TW: Possibly incorrect medical treatment, drugging.
As they walked from the now slowly disappearing domain Kaeya kept an eye on his partner. Bennett suffered head trauma when he fell, and even though he walked and could fight as usual it showed. The teenager was flagging a bit. Kaeya himself was now feeling pulsating pain in his ankle and the loss of energy that came from the lowering of adrenaline levels.
Kaeya prayed to any Archon that would listen to him for Albedo to be in the city.
…
After checking in with Katheryne and reporting the success of the commission the Cavalry Captain and the Adventurer started the slow ascent to the Church. Kaeya himself was going to escort Bennett to the Deaconess and then seek Albedo's help, but luckily, he thought and now would not have to go back and forward. Kaeya asked the Guards at the Gate if they had seen Albedo leaving the city. And unfortunately, the answer was positive, and Kaeya had to go to Barbara as well. But at least no additional walking on a painful ankle. Improvements!
The Captain shivered as they climbed the Mondstadt stairs. He most likely dodged a bullet by checking on the Alchemist's possible location. His previous experience dictated he should present himself to tender mercies of the Deaconess of the Mondstadt Church if Albedo was not available. Otherwise, a very cross Barbara could hunt him down to administer the required medical help. Another possible development of him not presenting immediately at the Church for treatment could earn him a lodged complaint with the Acting Grand Master Jean, and then the woman would just look at him with her perfected expression of deep disappointment. (They often had to health-shame other Knights when they ignored their health). And if Jean knew then the Library Witch would also know about it and would just laugh condescendingly at him until he got the treatment.
They had just arrived at Church Square when Bennett had stopped, his gaze becoming unfocused. Kaeya stopped immediately when he noticed it, his gaze focused on the Adventurer.
"Bennett," Kaeya was not impressed with his condition. He walked back to the teenager and slowly raised his hand to check Bennett's temperature. The forehead was warm to touch, and Kaeya dearly hoped that the boy will be able to reach the Church by himself.
"Captain Kaeya," the Adventurer murmured leaning into the cool hand on his forehead, closing his eyes to enjoy the feeling.
"C'mon buddy, we are not frozen in place after all," the teenager huffed a laugh hearing the Captain's favorite catchphrase. "Just a bit more before we reach Barbara's tender treatment. Can you walk with me?"
Bennett nodded, still leaning into the cool arm. With his eyes still closed he felt how the hand was withdrawn and then one of his hands was raised and slung across the taller male's shoulder.
The pair slowly conquered the stairs leading to the Church and as Kaeya braced himself to open the big door it was opened from the inside.
Kaeya swallowed hard. Barbara was standing in the opening, her hands resting on her hips.
"Kaeya, Bennett," the Deaconess greeted the wounded pair. Kaeya was absolutely sure that the slight tone changes in the greeting flew right above poor wounded Bennett's head. But Kaeya noticed it. He squinted at the retreating form of the Deaconess as he followed her deeper into the Church.
Barbara had favorites...
...
"Lower him on this bed here," Barbara pointed out a bed in the corner of the Medical Room as she continued to the cupboard to gather the needed supplies. Kaeya gently lowered Bennett onto the bed, the teenager once again spacing out.
"So?" Kaeya took a step back when Barbara returned, supplies neatly laid out on a small rolling table.
"We were commissioned to clear a domain," Kaeya started the explanation. "In the last room, Bennett fell down the stairs and knocked his head on the stone. He woke up in the middle of the fight with the Abyss Herald, but on the way back he started to have periods of spacing out."
Barbara hummed as she caught the sunlight in a small hand mirror and shined it into Bennett's eyes. Both eyes reacted to the light, with the irises constricting equally fast in presence of the light. The adventurer tried to move away from the light, but the Deaconess gently caught his chin with her hand.
"Bennett, honey, it's okay. I am just checking the extent of your trauma," the young woman lowered the mirror as the teenager whined a bit in her hold. "Sh, sh... it's okay. I need you only to do one more thing. Can you do it for me?"
Bennett hummed in agreement, a small blush spreading on his cheeks as he registered Barbara's hold on his face.
"Brilliant! Now, when I say 'go!', I want you to try and touch with your right index and then with your left index the tip of your nose. Ready?" Barbara released Bennett's face and quietly clapped her hands with a soft smile on her face as the teenager hummed in agreement. "Steady... Go!"
The Adventurer slowly but steadily managed to fulfill the order of the Deaconess, whose smile grew even wider as he progressed with the assignment.
"Amazing! Good job, Bennett!" the young woman took a small bottle from the table, quickly pouring its contents into a cup and giving it to the Adventurer who also had a small smile playing on his lips. She gently gave the cup to him and nudged him to drink it before maneuvering the boy to lie down and rest.
The whole time Barbara was treating Bennett, Kaeya stood as quietly as possible. He observed how the Deaconess treated his commission partner. She was so gentle that Kaeya could not reconcile the Barbara he was seeing now and the image of Barbara in his head. But he had to confess, he was curious to see if Barbara will be gentler with him, if for no other reason than being in presence of an audience.
After Barbara took the cup from Bennett's hands and brushed his hair away from his forehead she turned back to Kaeya.
Yeah, the audience did not matter to the Deaconess.
The Captain involuntarily froze under her gaze which immediately hardened as she took in his form.
"Do you need a special invitation to sit down?" the young woman took a step towards the man, who in turn stepped back, to maintain the same distance between them but he miscalculated and with a small sound of surprise he fell on the bed standing behind him.
"So?"
"I... fell during the fight," Kaeya winced as Barbara growled at his admission.
"Captain Kaeya!" the Deaconess forced the man to raise both his legs on the bed and soon freed the wounded leg from its boot. The ankle was just slightly larger and warm to the touch. After a quick session of twisting the ankle at different angles and observing Kaeya's grimaces, Barbara with ease of long-term practice wound a bandage fixing the ankle in the neutral position.
Huh, maybe Bennett's presence did mellow her out.
"Now, you have to stay off that foot for at least three days," the Deaconess ordered the Captain as she poured him the liquid from the same bottle as she did for Bennett into a new cup.
"But I can't stay here! I have more obligations I have to fulfill today!" exclaimed Kaeya after giving a cursory sniff of the liquid.
"Well, that's too bad," Barbara sang as she smiled at Kaeya. "You should have thought about it before you fell! Please, drink the medicine."
" But that was an accident!" Kaeya spluttered. That was ridiculous. It was not as if he tried to get wounded.
"Please, drink your medicine," the young woman repeated herself, her eyes focused on Kaeya, hands resting on her hips.
"It stinks, what is it?" Kaeya sniffed the liquid again, before gagging at the smell.
"Medicine. Drink. It."
"No," Kaeya and Barbara were suddenly locked in a battle of wills, maintaining eye contact. They kept at it for some time. Through the window filtered in the noises of life in the city, but the pair said nothing.
A small snore from Bennett broke their battle and with speed Kaeya didn't expect from Barbara she took the cup from him. She then poured the contents into his lax mouth, managing to do without choking him. The liquid acted immediately, and Kaeya felt himself slowly fall asleep. He scowled at the young woman, but she just smiled at him. The Deaconess just drugged him with one of Albedo's anabolics with a strong sedative effect.
"Good night, Captain," Barbara gently brushed the hair from his forehead to the side.
After all, Captain Kaeya needed a firm hand to teach him to care for himself.