18

Solicitude

Chishiya

"And you learned this how exactly?" Niragi asked, unable to hide the fascination from his voice as he manned the flashlight, its beam casting eerie shadows on the pharmacy door.

The door to the hospital pharmacy unlocked with a click, and Chishiya smirked, self-satisfied. He removed his lock-picking tools and stowed them away, replacing them with a second flashlight. "I taught myself," Chishiya replied as he straightened, the smugness in his voice unmistakable.

"You taught yourself how to pick locks?" Niragi stared down at him warily, the skepticism in his eyes contrasting with his curious tone.

Chishiya's expression remained unfazed, a cocky smirk playing on his lips. "When you grow up with dozens of misfits, you need a few tricks up your sleeve to survive."

"You taught yourself how to pick locks as a kid?" Niragi now gaped at him in astonishment, the flashlight beam wavering slightly as his grip loosened in surprise.

"Yeah. I built bombs too," Chishiya added casually, his nonchalant tone making it sound as if he were discussing a mundane hobby. "Now let's take a look at that wound."

"Wait, you built bombs?!" Niragi's eyes widened, his earlier wariness giving way to genuine astonishment.

Chishiya entered the pharmacy, instantly scanning the nearest cupboard for gauze and saline. "Yes," he simply replied, as if building bombs were the most normal thing in the world. His movements were methodical, each action precise and efficient, reflecting a lifetime of practiced self-reliance.

Niragi halted in the doorway, his expression a mix of awe and wariness, and quietly observed Chishiya, who systematically gathered his materials. The small, confined space of the pharmacy felt charged with an unspoken tension, the silence thick and heavy between them. Several moments passed in silence before Chishiya turned his attention back to Niragi, who was watching him thoughtfully. "What's wrong?"

Niragi lightly shook his head, eyes remaining pinned on Chishiya. "Nothing, I... I'd hate to have you as my enemy," he replied quietly, the admission laced with a rare vulnerability.

Chishiya gave him an impish smirk before pulling up a chair. "I get that a lot. Come, sit and let me take a look at you." Chishiya motioned towards the chair as he spoke, his tone gentle yet commanding.

When he gazed back up at Niragi, he found him hesitating, a deep frown plastered on his face. "Are you alright?" Chishiya inquired gently, his eyes reflecting genuine concern.

"I... yeah. I just can't remember the last time someone..." Niragi's raspy voice trailed off into the darkness, the unfinished sentence hanging in the air like a spectre.

The last time someone cared for you, Chishiya thought, and gently nodded in understanding. He could see the cracks in Niragi's tough exterior, the faint glimmer of humanity that still lingered beneath the surface.

"It's okay," Chishiya reassured, his tone filled with warmth and sincerity, as he casually leaned against the desk, covered in the materials he'd gathered. His own barriers, so carefully constructed over the years, seemed to again waver in the face of Niragi's raw vulnerability.

A slow nod was Niragi's only answer before he silently approached Chishiya and dropped himself into the office chair, his movements heavy with fatigue and resignation.

Chishiya reached for some gauze, saline, and his flashlight before he turned to gaze down at Niragi in front of him. "This might sting a little."

"I know," Niragi replied so softly it was almost a whisper, his eyes lowering to his hands as Chishiya leaned in to cleanse the cut on the right side of his forehead, just above the hairline.

Both of them remained silent as Chishiya worked away, wiping away the dried blood crusted in Niragi's hair and on his forehead. The silence was not uncomfortable, but rather a shared moment of unspoken understanding.

Chishiya paused, the gauze in his hand, and took a moment to study Niragi. His eyes were now closed, his face relaxed in a way Chishiya had never seen before. He was dangerous, unpredictable, and volatile. But here, under the dim light of the moon, shining through the windows, he looked almost... human. It was a reminder that even the most ruthless among them were still capable of vulnerability.

"You got lucky. The wound looks worse than it is. I don't think stitches will be necessary," Chishiya broke the silence a few minutes later, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Okay," Niragi mumbled absentmindedly, a hint of vulnerability echoing in his voice. Chishiya couldn't detect a single drop of Niragi's familiar cruel disguise. The mask had dropped completely, leaving Niragi exposed in a way Chishiya had never witnessed before. Not even that night after the five of hearts game. The sharpness that usually defined his features softened, his eyes reflecting a rare, raw honesty.

Whether Niragi had intended this display or if he was simply too exhausted to maintain his facade, Chishiya wasn't quite certain. The chaos of the day's events had worn them both down, stripping away the layers they used to protect themselves. Chishiya felt a pang of unusual empathy, a recognition of the lonely, tormented soul beneath Niragi's vicious exterior.

He checked his own stone-cold wall encasing his heart and found he'd unknowingly lowered his defences too, allowing himself to experience his maelstrom of emotions. This realisation startled him, stirring a mix of apprehension and curiosity. Was it truly possible that in this brutal world, they could find solace in each other's company, could become something like friends, even if just momentarily?

