Death of Me [Tartaglia]

chapter 18

I hesitate outside of the infirmary's door, tightening and loosening my fists. Honestly it's better if he's dead, so there's really no point in grabbing the supplies to aid him, but... I really don't want him to die. I let out a frustrated groan, shoving open the door. 

Head up, shoulders back, I march into the infirmary. I survey the white room, seeing the pink haired women bending over a bed with a drawn curtain. 

I clear my throat indignantly, "Nurse, as her majesty's right hand women I require medical equipment." 

She straitens, looking sleep deprived, and I suddenly feel bad for snapping at her. She offers a tired smile and bows, "Of course." 

She doesn't seem to pick up on my exaggeration of my title, but I hear a scoff from beyond the curtain. A pale hand pulls it back, I cringe when I recognize Number 6. His lavender eyes scan me, and a smirk covers his face, his incredibly bruised face. 

"Well, well, well," he sneers. "Nurse, you can leave so me and the whore can chat." 

My heart sinks, and I take a hesitant step back. Did that maid spread something around, do people think I slept with him. Oh shit, is that why he attacked Childe? But that  doesn't make sense, you wouldn't jump someone for that, unless you're unhinged. 

"I- I'm not supposed to leave patients in here unsupervised," the nurse stammers hesitantly. 

The bruised harbinger sits up, "Are you seriously arguing with a Harbinger you useless nurse?" 

"Uh, n-no," the nurse stammers. 

"That's enough," I say, forcing authority into my voice. "Nurse, just grab me the supplies for stitches and pain relief and I'll leave." 

"Oh? Going back to doat on your boyfriend?" Number 6 sneers, electricity starting to crackle around his fingers. "What are you two hiding? I know you're the leak." 

I look around the room for a weapon, sensing a fight coming on. 

"I- I'll just grab what the lady requested. No fights in the infirmary," the nurse stammers, making towards a drawer. 

"Oh come on nurse, you're around to patch up these kinds of things," he says, standing and turning to face me. "Your little boyfriend didn't let anything when I shocked him. Heh, he actually fought back, but I have a feeling you'll crack." 

Purple lightning emanates from around him. I don't have anything to infuse cryo with, I mean, maybe I could fight with my hands but... I take another step back. I couldn't even beat Childe and this guy his twice as highly ranked. I'm fucked. 

The nurse darts in between us handing me a white bag full of things, "Stop at once!" she says in a surprisingly forceful voice. "No fighting! My lord, please lay back down so I can finish healing you." 

"As if I'd take orders from a pathetic servant like you," he scoffs. 

I catch a glimpse of the nurse's electro seconds before she sends a small shock of it into Number 6's gut. His eyes widen before he collapses. The nurse turns back to me with the same sleepy smile. 

"Sorry about that, he'd been a pain in the ass all night. He's just stunned, it'll wear off in a minute. You may go." 

I eye her up in down before giving her a small nod of appreciation and leaving. I walk back to my room where I silently hoped Childe would be waiting. Although, maybe it would be better if he wasn't there. If Number 6 thought that we were a thing- Number 6 thinks we're a thing! I small grin crosses over my lips before I shake it away. Then getting him involved in my treason would just fuck us both up. 

I sigh, pushing open the door to my small room, seeing Childe happily sitting on my bed inspecting the polearm I hid underneath. Then it dawns on me that he is, again, shirtless. Memories of the first time I saw him shirtless flash through my mind, and I feel my cheeks heat up. He looks up from my weapon and smiles. 

"Welcome back!"

I force my heart rate to steady, "What are you doing with that?" 

"Just looking around," Childe says with a shrug. "Where'd you go?" 

I slump down on the bed next to him and opening the bag, "Hopefully stuff to give you stiches." 

His fingers graze against the cut on his forehead, now that he's showered it doesn't look as bad, but the depth still looks dangerous. He smiles, running a hand through his ginger hair. 

"Are you a doctor or something? Heh, I don't care. Have at it, I trust you," he grins and closes his eyes, trusting my minimal medical knowledge. 

Blush flashes on my cheeks, again. I stand, moving in front of him and in between his legs. I send a silent pray of thanks to the archons that his eyes are still closed so he can't see my stupid blush. I lean forward, hovering the needle over where I plan on making the first stitch. I hesitantly let cryo energy from my delusion linger on my fingers, hoping to numb the pain as I plunge the needle into his scalp. 

"Did that hurt?" I ask, pushing some of his stray hairs away from his forehead. 

"Just cold. Are you using your delusion?" he asks, opening his eyes to look at me. 

"Just to numb it a bit," I mutter, looking away form his eyes and back to his forehead where I place a fourth stitch. 

"Stop. It'll make you sick, I can deal with the pain." 

I hesitate, but listen to his instructions, placing two more stitches before placing the needle down. I loom there for a second, bent over him, "How do you feel?" 

He smiles, his lips only a couple dozen centimeters from mine, "Perfect, thank you Yn." 

He sits there staring into my eyes, he straightens sightly so the gap between our faces shrinks to only five or ten centimeters. I take in a small breathe, and glancing around my room. Childe reaches up and pushes a few strands of my hair back, letting his hand linger to cup my cheek. I know my face must be scarlet, and my eyes keep darting to his slightly parted lips. Oh my archons, oh my archons, oh my archons. 

He pulls my face towards his, meeting my lips with a kiss.