The Star Within (Poohpavel)

Chapter 15

Pooh helped the injured male to the dining table, carefully supporting him to sit on the chair. As he settled into the seat, Pooh leaned in and quickly kissed the male's temple before running over to sit in front of him, a mischievous giggle escaping his lips.

Pavel couldn't help but let a small grin creep onto his face, though he tried to hide it behind a mask of seriousness. "You know I can walk myself now, right?" he remarked, his tone teasing.

Pooh simply shrugged, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he scooped rice onto a plate. "Yeah, but you're not fully recovered yet. And besides, I enjoy playing nursemaid to you," he replied, his voice laced with affection.

As they began to eat, the comfortable silence between them was interrupted only by the clinking of silverware and the occasional sound of contented sighs. Pooh watched Pavel eat with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that he had helped prepare the meal and seeing the appreciation in Pavel's eyes.

After they had finished eating, Pooh rose from his seat and began to clear the table, humming a tune under his breath. "You rest here, I'll take care of the dishes," he insisted, waving off any protest from Pavel.

Pooh reached out to grab Pavel's plate. But as he did, Pavel's sharp eyes caught sight of a dark purple mark standing out starkly against his pale skin. Without hesitation, the space cat grabbed the human's hand, startling Pooh as Pavel inspected the bruise with a serious expression.

"When did this happen?" Pavel asked, his voice filled with concern.

Pooh peered down at his hand, a sheepish look on his face. "Oh, that, I honestly don't know."

Pavel raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You're usually so careful. Are you sure you're telling me the truth?"

Pooh chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I promise, P'Babe. I have no idea how it happened. Maybe I was just being clumsy."

But Pavel wasn't convinced. He had known Pooh long enough and never once had he seen Pooh accidentally hurt himself for being clumsy. The feline's instincts told him that something was off. Like hell someone could obtain this kind of bruise without realizing when it happened.

Pooh shrugged, "I get clumsy sometimes without realizing it." He took Pavel's plate once the older man's loosened around him. "I've been like this since I was a kid. My father was worried about it, so he made the house as childproof as possible."

Bringing the dishes to the sink, Pooh chuckled at the childhood memories that flooded his mind. He remembered how his father would always scold him when he came home with bruises sometimes. There were times when he had cuts too. As he scrubbed the plates, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of his father's gentle nagging.

Lost in his thoughts, Pooh began to talk more about his childhood to the alien, who was half-listening as he stared at Pooh's back. Pavel's mind, however, was still preoccupied with the strange situation the human was in. He couldn't shake off the fact that Pooh didn't remember the event that caused him that apple-sized bruise.

If it's a small one, then Pavel would let go of the topic. But not when it was that big.

As Pooh continued to reminisce, Pavel then noticed a dark and small stain on Pooh's sleeve around his elbow on the same bruised arm. It looked as though something had been smeared into the white fabric, leaving a little muddy mark. Soil?

Pavel's concern grew as he thought back to the possible cause of Pooh's injury. Could it be that Pooh had hurt himself while falling to the ground?

Pavel's eyes remained fixed on Pooh's back as he contemplated his next move. He wanted to ask Pooh about the stain, but for some reason he felt like he should not mention it yet. Instead, Pavel decided to subtly inquire about the incident that might have taken place earlier.