Hello world! I fell in love with My time at portia and the resident captain of the civil corps. I'm writing on a Bad Things Happen Bingo at the moment and post some screenshots from time to time. Have fun!
To the folks out there following my Bad Things Happen Bingo, here are all my ideas for what I have in mind for the still open prompts and what I have written so far.
Drowning: Elenya just wanted to fix the railing of the platform of the hot air baloon ride so that no one could fall into the freezing water. Arlo, who was waiting for her a little further away, had warned her to be careful because it could be slippery. She should have better listened to him.
Asthma Attack: Elenya’s lungs haven’t betrayed her this badly in a long time, so why did it have to happen now in front of her crush, the Civil Corps captain, of all people?
Stumbling and Staggering: Elenya had a really bad week. She was completely exhausted and she just wanted a hug from her favourite person, even if she had to stumble up the hill to the Civil Corps Headquarters to get it.
Bloody Nose: Elenya never thought getting her nose broken by a door was the way to get a boyfriend.
Worked Themselves to Exhaustion: Elenya was tired. No, scratch that. Elenya was exhausted. She didn't think she'd ever been as exhausted as she was at that moment.
Bedside Vigil: Elenya knew dating the Civil Corps Captain meant he might not always come back to her in one piece, but that it would happen 5 days before her wedding was not something she had anticipated.
Passing out from Pain: Elenya never thought she would see a Rogue Knight, let alone fight him. However, she would have gladly done without the resulting compound fracture.
Bruises: Participating in the martial arts tournament while already covered in bruises was not Elenya's best idea. Especially not when she had to compete against Arlo.
Forgetting to Eat: Elenya knew the perfect birthday gift for Arlo. All she had to do was dig it up in the abandoned ruins. That shouldn't take too long, right?
Sunburn: Elenya has a problem: she just can’t stop working. Even under the blazing desert sun, she pushes herself to the limit. But this time, her determination has serious consequences - leaving her with painful burns and temporarily deprived of Arlo's gentle, reassuring touch.
Knife to the Throat: Elenya wouldn't have thought they could defeat Everglade and her two men, but now they were actually lying tied up in front of them. If only there wasn't suddenly the sharp, cold steel at her neck, rendering her motionless, and the demand that they release the Flying Shark Pirates if she wanted to keep her head.
Allergic Reaction: Elenya just couldn't catch a break. Even on her day off, she managed to get thrown off her horse, only to land in a bush full of the only plant she was allergic to.
Stabbing: Elenya thought that after fighting the Bandirat Prince, nothing would surprise her anytime soon. That there was now also a Bandirat King, who could speak and who wanted to take revenge on her, was not something she had expected.
Motion Sickness: Elenya was so excited! Today she would be going on her first real date with Arlo. Surely nothing could go wrong, right?
Doesn't Realize They've Been Injured: Elenya and Remi successfully freed Arlo, Sam and Mint from Ingalls Mine and defeated this strange AI without any significant injuries. Then why were there black dots dancing in her field of vision?
Caught in a Storm: Elenya, loud thunder and a bad expirience with loud crashes don't mix well.
Trapped in a Burning Building: Elenya had been a bit skeptical when she received Huss and Tuss' invitation to their hotpot. But she never imagined that it would end with her being trapped in a burning building.
Twisted Ankle: Elenya's day off didn't go as planned, but maybe it wasn't all bad either.
Vertigo: Elenya's day got off to a bad start, but then revealed a wonderful, albeit surprising, twist for her.
Crush Injury: Elenya was just mining some iron ore when the earthquake hit.
Cradling someone in their arms: Arlo came home late that night to the sight of his wife curled up on the couch, sound asleep and with a much warmer forehead than he would have liked.
Trying to Wake Them Up: Arlo will never forget the day he found his wife Elenya lying at the bottom of the stairs near Central Plaza late at night, a pool of blood around her head.
Bleeding Through the Bandages: Startled, Elenya turned to her garden gate as her favorite voice called her name. Unfortunately, as she did so, her arm caught on a sharp edge of the bus station she was building for South Block, leaving a deep, burning cut.
Anger Born of Worry: Elenya takes a hit for Alro. The latter, of course, is not pleased about this at all.
Bundled Up in Blankets: Elenya really hated this time of the month. Luckily, this time she had an Arlo who made everything a little better.
Welcome back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo! We have two other Bingos done with his one!
Fandom: My time at Portia
Pairing: Arlo x Female Builder
Summary: Elenya knew dating the Civil Corps Captain meant he might not always come back to her in one piece, but that it would happen three days before her wedding was not something she had anticipated.
Word count: 7,327
Prompt: Bedside Vigil
Author's note: This one has been a lot harder to write than I thought. I've been think about this for so long, but getting it on paper was very hard. I wanted it to keep up to my own expectations and to the two people that were waiting for this one for so long! (Not sure you two are still around, but if so, I hope you will like it!)
Hurting Arlo was a whole new experience, but I couldn’t help myself and threw in a little bit of hurt Elenya in there too...
Big thank you to the two Tumblr users who were willing to read through this beforehand and give some feedback (@a-writing-wren and @shanellet9)!
Warnings: mentions of blood, crying, nightmares
Read on AO3: Link
Silent Vigil
Elenya paced excitedly up and down her living room. Her thoughts kept circling back to the new piece of clothing in her wardrobe.
She’d picked it up from Carol’s this morning and hadn’t been able to think of anything else since.
Hanging there was a cream-coloured dress, with delicate green tendrils winding their way across the skirt and the long sleeves. Carol had done a truly wonderful job. She could hardly believe it when she tried it on this morning. It fit her like a glove and made her eyes sparkle.
And in three days she would wear it to marry Arlo!
She could barely wait anymore. Even here, alone in her home, a small giddy giggle left her at the thought. They had been together for more than two years now and she couldn't imagine a life without him anymore.
He made everything so much better.
Waking up next to him every day, having breakfast with him, and simply knowing that he would always be there felt like a dream. A dream that would soon come true.
A knock at the door snapped her out of her daydreams. Wondering who could possibly want to see her so late, she opened the door. Cold winter air hit her face and her eyes fell on Sam, who was looking at her with a serious expression.
Elenya’s heart sank.
Sam hated being serious. Her friend always preferred to see everything light-hearted. As long as nothing really bad had happened, she was always relaxed.
"Sam! What… what are you doing here?" No sooner had Elenya asked the question than she wished she could take it back. Even though she knew Sam wouldn’t hold it against her, she felt terribly rude.
"Hey Elenya…"
A heavy weight settled in her stomach. Sam never called her by her name.
"Sorry to disturb you this late, but…" Sam hesitated. Something that was also very unlike her. She never had any qualms about saying exactly what she thought.
Elenya’s unease grew.
"I'm not sure how to tell you." Sam's voice broke. "Arlo, he… Remington brought him back. He got hurt. Badly."
The words left her reeling. Stunned, she stared into her friend's pale green eyes, which held a mixture of anger and fear.
Arlo was…?
Her brain couldn't process the words. She knew that Arlo had set off for Ingall's Mine with Remi that morning. The last time she had been there, she had found a new opening that hadn't been visible until then. The two of them wanted to explore this new area to decide whether it was safe enough for adventurers and could be opened up.
And now he was…?
Everything inside her froze. Her knees threatened to give way beneath her. She clung desperately to the doorframe with one hand, while everything inside her resisted the truth.
Arlo couldn’t be hurt. He was Arlo, captain of the Civil Corps. The strongest fighter in Portia.
Just this morning, before he left, he had kissed her. Had promised to take her out for breakfast tomorrow. They were going to get married in three days.
The winter air seeped through her thin clothes, but she didn't notice. The cold matched the numbness spreading through her.
A hand settled on her shoulder and gently steered her back into the house. Shortly after, Sam pressed her boots and winter coat into her hands. Mechanically, Elenya put them on.
No sooner had Elenya zipped up her jacket than Sam grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out of the house. The door clicked shut behind them, and the soft thud finally snapped Elenya out of her stupor.
Dazed, she stumbled after Sam, who led her purposefully towards the clinic. All the while, one desperate question after another raced through her mind.
How bad was Arlo hurt? Did he have a head injury? Would he recover?
There was just one question she was desperately trying to keep out of her mind.
Was he even still alive?
Every time, she immediately pushed the thought away. Otherwise, despair would have overwhelmed her.
They met Remington in front of the clinic. He was pacing back and forth anxiously, his green hair tousled and his jacket covered in dried blood.
Elenya felt sick at the sight.
Was that Arlo's blood?
"Remi! What happened? Why are you out here?", Sam asked as soon as they reached him.
Startled, Remi turned towards them, his brown eyes wide open. His gaze darted from Sam to her, lingering on her.
A mix of emotions swirled behind his eyes, but Elenya couldn’t make sense of them. She was far too caught up in her own feelings.
Remington swallowed hard. "Dr. Xu sent me out." His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't talked in a while — or as if he had cried. "He… he needs space to work."
"What happened?", Sam repeated, her voice low.
Remi opened his mouth, then closed it again. His gaze drifted briefly towards Elenya, almost as if he wasn't sure how much he wanted to tell her.
“He pushed me out of the way.” The words came slowly, with difficulty. “I was… momentarily distracted when the robot lunged at me. Arlo reacted before I even knew what was happening.”
Elenya somehow wasn't surprised. Saving someone's life without even thinking about it was Arlo's second nature.
What surprised her, however, was that Remi was distracted in the middle of the fight. That didn't sound like him at all. In desperate need of a distraction, her thoughts turned entirely to this fact.
Her eyes finally took in his entire appearance. Whilst she made a conscious effort to ignore the bloodstains on his clothes, she noticed his posture. Not only was he clearly leaning more heavily on his good knee, but he was also holding his right arm pressed unnaturally stiffly against his stomach.
But before she could voice her concern, Sam spoke up again.
"Remi, what's with your arm?" Her eyes were fixed intently on his arm.
"Oh, that…" A single glance from Sam was enough, and Remi seemed to reconsider his answer.
“The robot hit my elbow… I don’t think anything’s broken, but moving it hurts a bit.”
Sam lifted one eyebrow. "Did that happen by any chance just before Arlo shoved you out of the way?"
A slight nod, followed by a quiet "He saved my life," was his reply.
"Oh Remi…" Elenya whispered, and she crossed the few steps that separated her from her friend. Her concern for him momentarily overshadowed her fear for Arlo, and she was grateful to have something to do.
Searching his gaze, she added, "You’ve done everything you could. Please promise me you’ll get Dr. Xu to have a look at your elbow as soon as Arlo has been treated."
A brief hesitation, then a weary nod. “I promise.”
Silence followed his words.
Sam silently leaned against the clinic wall, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on the floor. Beside her, Remi slowly slid down the wall until he was sitting on the floor, resting his injured arm carefully on his knee.
Elenya thought about joining them, but her inner restlessness forced her to move. She started to pace; it was the only way she could keep herself from breaking down.
There was nothing they could do but wait.
~~~~~~
Elenya couldn't tell how long they waited in front of the clinic. But when the door finally opened, the sun had fully set and the moon was rising on the horizon.
Snapped out of their thoughts, they all turned towards the clinic, where an exhausted Dr. Xu was standing in the doorway. With a deep sigh, he beckoned them into the warm interior of the clinic, and without hesitation they followed him.
Elenya didn't know what to think. While they waited, she had been able to suppress her feelings, but now they came flooding back all at once.
The worry. The fear. The uncertainty.
What would be waiting for her?
Clearing his throat, Dr. Xu began to speak. "First things first: He is stable for now."
A collective sigh of relief echoed through the room.
“He has a laceration on his head and a deep wound on his left side. We’ve treated both and the bleeding has stopped.” Dr Xu paused briefly, as if weighing up his next words. “The next few hours will be crucial. He needs rest and to be monitored – but things are looking good at the moment.”
Elenya's knees threatened to give out on her.
Arlo was alive and he would recover.
Relieved, tears filled her eyes and she had to swallow before she could ask her question. "Can I… can we see him?"
"Of course. Phyllis should be done with cleaning up." With a welcoming gesture, Dr. Xu pointed towards the room divider that screened off the hospital bed at the back.
Carefully, Elenya took a step towards the room divider, suddenly unsure if she would be able to handle the sight of Arlo. What will he look like?
A soft push to her back made her take another step. Confused, she turned around to Sam, who smiled at her encouragingly. "Go on. We'll be right with you."
Gathering all her courage, Elenya took the last few remaining steps that separated her from Arlo. With a deep breath, she stepped around the room divider, where Phyllis was just tucking Arlo in.
She stopped dead in her tracks. Her brain had trouble connecting the Arlo she saw before her with the one she knew. Arlo had always been the very picture of strength – upright, alert, unshakeable. Seeing him so still and vulnerable felt… wrong.
His face was completely pale, almost as white as the pillow he rested on. Deep shadows lay beneath his eyes, whilst a white bandage wrapped around his head stood in stark contrast to his red hair.
His arms were draped over the blanket, allowing her to see the IV in the crook of his arm. A clear fluid was running through it. Finally, her gaze fell on the cables running from his chest to a monitoring device at his side. A faint beeping sound was coming from it.
Dr. Xu hadn’t had the device for long, but she knew what it was showing. Arlo’s heart was beating. He was alive.
Approaching hesitantly, she sank into the chair by his bed. Phyllis gave her an encouraging smile before stepping back, but Elenya barely noticed.
Gently, as if she might break him, she took his hand in hers — and froze. Instead of the usual warmth, she was met with coldness, and her heart clenched painfully. For the first time, the reality of what had happened truly hit her.
Arlo was hurt. He won't be there kissing her good night. Wouldn't greet her tomorrow morning with a soft smile. He didn't even know she was here.
A single tear ran over her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. She didn't want to cry now. Not when everyone could see her.
She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there like that — warming his cold hand between hers, whilst she watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest. But at some point, a small hand settled on her shoulder and, taken by surprise, she looked up into Sam’s green eyes.
"Looks like our stubborn captain won't be taken down any time soon." Sam gave her an encouraging wink before saying goodbye. She wanted to find Gale and tell him what had happened.
Shortly after Sam had left, Remi joined her. He was wearing nothing but a T-shirt, his right arm resting in a sling. A thick bandage was wrapped around his elbow, and Elenya realised with a pang of guilt that she had momentarily forgotten about his injury.
But she was glad that he had kept his promise.
"Hey, how's your elbow?"
"Oh, thankfully nothing’s broken. According to Dr. Xu, it’s just a minor hairline fracture, which will hopefully heal quickly. How are you holding up?" Remi pulled up a second chair while she thought about his question.
How could she describe the emotional chaos she was feeling?
"I… I don't know." For a moment she stared at Arlo's hand before she turned her gaze back to Remi. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"Well, actually, we didn’t come across anything out of the ordinary at first. Just tunnel worms and the odd mutant. The tunnel you found is quite long, but there aren’t any other branches. We’d been going for a while before we came across a larger cave…"
Remi fixed Arlo with a heavy gaze; once again, there was that mixture of emotions in his eyes that Elenya couldn’t quite make sense of.
"There was a Rock-On robot in the cave. Like the one we fought when the tunnel collapsed. You remember, don’t you?"
Elenya nodded. She didn’t even have to think about it. Even two years later, she could still remember the panic. When no one knew whether Arlo and the others were buried under all those stones.
Back then it had taken four of them to bring down the robot. And now only the two of them had been there to fight it?
"Actually, we wanted to fall back. Get reinforcements. We now know how to defeat the AI, but we didn’t want to take any risks. Unfortunately, it spotted us before we could…"
Remi’s expression told her that he was back there again. In the cave, with the robot.
"I don’t know how, but we were getting the better of it. We’d already exposed its energy core when it happened. A well-aimed blow to my elbow made me drop my hammer, and then suddenly he was there. Arlo…"
Devastated, Remi buried his face in his left hand, his next words reaching her in a muffled whisper. “I’m so sorry, Elenya. I should have been more careful. The robot’s claw hit him right in the side and I…”
A different kind of sadness washed over Elenya.
"Oh, Remi…" She took one hand away from Arlo and placed it comfortingly on Remi’s shoulder. "It’s not your fault. What were you supposed to do? You were injured. And you know what Arlo’s like."
Slowly, Remi lifted his head, his reddened eyes falling on her. Her heart sank. She had never seen the gentle man so distraught.
“I’m not angry with you. On the contrary. You brought Arlo back. He’s safe and will be back on his feet.” She spoke these words to comfort Remi, but also to herself.
Her heart wasn’t quite ready to believe it yet, but it seemed to help Remi. Some of the tension eased from his face and he looked back at Arlo thoughtfully.
“Thank you, Elenya. Your big heart never ceases to surprise me.”
Instead of replying, Elenya gave his shoulder a brief squeeze before gently taking Arlo’s hand in hers once more.
They sat there quietly side by side for a while, until Remi said goodbye with a wide yawn. It was already late, and he too needed all the rest he could get. Elenya remained alone at Arlo’s side, while Dr. Xu quietly tidied up the clinic in the background.
Shortly before midnight, he came back to the bedside to check on Arlo one last time. Satisfied with the results, he too retired to the small adjoining room that the two doctors could use to rest.
To her relief, he didn’t ask her to go home.
With a soft click, the door closed behind Dr. Xu and suddenly Elenya was all alone with Arlo. The clinic lay silent around her, only the monotonous beeping of the heart monitor filling the room. She had stopped consciously noticing it, but now, in the silence of the night, it was all she could hear.
It was proof that Arlo was still alive, yet at the same time the sound weighed heavily on her. He shouldn’t have to be hooked up to a machine like that.
The whole situation was closing in on her. Without a distraction, she could no longer hold back her tears, and with a quiet sob, she gave in to her despair.
She buried her face in her arms beside his hand and let her tears flow freely.
Time slipped by until she suddenly felt something tickling her left cheek. It took a moment for her to notice it, but the pressure grew stronger and stronger, and the tickling turned into a gentle caress.
Then a voice she hadn’t expected suddenly spoke up. “Hey, why are you crying?”
It was quiet and rough, but she would have recognised that voice anywhere. Her head shot up, a sharp throb of pain following the movement, and her gaze darted up to Arlo’s face.
Half-open, warm blue eyes met hers, and it took her brain a moment to process what she was seeing. Arlo had spoken. And he was looking at her. His eyes looked glassy, yet his gaze was gentle, and a small smile played on his lips.
"Arlo…" Her voice broke on that single word and, overcome by a fresh wave of emotion, she threw herself as gently as she could against his chest, while new sobs shook her shoulders.
Arlo’s right arm wrapped weakly around her back, holding her close as his gentle voice reached her ear. "Shh, it’s all right. I’m here."
But instead of calming her down, those words only made her cry even more. For what felt like an eternity, she had thought she might never hear that voice again.
Another broken "Arlo…" escaped her lips. Her tears soaked through his light hospital gown, while his thumb traced gentle circles on her back.
"I’m here, sweetheart. I’ve got you."
It took her a long time to get her emotions under control. But when her tears had finally dried up, she pulled away from his chest. The arm that had been resting gently on her back fell limply back onto the bed. Quickly, Elenya took Arlo’s hand in hers again and squeezed it gently.
Arlo returned the squeeze and smiled at her tiredly. With lips still trembling, she returned his smile.
"How are you feeling? Are you in pain?" Seeking more contact, she placed her right hand on his cheek and stroked gently beneath his eye. Closing his eyes, Arlo leaned into the touch while he thought about her question.
"Quite well, actually. I suppose Dr Xu gave me the good stuff." He tried to give her a crooked smile, but she could see how much energy it was costing him. Worried, she leaned over him and gave him a gentle kiss on his bandaged forehead.
"You should try to get some more sleep. You need to rest."
She could see the protest rising in his half-open eyes, so she added, "Please. For me."
As expected, the words had the desired effect. He sighed and his expression softened.
"I’ll try. But only if you go home and get some rest too. I’ll still be here tomorrow."
Blushing, she looked down at their clasped hands. She had actually intended to stay awake all night by his side, but as always, he knew her too well.
"I’ll give it a try." This time, a crooked smile played on her lips, and her reply was met with a faint chuckle. The familiar sound settled something inside her.
With a heavy heart, she said goodbye to Arlo and pulled her winter clothes back on. Just as she was about to leave, Arlo’s voice rang out once more.
“Remi… is he okay?” His eyes didn’t open, but the worry was etched on his face. Reassuringly, she stroked his hair and pressed a long kiss against his temple.
"Don’t worry. He’s fine. Sleep well, my love." With one last glance back, which told her that Arlo had already fallen asleep again, she left the clinic.
~~~~~~
Once outside, she took a deep breath. The crisp, cold winter air helped ease the headache brought on by her tears and calm her racing thoughts. Even so, she found it hard to walk away from the clinic — from Arlo.
Her gaze fell on the Civil Corps headquarters next to her. Suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion, an idea crept into her mind.
Maybe she could lie down in Arlo’s bed for the night? He certainly wouldn’t mind.
The longer she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. Having made up her mind, she walked purposefully towards the large orange door and opened it quietly. She didn’t want to wake Remi.
She tiptoed just as quietly to Arlo’s room. With a soft click, the door closed behind her and for a moment she leaned against it. In the dim moonlight, she could make out the room in front of her, along with the usual chaos that filled it.
Arlo was very tidy when it came to his work, but in the privacy of his room he wasn’t so strict. His clothes, in particular, had a tendency to end up strewn everywhere. With a gentle smile, she noticed the single sock hanging over the end of his bed and his trainers lying carelessly in one of the corners.
Then her gaze fell on the chair standing by the small table. Hanging over the backrest was a sweater that looked very familiar to her. Even in the dim light, she could make out its grey colour, and without realising it, she moved closer to the chair. Almost automatically, she reached for the garment and buried her fingers in the soft fabric.
It was indeed her favourite sweater, the one she liked to steal from him from time to time.
Without giving it much thought, she took it over to the bed. She shed all her uncomfortable clothes and slipped the sweater on. Instantly, she was enveloped in its warmth and Arlo’s soothing scent filled her senses. With a deep sigh, she buried her nose in the collar. The scent brought her comfort, yet at the same time filled her with heaviness.
More than anything, she wished Arlo were here with her.
Even so, she hoped that the familiarity would help her fall asleep. With a big yawn, she snuggled into Arlo’s bed, where she was enveloped even more by his scent. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep; she was simply too exhausted.
Unfortunately, sleep offered little comfort.
Images of Arlo filled her dreams. Arlo being knocked down. Hordes of robots overwhelming him. Arlo lying on the ground, covered in blood. All she could do was watch helplessly. She couldn’t move; she couldn’t help him.
When his heart stopped beating, she woke with a scream.
Breathing heavily, she sat up in bed, while outside the first rays of sunlight were just beginning to appear. Tears ran down her cheeks and, with a sob, she buried her face in her hands.
It was only a dream. Just a dream. Arlo was fine.
But she found it hard to calm down. She had to see him.
As quickly as she could, she pulled on her trousers and slipped into her winter jacket and boots. She kept Arlo’s sweater on. She couldn’t bear to part with it.
She left headquarters at a brisk pace and walked over to the clinic. Her heart was still racing, and her hands wouldn't stop trembling.
But when she entered the clinic, the relief she'd hoped for never came. Instead of finding Arlo sleeping peacefully, she was met with chaos.
Dr. Xu and Phyllis stood at his bedside, speaking in low, worried voices while Dr. Xu examined the wound in Arlo's side.
What had happened?
~~~~~~
Almost an hour passed before Elenya was finally able to sit down by Arlo’s side. Despite being carefully cleaned, his wound had become infected overnight and a high fever had taken hold of his body. Dr. Xu had struggled to bring Arlo’s temperature down, but at least he was no longer in a critical condition.
The next few days blurred into a single, long moment of uncertainty.
She spent every waking minute by his side. She cooled his hot forehead with a cold cloth, held his feverish hand and told him stories from her childhood. Sometimes his eyes opened, but the familiar blue of his eyes was clouded, and he never seemed to recognise what was happening around him. The fever held him captive.
These moments were the worst for Elenya. She had never seen Arlo like this before, and his glazed stare frightened her. What if he couldn’t overcome the fever?
The worry and stress weighed on her stomach like a stone. Sam and Remi regularly tried to get her to eat something, but she could barely keep anything down. Even water made her feel sick.
She knew her friends were worried about her. Every evening they forced her to leave Arlo’s side and get at least a few hours’ sleep.
But sleep... sleep was almost worse than being awake.
Every night she would lie down in Arlo’s room, grateful that Ack had offered to look after the workshop and the animals for the next few days. But even with Arlo’s comforting scent, the nightmares returned every night.
She could barely sleep more than a few hours a night before waking up screaming again. Only the feel of Arlo's hand in hers could chase the images away.
Three days had now passed since the fever had taken hold of Arlo. According to Dr. Xu, the infection had finally subsided and he was confident that the fever would soon break as well. Elenya hoped he was right.
She could feel the last few days catching up with her. Her eyes were burning, her hands wouldn’t stop trembling, and she no longer knew where the nausea was coming from.
It was midday when Remi arrived at the clinic and came to stand by her side. She knew why he was there. Over the last few days, he had been even more persistent than Sam about getting her to eat and rest. But try as she might, she just couldn’t manage it.
A large hand rested on her shoulder and wearily she looked up.
“Hey, how’s he doing today?” Remi’s gaze rested on Arlo with concern and, with a sigh, Elenya followed his gaze.
“Better. According to Dr. Xu, the infection has finally subsided. He suspects the fever should break soon too.”
“That’s good to hear.” A brief, heavy silence fell. “Can I perhaps persuade you to have lunch with me, then?” She felt his hopeful gaze upon her.
A struggle raged within her. The desire not to leave Arlo fought against every aching part of her that was begging for food and sleep.
For a moment, she let her gaze wander over Arlo. His face, which had been so pale over the last few days, had regained a little colour. His features were relaxed, and she had the impression that his breathing had deepened too.
He was getting better. Surely she could leave him alone for a moment?
She also couldn't help thinking about how disappointed he would be if he woke up and found out she hadn't been taking care of herself. She didn’t want to do that to him.
Having finally made up her mind, she said aloud: “Okay. I… I’ll come with you.”
The relief on Remi’s face was immediate. With one last gentle squeeze, Elenya released her hand from Arlo’s and rose from the chair. Remi made way for her so she could walk ahead of him.
But she didn’t get very far. After just two steps, the room began to spin. Her knees buckled before she even realised what was happening. A loud roaring filled her ears and dark spots crept into her vision.
She only vaguely felt an arm trying to catch her and someone calling her name in horror. Even before her head touched the floor, everything went black.
~*~*~*~*~*~
A faint beeping reached Arlo’s ears.
The rhythm sounded familiar to him.
Slowly, as if his brain had to relearn how to function, consciousness returned. With it came a dull throbbing in his side and a heavy ache in his limbs.
The clinic. He was in the clinic.
A memory surfaced in his mind. Elenya, sitting beside him, her head buried in the mattress, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. His heart clenched painfully at the image.
Something told him that this had been more than just a few hours ago.
With difficulty, he managed to open his heavy eyelids. He got blinded by bright light, but he resisted the urge to close his eyes again. He had to know what had happened.
As soon as he could finally make out anything, he was surprised to see Remi first, pacing restlessly at the foot of his bed. His green hair was completely tousled, and Arlo noticed with concern that his right arm was resting in a sling.
Another memory surfaced in Arlo’s mind. Remi dropping his hammer with a cry of pain after the robot struck his elbow. And himself, pushing Remi out of the way just as the robot swung in for a fatal blow.
What happened after that, he couldn’t say. The next memory was of Elenya. How much time had passed?
He was just about to try to say Remi’s name when the latter’s gaze wandered absently over him. For a brief moment, he kept walking, until he suddenly stopped and his head snapped back towards him.
With his eyes wide open, Remi stared at him for a moment, until a disbelieving "Arlo!" escaped his lips.
He quickly crossed the few steps to the bed, his eyes full of relief.
"You’re awake! How are you?"
Instead of an answer, only a hoarse croak escaped Arlo's lips. It quickly turned into a coughing fit, sending a sharp pain shooting through his left side.
With a groan, he instinctively tried to roll onto his side, but a hand on his shoulder held him back.
“Wait! Don’t move. Here, have a sip of water.” The hand slipped from his shoulder and, moments later, held a glass to his lips instead.
Gratefully, Arlo drank the wonderfully cold water and the coughing soon subsided. Breathing heavily, he lay still for a moment until the pain receded back into a dull throbbing. Gratefully, he turned to Remi, who was just placing the glass back on the side table.
"Thanks. What… what happened?" His voice was still completely hoarse and raspy, but at least he didn’t have to cough anymore.
“What do you remember?”
“We… we were in Ingall’s Mine?” Remi nodded at his questioning look. “There was one of those robots. It had spotted us before we could retreat. You were hit and I… I…” Arlo wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to say.
He just reacted?
“You saved my life, Arlo, and put your own at risk in the process.” Remi’s gaze rested heavily and guiltily on Arlo’s left side.
Unconsciously, Arlo followed his gaze. Of course, he couldn’t see anything through the blanket, and the pain didn’t tell him how badly he’d actually been hit. Had it really been that close?
"What exactly happened? And how… how long was I out?" Unsure whether he even wanted to know the answer, he looked back up at Remi.
"The robot caught you in the side. Fortunately, no vital organs were damaged, but you lost a lot of blood. But… that very night your wound became infected and you developed a high fever. It’s now been almost four days."
It took Arlo’s sluggish mind a moment before he realised the full implications of Remi’s words.
Four days! He’d lost a whole four days!
Oh God, what was with Elenya? How worried must she have been? Where was she?
And then it hit him like a blow.
Their wedding! He’d missed their wedding!
A rush of adrenaline shot through his body and, startled, he sat up. “Elenya! Where is she? Our wedding! She…”
Breathing heavily, he looked around the clinic, but Remi was standing right in front of him, trying to gently but firmly push him back into bed. Arlo tried to resist, but even with the adrenaline, he didn’t have the strength to do so.
Desperately, Arlo looked up at Remi after he had fallen back onto the pillows, exhausted. “Remi, where’s Elenya? Is she all right?”
But instead of an answer, Remi’s gaze filled with a mixture of worry and guilt. “I’m so sorry, Arlo. I… I should have looked after her better. I tried, but she…”
Panic welled up inside Arlo. What had happened to Elenya? Was she hurt?
He tried to sit up again to look for her, but his body wouldn’t obey him. His trembling arms buckled under his weight, and this time a dull pain shot through his head.
“Remi, what's wrong with Elenya?” he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
Remi didn’t answer. His expression darkened as he slowly folded up the room divider.
And then Arlo could finally see the rest of the clinic.
Dr. Xu stood by the second hospital bed, his gaze focused as he inserted an IV into the crook of a patient’s arm. With the bed positioned so that the headboard faced him, he couldn’t make out much, but he would recognize that black hair sticking out over the edge of the bed anywhere.
Elenya…
“I’m so sorry, Arlo. I really did try to get her to eat and drink. But she couldn’t keep anything down because she was so worried about you. She’s been sleeping in your room, and I could hear her waking up screaming every night…”
Remi ran a hand through his already messy hair in frustration. “Earlier, just before you woke up, she’d finally agreed to have lunch with me, but before we’d even reached the door, she suddenly collapsed right in front of me…”
For a long moment, Arlo said nothing at all. His gaze was fixed on Elenya as Remi’s words slowly sank in.
She hadn’t eaten. She hadn’t slept. She’d been so worried about him that at some point her own body simply couldn’t take it any more.
Because of him.
A familiar feeling welled up inside him – guilt, heavy and oppressive. He swallowed hard.
“How is she?” His voice came out quieter than he’d intended.
Instead of Remi’s voice, it was suddenly Dr. Xu who spoke, his focus shifting from Elenya to Arlo. “Her body is completely exhausted and dehydrated. But with plenty of rest and the fluids I’m administering intravenously, she should be back on her feet soon.”
With that, he finally turned away from Elenya and walked over to Arlo’s bedside.
“I’m glad you’re awake. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?” Dr. Xu’s dark eyes scanned Arlo with concern, but his thoughts were still fixed on Elenya.
His heart ached at the thought of what she must have been through over the last few days. She had been suffering, and he hadn’t been there — he had been the reason for it.
"Arlo?" Dr. Xu stepped into his line of sight, blocking his view of Elenya. That finally snapped him out of his thoughts, and tired, he looked up at the doctor.
It took him a moment before the questions returned. “No, I…” His voice failed him. A wave of exhaustion crashed over him, the excitement finally catching up to his weakened body.
Arlo tried to fight it, but his eyes closed on their own. His limbs felt heavy as lead, and moments later the world slipped back into darkness.
~~~~~~
The next time Arlo woke up, the soft beeping had stopped. Instead, the clinic lay in complete silence. He could only hear the faint rustling of paper, but it was muffled, as if coming from behind a door.
He opened his eyes with difficulty and was greeted by the dim light of the clinic. A glance outside told him that it was already dark.
He must have been asleep for a few more hours.
