Party Crashers Fic Compilation

Heal (Nick/Vernias)

Vernias opens the door with his right hand, and uses his elbow to push it away from him. It bumps into the wall of the infirmary as Vernias slowly walks to the nearest bed, gently dragging a very battered Nick with him. Nick is propped up against Vernias's shoulder, mumbling something Vernias quite can't make out and seemingly trying to break away from Vernias's arm locked around his. But after a few seconds of struggling, Nick lays his head on Vernias's shoulder and closes his eyes, still mumbling quietly. When they reach the bed, Vernias gently helps Nick lie down, who lets out a sigh of relief the moment his head hits the pillow. Vernias takes one quick, solemn look at Nick, trying not to focus too much just yet on how deep his wounds seem to be. He sighs as he rummages through one of the shelves to find the supplies he needs to clean the wounds.

Vernias pulls over a small table and a stool to where Nick is and sets his supplies on the table. He sits down on the stool and forces himself to take a good look at Nick and his physical state. Nick seems to have fallen asleep, his chest rising and falling slightly. Vernias slowly reaches a hand out to caress Nick's cheek for a moment, making sure to avoid the few cuts in the area he needs to clean. Despite all the signs of Nick's current pain, his facial expression seems almost peaceful somehow. Vernias looks down at Nick's left hand tightly pressed down to block more blood from spilling out of the gash near his hip.

He should be used to seeing the blood both as a healer and as a witness to Nick's recklessness and its consequences. And yet...

Vernias dips a towel into a small basin of water and wrings the excessive water out before beginning to clean Nick's face. Nick stirs slightly the moment the cold towel touches his cheek. There is a slightly heavy silence for the next few minutes as Vernias takes his time gently wiping off the blood off of Nick's face. He notices Nick gazing up at him, and their eyes meet for a single moment before Vernias breaks away to avoid losing his focus.

"Can you lift up your shirt for me?" Vernias asks, pointing at the gashes in his arm and hip. "I can't clean them through your clothes, you know." Nick stares at Vernias, holding his tongue. Nick's hesitant, sheepish expression gives away how much he wants to say something, but Vernias doesn't want to waste time over repeating the same song and dance at the moment. Maybe Nick notices this from something on Vernias's face because after several seconds of silence, he nods and lifts up his shirt to his neck without a single complaint. Unexpected progress.

"Is this really necessary?" Nick mutters, staring at the gaping wound, back up at Vernias, and then back at his own exposed chest. It's the first time he's spoken up in an hour after they had narrowly avoided possible death and reached the infirmary. "Isn't there a way to instantly heal me or at least clear up the wounds?" Vernias frowns but gently tugs the wrist of Nick's hand covering up his wound. Nick releases his grip, and Vernias immediately starts cleaning the area.

"If I was good enough of a healer, I'd be able to put a permanent, invincible shield around you so you'd at least stop getting hurt from the next time you decide to run headfirst into danger." Vernias replies, shaking his head. He soaks the now bloodied towel into the basin of water, and the water turns just slightly more red. Vernias stares a little solemnly at the water.

If I was good enough of a healer... If I was good enough of a...

He can still replay freshly in his mind Nick jumping towards the monster, whose back is turned because of a bait the both of them had planned out together. Both the sword and Nick's overconfident smile gleams in the sunlight as Nick swings his sword fiercely downward. But the monster swings its tail, knocking both Nick into the air and the sword out of his hand. It all happens in a matter of a few seconds before Vernias can register what's happening. Then, he's impulsively propelling himself towards Nick, trying to reach him as fast as possible. He quickly pulls out an arrow and aims for the eye in an attempt to at least temporarily blind the monster. He lands the shot, and hastily scoops up Nick in his arms.