[Open]

[spaceforged]

Who: Shiro and you.
Where: Shelter, medical area
When: Hours after rescuing the King.
Rating Pg
What: Shiro comes back battered and wounded from the rescue mission. Keith swears a lot.



He runs his hands over the bandages around his ribs with a wince. He’d gotten so used to being able to shake off bullets and arrows. He has been mostly indestructible. He should have known better. Shiro slips from the small area laid out to treat his injuries as gingerly as he can manage. Cracked ribs are no joke.

He hisses through his teeth as the pain radiates out from his chest and side. He regrets a lot of things. He had charged at a pack of guards confident he would perfectly fine. “Crack goes the Lion.” He mutters as he pulls his duffel bag closer with a foot and fights not to breathe in.

Every breath hurts. They have a surplus of healers this time. The distraction team will all get back on their feet in less time than they would have otherwise. But until then he can just deal with it.

Comments

Damn straight Keith swears a lot

[lonered]

"That's not even a little funny, you know."

Keith informs him, having overheard that comment as he's coming up from behind with an expression that is hard and sharp enough to wound, so Shiro had better not push his luck because he is in rough enough shape. But despite the tone of his voice, the exasperation twisted through with an almost suppressed fury, is all wrapped up in concern.

His gaze rakes over the older man for a moment, taking stock of the shape he's in, and the look in his eyes softens. "Damn it, Shiro." How big a mess had he got in that he's in this shape -- how much damage does that mean he took in his other form? Quiznak. The Black Lion is not easy to put a dent in never mind.

Keith takes a goddamned breath and reaches down to grab up Shiro's duffel bag and sling it over his own shoulder, and this time when he speaks, his voice is quieter, "How bad is it?"

[spaceforged]

He jerks his head up and grits his teeth so he doesn't make a pained sound. Keith. He hadn't heard that tone in his voice before. Not as bad as it sounds right now. Shiro leans back in his chair and glances at his friend. He waits for him to breathe before he answers. "The worst of it is cracked ribs." Hence the joke. Belatedly he realizes how unfunny it is to Keith.

"The rest will slow me down but, I'm still in one piece." They're both still breathing. That's what matters. His own thoughtful look is replaced with something softer. "I know it looks bad. I will be alright. I just have to take it easy and not use magic for a while." He understands the anger.

He'd learned more than enough to know where it comes from. He'll put up with whatever fussing Keith wants to make. "We had to get the king out. and we learned valuable intel that made it worth the risk. The guards are lead by a general. The moment the king escaped they stopped trying to defend against us. He's their target, Keith." Talking hurts. It makes him pause a lot more often than he usually does.

But, he can't keep what they learned to himself.

[a_sharp_wit]

"You are quite a bold man, Shiro."

There's a tinge of amusement about the word. Many of those serving as distractions came out with injuries and for all of Elizabeth's healing abilities, she is none the less marred. Her healing is better left for others, so she says, and thus she shows up with what may be the first black eye in her life. Her right one, chiefly under her eye and only now really beginning to make itself known. What knicks and scratches she found as well as minimal.

"I am not quite sure if you know this or not, sir, but you are made of as much flesh as the rest of us."

[spaceforged]

He laughs, “Trust me, I’ve been educated on that.” Bold is one word he wouldn’t have used. Reckless. Stupid. Are more likely words of choice in his thoughts. Or out loud. He pauses as he notes her own appearance with a small measure of concern. “...I’d offer you an ice pack but I don’t think they have that here.” That would also involve getting up. He’d do it but she did just tell him he’s human.

Shiro shifts so he’s putting most of his weight against the back of the chair. It’s not as bad as it looks sounds too bravo. “You happen to catch any names when the guard remarked about ‘The General’? I didn’t catch anything.” He also had been damaged and in pain by then. He could have missed it.

[a_sharp_wit]

She waves off the concern gently. "What is this to more grievous injuries?". Then she affects a sort of pompous expression, as if she were well pleased with herself. "Besides, I think it rather dashing. If gentlemen can brawl and end with all manner of scrapes then I should at least own the privilege of an injury now and then myself. Perhaps it will even be fashionable, in time."

That said though, she leaves off the slight mask of merriment she usually affects to look somewhat more serious. She draws up to her full height, lips pressing softly together. "I cannot be sure. There was so much scuffling and general noise that I could barely hear a thing, to be honest."

[spaceforged]

“About the same as a battle ever is.” So far no one has caught a name. He’ll ask the king when he wakes up. “But yeah, we’re all pretty fashionable right now.” He drags his thumb over the scar on his face that’s off set by the bandages over a cut running up from his jaw. A smile flickers across his face, something small. As much as talking hurts he can deal with it.

It makes people worry less. “”The important part is we achieved our objective and made it out alive. We can recover and see what Kathashun has to say when he wakes.” Then they can plan. There has to be more they can do to stabilize the situation before their goal is achieved.

[lonered]

There's been a few things between Shiro's time and Keith's that makes the sight of Shiro injured something that tears a cold, painful gash straight through the center of Keith. He's lost him a second time in that interim, and like hell is he ever going to let it happen a third time.