You've so desperately hoped for a friend all your life, that you're being careless when presented with the slightest chance. Foolish, so foolish, he chastised himself. Yet, despite this internal warning, he just couldn't entirely quell the flicker of hope that he felt reignite within him.

Chishiya resumed his work, the rhythmic motions of cleaning and dressing the wound providing a momentary distraction from his turbulent thoughts. The vulnerability in Niragi's demeanour was both disarming and unnerving, once again challenging Chishiya's long-held belief that true strength lay in isolation.

As he carefully applied the bandage, Chishiya couldn't help but reflect on the irony of their situation. In a world that thrived on cruelty and survival of the fittest, it was the smallest acts of kindness that held the most power. For perhaps the first time, he allowed himself to consider that vulnerability wasn't always a weakness but perhaps sometimes a different kind of strength.

With the wound finally dressed, Chishiya stepped back, his eyes lingering on Niragi. The moment felt significant, a subtle yet profound shift in the dynamics between them. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words, each of them lost in their own thoughts, yet acutely aware of the fragile bond forming in the darkness.

Chishiya took a deep breath, steeling himself against the unfamiliar emotions stirring within him. Trust was a dangerous gamble, one that he had learned to avoid. But as he looked at Niragi, he wondered if perhaps, just this once, the risk might be worth it.

No, not yet. Including him in your plan at this stage, is a risk you can't afford, he reprimanded himself.

"There. Good as new," Chishiya finally informed, lightly nodding in satisfaction, admiring his work.

Niragi's eyes fluttered open, and he met Chishiya's gaze. For a moment, they were just two people, stripped of their roles and facades, facing the harsh reality of their existence.

Niragi touched the bandage lightly and nodded. "Thanks."

Chishiya gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Don't mention it."

With a deep breath and a weary nod, Niragi made an effort to rise from his chair, only for Chishiya to interrupt him. "Wait, I'd like to examine you for possible signs of concussion. Your head suffered quite the blow back there."

"I'm fine," Niragi deflected, raising one hand in an attempt to ward off Chishiya, as he feebly pushed himself out of his seat. "We need to come up with a plan."

"Niragi. It's night, you're sleep deprived, injured and likely concussed. Regardless, the Beach won't dispatch a rescue crew before dawn. Therefore our primary focus should be scavenging for a bite to eat and then resting. So sit back down and let me examine you," Chishiya commanded, his eyes silently daring Niragi to object.

Niragi breathed a weary sigh in defeat, too worn down to even consider arguing, and lowered himself back onto the chair. "Go on then," he muttered, his soft tone exposing his fatigue.

Chishiya nodded, satisfied with Niragi's compliance. He stepped closer, his flashlight beam steady and focused. "Follow my finger with your eyes," he instructed, raising his hand and moving his index finger slowly from side to side.

Niragi's gaze tracked his finger, though his movement were somewhat sluggish. Chishiya noted the delay, a possible sign of concussion, or a symptom of his exhaustion. "Are you experiencing a headache, any dizziness or nausea?" Chishiya asked, his tone clinical.

Niragi hesitated for a moment, reluctant to admit to his discomforts, his weaknesses. "Yeah...Um... All three," he eventually replied. "But the uh... the nausea's been coming and going all day."

Since this morning, Chishiya internally finished Niragi's thoughts.

Chishiya continued his examination, checking Niragi's pupil response to light, his balance, and his coordination. Each test revealed minor issues, nothing too severe but enough to confirm Chishiya's suspicion of a mild concussion.

"What happened this morning?" Chishiya inquired gently, voice filled with genuine concern.

Niragi released a resigned breath and swallowed hard, as he considered whether or not to reply. He took another deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, in an attempt to stop the world from spinning around him. "Rice," he finally managed to utter with a raspy breath.

"Rice? Perhaps you're more concussed than I thought. We should both get some sleep, you especially," Chishiya suggested carefully.

Niragi softly shook his head. "No, the rice it... For years," he began with a shaky voice. "I haven't been able to so much as look at rice and I... forced myself to deal with the smell and watching people consume it but," he paused, his eyes searching Chishiya's, as if they might be his salvation. "But this morning, I... I was too weak." His voice was but a barely audible whisper.

Chishiya observed him in silence for several heartbeats, while Niragi averted his gaze, stared down at his hands resting in his lap. "I'm pathetic, I know," he hissed, his voice full of self-loathing and sorrow.

Niragi huffed a dismissive breath and shook his head, forcing the thoughts from his mind. Chishiya understood that Niragi didn't possess the energy to reminisce about his painful past, so he refrained from interrogating him further.

"Let's just find some food and then turn in for the night. More than enough beds to choose from in this building," Niragi decided and came to his feet with a hint of determination. Chishiya watched him march out the door, leaving no room for Chishiya to object. His only remaining choice was to comply and accompany Niragi on his hunt for sustenance. Chishiya rapidly, yet methodically packed his supplies back into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder, before he set out to catch up to Niragi.