After Virmire
After the events of Virmire Kirrahe is hospitalised on the Citadel. The days are fine, if boring, it's the night he dreads. MordinxKirrahe. Nothing explicit. Mild angst and fluff. Drabble. Written for a Mordin/Kirrahe prompt on my Kirrahe roleplay blog.
Huerta Memorial Hospital was quiet that evening. Down the hallway he could hear the other patients breathing. The blankets they had provided him itched. He turned in bed, closing his eyes and nuzzling into the sheets. His eyes closed, though he knew sleep would not hold him for long. Every time he did, he dreamed of Virmire. The hollow expression in the eye of his indoctrinated soldiers.
Some nights, the nights where he managed to snatch a meagre half hour of sleep before he was thrust into the next day, he saw Mordin's face. Scarless, two horns, like when they first met. They didn't speak, not a word, but his presence alone was enough to stave off the nightmares. At least for a little while.
That evening he awoke from his nightmare, his body shaking, his breath uneven, and found his dream had come true. Mordin sat a few feet away, one leg crossed over the other. His face was scarred, riddled with old cuts, each with a story, most of which Kirrahe knew by heart. "I'm dreaming…" Kirrahe grunted.
"Correction, were dreaming. Now in state of waking up. Easy mistake to make."
"Smartass."
Mordin smiled, scooting his chair closer to the edge of his bed. "Would have no reason to correct if you were right more often."
"You know you're only proving my point?"
"Yes, well. Perhaps I am. Hard not to be around you."
There was a lull in the conversation. Kirrahe shuddered, digging deeper into the blankets as the image of Saren flashed in his mind. "I'm guessing you want to know what happened?"
"No. Read reports, enough for me," he paused to take a rare breath. "Just thought you needed someone. Anyone. Was I wrong?"
"No."
"As I thought. Not sure what to do to help, admittedly."
Kirrahe laughed quietly, his eyes fluttered shut. "Just… just sit there."
The bed shifted as Mordin leaned his elbows upon the mattress. "Easy enough." As Kirrahe felt his body relent, give itself to sleep, he felt Mordin's hand close around his. He fell asleep with the hope that maybe, just maybe, tonight he would escape the nightmares.