His gaze darted around the room and he was surprised to find that the second hospital bed had been moved so that Elenya was now lying next to him, not far away. At last he could see her fully.
She was lying on her back, a thick blanket spread over her. The IV in her left arm was gone; only a plaster still hinted that a needle had been there.
Her black hair was tied back in a loose plait, giving him a clear view of her face. And what he saw stabbed at his heart once more.
Deep shadows lay beneath her eyes; her cheeks were pale and looked sunken. Even her lips had lost their rosy hue. She looked terribly fragile, and he simply wanted to take her in his arms, protect her from everything bad.
But he couldn’t. A dull ache in his side warned him not to even try to sit up. It was going to be a frustrating few weeks.
He watched Elenya silently, calming his thoughts with the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. He didn’t know how much time had passed when suddenly a soft murmur came from her direction.
Holding his breath, Arlo watched as first her fingers twitched slightly, before her eyelids began to flutter. He could see the confusion on her face as she looked up at the clinic ceiling, but he didn’t want to startle her by speaking.
Slowly, she freed herself from the grip of her exhausted sleep and her eyes scanned the room. Twice her eyes passed over him, not seeing that he was looking back.
It wasn’t until the third time that she suddenly paused, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Arlo!” she cried hoarsely, staring at him with her mouth agape.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Arlo smiled gently at her, his voice no less hoarse than hers.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she hurriedly tried to get out of bed. But her body was still exhausted. Before she was even fully upright, she sank back onto the mattress with a groan, and Arlo needed all his willpower not to get up and help her.
“Slowly, sweetheart. I’m here. Take your time.” He watched with concern as her eyes squeezed shut, her hands tightening in the blanket. She was probably dizzy.
To his relief, she listened to him, and on the second attempt she got up much more slowly. Taking cautious steps, she crossed the few steps between them and threw herself carefully into his arms.
Instantly, he wrapped his arms around her back as quiet sobs shook her shoulders.
“Shh, I’ve got you. I’m here. It’s going to be okay.” He gently stroked her head, tears welling up in his own eyes. It broke his heart to hear his beloved Elenya sobbing so desperately.
“Arlo… I… I was so scared.” Her voice broke with almost every word.
“I know, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. But everything will be alright.” As best he could, he tightened his grip around her, even though his muscles wouldn’t obey him. He never wanted to let her go again.
Elenya cried for a long time before she was finally able to calm down. Arlo didn’t let go of her for a moment, murmuring soothing words to her. When the last tear had finally dried, she slowly pulled away from him and sank down, exhausted, onto the chair beside the bed.
Trembling, she placed her hand in his, and Arlo was only too happy to take it. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, grateful that they still had the chance to do so.
She was the first to break the silence. “How are you? How long have you been awake? Are you in any pain?” She looked at him with concern, the soft green of her eyes highlighted by her reddened eyelids.
Arlo squeezed her hand reassuringly and smiled gently at her. “I’m all right. I can’t feel much. But how are you? I was awake earlier, and a very shaken Remi told me what happened.”
Elenya’s gaze fell on their clasped hands and a faint blush rose to her pale cheeks. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“Hey.” He waited patiently until she looked at him. His gaze was gentle, but serious. “You don’t need to apologise. But you gave me — and especially Remi — quite a fright. I’m sorry you had to suffer so much because of me.”
The silence between them hung heavy as his feelings of guilt resurfaced. How on earth could he make up for everything? He’d missed their wedding!
“Oh, Arlo.” She gently squeezed his hand. “There’s nothing to apologise for. I know what you’re like, and I love you just the same. You saved Remi’s life. Of course I was worried — but I would never blame you for this.”
“I’m still so sorry.” He swallowed hard. “I… I even missed our wedding.”
She looked at him in confusion, which confused him too.
Had she forgotten about the wedding?
Suddenly, her eyes flew wide and she brought a hand to her mouth. "Oh God… the wedding… I didn’t even think about it…"
Instead of reassuring him, her words only deepened Arlo’s guilt. Was she so worried about him that she had even forgotten their wedding? It had been all she had thought about for weeks. He, too, had found it almost impossible to contain his anticipation over the last few weeks.
He didn’t know what his face showed; he was too exhausted to control his expression. But whatever Elenya saw made her stand up and lean over him.
Gently, she placed her small hand on his cheek and he instantly nestled into the warm touch. She looked down at him with love, and he was captivated by her gaze.
“Arlo. My love. I love you, okay? No missed wedding will change that. We can have it anytime. The only thing that matters is that we’re both here. Please don’t blame yourself.”
Her lips pressed warmly against his, and he was only too happy to return the gentle kiss. It took all his strength, but he managed to bury his right hand in her hair. Holding her close.
Their kiss deepened, full of all the emotions of the past hours and days. The fear, worry, despair and relief discharged themselves in that moment, until only love remained.
When they were out of breath, Elenya pulled back slightly, but didn’t move away. Instead, she gently rested her forehead against his, her eyes closed with exhaustion. He, too, could feel his body crying out for sleep.
Trembling, he moved his right hand from her hair to her cheek and gently stroked the deep circles under her eyes. “You’re exhausted.”
“I’m fine. I… I just need a moment.” Her words brushed softly and warmly against his lips as her body leaned more and more against him. She was definitely not fine.
“Come on, lie down with me. I think we both need a bit of sleep.”
As best he could, he slid over to one side, ignoring the pain in his left side. Without much protest, Elenya climbed onto the bed beside him. Her head found its usual place on his shoulder and her leg entwined with his.
With his last ounce of strength, he wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her as close to him as he could. Something inside him found peace. His little builder was safe in his arms, and tonight he would finally be able to protect her from her nightmares.
“Sleep well, sweetheart. I love you.”
There was no reply; exhaustion had already carried her off to the land of dreams. Gently, he pressed a final kiss to her head and, burying his nose in her hair, he followed her into the restful darkness.
Welcome back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo! We have another Bingo done!
Fandom: My time at Portia
Pairing: Arlo x Female Builder
Summary: Elenya was so excited! Today she would be going on her first real date with Arlo. Surely nothing could go wrong, right?
Word count: 6,217
Prompt: Motion Sickness
Author's note: It's been a few months again since the last time...
Writers Block and general brain fog kept me from writing at all. But, after scrapping my original idea (again), the words started to flow again.
The dear @JanessaWolfSoul was willing to beta-read this one again, so we can thank her for an error free reading!
You do may need to contact your dentist after reading this, though…
Warnings: Panic attack, Mentions of being sick, no vomiting though
Read on AO3: Link
Up in the Air
Elenya was excited. For an hour now, she had been standing in front of her worktable, unable to work on her commission. Her thoughts kept wandering, and the dining table for Albert just wouldn't come along.
She just wanted to start anew for the umpteenth time, when her gaze fell on the clock she had hung up on her tool wall.
3:30 pm! She only had half an hour left!
Quickly, she dropped everything and rushed into her house. Arlo would be here soon, and she had to at least get cleaned up.
For the first time, they would go on a real date today!
They had been together for almost two months now. But with both of them so busy with work, they were only able to enjoy lunch or dinner together so far.
But today, they wanted to really take some time for each other.
Arlo had planned the first part of their date, and afterwards, Elenya would cook them dinner.
She had the small hope that he would spend the night at hers afterwards. Just the thought of it made her blush, and it was also the reason she was so distracted all day.
And now, because of the distraction, she had completely lost track of time!
She quickly got rid of her warm working clothes and hurried into her bathroom. While in there, she tried to change her ponytail into an acceptable hairstyle as quickly as she could. After quickly washing her face, she found herself back in her bedroom.
Thankfully, she had already decided what she wanted to wear this morning, so all she had to do was slip into her dark jeans and warm green sweater.
She didn't know what Arlo had planned, but he had told her to dress warmly.
That at least told her that they would be outside. The new year had just started, and Portia was lying beneath a white, sparkling layer of snow.
Elenya loved the sight. Barnarock didn't get much snow in winter, so it was her first time experiencing the full magic it had to offer.
Another glance at the clock told her that she was almost too late. She quickly put on her warm boots and wrapped herself in her scarf. A winter hat and coat completed her warm outfit, and she was ready to leave the house.
As she stepped back into her front yard, her eyes immediately fell upon Arlo's familiar red hair as he closed the garden gate behind him.
Her heart leapt with joy at the sight, and smiling, she hurried over to him. She reached him just as he was turning around, and she couldn't hold herself back. Without any warning, she jumped into his arms.
A surprised laugh escaped Arlo, but he caught her without hesitation, twirling her around in the process.
"Whoa! Hey sweetheart. That's quite the greeting!" Carefully, he set her down on the ground, letting his hands rest on her waist.
"Hey, Arlo. Sorry, I couldn't hold myself back. I'm just really looking forward to our date." Feeling a little embarrassed now, she looked up at him with a slight blush. And the look he gave her back only deepened the red on her cheeks and let her heart race.
Soft and full of tenderness, he smiled down at her, his blue eyes warm and full of love. A look that made her knees weak.
"There's nothing to apologise for. You can greet me like this more often - I will always catch you." His smile turned playful, then he leaned down to her and caught her lips in a soft kiss.
Elenya returned the kiss eagerly. Enjoyed the contrast between his cold lips and her still warm ones.
Arlo kept the kiss short, but didn't move away too far. The visible mist of his breath mingled with hers, and she lost herself in his eyes.
The glittering snow made his blue eyes shine even brighter than usual, and she found herself captivated. He had the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that these eyes looked at her with such love.
A soft chuckle pulled her out of her stupor, and confused, she finally noticed the rest of his face.
Amused, he was looking at her and raised his right hand towards her face.
"Here, you got something…" Carefully, he brushed his thumb over her cheek, and instinctively, Elenya leaned into the touch.
But then she realised that he was wiping a spot of oil from her face, and the heat rushed back to her cheeks.
Damn it, how had she missed that? Elenya thought that she had cleaned her face!
Clearing her throat to cover her embarrassment, she asked instead, “What do you have planned for us?”
"I'm not telling you that yet. You will probably guess it soon enough, but for now, it's my little secret."
"Aww, come on, not even a hint?" With big green eyes, she looked up at him, but Arlo shook his head and laughed.
"Nope. Trust me, you will love it." With a warm smile, he held his hand out towards her. "But we should get going. Otherwise, we will miss the best part."
Elenya placed her hand in his, enjoying the way his big hand engulfed hers. At his words, she couldn't hold back a small but sincere comment, "I always do."
As an answer, Arlo pressed her hand softly. To her delight, she could see a soft red hue spreading over his cheeks, and his chest swelled with pride. Her heart softened at the sight, and she couldn't hold back a tender smile.
If someone had told her a year ago that Arlo had this soft side, she wouldn't have believed them. She was really happy that he opened up to her and didn't hide behind his "Captain" persona.
Arlo led her out of her yard towards Spacer, who was patiently waiting beside the fence. She hadn't noticed his trusty horse until now, but it seemed like their date started with a ride.
"Can I help you up?" Still blushing slightly, Arlo looked down at her.
She hesitated a second. Normally, she preferred to mount a horse by herself. But judging by the look he gave her, it would make him happy if she let him help her. The bright smile he gave her after she nodded confirmed her assumption.
Elenya moved closer to Spacer, and Arlo positioned himself beside her. With one hand on the saddle, she placed her foot in the stirrup while Arlo's hands gently encircled her waist.
"Ready?" His gentle voice asked her. At her nod, he lifted her up into the saddle, making it look as if she weighed nothing.
She couldn't hold back a small giggle as she swung herself into the saddle. It wasn't always easy for her to accept help. But Arlo made it a lot easier. She felt a bit like a princess being worshipped by her knight.
She was on cloud nine with him.
Once she was seated securely, she slid forward slightly to make room for Arlo. With one fluid motion, he swung himself into the saddle behind her, his chest pressed firmly against her back. One hand reached for the reins while his arm gently and protectively wrapped itself around her waist.
With a happy sigh, Elenya snuggled against his chest, and the arm around her waist tightened to keep her secured in the saddle.
“Are you sitting comfortably?” Arlo asked her quietly.
“Mm, it's perfect.” His legs pressed warmly against hers, and her back slowly warmed up despite the thick jackets they were wearing. She was surrounded by his wonderful scent, and the nervousness that had kept her on edge all day finally fell away.
It didn't matter what would happen today. Arlo was with her, and that was the best feeling ever.
With a gentle nudge to Spacer's side, they set off at a leisurely pace.
They left their home behind and followed the path south toward the harbour. Elenya didn't know what Arlo had planned yet. But if she could believe his words, she would find out soon enough.
While they passed Sophie's fields, Elenya couldn't help but admire the glittering beauty that Portia was in winter. The snow lay over the fields like a soft blanket, everything felt quieter, and the air smelled clean.
"How has your day been, Sweetheart?" Arlo's gentle question snapped her out of her reverie.
As best as she could, she turned around to get a glimpse of his face. Softly, he looked down at her, a warm smile on his lips. She returned his smile before turning back around and snuggling up against his chest again.
"Pretty good. I've worked on a dining table for Albert, but I didn't really get far. I was…" She hesitated. Unsure if she wanted to tell the truth.
Arlo wouldn't laugh at her, would he?
With red cheeks and an embarrassed voice, she continued, “I... was a little nervous about today.”
Arlo did laugh at her words, but it was a soft, warm chuckle, filling her with warmth. That was her absolute favourite sound.
"Good to know that I wasn't the only one. My stack of paperwork didn't really get smaller today."
Surprised, she turned around again. He was also nervous? She hadn't expected that. Knowing he'd been just as eager made her smile.
Knowing that they were both on the same page, they fell into pleasant conversation. Spacer obediently followed the path until they passed McDonald's pastures and suddenly turned right.
It took her another moment, but then Elenya finally knew where Arlo was taking her.
“Oh, you've planned a hot air balloon ride?” Her eyes widened as she turned back to Arlo, who rewarded her with another wonderful laugh.
"I hope that's okay. I know you haven't had a chance to fly in it yet. I also know how much you love the snow, and I'm sure we will have a wonderful view."
“Oooh, Portia must look beautiful with the snow glistening in the evening sun! Thank you, Arlo.” She awkwardly gave him a quick kiss on the lips before turning back around. Her neck was about to cramp up.
Now excited again, she grabbed Arlo's hand that was still resting on her waist.
She had never been in a hot air balloon, but she was already looking forward to it. The sun would set soon, and she could hardly wait for the sparkling play of colours that she was sure to see.
"I'm glad you like my idea. I hope it's everything you're hoping for."
They spent the rest of the ride in pleasant but expectant silence. Enjoying each other's company as the snow-covered fields passed by.
When they arrived at the duck pond and the hot air balloon station, Arlo helped her down from the horse and led her over to the launch platform.
The hot air balloon was already waiting for them. The basket was hovering just above the platform, and Elenya once again realised how big they were compared to her.
The size had actually made it easier to build, but she wasn't quite sure how to get in. She should have installed a door.
Unsure, she looked over to Arlo. She had the feeling that if she tried it alone, she would just make a fool of herself. And that was even more embarrassing to her than asking for help.
Her gaze alone must have told Arlo what she needed from him. Without hesitation, he gently grasped her waist.
"Come on, I'll help you. Don't want you to hurt yourself."
With an ease that demonstrated his strength, he lifted her over the edge. With his help, she managed to not fall on her face or take a dip into the ice-cold pond.
Once again, a little giggle escaped her. Her face heated up and her heart beat a little faster than it should have.
Of course, she knew he was strong. He had already lifted her onto the horse so easily earlier. But he always did such things with such ease and naturalness, as if it required hardly any effort on his part. As if she were as light as a feather. Every time he did it, it completely threw her off balance.
A thought flashed through her mind about what else he might do with this strength — and she dismissed it just as quickly and decisively as it had come.
Her face must have been bright red, and this wasn't the place for such thoughts. She was on an innocent, romantic date with Arlo!
A moment later, he swung himself elegantly over the edge of the basket and came to stand in front of her
“Are you cold?” he asked her gently, his eyes fixed on her cheeks. The question sounded concerned, but she could see the hidden mischievous smile in his eyes.
He knew exactly what he was doing to her.
But she accepted his offered way out, grateful that he didn't ask her about her thoughts.
"Mh, a little bit…"
“Then come here.” He gently pulled her into his arms, and she happily snuggled up to him. Instantly, she was enveloped by his soothing scent, and all the tension drained from her body.
"Ready for our flight? If we start now, we should be able to experience the sunset and the rising moon."
Somewhat reluctantly, Elenya broke away from Arlo, but his words quickly rekindled her excitement. She could hardly wait for the view!
Arlo loosened the rope that kept the hot air balloon on the platform and started the autopilot.
No one really knew how it worked anymore, but Petra had been able to set four different routes. How she had managed it was a mystery to Elenya, but today she would finally experience one of the routes for the first time.
Slowly, the basket rose into the air. Full of anticipation, Elenya stepped up to the edge and looked out to the fields and ocean. She felt Arlo's warm presence beside her, and his arm wrapped around her waist.
They climbed higher and higher, and the world beneath them grew smaller and smaller.
Fascinated, Elenya looked down at the world below.
The sky slowly turned red and orange, the water sparkled in all colors, and the snow!
The snow looked magical, bathed in red, orange, and even a little purple. She had never seen anything so beautiful.
Portia from above was another world. The small houses, the snow-covered roofs, the sparkling ocean. It all looked like a painting.
Beaming, she turned to Arlo, who was already watching her with a soft gaze.
"And, do you like it, Elenya?"
"Yes! Thank you, Arlo. This is the best date ever." With her left hand, she pulled him down by his collar and pulled him into a deep kiss.
Arlo returned the kiss warmly and tenderly, but after a brief, sweet moment, Elenya pulled away from him again. As much as she loved his kisses, she didn't want to miss a moment of this beautiful view.
She turned back around, her gaze fixed on the glittering Portia. Arlo moved behind her and, once again, wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.
The wind picked up. At first, it was just a gentle breeze. Then it grew stronger, causing the basket to sway slightly back and forth.
Elenya pulled her jacket tighter around herself and instinctively snuggled closer to Arlo's warm chest.
“Are you cold?” he asked quietly, his arms tightening their hold.
“A little,” she murmured, enjoying his warmth as she continued to watch the changing landscape.
But with every gentle sway of the basket, something unpleasant began to stir in her stomach...
At first, she tried to ignore it. Surely it was just a touch of excitement. After all, she had never been so high up before!
But the longer the flight lasted, the stronger the queasy feeling in her stomach became. To make matters worse, she also felt slightly dizzy.
Mild panic rose within her.
She couldn't get sick now! It was such a beautiful evening; it would ruin everything.
She tried to focus on Arlo. His strong arms wrapped around her waist. His chest, that kept her back warm. His pleasant scent wafting gently into her nose.
But she couldn't escape her body.
Without realizing it, her whole body tensed up, and her breathing flattened. The panic inside her grew as her stomach turned.
The feeling that she might throw up always terrified her. And here, high up in the sky, trapped in the basket with Arlo right next to her, it was a thousand times worse.
The dizziness got worse, and her knees buckled beneath her. As if through a fog, she felt Arlo's arms tighten their grip on her, but the ringing in her ears prevented her from hearing his voice.
Elenya clung to his forearms, trembling. It was a desperate attempt to escape her feelings, but it didn't help. A quiet whimper escaped her as a new wave of nausea washed over her.
Please... please no..
She couldn't throw up!
The grip around her waist changed, and she was gently guided to the floor. Warm hands, now free of gloves, gently cupped her face. Her eyes met Arlo's in panic, his gaze full of concern.
His lips moved, but his voice didn't reach her through the ringing in her ears. She tried to shake her head, but that only made her dizziness worse, and she swayed to the side.
Instantly, Arlo's arms caught her in a tight hold, and she suddenly found herself between his legs, her side pressed tightly against his chest. With a sob, she turned further into his arms and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
The darkness that greeted her worsened her nausea. But her panic subsided slightly, and she could finally hear Arlo's voice.
Deep and gentle, yet full of concern, his words vibrated in his chest. “Shh, it's okay. I've got you. Please, talk to me. What happened?”
She knew she owed him an answer, but the only thing that left her lips was another sob, followed by a broken, “I'm sorry... I... I...”
Her breath caught in her throat. Shallow and frantic, she tried to pump air into her lungs. But a tightened band was wrapped around her chest in a phantom grip.
“Hey, hey. It's okay. There's nothing to apologize for. I'm here.” Lips pressed against her covered head in a gentle kiss before he continued, “Try to breathe calmly. Breathe in and out deeply. In and out.”
Unconsciously, she followed his words, and her previously panicked breathing adjusted to his. Cold oxygen filled her body, clearing the fog from her head.
Her stomach still rebelled, and she felt weak and shaky. But Arlo's strong, supportive presence pushed the panic back for the moment.
For a moment, she just sat there, listening to his soothing heartbeat and focusing on his steady breathing.
But her body would not let her rest. A new wave of nausea rolled through her stomach — stronger than before — and with a stifled sound, she abruptly pulled away from Arlo.
He tried to hold her back, unsure what was wrong, but she managed to break free. With effort, she pulled herself up by the edge of the basket. She hoped that looking outside would help her brain understand why her body was moving so strangely.
Her idea seemed to be the right one. As soon as she found a point she could focus on, the nausea subsided. It was lessened enough that she no longer felt like she was about to lose the contents of her stomach at any moment.
The only problem was that her panic attack and nausea were draining all her energy. Her legs and arms trembled under her weight, and her knees threatened to give out again.
But then Arlo was back at her side. He wrapped his right arm tightly around her waist, and relieved, she let herself fall against him.
She still hadn't told him what was wrong, but he seemed to sense what she needed anyway.
“What's wrong, sweetheart? Please tell me. Is it the height?" Confused and still full of concern, he looked down at her.
She had to swallow hard against her nausea before she could answer him. “No, I... I feel sick. The swaying... it...”
A soft, understanding sound escaped Arlo. The concern in his eyes deepened, but she couldn't watch his face much longer.
The brief moment she had looked away from the horizon and up at Arlo was enough to send a new wave of nausea through her stomach.
She quickly turned her gaze back to the horizon, but the nausea remained, and with it came a new wave of panic.
Her hands clenched around the edge of the basket she was still clutching. Before the panic could take the upper hand, she tried to give the second part of her answer, even though it was terribly embarrassing for her.
“I... I'm sorry... Whenever I feel nauseous... I always panic.” A quiet sob escaped her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She felt terrible. Her whole body was rebelling, her emotions were running wild, and she had ruined their entire date.
A warm hand settled on hers, and Arlo's forehead pressed gently against her temple. His breath brushed warmly across her cheek as his voice, heavy with guilt and concern, filled the air.
“Oh, sweetheart, no. You don't need to apologize. This isn't your fault.” His voice was rough with worry.
“I should have... if I had known...” He paused, pressing his forehead harder against her temple. “What can I do? How can I help you?”
Elenya didn't know. Despair made her tears spill over, and they warmly fell down her cold cheeks.
“I... I don't know...”
“Okay, that's okay.” His voice was still gentle, but there was a quiet determination in it. “Does it help to look outside?”
She nodded.
“That's good to know. I'm afraid we'll have to stay in the air for a while longer. I don't know what will happen if I cancel the autopilot...”
Elenya didn't know either, and she didn't want to find out.
Maybe the balloon would simply fly back to its starting point. But it could also be that it would immediately begin to land. And since they were currently directly above Portia, she didn't want to risk that.
“It's... It's okay. I... I'll be...” Another strong gust of wind came, causing the basket to sway. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes against the nausea, but that only caused her to lose her balance.
She fell against Arlo, who immediately adjusted his grip around her. He stood behind her again, his arms firmly wrapped around her waist, his chin resting gently on her head.
Gratefully, she leaned against his chest, closing her eyes for a brief moment against the exhaustion. She felt safe in his arms, even here, high above the ground, with her stomach rebelling.
They stood there like that for a moment. Elenya focused her gaze on a tree in the distance, while Arlo effortlessly supported almost her entire weight.
A soft whimper escaped her as the next wave of nausea washed over her, and she desperately clung to Arlo's arms.
“Did I ever tell you what happened to me last time I was in the sewage plant?” Arlo’s voice was deliberately calm, almost casual.
Elenya shook her head weakly, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
“So...” He began his story, his deep voice a calming anchor in the chaos of her emotions.
As he spoke, Elenya concentrated on his voice. She didn't catch everything he said, but the soothing hum of his words alone helped distract her from her nausea and dizziness.
Time passed. The sun disappeared behind the horizon, and the stars began to twinkle. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to enjoy the view as much as she would have liked.
Surrounded by Arlo's reassuring presence, she made it back to the hot air balloon station without throwing up. With a slight jolt, the basket touched down on the landing platform, and a deep sense of relief made her sink even further into his arms.
She finally dared to take her eyes off the horizon. She turned around in his arms and, with a trembling sigh, buried her face in his chest.
Arlo enveloped her with his body. Curled himself around her and protected her from the outside world.
“You did it, sweetheart. You were so brave.” Through her cap, she felt soft lips pressing a kiss on her head.
Supported by his strong arms, she slowly regained some energy. He didn't rush her, but gave her all the time in the world until she finally felt safe enough to leave the balloon.
With solid ground beneath her feet, her stomach gradually calmed down, leaving behind physical and mental exhaustion. But she couldn't stay here forever. So after a few minutes, she reluctantly broke free from Arlo's arms and looked up at him.
“Ready to go home?” Concerned, his eyes searched her face, and she could only imagine how pale she must look.
“Yes, please.”
“Well then, come on. I’ll help you out.” Once again, with an elegance that shouldn’t have been possible in thick winter clothing, Arlo climbed out of the basket and held out his arms to her.
Unsure of what he had planned, she stepped to the edge of the basket. She was about to try to lift her trembling leg over it when he grabbed her under the arms and lifted her up instead.
With a surprised cry, she quickly reached for his shoulders to keep her balance. Without effort, he lifted her upwards so that she only had to lift her feet over the edge.
Unfortunately, her legs didn't really want to obey her, and her second foot got caught on the edge. Arlo stumbled back a few steps but couldn't catch himself. Together with her, he fell into the soft snow.
A quiet “Uff” escaped him as she landed on top of him with her full weight, and she quickly tried to get off him. But her hand slipped in the snow, and she fell on him a second time.
“Oh no, I'm sorry!” Another attempt to get off him was prevented by two arms wrapping around her back.
Surprised, she looked down at Arlo, noticing that the tips of their noses were only an inch apart. His eyes gleamed, and a hearty laugh made his chest vibrate beneath her.
“Well, I pictured it a bit more elegant than that.”
His laughter released something in her, and she couldn’t suppress a soft giggle either. Her clumsiness would always lead her back into his arms.
Arlo's gaze softened when he saw her smile, and she gratefully closed the last few inches to kiss him.
Arlo smiled warmly into the kiss before gently ending it. “As nice as this is,” he murmured against her lips, “the snow is damn cold.”
That made her giggle again, and together they scrambled to their feet.
A cold gust of wind blew up, and shivering, Elenya snuggled up to Arlo. Exhaustion had given way to an unpleasant chill, and she longed for a warm fire.
Concerned, Arlo looked down at her. “I'd say we call a DeeDee. I don't know if your stomach can handle a ride on Spacer. Plus, it'll be faster. I don't want you to catch a cold.”
She smiled up at him gratefully. She knew he didn't like riding with the DeeDees and appreciated the gesture. He sent Spacer home and called a DeeDee.
It didn't take long for the vehicle to arrive, and relieved to finally be able to sit down, Elenya sank into the back seat. Arlo sat down next to her, and shortly thereafter, they were on their way to her home.
Seeking warmth, she snuggled back against him. His strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, and with a sigh, she buried her face in his neck. It was warm there and smelled wonderful.
They sat there silently for a while until Arlo gently raised his voice. “Do you think you can eat something?”
Reluctantly, Elenya lifted her head. She would have preferred to stay buried against his neck, but she couldn’t really answer him properly like that. “I think so. Now that we’re no longer in the air, my stomach has calmed down a bit.”
“That's good. How about I get us something to eat at Django's, and we make ourselves comfortable in front of your fireplace?”
“That sounds wonderful. I really wanted to cook for you, but I don't know if I can stay on my feet long enough...” She lowered her gaze, disappointed.
She thought of all the ingredients waiting for her in the refrigerator. Everything she needed to cook delicious Seafood Noodles. Arlo's only favorite meal that wasn't spicy, which meant she could eat it as well. Her stomach didn't handle spicy food well.
A warm hand lifted her lowered head, and gentle blue eyes met her green ones.
“Hey, it's okay. I'm sure there will be other opportunities for me to enjoy your delicious cooking. Unless, of course, you don't want to go on a date with me anymore after today.” He said the words jokingly, but shortly afterwards, his expression turned serious.
“I'm so sorry, sweetie. I never should have...” Elenya knew immediately what he was getting at and decided to interrupt him before he could even say it.
“Arlo, no. It's not your fault. I didn't know my stomach would react like this, so how could you have known?”
This time, Arlo lowered his gaze sadly. “Still... I never wanted you to suffer like this.”
“I know. Next time, we'll just choose something else, okay? I want to go on many more dates with you.” She felt her cheeks flush at her own words, but decided to ignore it.
Hopefully, she hadn't scared him off now.
But she didn't need to worry. Arlo looked up again, a warm glow shining in his eyes. “I'd love that. And I promise I'll try to avoid hot air balloon trips.”
With smiles on their lips, they ended the discussion with a gentle kiss.
“But back to dinner. What would you like?”
Elenya had to think for a moment. Her stomach felt better, but she still wasn't very hungry. But there was one thing she always enjoyed eating in winter.
"Maybe Pumpkin Steamed Rice?" She had to stifle a giggle when Arlo wrinkled his nose. The dish was slightly sweet, and she knew he couldn't stand sweet things.
But he quickly recovered and gave her a gentle smile. "Of course, whatever you want."
For the last few minutes of the ride, Elenya snuggled back up to Arlo, still feeling cold. She was glad when they finally arrived at the station in front of the city gate and only had to walk the few meters to her workshop.
Exhaustion was getting the better of her. Arlo even had to take the key from her because she was shaking so much she couldn't get it into the lock. As soon as she had taken off her winter clothes, she collapsed exhausted onto her couch.
Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself. Although it was warm in her house, she was still freezing.
Arlo, who had also taken off his jacket and boots, grabbed the fluffy blanket that was draped over the back of the couch and wrapped her in it. Concerned, he ran his hand through her hair once, and she leaned into his warm touch.
“I'll get the fire going in the fireplace and then get us something to eat, okay? It's time we warmed you up properly.”
But he paused for a moment and watched with a frown as she continued to shiver despite the blanket. Then he suddenly grabbed the hem of his gray sweater and pulled it over his head. Underneath, he was wearing only a thin shirt.
“Here, put this on. It's warm.” He held out the sweater to her.
“But then you'll be cold,” she protested weakly, but already reaching for it.
“I'll be fine. And I'll be right back anyway." A gentle smile graced his lips as he watched her pull on the sweater, which was several sizes too big for her.
Instantly, she was enveloped by the warm fabric, and Arlo's scent wafted into her nose. She instinctively buried her nose in it and took a deep breath. The familiar scent warmed her from within, and she looked up at Arlo with a grateful smile.
“Better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Arlo wrapped her in the blanket again and then lit a fire in the fireplace. With a quick, gentle kiss, he said goodbye to her and headed out to get them dinner.
While Arlo was away, Elenya dozed lightly. She was so exhausted and enveloped in his scent, her body relaxed completely.
Only when a rough hand gently stroked her cheek did she wake from her light sleep. Still a little confused, she opened her heavy eyelids and saw Arlo looking at her tenderly.
“Hey, sweetie. I've got our food.”
“Mm...” Her eyes threatened to close again. She was so tired.
“I know you're tired, but I'd prefer it if you ate something before you go to sleep. Do you think you can manage that?” Arlo's voice reached her, warm and full of care, and she leaned a little more into his hand, which was still gently caressing her cheek.
She would have preferred to keep sleeping, but she didn't want to disappoint him, so she nodded. With gentle hands, he helped her sit up. It never ceased to amaze her. These hands that wielded swords and won battles could be so infinitely tender.
Once she was seated comfortably, Arlo took the food out of a small basket and placed it on her coffee table. Unsurprisingly, she noticed with a smile that he had gotten Spaghetti with Hot Sauce for himself.
He quickly fetched cutlery from her kitchen and then sat down close to her. Gratefully, she leaned against his shoulder and, with a trembling hand, brought the first spoonful of warm rice to her lips. Or at least she tried to.
The spoon almost fell from her hand, but Arlo's warm hand suddenly appeared and gently enclosed hers. Embarrassed, she looked over at him apologetically.
“I'm sorry... I... I'm just so exhausted.” Even keeping her head up was consuming much more energy than she had available.
“There's nothing to apologize for. Your body has been through a lot today. Let me help you. Please.” Arlo's gaze showed pure love. No sign of impatience or discomfort.
