Nameless Ghoul

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Itzal was sitting on the same bed in the infirmary as he had done on that first night at the Abbey.

This time, though, he was not the focus of the attention.

He held Sunshine to him, stroking soothing circles on her back. She had wrapped her arms around his neck and had her face buried in his shoulder. Her breathing had calmed now, but she was still trembling.

Cirrus and Cumulus were there with them, casting concerned glances their way. They were sitting on the chairs near the bed, and outside in the hallway the rest of Papa’s ghouls waited patiently for news of her.

Secondo came over with his supplies and Itzal murmured to Sunshine that he was going to put her down on the bed so that Secondo could check her over. He felt her cling tighter to him before she let go and looked up at him. Her eyes were red-rimmed from her tears and she was pale. She nodded and he shifted around, placing her head on the pillow and letting go. He went to move away, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him back, so he sat on the edge of the bed next to her as she held onto his hand.

Secondo asked her if he could check her for injuries and she nodded. The gash on her head was pretty bad, and Secondo stitched it up and cleaned the blood away. The burns around her wrists and ankles were healing already, but he cleaned them and put the ointment on them. She had bruises on her forearms and Itzal tried not to look at the ones on her thighs because every time he did, he could feel his anger rising again and she felt it through their bond.

She flinched every time Secondo touched her and Itzal wasn’t sure what he could do to help her, so he just held her hand and tried not to freak out.

When Secondo asked her if she was hurt anywhere else, she glanced at Itzal and shook her head.

“I just want to go home and go to sleep. Please. Itzal, will you take me to your room?”

He looked to Secondo for the go ahead, and he smiled sadly and nodded.

“If you need anything or if you start to feel unwell, then call me immediately. If you want to get cleaned up, then you can have a bath, but try not to get your head wound too wet.”

She looked down at her lap and nodded.

Itzal scooped her up into his arms and carried her outside. She clung to him again and turned her face away from the others who were waiting for them. Their anguish for her was obvious as they all filed back up to the ghoul lair, and he heard Cumulus and Cirrus explaining to the ghouls that she wanted to go to his room to sleep.

Back at the lair, the others told him to come and get them if she needed anything. They sombrely gathered in the lounge. Itzal presumed there would be a ghoul pile there the next time he came out as they would need the comfort from each other tonight.

He opened the door to his room and stepped inside.

“Do you want me to put you to bed?” he asked.

She shook her head no.

“Will you please run me a bath? I just want to soak in the tub for a while.” He nodded and headed in there. “I just want to get clean,” she whispered, and his heart shattered.

Itzal knew that feeling all too well.

He felt a tightness in his chest and all he could think to do was send her his love through their bond, gently wrapping her in warmth. He set her down on the edge of the bath and when she winced he almost lost his shit, but he took a deep breath and started running the water. He added some Epsom salts and her favourite scent as he thought it might soothe her and relax her, and he made it hot because he knew that’s how she liked it.

She pulled her dress over her head and handed it to him as she climbed into the bath. He went to put it in the laundry hamper, but she shook her head.

“Will you get rid of it, please? I don’t want it anymore.”

He nodded and put it in the rubbish bin by the sink. She sank into the water and sighed, resting her head on the edge of the tub and closing her eyes.

“I’m sorry Sunshine. I should have made you come with me after the party.”

She opened her eyes and smiled sadly at him. She raised her hand out of the water and beckoned him over. He sat down on the floor next to the tub and leaned his back against it.

“This is not your fault, Itzal. I can feel you blaming yourself. Please don’t.”

How could he not, though? This entire thing was his fault. They'd hurt Sunshine because of him. Omega was right when he had said Itzal would cause her pain and heartbreak, but when he had said he was worth it? He wasn’t so sure.

“Will you wash my hair, Itzal?” Sunshine asked. “It has blood in it.”

Her breath caught and a tear ran down her cheek. He stood and grabbed a jug and her shampoo, kneeling down by her head and gently washing the blood away. He was extra careful to avoid the wound Secondo had stitched. She said nothing more, and he sent her as much love as he could through their bond.

When she wanted to get out, he wrapped her in a towel and lifted her up. He gently patted her dry as she stood on the bathroom floor. She looked so small and so fragile.

Itzal brought her some fleecy pyjamas that had clouds on them that one of the ghoulettes had given her for Yule and helped her to get dressed before scooping her up and carrying her over to the bed. He grabbed the purple fuzzy blanket from the sofa and carefully covered her with it.

“I’ll get you some tea. I won’t be long. Do you want me to send the girls in?” he asked.

She nodded and he left, closing the door quietly. Cirrus and Cumulus jumped up when they saw him coming. He nodded to them and they rushed off to his room to sit with her. 

Itzal headed into the kitchen to make her tea. He put the water on to boil and rested his elbows on the countertop, hanging his head low and trying to keep it together. He felt another presence in the room and looked up to see Rain standing there.

“I will make the tea for her,” he said in that shy way of his as he busied himself with finding what he needed. Itzal smiled in thanks and felt a sob escape his throat. Rain stopped what he was doing and stepped over to him to pull him into a hug. Itzal didn’t even flinch. He stood there and accepted the affection from the water ghoul as the tears ran down his face. “We will take care of her,” Rain said. “We will take care of both of you. You are our family now too Itzal, you just have to let us in.”