Burden of Care
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then I don't own it.
A/N: For 2021 Whumptober #6 Bruises
The little mouse was caught. He tried to play while the master was away, but he forgot about the cat. The cat had him within his grasp with no intention of letting him go. The cat's feral smile swam before his vision. He would throw his dead corpse before the master's feet to show what a good job he'd done.
Philippe figured the lack of oxygen to his brain made for strange metaphors. He needed air. He clawed at the paw… hand holding him fast. He couldn't keep straight who was human and who was animals under the best of circumstances since he'd helped break the curse on the beautiful Lady Hawk and the fierce wolf Captain. Getting the life physically choked out of him was not the best circumstances he'd found himself in.
He tried praying to the Lord for help, but his captor must have misheard and thought he wanted to meet his maker instead of requesting his help. Mouse was beginning to see spots before his eyes as the hands around his throat got impossibly tighter.
He had been going stir crazy lately, being cooped up with only the priest for company. Yesterday Navarre and Isabeau came for a visit after receiving a summoning. They and Imperius were needed before the Church to give their testimonies of the recent events. After two years away, being animals half the day and creating quite the stir killing the Bishop of Aquila who had cursed them, it took some effort to reclaim their station, property, and lives from before. Philippe had overheard them discussing what to do with him. They'd debated where he would be the least trouble; with them or left behind.
He resented being talked about like a disobedient dog. He had been on his own longer than anyone was stuck as an animal. For most of his life in fact he'd taken care of himself without anyone telling him what to do or where to go.
He'd refused to go with them when his fate had been decided.
He'd promised to stay put and stay out of trouble. He never meant to keep his word and by their parting warning looks, they didn't believe him either. He just didn't plan on getting into quite so much trouble. He just wanted to visit the village. He was sick of being surrounded by the same four walls; it was like being imprisoned in Aquila all over again. His skin had begun to itch and his fingers twitched like crazy as he craved freedom. He felt like a trapped animal ready to gnaw his leg off just for the chance at escape. He'd been desperate many times in his life. This felt like one of those times, as he stayed to the left as he fled away before Goliath and the priest's wagon was barely out of sight.
He remembered why he led a solitary life as he entered the village. Slipping in and out of pubs and shops without a care or worry; he enjoyed himself immensely. He was careful and nobody noticed his sticky fingers or anything missing as he passed them by. He wasn't reckless, only taking little things or small amounts, enough to meet his wants and give him a little thrill.
"Thief!" A large man grabbed his arm, tight enough to bruise.
"It is not polite to assume someone is a thief." Philippe wiggled out of his grasp and straightened his spin, trying to appear bigger, "When you've just met them."
He would have been fine escaping his assailant if he hadn't had friends. If he had just listened to his long-held survival instincts and fled quickly instead of trading a few taunts at the man's intelligence he would have not gotten himself into this mess. He was tired of running and hiding like a scared little animal...like a mouse. He had spent too much time with a wolf. The strong and capable Captain's courage had infected him but unfortunately not with his skills or ability to fight.
The man pounded on his smaller body as his companions held him firmly within their grasp. He took a moment to contemplate as he heaved in painful lungfuls of air. The men attacking him were not actually anyone he had stolen from that day. Which really wasn't fair, he complained silently to the Lord. How was he to learn to deal fairly with his fellow-men when they attacked him for something he didn't do… to them at least.
When the choking commenced, he fought like a lion for freedom. Using all the dirty tricks he knew but to no avail against the giant determined to kill him. He resigned to his fate. He hoped Imperius really had put in a good word for him when he reached the pearly gates. He closed his eyes as his body went limp.
He fell to the ground with a gasp. He wheezed as he struggled to bring in more air than his burning lungs were ready to receive. He rolled out of the way and into a protective fetal position. He cocked his head slightly along the ground, it felt too heavy to lift and watched the scene unfold through half swollen shut eyes.
Navarre took out his mob of assailants with feral brutality. Those that could, fled from his wild anger, leaving alone the wolf with the wounded mouse.
The Captain strode with purposeful strides to his young friend. He sheathed his sword and knelt by his side, inspecting the damage done with rage in his eyes. Philippe unconsciously squirmed farther from his savior, remembering the claw's in his flesh. The older man's face softened as he moved slowly to assist him up, ignoring the flinches, associating them with pain and not fear.
"You really must learn to defend yourself, my little mouse, since you are so good at finding trouble."
"I had it handled," Mouse squeaked out of his painfully swollen throat.
"Don't talk," The Captain ordered as he inspected his new patient. The dark handprints wrapped around the small throat made him want to go and hunt down the rest of the thugs that attacked his young friend. He pushed down his anger for Philippe's sake as he continued his doctoring. Two black eyes, bruised ribs, a bleeding nose, and lip. Mostly superficial damage but a painful array of color covering a large percentage of his body. He would be miserable but he would live.
"Come, the others are waiting for us." Navarre led the way back to Goliath.
"What about the inquiry?"
"All is well," The older man reassured. He didn't want to burden the injured young thief with any more of his problems. A majority of his time had been spent with his love, visiting the monk and thief occasionally. He knew they were safe in their fortress of brick. When the summonings arrived it brought back all the fear. He hadn't wanted to leave Mouse alone. He wanted the whole group together, where he could protect them. He had ridden towards his destination, fighting the feeling of unease every step of the way. He finally assisted his love into the wagon and headed back in the direction he had come. His friend was in trouble.
"I know you are in a great deal of pain"
"No, I'm fine," Mouse choked out, refusing to meet the older man's piercing look.
"No, you are not," He reached tenderly towards his young friend only for the mouse to violently flinch away from his approaching comforting touch.
"I was just pretending," Philippe rasped out, wanting the conversion to be over. He just wanted to be alone to lick his wounds.
"You were?" The Captain asked, doubt coloring his voice, "Why?"
"So they would underestimate me," Mouse forced his bleeding lips into a smile, "See, I tricked you too."
Navarre just gave a noise of agreement even as he didn't believe a word spoken. He carefully assisted his friend onto his large horse's back, before climbing up behind him. He gently pulled the hurting mouse into his chest. The taunt muscles slowly relaxed into his hold as they rode.
"Don't you worry about me; I can take care of myself." Mouse mumbled, trying to convince himself that he was better off alone. He didn't need anyone. That proved difficult as the safety he felt in his friend's embrace lolled him into a healing sleep.
"Perhaps," Navarre spoke softly with a note of fondness and promised, "But I will always be there to take care of anyone who wishes you harm."