Chapter Three

She looked up at him, worry in her eyes. "Bumi I'm fine…" she said, trying to blow it off.

He approached her and saw her armor, a visible line sliced through it with a small amount of blood showing. "Lin, you are not fine." he walked to her and sat next to her on the bed. "Let me see it." he asked in a quiet voice.

She rolled her eyes and knew he wouldn't let it go if she refused, so she raised her arms to undo the knot on her bandage. She gasped in pain and Bumi reached for her. He untied the knot for her, keeping her arm up just enough to keep out of the way as he removed the soiled bandage. There were two parts to the wound, where the metal had entered and where it had exited. He removed her undershirt, the holes on it matching her armor and wound. The scabbed over area had pulled when she stretched, and blood had started to flow again, and he immediately stood to grab the first aid kit.

"Try not to move too much." he said as he walked to the bathroom to get the kit. He grabbed it quickly and returned to her, popping it open and grabbing the hydrogen peroxide. "This is going to hurt a bit…" he said as he put some onto a gauze pad and pressing it to her wound. The liquid fizzed as it disinfected and Lin yelped slightly from the pain. After the wound was clean, he set the pad on the lid of the first aid kit and took out another bandage. "Lin, this is pretty bad… You probably should have stitches…" he said as he set the bandage back down.

"No hospitals. I can't have this in the newsreel. I don't care about image, but the people I answer to do." She took a deep breath, "What? Is there not a needle and thread in that fancy kit of yours?" she said in a jovial manner, but meant it.

"I do, but… I don't want to put you through-" she glared at him to cut him off.

"I wasn't asking you to." she said sternly.

He sighed and grabbed the needle from the kit as well as the medical thread. "Lay back…" he said softly. She did, grimacing as he pain shot through her again.

"I love you…" she said, putting her hand on his cheek.

"I know… I love you too. I'll try to be quick." Bumi threaded the needle and lined up her torn flesh before looking at her with concern. "I'll count to three. One, Two," he stuck the needle through her skin and through the other side. Lin gasped and cried out from the sudden pain, grasping his shirt in her hand.

She growled, "What happened to three?" She understood why he did it though. Bumi worked with skill, having sewn up his fair share of wounds back in the day. Luckily it was a sharp piece, or else she'd have had to go to the hospital for proper treatment. He was nearly halfway finished with the entrance wound and he looked up at her. Her face was a mixture of pain and forced neutrality, even with Bumi she wanted to appear strong.

He placed the last stitch and slowly pulled to make sure it was tight before he knotted the thread and took the small scissors from the kit to cut it. "Halfway done…" he said mostly to himself, "It'd be easier if you were on your side, if you can." She grunted when she rolled over halfway, placing her hand on the bed and gripping the sheets tightly.

Bumi took a deep breath before placing the tip of the needle at the top of the exit wound. "One, Two, Three." he said, but didn't press it through.

"Bumi, what-?" Lin asked as he then pressed it forward through the wound. She hissed, mad at herself for not expecting him to try and catch her off guard once again. He worked a little quicker on this side, having gotten his groove back after the entrance wound as practice.

"Did I ever tell you I had a medical specialty in the navy for a few years?" he casually asked, trying to keep her mind off the stitching.

"N-no." she replied, not even sure if he was telling the truth or just trying to distract her. She didn't ask him for elaboration, instead just trying to keep her breathing normal.

After another minute of pain from the needle, it made its final stitch and the thread was knotted and cut. Bumi leaned down and kissed her shoulder before placing the tool back in the first aid kit. He took out a fresh bandage and placed it on each parts of her wound, using the medical tape to keep it in place. He stood and took the kit back to its proper place in the bathroom and throwing out her old bandage. When he returned, Lin was trying to stand up again.

"No you don't. Doctor's orders, bed rest. And lots of it." he commanded. She looked up at him and opened her mouth to protest but he put his finger up, "No exceptions."

She pouted, moving to fold her arms across her chest and winced once again form the pain. He shook his head and moved to help her. Gently, he took her in his arms and lifted her up. He set her back farther in the bed so she was in a sitting position at the pillows. Her bindings had blood on them as well and he smirked. "Hold on a sec." he said, walking to her dresser and taking out a fresh wrapping. "They're soiled…" he nodded towards her chest and she looked down.

"Oh…" she smirked. She hadn't even thought about them, but the wound was high enough that the blood had crept up her armor, spreading it higher than the wound was located at. Bumi leaned down and slowly unwound her bindings, placing them on the side of the bed when he was finished.

"Should I wrap you back up or just a shirt…?" he realized there was no real point in bindings when she was at home, not like she needed her armor for the rest of the night. "I guess just a shirt." Bumi turned back around to her dresser and retrieved a shirt, placing the binding back in its spot. He went to her, grabbing her arms gently and slipping the shirt over them and over her head.

He kissed her cheek and she smiled, "Thanks, Bumi…" she said quietly.

He cupped her cheek, "What else am I good for?" he joked. He stood up, "Dinner should be ready now anyway."