Another first day

Ch.4.Cleaned.Up.

I breathe shallowly, trying my best not to stretch my aching ribs, lolling my head to the side to look at Leon, dragging himself toward me, blood trailing from his nose, a thin gash along his cheek. He drops to the ground beside me, chest heaving, hand reaching out to ghost over my throat, and I flinch back, the skin tender from the rough treatment I endured earlier.

"Princess, I-" He groans, hand pulling back to press to his side. I shake my head, nausea forcing me to drag myself away without a word, sitting up to crawl against the ache of my limbs, leaning over the edge of the plastic and retching, the force against my ribs making me collapse, head barely held up as I vomit. "Shit, sweetheart, give me some damn warning next time." My hair is pulled out of my face, his light voice sounding through my pulsing ears. I groan loudly, stomach finally empty, and wipe my face, sitting back on my heels as I will my head to stop spinning, my eyes clenched shut.

"Chris?" My call is quieter than I intended, voice gravelly, taste of blood and vomit making me swallow roughly, the urge to puke still there.

" 'M alright, sugar. We should get showers, yeah?" I groan, not knowing if I can stand, let alone shower. I haven't had the chance to check out the showers yet. They're communal, which sucks, but makes sense, me being one of the very few women who's ever lived on this particular base.

I rise slowly, ignoring Leon's outstretched hand, and his frown at my refusal. I thank god the barracks are close to the field, only a short walk and I'll be free to collapse into bed, only after rinsing the sweat and blood from my aching body. We move along slowly, my hand clutching my head, slammed to the floor one too many times, the spinning feeling threatening to make me spew my guts all over again. Leon looks just as bad, pale, hand clutching tight to his ribs. Chris is spent, groaning and grimacing all the way to the barracks, subdued cheerfulness in his voice when he tells us he'll see us tomorrow.

The stairs are hell, my sore ribs sending new waves of pain to wrack my body with every step. The pain on Leon's face is worse, the thought of my kind partner going through any kind of pain after everything makes me want to blow the instructor's brain out of the side of his head, though I don't really think that would bode well for me when our higher ups found out. Still, the idea keeps me going, passing through the upstairs doorway and halfway down the hall, next to Leon's room. He offers to let me borrow some proper pajamas, the thick sweats I wore last night much too hot to wear in the eighty degree barracks.

I wait patiently for him, and we enter together, a row of showers against one wall, counters on the opposite, a rack of towels tucked into the corner. He carries our items inside, placing a stack of clothing on the counter, bringing his blue shower caddy along as he moves toward the shower, a light pained look crossing his face when he pulls back a curtain, inspecting the interior of the stall.

"This one looks good. Uh, you wanna use my stuff? It's not great, but it works." He looks at me over his shoulder, his voice tired, tense. A sadness falls over me, the feeling heavy, horrible.

"Yeah, thanks, Leon." His tired face goes worried, my shaky voice alerting him to my emotion. He places his items down, moving to stand in front of me.

"Hey, princess, I know. I'm sorry, but you made me promise I wouldn't- I couldn't-" I shake my head, cutting him off gently, glassy eyes betraying me.

"I'm fine, we'll both be fine, yeah? As long as we're alive." He nods along, expression somber, a light touch to my back making me wince, a sinking feeling settling inside me when he pulls his hands away, a soft, tired "Sorry" falling from his lips.

He takes his shirt up over his head, the sight forcing a choked sob up from my throat, bruises and broken skin littering his torso, marring his pale skin.