A/N: Sorry this is a bit later than usual. What can I say… university has taken over my life. Even now I really ought to be studying, but... this is so much more fun.
Thanks a bunch for your comments! I really appreciate them. Enjoy!
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CHAPTER 3
"It doesn't look good."
The cloth is lifted from his skin. Three sharp intakes of breath follow.
"Hak, what do we do?"
He shivers. The air brushing against his torso seems bitingly cold, and he wishes desperately for the cloth again. However, there's a disconnect between his limbs and brain, so instead of a grab for the blanket, all he manages is a feeble twitch.
"I've sent Jae-Ha into town to find the nearest physician— the less we move him the better, at this stage."
A brief pause. Then, quietly, from a distance:
"He looks... cold."
"You're right, Shin-Ah. Hak, do you mind if we keep using your cloak?"
"Don't ask stupid questions."
"Right. I'll go get some blankets as well."
The cloth is wrapped around him again, and he snuggles into it gratefully. If only the flames devouring him from the inside would cease, he'd be perfectly comfortable.
Footsteps, then the rustling of cloth.
"Zeno, get a fire started, and Kija, fill a pan with some water and heat it. Princess, scrounge up some ingredients to make a simple broth for him to drink. I'll need some of the water left alone so I can clean his wounds, though."
"Okay!" A three voice chorus, then more footsteps. For a long time, things are quiet. More blankets are tucked around him— but now that he can no longer feel the icy sensation of the air, the burning pain lacing through his limbs and head becomes even more prominent.
Then a warm hand is beneath his head, tilting it up while another holds his nose shut. Warm liquid is dribbled into his mouth, sliding down his throat without resistance. A detached part of him notes absently that the flavouring isn't too good (he would never have paired those two herbs together) but he doesn't have the strength to pull a face. Besides, any taste at all is better than nothing.
After that, small fingers wrap around his hand, thumb rubbing soothing circles over his skin.
"We were really worried about you, Yoon. I'm— I'm sorry it took us so long to find you. I-I wish—"
"Princess…"
Some quiet sniffling sounds, then a deep indrawn breath.
"But it's okay now, 'cause we found you. And you're gonna be alright— do you hear me, Yoon? Without you, we'll all probably starve from Hak's horrible cooking—"
A cough.
"It's true! So, Yoon, just focus on getting better, okay? Whatever you need, just tell me and I'll get it for you. And don't worry, cause we're all here— me and Hak, Kija and Shin-Ah and Zeno— and Jae-Ha will be back right away with a doctor. You'll be feeling better in no time."
The soothing timbre of her voice nearly distracts him from noticing the warm, damp cloth being pressed against his head, then the long strip of cloth wound around— his leg receives the same treatment, then the blankets are peeled back momentarily and he shivers as the various scrapes all over his torso are gently cleaned…
All throughout the process, Yona's voice soothes his ear as her hand holds his in a soft but firm grip. Eventually, he's lulled back into a state of near-unconsciousness, but as he slips away he hears the two voices for one last time.
"I've done all I can."
A pause. "What now?"
"We wait. And— hope."
The last sensation he feels before unconsciousness claims him once again is Yona's grip on his hand tightening infinitesimally.
—
The next time Yoon surfaces from the depths of sleep, he actually manages to open his eyes.
He's greeted with a never-before-seen-nor-desired-to-be-seen close-up of Hak's face.
"Oh," Hak says, all monotone. "You're awake."
He leans back so they're no longer nose to nose, and Yoon sighs in relief.
"What were you—"
"Just checking your head wound," Hak says, tapping his own skull for emphasis. "So… how ya feeling, kid?"
Yoon doesn't mince words. "Like I've been beaten and starved within an inch of my life."
"Ah." Hak's expression looks momentarily pinched. "I guess that's reasonable."
Yoon tries to sit up, fails, and slumps, embarrassed. But then Hak comes over, wordless, and props him into a seated position (just furthering Yoon's mortification). For a moment longer they just look at each other.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Yoon finally asks. He and Hak don't talk much, really, except to commiserate over the stupidity of the four dragons or figure out the map together (basically, a strictly business relationship).
Hak raises an eyebrow. "Nope." He leans back against the tent wall, arms crossed behind his head. "I'm just doing my job. We're taking shifts watching over you."
"Oh."
"So just let me know if you need anything, okay?"
"...okay."
There's silence for a couple moments more.
"You look thirsty."
"Uh—"
Hak's already leaning out of the tent.
"Hey White Snake, get some water for the patient!"
Oddly, Yoon can't make out Kija's usual reply at the use of his hated nickname.
"He'll be back soon," Hak informs, then resumes his relaxed position of before. He's still watching Yoon, though, and Yoon is beginning to feel a tad uncomfortable. It would be natural for Hak to lurk like a vulture at Yona's side when she was injured; she's a girl, after all, and Hak is still hopelessly in love with her. But when it comes to Yoon— where's that typical attitude of "he'll be fine, he's stronger than you think"?
