III - SWORD OF THE BRAVE // Doraemon Fanfic

17 - HEART TO HEART

.....

Christina followed a click on the lock and the first thing she noticed inside was just Nobita buckled up in a tiny corner of the cell, with his knees up and head buried between them.

Worried, she ran over to him as the guard closed the door behind them.

"Nobita-?"

No reply came. It was like he was fast asleep sitting upright against the wall.

She placed a hand on his back and tried to unwind him, saying, "Nobita, your wound won't heal if you keep crouching like that. You need to lie down."

"What does that even matter?" His voice was weary.

"What do you mean? You need to heal, Nobita. How long are you going to keep hurting like this?"

"I don't care."

"What are you saying 'you don't care'?"

Nobita shifted a little to retaliate when through the gap between his arm and his knees, he noticed bruises on her arm.

His heart dropped. He lifted up his face from between the knees, sitting up straight and said, "You're hurt-"

Christina followed his line of view and realised he was talking about the bruises.

"They did this to you, didn't they?"

Christina flatly denied, laughing it off, "This? This is nothing. Don't worry about it, okay? I've been through worse during my training with the Royal Guard."

Nobita pursed his lips regretfully. "I'm sorry, Christina. I should've been able to protect you. I'm so sorry." His head stooped again and buried itself in his lap.

Christina noticed how tightly he was squeezing his arms with his hands.

She aggressively let go of the boy and folded her arms. Taken aback, Nobita looked up at her cluelessly.

Pissed off, she yelled at him, "Is that why you're acting like this? Like you wouldn't care even if you were to die?"

Nobita couldn't maintain eye contact with her so he looked away. He did not wish to admit to himself how right she was.

On the other hand, that reaction just ensured Christina's suspicions.

"Oh, give me a break. I can't believe you actually think that way, Nobita. Don't turn into that person when I'm actually starting to come around on you a little."

Nobita just stared at her; his face still blank and his eyes, dead.

"I don't need your protection, Nobita. Ever. The way I am, I can protect myself just fine. I don't need another guy protecting me or anything."

"But you landed in this trouble because of me. I take it you surrendered because I was injured and they got the upper hand," Nobita spoke up.

"So what?" Christina barked back, "So what if that's the case? We were fighting together back there. We were partners. And as partners, it is my job to protect you and your job protect me. The deal goes both ways instead of just one."

"I see~" Nobita mentioned calmly.

"Yeah, so if I ever see you make that face again, I will punch that depressing look right off. And, don't you ever treat me like a fragile tool that needs protecting!"

Nobita mildly smiled, "Okay."

Christina smiled too seeing that he was cheered up even just a little.

Hours passed by in that cell in complete silence. They had no idea on how to escape from there nor did they have any openings.