The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[37] Welcome back, man

Nyma was mad at Lance for some reason that he couldn't figure out.

Every time he entered the medbay she would glare at him, holding her gaze even as he tended to Rolo. It had gotten to the point where Lotor had started to leave whenever he entered, finding it too awkward to stick around.

He wished he could do that too. But it would be pretty hard to tend to the patients from outside the room, and Nyma wasn't going to leave any time soon.

Lance sighed, trying to ignore Nyma's piercing gaze as he gave Rolo a quick bed bath. Satisfied with the work, and Rolo once again covered by the sheets; Lance threw the cloth into the laundry pile, pulling a new one from the clean set neatly folded on the small table between the beds.

He dunked it in the water, letting it soak as he turned to Shiro.

Lance winced as he removed the bandages covering the stumps of what used to be Shiro's right arm and leg, trying not to pull off any of the newly forming scabs that covered both.

If there was one thing Lance had overcome as a medic, it was his squeamishness around other peoples bodies.

He threw the bandages in the general direction of the dirty pile, already wringing out the cloth in his other hand.

It was almost silent for the next few minutes, aside from the occasional splash of water, or Nyma shifting in her seat. Lance half wished Kelaan would show up, just so he could make a conversation that wouldn't be met with a cold shoulder.

Lance wrapped Shiro's leg in fresh bandages, pulling the bed sheets back up to his waist and moving onto his arm; all the while trying to shake the feeling of Nyma burning holes in the back of his head. He gave one final wrap of the bandage, reaching for the clip, only to come up with open air.

Lance groaned, twisting around. Not on the table, not on the floor.

"Nyma?" Lance tried, finding no option but to turn to her, currently midway through adjusting Rolo's pillows. "Nyma?"

The only sign Nyma gave that she even heard him was a tensing of her shoulders.

"Could you get me a new bandage clip? I forgot to grab one."

Her gaze flicked to him for a second, before she continued what she was doing.

"Nyma, I'm serious," Lance said, some of his newly found 'medic voice' seeping into his tone. "I don't want to risk an infection."

Nyma pursed her lips, debating over it for a moment before she turned on her heel and flounced to the other side of the room.

"Thank you."

She returned to Rolo's bedside, ditching the clip at Lance's head from where she stood. He quickly raised a hand, catching it before it hit him and applying it with ease.

Lance frowned, looking over to Nyma. She turned her head away, pointedly glaring at the wall. "Right, this has to stop." he said, rounding the bed to stand on the same side as her.

She made no indication that she heard, and Lance sighed.

"Nyma--"

"I heard you the first time, paladin." she said, spitting the last word out in disgust.

Lance blinked owlishly, something he may or may not have picked up from Kelaan.

"What?"

"Don't pretend like you don't know." Nyma snapped. Lance took a step towards her.

"Look Nyma, I really--"

He was cut off as Nyma's fist smashed into the side of his face, knocking him to the floor. Lance gaped up at her, hand automatically rising to his cheek.