That look gave Elenya the courage to accept his help. She felt terribly vulnerable at the thought of someone having to help her eat. But it was Arlo.
She felt safe with Arlo.
With his help, she ate spoonful after spoonful of her rice, while he also treated himself to a forkful of spaghetti in between.
But halfway through her portion, she couldn't eat any more. With her stomach now full, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. She snuggled up to Arlo, sated and happy, while he ate the rest of his noodles.
She had already dozed off lightly against his shoulder when he changed his position, holding her more tightly in his arms.
“I think it's time we get you to bed.” A warm kiss on her forehead accompanied his gentle words.
“Will you stay with me?” Her tiredness drowned out any shyness. Nothing sounded more tempting right now than falling asleep in his arms.
She didn’t really notice his brief hesitation, but she did notice his arms tightening around her. “Of course, if you'd like that?”
“Mm, that would be nice.” She didn't bother to open her eyes. It was nice and dark, and she felt warm and safe.
“Then I'll stay.” He kissed her forehead again, and then she suddenly found herself in the air.
Strong arms held her beneath her knees and back, and with a soft sigh, she rested her head on Arlo's shoulder. She barely felt his footsteps as he carried her to her bedroom. A soft, unhappy whine escaped her as he gently laid her down on the bed.
With a soft chuckle, he assured her, “I'll be right back.”
Rough hands carefully removed her uncomfortable jeans and socks, and then she was covered with a blanket.
One of the rough hands stroked her hair, then quiet footsteps disappeared from her bedroom. She heard the soft clattering of dishes and the hiss of the fire going out.
A short time later, the footsteps returned to the room, followed by the rustling of clothes, and then the bed next to her lowered.
She was gently pulled into Arlo's arms, and she happily snuggled up against his warm chest. Her bare legs intertwined with his, while one of his large hands drew gentle circles across her back.
She had never felt so safe.
“Sleep well, sweetheart. I love you.”
Elenya tried to reciprocate his words, but she was already drifting off into a restful sleep.
Welcome back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo! We have another Bingo done!
Fandom: My time at Portia
Pairing: Arlo x Female Builder
Summary: Elenya was so excited! Today she would be going on her first real date with Arlo. Surely nothing could go wrong, right?
Word count: 6,217
Prompt: Motion Sickness
Author's note: It's been a few months again since the last time...
Writers Block and general brain fog kept me from writing at all. But, after scrapping my original idea (again), the words started to flow again.
The dear @JanessaWolfSoul was willing to beta-read this one again, so we can thank her for an error free reading!
You do may need to contact your dentist after reading this, though…
Warnings: Panic attack, Mentions of being sick, no vomiting though
Read on AO3: Link
Up in the Air
Elenya was excited. For an hour now, she had been standing in front of her worktable, unable to work on her commission. Her thoughts kept wandering, and the dining table for Albert just wouldn't come along.
She just wanted to start anew for the umpteenth time, when her gaze fell on the clock she had hung up on her tool wall.
3:30 pm! She only had half an hour left!
Quickly, she dropped everything and rushed into her house. Arlo would be here soon, and she had to at least get cleaned up.
For the first time, they would go on a real date today!
They had been together for almost two months now. But with both of them so busy with work, they were only able to enjoy lunch or dinner together so far.
But today, they wanted to really take some time for each other.
Arlo had planned the first part of their date, and afterwards, Elenya would cook them dinner.
She had the small hope that he would spend the night at hers afterwards. Just the thought of it made her blush, and it was also the reason she was so distracted all day.
And now, because of the distraction, she had completely lost track of time!
She quickly got rid of her warm working clothes and hurried into her bathroom. While in there, she tried to change her ponytail into an acceptable hairstyle as quickly as she could. After quickly washing her face, she found herself back in her bedroom.
Thankfully, she had already decided what she wanted to wear this morning, so all she had to do was slip into her dark jeans and warm green sweater.
She didn't know what Arlo had planned, but he had told her to dress warmly.
That at least told her that they would be outside. The new year had just started, and Portia was lying beneath a white, sparkling layer of snow.
Elenya loved the sight. Barnarock didn't get much snow in winter, so it was her first time experiencing the full magic it had to offer.
Another glance at the clock told her that she was almost too late. She quickly put on her warm boots and wrapped herself in her scarf. A winter hat and coat completed her warm outfit, and she was ready to leave the house.
As she stepped back into her front yard, her eyes immediately fell upon Arlo's familiar red hair as he closed the garden gate behind him.
Her heart leapt with joy at the sight, and smiling, she hurried over to him. She reached him just as he was turning around, and she couldn't hold herself back. Without any warning, she jumped into his arms.
A surprised laugh escaped Arlo, but he caught her without hesitation, twirling her around in the process.
"Whoa! Hey sweetheart. That's quite the greeting!" Carefully, he set her down on the ground, letting his hands rest on her waist.
"Hey, Arlo. Sorry, I couldn't hold myself back. I'm just really looking forward to our date." Feeling a little embarrassed now, she looked up at him with a slight blush. And the look he gave her back only deepened the red on her cheeks and let her heart race.
Soft and full of tenderness, he smiled down at her, his blue eyes warm and full of love. A look that made her knees weak.
"There's nothing to apologise for. You can greet me like this more often - I will always catch you." His smile turned playful, then he leaned down to her and caught her lips in a soft kiss.
Elenya returned the kiss eagerly. Enjoyed the contrast between his cold lips and her still warm ones.
Arlo kept the kiss short, but didn't move away too far. The visible mist of his breath mingled with hers, and she lost herself in his eyes.
The glittering snow made his blue eyes shine even brighter than usual, and she found herself captivated. He had the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that these eyes looked at her with such love.
A soft chuckle pulled her out of her stupor, and confused, she finally noticed the rest of his face.
Amused, he was looking at her and raised his right hand towards her face.
"Here, you got something…" Carefully, he brushed his thumb over her cheek, and instinctively, Elenya leaned into the touch.
But then she realised that he was wiping a spot of oil from her face, and the heat rushed back to her cheeks.
Damn it, how had she missed that? Elenya thought that she had cleaned her face!
Clearing her throat to cover her embarrassment, she asked instead, “What do you have planned for us?”
"I'm not telling you that yet. You will probably guess it soon enough, but for now, it's my little secret."
"Aww, come on, not even a hint?" With big green eyes, she looked up at him, but Arlo shook his head and laughed.
"Nope. Trust me, you will love it." With a warm smile, he held his hand out towards her. "But we should get going. Otherwise, we will miss the best part."
Elenya placed her hand in his, enjoying the way his big hand engulfed hers. At his words, she couldn't hold back a small but sincere comment, "I always do."
As an answer, Arlo pressed her hand softly. To her delight, she could see a soft red hue spreading over his cheeks, and his chest swelled with pride. Her heart softened at the sight, and she couldn't hold back a tender smile.
If someone had told her a year ago that Arlo had this soft side, she wouldn't have believed them. She was really happy that he opened up to her and didn't hide behind his "Captain" persona.
Arlo led her out of her yard towards Spacer, who was patiently waiting beside the fence. She hadn't noticed his trusty horse until now, but it seemed like their date started with a ride.
"Can I help you up?" Still blushing slightly, Arlo looked down at her.
She hesitated a second. Normally, she preferred to mount a horse by herself. But judging by the look he gave her, it would make him happy if she let him help her. The bright smile he gave her after she nodded confirmed her assumption.
Elenya moved closer to Spacer, and Arlo positioned himself beside her. With one hand on the saddle, she placed her foot in the stirrup while Arlo's hands gently encircled her waist.
"Ready?" His gentle voice asked her. At her nod, he lifted her up into the saddle, making it look as if she weighed nothing.
She couldn't hold back a small giggle as she swung herself into the saddle. It wasn't always easy for her to accept help. But Arlo made it a lot easier. She felt a bit like a princess being worshipped by her knight.
She was on cloud nine with him.
Once she was seated securely, she slid forward slightly to make room for Arlo. With one fluid motion, he swung himself into the saddle behind her, his chest pressed firmly against her back. One hand reached for the reins while his arm gently and protectively wrapped itself around her waist.
With a happy sigh, Elenya snuggled against his chest, and the arm around her waist tightened to keep her secured in the saddle.
“Are you sitting comfortably?” Arlo asked her quietly.
“Mm, it's perfect.” His legs pressed warmly against hers, and her back slowly warmed up despite the thick jackets they were wearing. She was surrounded by his wonderful scent, and the nervousness that had kept her on edge all day finally fell away.
It didn't matter what would happen today. Arlo was with her, and that was the best feeling ever.
With a gentle nudge to Spacer's side, they set off at a leisurely pace.
They left their home behind and followed the path south toward the harbour. Elenya didn't know what Arlo had planned yet. But if she could believe his words, she would find out soon enough.
While they passed Sophie's fields, Elenya couldn't help but admire the glittering beauty that Portia was in winter. The snow lay over the fields like a soft blanket, everything felt quieter, and the air smelled clean.
"How has your day been, Sweetheart?" Arlo's gentle question snapped her out of her reverie.
As best as she could, she turned around to get a glimpse of his face. Softly, he looked down at her, a warm smile on his lips. She returned his smile before turning back around and snuggling up against his chest again.
"Pretty good. I've worked on a dining table for Albert, but I didn't really get far. I was…" She hesitated. Unsure if she wanted to tell the truth.
Arlo wouldn't laugh at her, would he?
With red cheeks and an embarrassed voice, she continued, “I... was a little nervous about today.”
Arlo did laugh at her words, but it was a soft, warm chuckle, filling her with warmth. That was her absolute favourite sound.
"Good to know that I wasn't the only one. My stack of paperwork didn't really get smaller today."
Surprised, she turned around again. He was also nervous? She hadn't expected that. Knowing he'd been just as eager made her smile.
Knowing that they were both on the same page, they fell into pleasant conversation. Spacer obediently followed the path until they passed McDonald's pastures and suddenly turned right.
It took her another moment, but then Elenya finally knew where Arlo was taking her.
“Oh, you've planned a hot air balloon ride?” Her eyes widened as she turned back to Arlo, who rewarded her with another wonderful laugh.
"I hope that's okay. I know you haven't had a chance to fly in it yet. I also know how much you love the snow, and I'm sure we will have a wonderful view."
“Oooh, Portia must look beautiful with the snow glistening in the evening sun! Thank you, Arlo.” She awkwardly gave him a quick kiss on the lips before turning back around. Her neck was about to cramp up.
Now excited again, she grabbed Arlo's hand that was still resting on her waist.
She had never been in a hot air balloon, but she was already looking forward to it. The sun would set soon, and she could hardly wait for the sparkling play of colours that she was sure to see.
"I'm glad you like my idea. I hope it's everything you're hoping for."
They spent the rest of the ride in pleasant but expectant silence. Enjoying each other's company as the snow-covered fields passed by.
When they arrived at the duck pond and the hot air balloon station, Arlo helped her down from the horse and led her over to the launch platform.
The hot air balloon was already waiting for them. The basket was hovering just above the platform, and Elenya once again realised how big they were compared to her.
The size had actually made it easier to build, but she wasn't quite sure how to get in. She should have installed a door.
Unsure, she looked over to Arlo. She had the feeling that if she tried it alone, she would just make a fool of herself. And that was even more embarrassing to her than asking for help.
Her gaze alone must have told Arlo what she needed from him. Without hesitation, he gently grasped her waist.
"Come on, I'll help you. Don't want you to hurt yourself."
With an ease that demonstrated his strength, he lifted her over the edge. With his help, she managed to not fall on her face or take a dip into the ice-cold pond.
Once again, a little giggle escaped her. Her face heated up and her heart beat a little faster than it should have.
Of course, she knew he was strong. He had already lifted her onto the horse so easily earlier. But he always did such things with such ease and naturalness, as if it required hardly any effort on his part. As if she were as light as a feather. Every time he did it, it completely threw her off balance.
A thought flashed through her mind about what else he might do with this strength — and she dismissed it just as quickly and decisively as it had come.
Her face must have been bright red, and this wasn't the place for such thoughts. She was on an innocent, romantic date with Arlo!
A moment later, he swung himself elegantly over the edge of the basket and came to stand in front of her
“Are you cold?” he asked her gently, his eyes fixed on her cheeks. The question sounded concerned, but she could see the hidden mischievous smile in his eyes.
He knew exactly what he was doing to her.
But she accepted his offered way out, grateful that he didn't ask her about her thoughts.
"Mh, a little bit…"
“Then come here.” He gently pulled her into his arms, and she happily snuggled up to him. Instantly, she was enveloped by his soothing scent, and all the tension drained from her body.
"Ready for our flight? If we start now, we should be able to experience the sunset and the rising moon."
Somewhat reluctantly, Elenya broke away from Arlo, but his words quickly rekindled her excitement. She could hardly wait for the view!
Arlo loosened the rope that kept the hot air balloon on the platform and started the autopilot.
No one really knew how it worked anymore, but Petra had been able to set four different routes. How she had managed it was a mystery to Elenya, but today she would finally experience one of the routes for the first time.
Slowly, the basket rose into the air. Full of anticipation, Elenya stepped up to the edge and looked out to the fields and ocean. She felt Arlo's warm presence beside her, and his arm wrapped around her waist.
They climbed higher and higher, and the world beneath them grew smaller and smaller.
Fascinated, Elenya looked down at the world below.
The sky slowly turned red and orange, the water sparkled in all colors, and the snow!
The snow looked magical, bathed in red, orange, and even a little purple. She had never seen anything so beautiful.
Portia from above was another world. The small houses, the snow-covered roofs, the sparkling ocean. It all looked like a painting.
Beaming, she turned to Arlo, who was already watching her with a soft gaze.
"And, do you like it, Elenya?"
"Yes! Thank you, Arlo. This is the best date ever." With her left hand, she pulled him down by his collar and pulled him into a deep kiss.
Arlo returned the kiss warmly and tenderly, but after a brief, sweet moment, Elenya pulled away from him again. As much as she loved his kisses, she didn't want to miss a moment of this beautiful view.
She turned back around, her gaze fixed on the glittering Portia. Arlo moved behind her and, once again, wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.
The wind picked up. At first, it was just a gentle breeze. Then it grew stronger, causing the basket to sway slightly back and forth.
Elenya pulled her jacket tighter around herself and instinctively snuggled closer to Arlo's warm chest.
“Are you cold?” he asked quietly, his arms tightening their hold.
“A little,” she murmured, enjoying his warmth as she continued to watch the changing landscape.
But with every gentle sway of the basket, something unpleasant began to stir in her stomach...
At first, she tried to ignore it. Surely it was just a touch of excitement. After all, she had never been so high up before!
But the longer the flight lasted, the stronger the queasy feeling in her stomach became. To make matters worse, she also felt slightly dizzy.
Mild panic rose within her.
She couldn't get sick now! It was such a beautiful evening; it would ruin everything.
She tried to focus on Arlo. His strong arms wrapped around her waist. His chest, that kept her back warm. His pleasant scent wafting gently into her nose.
But she couldn't escape her body.
Without realizing it, her whole body tensed up, and her breathing flattened. The panic inside her grew as her stomach turned.
The feeling that she might throw up always terrified her. And here, high up in the sky, trapped in the basket with Arlo right next to her, it was a thousand times worse.
The dizziness got worse, and her knees buckled beneath her. As if through a fog, she felt Arlo's arms tighten their grip on her, but the ringing in her ears prevented her from hearing his voice.
Elenya clung to his forearms, trembling. It was a desperate attempt to escape her feelings, but it didn't help. A quiet whimper escaped her as a new wave of nausea washed over her.
Please... please no..
She couldn't throw up!
The grip around her waist changed, and she was gently guided to the floor. Warm hands, now free of gloves, gently cupped her face. Her eyes met Arlo's in panic, his gaze full of concern.
His lips moved, but his voice didn't reach her through the ringing in her ears. She tried to shake her head, but that only made her dizziness worse, and she swayed to the side.
Instantly, Arlo's arms caught her in a tight hold, and she suddenly found herself between his legs, her side pressed tightly against his chest. With a sob, she turned further into his arms and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
The darkness that greeted her worsened her nausea. But her panic subsided slightly, and she could finally hear Arlo's voice.
Deep and gentle, yet full of concern, his words vibrated in his chest. “Shh, it's okay. I've got you. Please, talk to me. What happened?”
She knew she owed him an answer, but the only thing that left her lips was another sob, followed by a broken, “I'm sorry... I... I...”
Her breath caught in her throat. Shallow and frantic, she tried to pump air into her lungs. But a tightened band was wrapped around her chest in a phantom grip.
“Hey, hey. It's okay. There's nothing to apologize for. I'm here.” Lips pressed against her covered head in a gentle kiss before he continued, “Try to breathe calmly. Breathe in and out deeply. In and out.”
Unconsciously, she followed his words, and her previously panicked breathing adjusted to his. Cold oxygen filled her body, clearing the fog from her head.
Her stomach still rebelled, and she felt weak and shaky. But Arlo's strong, supportive presence pushed the panic back for the moment.
For a moment, she just sat there, listening to his soothing heartbeat and focusing on his steady breathing.
But her body would not let her rest. A new wave of nausea rolled through her stomach — stronger than before — and with a stifled sound, she abruptly pulled away from Arlo.
He tried to hold her back, unsure what was wrong, but she managed to break free. With effort, she pulled herself up by the edge of the basket. She hoped that looking outside would help her brain understand why her body was moving so strangely.
Her idea seemed to be the right one. As soon as she found a point she could focus on, the nausea subsided. It was lessened enough that she no longer felt like she was about to lose the contents of her stomach at any moment.
The only problem was that her panic attack and nausea were draining all her energy. Her legs and arms trembled under her weight, and her knees threatened to give out again.
But then Arlo was back at her side. He wrapped his right arm tightly around her waist, and relieved, she let herself fall against him.
She still hadn't told him what was wrong, but he seemed to sense what she needed anyway.
“What's wrong, sweetheart? Please tell me. Is it the height?" Confused and still full of concern, he looked down at her.
She had to swallow hard against her nausea before she could answer him. “No, I... I feel sick. The swaying... it...”
A soft, understanding sound escaped Arlo. The concern in his eyes deepened, but she couldn't watch his face much longer.
The brief moment she had looked away from the horizon and up at Arlo was enough to send a new wave of nausea through her stomach.
She quickly turned her gaze back to the horizon, but the nausea remained, and with it came a new wave of panic.
Her hands clenched around the edge of the basket she was still clutching. Before the panic could take the upper hand, she tried to give the second part of her answer, even though it was terribly embarrassing for her.
“I... I'm sorry... Whenever I feel nauseous... I always panic.” A quiet sob escaped her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She felt terrible. Her whole body was rebelling, her emotions were running wild, and she had ruined their entire date.
A warm hand settled on hers, and Arlo's forehead pressed gently against her temple. His breath brushed warmly across her cheek as his voice, heavy with guilt and concern, filled the air.
“Oh, sweetheart, no. You don't need to apologize. This isn't your fault.” His voice was rough with worry.
“I should have... if I had known...” He paused, pressing his forehead harder against her temple. “What can I do? How can I help you?”
Elenya didn't know. Despair made her tears spill over, and they warmly fell down her cold cheeks.
“I... I don't know...”
“Okay, that's okay.” His voice was still gentle, but there was a quiet determination in it. “Does it help to look outside?”
She nodded.
“That's good to know. I'm afraid we'll have to stay in the air for a while longer. I don't know what will happen if I cancel the autopilot...”
Elenya didn't know either, and she didn't want to find out.
Maybe the balloon would simply fly back to its starting point. But it could also be that it would immediately begin to land. And since they were currently directly above Portia, she didn't want to risk that.
“It's... It's okay. I... I'll be...” Another strong gust of wind came, causing the basket to sway. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes against the nausea, but that only caused her to lose her balance.
She fell against Arlo, who immediately adjusted his grip around her. He stood behind her again, his arms firmly wrapped around her waist, his chin resting gently on her head.
Gratefully, she leaned against his chest, closing her eyes for a brief moment against the exhaustion. She felt safe in his arms, even here, high above the ground, with her stomach rebelling.
They stood there like that for a moment. Elenya focused her gaze on a tree in the distance, while Arlo effortlessly supported almost her entire weight.
A soft whimper escaped her as the next wave of nausea washed over her, and she desperately clung to Arlo's arms.
“Did I ever tell you what happened to me last time I was in the sewage plant?” Arlo’s voice was deliberately calm, almost casual.
Elenya shook her head weakly, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
“So...” He began his story, his deep voice a calming anchor in the chaos of her emotions.
As he spoke, Elenya concentrated on his voice. She didn't catch everything he said, but the soothing hum of his words alone helped distract her from her nausea and dizziness.
Time passed. The sun disappeared behind the horizon, and the stars began to twinkle. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to enjoy the view as much as she would have liked.
Surrounded by Arlo's reassuring presence, she made it back to the hot air balloon station without throwing up. With a slight jolt, the basket touched down on the landing platform, and a deep sense of relief made her sink even further into his arms.
She finally dared to take her eyes off the horizon. She turned around in his arms and, with a trembling sigh, buried her face in his chest.
Arlo enveloped her with his body. Curled himself around her and protected her from the outside world.
“You did it, sweetheart. You were so brave.” Through her cap, she felt soft lips pressing a kiss on her head.
Supported by his strong arms, she slowly regained some energy. He didn't rush her, but gave her all the time in the world until she finally felt safe enough to leave the balloon.
With solid ground beneath her feet, her stomach gradually calmed down, leaving behind physical and mental exhaustion. But she couldn't stay here forever. So after a few minutes, she reluctantly broke free from Arlo's arms and looked up at him.
“Ready to go home?” Concerned, his eyes searched her face, and she could only imagine how pale she must look.
“Yes, please.”
“Well then, come on. I’ll help you out.” Once again, with an elegance that shouldn’t have been possible in thick winter clothing, Arlo climbed out of the basket and held out his arms to her.
Unsure of what he had planned, she stepped to the edge of the basket. She was about to try to lift her trembling leg over it when he grabbed her under the arms and lifted her up instead.
With a surprised cry, she quickly reached for his shoulders to keep her balance. Without effort, he lifted her upwards so that she only had to lift her feet over the edge.
Unfortunately, her legs didn't really want to obey her, and her second foot got caught on the edge. Arlo stumbled back a few steps but couldn't catch himself. Together with her, he fell into the soft snow.
A quiet “Uff” escaped him as she landed on top of him with her full weight, and she quickly tried to get off him. But her hand slipped in the snow, and she fell on him a second time.
“Oh no, I'm sorry!” Another attempt to get off him was prevented by two arms wrapping around her back.
Surprised, she looked down at Arlo, noticing that the tips of their noses were only an inch apart. His eyes gleamed, and a hearty laugh made his chest vibrate beneath her.
“Well, I pictured it a bit more elegant than that.”
His laughter released something in her, and she couldn’t suppress a soft giggle either. Her clumsiness would always lead her back into his arms.
Arlo's gaze softened when he saw her smile, and she gratefully closed the last few inches to kiss him.
Arlo smiled warmly into the kiss before gently ending it. “As nice as this is,” he murmured against her lips, “the snow is damn cold.”
That made her giggle again, and together they scrambled to their feet.
A cold gust of wind blew up, and shivering, Elenya snuggled up to Arlo. Exhaustion had given way to an unpleasant chill, and she longed for a warm fire.
Concerned, Arlo looked down at her. “I'd say we call a DeeDee. I don't know if your stomach can handle a ride on Spacer. Plus, it'll be faster. I don't want you to catch a cold.”
She smiled up at him gratefully. She knew he didn't like riding with the DeeDees and appreciated the gesture. He sent Spacer home and called a DeeDee.
It didn't take long for the vehicle to arrive, and relieved to finally be able to sit down, Elenya sank into the back seat. Arlo sat down next to her, and shortly thereafter, they were on their way to her home.
Seeking warmth, she snuggled back against him. His strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, and with a sigh, she buried her face in his neck. It was warm there and smelled wonderful.
They sat there silently for a while until Arlo gently raised his voice. “Do you think you can eat something?”
Reluctantly, Elenya lifted her head. She would have preferred to stay buried against his neck, but she couldn’t really answer him properly like that. “I think so. Now that we’re no longer in the air, my stomach has calmed down a bit.”
“That's good. How about I get us something to eat at Django's, and we make ourselves comfortable in front of your fireplace?”
“That sounds wonderful. I really wanted to cook for you, but I don't know if I can stay on my feet long enough...” She lowered her gaze, disappointed.
She thought of all the ingredients waiting for her in the refrigerator. Everything she needed to cook delicious Seafood Noodles. Arlo's only favorite meal that wasn't spicy, which meant she could eat it as well. Her stomach didn't handle spicy food well.
A warm hand lifted her lowered head, and gentle blue eyes met her green ones.
“Hey, it's okay. I'm sure there will be other opportunities for me to enjoy your delicious cooking. Unless, of course, you don't want to go on a date with me anymore after today.” He said the words jokingly, but shortly afterwards, his expression turned serious.
“I'm so sorry, sweetie. I never should have...” Elenya knew immediately what he was getting at and decided to interrupt him before he could even say it.
“Arlo, no. It's not your fault. I didn't know my stomach would react like this, so how could you have known?”
This time, Arlo lowered his gaze sadly. “Still... I never wanted you to suffer like this.”
“I know. Next time, we'll just choose something else, okay? I want to go on many more dates with you.” She felt her cheeks flush at her own words, but decided to ignore it.
Hopefully, she hadn't scared him off now.
But she didn't need to worry. Arlo looked up again, a warm glow shining in his eyes. “I'd love that. And I promise I'll try to avoid hot air balloon trips.”
With smiles on their lips, they ended the discussion with a gentle kiss.
“But back to dinner. What would you like?”
Elenya had to think for a moment. Her stomach felt better, but she still wasn't very hungry. But there was one thing she always enjoyed eating in winter.
"Maybe Pumpkin Steamed Rice?" She had to stifle a giggle when Arlo wrinkled his nose. The dish was slightly sweet, and she knew he couldn't stand sweet things.
But he quickly recovered and gave her a gentle smile. "Of course, whatever you want."
For the last few minutes of the ride, Elenya snuggled back up to Arlo, still feeling cold. She was glad when they finally arrived at the station in front of the city gate and only had to walk the few meters to her workshop.
Exhaustion was getting the better of her. Arlo even had to take the key from her because she was shaking so much she couldn't get it into the lock. As soon as she had taken off her winter clothes, she collapsed exhausted onto her couch.
Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself. Although it was warm in her house, she was still freezing.
Arlo, who had also taken off his jacket and boots, grabbed the fluffy blanket that was draped over the back of the couch and wrapped her in it. Concerned, he ran his hand through her hair once, and she leaned into his warm touch.
“I'll get the fire going in the fireplace and then get us something to eat, okay? It's time we warmed you up properly.”
But he paused for a moment and watched with a frown as she continued to shiver despite the blanket. Then he suddenly grabbed the hem of his gray sweater and pulled it over his head. Underneath, he was wearing only a thin shirt.
“Here, put this on. It's warm.” He held out the sweater to her.
“But then you'll be cold,” she protested weakly, but already reaching for it.
“I'll be fine. And I'll be right back anyway." A gentle smile graced his lips as he watched her pull on the sweater, which was several sizes too big for her.
Instantly, she was enveloped by the warm fabric, and Arlo's scent wafted into her nose. She instinctively buried her nose in it and took a deep breath. The familiar scent warmed her from within, and she looked up at Arlo with a grateful smile.
“Better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Arlo wrapped her in the blanket again and then lit a fire in the fireplace. With a quick, gentle kiss, he said goodbye to her and headed out to get them dinner.
While Arlo was away, Elenya dozed lightly. She was so exhausted and enveloped in his scent, her body relaxed completely.
Only when a rough hand gently stroked her cheek did she wake from her light sleep. Still a little confused, she opened her heavy eyelids and saw Arlo looking at her tenderly.
“Hey, sweetie. I've got our food.”
“Mm...” Her eyes threatened to close again. She was so tired.
“I know you're tired, but I'd prefer it if you ate something before you go to sleep. Do you think you can manage that?” Arlo's voice reached her, warm and full of care, and she leaned a little more into his hand, which was still gently caressing her cheek.
She would have preferred to keep sleeping, but she didn't want to disappoint him, so she nodded. With gentle hands, he helped her sit up. It never ceased to amaze her. These hands that wielded swords and won battles could be so infinitely tender.
Once she was seated comfortably, Arlo took the food out of a small basket and placed it on her coffee table. Unsurprisingly, she noticed with a smile that he had gotten Spaghetti with Hot Sauce for himself.
He quickly fetched cutlery from her kitchen and then sat down close to her. Gratefully, she leaned against his shoulder and, with a trembling hand, brought the first spoonful of warm rice to her lips. Or at least she tried to.
The spoon almost fell from her hand, but Arlo's warm hand suddenly appeared and gently enclosed hers. Embarrassed, she looked over at him apologetically.
“I'm sorry... I... I'm just so exhausted.” Even keeping her head up was consuming much more energy than she had available.
“There's nothing to apologize for. Your body has been through a lot today. Let me help you. Please.” Arlo's gaze showed pure love. No sign of impatience or discomfort.
That look gave Elenya the courage to accept his help. She felt terribly vulnerable at the thought of someone having to help her eat. But it was Arlo.
She felt safe with Arlo.
With his help, she ate spoonful after spoonful of her rice, while he also treated himself to a forkful of spaghetti in between.
But halfway through her portion, she couldn't eat any more. With her stomach now full, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. She snuggled up to Arlo, sated and happy, while he ate the rest of his noodles.
She had already dozed off lightly against his shoulder when he changed his position, holding her more tightly in his arms.
“I think it's time we get you to bed.” A warm kiss on her forehead accompanied his gentle words.
“Will you stay with me?” Her tiredness drowned out any shyness. Nothing sounded more tempting right now than falling asleep in his arms.
She didn’t really notice his brief hesitation, but she did notice his arms tightening around her. “Of course, if you'd like that?”
“Mm, that would be nice.” She didn't bother to open her eyes. It was nice and dark, and she felt warm and safe.
“Then I'll stay.” He kissed her forehead again, and then she suddenly found herself in the air.
Strong arms held her beneath her knees and back, and with a soft sigh, she rested her head on Arlo's shoulder. She barely felt his footsteps as he carried her to her bedroom. A soft, unhappy whine escaped her as he gently laid her down on the bed.
With a soft chuckle, he assured her, “I'll be right back.”
Rough hands carefully removed her uncomfortable jeans and socks, and then she was covered with a blanket.
One of the rough hands stroked her hair, then quiet footsteps disappeared from her bedroom. She heard the soft clattering of dishes and the hiss of the fire going out.
A short time later, the footsteps returned to the room, followed by the rustling of clothes, and then the bed next to her lowered.
She was gently pulled into Arlo's arms, and she happily snuggled up against his warm chest. Her bare legs intertwined with his, while one of his large hands drew gentle circles across her back.
She had never felt so safe.
“Sleep well, sweetheart. I love you.”
Elenya tried to reciprocate his words, but she was already drifting off into a restful sleep.
Summary: Elenya wouldn't have thought they could defeat Everglade and her two men, but now they were actually lying tied up in front of them. If only there wasn't suddenly the sharp, cold steel at her neck, rendering her motionless, and the demand that they release the Flying Shark Pirates if she wanted to keep her head.
Word count: 7,053
Prompt: Knife to the Throat
Author's note: It's been a few months again since the last time and there's two reasons for this.
If you want to know more about them, check the fic on AO3!
This one is a bit angsty in some places and the comfort a bit less detailed than what I prefer normally, but I hope you still enjoy your read!
Warnings: Blood, Violence, Nightmare, Mentions of being sick
Read on AO3: Link
Cold Steel
Elenya stood a little apart from the others, her breathing still ragged.
In front of her, Arlo, Sam, and Remington were busy tying up the three captured members of the Sky Shark Pirates.
The Sky Shark Pirates!
She had always suspected that something was off about Ursula — they all had — but none of them had imagined that she was Everglade, one of the infamous Sky Shark Pirates.
After finding all three Keys, the plan for today had been simple: explore the ruins where the All Source was supposedly hidden. But before they could even begin, Sam came running with a message from Mali.
As it turned out, Mali had never made it to Atara. The Pirates had intercepted her mid-flight and stolen the Passkey. Fortunately, she’d managed to send a warning just in time — before the All Source AI could fall into pirate hands.
What followed after Sam’s arrival was chaos.
Everglade and her men were seasoned fighters, and for a while, Elenya wasn’t sure they’d be able to take them down.
But she needn’t have worried. Arlo and Sam had gone for Everglade, Remington had taken on Ryder, leaving Ten to her. Together with Higgins — of all people! — she’d somehow managed to overpower the small but surprisingly fierce pirate.
The other three had also managed to overpower their opponents, and now the pirates were sitting on the ground while the three Civil Corps members tied them up.
Elenya watched the scene tensely. Her breath was still uneven from the fight, and she struggled to calm herself. She should have felt relieved.
They had just averted a disaster.
