After a few more days of helping patients, and taking note of what seems to be clearly unsafe working conditions in multiple common fields of work (like in farming), as well as keeping Zack from pulling out his stitches (I fail, I've had to redo them three more times already... which is NOT good), Zack tells me it's time to leave Dealie. I have a few saddened goodbyes at the hospital, and then we're on the road.
At first, it's smooth sailing, the drivers' bench rarely shaking.
Then Zack leans over and pulls me into his lap. Sandwiched between his arms, I blush.
"Wh-why?" I mumble, shrinking slightly down,
"We're going off-road. It'll be bumpy," he practically growls. I blush, but swallow and nod,
"Oh. Okay, thanks," is what I tell him, but what I really want to say is 'No, lemme go because I might die of sensory overload'. I pull the cloak tighter around my shoulders, and after a minute off-road, I find myself pressing tightly against his chest in an attempt to stop from bouncing everywhere. Somehow, when I'd basically hugged him before was less awkward than this...
After a few minutes of awkward silence and failing not to bounce, Zack's had enough. He grabs my shoulder with one hand and forces me to spin around, I glance up at him with a blush. He then pulls me tightly against him,
"Now stay still," he growls, not even looking at me. I blush, but still wrap my arms around him in another one of the 'hug' things. I stay as still as I can throughout the ride, desperately focusing on not thinking. "You alright?" he suddenly asks,
"Yeah," I mumble into his chest, feeling heat rise to my cheeks again.
"Good," he mutters. His hand gently presses against the bottom of my neck, helping to keep me firmly in place. "We'll get back on a road soon," he mutters again. That's... odd. Normally he'd growl or snap, or not even tell me at all... is he okay?
"Are you okay?" I ask after a minute,
"Yes," he growls, clearly annoyed at my hesitant question. Okay, well, he's fine.
A few more awkwardly silent minutes, Zack suddenly pulls me off, setting me down next to him. I breathe a sigh of relief as the going smooths out. I pull the cloak closely around my shoulders.
"Why do you always do that?" Zack growls,
"Do what?" I ask softly, looking straight ahead.
"You always pull that cloak around your shoulders, even when it's already around them. Why?" he growls again.
"I don't know," I say with a small shrug, pulling the cloak around my shoulders again. "Maybe it's habit now or something?" I mumble, my fingers digging slightly into the worn fabric. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, he's rubbing his shoulder, "STOP THAT!" I shout, smacking his hand away, "I do not want to have to put your stitches back in, AGAIN," I tell him, a muscle in his jaw ticks.
"Fine," he snarls. I watch him for a second,
"Does it hurt?" I ask softly,
"What?" he growls, clearly angry at my question,
"I just mean... is the reason why you rub it because it hurts?" I ask, I lightly rest my hand on his arm, below his injured shoulder.
"I'm fine," he growls, looking straight ahead. He'll never admit if it does hurt... I sigh,
"What's the horse's name?" I ask softly, "I've been curious," I add with a small smile.
"Drift," he snaps, the horse nickers, I smile,
"Got it," I tug at the cloak again.
A minute later, we arrive at another city, and another hotel. Zack goes in to get a room, and I wait, swinging my legs impatiently. I glance down, looking at his scythe. I shiver slightly, I... don't want to die right now... I want to help people before I do.
I look up at the sky, it's somehow still morning.
"Hey. I got us a room," a rough voice growls, and I glance down at Zack.
"Okay!" I move to stand, and immediately trip. I fall over the side with a small scream. Strong arms wrap around me, and I'm pulled tightly against Zack's chest. I don't move for a moment, still slightly shaken from the fall, and Zack holding me. His arms release me,
"Are you alright?" he growls, I glance up at him, he doesn't look too angry...
"Yeah... thanks. Sorry I fell," I take a small step back, he doesn't say anything, just goes to Drift, and leads her off, I quickly follow after him. He gives Drift to a stable hand and grabs his scythe out from under the driver's bench (scaring the poor stable hand) and I help him take in a few bags.
"We're gonna be here for a while, so get comfortable," Zack mumbles. I nod, and quickly put away the bags, as well as going into the bathroom to make sure that there's medicine.
"Zack? Come here?" I ask softly, and I hear Zack curse before coming into the bathroom. I open the cabinet, and grab some supplies, "Sit?" I ask again, he obeys,
"Why?" he mutters,
"Just checking on your wound," I tell him, and he takes off his shirt. I keep my eyes desperately on his wound. I feel myself blush, but I gently start unwrapping the bandages around his wound,
"What's wrong?" he mumbles,
"Hm?" I question softly,
"You're blushing a lot more than usual. Are you sick or something?" he growls, I stop moving for a second. Shit... he noticed! I swallow, and continue to unwrap his wound,
"N-no, I'm fine," I mumble. I finish and smile slightly at the fact that the stitches are holding firm. I grab the antiseptic and ointment from the medical cabinet. I gently pour the antiseptic over the wound, he hisses in pain. "Sorry," I tell him softly. I then dab on the ointment and wrap his wound in bandages again. "Alright, good job not pulling out the stitches again! With another week or so, the wound will be all healed up!" I tell him with a smile. "So try not to use your shoulder," I add,
"I have to though," he mutters. I continue wrapping his wound,
"Why?" I ask softly. He lets out a short, sharp laugh.
"How do you think I get money? I kill people for a fucking living. I need to use my damn shoulder," he growls angrily. I sigh,
"I... understand? But if you keep using your shoulder and pulling your stitches out, you're gonna make it a lot worse... and then it'll take months to heal, and will leave a scar. Right now, it'll just heal right up in a single week. So please just try?" I ask him, having to unwrap his wound and rewrap it tighter.
YOU ARE READING
Kingdom Come
Random[Y/N] is the princess of the Gardener Kingdom, but when her carriage is attacked, she finds herself with the wanted murderer, Isaac (Zack) Foster. As she masquerades as a simple peasant, she finds herself no longer fearing Zack, and realizing more a...