But Shiro is going to be okay this time. He's broken, but Keith knows he's seen worse. So he takes a breath and he nods. "I know. You'll be fine. But you're definitely going to take it easy." Not an option. Keith will enforce it somehow if he has to.

For now though, he listens. "But they didn't kill him while they had him?" So the King is useful to them alive? It's interesting. And Keith gets the need to info share.

But. "We should get you somewhere you can rest. And something for the pain."

[spaceforged]

"The only thing we've got that's strong enough for pain is in my duffel bag. It's going only going to take the edge off. But listen, I think the 'Blessing of the Phoenix' is why they didn't kill Kathashun." He gets a hand on the back of the chair and braces himself as he starts to rise to his feet. The pain sucks but he's had worse to deal with.

"And I promise I'll take it easy. It would be a mistake to push it any further without being healed back to full. If the General pushes an offensive, I'll be useful directing people from the support side." He'll fall back and let others lead the charge in that case. Manning defense isn't that difficult.

He pauses. Shiro looks to the side with furrows eyebrows. He raises one, then lowers it. Raises it and says, carefully. "And...if I have to change, I uh...could serve as a cannon. Turns out I can fire lasers. That felt really weird."

[lonered]

"Then you take the edge off," Keith informs him, just in case Shiro has any illusions about avoiding pain meds for any particular reason. Without hesitation or word, Keith moves when Shiro does, arm slipping around him from his unbroken side, ducking himself under Shiro's arm.

"The Blessing of the Phoenix?" He echoes once he makes sure he has a grip on him. He'll make sure Shiro keeps to that promise and does take it easy. There may be more fighting coming, but they'll manage, and Shiro's right. He can be useful in ways that don't involve the front lines.

But for now. "Sorry, what? That's.... so weird. But kind of cool, Shiro. When you're healed up, you'll have to show me."

[spaceforged]

He leans into Keith as he gets his feet under him. With one hand on the chair he silently counts in his head. Some of the pressure easing off his damaged side is so relieving he feels a little light headed.

He breathes through it. There's more to say. As much as he wants to protest the drugs Keith is right. Taking the edge off will help him sleep. "The blessing is a kind of magic. It seems like some sort of gift from the gods. It would explain why he is likely their source of water." That's all the information he can manage to give right now. He takes a step forward and trusts the younger man to move with him. Where could he lay down? There is a room not far from their location.

He just has to retrace his steps from before. "Anyway, I might have access to all of the Lion's basic weapons systems. It will just take figuring it out myself to know for sure. Turn right when we step into the hall."

[a_sharp_wit]

"Thank goodness." She blows out a breath there, clearly relieved. She had been half worry and half bravery as she had done her best to distract guards. Really she had done a lovely job in her opinion, avoiding so much as a scratch until the very end. And the black eye was more due to blunder than any real harm.

She takes note now of the bandage that he had brought attention to as he ran his thumb over his scar. She considers it a moment before she offers gently, "Would you not like something so small healed?". The larger injuries she could understand, given how the healers like herself were out in force healing all who they could.

[spaceforged]

"No." He traces his fingertips over the bandages once almost absently. "I can heal from minor things on my own. Everyone majorly hurt should come first. We don't know if the fighting has ceased or if we'll have to defend the Shelter." The cuts and bruising suck but he can live with it. Shiro sits up and winces hard, hand falling to his ribs.

He slowly lets his breath out. "I'm fine. I'll just have to take it easy and not shift shape for a while." Shiro smiles just to be reassuring. His face is a few shades paler than it had been. "And rest a lot. Like I said, I got an education on my mortality."

[lonered]

Keith moves easily with Shiro, paying close enough attention that he's not missing any minor twitch his friend makes, intent on trying to keep this as painless as possible -- which is probably not all that painless, honestly. He genuinely despises seeing the other in pain, and it's unfortunately a sight that he's seen way too often in their lives.

He listens as they walk though. "Huh. So definitely too valuable to kill straight away." Keith nods to himself. Okay. And now the King has been rescued, which has to throw a wrench in the plan.

Following Shiro's directions, he turns towards right. "Lasers... jawblade?" And there's a fleeting thought of if the others show up like this, could you form Voltron?, and that's a weirdly unsettling thought.

He's just... not going to mention that. To Shiro. Or anyone.

[spaceforged]

"I'll have to test it." Vague answer but, all of his focus is on navigating the halls. He moves slowly, testing each step. Maybe he should have laid down in the patient room. It's too late to turn back and that room would be needed for someone else. Shiro takes a right, then a left. "...Jalin is worried both factions will come after this sanctuary." There might already be Syndicate members inside waiting for a chance.

"Keep an eye out for anything suspicious." He doubts he needs to remind Keith of that. He's seen how he thinks now. He pushes open the door to the small side room with its bed up against the wall.

It's out of the way. Exactly what he needs right now. He almost sags with relief. Even this small trip taxed him. "...With so many of us down...this would be the time to strike."

[lonered]

"They might. But they aren't going to have an easy time of it. There's still enough of us on our feet," Keith agrees. This place is safe for now, but that could easily change. He's on guard -- though that's how he spends most of his time, especially lately, working with the Blade has got him always on his guard.