If the All Source had fallen into the hands of the pirates — and likely Duvos — terrible things could have happened to the Free Cities. Who knew what they might have done with that kind of power?
And yet, a restless feeling stirred inside her. It wasn’t over. It was too easy.
Everglade had deceived them for so long, made them dance to her tune — it couldn’t possibly be finished so suddenly.
Unfortunately, she was about to be proven right.
The pirates were tied up, and her breathing had finally steadied when something cold and sharp pressed against her throat. Startled, she tried to move back — only to meet an unyielding wall of armour.
Panic surged through her as the voice she had feared since their first encounter whispered beside her ear.
“Don’t move.” Distorted by a mask, the Rogue Knight breathed the words against her skin.
A shiver ran down Elenya’s spine, and her just-calmed heartbeat spiked in panic.
Damn, what was she supposed to do now? How had he managed to sneak up on her like that?
Discreetly, she tried to reach for the knife on her belt, but before she could even move her hand, a large hand grabbed both her forearms and pinned them tightly behind her back.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you." The knight’s voice was low and threatening as he pressed the dagger closer against her throat. She had to rise onto her toes to avoid getting cut. She didn't dare move another inch.
"That’s better." A quiet, sinister chuckle echoed through the gas mask, and fear was threatening to overwhelm Elenya.
The others hadn’t noticed her predicament yet, but they would soon enough.
Out loud, the knight said, "Oh, my dear Everglade, and you said you didn't need any of my help…"
Startled, everyone turned toward them. On three faces, triumph began to spread, while the other ones contorted in pure horror.
Helplessly, Elenya could only watch how pure panic settled on Arlo's face, his wide eyes fixed on the blade pressing against her throat. She could see the fear that filled her husband.
For a moment, no one moved. Then Sam and Remy stepped forward, taking up position beside Arlo, breaking him out of his frozen shock.
All three drew their weapons, facing the knight with grim determination.
"Let her go, now!" Arlo’s commanding voice rang out across the clearing, but the only answer he got was a cold laugh.
"You wish. I would rather say, you let the pirates free and she…", the blade pressed even closer and Elenya desperately rose higher on her toes, "gets to keep her head."
Her legs trembled with effort and frantically, she sought Arlo's gaze. Stoic, his eyes met hers, but she could see the despair behind them. Inside him, a battle raged: The wish to safe her against the knowledge that the All Source couldn't fall into the pirates hands.
Elenya knew what choice he had to make.
She just had to convince her panicking heart that it was the right one.
She didn't want to die, but she also didn't want to be the reason the world got plunged into chaos again.
At last, Arlo seemed to reach the same conclusion. A flash of pain crossed his face before his features hardened again, his eyes locking on the knight above her.
"We won't! You are outnumbered. You don't stand a chance!"
Another cold laugh cut through the air.
"You think you stand a chance against me? Do I need to remind you what happened the last time?" The hold around her arms tightened and Elenya couldn't suppress a small, pained gasp.
She didn't need to be reminded. She still knew exactly how that fight went. The realization that even with Mali’s help they hadn’t stood a chance against him still haunted her dreams to this day.
The laugh behind her died and the knight’s mood shifted. His body tensed, and he leaned in closer.
"Enough games. Let them go, or…" He didn't finish his sentence.
The dagger pressed closer to her throat, but she had nowhere to go.
She felt the blade break her skin, and a moment later something warm trickled down her neck. Desperate, she tried to move away, but it was fruitless.
Was she going to die now?
Her eyes, wide with panic, found Arlo’s. He looked no less terrified. At the sight of her blood, his captain’s composure shattered.
When the knight grew impatient, he pushed the blade even harder against her throat, and this time she couldn’t hold back a cry of pain.
"Stop! We surrender!" Arlo's panicked voice cut through the air and instantly, the dagger pulled away.
Dizzy with fear, Elenya sagged back onto her feet, the blood running down her neck sending a shiver through her body.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" The cold voice of the Knight sounded far too close to her ear. She wanted to back away, but his grip on her arms held her in place.
While Sam and Remy freed the pirates, Arlo’s gaze never left hers. In his eyes she saw the same storm of emotions she felt. Relieve, guilt and resignation.
She may have survived this moment, but what now? How much time had she actually won with this?
For a moment, she got lost in Arlo's eyes. The familiar blue anchored her. His gaze alone told her that she wasn't alone. They were in this together.
Not even when Everglade appeared behind him and roughly pulled his arms behind his back did he look away.
He endured the capture in silence.
But as soon as his hands were bound, his eyes suddenly went wide and he tried to take a step towards her. Panic filled his gaze and Elenya had barely enough time to wonder why, when suddenly a hard blow struck the back of her head and the world around her went dark.
~~~~~~
When she came to, it took her a moment to get her bearings. Her head throbbed and the memories only came back in bits and pieces. The first thing she really noticed was that her hands were bound behind her back. She was lying on her side, her head resting on something that was soft and rough at the same time. It smelled familiar.
What had happened?
She tried to concentrate on her surroundings, but it was hard. Every thought escaped her grasp before she could fully catch it. But then she noticed the burning pain on her neck and the memories came crashing back.
The Rogue Knight!
With a heavy groan, she opened her eyes and found her looking at something she didn't expect. Right in front of her nose was Arlo's familiar white leather jacket.
The owner of the jacket immediately let out a relieved gasp: “Elenya!”
Elenya tried to turn her head, wanted to see his eyes, but it wasn't easy. The hands bound behind her back prevented her from turning around and her buzzing head made coordination hard. Nonetheless, she managed to catch a glimpse of his worried gaze.
Only for the world to immediately start to spin around her and with another groan her head fell back into Arlo's lap. Her stomach churned and she had to fight hard not to throw up.
"I'm so glad you woke up. How are you feeling?", Arlo asked her, his voice full of concern.
Elenya's only answer was a whimper. The world spun even behind her closed eyes and she was sure someone was trying to break open her skull with a pickaxe.
"Damn. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I should have watched out for you."
The tone of Arlo's words broke her heart. The mixture of worry, fear and guilt cracked his voice.
She tried to find the right words through the mist inside her head.
"N…not your f…fault. I… I sh…should have…" She didn't get any further. Another wave of nausea settled in her stomach and she needed to close her mouth to prevent throwing up.
There wouldn't have been much more time anyway, as a voice suddenly echoed over the field. A voice that no one expected to hear.
"Hello!"
Elenya couldn't see what happened, but she would have recognised Tuss's nasal voice everywhere. He exchanged a few words with Ten, when suddenly, a loud metallic bang cut through the air, followed by a body hitting the ground.
"Huss, Tuss, I've never been this happy to see you guys!" Arlo exclaimed with relief.
Elenya guessed the two brothers were freeing the others from their bonds.
As soon as Arlo's hands were free, he immediately started to fumble with hers. It didn't take him long to loosen the rope and with a relieved sigh, she turned onto her back. Her head was still resting in his lap and she was thankful for the soft cushioning it gave her aching head.
Warm blue eyes looked down at her and she used her newfound freedom to lift her trembling hand towards his cheek. He immediately covered her hand with his, nestling into her palm.
A soft smile spread over her lips, her heart filling with warmth.
While Sam and Remy were tying up Ten, Arlo carefully helped her to her feet. Her head protested strongly against the new position, but the world spun less than she had feared.
As soon as she was steady on her feet, Arlo pulled her into a tight hug. He wrapped his arms desperately around her back, and she clung to him just as tightly. Warm and safe in his arms, she let herself fall. Finally letting the emotions in that she had tried to suppress.
The shock and fear still sat deep in her bones, and a single sob escaped her lips.
"Shh, you are okay. Everything is alright. I've got you." Despite his words, Arlo's voice sounded as if he too was about to burst into tears. But he managed to hold them in and rocked her gently back and forth.
"I… I was so scared." Trembling, she pressed herself even closer to him, wanted to be as close to him as possible.
"I know. I know… you were so brave, my sweetheart. So brave. I love you."
Soft and warm, Arlo's lips pressed against the crown of her head while his hands rubbed soothing circles on her back. For a moment they just stood there, thankful that they still had the chance to embrace each other.
But at one point they had to face reality again. Arlo softly pushed her away and cupped her face, his eyes full of worry. He searched her eyes for a moment before his gaze moved down to her neck.
Pain and fear clouded his face for a moment, but then his expression hardened.
"We should clean the cut. Then I will have a look at your head, okay?"
As if she’d just been waiting for it, Sam showed up beside them, bandages and disinfectant in her hands. Her face showed the same tension and worry.
"Here, I've already got everything we need."
Arlo gratefully accepted the supplies. He soaked a cloth with the disinfectant and began to gently dab her neck.
Elenya hissed. The cut burned sharp and raw and nausea churned in her stomach.
Soothingly and as a silent apology, Arlo used his free hand to squeeze her waist. The warmth of his palm seeped through the fabric and managed to calm her stomach.
Another, smaller hand settled on her shoulder and Elenya turned her gaze to Sam.
"I really can't take my eyes off you. As soon as I leave you alone for five minutes, you're stuck with a knife to your throat," she said, trying to lighten the situation with a crooked smile. But the weight in her eyes showed that her heart wasn't really in it. The smile disappeared quickly and she added: "But seriously, little fella — don't ever scare us like that again. We still need our favourite builder."
Despite the pain, Elenya managed to give Sam a small, thankful smile. The little joke had managed to loosen some of her tension — and she knew that there was real worry behind her friend's words.
But the smile didn't last long. Arlo had to use a bit more pressure on her cut and a stinging pain shot through her body. With a small whimper, she grasped his hand that still rested on her waist.
"I'm so sorry, but the cut is still bleeding slightly. I will have to bandage it." Apologetically, he looked up at her from his hunched position, his eyes warm and full of concern.
"Can you help me, Sam?"
"Of course!"
Taking deep breaths, Elenya tried to hold still. Arlo disinfected the cut once more before wrapping a bandage around her neck with Sam's help. Although it wasn't too tight, Elenya still felt confined. She struggled to keep her hands to herself and stop herself from pulling at it.
Satisfied with her neck, Arlo turned to the back of her head. Carefully, he parted her hair and hissed. "Damn, that's quite the laceration. I don't think it's still bleeding, but we need to at least clean it."
Elenya closed her eyes and nodded lightly. She had neither the strength nor the will to protest. She just let it happen while Arlo tended to the wound with calm, practiced movements. It burned, but she gritted her teeth. Sam remained quietly by her side, an unwavering anchor in the chaos.
Smoothing over the fresh bandage, Arlo pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head. "That's it... all done, sweetheart." His hand rested on her back for a moment longer, a silent promise that he was there — her anchor and protector.
Seeing that she had been taken care of, Remy stepped up to them, his face serious. "What are we going to do now?"
Arlo immediately switched to captain mode.
"Huss, Tuss, I need you two to stand guard over this pirate," he ordered the two pirates, before turning to Higgins.
"Higgins, go warn the Mayor! Gather any able bodies you can find! We can't let them get away with the AI! And take Elenya with you!"
"All right!" Higgins saluted, but Elenya immediately protested.
"What? No! You need me! Stopping them will already be hard enough. You're all good fighters, but there are only three of you!"
"Absolutely not! You've just been knocked unconscious and more than likely have a concussion. Not to mention your bleeding neck." Arlo’s gaze was serious and Elenya knew it would be hard to change his mind.
But she wouldn't give up.
"I can fight! I will take one of Dr. Xu's tonic tinctures. You will need all the help you can get." Her face twisted into a pained expression. "If you fail to stop them, no one will know what will happen to me — to all of us."
A heavy battle started behind Arlo's eyes at her words. A fight between fear — fear for her — and the knowledge that she was right.
She could go with Higgins, hide inside her workshop, but for what? If the Rogue Knight got his hands on the All Source, there would be no place left to hide.
Arlo seemed to reach the same conclusion. Caving in, he lowered his gaze, a soft "All right" leaving his lips.
She felt sorry that she forced him to make such a heavy decision, but she couldn't stay behind. Not with a good conscience. She would go mad.
"But you stay back and only engage if necessary. If you feel you are unable to fight, back out, okay?" Gravely, Arlo held her gaze and she looked back just as seriously.
"I will. Promise."
She didn't know what she would do if Arlo were in danger, but she would try to keep her promise as good as she could.
"All right. Everyone knows what they have to do. Prepare to put an end to this catastrophe."
Everyone nodded towards Arlo, faces grim with determination and Higgins set out towards town.
Elenya on the other hand reached into her waistpack, pulling one of Dr. Xu's tonic tinctures out. The liquid was transparent, a soft blue hue glimmering in the sun.
The tincture was for absolute emergencies. It invigorated the body and made it insensitive to pain, but could cause serious side effects if used frequently.
She had never taken one before, but always carried one with her. In a worst case scenario, it could save one's life if one were seriously injured somewhere alone. It lasted between one and two hours, enough time to get to safety.
Not knowing what would happen, she took a deep breath and emptied the small vial. A pleasant warmth spread from her stomach through her whole body. The pain and the fog in her head retreated and within a minute, she felt more energised than she had in weeks.
She quickly realized why one shouldn't take the tincture too often. The feeling of being invulnerable was addictive.
The three Civil Corps members looked at her with anticipation, and with a smiling nod, she let them know she was ready to go.
After a last worried look from Arlo, they made their way to the ruin entrance.
~~~~~~
Inside the ruin, they were met with a closed door. After a short search, Arlo found a small passage that Elenya was able to widen, her pickaxe as reliable as always.
They fought their way through rows upon rows of AI-Robots until they reached a fork in the road. Unsure, they looked at each other.
Should they split up?
Elenya didn't think this was a good idea, but what other choice did they have?
Remy seemed to see it the same way. "We're gonna have to split up. Who takes which path?"
For a moment, no one said anything. Arlo's gaze rested on her, his eyes heavy with a battle raging behind them. But then he seemed to make up his mind.
"Sam, you come with me. We take the left path. Remy, you take Elenya. You two be extra careful. If you can't handle it, wait for us or retreat. Don't go playing hero."
He looked at them seriously, and they nodded.
At first, Elenya was surprised he didn't want to accompany her himself. But then she understood. Just like her, he would be distracted by worry, which could be dangerous for them both.
With one last long look — a silent promise to see each other again in one piece — they turned around and followed their respective paths.
Elenya only perceived fragments of what followed. Adrenaline pumped through her body and she simply functioned. She remembered that after endless corridors crowded with AI robots, they actually managed to catch up with Everglade.
Unfortunately, the pirate managed to escape just as they were about to defeat her.
And what happened next was beyond her comprehension. They met up with Arlo and Sam again in a large room, and looming before them was the Rogue Knight, triumphantly standing on the All Source AI.
Arlo and Remington sprinted toward him, trying to stop him, while giant robots swarmed toward them from all sides, and then… the two of them were simply gone, along with one of the robots.
Elenya looked around in panic. Where had they gone?!
Then she and Sam were engulfed in blue light — she didn't know how to describe it. It felt like she got sucked into a pipe. Her stomach flipped, she felt weightless for a moment and then she crashed to the ground, her legs barely keeping her up.
When she opened her eyes, she wasn't in the ruin anymore. No. She stood in front of the main gate and before her, an image that she had never wanted to see.
AI-Robots were swarming the streets of Portia. Out of thin air they appeared, attacking the residents, who tried to defend themselves with everything they had.
Horrified, Elenya looked over to Sam, who didn't look less shocked.
How… How did they get here? Where was Arlo?
"Why are there relic AIs everywhere?! Did he do that?! We must stop them!" Sam snatched her arm and without thinking, they stormed through the gate.
Once again, Elenya was just functioning, her muscle memory leading her.
Together with Sam, she wove through the streets until suddenly, the cold, morphed voice of the Rogue Knight reached them.
Immediately they stopped and looked at each other.
"That came from Central Plaza!" Sam shouted and Elenya followed her in that direction.
As they rounded the bend, Elenya was overcome with a mixture of relief and fear. There, next to the wishing tree, stood Arlo, along with Remy and, to her surprise, Merlin.
And right in front of them: The Rogue Knight with the All Source.
While Merlin tried to argue with the knight, Arlo's gaze shifted to them and relief spread across his face.
"Elenya! You're okay! Thank the Light."
They hurried over to him and Remy and together, they faced the threat.
The Rogue Knight had enough of Merlin and made the All Source’s arms and legs extend. With the now giant feet he tried to step on Merlin, but Remy was just quick enough to push her out of the way.
"Quick, we have to try to throw it off balance!"
Elenya tried to follow Arlo's command, but fighting grew harder and harder. Dr. Xu's tincture seemed to reach its end. The headache came back and with it the fog that clouded her mind.
As a result, she only vaguely noticed how Toby gained them a decisive advantage, even though it got the school, the west gate, and the wishing tree destroyed.
The All Source was defeated and now they had to fight against the Rogue Knight directly. Elenya tried to keep up, but she struggled. Her body reacted too slowly, her fingers slipping on her sword.
So she did what she had promised Arlo: She let herself fall back.
But then she saw it. The Rogue Knight was about to strike Arlo with his sword and she couldn't hold herself back. She needed to intervene.
Attacking him from the side, she managed to throw him off Arlo, but now she had his full attention.
She managed to parry a few of his blows, but then his right foot lifted and raced toward her. She tried to dodge, but she was too slow. With full force, his boot connected with her left shoulder and with a cry she was flung back.
She landed on the ground, but her leather jacket slowed her down so much that, instead of continuing to slide, she rolled over a few times. She only came to a stop when her back hit the stairs leading to the upper part of the village.
Groaning, she remained lying on the floor. She didn't know which side was up anymore and every inch of her body hurt. Her head pounded with her racing pulse and her left shoulder felt like it was on fire.
With difficulty, she opened her eyes. Through her blurred gaze, she could make out the silhouette of a person. As her vision cleared up a bit, she recognized Arlo — his sword raised, ready to protect her.
Menacingly, the Rogue Knight stalked towards them. Behind him Elenya could make out Sam, who was helping Remy to his feet.
The Rogue Knight was saying something, but through the roaring in her ears, she couldn't make out the words. While she was still trying to collect herself, Arlo and the knight exchanged a rapid flurry of blows.
It looked as if Arlo had the upper hand when their swords suddenly locked together, preventing either of them from breaking free. However, before Arlo could take advantage of the situation, the knight swung his free hand and struck Arlo's right elbow with full force.
With a pain-filled cry, Arlo dropped his sword and fell to his knees, his upper body curled around his arm.
"Arlo!" Full of panic, Elenya tried to get up. But as soon as she put some weight on her left arm, pure pain shot through her whole side and with a cry she fell back to the ground. Her head bounced off the floor and stars danced before her eyes.
No! Please don't!
Terrified and unable to focus, she could barely make out the knight raising his sword to strike Arlo. Before he could, however, another person stepped in front of him.
Elenya could only vaguely make out long hair and a red coat as the world began to darken before her.
Through the ringing in her ears, she could have sworn she heard Django's voice, but then the last of her senses failed and she fell into a deep darkness.
~~~~~~
Elenya felt… strange.
Yeah, that fit the best.
Strange.
Her muscles were heavy like lead, but at the same time, she felt like she was floating.
The loud ticking of a clock echoed in her ears, while voices around her mingled in her head as if wrapped in cotton wool.
Something warm engulfed her hand and reflexively she clung to it.
The only thing that felt… normal.
Immediately, the voices around her died, before a soft voice seemed to talk directly to her.
But there was still that ticking in her ears, drowning the words.
What was happening?
Why wouldn't that ticking stop?
With difficulty, she managed to open her eyes, but even that didn't give her any clue as to what was going on.
Everything swirled around her. Lines blurred and colours mixed together.
The soft voice spoke up again and this time she could at least make out the concerned tone.
In the hope that the owner of the voice could help her, she turned her head. A beige and red coloured blotch entered her view.
She blinked a few times and finally the blotch came into focus. Tousled red hair, a worried smile and blue eyes formed before her.
Deep blue eyes. Eyes she knew and loved.
But before she could grasp the person's name, their features suddenly blurred before her eyes and were replaced by a gas mask with poisonous green eyes.
A panicked scream escaped her, and she fearfully tried to move away from the Rogue Knight. Instantly, an unbearable pain shot through her left shoulder, and another cry — this time filled with pain — escaped her.
She tried to fight against the hands that were trying to hold her down, but her movements were uncoordinated and only caused her more pain. Her head began to throb, her stomach rebelled, and the room spun around her like a carousel.
Then she felt a slight prick on her upper arm and was pulled down. Down into the darkness. Into a prison she couldn't escape.
~~~~~~
She was lying on the ground again. Her back pressed against the stairs leading to the upper streets of Portia.
In front of her was Arlo, kneeling on the ground, his upper body curled protectively around his arm.
And over him…
The Rogue Knight.
His sword raised high, ready to strike.
Elenya tried to scream. To get up. But nothing happened. Frozen, she lay there and could only watch in horror as the sword descended, ready to deliver the final blow to Arlo.
But before the sword could hit its target, the scene changed. Suddenly, it was Arlo who looked at her in horror.
She felt the cold, sharp blade of a dagger at her throat, her hands painfully pinned behind her back. The cold steel pressed harder and harder against her neck, cutting into her skin. Blood flowed over her neck and a silent scream escaped her lips.
The scene blurred again.
She was back on Central Plaza. But not really. Everything around her seemed huge, dark, threatening.
Her hands were still painfully restrained behind her back while Arlo stood protectively in front of her, his sword locked with that of the Rogue Knight.
As if in slow motion, she had to watch as the Knight swung his free hand and struck Arlo's elbow with full force.
Arlo's cry of pain echoed endlessly across the plaza as he collapsed to the ground.
Panicked, she tried to free her hands, but whatever was holding her didn't budge. The cry of pain still echoed across the square as the Rogue Knight's sword hovered menacingly over Arlo's head.
"No! Arlo!"
Full of despair, she had to watch as the sword sliced down and struck Arlo in the back. Blood instantly stained his white leather jacket, and with a final quiet cry, he slumped to the side.
"Arlo!"
Suddenly, her hands were free, the buildings around her shrunk back to their normal size and the Rogue Knight vanished. What was left was Arlo.
Arlo.
How he lay on the ground, covered in blood.
Not moving a muscle.
Still.
A cry of agony escaped her lips and, without thinking, she dropped to her knees beside Arlo, her cheeks wet with tears.
With shaking hands, she turned him onto his back. Tried to ignore that his chest wasn't moving up and down anymore.
Blue eyes stared up into the sky. But they weren't seeing anything. The warm light that always shone within them — extinguished.
"No… no, no, no… Arlo…" Desperate, she grabbed his shoulders, shook him, patted his cheek, but he didn't react.
"Arlo…" Helplessly, she threw herself against his chest, her body shaking with sobs.
"Don't leave me. Please. I need you." Her voice broke and grief overwhelmed her.
Everything went dark.
~~~~~~
Gasping for air, she woke up with a start. Her eyes wide open, tears running down her cheeks.
Her heart was racing like crazy, and her whole body was shaking. Sweat covered her entire body, even though she was sure she was freezing.
Arlo! Where was Arlo?
Her eyes darted helplessly back and forth, but she couldn't see anything. Why couldn't she see anything?!
She was about to panic when she felt it.
A hand, warm on her cheek.
It gently wiped away the tears that kept flowing from her eyes.
She knew that hand. Large, rough from years of fighting, yet so incredibly tender.
Finally, her vision cleared and she could make out Arlo's deeply concerned face above her. Blue eyes looked down at her. Deep blue, full of life and filled to the brim with warm love and concern.
A sob escaped her lips.
“Arlo... you... you...” She reached for his hand that gently cupped her cheek and clung to it.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe. We’re safe. It’s over.” While he spoke softly and reassuringly to her, he lowered his head and gently pressed his forehead against hers.
Tears glistened in his eyes too, and one of them fell, landing warm on her cheek. His voice broke as he spoke his next words: “I... I've got you... Y-you're okay.”
They remained like that for a moment. Forehead pressed against forehead, sharing their breath, reassuring themselves that the other was still there.
Elenya didn't know how long it took before she calmed down enough to trust her voice again. But instead of all the words she wanted to say, only a trembling “Arlo” escaped her lips once more.
But she didn't need to say anything else. He understood without words how relieved she was that he was here. That they were both here. After all, he was feeling the same.
He moved away from her slightly, only to press his lips to hers immediately afterwards.
An uncoordinated kiss ignited between them, filled with desperation, love, and pure relief. Their noses collided, teeth clashed, but they didn't care.
For a moment that felt far too long, they had thought they would never get the chance again. That at least one of them would not live to see another day.
Unfortunately, they couldn't escape reality forever. With the kiss and the certainty that Arlo was still alive, Elenya's senses gradually returned.
Her heart was still racing, sweat sticking to her skin, and a throbbing pain started to spread through her head and left shoulder.
With a gasp, she pulled away from Arlo and let her head fall back onto the soft pillow.
The ceiling above her blurred, began to spin and she had to close her eyes, afraid she would throw up.
With a soft whimper, she tightened her hold on Arlo's hand that still softly cupped her cheek. Tried to escape the pain.
God, what was wrong with her?
Her whole body was shaking and her heart was about to jump out of her chest.
Through the renewed ringing in her ears, she faintly heard Arlo's voice: “Elenya, sweetheart, everything is fine. I'll just go get Dr. Xu, okay? Then you'll feel better in no time.”
Without her being able to do anything about it, he released his hand from hers. Her muscles were too weak to hold him back.
Overwhelmed by pain and the feeling of burning up inside and freezing to death at the same time, the world around her disappeared. Then, suddenly, the hand was back on her cheek and a glass was pressed to her lips.
She automatically swallowed the bitter liquid that was poured into her mouth. Slowly the pain in her head and shoulder disappeared and her heartbeat gradually calmed down.
She was still shaking incessantly, sweat beading on her forehead, but the world stopped spinning and she dared to open her eyes again. Two pairs of eyes looked down at her, both full of concern.
Arlo stroked her cheek reassuringly with his thumb while Dr. Xu took her wrist, concentrating on counting her pulse.
In the brief silence that followed, her now clearer mind was flooded with questions.
What had happened? How much time had passed? What was wrong with her? How were the others?
She could hardly remember anything. Much of the fighting was behind a large, foggy wall, and only the battle at Central Plaza appeared in her mind with frightening clarity.
And with those images came Arlo’s cry of pain, echoing in her ears.
His elbow!
Her gaze immediately fell on his right arm, and she finally noticed that it was resting in a sling, immobilized by a thick bandage. From there, her eyes darted anxiously over the rest of his body. He was wearing loose sweatpants and a T-shirt, which covered most of his body, but she could make out a few bruises.
Then she finally looked more closely at his face. A fine, clean cut ran across his right cheek and a large bandage adorned his left forehead. Deep shadows lay beneath his eyes, and a mixture of relief, concern, and deep exhaustion filled them.
“Arlo...” Elenya tried to raise her hand, wanting to touch him, but her trembling arm wouldn't obey her.
Arlo seemed to notice instantly what was going through her mind. “Shh, don't worry. I'm okay. It's no big deal.” He smiled reassuringly at her, but judging by the sceptical look Dr. Xu gave Arlo, it was worse than he wanted her to believe.
Her first instinct was to press him, to get the truth out of him. She knew her husband — stubborn in some things, and always convinced he needed to be strong for her.
But Dr. Xu interrupted her before she could start. "Good, your pulse is starting to stabilize. How are you feeling?"
Pulled from her worried thoughts of Arlo, she needed a moment to process the question. "I… don't know. Everything feels… weird."
Arlo’s warm hand moved from her cheek into her hair, and only then did she notice the bandage wrapped around her head. Suddenly, her senses registered all the bandages that adorned her body.
Another gently wrapped around her neck, a firmer one held her left shoulder in a stable position, and her right hand also appeared to be bandaged.
The bandage around her head and neck made sense, but what about the others?
She didn't have to wait long for the answer. Dr. Xu always loved explaining everything to her in great detail.
"That doesn't surprise me. But I'm glad you don't seem to be in too much pain right now. Your body has been through a lot. Apart from all the injuries, the after-effects of my emergency tincture are not to be underestimated.
Sweating and trembling are among the side effects. Hallucinations and dizziness may also occur, as you have probably noticed. If Arlo's assessment is correct, you took the tincture about eight hours ago, so I expect the side effects should subside soon."
Elenya was a little shocked when she heard it had been eight hours. Had it really been that long?
She didn't get a chance to dwell on it, as Dr. Xu continued: "Now to your actual injuries. Your left shoulder was dislocated, which, together with the resulting severe bruising, will be very painful for a while. In addition, you have a few bruised ribs and quite a few bruises. I heard that you somersaulted a few times, which would fit in very well with these injuries and the deep abrasion on your right hand."
Dr. Xu cleared his throat once, and his usually friendly, gentle gaze filled with dark concern. “I've treated the cut on your neck. Fortunately, it didn't need stitches. What worries me most, however, is your concussion. I know it was an emergency, but rushing into battle with a concussion is far from ideal. You're lucky that nothing worse happened and that you woke up again.”
Elenya sensed Arlo tense up beside her at her words, and she made another attempt to touch him. This time she managed to place her hand on his hip and pressed it gently.
She didn't know what to do with this information herself, her brain working far too slowly and her thoughts clouded, but she knew she wanted to reassure Arlo. She wanted to show him that she was there. That she was awake and could move, however little that was at the moment.
A grateful, gentle kiss on her forehead was Arlo's answer, and with a tired but happy sigh, Elenya's eyes closed. The fog thickened in her head, but she tried to fight it. She still had too many questions to let herself drift back to sleep.
Dr. Xu seemed to notice her inner struggle and said, “Rest, Elenya. You've earned it.” With that, he withdrew, leaving her alone with Arlo again.
She immediately turned her gaze to him. She needed her answers. Without them, she would not be able to rest.
“Arlo...” Her voice was fragile. “What... actually happened? How did the fight end? And the others...?”
For a moment, he seemed to consider how much to tell her. Then he brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “We made it, sweetheart. The Rogue Knight got away, but we don’t think he’ll show his face again. Everyone’s fine so far. There were a few injuries, but they'll all recover.“ His eyes softened as he saw relief wash over her face. ”So you don't need to worry about anything other than getting well again."
Elenya exhaled shakily, relieved that everyone was okay.
They had done it.
The battle was over. The threat that had loomed over Portia for months was finally gone.
She yawned, and her body was overcome by a chill. Despite the blanket, goosebumps spread across her body. Arlo noticed it immediately, of course.
“You're freezing.” With a concerned frown, he reached with his good hand for the grey sweater that was draped over the back of the chair.
How he managed to put the sweater on her when they both had only one functioning arm was a mystery to her. But soon the warm fabric enveloped her and its familiar scent filled her nose, instantly making her feel better.
“Better?” he asked gently.
A faint but genuine smile crept onto her lips. “Yes. But something else would make it even better.”
Arlo looked down at her questioningly, and she slid as close to the wall as she could and patted the empty space next to her.
His eyes lit up instantly, and he carefully lay down next to her, as much as the space on the narrow bed allowed. His injured arm rested heavily on his stomach, and Elenya carefully placed her left arm next to it, mindful not to cause him or herself any pain. Her head found the familiar path to his shoulder, and he gently pulled her close.
“Finally over,” he murmured softly, a promise to both of them.
And for the first time in a long time, Elenya could believe it.
Summary: Elenya had been a bit sceptical when she received Huss and Tuss' invitation to their hot pot. But she never imagined that it would end with her being trapped in a burning building.
Word count: 7,080
Prompt: Trapped in a Burning Building
Author's note: Who expected to see me this soon again? Not me, that's for sure.
I can't believe how fast I got this one down on paper. I would like to say that it's because I've been thinking about it for three years, but this one gave me the most trouble to come up with. Having two opportunities in the game, besides all the other ideas I have had, it took me a while to settle on one. (I just wish I had a better picture for it)
This one is quite angsty I think, so be prepared for that. But that doesn't mean there are no cute scenes between Elenya and Arlo (and that damn sweater). You know me.
Warnings: Fire, very vague description of someone being sick
Read on AO3: Link
The Hot Pot Debacle
Why did she always have to have such bad luck?
Elenya didn't know how she kept finding herself in these situations. Arlo would probably say that her big heart drew her into everything, while Dr. Xu would probably start looking for a trouble magnet on her.
But it really wasn't her fault!
Huss and Tuss had invited her to a hot pot dinner to celebrate their new respectable lifestyle and their new home, and she couldn't very well decline. They were really trying to better themselves, and in her opinion, everyone deserved a second chance.
Of course, she still had some reservations, mainly about their cooking skills, but what could possibly go wrong?
As she quickly discovered, a lot.
The hotpot was cooking in a pot hanging over an open fire in the middle of the house. Before they could even start eating, the fire grew out of control, spreading across the floor and engulfing the walls within seconds. More and more smoke filled the room, and Elenya quickly had trouble breathing.
The two brothers tried to leave the house in a panic. Tuss flailed around frantically, heedless of the consequences. Huss just managed to dodge his flailing hand.
