CK (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nyandereneko) wrote2019-07-17 08:00 am
nyandereneko) wrote2019-07-17 08:00 am
Entry tags:
Someone You Care About
Word Count: 1,138
Summary: Nova lets her concern get the better of her in the midst of a strenuous healing session that leaves both parties wondering what their feelings really are.
*Author’s Note*: Another Nova/Desair fic, one that illustrates their rivalry and negative perspectives a little better. I jumped the gun writing cute stuff for this ship because…well, I already went through all the angst in my head while I was developing stuff, so by the time I start writing I usually just want to get to the good lovey dovey parts lol. But I think this little exchange is both cute and telling, and I hope to write more pieces along these lines in the future. I hope you enjoy!
“If you don’t quit squirming, I’m going to get clearance to restrain you.”
“If you want me to quit squirming then just do it right!”
“I am doing it right, you’re the one making it more difficult by not staying still!”
They could go back and forth about it all day, but the bottom line was that if Desair didn’t cooperate, Nova wasn’t going to be able to tend to his wounds properly. She understood that it was rough, that the healing processes that required magic and remedies like this was notoriously unpleasant, but it had to be done. Plus, he’d surely be thankful after the fact when he didn’t have to worry about any of these little aches and pains anymore. For the time being, however, it was a war of attrition between the bickering duo, both on opposing sides of this petty little conflict and unwilling to back down. Unfortunately for the general, he already was down in a sense, and his nurse had the upper hand in determining how the remainder of their session was conducted. She wasn’t going to do anything to hurt him on purpose, of course, but the more trouble he gave her the more trouble he was simultaneously making for himself.
Huddled together in the healing ward of the palace, just the two of them, the fledgling mage struggled to face the scene before her. The reckless general, one of the highest ranking in the kingdom, had gotten himself roughed up once again. She observed him with an air of dejection, recalling that this wasn’t the first time, and certainly wouldn’t be the last. What was it going to take for him to realize how valuable his safety was? How valuable he was? One of Lord Sangyun’s most trusted advisers, the closest thing to kin the distinguished royal had, and yet he went out and made thoughtless decisions that only served to land him back here. Magic could do a lot to restore the body, it was true, but if he kept relying on that excuse, someday he was going to cross the line into territory where no amount of magic would be enough.
“Any of the other healers would have been done by now,” Desair huffed, and Nova’s fingers stiffened at his words.
“If that’s how you’re going to be, I’ll stop right now,” she replied in an icy tone. “I’ll be done, and you can deal with the rest of this on your own.”
“No, no! Wait, please, I’m sorry.” She couldn’t help finding his sudden shift in attitude mildly amusing. With some of his wrapped wounds still obviously far from mended, she was slightly relieved he seemed to be just as aware of the severity of the situation as she was despite his protests. “I’ll shut up and let you do your job. Just try not to drag it out too much longer, alright?”
“You act like I’ve been waiting for this with bated breath,” she lamented, refocusing on her task. “What makes you think I’d ever want to have you here with me under circumstances like this? I don’t want you to go out and get yourself maimed in the line of duty, or to find out that someone got the drop on you and you somehow lost a limb—”
“I feel like you’re exaggerating a little,” he quipped, and she pursed her lips indignantly.
“I just mean I don’t find anything about this situation favorable,” she elaborated, words straying along with her thoughts. “I don’t like knowing you’ve been hurt or that you’re just as likely to go out and do it all over again. I don’t like having you laying here on a hospital bed while I try to mend the numerous injuries you’ve sustained. I suppose it doesn’t matter in the long run, as long as you keep coming back. As long as you promise to keeping coming back to me, I’ll always do everything in my power to heal all the wounds you have. I don’t like knowing that someone did this to you in the first place…it’s cruel and unnecessary. I know you’re probably doing the same things to other people, and I can’t say I approve of that, either, but when it’s someone you know…someone you care about—”
Ears perked up in alarm as Nova cut herself off, lowering her head so her hair obscured her face. Desair was watching her with spellbound eyes, holding his breath and waiting for her words to return and demolish the heavy silence that swiftly built up between them. Instead, she kept any further thoughts to herself, absorbed in her work and mortified by her undignified slip of the tongue. She wasn’t supposed to care about him…she didn’t care about him. Caring about him was ridiculous and unnecessary, especially considering the kind of opinions he held about her. She knew he wasn’t fond of what she was to begin with, and after she’d so unceremoniously been plucked from her prison cell and encouraged to interfere with his life, that aversion only intensified. As much as she wanted things to be different, she supposed she could understand why he felt the way he did…somehow, that didn’t seem to stop her feelings from unwisely developing beyond her control.
Avoiding his eyes and keeping her lips sealed, the general reluctantly accepted he wasn’t going to get anything more out of her. No reassurance or scolding, no unintended admissions or hasty cover ups. She’d retreated back inside herself, and he couldn’t blame her, especially with how he tended to treat her. He was sure she thought he hated her…and at one point, he supposed he had. But the hands that worked to cure him now were so delicate and gentle, so small and soft. Her blank stare of self-defense made his heart ache, and his hand twitched before he noticed and let it lay limp again. Was he really warming up to her, or was the healing therapy just making him delirious? Was he really touched that she allegedly projected any kind of protective nature over him, or was he just relieved to know he had someone he could consistently rely on?
Neither of them understood the true depth of their feelings, but for now, that was alright. The evolution of their tumultuous relationship had been arduous and stunted thus far, and there was no doubt in either of their minds that things would just continue to be that way. Because neither of them was sure if the other felt anything, or if their existence was more of a nuisance, a thorn in the other’s side. In reality, they were the only thing that could remove the uncomfortable thorn from each other’s sides for good…but neither of them was prepared to accept that particular truth just yet.