Yoon kinda misses it. Being treated like that— it showed that he was worthy of being in the group, that he was capable, he didn't need to be babied.
Yoon stares down at his lap, fists clenched.
What now? He's already proven that he's helpless, incompetent, needs rescuing—
And he's momentarily distracted… What is that smell?
Yoon raises a bandaged arm to his nose, sniffs.
Clove… and lavender? With a bit of chamomile, if he's not mistaken.
"Who wrapped this?" he asks. Upon closer examination, the strips of white cloth layered over his arm are speckled with leaked-through greenish spots. So they applied a medicinal paste... It's not one that Yoon would have made himself, but the clove would help disinfect things, he supposes, while the chamomile eased the bruising, and the lavender helped a bit with both.
"Jae-Ha brought in a doctor from the nearby town. That was three days ago, I guess you probably don't remember. You were pretty much out of it."
"Doctor?" Now that Yoon thinks about it, he can remember vague mentions of a doctor, as part of Yona's reassurances. But—
"Isn't that dangerous?" he demands. "Letting them know where we're camping— not to mention expensive." He holds his head in his hands. "What were you guys thinking?"
He isn't expecting Hak's fist to hit his relatively-uninjured shoulder.
"Idiot. If Yona was hurt in some way you couldn't fix, you wouldn't hesitate in spending the money for a doctor."
"Yeah, but—"
"But?"
Yoon looks down again. "Yona's Yona. I'm— well, I'm me."
"What do you—"
"Yoooon! I brought your water!" Kija barges into the tent with a wide smile, and, using his non-monstrous hand, places a wooden cup in Yoon's hand.
"Oh. Thanks, Kija."
"Do you need any help to drink it?" Kija asks innocently.
Yoon wrinkles his nose. "No way. I'm fine."
"Okay. If you need any help just let me know! I'd be happy to assist you in any way, Yoon."
"Oh—Okay."
Kija only smiles once more, and heads back outside with a wave.
Yoon frowns. Kija's always been polite, but this level of kindness is freaking him out.
"Hey… Hak—" What's up with him? he was going to ask, but then again— Hak's been acting a little strange too.
"Need some help?" Hak asks emotionlessly.
"Huh? No!" Yoon insists. Yeesh, it's not like he's a little child.
"Then why haven't you drunk it yet?"
"I'm just—I—" Unfortunately, that's when Yoon realizes his hand isn't obeying his brain's command to lift. He glares at it, struggles—
"Your hand is shaking."
"Shut up. I just need to— build up a little strength."
"Right, right."
Could that idiot sound any more sarcastic?
Yoon rests his elbow on his lap and centres his focus on the insubordinate hand. Rise. Obey me, you stupid limb!
Yes!— Up it comes, quivering only slightly, bringing the cup to his lips— but then it stops, having only reached chest level. Yoon glares down at his elbow, which, stuck resting on his leg, is preventing his arm from reaching any higher. The worst thing is, he doesn't think he can move it without spilling the entire cup.
His raised hand begins to shake a little more— water sloshes around inside the cup, ready to spill—
A large hand snatches the cup from his trembling fingers before a drop can fall. Yoon looks up to find Hak watching him again. He can feel himself turning red and wishes he could stop it.
"You and the Princess could be twins," Hak says. "And by that I mean you're both stubborn idiots."
Yoon can't think of a sufficiently snarky reply in time.
"Open up."
"No way. I'll do it myself."
"Kid, I think you just proved that you can't do it yourself."
"Well, I—"
"Just shut up and drink."
Hak holds the cup to his mouth and he drinks, and wishes he could die at the same time.
"You'd prefer this if I were the Princess, wouldn't you?"
Yoon nearly chokes. Hak pulls the cup away, and he manages to get out, "You'd no doubt prefer it if I were Yona, too."
Hak looks a mixture of surprised and embarrassed for the briefest of moments before he starts chuckling.
Yoon just watches him, not sure whether to be mostly embarrassed, or angry, or maybe just—
"Hey… Hak?"
"Yeah?"
"...sorry." His gaze falls to the tent floor.
"Huh?"
"Sorry... for being so much trouble."
He's surprised when he feels a fist sock him on the shoulder again.
"For someone who constantly labels himself as a genius, you really are a total idiot sometimes."
Hak leaves after that, promising to send in Zeno, who'll no doubt provide a distraction with his general talkativeness… but in the quiet moments before the Yellow Dragon enters, Yoon still can't figure out what exactly Hak meant, no matter how often he turns it around in that brilliant young mind of his.
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A/N: I hope you guys enjoy h/c as much as I do. ;) I'll try to update sooner this week; probably Friday (in celebration of being done my Spanish midterm… yay).
Thanks again for your continued support :)