Elenya was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe; her lungs were burning and panic was clouding her mind. She was going to suffocate!
She was about to run after Tuss in panic when she noticed that Huss's pant leg had gotten caught in the structure holding the pot over the fire and he couldn't get free. He tried frantically to break loose, but the metal wouldn't budge.
Without thinking, Elenya threw herself onto the floor in front of him and desperately tried to free his trouser leg. She was plagued by incessant coughing fits, which made it difficult to coordinate her hands.
Damn it! If they didn't hurry, the ceiling would collapse on top of them!
Then she had a saving thought: Her knife! She quickly grabbed the small knife she always carried on her belt and cut through the fabric without hesitation.
Now finally free, Huss rushed out of the burning house, which was increasingly resembling a fiery inferno. Elenya straightened up and was about to do the same when, suddenly, there was a loud crack above her. Before she knew what was happening, she was lying face down on the floor, something hot and heavy pressing down on her thighs.
So here she was now.
Gasping for air as her lungs filled with smoke and a hot inferno raged around her.
Heat surrounded her entire body, licking at her skin, while whatever was lying on her thighs grew hotter and hotter.
Through her tear-filled eyes, she could no longer see anything.
If she had still had the strength, she would certainly have panicked.
But with every burning breath, her awareness faded. The bright light around her grew darker, and the last thing she heard was the splashing of water.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Arlo considered taking a nap. The words in front of him kept blurring, and he found it difficult to concentrate on Remy's Rapport.
Emily had thrown him out of bed at 3 a.m. because a strange animal had startled and attacked her chickens. She had managed to scare it away with a loud bang, but was afraid it would return, so Arlo assured her he would look for it.
Elenya, who had also been woken up by the frantic knocking, offered to accompany him, but he sent her back to bed with a reassuring kiss. It was his job to ensure the safety of the village, and she shouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Unfortunately, the hunt had taken much longer than he had expected. By the time he finally found the culprit, the sun was already rising and it was no longer worth going back to bed.
Now it was late afternoon, and he was really struggling. The bed in his old room called to him, but he knew that if he slept now, he wouldn't be able to sleep a wink tonight.
Instead, he decided to go outside for a bit. The fresh air and exercise would do him good.
With a quiet groan, he stretched, then made his way to the door.
Outside, the warm spring sun was already low in the sky. For a moment, he basked in its rays. Winter was not too long behind them, and the warm sun was a welcome sight.
Arlo decided to take a walk around the village. That way, he could check that everything was okay while trying to wake himself up. He turned right towards the ruins and set off at a leisurely pace.
For a moment, he considered making a detour home to give Elenya a kiss, but then he remembered that she was at Huss and Tuss's. Hopefully she wouldn't come home with food poisoning.
He was sceptical of the two bandits as they had already wasted many hours of his time, but he was willing to give them a chance. Which didn't mean they knew what they were doing, though.
Who knew what they considered to be edible?
He was just level with Abandoned Ruins #2 when loud, rapid hoofbeats snapped him out of his thoughts.
Someone was riding up the path he was about to enter at breakneck speed and all his alarm bells went off immediately. Apart from his two colleagues, hardly anyone rode within the city walls, let alone at such speed. Something must have happened.
He looked down the path expectantly, trying to prepare himself for whatever might be around the corner. But no matter how much time he might have had, nothing could have prepared him for the sight that greeted him.
Between the trees, he could make out brown fur, which didn't immediately reveal whether it was Sam or Remy approaching him. But then a bright green flashed, and shortly thereafter, Remy came into view.
At Arrow's speed, he couldn't make out much at first, but when he finally realized what was playing out before him, Arlo's face fell.
Covered in ash from head to toe, Remy sat on his horse, and in front of him, limp and completely lifeless, was Elenya. Arlo's heart sank, and for a moment he forgot to breathe.
What...?
Remy didn't seem to notice that he was standing at the side of the road, because he shot past him without stopping, heading straight for the clinic. It took Arlo far too long to get his body, frozen in shock, moving.
What had happened? Why... why was Elenya unconscious? Was she...?
Panic spread through his chest and, without realizing it, he suddenly found himself standing in front of the clinic door. Remy and Elenya were nowhere to be seen; only Arrow stood in front of the door, breathing heavily.
For a moment, he felt sorry for the horse, but his thoughts quickly became filled with worry and panic over his wife. Frantically, he pushed open the clinic doors.
“Where is she?!”
With wide, panicked eyes, he looked around the clinic until his gaze fell on the familiar shape on the hospital bed at the back. Subconsciously, his feet started moving, his gaze never leaving his little builder for a second.
She, too, was covered in ash from head to toe, her head hanging limply to one side. A strange sound that seemed to come from her lungs filled the room. Dr. Xu leaned over her with a stethoscope while Phyllis tried to untangle a clear mask.
His brain struggled to process what he was seeing, and he desperately tried to reach for Elenya.
But before he could get close enough, two brown eyes suddenly appeared in his field of vision and he heard Remy call his name for the first time.
“Arlo! Stop!'
Startled, he looked up at his best friend. Close up, he looked even worse than he had on the horse. There was ash everywhere, and Arlo was sure that the skin underneath looked too red.
Desperately, he looked from Remy to Elenya. “Remy... What happened?”
“There was a fire. Elenya, she...” Remy didn't get any further. A terrible coughing fit overtook him, and he began to sway slightly. Without thinking, Arlo grabbed his upper arms and led him to the stool in front of Dr. Xu's desk.
He carefully lowered Remy onto it while he tried to recover from the coughing fit.
“Elenya, she was...” Remy tried to continue hoarsely, but another cough quickly interrupted him.
Arlo was torn. He wanted — no, he needed — to know what had happened to Elenya, but he couldn't bear to see his friend suffer like this.
“Calm down, Remy. Take it slowly," Arlo said, trying to reassure him. But Remy just shook his head and tried to continue.
“No, they need to...” another cough, “her thighs.” That was too much and Remy bent over, coughing violently.
Arlo patted him on the back, worried that he would suffocate if he didn't get air soon. Fortunately, Phyllis stepped up beside them, another mask attached to a gas cylinder in her hand. She pressed the mask over Remy's nose and mouth, instructing him to breathe in as deeply as possible.
After a few attempts, Remy's facial features finally relaxed, and he took a few deep breaths through the mask.
Arlo turned to the medic. “Phyllis... I don't know what happened, but something's wrong with her thighs?” He looked questioningly back at Remy, who nodded.
“Okay, we'll take a good look at her. For now, we're trying to improve her breathing. She must have inhaled a lot of smoke.”
Arlo would have loved to learn more about her, but now that Remy was able to breathe properly again, she scurried back to Elenya's side and Arlo tried to appeal to his sense of reason.
Elenya needed Phyllis!
Overwhelmed by the situation, Arlo turned back to Remy, who was holding the mask to his face with his fingertips. This seemed strange to Arlo, but his brain was working far too slowly to process the information.
However, the oxygen seemed to help Remy; when he lowered the mask, he didn't cough immediately and was able to speak a few words.
'I'm sorry, Arlo. I almost arrived too late.” Full of worry and guilt, Remy looked up at him, and Arlo looked back, confused.
Almost too late? He didn't even want to think about those words.
"There's nothing to apologise for. I'm sure it's not your fault. But... what happened? Why is Elenya...?" Desperately, he turned his gaze back to the bed, where Elenya now had a mask over her face too, and was being turned onto her side so that her thighs could be examined.
“I don't know exactly. I was patrolling around WOW Industries when I saw a large cloud of smoke in the east." Remy had to pause briefly to take a few breaths with the mask on. “I rode in that direction as fast as I could and was horrified to see that Huss and Tuss's house was completely engulfed in flames.”'
Once again, Arlo's heart sank. Why had he known that something would go wrong at the meeting? But he had expected food poisoning, not this!
“Tuss was already standing in front of the house when I arrived, and Huss came rushing out shortly after. At first, I thought the worst had been averted, but then Huss mentioned that Elenya was still inside.” Another coughing fit took hold of him, and this time Arlo pressed the mask back onto Remy's face.
Even though he was bursting with tension inside, he at least knew that Remy had been able to rescue Elenya from the flames, so he couldn't in good conscience let his best friend suffer.
Once his breathing had calmed down, Remy continued: "I couldn't see anything through the high flames, but luckily Huss and Tuss had built their house right next to the lake. The three of us managed to extinguish the fire at the entrance, and when I finally saw Elenya... God, I thought..." A shiver of horror ran through his body and Arlo had an idea of what was going through his mind.
“I didn't wait for us to extinguish more of the fire, but jumped right in. There she was, lying on the floor, one of the heavy skylights resting on her thighs and the flames dangerously close to her.”
Arlo suddenly wished Remy hadn't described what had happened in such detail. An image popped into his head that made his heart stop.
Elenya, lying on the floor in a panic, hot, all-consuming flames surrounding her while she was unable to move. How scared must she have been?
Guilt mingled with all the other emotions already raging inside him. Guilt that he hadn't been there for her when she needed him. That he hadn't been able to protect her.
“I struggled to lift the frame off her, the metal already heated by the fire, and the smoke was getting worse. I don't know how long it took, or how long she had been in the house, but by the time I finally managed to free her and carry her out, she was barely breathing and unresponsive. The sound of her lungs...”
Remy coughed again and, once more, held the mask between his fingertips over his nose and mouth. Finally, this strange detail made sense to Arlo.
Remy also always wore fingerless gloves, just like him, and when he had lifted the hot metal off Elenya...
Without thinking, he knelt down in front of his best friend, carefully reaching for the hand not holding the mask to examine the inside of his fingers.
He sucked in his breath with a hiss when he saw fiery red skin that was already blistering.
"Damn it, Remy! Why didn't you say anything? We have to cool the burns down immediately, otherwise, they'll only get worse!”
Remy lowered the mask and tried to wave him off. “It's okay, Elenya needs help much more urgently than I do right now. Once Dr. Xu and Phyllis have taken care of her, I can still say something.”
“Nonsense, I'm sure...” Arlo didn't get any further before he was interrupted by Phyllis, who suddenly appeared next to the two of them again, holding something wrapped in a towel.
“Here, for your hands. Arlo is right, you should have said something right away. The faster you treat a burn, the fewer problems it causes. Please hold this between your hands for the next 10 minutes, then I'll take a closer look at them," Phyllis instructed Remy and disappeared back to Elenya's side.
Remy did as he was told and Arlo watched with satisfaction as the tension gradually left Remy's face.
But Arlo's relief was short-lived, and he was consumed by worry again shortly afterwards. Remy's last words kept buzzing around in his head and he had to use all his strength to stop himself rushing over to Elenya's side to check she was still breathing.
Desperate, he ran his fingers through his hair and impatiently paced up and down the clinic. He could hear the concerned exchange between Dr. Xu and Phyllis, even if he couldn't make out every word.
However, what he did hear did nothing to ease his worries.: “Severe smoke inhalation,” “severe burns,” and “rapid pulse” only fuelled his fear.
Please let his beloved Elenya recover.
Why did she always have to get into situations like this? Since she had arrived in Portia, she had stumbled from one disaster to the next, and it seemed she couldn't even accept an invitation to dinner without something happening.
How had the fire only started?
He would have to ask Huss and Tuss about it later. He didn't know what had happened to them, but he didn't want to bother Remy any further. Remy was sitting exhausted on the stool, the cooling pad between his hands, and the oxygen mask now properly secured to his head.
Arlo would get his answers soon enough.
Still pacing back and forth, he was suddenly jolted out of his thoughts by a commotion. Startled, he looked over at the hospital bed, where Phyllis was frantically pulling the mask off Elenya's face while Dr. Xu held her head over the edge of the bed, directly above a bucket.
A gagging sound followed by a splashing noise could be heard, then the room was filled with the sound of a terrible coughing fit. Arlo had never heard Elenya cough so badly before.
Her asthma attacks sounded bad enough, but this was worse. Each cough came in quick succession, accompanied by quiet whimpering and a roaring sound that no lung should make.
It tore Arlo apart to see his little builder like this, and it became increasingly difficult for him not to simply take her in his arms and protect her from all the pain. Knowing that he couldn't do that, he made the hardest decision he had ever made.
He left the clinic.
Only when the light breeze outside brushed his face did he notice that tears were quietly rolling down his cheeks. Without bothering to wipe them away, he sank to the floor next to the clinic door and buried his face in his knees.
Even through the closed door, he could hear Elenya coughing, and it drove him crazy. He felt so helpless.
There was nothing he could do to ease Elenya's suffering except give Dr. Xu and Phyllis the space they needed to care for her.
He hated not being able to do anything.
He sat leaning against the clinic for what seemed like an eternity. At some point, Sam sat down next to him, but he couldn't really remember their conversation. She had seen Remy riding across the meadow in a hurry and wanted to know what had happened. He answered her, but couldn't remember exactly what he said.
After a while, she left, and he thought she mentioned that she wanted to calm the worried minds of the people who had also seen Remy.
But that couldn't have interested him less at that moment.
His thoughts were solely focused on Elenya.
Only when Phyllis stepped out of the door and gently touched his shoulder did he startle out of his thoughts. He jumped up immediately and looked down at her expectantly.
“You're welcome to come in and see her. We've stabilised her as best we could."
Arlo didn't need to be told twice.
He quickly went back into the clinic and let his gaze wander. The first thing he noticed was the other hospital bed, where Remy now lay, his hands bandaged, his mask replaced by a kind of tube that ran under his nose, apparently asleep.
Concerned about his best friend, Arlo looked questioningly at Phyllis, who smiled reassuringly at him.
“Don't worry, he's doing fine so far. He also has mild smoke inhalation and we'll keep him here overnight for observation, but I'm sure he'll be much better tomorrow.”
Good, at least that was one thing he didn't have to worry too much about.
“Dr. Xu will be able to tell you more about Elenya. Feel free to sit down with her.” Phyllis pointed to the bed at the back, which was now partially hidden behind a room divider. Arlo walked towards it with uncertain steps.
He was afraid of what awaited him.
The first thing he noticed was that Elenya was lying on her side, her face toward him and Dr. Xu, who was standing behind the bed and holding a stethoscope to her back. Only then did he take in Elenya's appearance.
Her clothes had been taken off and she was now wearing a thin hospital gown which swallowed her up completely. The large mask that supplied her with oxygen was still covering her mouth and nose, but it only partially managed to mask the unnatural sound of her breathing.
The ash that had covered her skin had been completely cleaned off, allowing him to see the unnatural redness of her face, arms, and legs. On her thighs, under the hospital gown, he could just make out thick bandages.
Given Remy's story and the burns he had suffered during his rescue mission, Arlo could only too well imagine what was under the bandages. His Elenya must have suffered so much as the heat of the metal gradually penetrated her clothes and burned her skin.
With a heavy heart, he dropped onto the chair next to the bed and carefully reached for her hand. He didn't dare exert even a little force, afraid that he might hurt her.
"Hey sweetheart, what have you gotten yourself into yet again?" he asked tenderly, kissing her lightly on the temple. Then he turned to Dr. Xu, who had his hand on her pulse and was counting the seconds on his watch.
As soon as he was sure that Dr. Xu was finished, Arlo asked him tensely: “How is she? What exactly is wrong with her?"
With a heavy sigh, Dr. Xu dropped his hand and looked at Arlo sombrely.
“To be honest, she’s not well at all. I had to sedate her to give her body a chance to recover."
A new wave of concern washed over Arlo at these words, and he looked back at Elenya's face, which was completely relaxed and showed no signs of pain. He wasn't sure if he welcomed that, considering the reason why it was like that in the first place.
"The hot smoke has burned her airways. Every breath is painful for her right now, not to mention the severe smoke inhalation. Without the sedative, she wouldn't be able to rest peacefully. And that's something she desperately needs right now." Dr. Xu explained, and Arlo couldn't help but press another long, gentle kiss to Elenya's temple.
His heart ached at the thought of how much pain she must be in if she could feel it. He couldn't even begin to imagine what a respiratory burn felt like.
“The rest of her injuries are generally mild burns all over her body, similar to sunburn. The burns on the back of her thighs are more serious. From what I've just heard, she was seemingly trapped by a hot metal frame, which resulted in severe second-degree burns."
Arlo had to swallow hard.
"Fortunately, if you can call them that, they are only two relatively narrow strips, but the skin is badly damaged and the burns are weakening her body even more. This type of burn takes several weeks to heal, and unfortunately it will be very painful for a while. However, I will do my best to speed up the healing process and prevent scarring."
With a heavy sigh, Dr. Xu checked her pulse again, but seemed more satisfied with the result this time. "Good, her pulse is slowly normalising. That means she can finally rest in peace. Can you help me turn her back onto her back? She can breathe more easily then."
Arlo jumped at the chance to do something useful. No matter how small, he had to do something. The thought of the struggle ahead for Elenya, and of the pain she would be in, was driving him mad.
He carefully helped Dr. Xu turn Elenya onto her back again, taking care not to subject her to any unnecessary jolts. Once she was lying properly, Dr. Xu slid a round pillow under her knees to prevent her burns from touching the mattress.
He then inserted an IV to provide her with fluids and left them alone.
Arlo let out a heavy sigh and fell back onto the chair, looking at Elenya with concern. With the oxygen mask covering half her face, she looked incredibly small and fragile in the large hospital bed.
The urge to wrap her in his arms and shield her from everything bad in the world was stronger than ever. Her wonderful, loving self didn't deserve to be treated like this.
But he also knew that she wouldn't allow it. She was far too strong and full of life to let him hold her back, and he admired her for it. Loved her for not needing his protection, but always gladly accepting it anyway.
Gently brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, he reached for her hand again, holding it tenderly. Even though he knew she couldn't hear him, he leaned down to her ear and whispered, "I'm here, my darling. I'll watch over you."
Arlo didn't know exactly how much time had gone by where he just sat next to Elenya and watched over her sleep. He knew there wasn't much he could do, but being by her side made him feel better, if only a little.
Took away some of the helplessness that threatened to overwhelm him.
Phyllis seemed to have noticed what was going on inside him because she approached him with a transparent jar containing a clear cream and handed it to him.
"Here," she said. "If you want, you can help me put cream on her burns on her arms and legs. The ointment is cooling and should help them heal faster."
Arlo straightened up at the words. He would do anything to help her.
Phyllis's gaze softened at the sight of his eagerness. "You're welcome to do it by yourself. I'm sure she's in good hands with you."
"Of course. I'll be very careful." His gaze drifted back to Elenya, full of love and gratitude at finally having something to do.
“I have no doubt about that.” With these gentle words, Phyllis withdrew and left him alone with Elenya.
He opened the tin and loaded a small amount onto his fingers. Carefully, he spread the herbal-scented cream over the reddened skin covering her entire right arm. He gently massaged it into her skin, making sure he didn't miss any spots.
One might almost have thought it was just a simple sunburn covering her. But the bandages around her thighs and the unnatural sound of her breathing revealed the truth. A fire had tried to consume her, and he realised once again how close he had come to losing her.
The thought made him pause. He was almost finished with her right leg when his hands began to shake.
Taking a few deep breaths, he tried to calm down.
It hadn't come to that. She was here, in front of him, and he had to take care of her. She needed his help.
He watched her chest rise and fall for a moment to make sure she was still with him, only then did his pulse calm and his hands stopped shaking.
He had something to do.
He finished treating her right leg, being careful not to disturb her bad burns, and then walked around the bed to start on her left leg. He tried to focus only on Elenya and his task.
Banished any thought of the fire and enjoyed being close to her instead. Touching her as gently as if she could feel it, careful not to cause her any additional pain.
With that, he finally managed to clear his head and he felt almost as calm as he had before he saw Remy hurrying up the path. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then.
But with that calm came back the tiredness that had originally led him out of the headquarters. Exhausted, he slumped back into the chair and closed the jar of ointment.
He was tempted to sleep here in the chair and not leave Elenya's side, but he also knew that this would achieve nothing except a kink in his neck. She wouldn't wake up until tomorrow morning at the earliest. If Dr. Xu thought it necessary to keep her sedated, she would even sleep for a while longer.
So, with a heavy heart, he decided to go home and sleep for a while. With a gentle kiss on her forehead and a "See you tomorrow, sweetheart. I'll be back soon," he said goodbye to her.
Remy was still asleep, so he said goodbye to the two doctors and set off in the hope of getting a few hours' sleep.
Unfortunately, sleeping was going to be more difficult than he had hoped. The big bed felt too empty without Elenya, and when he finally managed to fall asleep, he was haunted by an old memory.
He was just a little boy then, not even ten years old. A hot, dry summer had hit Portia. It hadn't rained for days, and his parents had warned him not to play with fire.
He didn't know why at the time, but he soon learned what could happen if the soil and plants became too dry. He didn't know what had happened back then, but one day, while he was practising with his wooden sword on a self-made training dummy, a fire suddenly broke out in the middle of his parents' fields.
Within minutes, a field full of golden wheat was completely consumed by the flames. Fascinated and horrified, he had only been able to watch this natural spectacle unfold back then. How the harvest of half a year burned to ashes in front of him.
But this time, something else interfered with his memory. Instead of just seeing the field in front of him engulfed in flames, there was suddenly Elenya. She lay unconscious on the ground as the fire danced around her and panicked, he tried to get to her.
He desperately called out her name.
But no matter how fast he ran, she seemed to get further and further away from him. The fire was getting closer to her, and he knew he would be too late.
With a scream, he shot up in bed. Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, his eyes met the wardrobe opposite their bed.
It took his brain a moment to process that nothing was burning around him. He was at home in their bed while Elenya was safe in hospital.
She was okay. The flames couldn't hurt her anymore.
Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was only 5 o'clock in the morning. With a heavy sigh, Arlo let himself fall back into the pillows. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep anymore.
Every summer, he thought back to the day half of his parents' fields fell victim to flames, reminding people to always be careful with fire. He never wanted to experience a fire like that again.
Still trembling slightly, he got out of bed and stepped under the cold shower to banish the nightmare.
He managed to distract himself until 7 o'clock, but then he couldn't bear it any longer and made his way back to the clinic. On the way, he met Dr. Xu, who was also heading there. He explained that Phyllis had offered to look after Elenya and Remy overnight while he got some sleep, and now wanted to relieve her.
It was quiet in the clinic. Elenya and Remy were sleeping peacefully, while Phyllis sat in a chair reading a book.
When Arlo finally got Elenya back into his field of vision, something loosened in his chest that had been making it difficult for him to breathe since the nightmare. When it came to her, his rationality went overboard and his emotions took over.
~~~~~~
For two more days, Dr. Xu kept Elenya in a light coma. The burns on her airway were slow to heal and he didn’t want to expose her to unnecessary pain.
On the second day, he finally learned from Tuss and Huss exactly what had happened. As he had almost expected, Tuss was the first to flee the house, with no thought for the other two. However, what filled him with both desperation and pride was what Huss had to say.
As it turned out, Elenya's big heart was once again the reason why she had been hurt. Huss's trouser leg had gotten caught in the grill, and of course she couldn't resist helping him.
As much as he loved her for that very big heart and her selflessness, he wished she would show a little more self-preservation sometimes. It would have saved him a lot of worry.
Still, he couldn't be angry with her. Not when she had probably saved Huss's life.
Arlo hardly got any sleep during those days. Every night, he was haunted by the same nightmare, no matter what he did. Between his visits to Elenya, he went on patrol, exercised a lot more to burn off energy and tried to distract himself in other ways, but nothing helped.
Only Elenya's hand in his could calm him down.
It was now midday on the third day; Dr. Xu hadn't given her any more sedatives and expected her to wake up at any moment.
Arlo sat anxiously in the now familiar chair next to her bed while the rain gently beat against the windows outside. He couldn't wait to see her beloved green eyes again.
~*~*~*~*~
Elenya was floating on a soft cloud. Everything around her was soft and warm, and she couldn't feel anything at all. Did she even have a body?
She didn't know, nor did she have the energy to think about it.
She let herself drift on the cloud, which carried her towards a warm light. The warm light was soon joined by a warm voice. A voice she knew.
She might not have known if she had a body, but she knew whose voice it was.
Arlo.
He was whispering softly in her ear, things she couldn't quite make out, but she was sure she heard the word “wake up”.
Wake up?
...
Was she asleep?
She instructed the cloud to move faster towards the light and shortly afterwards she was completely enveloped in the warm light and then... darkness.
But the darkness wasn't quiet. Arlo's voice was much clearer now, and she could make out what he was saying.
"... take as much time as you need. I'll be here when you're finally ready."
His warm words hit her right ear and she turned subconsciously in the direction of his voice. Immediately his voice fell silent and a surprised gasp could be heard.
"Sweetheart? Can you hear me?"
Elenya tried to make a sound, but her vocal cords refused to obey her. So instead, she mustered all her strength and tried to open her eyes.
A blurry red and beige dot appeared in front of her, but after blinking a few times, she could make out Arlo's gently smiling face.
“Hey, there you are.” He leaned over and gently pressed his forehead against hers. His eyes, full of love and care, captured hers, and she lost herself in the warm blue depths.
However, the longer she was awake, the more aware she became of her body. Her skin felt wrong, she could feel something pressing on her thighs and there was something in her face that didn't belong there.
A confused sound finally escaped her throat, sending instant pain through it. A subconscious whimper followed the sound, which only caused more pain and she looked desperately at Arlo.
What had happened to her?
Arlo immediately pulled away and ran his hand soothingly through her hair. "Shh, don't try to talk. I'm afraid your airways are burnt."
Burnt?
It took everything in her not to make more confused sounds.
“Can you remember anything?”
She shook her head slightly.
“You were with Huss and Tuss when their house caught fire. One of the skylights fell on you after you rescued Huss. You inhaled a lot of smoke, which burned your airways. Your lungs are still recovering, too. This mask here,“ Arlo tapped gently against the something over her mouth and nose and now she finally knew what it was, ”is providing you with oxygen and helping you breathe."
Arlo's words made sense, but she couldn't remember anything. She could remember going to Huss and Tuss, but everything after that was black.
A fire had broken out? And if she was hit by a window, how did she get out?
Arlo seemed to anticipate her question, because he continued.
"Luckily Remy was nearby. He got you out of there. Without him, you might have..." He didn't finish his sentence, instead averting his gaze, his eyes full of despair.
Elenya's heart ached at the sight. She could imagine how much he had worried and reproached himself, and probably still did.
Trembling, she lifted her right arm and gently cupped his cheek, turning his face back towards her. She barely had the strength to do it, but she couldn't speak and had to somehow let him know that she was okay. Or at least would be.
Arlo seemed to notice her struggle and enveloped her hand in his, pressing it closer to his cheek. Closing his eyes, he leaned into her palm and she gently stroked his cheek with her thumb.
They stayed like that for a moment, Arlo's eyes closed while Elenya looked at him lovingly and worriedly. She could see the deep shadows under his eyes and she hoped that now that she was awake, he would get some sleep soon.
Then her thoughts drifted back to Arlo's story, and with it, to Remy. He had rescued her from the burning house and saved her life. How could she ever repay him? Was he even okay? Was he hurt in the process?
Concerned for her friend's well-being, she gently tapped Arlo's cheek to get his attention. His eyes instantly opened and looked down at her questioningly.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Do you need something? Are you in pain?"
Elenya shook her head, frustrated that she couldn't speak. How could she make her question clear to Arlo?
Her gaze fell on his hand, still cradling hers even though they were now lying on the bed. With difficulty, she brought her left hand to his and traced the letters 'R E M Y' on the back of his hand with a trembling finger, hoping he caught her meaning.
For a moment, he stared at her hands in confusion, but then he seemed to understand. His gaze flitted back to her eyes.
"Oh, you want to know about Remy?"
She nodded.
"Don't worry, he's mostly fine. He suffered slight smoke inhalation and burns to his fingers from lifting the metal frame off you. But they're already healing, thanks to Dr. Xu, and he's over at headquarters, recovering."
Elenya was relieved to hear this, but Arlo's gaze suddenly became heavy, and his eyes wandered down to her thighs. At that, she was suddenly reminded of the strange feeling again. What was wrong with her thighs?
'The metal frame... It lay on your thighs and heated up quickly. Dr. Xu said that there are only narrow strips, but the burns are deep... He doesn't think the nerves were destroyed, but there will most likely be scars," Arlo explained to her in a heavy voice, and Elenya looked down at herself in puzzlement.
The fact that she couldn't feel anything apart from the strange pressure told her that she had been given strong painkillers. As she was covered with a light blanket, she couldn't see anything and so she turned her gaze back to Arlo, who was looking at her lovingly yet worriedly.
"It will take a while for the burns to heal and for you to be able to move normally again," he said, gently pressing his forehead back against hers. "But I will take care of you."
Elenya had no doubt about that. He was always there for her, and she couldn't imagine a better man. As long as he was by her side, she could do anything.
What she couldn't do, however, was stay awake.
Her limbs suddenly felt as heavy as lead, and her eyes threatened to close.
Blinking heavily, she tried to keep them open. She didn't want to miss being close to Arlo!
Arlo seemed to sense her thoughts, because a soft chuckle rang out, followed by a long, warm kiss on her forehead.
"Get some rest, sweetheart. Your body still needs a lot of energy to get you back on your feet. I'm afraid I have to leave soon anyway to help Sam with patrols, since Remy's out of action. But I'll be back as soon as I can, okay?"
Although it hurt, Elenya couldn't stop herself from letting out a small, distressed whimper this time. She didn't want Arlo to leave!
Shortly afterwards, she felt sorry for having thought that, knowing that Arlo's job was important and that he would stay with her if he could. Nevertheless, she wished he could have stayed with her.
Elenya wasn't sure if the painkiller was wearing off, but her head was starting to ache and her whole body felt uncomfortable. She didn't want to be alone.
With tears in her eyes, she looked up at Arlo, who was returning her gaze mournfully.
"I'm so sorry, darling. I'd stay with you all the time if I could." Apologetically, he gently stroked her hair and she leaned into the familiar gesture.
“Here, maybe this will help you a little.”
Confused, Elenya opened her eyes, which had closed involuntarily, and watched through blurred vision as Arlo removed his sweater. Even in her muddled thoughts, she could tell that it was her favourite one. The grey, soft sweater that always smelled of Arlo.
He placed it so that she could nestle her cheek against it, with the rest of the fabric lying over her shoulder and chest. Unfortunately, the mask prevented her from smelling it, but the familiar fabric alone helped to soothe her unease.
Warmth enveloped her, and an almost soundless sigh escaped her.
She would have preferred to have the real Arlo with her, but she could live with his sweater if there was no other way.
Arlo's large hand brushed gently through her hair again, and his voice rang out once more: "I'll stay here until Dr. Xu comes back from his lunch break. I'm sure he'll be able to give you some painkillers again to make you feel more comfortable."
How did he always know what she needed?
She was already about to fall into the healing lap of sleep when warm lips pressed against her forehead again and the soft, loving words: "Sleep well, my heart. I love you." reached her.
Feeling warm and safe, she drifted down into the darkness.
Summary: Elenya just couldn't catch a break. Even on her day off, she managed to get thrown off her horse, only to land in a bush full of the only plant she was allergic to.
Word count: 6,171
Prompt: Allergic Reaction
Author's note: Look who's back after just six weeks instead of several months! I can't believe how quickly I was able to write this as soon as I had the time.
I originally had a different plan for this one (all those years ago), but I couldn't figure out how to make it work in a post post-apocalyptic world. So now you get this 6,200-word piece of tooth-rotting fluff. I don't think I've used this warning in a while, but you should definitely make an appointment with your dentist in advance this time. You'll need it!
Warnings: Allergic Reaction, Rashes, Lots of Fluff
Read on AO3: Link
Of All the Bushes in Portia
It was a beautiful, warm late spring day in Portia when Elenya and Arlo were on their way to Eufaula Heights. The sun shone pleasantly on the town's residents, nature was in bloom, and birds were singing. It was the perfect day for a trip to the waterfalls.
Although it was a Thursday, they had decided spontaneously to take the day off and finally go on a date again. They had been swamped with work for weeks, so they were seizing the first opportunity to spend time together.
This morning, Arlo had woken Elenya with a deep kiss and the words, "Let's have a picnic," and she had immediately agreed. She missed her husband, as strange as that might sound. Falling asleep next to him and saying a quick goodbye to each other in the morning just wasn't enough.
They both made sure that Portia could manage without them for a day, then set off late in the morning. They packed a simple picnic, saddled their horses, and strapped on their weapons. Even though it was going to be a leisurely day, you could never be too careful.
The sun had already warmed the desert sand, and Elenya was glad she had put on her favourite black shorts and yellow T-shirt. Even Arlo was only wearing a T-shirt with his usual long jeans, and Elenya couldn't help but look over at him every now and then to admire his arms.
No matter how long they had been together, or how many times she had seen him naked, she just couldn't get enough of him. Not only was he one of the kindest and most helpful people she had ever met, he also happened to look great.
Sometimes, she still couldn't believe her luck. That he had chosen to share his life with her. To love her. To protect her.