Summary: Nova lets her concern get the better of her in the midst of a strenuous healing session that leaves both parties wondering what their feelings really are.
*Author’s Note*: Another Nova/Desair fic, one that illustrates their rivalry and negative perspectives a little better. I jumped the gun writing cute stuff for this ship because…well, I already went through all the angst in my head while I was developing stuff, so by the time I start writing I usually just want to get to the good lovey dovey parts lol. But I think this little exchange is both cute and telling, and I hope to write more pieces along these lines in the future. I hope you enjoy!
_____
“If you don’t quit squirming, I’m going to get clearance to restrain you.”
“If you want me to quit squirming then just do it right!”
“I am doing it right, you’re the one making it more difficult by not staying still!”
They could go back and forth about it all day, but the bottom line was that if Desair didn’t cooperate, Nova wasn’t going to be able to tend to his wounds properly. She understood that it was rough, that the healing processes that required magic and remedies like this was notoriously unpleasant, but it had to be done. Plus, he’d surely be thankful after the fact when he didn’t have to worry about any of these little aches and pains anymore. For the time being, however, it was a war of attrition between the bickering duo, both on opposing sides of this petty little conflict and unwilling to back down. Unfortunately for the general, he already was down in a sense, and his nurse had the upper hand in determining how the remainder of their session was conducted. She wasn’t going to do anything to hurt him on purpose, of course, but the more trouble he gave her the more trouble he was simultaneously making for himself.
Huddled together in the healing ward of the palace, just the two of them, the fledgling mage struggled to face the scene before her. The reckless general, one of the highest ranking in the kingdom, had gotten himself roughed up once again. She observed him with an air of dejection, recalling that this wasn’t the first time, and certainly wouldn’t be the last. What was it going to take for him to realize how valuable his safety was? How valuable he was? One of Lord Sangyun’s most trusted advisers, the closest thing to kin the distinguished royal had, and yet he went out and made thoughtless decisions that only served to land him back here. Magic could do a lot to restore the body, it was true, but if he kept relying on that excuse, someday he was going to cross the line into territory where no amount of magic would be enough.
“Any of the other healers would have been done by now,” Desair huffed, and Nova’s fingers stiffened at his words.
“If that’s how you’re going to be, I’ll stop right now,” she replied in an icy tone. “I’ll be done, and you can deal with the rest of this on your own.”
“No, no! Wait, please, I’m sorry.” She couldn’t help finding his sudden shift in attitude mildly amusing. With some of his wrapped wounds still obviously far from mended, she was slightly relieved he seemed to be just as aware of the severity of the situation as she was despite his protests. “I’ll shut up and let you do your job. Just try not to drag it out too much longer, alright?”
“You act like I’ve been waiting for this with bated breath,” she lamented, refocusing on her task. “What makes you think I’d ever want to have you here with me under circumstances like this? I don’t want you to go out and get yourself maimed in the line of duty, or to find out that someone got the drop on you and you somehow lost a limb—”
“I feel like you’re exaggerating a little,” he quipped, and she pursed her lips indignantly.
“I just mean I don’t find anything about this situation favorable,” she elaborated, words straying along with her thoughts. “I don’t like knowing you’ve been hurt or that you’re just as likely to go out and do it all over again. I don’t like having you laying here on a hospital bed while I try to mend the numerous injuries you’ve sustained. I suppose it doesn’t matter in the long run, as long as you keep coming back. As long as you promise to keeping coming back to me, I’ll always do everything in my power to heal all the wounds you have. I don’t like knowing that someone did this to you in the first place…it’s cruel and unnecessary. I know you’re probably doing the same things to other people, and I can’t say I approve of that, either, but when it’s someone you know…someone you care about—”
Ears perked up in alarm as Nova cut herself off, lowering her head so her hair obscured her face. Desair was watching her with spellbound eyes, holding his breath and waiting for her words to return and demolish the heavy silence that swiftly built up between them. Instead, she kept any further thoughts to herself, absorbed in her work and mortified by her undignified slip of the tongue. She wasn’t supposed to care about him…she didn’t care about him. Caring about him was ridiculous and unnecessary, especially considering the kind of opinions he held about her. She knew he wasn’t fond of what she was to begin with, and after she’d so unceremoniously been plucked from her prison cell and encouraged to interfere with his life, that aversion only intensified. As much as she wanted things to be different, she supposed she could understand why he felt the way he did…somehow, that didn’t seem to stop her feelings from unwisely developing beyond her control.
Avoiding his eyes and keeping her lips sealed, the general reluctantly accepted he wasn’t going to get anything more out of her. No reassurance or scolding, no unintended admissions or hasty cover ups. She’d retreated back inside herself, and he couldn’t blame her, especially with how he tended to treat her. He was sure she thought he hated her…and at one point, he supposed he had. But the hands that worked to cure him now were so delicate and gentle, so small and soft. Her blank stare of self-defense made his heart ache, and his hand twitched before he noticed and let it lay limp again. Was he really warming up to her, or was the healing therapy just making him delirious? Was he really touched that she allegedly projected any kind of protective nature over him, or was he just relieved to know he had someone he could consistently rely on?
Neither of them understood the true depth of their feelings, but for now, that was alright. The evolution of their tumultuous relationship had been arduous and stunted thus far, and there was no doubt in either of their minds that things would just continue to be that way. Because neither of them was sure if the other felt anything, or if their existence was more of a nuisance, a thorn in the other’s side. In reality, they were the only thing that could remove the uncomfortable thorn from each other’s sides for good…but neither of them was prepared to accept that particular truth just yet.
no subject
des: oh?????
you guys are bickering like a married couple here and it's adorable. Also, tending to wounds? double adorable. I was not prepared for the turn this took in the middle though omg. Things got a Lil Dramatic but I'm so here for it.