Summary: Ornstein got shot while in duty. His boyfriend Smough tries to convince him to go to the hospital, but he doesn't want to abandon the case he's working on.

Characters: Dragon Slayer Ornstein/Executioner Smough (Modern AU)

(Author's note: Modern AU, in which Ornstein is a cop. Smough works as a butcher and the two of them are a couple. Of course I had to use the modern AU, cause guns didn't exist in the medieval era of Dark Souls. But it was a good opportunity to write a hospital scene. Also, finally back to some sweet Smoughstein.)

Smough had just finished grocery shopping and was on his way home. On foot, he wasn't exactly the best driver and his massive size made it difficult for him to find a fitting car anyway. Carrying the bags wasn't even a challenge for him anyway, he was used to carry far heavier things every day at his work as a butcher.

Smough had decided to take a route which would lead him through the side roads, it wasn't as crowded there and no one would stare at him because he was so gigantic. He just crossed a side road, in which he saw a flash of red and immediately stopped and turned back to take a second look.

In fact, that was his boyfriend, Ornstein, he had seen there. He was crouched down, a weapon in hand. He still had his police uniform on, so that implied that he was still on duty. Smough usually wouldn't disturb his boyfriend in such a situation, but he also saw the blood dripping on the ground. Smough dropped both of the grocery bags and was at his boyfriend's side in a few large steps.

"Kitten, you are bleeding!", he shouted.

Ornstein winced at his voice. "Smough, what are you doing here?", he whispered. "You shouldn't be here. It is dangerous. And keep your voice down, I am really close to find that gang's hideout."

"You are still thinking about work? You are bleeding, Ornstein. I need to get you to a hospital.", Smough said.

"Not now.", Ornstein hissed. "Just go home, Smough. I know what I am doing. I am having this situation under control."

"You should at least consider getting some first aid for that wound.", Smough snapped, slowly growing impatient about his boyfriend's stubbornness. He always would put his work over his own health and wellbeing. "Let me see that wound.", Smough demanded.

"Smough, please.", Ornstein said, still in a whisper. "You are ruining everything. Just go home." But Smough had already grabbed Ornstein's left arm, the source of the bleeding and carefully removed the ragged cloth covering the wound. What he saw was a clear gunshot wound which still bled profusely. Smough gasped.

"Do you really think I will leave you here after seeing this?", he said with a raised voice while ripping off a streak from his shirt to press on the wound. Ornstein hissed and winced from the pain.

"Smough, go away already!", Ornstein shouted. "I am really close to find that hideout, you are about to ruin weeks of work!"

A noise and a voice was heard around the corner: "Shit, the cops are here. Run!"

Ornstein gasped as he heard that, shot up and ran around the corner. Smough followed him, only to see a person vanish behind a corner.

"Shit, no..", Ornstein said, a hand pressed on his wound. He turned to Smough, anger glaring in his eyes. "This is your fault!", he shouted.

"My fault for wanting to help you?", Smough said, he didn't want to believe what he heard. "What would you have done if you had found their hideout? Arrest them while being hurt and bleeding?"

"You don't understand!", Ornstein talked back. "This case was almost solved! Now the work of several weeks has been for nothing. They are alarmed and will change places. We are starting from zero!"

Smough was about to raise his voice for an answer when he saw Ornstein tumble and fall. He quickly caught his passed out boyfriend in his large arms.

"At least I can bring you to the hospital now.", he said and scooped the cop up.

When Ornstein awoke, he was laying in a bed. He blinked a few times until his eyes had adjusted to the light, feeling a bit confused. Last thing he remember was having a fight with Smough out on the streets.

"Are you awake, kitten?", came a soft voice from the side of his bed. Ornstein turned his head to see the face of his boyfriend staring at him with a worried expression. "How are you feeling?"

Ornstein felt a bit torn. He vividly remembered that Smough had ruined the case he was working on, but seeing him sitting there with this expression, it felt like he couldn't be mad at him anymore. His boyfriend had only been worried about him.

Ornstein slowly tried to pull himself up but was forced back into a lying position by Smough's big hand.

"You should stay down for a while longer, kitten.", he said softly. "You just had surgery. It surely still hurts?"

Oh, that explained why he was connected to an IV. He must have been brought to a hospital. Ornstein felt carefully for the wound and managed to notice that it was wrapped into a thick bandage. It still hurt quite badly though. He opened his mouth to answer Smough's question, but only managed to groan, he was more worn out than he thought.

"Take your time.", Smough said. "After all, you are hurt. I am just glad I could get you to the hospital. I just wished that you wouldn't had need to pass out for it."

Ornstein sighed. "You know, at first I wanted to be mad at you.", he murmured, his gaze averted to the side. "But I know you were just worried about me. And you are right, how should I have fought a whole gang on my own while being injured?"

Smough came closer to the bed and stroked Ornstein's long hair, that had been untied from its usual ponytail. "Sometimes you are standing yourself in the way.", he said. "You should have asked for backup, for example. Why did you even try to solve this case on your own?"

"I don't know.", Ornstein said. "I don't even know why I wanted to do it my own. It is not like I have anything to prove. I shouldn't have blamed you at all, Smough, I am sorry, this was all my own fault."

"At least you learned something from it.", Smough said.

"Smough?", Ornstein asked. "Have you carried me the whole way to the hospital? It felt like you picked me up earlier..."

Smough grinned at him. "While I had been easily able to do this, no, I called an ambulance. You were bleeding too much for me to feel comfortable to carry you through half the town.", he answered.

"Kinda feels like a bummer.", Ornstein said.

"I still can carry you through town once you are discharged.", Smough said with a smile.

"That would be far too embarrassing.", Ornstein mumbled with a flustered face.

"But I can carry you to the cab at least.", Smough said. "Hm, I should call a doctor now. They wanted to see you once you woke up. Are you fine with me leaving you alone for a bit?"

"Hm, sure.", Ornstein said and watched the large frame of his boyfriend disappear from his sight, once again feeling grateful that he would be there for him whenever he managed to stumble over his own feet.