Healing Wishes Ch. 3
Lithuania's POV.
Earlier...
The bus always shook too much for your taste. Always. Rubbing your back against the seat and bumping against it only agitated the pain you were only just getting accustomed to. But there was no other way to get to work and home...And besides, sometimes you got to see her on the bus.
You could feel your cheeks turn pink when you thought of your neighbor. The thought as well as your blush quickly dissipated as you felt a large bump in the road that threw your back into the bus seat with a yelp of pain. The bus slowed after the familiar speed bump signaled that you were just at your stop.
You were really rather excited to get off the bus after this ride's bumps and bangs. So excited, you jumped up and even dashed for the exit. The ride had been hard on your injured shoulder, especially after what Ivan did to it today.
On the stairs, though, you felt a weight crash into you. The girl you had been thinking about moments ago was now in front of you, toppling down the stairs! Out of reflex, you dove after her and wrapped your arms around her for a better grip as you kicked off the stairs to spin with her, your goal being to get between her and the ground.
And you succeeded.
The impact knocked the wind out of the both of you, but the pain in your back nearly made you black out. All you could do was hold still and wait for the pain to subside so you could move again. You could only release some of the agony through groaning.
She, on the other hand, almost immediately scrambled to her feet. It made sense: she had somewhere to be, something to do...maybe even someone to meet. She was getting on the bus when you bumped into her, after all. You were so sure she was only going to leave you that the sound of the bus staying and her voice made you gasp in surprise.
"Ohmaigawsh, are you okay?"
Her voice was full of concern. And yet, it was somehow beautiful...You've never heard her talk before, and her voice was just...adorable...
"I...I am fine...I mean...I've been worse," you truthfully babbled to the wonderful girl you just saved. Your voice was shuddering in pain and even a touch of nervousness. That had been the closest you had been to a girl since elementary school...
The other reason for the shaking due to the fact that you realized you acted without her permission, without anyone's permission. She definitely isn't Ivan, but you were knew you were acting out, and that always meant lashes or some form of punishment. But...was she really that mean..? The tone of her voice didn't seem to be. Then again, neither does your boss's.
"Oh no-! Y-your eye! Was that-!" She broke off in horror, and even guilt. Was she actually worried that she hurt you? This might be a plow, no one would ever worry about you, not seriously. Maybe your performance, but not your physical body. But you owed her some kind assurance.
"No, no, it's not from you." You recalled the punch that gave it to you. Certianly, she didn't throw it. She may have caused it indirectly, as you had been daydreaming of meeting her while you slacked a little on your job. "Please, do not worry." You wished you could tell her where it came from, but Ivan Braginski would not be happy.
And an unhappy Ivan Braginski could lead to some serious damage to you and her.
The noise of the bus's rumbling engine had faded into the background behind your conversation, but it quickly came back to the foreground as the bus driver reminded you of it's presence with a loud clearing of his throat.
"You comin' on?" You knew the driver well after riding this bus so many years, and could detect a hard to find hint of worry in his gruff voice. He might've also sounded impatient, but that was merely because he didn't want to wait too long before getting on with his route and make others late. He didn't like being unable to do anything to help the two of you.
"N-no, I-I-I-!" She sounded worried and conflicted. Conflicted about what? She could just leave...
"If you say so." He'd been there a long time, anyway, he had to move, despite his concern. The rumble of the bus as he drove away finalized his non-commitment to this situation.
After he left, your neighbor held our her hand to help you up, a gesture you've only familiarized with your co-workers Ravis and Eduward. You took her hand and she helped you up, to your surprise.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Her quiet voice was almost soothing. It was sweet, yet filled with worry.
"I-I take much more if a beating daily..." You tried to re-assure her through your teeth. Your shoulder was burning, and you were coated with mud. You've definitely been worse. Somehow, she didn't seem relived.
You took a few steps forward, only to discover that you were putting more weight on your left leg than your right. A limp. How perfect...How were you going to work over the next week if you couldn't even WALK?
"N-no, let me help you, it's my fault you fell! The elevators are out for maintenance today. I don't want you to fall and hurt yourself worse!"
That sounded more like an order. And you could never ignore an order. Besides the order, you couldn't make it up three flights of stairs if you have to concentrate on both limping and ascending stairs while your shoulder pained you so much.
"O-okay miss," Your usual formality when you talk to Katyusha or Natalia, the only girls you really knew.
"M-my name is _."
A correction was necessary.
"Yes, Miss _."
She gently braced herself against you as a crutch as Ravis and Eduard had done before. You and her started your long trek to your rooms.
"And your name is..?" She sounded so gentle and genuinely curious to meet you...
"Toris, miss, my name is Toris."
"Toris...It's nice to meet you." You felt your cheeks turn slightly pink. It...it was? You were so glad that someone wished to meet you...that someone was happy to know you.
However, the long trip up the stairs quiet and awkward. You didn't know what to say. What did you talk about with not only someone you've never met before, but a woman..? You started to shiver. Today, more from nervousness than fear. But that soon changed as you realized you'd be in serious trouble.
How could you work for Ivan tomorrow with a limp and a giant scrape across your back. You couldn't walk correctly, let alone do the slave labor Ivan considered work. You could faintly hear _ say something in the background, in real life, but she had to repeat it to fully drag you out of your nightmare.
"Are you okay?" This question again?
"A-ah! Y-yes, I'm fine."
"No, you're not. You need someone to care for you, are at least have someone to talk to."
"Talk..? Care..?" Care for, not take care of? It was an odd way to use the word. You slowly realized she didn't mean do away with, but to help. Only Ravis, Eduard, and maybe Katyusha once or twice had ever offered that kind of assistance...
"Yes...Talking and Caring. You DO know what those are, right?"
Were you really that pathetic and lost-looking..?
"Oh, yes, I do, I'm just..." not used to the thought...
_ sighed. Or dear, you didn't upset her, did you? She didn't seem angry though...
And besides, it would be nice to get help, to have someone to talk to, to have a friend outside of your core of the other two slaves you work with. And a girl...Pretty, too- Wait, what were you thinking! You can't let someone in, someone so nice! _ doesn't want to hurt you, that's now been made obvious, so you COULDN'T let her get near. What if Ivan got a hold of her? You could never forgive yourself.
"No, I'm perfectly capable of handling myself." You finally decided out loud, despite your want to know this person who was so kind.
"Huh..?" She seemed to snap back to reality from something. A daydreamer..? That's...somewhat cute.
"I think I can handle myself." You were nearly crying, though. You didn't want to hurt her but you really wanted to know her.
"Are you sure? You landed on your back, does it-?"
"It hurts a little, yes," you replied, "but I should be fine. My back is only a little dirty with mud after all. You convinced yourself with a nod that she wouldn't ask to help again. You let go of the volunteer human crutch and limped back to your door, only to stop at the sound of her gasping.
"Y-your back-! Your shirt's...just...just a little blood."
"Wh-wha?" Blood? That fall shouldn't caused TOO much damage...could it really cause you to bleed? Or was another wound..?
"Please, let me help you at least look at your back. It IS my fault you fell!" She almost sounded desperate to help.
You looked from your door to her, You didn't want to endanger such a kind person, but you did want some help. You could never call a hospital for these wounds.
You finally decided your answer as you nodded towards her. Your heart sunk as you thought of the consequences as you entered her apartment.
