light. Wasn't the luminous novelty supposed to be a fad amongst kids these days?

A triangular bandage was offered to him, and he double wrapped the plastic packet before placing it into Lilith's uninjured hand. She did not possess the strength to grasp it, however. Coriolanus had to hold her limp fingers around the bundle just to prevent it from slipping. He changed his plan.

"Lilith, we're going to put this into your sling. Can you direct us to where it hurts most?"

He said "we," but the medic was a mere spectator in the following proceedings. It was Coriolanus's careful, measured movements that slid the cold compress onto the fractured site towards the elbow end of her right forearm, adjusting it until Lilith claimed "that's good." But this was physics, not magic; relief would be delivered gradually, if at all. Beads of sweat thus continued to collect on her forehead and nose, and her features remained tensed.

Fishing in his pocket, Coriolanus retrieved his handkerchief. She could manage a piece of cloth, surely. He fitted the folded square of silk into her left palm.

"Wipe your face," he said. "You'll feel better."

Lilith nodded weakly but did not heed his advice, simply lying motionless on the gurney.

Quite suddenly, even for himself, he asked, "What colour's the dress?"

In what he could only assume was a bid to minimize the energy expended, Lilith appeared to have side-eyed him. Coupled with her expression of discomfort, it granted the amusing impression that she was angry—that was, Coriolanus found the display amusing. She had been angry with him before, and it hadn't looked nearly like this. Now, it was as though she was properly annoyed.