Indiscriminate Happenings
Fandom: xxxHoLiC
Characters/Pairing: Doumeki/Watanuki
Prompt:9:6- Double
Rating: T+
Chapter Genre: Romance/Drama(?)
Summary: Companion piece to 'Punctual.' Those most loyal to you are those that love you most.
I

His head was spinning from the blow, vision blurring and splitting, ghosts of shapes making him see double. He groaned, panting as he rolled onto his side, struggling to get himself back on his feet and resisting the urge to empty the scant contents of his stomach on the freezing, dirty ground. He shivered, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead as he dragged himself along the cobblestone, completely aware of the men chortling behind him and readying themselves for another, harsher, blow. He kept going, even when the skin on his fingers rubbed off, the two broken ring fingers throbbing excruciatingly, and his bruising stomach felt like it would tear. Slow, steady footsteps behind him made him tense and adrenaline speed, making the pain muted and secondary.

It was enough for him to push himself up and set a faltering pace.

Curses shot through the air at the unexpected escape, angry exclamations yelled and accusations hurled at each other. He shuddered and tucked himself into a small nook, barely thin enough to get in. He braced himself against the wall and prayed to whoever would listen that he wouldn't be found by the men in the docks.

When the sound died down and the men, having searched his area and came up empty handed, moved on to the opposite side (how disorganized they were) he relaxed minimally, allowing himself to slip out of the space. Without the wall to keep him up and the pump of adrenaline ceasing the pain crashed into him, flooring him with a sharp gasp. He groaned, coughing and heaving. The unnatural set of his fingers would have to be put right if he wanted them to be fully functional, he knew, but he couldn't find the energy to move from his spot, curling onto his side and clutching at his contused middle.

He was unconscious before anyone found him.
II

Doumeki was a patient person who didn't let many of his emotions show. It wasn't that he so self-conscious that he wouldn't speak his mind, or that he was such an introvert that it boarded on apathy (with it did in some cases, but not this one); it was that after his grandfather died the already quiet child became more withdrawn and his family never problems with it. Thus, it didn't change.

But now he pulled out his pocket watch and glared at the glass covered face, watching as the hands moved further and further from the time they had set. The last time his master was even close to being this late was the time that the road had been blocked about two months ago, and in those two months his prolonged absence from his butlers side was becoming more and more frequent. He closed the lid with a flip of his wrist and decided to wait for another half hour. If Watanuki had still not arrived by that time Doumeki would find the man and hunt down whatever it was that had kept him.

It was only a matter of time.
III

When he woke up his head was still fuzzy and muddled but he could register that he was being carried by a pair of painfully familiar arms, ones that offered safety and solace. He chance a look at the determined frown of his servant and felt a twinge of guilt for making him wait and worry. His glasses, twisted and useless, were tucked into the chest pocket of the once pristine suit, his blood staining and ruining it. He sighed, resolving to take the other out to buy a new one at the first opportunity.

He only hoped Doumeki wouldn't be too angry with him.

IV

Doumeki glanced down as the weight in his arms stirred, worry and concern the first emotions on hand, followed by a muted sense of anger that he couldn't properly access until Watanuki was healed. His eyes met heavy lidded blue for a moment before they rolled almost listlessly over his chest and closed, head falling limp onto his shoulder.

He could only hope that it didn't take too long.
V

Watanuki's eyelids fluttered open, a sharp wince at the light moving his body. Doumeki stood and hailed a passing maid, telling her to fetch the doctor and bring him as quickly as she could. The hand that had steadfast refused to release his for the past fifteen hours loosened but didn't pull away and he retook his seat, staring at the figure in the bed. Groggy eyes glanced at him then another cringe shook him, all the pain he hadn't felt for those unconscious hours creeping back up on him through the diminishing effects of the pain killer the doctor had administered.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, watching the master of the house attempt to slowly push himself up, mindful of his broken bones, and moved to help him, gently raising him. A soft sigh answered first and he took a seat on the bed instead of going back to his chair.

"Horrible," Watanuki replied, leaning forward to rest his forehead as well as he could on Doumeki's shoulder, shuttering lightly. "But I suppose that's to be expected."

Doumeki grunted, lifting the man's chin and pressing a kiss onto his lips, cradling the back of his head and giving as much comfort as he could before the doctor arrived. Watanuki complied immediately, something he usually refrained from doing (the lord enjoyed fighting him as much as possible before relinquishing his dominance in their relationship to the taller man), free hand tightening as well as it could with stiff, hurting fingers.

"Love you," he murmured into Watanuki's ear, nuzzling the pale neck. The noble chuckled, returning the favor and sighing contentedly.

"I love you too Shizuka."

Of course, neither of them noticed the grinning physician standing in the doorway.
VI
There you be. I couldn't resist the last line. XD Lol. Well, I finished this just in time for my eye appointment (the only reason I could write this so early in the morning) so I'll have to leave in roughly twenty minutes I presume. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. :) There are still some slots open for requests, like I said yesterday. If you guys don't start making them, I'll have to fill them in myself and then NOBODY will be safe. 3 Lol.