Dreamily, she looked over at Arlo again. He was sitting relaxed on Spacer with his eyes closed and a smile on his lips, his face turned upwards into the sun. The warm light made his red hair glow, making her want to run her fingers through its soft strands.
Her heart tightened at the thought of how much she loved this man.
Noticing her gaze, he suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head in her direction. The smile on his lips deepened, and he looked at her tenderly.
“What are you thinking about right now?”
"How much I love you."
"Oh, is that so?" He raised one eyebrow teasingly and steered Spacer closer to her. Now he was right next to her, and she could see the slight blush on his face that he was trying to hide.
"I'm sure I love you a lot more." Capturing her gaze, he reached for her right hand and brought it to his lips. Gently, he kissed each of her fingers and now it was her turn to blush.
Unfortunately, he knew her too well, knowing exactly how to throw her off guard. But this time, she wasn't going to let him win.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. I love you more than anything!"
"And I love you more than the sun in the sky."
"Oh yeah? Well, I love you to the moon and back...twice!"
"Oooh, are you going to hit me with science now?"
“The distance to the moon isn't science!” Giggling, she punched him lightly on the upper arm, and Arlo took the chance to catch her hand and hold it gently in his.
"Hm, I don't know, sounds pretty scientific to me. Maybe I should ask Ack.” The teasing grin he gave her contrasted with his gentle hold on her hand, and Elenya couldn't think of anything better.
Their banter went on for quite a while as their horses led them safely through the desert. They had already ridden past the old ruin and up the hill, and the sand beneath them was slowly turning to light grass.
To their left, below the cliff, the river flowed, rushing past, and more and more green bushes and trees replaced the desert. Further ahead of them, the wind turbines she had built a year ago loomed. An incredible project.
But the two of them were oblivious to all this, too absorbed in their closeness and intimacy. Unfortunately, their idyll was not to last much longer.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a desert hopper shot out of the bushes to their left. To Elenya's dismay, her mare was so startled that she reared up. Elenya desperately tried to hold on, but her poor Rayna was so frightened that she tried to turn around, throwing Elenya off.
With a startled cry, Elenya flew through the air and landed lightly cushioned in the bushes to her left. She barely managed to stop herself from reaching out reflexively, and instead landed with full force on her left side, jamming her elbow between her ribs and the ground.
The impact knocked the wind out of her, leaving her disoriented and gasping for breath.
“Elenya!” Arlo's horrified voice sounded as if from far away in her ringing ears.
With a groan, she was about to turn onto her back to let more air into her chest when a large hand wrapped itself around her right ankle and stopped her with a “Don't move!”.
Confused, she turned her still slightly disoriented gaze to her feet, where Arlo was kneeling and looking at her with concern.
"What...?" She was still struggling to breathe properly, each breath sending a short pain shooting through her side.
"There's a bush full of thorns behind you. Did you hurt yourself somewhere? Did you hit your head?" Arlo asked her anxiously, his gaze travelling over her body.
Thorns?
Elenya let her gaze wander over her surroundings and realized that she was lying in a bed full of plants and flowers that looked familiar to her. They were surprisingly soft and the flowers were a white-yellow colour. One of them gently brushed her cheek and tickled her.
Shaking her head slightly, she turned her gaze back to Arlo.
"No... I don't think so. My elbow was pressed into my ribs, but I don't think anything's broken..."
"Okay, that's good. Let me get you out of there. I'll be very careful."
"Wait! Then you'll get caught in the thorns!" Elenya tried to stop him, but he just smiled reassuringly at her and stepped into the bushes.
“Don't worry about me.”
Arlo bent down to her, carefully slipping his arms beneath her shoulders and knees, and slowly lifted her up into his arms. Elenya couldn't suppress a pained hiss as blood flowed back into her left arm, causing her elbow to throb violently.
Arlo carried her a few steps away from the bushes and set her down gently in the grass. Concerned, he knelt down in front of her and carefully took her left hand in his to examine her elbow.
“Let me see... Oh no, what's that?”
“Huh?” Confused, Elenya looked down at her arm, surprised to see it turning red with small blisters appearing everywhere.
What was that?
"Your leg too! And even your left cheek." Arlo's gaze wandered over her entire left side, full of concern.
It took a moment for the sight to sink in, but as soon as it did, her arm and leg suddenly began to burn and itch. With a hiss, she buried her right hand in the grass beside her to stop herself touching her skin.
Pained, she looked into Arlo's eyes, who looked at her full of compassion.
"I'm afraid whatever you've landed in, you're allergic to it. I'm so sorry, sweetie. I'm sure it burns terribly."
Elenya could only nod. Even her cheek was starting to burn now. Her skin tightened uncomfortably, almost painfully, and she felt the need to jump into the river to get some relief.
Why did she always have to be so unlucky? Couldn't she even enjoy one day off?
Arlo brought her back to the present by gently cupping her right cheek. He pressed his forehead against hers and held her gaze.
"Let me take a look at your elbow and then I'll take you to Dr. Xu, okay? I'm sure he can help you. You just have to hang in there a little longer. Can you do that?'
"I... I don't know. It burns so terribly." Tears welled up in Elenya's eyes, which she desperately tried to suppress. Their lovely day was ruined; her elbow and ribs hurt, and her whole side felt like it was on fire.
She thought the whole thing was just unfair.
"I know, sweetheart. I know. I'll hurry." Arlo gave her a long reassuring kiss, which Elenya tried to lose herself in. When she only thought about Arlo, she couldn't think about her skin.
Unfortunately, he had to pull away from her again and instead very carefully took her elbow in his hands. He was careful not to touch her reddened skin, for which she was grateful.
She couldn't suppress a soft whimper when he gently pressed the side of the joint, and Arlo let go of her immediately.
"Sorry. I'm afraid you've bruised your joint. It's already swelling up." His gaze swept over her left side once more, full of warm concern, then he seemed to come to a decision.
"Dr. Xu can take a look at your ribs in a moment. Let's get you there first before it gets any worse. Come on, I'll help you up."
First, Arlo helped her to stand up, and then he helped her to sit on Spacer.
Elenya's poor Rayna had run away in shock, but Elenya wasn't worried about her. She knew the way home and would certainly be waiting for her later.
Arlo sat behind her, wrapping his right arm carefully around her stomach to avoid touching her ribs. His warm, familiar closeness gave Elenya the strength to ignore her battered side. Instead, she snuggled as close to him as she could and focused on him alone.
By the time they finally arrived at the clinic, the burning and itching had become almost unbearable. She felt hot and, without meaning to, kept letting out quiet whimpers.
"I know, sweetheart, we're almost there. Dr. Xu will definitely have something that will help you." Arlo tried to comfort her, but his words couldn't ease her suffering.
Why did she have to land in a bush covered in a plant she was allergic to?
Arlo stopped Spacer in front of the clinic door and carefully helped her down, taking care not to touch her left side or elbow.
As soon as she was on the ground, Elenya quickly grabbed Arlo's right hand to stop herself from scratching. It was getting harder and harder.
They entered the clinic together and almost bumped into Dr. Xu, who was probably just about to leave for his lunch break. Elenya felt guilty for interrupting him, but she couldn't wait any longer.
“Elenya, Arlo! What can I do for you?" Dr. Xu looked up at Arlo first and then at Elenya, his gaze first moving to her cheek and then sliding down to her arm and leg. Understanding spread across his face.
"Oh, I see. How did this happen?” Dr. Xu instructed the two to go to the bed on the left wall while he put his doctor’s coat back on.
“We were out for a short ride when Rayna was suddenly startled by a desert hopper. Unfortunately, she managed to throw me off...,” At Elenya's words, Dr. Xu gave her a concerned look, but didn't interrupt her. "I fell into a bush, which cushioned my fall, but I'm afraid I'm allergic to one of the plants." She only managed to get the last part out through clenched teeth as a new wave of itching and burning rolled over her left side.
She was now sitting on the hospital bed while Arlo stood in front of her, gently holding her hands. Elenya desperately clung to him to try to escape the burning somehow. If it didn't stop soon, she was going to go mad!
She could feel the first frustrated tears welling up in her eyes, which only made her more frustrated. Arlo tried to calm her down by planting a long kiss on her right temple, but that only brought the tears closer to overflowing.
Luckily, Dr. Xu came over to them, his doctor's coat on and a vial in his hand.
"Okay, we'll get to the 'thrown from the horse' thing in a moment. The way your skin looks, we'll have to take care of that first." Stepping in front of her after Arlo had made room for him, the doctor examined her with warm concern.
Although Arlo had to let go of her left hand to do so, he held onto her right, which she was grateful for. She needed the contact to be able to focus on something else.
“Do you know what kind of plant you fell into?” Dr. Xu asked as he examined her cheek and then her arm, scrutinising them closely and lingering briefly on her elbow. Nothing escaped his trained eye.
Elenya had to think for a moment before she remembered the name. She had collected them many times before, but she had always been bad with names.
“I think they were chrysanthemums. I often collect them to make antidotes when I go to the Sewage Plants. But why am I suddenly having such a strong reaction to them?'
Realization dawned on Dr. Xu's face when he heard the name of the plant. "Ah, it's not uncommon to get a rash from mere skin contact with the chrysanthemum. In medicine, especially in Seesai, it is often used as a medicinal plant, but that doesn't mean that skin contact can't be problematic. There are..."
She could see that he wanted to say more about the plant, but then he must have seen the look of suffering on her face, because he interrupted himself and uncorked the vial he was still holding instead.
"I'm sorry, I can tell you more in a moment if you like, but let's do something about the itching first. Here's a ginger-based tincture to counteract your immune system's overreaction. It should provide quick relief."
Elenya tried to reach for the bottle with her left hand, but a sharp pain shot through her elbow immediately, causing her to drop her arm with a startled hiss. The itching and burning had momentarily distracted her from the pain.
Arlo wanted to let go of her right hand so she could have one free, but she only tightened her grip on him. The startled “No!” that escaped her was embarrassing, but she didn't want to give up contact. She needed him as an anchor.
"Okay, I'm not letting go." With a fond, albeit worried, smile, Arlo took the vial offered by Dr. Xu and lifted it to her lips in her place.
With a hot face, she drank the thick tincture. Fortunately, Dr. Xu was kind enough to ignore her childish behaviour.
The burning spiciness of ginger hit her tongue, muffled fortunately by a lot of honey and something else she couldn't define. Yet she couldn't stop her face from scrunching up.
Hopefully this stuff will work quickly.
As if he could read her mind, Dr. Xu said, "I know it doesn't taste very good, but I promise it will help quickly." He gave her a brief smile, but then his gaze turned serious.
“Can you tell me what else happened when you fell? Apart from the fact that you were so lucky to land in the only plant you're allergic to? As I've already seen, you must have landed on your elbow.”
“Er, yes.” Elenya slid back on the bed to sit more comfortably. "I landed on my left side. My elbow got caught between the ground and me, which caused it to dig into my ribs. They hurt a bit now, but I don't think anything is broken."
Dr. Xu looked at her sceptically. "I think I'm still the best judge of that. Anything else that hurts? Did you hit your head?"
Elenya shook her head. "No, I don't think so. At least I don't have a headache."
“Okay, then I'd like to take a look at your ribs and elbow. Could you lie down for me, please?”
With Arlo's help, she slid back a little further on the bed and then lifted her legs onto it to lie down. Her side hurt a little, but less than she had feared.
He then positioned himself next to her head and started to gently stroke her hair. Gratefully, she leaned into his touch. Her skin was still burning, although not as badly, and she was grateful for the distraction.
Dr. Xu pushed her T-shirt up to look at her ribs, and Elenya was surprised at how blue her side already was. It looked a lot worse than it felt.
But the doctor came to the same conclusion as she did. Her ribs were only slightly bruised, which was painful, but did not require any further treatment. However, he had more to say about her elbow after making her perform several painful movements.
"It's badly bruised. I don't think anything is broken; the swelling would be worse if it was, but the bruise will also take a while to heal. You need to cool it a lot and, above all, keep it still.” He shot her a pointed look. “Normally I would bandage it, but your rash needs as much air as possible to heal faster."
I'll just get a few things that should help you for the next few days.” With that, he disappeared to the closet behind his desk and Elenya used the time to turn to Arlo.
She looked apologetically at him. "I'm sorry for ruining our day off. I was really looking forward to it."
Arlo pressed a gentle kiss to her temple before replying, “You have nothing to apologise for. I'm just glad nothing worse happened. I thought my heart was going to stop when Rayna reared up like that and threw you off. It wouldn't have taken much for you to fall over the cliff and into the river."
A haunted look settled on his face, and Elenya was quick to grab his hand, which still rested loosely in her hair. She hadn't even thought about that and was no less glad.
"Please don't think about it. Considering the circumstances, I'm fine, and Dr. Xu's tincture is already working wonders against the itching. I'll be fine.”
What she said was true. She hadn't realised it at first, but the itching and burning had significantly subsided and she could almost ignore it. Only the dry, tight feeling of her skin was still unpleasant.
"I'm glad to hear that," Dr. Xu's voice rang out in response. He came back to the bed where she was lying, his hands full.
"Here, I've got some different things for your rash and your elbow." He placed everything on the small table next to the bed and held up a bottle of light brown liquid.
“Since such a large area is affected, I suggest you add this to your bath water and soak in it for a while. It should help to reduce the inflammation. And this,“ he reached for a tin, ”you can gently massage onto the affected areas of skin. It's both cooling and moisturising. I'll also give you some ginger tincture, of course. Hopefully the rash will be as good as gone in a few days."
"Now for your elbow. As I can't bandage it properly, I'll give you a sling. Please wear it whenever you plan to move around. I've also got some ointment for the swelling and bruising. You can also apply it to your ribs."
Since they arrived at the clinic, Arlo intervened for the first time. “I'll make sure she sticks to everything. Thank you, Dr. Xu.”
"I have no doubt about that. And it's absolutely no problem. I'm always here if you need me. Even if I wish I wouldn't see you two here so often. Especially you, Elenya." Dr. Xu gave her a stern but friendly look, to which she responded with a sheepish smile.
It wasn't her fault that she kept stumbling into all sorts of mishaps!
"Thank you from me too, Dr. Xu. I'd be lost without you."
Xu waved her thanks away. "Like I said, no problem. I'd recommend taking a bath with the tincture as soon as you get home. It will help to stop the rash from getting worse or spreading.”
“Will do!” With Arlo's help, Elenya sat up and put on the sling. Then, having packed all the medication they needed, the two of them said goodbye to Xu.
~~~~~~
Much to Elenya's relief, Rayna was already waiting for them when they arrived home. She was standing in the stable, calmly nibbling on a bush overhanging the fence.
Elenya knew that Rayna knew the way home and hadn't worried too much, but it was good to see that she was fine and had calmed down.
Arlo helped her dismount Spacer again and pressed the bag with her medicine into her hand.
"Here, you go in and get some rest. I'll take care of the horses." With a gentle kiss, he sent her inside and she accepted his offer.
She would normally rather take care of Rayna herself, but she was still in pain and suddenly felt much more tired than was appropriate for the time of day.
She had intended to already start with running herself a bath, but as soon as she stepped through the door, the couch looked so inviting that she just kicked off her shoes, put the bag on the coffee table and then let herself fall into the soft cushion. Exhausted, she leaned her head against the backrest and closed her eyes.
She should have asked Dr. Xu for a painkiller. Her elbow was throbbing and wouldn't let her relax.
Nevertheless, she seemed to have dozed off slightly. After what felt like only a few seconds, Arlo suddenly knelt in front of her and gently caressed her cheek.
Her eyes opened in confusion and met Arlo's soft blue ones.
"Hey, sweetie. Are you okay?"
"Mm, just so tired all of a sudden. Don't know why." A yawn escaped her.
"Probably all the stress. And who knows what side effects Dr. Xu's medicine has. Shall I run you a bath, or would you like to lie down first?” he asked her gently, his eyes full of love.
With a vigorous shake of her head, Elenya tried to banish the tiredness.
"No, I'd like to take the bath. While the itching is bearable, my skin still doesn't feel right."
"All right. I'll get everything ready and you just rest here, okay?" A deep, loving kiss followed Arlo's words and Elenya leaned in gratefully.
As had happened so often over the past two years, she was filled with deep appreciation and gratitude. That she was so lucky to have found someone like Arlo, who cared for her so lovingly and whom she loved above all else.
Subconsciously, she lifted her right hand and buried it in his hair, deepening the kiss. In response, Arlo put his hand back against her cheek, curling his fingers around the back of her neck. Elenya sighed happily into the kiss.
Unfortunately, they had to catch their breath at some point, but Arlo didn't pull away completely. Instead, he gently pressed his forehead against hers.
“Let me get your bath ready, okay?” he breathed against her lips and she nodded.
With that, he pulled away, took the bag from the coffee table, and disappeared into their bedroom, heading for the adjoining bathroom.
Shortly afterwards, the sound of running water filled the room, and Elenya let herself sink back into the pillows.
A strange scent began to spread throughout the house; she wasn't sure whether she liked it or not.
It definitely smelled of herbs, but also a little woody and pungent. Maybe even a little sweet. A strange mixture, but as long as it helped, she didn't mind.
It wasn't long before Arlo returned to the living room and helped her up from the couch. To her annoyance, she got lightheaded for a moment and had to hold on to him.
“Woah, hey, are you okay?” Worried, Arlo tried to catch her gaze, but it took her a moment before she could take her head off his chest again.
What was wrong with her? Could it really be a side effect of Dr. Xu's medicine?
"Yes, I think so. I just felt a bit dizzy for a moment.”
“Are you sure?”
"Yes, I'm fine now. I just got up a bit too quickly." Reassuringly, she reached for his hand and squeezed it.
"Okay, but let me know if you get dizzy again. Not that anything else may have happened when you took that fall."
"I will, I promise. Is the bath ready?" Questioningly, Elenya looked up into Arlo's worried eyes, which were still scrutinizing her attentively, but her question seemed to pull him out of his thoughts.
"Yes, everything is ready. Come on, I'll help you." Hand in hand, they walked over to the bathroom, where Arlo helped her undress, which was not entirely painless.
Elenya tried not to let it show, though. He also seemed to have forgotten that she hadn't taken any painkillers for her elbow yet, but she didn't want any more medicine. She already felt woozy enough.
Before she got into the tub, Arlo helped her tie her hair up. He gently ran his hands through her strands and she couldn't suppress a contented sigh. She loved it when he stroked her hair.
Her noise was answered by a soft chuckle, which made her feel even better. Arlo's laughter was the best sound in the world.
Once her hair was tied up, Arlo helped her slide slowly into the water. She was surprised for a moment to encounter lukewarm water instead of the hot water she had expected. But then the water reached her left leg, and she instantly felt its cooling effect on her reddened skin.
With a soft sigh, she let herself slide completely into the water and closed her eyes in relief. Now that her body was cooling down a little, she realized how hot her left side had felt.
“Good?” Arlo's amused voice sounded next to her, and she looked over at him gratefully.
"Yes, it's wonderful. Thank you. I probably would have made it too hot.”
“Then I'm glad I got the temperature right.” Another soft chuckle escaped him, and Elenya revelled in the sound.
She relaxed in the cool water for a while when, suddenly, a soft splashing broke the silence. Surprised, she opened her eyes to see Arlo had grabbed a washcloth and was dipping it into the water.
Questioningly, she looked at him.
“For your cheek. We should try to cool and soothe the area a little too."
Oh, that's right! She had almost forgotten about that spot. It wasn't because she couldn't feel it — quite the contrary — but because she had been so distracted by how good the cool water felt that she had been able to ignore it for a moment.
Arlo carefully brought the washcloth to her cheek, and Elenya gratefully leaned into the gentle touch. Her overheated cheek quickly cooled down, and she let out another relieved sigh.
Once the washcloth had warmed up, Arlo dipped it back into the water and brought it back to her cheek. He repeated this a few times, regarding her with such a tender gaze the whole time that she thought her heart was overflowing with love.
Despite their disastrous trip, she couldn't have been happier. How could she not be? With a man as loving as Arlo by her side?
She didn't know how long she ended up in the tub, only that it was long enough for the cool water to chill her body to the point where she started to freeze. A shiver ran through her body and Arlo put the washcloth aside, looking at her with concern.
“Are you cold?”
Elenya nodded. Another shiver ran through her body.
"Then let's get you out of there. That should have been long enough. Let me help you.” He leaned over her, reached under her arms and slowly pulled her up. It took her a moment to find her footing on the slippery floor, but she didn't need to worry about falling — Arlo would never let her.
With his help, she made it out of the bathtub without falling and, before she could register the cold air in the bathroom, she was wrapped in a large, warm towel. Arlo gently patted her dry and then escorted her back to the bedroom, still wrapped in the towel.
"Go ahead and sit down, sweetheart. I'm going to get the cream for your rash and the ointment for the bruises, okay?" He instructed her, and she followed his request.
The exhaustion from earlier was back and she was only too happy to sink onto the bed. Unfortunately, this also meant that she only felt colder and she snuggled even more into the towel. Her elbow protested when she moved, but she didn't care.
Arlo returned quickly and knelt down in front of her. He eyed her shivering form with concern.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but you're going to have to stay cold for a moment. We still need to put some cream on you."
"It's okay. I'll get through it."' Her slightly chattering teeth weren't exactly convincing.
“I'll hurry.”
Carefully, Arlo got her left arm out of the towel and opened the light-coloured cream that was supposed to soothe her rash. He began to gently massage the cream into her skin.
His hands were wonderfully warm and incredibly gentle, and some of her discomfort quickly disappeared as a result. The cream quickly softened her skin and relieved the unpleasant tightness that had plagued her the whole time.
Arlo was particularly careful around her elbow and even after all the time she had known him, she was still amazed at how gently and lightly his hands could work. How the strong hands of a fighter could become the equivalent of soft cotton.
As soon as he had finished with her arm, he moved on to her leg. This took him longer, but Elenya didn't mind at all. He gently massaged the cream into her skin and gave her muscles a light massage in the process.
With a sigh, she enjoyed the treatment and she could have sworn that Arlo lingered longer in some places and loosened a stubborn knot. The massage even allowed her to briefly forget the persistent cold.
Unfortunately, Arlo eventually finished with her leg and straightened up to devote himself to her face instead.
To get her attention, he gently stroked her right cheek with the back of his hand. Tiredly, Elenya opened her eyes, which she had unintentionally closed.
“Hey.” Arlo's smile greeted her warmly. "We're almost done. Just your cheek and your bruises, then we can bundle you up nice and warm and you can rest."
His other hand lifted into her field of vision, a small amount of cream on his fingers, but what caught her attention instead was something on the back of his hand.
She quickly reached for his with her right hand to take a closer look, not caring that she was smearing the cream in the process.
"What is that? Why didn't you tell me?!"
Horrified, she looked at the back of his hand, which was almost as red as her own skin. The rash continued to spread upwards, stopping halfway between his wrist and elbow.
She looked accusingly at his sheepishly smiling face.
"It's not too bad. I hardly notice it and you've got it much worse. Please don't worry about it."
She shouldn't worry about it? Just because he got her out of there, he is now having an allergic reaction too and she shouldn't worry?
"I am worried though. You got me out of there, and that's why you got the rash. At least let me apply some of the cream." With wide eyes, she looked at him pleadingly.
She could see the battle playing out behind his eyes: His rationality was countered by his need to show no weakness and putting her needs above his.
Much to her relief, reason seemed to prevail because, with a sigh and an affectionate smile, he replied, "Okay. But let me take care of you first. After that, you can help me."
Reluctantly, she agreed. She knew she had to accept the compromise. Otherwise, he would just withdraw and take care of it himself.
Damn men—always convinced they have to handle everything alone.
Her irritation quickly disappeared, however, when Arlo took another dollop of the cream and this time applied it gently to her left cheek. She automatically leaned into the gentle touch, letting it soothe her. The fact that Arlo also pressed a warm, long kiss to her forehead made her melt before him.
Unfortunately, he knew her all too well.
From the knowing, playful gleam in his eyes, he knew exactly what he had just done. But she couldn't be angry with him. Not when he showered her with so much care and love.
Then his mood turned serious again.
"Time for your bruises. Please let me know if I hurt you, okay?"
Fortunately, the bruises were treated quickly and without any further pain. But Elenya hadn't expected anything else. Not with Arlo.
After that, she was finally able to get dressed. With Arlo's help, she slipped into a soft T-shirt and sweatpants. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to warm her up, so Arlo pulled out his grey sweater, much to her delight.
It was warm, soft and loose enough not to irritate her skin, and it smelled wonderfully of Arlo. Her favourite piece of clothing that she regularly stole from him.
“Warm enough?” Arlo looked down at her with an affectionate smile, and she smiled back.
“Yes, thank you.” Happy, Elenya buried her nose in her sweater and breathed in deeply. Arlo was standing right in front of her and she could get the smell directly from the source, but smelling like him felt a little different.
“Good, but you look really tired. You should lie down for a while."
Elenya almost nodded in agreement. Finally being warm brought the tiredness back in an even stronger wave, but luckily she remembered in time what else she needed to do.
She knew exactly what Arlo was up to and she wasn't going to let it happen.
"In a minute. First I want to take care of your hands." Pointedly, she looked up at him and with a surrendering smile, Arlo settled back down in front of her.
"Of course. How could I have forgotten?'
Elenya could only roll her eyes at his playful expression.
Nevertheless, she carefully took his right hand, which he held out to her, in hers. Once for the sake of her elbow and to show him that she wanted to take care of him as lovingly as he took care of her.
Using her right hand, she took some of the cream he offered her and began to gently and thoroughly spread it over his rough, scarred hand and forearm. She couldn't resist tracing a few of the scars admiringly, as she had done so many times before.
In her eyes, his hands were a piece of art. They told stories of successful battles and adventures.
She gave his left hand the same treatment, and satisfied that she had hopefully provided him with some relief, gently leaned her forehead against his.
Warmly, his blue eyes held hers captive.
"Thank you for letting me take care of you, my love. I love you."
"I love you too, my wonderful little builder. I'm so glad I have you."
For a moment they lingered in this intimate moment, lost in each other's eyes, but then a yawn escaped Elenya and her eyes threatened to close.
“I think it's time you lay down for a bit,” Arlo murmured against her lips, and she hummed in agreement.
"Will you join me?" Tired, Elenya leaned even more against Arlo and her eyes drifted closed.
A deep, low laugh rumbled through Arlo's chest, and he slid an arm around her shoulder and under her knees.
“Of course, if that's what you want.”
“Mmm.” Happily, she snuggled into his arms as he lifted her up. Shortly afterwards, she found herself lying in bed, snuggled against Arlo's side with her battered left side facing up.
“Get some rest, sweetheart. I've got you." A warm kiss on her temple accompanied the soft words and then she was already lost in dreamland.
Summary: Participating in the martial arts tournament while already covered in bruises was not Elenya's best idea. Especially not when she had to compete against Arlo.
Word count: 9,019
Prompt: Bruises
Author's note: It's once again been too long since the last time, but good news: This on is actually beta read by the dear @JanessaWolfSoul.
Even though the only thing she knows about My Time at Portia are the things I told her about, she still combed through all 9000 words to fight against my run-on sentences.
Which also means, you should make sure you have enought time at hand before you start reading. So no reading right before bedtime! Sleep is important!
Warnings: Bruises, Broken Rib, Elenya making bad decisions
Read on AO3: Link
Beneath the Bruise
The first day of the Martial Arts Tournament went extremely well for Elenya. Granted, she also had Carol as an opponent, but the tailor was not to be underestimated. Her morning training sessions with Martha also had the benefit of keeping the mother of three fit. Plus, Elenya had quickly learned that the older woman had a pretty mean left hook.
Nevertheless, Elenya emerged victorious, which, frankly, surprised no one. Although this was only her second year in the tournament, her fighting skills had improved considerably since then. This is thanks in part to the help of the man she will face tomorrow. A fight that many were looking forward to.
Arlo.
The captain of the Portia Civil Corps.
The man who has also been her boyfriend for the past six months.
A dreamy smile tugged at her lips as she thought of the man who had made her life so much better in such a short time. They had only known each other for a year and a half, but she had never felt as safe and warm with anyone as she did with him. A lot had happened in that short time, both good and bad, and he was always by her side.
She was torn from her thoughts when her foot suddenly caught on her toolbox. The sudden jolt of movement startled her, causing the oil can she had just been using - to grease the bearings on the harbour crane - to fall out of her hand. The oil can tumbled straight down the stairs of her assembly station, leaving a trail of oil that glistened in all colors in the evening sun.
Elenya looked after the oil can with a tired, mildly frustrated sigh.
Some people might have wondered what she was doing at her assembly station after the fighting tournament. But it was such a beautiful, warm summer evening and she simply had to use the time to work on the aforementioned harbour crane. Arlo liked to call her a workaholic - not that he was any better - but she simply loved her work and couldn't put her tools down, even on holidays.
Unfortunately, this meant that she now had a staircase full of oil while the sun was just about to disappear behind the horizon. There was very little daylight left for her to take advantage of. Elenya chided herself inwardly for not having taken the time, even after months, to replace the sheet metal of the stairs with metal grating so that liquid could drain properly.
Resigning herself to her fate, she tried as best she could in the fading light to climb down the stairs past the oil puddles to fetch a rag and water. But despite her best efforts, she wasn't careful enough. Her left foot stepped directly into a puddle and she instantly lost her footing. Terrified, she tried to grab the railing on her right side to keep from falling all the way down the stairs, and she did.
Unfortunately, she also hit the railing so hard that the air was squeezed out of her chest and her right side blossomed with pain.
Oh God...
For several minutes she hung halfway over the railing, gasping as she tried to catch her breath and waited for the pain to subside. When Elenya was semi-able to breathe again, she carefully straightened up and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through her right side again and she wondered what she had gotten herself into again.
“Why does something like this always have to happen to me?”
Clutching the banister tightly with both hands, Elenya took the last few steps down the stairs and was relieved when she finally felt grass under her feet. She cast an accusatory glance at the oil can lying innocently at the bottom of the stairs - as if it were solely responsible for her pain.
Her plan to clean up the oil would have to wait. Pain shot through her ribs with every breath and dread started to spread through her.
Please don't let anything be broken.
Taking careful steps, moving her right arm as little as possible, she went into her house to look at her side in the mirror. A large mirror stood in her bedroom and she lifted her shirt in front of it.
What she saw was not good at all.
After only this short time, the first deep blue and purple marks formed on her side. Carefully, she felt around her ribs and although the touch hurt, she was pretty sure that at least nothing was broken.
Small mercies.
But how was she going to take part in the tournament tomorrow? She had been looking forward to the fight with Arlo so much!
Biting her lip, she stepped away from the mirror and hobbled over to the bathroom where she kept her first aid kit. With practiced fingers, she dug through the cluttered drawer. It took a few moments, but she found the familiar jar of bruise cream. The same one Dr. Xu had given her months ago after noticing how clumsy she tended to be. He had called it "a little miracle in a jar".
It had helped with her minor bruises before, but Elenya had a feeling it might not do much this time.
Sitting carefully on the edge of her bed, she unscrewed the lid and the pungent, herbal scent filled the room. The cream was a strange shade of greenish-brown and looked a little like moss mixed with clay. But despite its appearance, it had worked for her - so far.
She dipped two fingers into the jar and hesitated for a moment before bringing it to her side. Just the thought of touching her ribs again made her wince.
"All right," she murmured to herself. "One breath. Just get it over with."
With a hiss through clenched teeth, she began to gently apply the cream to the bruised area. The ointment was cool, and for a fleeting second the cold was almost soothing. But the pressure, however light, made her vision blur with pain.
Her hand shook, but she continued, applying the cream in slow, gentle circles, trying not to press too hard. When she was done, she wiped her fingers on a cloth and lay back with a grunt, staring up at the ceiling.
The pain dulled to a low, steady throbbing. The cream might help with the swelling - maybe even the bruising if she was lucky. But it wouldn't fix the way her chest ached every time she moved.
The fateful oil can was still lying outside in the grass and her stairs were still full of oil, but she couldn't bring herself to go out again. Instead, she painstakingly got rid of her pants and tucked herself neatly into bed.
Maybe if she moved as little as possible until morning, it wouldn't be so bad tomorrow.
She could still hope.
~~~~~~
The next morning, a glance in the mirror revealed that her side had not improved at all. On the contrary, the bruise on her side had spread and was shimmering in deep blues and purples. Just looking at it hurt.
But there was no way she was going to miss the fight. After all, it was only a bruise. She'd just had to make sure Arlo didn't get to her right side.
So Elenya did what no normal person would do. She reapplied Dr. Xu's ointment to her ribs, took some painkillers and put an extra one in her bag, hoping to be able to take it unnoticed before the fight if necessary.
Arlo’s and her fight didn't start until noon; however, before that Remi and Russo would have a duel. An almost equally exciting fight even if she had the feeling that Paulie had no chance against Russo. As a former war veteran, the latter knew how to fight.
Although, Elenya wasn't even sure if Arlo would have a chance against him, when he would most likely have to face him in the end.
