Disclaimer: Escaflowne still isn't mine. All though... Maybe in an alternate universe it is? Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Forbearance
Part VIIII
By: Penybright
Van opened his eyes to slits, groaning in pain as he shifted, agitating his wound. Hitomi saw him stir, and immediately perked up.
"Van! Van?"
Van heard his name being called, but couldn't focus on the speaker. All he could make out was a blur of green and gold.
"Hitomi..." he whispered, disoriented and confused. "No..."
"It's all right Van. I'm here," Hitomi said, trying to soothe him. Van twisted, crying out as pain lanced through his side.
"Stay still. Please Van, don't move," Hitomi said hurriedly, trying to hold him still. Van momentarily panicked, twisting and causing himself agony, before Hitomi's voice reached him.
Once still, Van sighed, dropping off back into unconsciousness. As soon as Van's eyes closed, and he became still, Hitomi began to sob. Picking up Van's hand, she held it dearly as she wept.
"Van..."
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Van's eyes fluttered open, and he blinked. Above him there was a beige colored ceiling. He blinked again, processing the information. He wasn't in his cell...
There was movement to his left, and Van turned to see who it was. He gasped in distress as fire knifed through his side. Van's gasp awakened his visitor. After the pain passed, Van opened his eyes to see watery, vibrant green eyes staring at him.
"Hitomi?"
Van's heart sank. It wasn't a dream after all. She was here...
"Van!" Hitomi cried happily, tears streaming down her face. She hugged him lightly, careful of his grievous wound.
"You're finally awake. I was so worried. I thought..." Hitomi couldn't finish. She began to pull away, but Van's arms came up to wrap around her.
"Hitomi," Van whispered, pulling her close as his vision began to waver with unshed tears.
"Hitomi, I- I tried. I didn't- didn't want them to... to..." Van's voice faltered, and he hugged Hitomi tightly to him as he began to cry. Hitomi was shocked and worried. She'd never seen Van so distraught.
"It's all right. Everything's going to be okay," Hitomi tried to assure him. "We're together now, and I won't let anything happen to you."
Hitomi's words of comfort only seemed to upset Van more, for he began to sob openly. Highly worried, Hitomi gathered Van gently into her arms as he cried against her shoulder. Not wanting to say anything that would upset him more, she kept silent as she rocked him tenderly in her arms.
~ Poor Van. Poor Hitomi. What's going to happen now that Hitomi's on Gaea, and in the clutches of the enemy. And, what role does Van have to play in all this?