KEF – (n) state of dreamy or drug-induced repose
Avarice rubbed at her eyes, the dim light forcing her pupils to focus. She couldn't hear anything, similar to when water was sloshing around her brain. Some unseen force tugged on her leg and she whimpered. At least the pain from earlier was gone.
"Honey?" came an unfamiliar, yet calming voice.
Another tug came from the other direction, this time upon her chest and harder than before.
"Honey, wake up..."
She groaned and blinked as a small circle of light grew wider. The first thing she noticed was the Immune. His face was clean-shaven, older, wiser. It was almost like she was looking at a completely different person.
"There we go. Upsa-daisy."
Her throat was raw and her body numb. Something sticky was covering her skin, she could feel it. Where was she?
"Come on, Avarice. Lemme help you up."
"No..." she ground out, stunned by the tone of her own voice. Did she just...speak?
He laughed at her softly, still snaking his arms at the back of her knees and neck. He lifted her up and she found her side pressed against his chest. Her skin was just as brown as the floor below. His was so pale. Such a difference.
He led her through a door with more light, walls the color of sunlight. She could feel the moisture in the air as he brought her to a strange looking bowl. He took a seat on the edge and swung her into it, her body sinking into the soft foam. Water was below, sloshing and swimming around the new form. The clouds that floated beside her popped softly in her face, a strange experience. He went to move his hands away and she locked onto his wrist.
"No," she whispered.
"Don't worry, Avarice. I'm not going anywhere," he chuckled, still moving his hands. He rose from his spot and she whimper and repeated that single-syllable, two-letter combination. "Let me get your wash cloth, at least. It's here in the cabinet." He opened a second door and retrieved something in a flash, a square of fabric. He made his way back over and entered the water behind her, the level rising even higher on her body. He took up a handful of liquid and poured it down her back slowly, the heated bath soothing her tired muscles.
Mario bathed the ebon Witch slowly, careful to keep her upright and not to tear on her stitches. She muttered "no" and purred in her sleep as he bathed her with a square of his jacket. She nuzzled back into his chest and his cheeks began to burn. Just give her a bath. Just a bath...just a bath...
He found himself nuzzling back, kissing the side of her face and neck smoothly. The door creaked open and he stared at the Jockey, who was glaring madly, but didn't attack. Instead, the little Infected roommate scurried to his corner and curled up into a ball, remaining in that position in silence.
Mario didn't need to speak the Infected language. That Jockey blamed him for her injuries. Somehow, Mario knew it was his fault, but knew it wouldn't change the outcome. As long as the Witch continued to heal, maybe the hunchbacked crawler would open up to him. He hoped he would.