She carefully pulled her shirt back over her ribs, her breath hitching as the fabric grazed the edge of the bruise. The dull ache had turned into something more constant - less like a sharp pain and more like a warning: Don't push it.
Too bad she wasn’t going to listen.
Getting her sports gear on took twice as long as usual. She kept it as simple as possible. A red T-shirt and black shorts. Perfectly normal and nothing out of the ordinary. She didn't want anyone to notice that something was wrong.
Especially not Arlo, because he always noticed.
She spent the next ten minutes in front of the mirror practising how to move as normally as possible, without being held back by the pain. How to walk, how to stretch, how to breathe around the pain. The thought of why she was doing this to herself kept creeping in, but her resolve was too deep. She would fight Arlo.
After a light breakfast she took one last look in the mirror. Her hair was tied back - a very painful procedure - her expression calm, her posture straight. She looked like someone who knew what they were doing.
Not someone with a bruised rib and a terrible idea.
She took a shallow breath, ignoring the pain she felt as she did so, and whispered to her reflection, “You've got this."
And then she turned to the door, where the sun was already streaming in through the windows, and stepped out to face whatever the day had in store.
~~~~~~
To her surprise, Arlo was waiting outside her garden gate. Relaxed, he leaned against her fence and gazed up at the sky, a few fluffy clouds blocking out the blue. When he heard the door open, his eyes immediately turned to her, a happy smile on his lips.
And for the first time in her life, Elenya wasn't happy to see him. She would have liked to walk slowly to the east gate on her own, to give the painkiller a little more time to work. Every breath still sent a slight pain through her side, and she didn't want Arlo to notice.
Fighting the urge to disappear back into her house, she also put on a smile that was less forced than she had feared at first. Despite everything, she couldn't fight her heart, which leapt with joy when Arlo turned to face her and his warm blue eyes met hers.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?" Arlo greeted her when she arrived in front of him. Without waiting for her to come out, he bent over the fence and leaned in to kiss her, and she happily returned the greeting.
For a moment the pain was forgotten. How much she would have loved to escape into his arms and tell him what had happened to her yesterday. He would make everything better. He would probably drag her off to Dr. Xu immediately and ban her from all strenuous activities. He would take care of her and help her.
It sounded very tempting - except for the work ban - but a voice in the back of her head insisted that she keep her injury a secret. She wanted to show him how much better she'd gotten at fighting, and that voice thought the martial arts tournament was the best place to do it.
So she buried her longing and said instead, "Good morning, Arlo. Yes, I did. I hope you're ready to get your butt kicked today." She looked up at him challengingly and her grin widened as his eyebrow raised in scepticism.
"Oh, is that so? Don't you think you've got something mixed up and mean your cute butt?”
Ignoring the blush on her cheeks at his flirtation, she countered, "You'd better watch out for that 'cute' butt. It could be your undoing."
Arlo's cheerful laugh echoed through the air shortly afterward. Feeling pleased with herself, Elenya finally stepped out of her garden gate and grabbed Arlo's right hand with her left. This way she could make sure that she moved her right side as little as possible.
They set off together at a leisurely pace towards the showground. Arlo's presence beside her was as warm and strong as ever, and sometimes she still couldn't believe that he had chosen to share his love with her. As if drawn by a magnet, she stepped a little closer to him and pressed herself lightly against his bare arm.
Arlo's tender gaze fixed on her told her that he enjoyed the contact as much as she did.
They walked half the way in silence, but then she could no longer contain her curiosity. "What do you think, does Remi stand a chance against Russo?" Curious, she looked up at Arlo.
He met her gaze thoughtfully. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I don't want to rule it out completely, but it would really surprise me. Russo hasn't been participating as much in recent years, but I don't think he's forgotten how to fight. It will definitely be exciting to watch him fight."
He paused for a moment and then gave her a teasing grin. "Though not as exciting as ours. I can't wait to see how much better you've become." His gaze turned soft and proud, and Elenya could feel the blush creeping back into her face.
Arlo's praise always made her blush, filling her with a warmth that spread through her like sunlight. It wasn't just the compliment - it was the way he looked at her, as if she were someone to be admired, someone strong. Coming from the Captain of the Civil Corps, her boyfriend, it meant even more.
She wanted to live up to his praise.
Her fingers tightened around his hand. Words had never been her strength, so she showed her love more through actions.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the site of the martial arts tournament. Almost the entire village was already standing around the small arena, all eagerly awaiting the fights to come.
It seemed that Arlo and she were the last to arrive, and they were greeted with cheers. Embarrassed, Elenya hid slightly behind Arlo, who squeezed her hand reassuringly.
She hated being the centre of attention.
The first match of the day - Remington vs. Russo - began shortly after their arrival. It was a fascinating match to watch. The two men engaged in a fierce exchange, with the crowd roaring at every hit, but it was clear from the start who had the upper hand.
While Remington had once fought on the border, Russo was still a bit more experienced than him. Add to that his knee injury, and Russo wasn't above taking advantage of it. Remington was outmatched, and it showed.
Elenya tried to watch, but her mind kept wandering. Her ribs throbbed in time with each impact in the ring, and though she smiled and cheered with the crowd, her stomach tingled. It would be her turn next.
There was no way she could let her guard down on her right side.
The first fight was over much quicker than she would have liked and Russo emerged victorious. While Arlo talked to Remi, she used the time to secretly take another vial of painkillers. The first one was still working, but she didn't want to risk it wearing off in the middle of the fight.
A glance at the clock next to the small arena told her that she still had half an hour before her fight, and she used the time to stretch and warm up. She didn't need a pulled muscle on top of her bruised rib.
Arlo joined her and together they went through their usual movements. They had stood next to each other like this so many times before, preparing for their combat training. This familiarity and the lack of pain finally allowed Elenya to relax a little and she looked forward to her fight again.
She would live up to her own expectations.
Five minutes before the fight was due to start, Gale waved to them and asked them to take their positions.
Arlo pulled her into another deep kiss that had the crowd cheering - especially Sam - and made her blush. Still, she couldn't escape him and enjoyed the kiss to the fullest.
Without pulling away completely, he breathed a "Let's give them a good show" against her lips and then walked confidently towards the arena.
Stunned, she looked after him but then noticed the fat grin Sam was giving her and covered her face in her hands in embarrassment.
He had just given the people a good show.
Wishing the blush away, she quickly pulled herself together and made her way to Arlo. She wasn't going to let something like that distract her.
Judging by Arlo's grin, he knew exactly what he had just done, but she couldn't be mad at him. His smile, no matter what form it took, always warmed her heart, so she simply smiled back. Immediately, his gaze softened and his blue eyes sparkled with love.
For a brief moment, she was lost in that beloved blue.
But at a signal from Gale, they both took up fighting positions and their faces turned serious. Time to concentrate. Ten seconds later, the whistle blew for the first round.
Immediately, they both began to move, their jabs and counters like a long-practiced dance. One step forward, two to the right, left arm up, defend, two steps back, left leg up, attack.
It was like their training and no one seemed to have the upper hand. As if through a mist, Elenya could hear the cheers of the villagers, but she was so focused on Arlo that she barely noticed them. Fighting with him always demanded her full attention.
He was fast, strong, experienced and almost ten inches taller than her. But she had her strengths, too. Her reflexes were almost as good as his, and her height gave her an advantage in some situations.
But today she had to stay more on the defensive. The whole time she tried not to let Arlo get to her right side, and she was successful.
By the end of the first round, she hadn't landed as many hits as he had - which meant this round went to him - but it wasn't just her who was panting, he was too. She had given him quite a hard time.
But in true Arlo style, his look was not triumphant, but proud. Proud of her and that she had done so well.
"I'm really starting to have to watch out for you. If I'm not careful, you'll beat me soon." His cheerful laughter echoed back to her, filling her with pride and warmth.
She bridged the few steps that separated them and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
"Don't worry, your position as Captain and Portia's best fighter will remain with you for a while yet. I have no intention of challenging you for that position."
"Oh, is that so? Something tells me the people here would like to see that." Arlo's grin widened, and for the first time since their fight began, Elenya looked at the crowd spread out around the arena.
Some were still cheering her on and she could hear her name being called from several directions. Sam in particular stood out again, and once more Elenya's eyes darted to the blonde in embarrassment.
Sam immediately raised her voice: "Go Elenya! That's how it's done! Kick his ass!"
Her friend's enthusiasm was touching, if a little embarrassing. But she knew that what Sam really wanted was to see her boss on the floor. Elenya getting the chance to do so was just the icing on the cake for her.
It was a pity that Elenya would not be able to fulfil her wish.
Now that she was standing still and the adrenaline had had a chance to leave her body, she felt a slight throbbing in her side. The quick movements had left their mark and she had to stop herself from pressing a hand protectively to the sore spot.
Arlo would be alerted immediately.
She would have to be even more defensive in the second round. It was certain that Arlo would win the second round as well - and with it the entire fight - but she wanted to at least make it to the end of the round.
That would be enough for her and the stupid voice in her head to have proven herself.
The sound of someone clearing their throat to her left snapped her out of her thoughts and she glanced over at Gale, who indicated that the next round was about to begin.
Elenya's eyes darted back to Arlo, who was studying her closely, and she quickly grinned and asked, "Ready for your demise?"
For a moment, his scrutinising gaze remained on her - had she given herself away? - but then seemed to abandon the thought and instead gave her a quick kiss. "I can't wait."
With sparkling eyes, he went back to his position and she did the same.
Everything would be fine.
The whistle sounded for the start and they both immediately set off again. It wasn't long before Elenya was so focused on the fight that she forgot about the pain in her side.
But she didn't forget to stay on the defensive. She deftly parried each of Arlo's blows, but hardly dared to land any of her own. Still, she couldn't resist striking back every now and then.
Especially when she saw an opening in Arlo's defence. Without thinking, she raised her right arm to strike his left shoulder, realising too late that he had lured her into a trap. Her right side was now completely open to him and of course he followed up with a punch.
His blow was no stronger than the others she had taken from him today, but it hit her exactly where the railing had hit her yesterday, and her world exploded in pain.
She didn't know if a scream escaped her, but what she did know was that she was suddenly on the ground, unable to breathe. The impact had squeezed all the air out of her and her chest refused to re-inflate.
Sharp pain shot through her right side as she gasped desperately for air. Someone fell to their knees on her left, but she didn't have time to care. Panic started to rise inside her.
Why couldn't she breathe? Her damn chest had to be working!
Blue eyes loomed over her, almost as full of panic as her own. The eyes' owner's lips moved, but she couldn't make out the words over the roaring in her ears. Black dots danced in her vision and her face began to tingle.
This was not good.
Suddenly an arm slid under her shoulders and her upper body was pulled upright. A new wave of pain shot through her side and she automatically sucked in her breath in shock.
As if a spell had been broken, her chest moved again. She sucked in air greedily, even though each breath sent a sting through her ribs. Now she finally recognised who was kneeling beside her, desperately trying to get her attention.
"Elenya! Elenya, sweetheart, come on. Talk to me! What's happened? Did I hurt you?"
His panicked voice finally reached her ears and she let her head fall against his shoulders, exhausted. The position he held her in caused more pain in her side and she tried to tell him, but she didn't have enough breath yet.
“Ribs...” was the only word she could choke out, but luckily it didn't take Arlo long to realize that he was currently causing her even more pain.
He carefully lowered her to the floor and, relieved, she was able to breathe a little deeper now that some of the pressure on her ribs was gone.
Arlo's face loomed over her again, his eyes full of panic and concern. He was about to speak again when another pair of knees hit the floor on her other side. Both of their eyes locked on the newcomer, revealing Dr. Xu.
The doctor's worried voice immediately rang out, "Arlo, Elenya, what happened?"
"I... I don't know. I don't think I hit her harder than usual. I... I don't know how this happened." Arlo's voice was dripping with panic and worry, and now guilt mixed in with everything else.
If she hadn't been in so much pain that she was speechless, she would have liked to reassure him that it wasn't his fault at all. She had only herself to thank for the whole situation.
"Where did you hit her?" Dr. Xu wanted to know urgently from Arlo and he must have pointed to a spot, because Dr. Xu's dark eyes then appeared directly above her, worry written deeply on his forehead.
"I'm going to lift your shirt, okay? I need to see what happened."
Panic struck her again. Not because he was going to lift her shirt in front of the whole town, but what their reaction would be when they saw what her side looked like.
There was no doubt that the doctor would see that the bruises couldn't be from today, and then she would have to tell them how terribly clumsy she'd been yesterday and that she'd decided to take part in the fight anyway.
She could already imagine Arlo's reaction.
A mixture of horror, concern and anger. Maybe even disappointment. Disappointed that she had risked her health like that and hadn't told him. And that was what she feared most.
"Elenya?" Arlo's face loomed over her again alongside Dr. Xu's, even more worried than before when she failed to give Dr. Xu an answer. His left hand gently cupped her cheek and turned her head towards him.
"Everything will be fine, okay? We just really need to look at your side. We... I need to know what's causing you so much pain." He held her gaze, his blue eyes full of love and concern, and she nodded slightly. There was no way around it anyway.
Arlo gave her an encouraging smile, but she knew it wouldn't last long.
Her side probably looked even worse after the blow than it had this morning.
She wasn't sure she wanted to know by how much.
The horrified sounds that escaped both of them as Dr. Xu pushed her shirt up to her chest told her all she needed to know.
"Oh God... Elenya... What?" Arlo's horrified voice reached her ears and she couldn't suppress her curiosity. She tried to lift her head to look at her side as well, but her breasts blocked her view.
What she could see, however, was Arlo's horrified face. His gaze was fixed on her side, his eyes wide open and a shocked "Was that me...?" escaped his lips.
Before she could reassure him, Dr. Xu spoke, examining her side closely, "No, most of this is at least a few hours old. But this," he placed his finger lightly on a particular spot, "looks newer and not good at all."
Elenya could immediately confirm his statement. Just that light touch sent a new wave of pain through her side, causing tears to well up in her eyes and a whimper to leave her throat.
That small sound seemed to finally bring Arlo out of his stupor, for he immediately turned to her and placed a comforting hand on her cheek. He gently brushed away the tears that were silently trickling down her cheeks and she leaned into his touch gratefully.
There was pure concern in his eyes again, and Elenya wondered if he had not yet realised that she had competed against him with a bruised rib. Why wasn't he angry? But she had no illusions. Once she was taken care of, the anger would surely come.
For now, though, he seemed solely concerned with making her feel more comfortable. He gently pressed a kiss to her temple and when Dr. Xu apologetically told her that he would have to examine the injured area, he took her left hand in his and bent low over her, holding her gaze.
"Please try to keep breathing as best you can, okay?" Dr. Xu instructed her and she nodded tensely. This wasn't going to be fun.
"Everything will be fine. I'm here," Arlo murmured to her, and she squeezed his hand gratefully. As always, he was there when she needed him.
Then the most painful minute of her life began. As careful as Xu was with her examination, every touch felt like a knife stabbing into her side. She was unable to comply with his request to keep breathing.
Holding her breath, she tried to fight the pain. Every muscle in her body tensed, her hand probably crushing Arlos. New tears streamed from her eyes, and desperate for comfort, she hid her face in Arlo's hand, which was still gently cupping her cheek. His warm voice reached her ears in a soothing way, but she couldn't make out the exact words.
Please let it be over quickly.
As if he had heard her plea, Dr. Xu finally moved away from her side and Elenya let out a sigh of relief. Breathing shallowly, she tried to get enough oxygen back into her blood while Arlo gently dried her tears. His face above her slowly came back into focus and was soon replaced by Dr. Xu's serious one.
With a sigh, he began to speak. "Elenya, I'm afraid your rib is broken. I suspect it wasn't broken yesterday, just cracked, but now it's definitely broken." He gave her a chastising look and she shrank back guiltily.
She wasn't too surprised that her rib was broken now. She had expected it, given the pain. But she hadn't expected it to have been fractured already yesterday.
Had she known, she would have cancelled the fight.
The choked sound that came from Arlo immediately confirmed her reasoning. The horror returned to his face and he asked in shock: "I... I broke her rib?"
Elenya felt terrible. She had never meant for Arlo to think that he had hurt her. His protective instincts and sense of justice often made him feel guilty for things he couldn't help, and now he thought he had hurt her.
But it was her own fault, and she was the one plagued by guilt.
Unfortunately, Arlo didn't seem to see it that way, and he unconsciously pulled away from her, as if afraid of hurting her again. His reaction broke her heart and without thinking, she tried to reach for him.
"Wait...!" She turned to her left side and immediately regretted it. A new wave of pain shot through her right side and with a soft cry she fell back onto her back. Arlo was at her side immediately. His need to help her greater than his fear of hurting her.
Her breath caught in her chest and she couldn't find a way to fill her lungs through the pain.
"Elenya! Damn it! You have to breathe!" Panicked, Arlo's hands hovered helplessly over her and she would have loved to laugh joylessly.
That was easier said than done.
"We have to get her upright," Dr. Xu interjected sharply, who had already adjusted his position next to her. “She needs to be supported.”
With practiced hands, he slid one arm behind her back and the other under her knees and gently moved her into a half-sitting position, leaning her against Arlo's chest. "Hold her like this," he commanded.
Arlo obeyed immediately, wrapping his arms around her protectively without touching her side. Elenya winced at the change, but slowly found it easier to take shallow, less painful breaths.
"That's better," Dr. Xu murmured, checking her vitals with a calm efficiency that contrasted with Arlo's frantic energy. "Sitting upright at a slight angle will reduce the pressure on your lungs. Just keep breathing like that, slowly and gently."
Elenya tried to follow as best she could. Arlo's familiar strong arms around her gave her support and she could feel his every breath. She tried to match his breathing, but in his lingering panic his breaths were too fast and uneven and she quickly felt lightheaded.
Arlo, however, seemed to realise what she was trying to do and immediately deepened his breathing. "That's it, sweetheart. Just follow my breaths."
For a while, Elenya leaned against Arlo's chest, enjoying the oxygen that finally filled her lungs a little more easily. Dr. Xu watched her carefully, his hand on the pulse point on her wrist, until he was satisfied and announced the next step.
"We need to take you to the clinic. I can tell from the palpation that at least one rib is broken, but I still need to make sure that no more are affected and that none have slipped out of place. Do you think you can walk?" Xu's eyes rested worriedly on her and Elenya's first reaction was to shake her head in the negative.
But then she changed her mind. She had already made a fool of herself in front of the whole town today, so she wanted to at least leave the martial arts tournament on her own two feet.
Gritting her teeth, she nodded instead. “I'll walk,” she said, though it came out more like a whisper.
Arlo hesitated. "Are you sure?"
She didn't answer, just braced her hand on his forearm and slowly pushed herself upright. Pain shot through her ribs like fire, but she managed to swing her legs under her.
Dr. Xu stood ready, a hand outstretched to support her. "Slowly. One step at a time."
She took one. Then another. Every step hurt, but she'd be damned if she didn't make it off the arena on her own two feet.
Elenya could hear the worried murmur of the crowd, could feel their eyes on her, but she didn't have the strength to say anything. Gritting her teeth, she concentrated on the path ahead of her, Arlo and Dr. Xu's arms the only thing keeping her upright. She made it past the town wall, but then she couldn't go any further. Her right knee gave way beneath her.
Arlo caught her before she hit the ground.
“That's enough,” he said in a low but firm voice. There was no anger in it, just deep concern and something else she didn't want to name.
She opened her mouth to protest, but the pain stifled her words before they could form.
"I've got you," he said. And then he lifted her into his arms with a gentleness that made her breath catch even more than the pain.
She stiffened at first, but Arlo instinctively adjusted his grip, keeping her upright and bent, careful not to press against her ribs.
“Better?” he asked softly.
Not daring to speak, she nodded, letting her head rest on his shoulder. His warmth was comforting, even if her pride now hurt more than her ribs.
Dr. Xu took the lead. "Let's get going. The sooner we stabilise her, the better."
The way up to the clinic was a slow one. Arlo walked carefully and slowly so that none of his steps jolted her. He even managed to carry her up the stairs without further pain.
She was so infinitely grateful to him for that.
The entire way, Elenya buried her face in Arlo's shoulder, breathing in his comforting scent and trying to calm her emotions. A tangle of guilt, pain, embarrassment, love and gratitude raged inside her, threatening to overwhelm her.
The growing dread at the thought of how Arlo would react when he finally found out what had happened yesterday almost brought tears to her eyes. She hoped he wouldn't be too angry with her.
Luckily, she'd had long enough to quell the chaos. It took them almost half an hour to get to the top of the clinic, and when they finally reached the inside, all that was left was pain and exhaustion. She hung limply in Arlo's arms, which wasn't good for her rib, but she didn't have the strength to do anything about it.
Arlo tried to counteract with his grip, but his options were limited. So she was glad when he was finally able to lower her onto one of the hospital beds - the head end of the bed angled so that she could breathe better.
While Dr. Xu hurried straight to his medicine cabinet, Arlo sat down on the chair beside the bed and gently took her hand in his. His eyes rested on her face, full of concern, and she gave him an exhausted smile. Hesitantly, he returned it.
"How are you holding up? Are you getting enough air?" He ran his free hand gently through her hair, and Elenya leaned into the touch with a sigh.
"Better. The pain isn't quite so bad anymore, but I'm quite exhausted." As proof, a slight chill ran through her body and goose bumps formed on her arms. The clinic was air conditioned to give patients relief from the summer heat, but it was too cold for her right now.
Arlo's eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully, but before he could do anything, Dr. Xu came to the bedside, a small vial and a jar of ointment in his hand. He indicated to Arlo that he needed the chair and, somewhat reluctantly, Arlo let go of her hand to make room for the doctor. He didn't back away completely, though, but stood next to her head and placed his hand reassuringly back in her hair.
Elenya knew she would need it.
"Okay, I'd start by giving you a strong painkiller. Broken ribs are very painful and unfortunately there's not much else one can do about them. Have you taken anything for the pain today?" Dr. Xu explained in a calm voice, his eyes fixed intently on her.
"Um, yes... I've taken two of your mild painkillers. After I got up and just before the fight."
"Hm, that's not quite ideal, but unfortunately it can't be helped now. It shouldn't be a problem this time, but it shouldn't become a habit. Even if the medicine we have available is purely herbal, that doesn't mean it's safe," explained Dr. Xu as he pressed the already opened vial into her left hand.
Elenya already knew that, but she nodded seriously and then emptied the medicine in one go. She already suspected that the taste would not be pleasant and the sooner she had it over with, the better. Apart from the fact that she really wanted to be free of pain.
The taste of bark, earth and something spicy hit her tongue and she swallowed in disgust. She would never get used to Dr. Xu's tinctures. But she had to give him one thing. After a short time, the throbbing in her side subsided and she relaxed a little more against the mattress.
A relieved sigh escaped her.
"Good, that should make the next examination a little more pleasant. Unfortunately, we don't have an x-ray machine here in Portia yet, so I can only determine the fracture by more precise palpation." Xu looked at her apologetically. Trying to lighten the mood, he added with a smile: "Maybe one day you'll find one in the ruins. We would benefit greatly from it. Especially you."
Elenya felt her cheeks warm. He was probably not far off the mark. Judging by the quiet laughter next to her, Arlo thought so too.
Unfortunately, the good mood didn't last long. Dr. Xu pushed her t-shirt up again and Arlo flinched at the sight of her side. This time Elenya could see part of her side and she too felt slightly nauseous at the sight. What had looked bad this morning was nothing compared to now.
Deep reds and blues adorned her side, while the outer edges were already shining in sickening greens and yellows. What stood out, however, was the one dark purple spot above her second lowest rib. Elenya guessed that was where the fracture was.
No wonder Arlo had looked so shocked earlier. Or rather, he still did. His hand had slipped from her head down to her left shoulder and was clinging to it. Elenya looked up at him in surprise, and this time it was her turn to be concerned.
His face had lost all colour and the horror was back in his eyes. In an attempt to calm him, she reached for his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly. That at least made him avert his gaze from her side and look at her with a stricken expression instead.
"How... How did this happen, Elenya? Why didn't you tell me?"
Dr. Xu, who was about to start his new examination, also looked up at the question.
It looked like she finally had to come clean with her story.
"I... um," ashamed, she avoided her gaze and focused on her feet instead. There was a small stain on her right shoe that looked rather interesting.
"It's possible I dropped an oil can at my assembly station last night and it tumbled down the stairs. I may have slipped on a puddle of oil while going down and caught myself with the help of the railing. With my ribs".
There was a moment of silence.
Then Dr. Xu let out a long sigh, revealing that this was far from the first time he had had to deal with one of Elenya's mishaps. “Of course you have,” he murmured quietly.
He said no more, but the look he gave her was one of weary understanding - equal parts resignation, mild irritation and reluctant affection. After all, she had made herself his most frequent patient.
Arlo, on the other hand, stared at her as if she'd just confessed to deliberately punching herself in the ribs. His mouth opened, then closed again. Then he opened it again.
"Oil?" he repeated in a low, incredulous voice. “You bruised a rib because you slipped on a puddle of oil?”
Elenya grimaced and didn't look at him. "Technically... Yes."
A strange sound escaped Arlo - something between a scoff and a sigh, tinged with incredulous laughter. He leaned back slightly, his hand leaving her shoulder, and shook his head. For a moment she didn't dare look up.
When she finally did, the look on his face was everything she had feared - and somehow more. His eyebrows were drawn together, his jaw tense, and in his eyes was the chaotic storm of emotions she had expected: anger, worry, disappointment ... and underneath it all, something softer. A warm pang of affection that he couldn't quite hide, no matter how frustrated he was.
“You're unbelievable,” he said, rubbing his hand over his face.
"I didn't mean to," she murmured, her cheeks burning.
"I know," he said, and this time there was no humour in his voice. Just quiet concern. "That's the problem. If I could, I'd protect you from all pain, but I can't very well protect you from yourself."
His gaze softened again at the words and his hand settled back on her shoulder, squeezing it gentl Elenya gave him a sheepish smile and reached for his hand, grateful that he wasn't angry with her - at least for now.
Their silent eye contact was interrupted when Dr. Xu cleared his throat to remind her that he still needed to examine her ribs. Immediately, the tension returned to Elenya.
Subconsciously, she tightened her grip on Arlo's hand, which was still gently squeezing her shoulder. Even though the painkiller had worked well, she didn't think it would completely relieve her of the pain to come.
And she was to be proved right. Dr. Xu probed her ribs, this time with a little more pressure than before, and it was only with difficulty that Elenya didn't shy away from the touch. Arlo tried to distract her by gently cupping her cheek with his free hand and holding her gaze, but it only helped so much.
A dull, throbbing pain shot through her side and she cursed her stubbornness once more. She could have saved herself a lot of trouble if only she hadn't listened to that voice in her head.
After a time unknown to Elenya, however, Dr. Xu was finished and all the tension drained from her body. The mixture of poor sleep, constant pain and the painkiller left her exhausted. Still, she tried to follow Dr. Xu's words.
"Well, the good news is that no other ribs are broken and nothing has slipped out of place. Unfortunately, there's not much one can do about broken ribs except take painkillers and let them heal. But that also means extreme caution. No sudden movements and, most importantly, no heavy work." He looked at her sharply. "For at least two weeks. The less stress you put on the rib, the faster the bone will heal. It's also very important that you try to take a deep breath at least once an hour, however uncomfortable it may be. Otherwise, the automatically shallower breathing could lead to pneumonia. All right?"
Elenya nodded reluctantly. Being excluded from work didn't suit her at all, but she knew he was right. Apart from the fact that she had only herself to blame.
Arlo nodded too, much more seriously than she did, and with a look that told her he would make sure she did everything the doctor said.
"Good. I'm going to put some more of the bruise ointment on the affected area so that at least the bruise will heal a little quicker. Do you still have enough at home? If not, I can give you some with the painkiller." Dr. Xu demonstratively held up the jar he had brought from his medicine cabinet and Elenya nodded.
"I should still have enough."
With that, the topic was closed and Dr. Xu opened the jar. Immediately, the familiar scent of herbs hit her nose and Dr. Xu took a generous portion of the ointment and gently spread it on her side. The ointment was cold and Elenya suddenly realised how cold she had been all this time.
Goose bumps spread all over her body and she couldn't help but shiver.
Dr. Xu paused at her reaction, then wordlessly reached for the thin blanket folded at the foot of the bed and gently pulled it over her legs.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice muffled by the sudden fatigue that was taking hold of her. "I didn't realise how cold I was."
"That's normal," he said, still focused on his task. "With the shock, the pain and the blood pooling under your skin, your body is working overtime to compensate. Rest is the best thing you can do right now."
He applied the ointment to the worst parts of the bruise, being careful not to apply too much pressure. Then he closed the jar and stood up, his eyes sweeping over her with a final, professional assessment.
"If the pain gets worse or your breathing changes, come back immediately. Don't wait." His tone brooked no argument - he'd clearly had this conversation with her before.
Elenya nodded tiredly, too exhausted to protest even if she wanted to.
Dr. Xu gave a short hum of agreement and then turned his attention to Arlo.
"She shouldn't be alone tonight," he said clearly. "Someone needs to watch her in case there are any complications."
Arlo didn't hesitate. "I'll stay with her."
Dr. Xu nodded in satisfaction and turned to his cabinets, saying, “I'll just get the painkiller.”
Elenya, her eyes barely open, turned her head slightly towards Arlo.
"I guess I'm your problem for the night," she whispered with a faint smile.
He smiled back and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You've been my problem for a while now, sweetheart. But I wouldn't have it any other way." His voice was soft and full of love, and yet Elenya still felt guilty.
She had put him through so much today that he didn't deserve. She really needed to apologise to him.
"I'll just get you a sweater to put on so you don't freeze on the way home, okay? I'll be right back." Arlo quickly kissed her goodbye and disappeared out the door.
In the few minutes he was gone, Dr. Xu brought her several bottles of the strong painkiller and she accepted them gratefully. He reminded her of what she needed to be aware of over the next few days and then Arlo returned.
To her delight, he had brought his soft grey sweater, which she loved to wear. With his help, she managed to put it on, which wasn't easy when she couldn't lift one arm above her head. She immediately felt warm. She didn't know how the fabric could still smell like him, even though he probably hadn't worn it for a long time at this time of year, but the familiar smell only added to the warming effect.
She snuggled happily into the soft fabric.
Arlo looked at her with a soft, affectionate chuckle and then said, "Let's get you home. You need to rest. Do you want me to carry you again?"
Elenya looked at her feet thoughtfully. It sounded tempting. Her eyelids kept threatening to close and every muscle in her body felt like lead, but she would have liked to walk home on her own two feet as well.
"I don't mind at all, if it makes you feel better." Judging by Arlo's sincere, eager look, the opposite seemed to be the case.
So Elenya gave in. Her self-esteem had already taken a beating today, so one more thing didn't matter. Apart from the fact that Arlo's strong arms were the safest and best place in the world.
Carefully, he lifted her back into his arms, making sure not to touch her right side. Safe in his arms, they said goodbye to Dr. Xu and slowly made their way to her workshop and home.
Completely exhausted, Elenya rested her head on Arlo's shoulder and closed her eyes. The gentle swaying of his steady footsteps lulled her into a light sleep, so she only dimly noticed them bumping into Remi, Sam, and Gale.
Arlo's soft voice hummed pleasantly in his chest, a sound that only lulled her deeper into sleep, and so she only came to when they were already in her house and Arlo was carefully laying her down on her bed.
With a soft murmur, she slowly opened her eyes and directly met Arlo's tender gaze. He had sat down next to her on the edge of the bed and was gently stroking her hair. With a happy sigh, she was about to close her eyes again when Arlo's gaze suddenly turned serious.
"I know you're tired and I'll let you sleep in a minute, but first I want to talk about what happened today."
Elenya was a lot more alert in an instant. She had known that this conversation would come later, and she really wanted to apologise, but her tiredness had made her forget for a moment. She tried to sit up, but before she could tense a muscle, Arlo gently placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her lightly into the pillows.
"Lie down, please. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
Elenya hated having a conversation while lying down, but she didn't protest. The best way to show Arlo that she was sorry was to listen to him.
There was a moment of silence. Emotions were fighting in Arlo's eyes and he seemed to be struggling to put his feelings into words. From anger, to worry, to frustration, to disappointment and back to anger, it was all there. In the end, as she had feared, he ended up with disappointment. And, to make matters worse, sadness and a hint of guilt.
"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt? And why on earth didn't you cancel our fight? I broke you a rib because of it! What if it had punctured your lung?" Anger took over for a moment and his voice grew louder towards the end, but then his energy seemed to leave him and his shoulders slumped.
"Don't you trust me?" He looked down at her, sad and uncertain, and Elenya felt terrible.
Her heart twisted at the look on his face.
"I do trust you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "It wasn't about that. I just... I didn't want to worry you. And I didn't want to back out. Not after all the training we'd done. I wanted to prove myself."
Arlo let out a quiet, exasperated laugh - more breath than sound. He ran a hand through his hair.