It's a survival skill. He eases Shiro over to the bed, easing him down to a seat carefully.

"I'll keep my eyes open, Shiro. Always. If an attack comes, we'll be ready."

[teratias]

"...Uh, hey. I brought water?"

Waver's never been good at this whole checking-in-on-other-people deal. Mostly that's because he has never had cause to do it, but the rest of it is that getting real medical attention is way more important upon return. It's why he has waited a few hours to check in on Shiro, and why he's trying to be practical for anything that might come off as bugging someone who's trying to rest.

The glass is a little chipped, but the water's cold (he used magic to make sure of it), and if he gets shooed off, it won't be personal.

[spaceforged]

He puts a hand against the wall as he sits down on the bed. "You can absolutely trust Jalin. Keeping Kathashun and the people here breathing is what he wants. That means us too." And Jalin is a friend of his. Shiro grabs the pillow and stuffs it up against the back wall. He leans his back against it.

"I know everything will be fine." He believes it. They've slowed the guards and have the king. "Pass me the bottle of water and the pill bottle from the duffel." He'll even obey Keith's previous order about the meds.

Despite how he'd like nothing better than to not.

[spaceforged]

“Thank you.” By now Shiro has been moved to a small private room. He slowly leans forward to take the glass. He closes his metal hand around it. “How have you been, Waver?” He has lost track ofeveryone once his side went crunch. It had felt exactly like cracked ribs always do. A stab of agony that makes all thoughts drain away.

He takes a sip of the water and blinks. “Did you chill this?” His voice has a tone of appreciation. He dips his head a little and smiles. “Thanks.” He could seriously use it. He could use some cold on his side too but he has been enduring that. A nap earlier had been cut short when he tried to roll over in his sleep.

[teratias]

It's easier to talk about magic than anything else. It is a natural thing, and in truth, Waver's enjoyed experimenting with this new ability. As annoying as it can be for a combat situation, when there's time to sit down and noodle about, it can be quite powerful.

"Yeah, I did," Waver says. "I tried to use my ability to fold two spells into one - to fill up the glass, then chill it. It...didn't work, so I had to do the two actions separately."

Stacking spells, and how it could work, was something he hadn't had the time to practice prior to this.

"And I think anything I answer is going to look fine in comparison to you, so...I'm going to just go with that."

[a_sharp_wit]

"A harsh one at that, it seems." Her words are more murmured than chiding, the way her brow draws together showing a distinct expression of worry. She won't force the issue though and instead looks momentarily solemn.

"Perhaps I ought to learn to fight myself." Yes, she helps in healing and where she can but so much of this world has come down to literal fights that she might serve better if she could take up a weapon of some sort.

[lonered]

"Good. That's definitely my top priority too. Glad we have that guy on our side then." Since he clearly had the people on his, which is useful given that they're a bunch of outsiders that the locals have limited reason to really trust save whatever goodwill they've built in their time here, before all hell broke loose.

Keith is definitely braced for a fight to get Shiro to take the pain medication, so when it doesn't come to that, he is quick to dig them out of the bag along with the water. Fine by him if Shiro is going to cooperate and take care of himself instead of killing himself looking out for everyone else first. It's something Keith has always admired about the older man, how genuinely selfless Shiro can be, but it's also something that's made him worry often enough.

And for good reason, he thinks, watching Shiro where eh's propped back and very clearly in pain. He hands over the pills and settles himself to a seat at the edge of the bed, perched carefully so as not to jostle Shiro. "I guess the Witch was right about this place being on the verge of something."

[spaceforged]

Well, yes. Anything is better than custom by crunch. He has the smarts not to say out loud. That's a terrible joke. "Fold two spells into one? How do you think you could get that to work?" He pulls his legs up onto the bed and folds them under him. He setles in for a long talk.

Possibly. He took another dose of painkillers and that could mean asking to rest sooner than later. "...that almost sounds like a computer program."

[teratias]

"It really isn't," Waver said automatically. "I don't have the faintest clue how computers function."

Ah, the 90s, and being in a mage society that is technophobic. Waver shakes his head, and focuses on the explanation. "I thought that by combining two imperatives into one, it might work. It still could, but it wasn't worth the time experimenting at the moment, you know?"

[spaceforged]

He nods. He'd come to help and experimenting could wait for private projects. "Computer programs have a series of actions written in code that link together to form the program itself." That much he knows. "Like machines have working parts."

Which reminds him. He runs a finger over the bandages around his middle. "At least we have some time to breathe. Whoever that general is he'll need to muster his forces and regroup. He can't imprison the king again. Not without a fight."

[spaceforged]

"It's up to you. Keep in mind there are a lot more ways to fight than actually being in the middle of combat. What you've done here...saved countless lives that could have been lost to infection, accident, or the soldiers cutting them down." Shiro crosses one ankle over the other and leans back. It takes some of the pressure off.

It's exactly what he needs. "If you really wish to learn combat we have a number of teachers. Personally, I think you should seek out Riza Hawkeye if you take that step." Riza would be a good choice. She's a soldier and a damn good one. Patient. Logical. She would give the education he can't.

Not right now anyway.