Lockdown (Picture Day book 2; an II fanfic)

Take Me Back

"Please be careful..."

A small, but painful sting was felt as Test Tube carefully unwrapped the now blood stained bandages from Fan's head.

It proved to be somewhat difficult, due to the fact that the bandages had stuck to his injury and dried that way. Test Tube couldn't necessarily feel pain, but she had an idea of what it was like.

It surely wouldn't have been comfortable, having a wound basically glued to the one thing preventing it from reopening.

The bandages had been on there for at least two or three days now.

As the covering was removed, Fan occasionally flinched, earning a scolding stare from Test Tube each time he did so. It wasn't making her job any easier.

"If I'm going to get this done you need to stop moving."

Test Tube shifted to a different position to make removing the bandages easier while Fan just pathetically apologized.

It felt like ages of trying to remove the bandages, but once they were off it was clear to Fan that it wasn't just his eye being covered that obscured his vision.

It was disheartening, to say the least.

Fan wasn't about to complain though... Lightbulb surely wouldn't have.

"It doesn't hurt too bad does it?" Test Tube spoke softly, providing a bit of comfort.

Fan gently shook his head in response before replying. "It's achy, but it's not unbearable... Does it look okay?"

"It looks about just as appealing as any other injury, but it doesn't look infected or anything." Test Tube wasn't sure exactly how she knew about infections or even injuries, there was definitely some hidden knowledge she didn't quite understand yet.

Fan slowly reached up in an attempt to feel the injury, but his hand was swiftly swatted away from his own face.

"Ow!" Fan yelped and rubbed his hand. It hurt a lot more than it would've with someone whose hands weren't made of metal.

Upon looking up from his hand, Fan was met with a stern glare.

"You can't touch it Fan, unless you want to reopen the wound!" Test Tube crossed her arms and continued giving that stare. Fan held up his hands in response.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry-- It was an impulse..."

Test Tube sighed.

"Okay, I understand, but try to keep your hands off of it until I can get you some new bandages."

Fan simply nodded in response, crossing his legs and placing his hands in his lap.

There was a long awkward silence between the two. Not much had happened for a few days, and Fan was running out of things to talk about.

He wanted to earn Test Tube's trust. What else could he do to get her to see he wasn't a threat?

It was easier said than done. Test Tube was skeptical, and Fan could see that very clearly. Though, she was nice to him and seemed like she cared.

It was giving mixed signals.

Fan almost reached up to touch his face again, but managed to catch himself.

Having his hand smacked again wasn't worth it.

"Well anyway," Test Tube finally spoke up, breaking that uncomfortable lack of conversation, "I'm gonna go back and see if there are any more bandages where I found them before. Don't touch the injury while I'm gone."