You Belong to Me

Chapter 26

Joan came to himself hours later.

He knew this because of how sore and exhausted he felt, and his intense headache was a telltale sign of what had happened.

He vaguely remembered fighting by Gin's side in front of the infirmary, knife in each of his hands. He was solely focusing on protecting Kongpob, but then he saw the baseball bat aimed right at Gin, and he moved instinctively.

The rest was blank.

Opening his eyes was a difficult ordeal, but when he finally managed to lift his eyelids, the pain intensified.

It felt as if something was crushing his skull from all directions, squeezing until his brain became a mushy mess.

Sharp sunlight blinded him, and Joan was forced to blink several times, his expression falling into a grimace. How delightful, he thought. He didn't regret his decision to shove Gin out of the way and make his head a target instead, but having a concussion sucked.

Despite his better judgment, he tried to sit up.

"Don't move," a stern voice coming from afar ordered—a familiar voice.

"I'm thirsty," Joan rasped out, disregarding Gin's command and struggling to sit up on the bed anyway.

His eyes finally adjusted to the bright daylight, and he was capable of opening his eyes fully.

He was in an infirmary, the very same infirmary they had tried to protect not long ago, so he took it as a good sign. If they had lost against the Black Dragon, it would not be so peaceful.

Before he could think more about the events from before, there were hands on his shoulders, slowly guiding him upwards.

"Thanks," he murmured to Gin, and in the next moment, a glass of water appeared in front of him.

Joan took a generous sip, the cooling water making him realize how much the inside of his mouth and his tongue stung.

He frowned at the strange sensation and turned his attention to his working partner, as if Gin had the slightest idea about the odd wounds. Which, he probably did.

"What happened?" Joan asked him, his voice slightly more even.

He still felt like shit, his vision swimming, mind hazy, brain dizzy. But it wasn't his first concussion nor last, and the best thing he could do was push through.

"You're an idiot, that's what happened," Gin scoffed.

Ouch.

It took Joan a moment longer to conceal his hurt, making the feeling flash across his face momentarily before he wiped his expression blank again.

Normally, he'd never let his true emotions show, but he was not in his best state. The worst part was, Gin took notice.

"Why did you do it?" he asked, referring to Joan's heroic act. "I had it handled."

"You didn't, and you know it," Joan argued back. He hated that he allowed Gin to notice his vulnerability.

"Even if I didn't, it'd hit my shoulder at best. I'd not be left lying unconscious, completely incapacitated during the attack," Gin growled.

He was trying to keep his voice even given their medical surroundings, but it was proving to be difficult. Joan felt the same. Heat stirred inside him.

"That's what you think I did? Purposefully incapacitated myself just to become a burden?" he bit out.

"I think what you did was unnecessary!" Gin hissed. His tall frame was towering above Joan's bed, casting a shadow over him. Joan had to tilt his head up to look at his enraged face. "You know better than this, Joan."