The next few days brought a constant stream of visitors—both welcome and not—tests, healing and frustration. Quinn’s body was getting stronger. All of his IVs had been removed and with Air's help, he’d left his bed and gone to the bathroom. He felt like an idiot, shuffling along, leaning heavily on the smaller ghoul, but it was better than being tied to the bed, he supposed.
His eyes, though? No improvement at all. At least, he didn’t feel like there were any. Omega and Aether both tried to reassure him that the healing was beginning to take, and there were very slight improvements, but he didn’t get his hopes up.
On the evening of the third day since he’d been properly awake, Secondo and the pack gathered to escort him back to the lair. Finally, he could go home. By that point, Quinn had pretty much reached the end of his tolerance for others, though, and was sniping at anyone within range.
“Quinn, come on. Let them stay over,” Air said. “We need to be together.”
Over the past few days, Air had done a stellar job of judging Quinn’s mood and fielding the visitors and well-wishers. If Quinn was finding it too much, he’d politely send them away. Now, though? His radar for Quinn’s temperament seemed to be faulty. The pack wanted to stay with them, and as much as he loved them, he was not in the mood for that. Quinn was just feeling...overwhelmed.
“Tomorrow. I just need some time to myself. Just let me have a bath in peace. On my own.”
Air gave a frustrated growl, turning off the water he’d been running for Quinn.
“Quinn, please. I can’t leave you on your own. You know that.”
“Just leave me in the tub for a while and wait in the bedroom. I won't drown, will I?”
Air whined.
“Well, no. But what if you need me?”
“I’ll shout for you. I’m sure you’ll come running.”
He felt Air’s hurt at his sharp tone and his annoyance. He felt bad, but Quinn needed this for his own sanity.
“Oh. Well. I guess I can tidy up your stuff in there. You can’t leave stuff all over the floor anymore, Quinn. You’ll trip over it.”
That rubbed Quinn up the wrong way, and he snarled.
“Whatever, Air. Just leave me alone for a while. Please.”
He yanked his shirt off, jaw clenched against the sting of his own words. The clothes he wore were the basic spares from the infirmary; sweatpants and a t-shirt, and they stank of it. Quinn stank of the infirmary, and he didn't like it; hence the compulsive need for a bath as soon as he got home.
“Here, let me help you,” Air said, taking the t-shirt from him just as he was about to throw it in what he guessed was the general laundry hamper's direction.
Quinn growled.
“I’m fine. I can take my own clothes off. And I know where the tub is. I can smell the water.”
Air kept quiet for a moment, but Quinn could tell he felt pissed and frustrated at him.
“Fine,” he bit out. “I’ll leave you to it.”
He stroked a hand down Quinn’s arm and then left, not quite closing the door behind him, but it was better than nothing. Quinn breathed a heavy sigh, and he carefully took off the pants, doing as he'd intended to before, and throwing them to where he thought he remembered the hamper was. Why hadn’t he paid more attention to where stuff was when he could see?
YOU ARE READING
Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)
FantasyMxM Follow up to Essence of Quinn Parts 1&2. Quinn must face his past to be able to move on with his future. He's overcome most of his demons since he was summoned by Secondo and he's gone up against destiny itself, but a past transgression will co...
