he noticed when he hugged shorty, he flinched. and now riding back to the village he could see him flinch and shift every other time they went over a bump. but the thing that worried him the most was that shorty was a talkative person, he was 10 it was expected of him. but when he didnt feel well or was hurt he wouldnt say a word.
he knew that his back must be sore from being whipped. his still was alittle stiff. so he could only imagine what shorty was feeling. not only that but he had to watch as they forced the blood down his throat. and then he remembered hitting him. no he punched him so hard that he fell.
beleive what you must but he did hear somethings when he was in that trance. for example he heard shorty say "i love you indy" before he woke him up.
thay had returned the stone. the people were reunited with their kids. and that was when he disappeared. naturally being the pain she was willie followed him, behind out of sight of course. he knew she was their but didnt care. the village had taken their children to heal them and care for their injured and he had a kid that was injured to.
when he was finally found short round was walking down the dirt path towards the huts they would stay in for the night. they had plans to go to belen the next day. he seemed to being focused on something on the ground and didnt hear indiana walking up behind him until he scooped him up in his arms.
shorty protested and tried to squirm out of his grasp but he had him tighter and walked to their hut. once their he promptly sat him on the bed and sat beside him to keep him in place whe he tried to get up.
"shorty where is it?"
shorty tried to look as if he didnt have a clue what he was talking about.
"what do you mean Dr. Indy?"
he looked at him and firmly replied
"shorty where did you get hit.. and i know you did i heard the whip and i heard you cry out, now where did you get hit"
he noticed when shorty's idea to try and distract him didnt work that he sat up straighter and scooted against the wall. he also noticed that he arched his back and the top half barely touuched. that was all the answer he needed. he grabbed shorty and laid him down on his stomack. he did not go peacefully, but complied in the end.
after taking hs shirt off he had a better look at the lashes. that little prince had a good swing. he sighed and got up to grab some special herbal ointmint the healer had givin him, after telling short round to stay put though. he sat back on the bed and put a calm hand on his shoulder.
"this might burn alittle"
shorty nodded. he unscrewed the top and put alittle on his hand and started the process of rubbing it on the wounds. short round noticeably stiffen and whimpered. he ran a calming hand through his black hair. by the time he was down he had put hi jacket on shorty so dust wouldnt get into the newly washed gashes. he pulled him into his lap and leaned back, shorty was resting against his chest. he looked down and saw that his eyes were starting to close. he smiled, thats why he didnt want willie to take him, the kid had wormed his way into his heart.
"I love you too kid" was the last thing short round heard before he fell asleep.