"You didn't want to worry me? Elenya, I worry. All the time. You mean more to me than any training, any fight. You don't have to prove anything. Not to me, not to anyone. You're already enough."
His voice broke on the last word, and that cracked something in her. She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers with his.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Really. I didn't think it would be this bad. I was wrong."
He looked at her then, blue meeting green, and whatever storm had been in his eyes began to calm.
"Next time," he said quietly, "just talk to me. Let me help you."
She nodded, too choked up to speak.
After a short silence, during which Elenya could barely keep her eyes open, Arlo squeezed her hand gently.
"Now rest, sweetheart. I'll be here when you wake up.” He leaned down and captured her in a gentle kiss. His soft lips felt wonderful and soothing and Elenya was so grateful to have him by her side.
She had almost drifted off into dreamland when Arlo stood up, took off her shoes and tucked her in neatly. The last thing she knew was a soft, long kiss on her forehead and a whispered "I love you, my sweet clumsy builder".
Welcome back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo! I got another Bingo! @badthingshappenbingo
Fandom: My time at Portia
Pairing: Arlo x Female Builder
Summary: Elenya has a problem: she just can’t stop working. Even under the blazing desert sun, she pushes herself to the limit. But this time, her determination has serious consequences - leaving her with painful burns and temporarily deprived of Arlo's gentle, reassuring touch.
Word count: 7,118
Prompt: Sunburn
Author's note: Long time no see. Life the last few months has been determined to put as many obstacles in my way as possible so that I wouldn't have the head to write.
But, it's finally done. Another square on my bingo card can be crossed out (and with it we have another Bingo!) and you can enjoy another 7000 words.
I wish you happy reading! Be warned though, I took the prompt and ran with it quite far.
Warnings: severe Sunburn, Heatstroke, Fainting
Read on AO3: Link
Burning Sun
It was the height of summer in Portia, and Elenya regretted her decision to cut poplar wood on what felt like the hottest day of the year. The sun was unforgiving on the pale sands of the Eufaula desert and the creatures that dared to venture there.
Elenya had fortunately remembered her sunglasses and hat, and Arlo had made sure she applied plenty of sunscreen, but after four hours in the blazing sun, her body was reaching its limit. After three years in Portia, she was no longer used to this kind of heat, which was almost a daily occurrence in Barnarock.
Exhausted, she rummaged for her water bottle and glanced at her wristwatch. Just before 4 o'clock in the afternoon. She had already gathered enough wood to build the wooden supports she needed, but her fingers were itching to cut down one last tree. That way, she wouldn't have to run off when she wanted to build more.
In three big gulps, Elenya emptied the rest of the water she had brought with her and chose a tree that grew a little closer to the water. A light breeze blew in from the sea, bringing at least some relief. She was just about to use her chainsaw on the first branch when a sudden gust of wind blew around her ears and tore her sun hat off.
"Woah!" Startled, Elenya tried to grab hold of it, but she was too slow and her hat was blown out to sea. All she could do was look helplessly after it.
Damn it, that was her main protection against the sun!
She could already feel the sun burning the back of her head, but she didn't want to give up on this last tree. It would be all right if she just hurried.
So she hoisted her chainsaw back up and set to work. The first ten minutes were no problem, but she had only just cleared the first half of the tree of branches and chopped into pieces when the first signs of an oncoming headache set in. The branches in front of her kept blurring before her eyes, but she ignored it and quickly set to work on the other half.
After another twenty minutes, the tree was felled, and all she had to do was saw the trunk into smaller pieces to make it easier to transport. No problem at all.
Unfortunately, her pulse was now throbbing painfully in her head and she was struggling to hold the chainsaw steady with her trembling arms. Sweat was pouring down her body, making it even harder to hold the heavy chainsaw.
She winced as a sudden cramp seized her calf. With a grimace she tried to stretch her leg as she gripped the chainsaw tighter, her body shaking with the effort. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath, each inhale feeling hotter than the last.
God, she felt so hot...
Elenya wasn't exactly sure how she managed to tuck the rest of the trunk into her bag - once again grateful for the special relic bag that every builder was entitled to - but somehow she must have done it, because all that was left in front of her was the blinding sand. For a long moment she stared at the shifting ground in front of her. It seemed to sway back and forth in front of her - or was that herself? - But then her brain finally kicked in again and she raised her right hand to her mouth. She blew a short whistle between her thumb and middle finger, the high pitched noise echoing through the hot desert air.
Soon after, the sand-muffled hooves of her faithful mare, Rayna, could be heard and her black body appeared in the distance. As she approached, Elenya could see her coat glistening with sweat, and she regretted even more having made the trip out here today of all days.
It was one thing to expose herself to this heat, but her faithful companion didn't deserve to be dragged out here as well. However, the mare seemed only moderately bothered by this, for as soon as she arrived she gently nudged her with her muzzle and Elenya gratefully scratched her behind the ears.
“Hey there sweetie. Do you think you can still carry me home? I think I overdid it a bit."
Just lifting her hand to stroke her horse was far more strenuous than it should have been. Nausea began to mix with her other symptoms and for a moment she buried her face in the mare's neck. Leaning against the animal's muscular body, she took a few deep breaths and then set about strapping her bags to the saddle and hoisting herself into it.
Once in the saddle, she had to pause for a moment. The world was spinning before her eyes and nausea threatened to take over. She tried to keep her breathing under control to push back the nausea, but she had a hard time doing so. Her back muscles cramped painfully and she slumped forward, exhausted.
The sun was still beating down on her, burning her free arms, neck and lower legs. The heat covered her thoughts like a veil and she could only give the signal to leave with a clumsy nudge of her foot against Rayna's side.
She desperately needed to get home. It was nice and cool in her house and, if she was lucky, Arlo was already waiting for her and would make everything better.
Fortunately, Rayna knew the way home. For the world before Elenya's eyes was nothing but a mixture of colours. The pain was throbbing more and more in her head and the light was far too bright, even through her sunglasses. At least she had finally stopped sweating.
As if the mare knew that her rider needed to get home as soon as possible, she broke into a fast trot and soon the yellow before Elenya's eyes turned to a rich green. They had left the desert behind and for a moment the veil over her thoughts lifted.
Only a short distance to go. Soon she would be home.
Time blurred before Elenya's eyes and before she knew it, she suddenly found herself in her courtyard. Unsteadily, she let herself slide out of the saddle and leaned against Rayna for a moment. Her legs trembled with exhaustion and white dots danced before her eyes. The heat pressed in on her from all sides, her thoughts sluggish and muddled. She had to get inside.
But first she had to look after her horse. The poor animal was sweating profusely, and no matter how bad she felt, she had to make time for it. On trembling knees, she led Rayna to the stables, where Spacer was already standing contentedly in the shade, enjoying a mineral lick.
The sight of him threatened to overwhelm Elenya with relief. Arlo was already home.
As quickly but carefully as she could, she freed Rayna from her bag and saddle before cleaning her coat. However, the brush would occasionally turn into three before her eyes. Again and again she had to lean against the mare, breathing heavily as the contents of her stomach threatened to find a way out. A worried huff ruffled through her hair each time and Elenya was grateful to have found such a gentle and friendly companion.
Hopefully she would forgive her for not being able to look after her properly at the moment.
Elenya made sure the two horses had enough water, though there was probably nothing she could have done about it if they didn't, and then staggered to the front door. It was all she could do in her present condition.
The doorknob also doubled and tripled before her eyes, and it was surprisingly difficult to hit the right one. But she finally got hold of it and tumbled awkwardly into her pleasantly cool home. The cooling unit she had dug out of a ruin a few months ago was paying off.
The difference in temperature managed to clear the fog over her mind slightly. Without falling, she managed to kick off her shoes and then followed the rhythmic sound of a knife hitting a chopping board. She stopped in the doorway to the kitchen and dining room, her gaze immediately falling on Arlo's back. He was standing in the kitchen and appeared to be chopping something for dinner. Hypnotised, she followed his steady arm movements. Up, down. Up, down. Up, down.
The fog was back.
Suddenly, Arlo stopped moving and turned his head towards her. His face lit up when he saw her. He must have sensed her gaze.
"Elenya! You're home. Did you get everything you need?” He quickly washed his hands and then turned to her with a gentle smile. As was always the case when she saw his smile, an unconscious tension was released in her and she found herself drawn to him like a magnet.
Elenya staggered away from the doorframe and tried to walk towards Arlo, but the few steps suddenly seemed like an insurmountable distance. He, too, multiplied before her eyes, and with him the concern that suddenly spread across his face.
She almost giggled. What would the world be like if there were three Arlos? Would they all be the same? Would she have to choose between them? These questions and more flashed through her mind in a matter of seconds, but instead of saying any of them, she took an awkward step towards Arlo and mumbled what had been buzzing around in her head the whole time: "Arlo... I... I don't feel so good..."
With that, her legs refused to hold her anymore. It was as though her bones had turned to lead. She tried to reach for Arlo, but her arms felt like they didn't belong to her anymore. Her vision tunnelled, the world shrinking to just him, his voice a distant echo through the unbearable heat.
She was falling... or floating? She couldn't tell. His arms caught her, strong and sure, but her senses were slipping away, fading under the oppressive heat. The last thing she felt was his hands cradling her, and then nothing.
~~~~~~
Elenya couldn't have been unconscious for long, because when she came to, her head was gently lowered to the floor and she could hear Arlo's desperate voice trying to wake her. He begged her to open her eyes, but she couldn't. Searing pain shot through her head and no muscle would obey.
A soft whimper escaped her lips and with difficulty she leaned her face further into his palm, which gently cupped her cheek. The touch hurt against her skin, but the warmth of his hand was the only anchor she had in the spinning chaos around her. The comfort it brought outweighed the pain.
"Elenya, sweetheart, please... answer me. What happened? Are you hurt?" Desperation coloured Arlo's voice and she would have liked to answer him, but the roaring in her ears took over and the world disappeared for her once more.
When she came to, time seemed to have barely passed. She was being carried, Arlo's arms wrapped securely around her shoulders and knees, her head resting against his neck. Arlo's soothing scent wafted into her nostrils and managed to curb her nausea a little. But she couldn't enjoy it for long. The world was spinning and unconsciousness claimed her again before she could hold on to it.
She kept drifting in and out of consciousness, and each time something was different.
At one point, something soft appeared beneath her, cushioning her aching body. The sensation felt distant, as if it were happening to someone else.
The next time, an icy coolness pressed against her forehead, her arms, and her legs. The relief was blissful, cutting through the heat that still seemed to cling to her skin. She wanted to hold on to it, but her mind was fading again.
Voices... there were other voices now. She knew them, but she couldn't place them, couldn't find the strength to even try.
Someone lifted her head and pressed a cup to her lips. She struggled to part her lips, her tongue thick and swollen, sticking to the roof of her mouth. The strange tasting water was a distant promise of relief, but it took all her strength to swallow a single sip before the darkness claimed her once more.
And then... nothing. Time disappeared, leaving only blackness behind.
~~~~~~
Elenya awoke to a world of pain and discomfort. Her head throbbed and her skin felt like it was on fire. It took her a moment to figure out where she was, but she recognised the mattress beneath her and a familiar smell wafted into her nostrils.
She was home.
But that didn't help her. Even the soft sheet beneath her stung her skin and every little movement felt like her skin was tearing.
What had happened?
Her thoughts moved with difficulty. She remembered an unbearable heat and... three Arlos?
That couldn't be right.
Something rustled softly to her left and unconsciously she turned her head in the direction of the sound. To her bewilderment, something slipped from her forehead, which she only realised had been pleasantly cool when it was no longer there.
With a soft whimper, she tried to open her eyes and had to blink a few times against the dim light in the room before she could make out a familiar figure. Arlo was sitting in a chair next to her, his face buried in his hands. His shoulders were tense and she could see from his dishevelled hair that he must have been through a lot of stress.
Oh Arlo...
With difficulty she managed to open her mouth, but instead of his name, only a low croak escaped her throat, sending her into a coughing fit. New pain exploded in her head and she couldn't hold back the tears that ran burning down her cheeks.
Arlo immediately jumped up from the chair and reached for the full glass of water on the bedside table. He carefully slid his hand under her head, lifting it slightly and bringing the glass to her lips.
Wonderfully cool water hit her throat and she gulped down the refreshing drink greedily.
"Slowly, sweetie. Slowly. You'll choke."
She tried to heed Arlo's warning, but she was so thirsty that she felt she had never drunk anything as wonderful as this cool water. In just a few gulps, the glass was empty and her cough stilled for the time being.
Carefully, Arlo lowered her head back into the pillows and tried to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks, but as careful as he was, even the slightest touch sent a stinging pain through her entire face. She winced and tried to stifle a whimper.
"I'm sorry," Arlo whispered, pulling back as if his touch had burned him too. His brow furrowed in helplessness. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Elenya's heart ached. She wanted his touch, his warmth, anything to dispel the lingering haze of nausea and pain, but her skin... it felt like it was on fire, every nerve ending exposed. Even the air hurt.
Why did everything hurt so much?
"Arlo... what happened? What's wrong with me?"
A mixture of concern and... anger? entered Arlo's eyes and with a sigh he let himself fall back into the chair. He didn't answer immediately, instead he took the something that had slipped off her forehead earlier, dipped it into a bowl that was also on the bedside table and then placed it back on her forehead.
Immediately, a soothing coolness settled on her forehead, easing her throbbing headache slightly. With a relieved sigh, she sank further into the soft pillows and then slowly turned her head back to Arlo, careful not to let the washcloth slip from her forehead.
He still hadn't answered her. His gaze was fixed on her left hand, his own hovering in the air just above it. A struggle was taking place behind his eyes and she was suffering with him.
How she wished he could just take her in his arms.
He remained in this position for several seconds until he seemed to make up his mind and carefully slid his hand under hers so that his palm rested against hers. His hand was cool from the cold water and together with the familiar feel of his calloused hands, this small touch managed to ease some of her discomfort.
The touch seemed to help Arlo as well, for his tense shoulders relaxed and the anger faded from his eyes. What remained was exhaustion and worry, and he turned his gaze back to her face.
"You had a heat stroke, sweetheart. I think you stole ten years of my life today. At first I thought you were injured when you collapsed in the kitchen. But then I felt the unnatural heat emanating from your body and how red and dry your skin was. Your pulse was racing like crazy and I was really afraid your heart was going to give out on you." As he said this he raked his free hand through his hair, ruffling it even more.
Elenya listened with wide eyes.
“I quickly took you to the bedroom and took off your clothes to apply as many cold compresses as I could. But your heart wouldn't calm down and your breathing was so shallow... Luckily, I knew that Remi would come by the west gate on his patrol any minute, so I ran out and sent him to fetch Dr. Xu. They both came back very quickly and Xu was able to help you quickly with an IV." Arlo's eyes darted briefly to the crook of her arm, and Elenya guessed that was where the puncture had been, even if she couldn't feel it through all the other pain.
"You were burning up. Dr. Xu said that any longer out in the heat and you could have suffered permanent damage... He actually wanted to take you to the clinic, but I managed to convince him that you could recover better here." He faltered, his eyes dropping to her hand.
"I was so scared. Your eyes opened from time to time, but your gaze was so empty and unfocused... I've never seen you like this before."
Elenya's heart tightened at his words. If she had known how badly the heat would affect her, she would never have stayed outside for so long. Apologetically, she squeezed Arlo's hand gently, her muscles still weak. Even the light pressure was soothing, though it sent a dull ache across her burned skin.
"I'm sorry, Arlo," she croaked, the weight of her mistake sinking in. "I thought... I had more time. A gust of wind blew my sun hat off, but I really wanted to cut down this one last tree..." Her voice echoed hoarsely through the room as she struggled to get the words out of her still dry throat.
Based on the anger that returned to Arlo's gaze, he had understood her, but as before, it was gone as quickly as it had come.
"Oh, sweetheart. I really want to be angry with you for not taking care of yourself like you promised. But I'm just glad you made it home and are going to be all right." His voice was filled with love and concern and quickly dispelled Elenya's growing guilt.
She looked at him, her throat full of unshed tears. She didn't deserve a man as wonderful as Arlo.
"I'll get you some more water. You need to drink a lot to make up for the fluid loss and then we'll see if we can do something about your pain, okay?" Arlo pressed a feather-light kiss to her temple, more a breath than a touch, and gently released his hand from hers.
Elenya watched Arlo move across the room, her chest tightening with feelings she couldn't quite place. She was grateful, but also ashamed - ashamed of how careless she had been and how much she had put him through.
She closed her eyes for a moment, the pain throbbing inside her, until she heard his footsteps return. He gently lifted her head and brought the glass of water to her lips, his touch so gentle it was almost unbearable. When she had finished her drink, he reached for a cloth and began to gently dab at her skin. But no matter how careful he was, every touch hurt and she couldn't help but whimper.
Arlo hesitated, then lowered his hand with the washcloth. His face was stricken with helplessness. "I'm sorry, darling. Dr. Xu is bringing a special ointment tomorrow that should help heal the sunburn more quickly, but until then I can only offer cooling. I wish I could do more..."
“Oh Arlo, you're already doing more than enough, love.” With difficulty and pain, Elenya managed to place her trembling hand gently against his cheek, and Arlo gratefully leaned into the touch.
But she couldn't hold her hand up for long. Overwhelming exhaustion washed over her and her arm sank back down onto the bed. Without her consent, her eyes closed and Arlo's beloved blue eyes disappeared before her.
A reluctant grumble escaped her.
She didn't want to sleep yet! She wanted to stay with Arlo, reassure him and show him that she was feeling better. But the darkness kept pulling her down, making it impossible to fight back.
“Get some rest, sweetheart,” Arlo said with a soft laugh, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “I'll be right here, okay?”
The cold washcloth returned to her forehead, soothing her fevered thoughts as she drifted off to sleep, knowing that Arlo's steady presence would be waiting for her when she awoke.
~~~~~~
When Elenya woke up, she wished she could sink back into the darkness. Every inch of her skin ached and felt taut, her head was still throbbing and her thoughts came to her with difficulty.
She desperately needed something to drink. Her throat was completely dry, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth.
Gritting her teeth, she opened her eyes, the dim light in the room immediately intensifying her headache. With a soft groan, she turned her head to the left, towards where Arlo had last sat beside her. But the chair beside the bed was empty.
She tried to suppress her disappointment. Arlo couldn't sit next to her the whole time she was asleep, after all.
What time was it anyway?
Her blurred vision didn't allow her to see the clock above the bedroom door, and with a frustrated sigh she was about to close her eyes again when a rustling noise next to her caught her attention. Startled, she looked to her right and saw the view she had hoped for.
Arlo was lying beside her, still in his clothes and on top of the blanket. His eyes were closed, his breathing deep and relaxed. Deep shadows lay under his eyes and she wondered how long he had stayed up to watch over her sleep.
Love and warmth filled her heart, but worry mingled with it. She was incredibly grateful that Arlo had chosen to share his heart of gold with her, but she also wished he would take better care of himself.
Not that she was any better in that department. But at least they could look after each other.
So, even though she desperately needed something to drink, she decided to let him sleep. He needed it.
Elenya watched him for a while. Internalising anew the features she was already familiar with. His relaxed face told her that he was enjoying a well-deserved deep sleep, free of worries, and while she absorbed this peaceful sight, sleep threatened to overtake her again. She didn't have the strength to resist it for long, so she followed Arlo back to dreamland.
~~~~~~
Elenya didn't know how long she had been asleep again, but there was much more light streaming into the room than before. The fog in her head had thankfully continued to lift, but her thirst was all the greater now.
She looked around for Arlo. The bed next to her was empty and the chair next to the bed was also abandoned. As she looked at the chair, she noticed the glass of water on the bedside table and greedily tried to reach for it. But she was too far in the middle of the bed and her arm wasn't long enough.
Summoning all her strength, she rolled onto her side and immediately regretted the movement. Her bare skin rubbed against the sheets and the burning she had forgotten for a moment flared up with full force. With a choked cry she fell onto her back, unleashing another wave of pain and barely keeping herself from curling up into a ball.
Tears threatened to stream down her cheeks, but fortunately the sound of quickly approaching footsteps distracted her enough to keep them at bay. Barely 30 seconds after her first cry, Arlo burst into the room.
"Elenya! Are you all right? What happened?" Concerned, Arlo leaned over her, his left hand stopping inches from her face.
Elenya instantly hated his hesitation. She knew, of course, that it was only for her own good, but she desperately wanted to feel his touch.
She could only manage one word: “Water...”
Arlo immediately realized what she had been trying to do and reacted accordingly. In one fluid motion, he grabbed the glass of water from the bedside table and knelt down beside her.
“Here, sweetheart,” he said softly, his voice full of concern. “Let me help you.”
He slipped an arm under her head and lifted it just enough to press the rim of the glass to her chapped lips. The first sip was like rain on parched earth, but her eagerness made her cough. Arlo put the glass back with a patient chuckle and brushed her hair from her damp forehead.
“Take it easy,” he murmured. “We're not in a race.”
She wanted to say something smart, something that would lighten the heaviness in his gaze, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she reached for his hand, her fingers just barely clasping his.
“Thank you,” she whispered in a rough but firm voice.
His face softened, and he squeezed her hand lightly. “There's nothing I'd rather do.”
Arlo helped her to empty the rest of the glass and then sat down on the edge of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” His worried gaze roamed over her body and only then did she realize that she didn't even know what she looked like. She only felt the terrible tightness and burning of her skin.
Curious, she looked down at her bare arms and could hardly believe her eyes. Her hands and forearms were deep red and what she could see of her lower legs didn't look any better. Even where her skin had been covered by clothing, there was a slight reddening, albeit not as severe. How…?
Elenya's throat constricted as her gaze traveled over her burned arms. The angry redness stretched across her skin, interrupted only by lighter tones where her clothes provided enough protection. She moved her fingers tentatively and immediately regretted it when the tightness turned into a sharp pain.
"I don't understand," she croaked, her voice shaking. "I used sunscreen... I thought I was being careful."
Arlo shifted closer to her, his calm presence anchoring her swirling thoughts. "I know, sweetheart," he said softly. "The sun was brutal yesterday and the heat... It may have overwhelmed your body faster than you realised."
Elenya clenched her jaw, her mind racing through the events of yesterday. Why had she so stubbornly insisted on working, even in the sweltering heat? No one in their right mind would voluntarily spend so much time outside when the sun was so hot. Her hands clenched weakly on the blanket.
Arlo reached out his hand, hovering just above her arm before settling lightly on the bed beside her. "Hey," he said in a soft but firm voice. "None of this is your fault. The important thing is that you're here now, and I'm going to help you get through this."
His words, spoken with such calm conviction, squelched the guilt that was swirling around in her chest. She nodded slowly and dropped her eyes back to her arms.
"Dr. Xu brought over some ointment just before you woke up," Arlo continued in a soothing voice. "It should help with the pain and the healing. Do you feel well enough for me to apply it? I'm afraid it won't be pleasant."
Elenya swallowed hard through her dry throat. She wasn't keen on suffering any more pain, but she forced herself to nod. She couldn't let her discomfort delay her healing - or Arlo's peace of mind. "Yes, I think so," she whispered, leaning back into the pillow as exhaustion overcame her again.
Arlo rewarded her answer with a feather-light kiss on her temple, then disappeared briefly to fetch the ointment.
While he was gone, Elenya tried to sit up, but had to abandon the attempt very quickly. Her skin stretched painfully over her muscles and with a gasp she fell back into the pillows.
She had done it again. She had completely incapacitated herself.
Before she could fall into a state of anger and self-pity, Arlo returned, a large sealable jar of an almost transparent ointment in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He placed both on the bedside table and then leaned over her again.
"Okay, sweetie. I think it would be best if we started with your back. If the pain gets too much, you can lie down again if you need to. I'll try to help you up, okay? If I hurt you too much, you have to tell me.” Carefully and with a sympathetic look, he slid his large, warm hands under her shoulder blades and slowly pulled her up.
To her surprise, it hurt much less than she had expected. It was far from pleasant, but Arlo must have known that her shoulder blades were less affected by the sun than the rest of her body. She was still glad when she finally sat half upright on the edge of the bed and was able to catch her breath. Who would have thought a sunburn could cause such problems.
Arlo gave her all the time she needed, instead reaching for the glass of water he had brought. She drank it gratefully.
He set the empty glass aside and reached for the ointment instead. He looked seriously into her eyes. “I'll be as careful as I can, sweetheart. But if it gets too much and you need a break, please let me know.”
Elenya nodded nervously. She didn't know what she was about to face, but she knew that Arlo was with her and she trusted him completely.
Arlo sat down on the bed behind her with the jar of ointment and soon the smell of herbs filled the room. "This might be a little cold..."
The first touch of the ointment sent an unpleasant shiver through her body. The ointment was indeed very cold, and her overheated and exhausted body didn't know how to deal with it at first. She clenched her teeth against the sensation and tried to concentrate more on Arlo's steady hands. Fortunately, the more he spread it over her skin with feather-light touches, the more pleasant it became. But it still hurt terribly. Especially around the back of her neck, which she suspected looked exactly like her hands and forearms, she could barely hold back a whimper.
"Shh, you're doing great, sweetie. I'm almost done back here," Arlo whispered reassuringly into her ear. His warmth and presence created a soothing contrast to the cold ointment and pain, and unconsciously Elenya leaned a little closer to him.
"That's it. Just try to relax."
The further down her back he went, the less pain she felt, and Elenya was able to relax for a moment.
"There you go." Arlo crawled out from behind her again and knelt in front of her instead. His blue eyes looked up at her warmly and exhaustedly, she looked back. "Can I continue or do you need a moment?"
“No, you can go on.”
He scrutinised her for a long moment, then seemed to believe her and carefully took hold of her right leg. He gently placed her foot in his lap and reached for the ointment again.
Her legs looked really strange. From her feet to just above her ankles, her skin looked perfectly normal, her sturdy work boots providing ample protection from the sun. But above that, her lower legs were both as bright red as her forearms, if not more so. The severe burn extended to just above her knees, then faded considerably. Her thick but shortened work trousers also seemed to have done a lot to protect her from the sun.
Arlo carefully began to apply the ointment to her shin. This time, Elenya could see how carefully and lovingly he handled her, and her heart filled with warmth.
But when he leaned slightly to the side to get a better view of her calves, he suddenly let out a startled hiss and almost dropped her leg.
“Damn, why am I only seeing this now? I'm so sorry, sweetheart. We need to bandage that immediately.”
Confused, Elenya could only stare at Arlo. What did he mean? She tried to catch a glimpse of her calf as well, but as she leaned forward, she was overcome by a brief dizziness and almost fell forward off the bed.
Luckily Arlo noticed and was able to support her with a hand against her shoulder. The contact wasn't painless, of course, but at least she was saved from hitting the floor.
"Whoa, hey, careful. I think you should lie back down." He carefully put her leg back on the floor and started to get up to help her lie down, but she waved him off.
She just wouldn't lean forward anymore.
“No, it's okay... Just... What's wrong with my leg?"
Even deeper concern etched Arlo's face as he replied, “Your calves.... They're so badly burnt that blisters have formed. Can't you feel that?"
Shocked, she could only stare back. She hadn't expected this. How could she have burned herself so badly in the sun?
She tried to feel if she could feel the worse burn, but her whole skin hurt so much that she could barely distinguish one part of her body from the other. She couldn't tell if her calves hurt more than others.
"No... everything just hurts..."
Arlo's face contorted and his eyes widened as he realised the extent of her injuries. “Sweetheart, I'm so sorry,” he whispered in a guilty voice. He placed a reassuring hand on her thigh, the only place that wasn't causing her more pain. "I should have stopped you from going out yesterday."
Elenya shook her head, trying to put on a reassuring smile despite the sharp pain in her body. "Oh Arlo, that's nonsense. This is all entirely my fault.”
Judging by the look on his face, he couldn't quite come to terms with it and she would have loved to know what was going on in his head, but he didn't give her a chance.
He stood abruptly, his movements brisk but controlled. "I'm going to get what I need to bandage your calves. Don't move, okay?" He reached out, brushing his fingertips against hers before disappearing into the next room.
Elenya let out a shaky breath, staring at the spot where he’d been kneeling moments ago. Her chest ached - not just from the physical pain, but from the sheer care Arlo poured into her every need. She hated how helpless she felt, how much he had to do for her, but at the same time she couldn't deny the comfort his presence brought.
When Arlo returned, he knelt by her side once more, his arms full of supplies: a clean towel, disinfectant and a roll of gauze. He carefully placed the items on the bed and met her gaze. His expression softened, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. "This is going to hurt," he admitted quietly. “But I’ll be as gentle as I can. Just tell me if it's too much."
Elenya nodded, biting her lip. "I trust you."
Arlo smiled faintly, the corners of his lips lifting just enough to ease her tension. "That's all I need to hear."
He worked methodically, dabbing disinfectant onto her calf with the lightest of touches. Despite his caution, the sting was sharp enough to make her hiss through clenched teeth. Immediately Arlo stopped, his hand hovering in the air. "I'm sorry, darling. Just a little more. You're doing so well."
"It's okay," she whispered, her voice small but steady. “I can handle it.”
He resumed his work. After disinfecting, he applied Dr. Xu's ointment to these areas as well, then carefully wrapped a bandage around her leg without applying any pressure.
As quickly and carefully as he could, he repeated the procedure on the other leg.
When he finished, he sat back on his heels, exhaling deeply. “That should help,” he said, his voice low but warm. "We'll keep an eye on it and reapply the ointment regularly. And no arguments this time - you're not lifting a finger until you're completely healed."
Elenya let out a weak laugh, her heart swelling at his devotion. "You're the boss."
His smile widened, though concern remained in his gaze. "You got that right."
Arlo set the material aside and reached for the pot of ointment again. "We've made good progress, but we're not finished yet. Do you want to lie back for this part, or...?"
Elenya shook her head, determined despite her exhaustion. "No. Sitting upright is fine. I can manage."
He hesitated for a moment, examining her closely. "All right," he relented. "But if it's too much..."
She cut him off with an affectionate smile. "I'll tell you."
"Right..." An embarrassed chuckle escaped him as he realised how many times he had asked her to do that today.
Arlo adjusted his position, kneeling in front of her. He gently took her right hand in his, cradling it as though it might break. Her fingers were stiff, and she winced slightly when he began spreading the ointment along her knuckles and fingers. The coolness contrasted sharply with the searing heat trapped in her skin.
She watched him silently as he repeatedly murmured soothing words to her.
When her hands were done, Arlo moved on to her forearms, taking extra care to avoid aggravating the tender skin. He worked his way upward, pausing occasionally to glance at her face for any signs of distress.
“You okay?” he asked when he reached her elbows.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice soft and full of love. "You're being very careful."
"Good," he replied, relief evident in his tone.
"Now let me see your stomach," he leaned forward, inspecting it. "It's not quite as bad here, but I'll still be careful."
He applied the ointment with delicate care, his touch soothing despite the sting. Elenya's breathing slowed, the tension in her body easing slightly despite the discomfort.
When he finished, he looked up at her again, his gaze filled with both tenderness and concern. "Last part - your face. Are you ready?"
She hesitated, but before she could nod, a violent shiver ran through her body. Painful goose bumps spread over her skin and a soft whimper escaped her. She barely managed to stop herself from wrapping her arms around herself for warmth.
Why was she so cold all of a sudden?
"What's the matter? Are you cold?" Arlo's concern grew again and he, too, barely managed to stop himself from wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm.
"Yes... But... I don't know why. I was feeling so hot a moment ago.” She looked down at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"Your body is exhausted, sweetheart. And Dr. Xu's ointment is probably already helping to cool your skin down."
That probably made sense. Knowing that didn't help her though. She didn't think her skin would tolerate any kind of fabric. Arlo seemed to be aware of this problem too, if she interpreted his thoughtful look correctly.
Then his eyes suddenly brightened, he jumped up and disappeared in the direction of their dresser. After a short rummage, he reappeared triumphant, holding a grey sweater that she knew all too well.
Her eyes lit up. If she couldn't stand this sweater, she couldn't stand any. This grey jumper was made of the softest fabric she'd ever felt, and it always smelled so pleasantly of Arlo that she pilfered it on a regular basis.
"I hope this works."
With gentle movements, Arlo helped her into the sweater and, to her relief, the soft fabric clung to her skin without irritating it. On top of that came Arlo’s pleasant smell and she felt warm all around. She let out a soft sigh and gratefully looked up into Arlo's warm gaze.
"Better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Good, then I'll take care of your face now and then you can rest."
Kneeling in front of her again, Arlo moved closer, his eyes locked with hers. "Close your eyes for me."
She obeyed, and a moment later his fingers brushed over her cheeks, cool and soothing. The salve felt strange against her heated skin, but the pain was manageable. Arlo worked meticulously, his touch gentle as he smoothed the ointment across her forehead, down her nose and along her jawline.
He even spread it over her lips, softening the chapped skin there.
"There," he said softly, his voice like a warm embrace. "All done."
Elenya opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. The relief and pride in his expression was enough to make her smile, despite the lingering discomfort.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Arlo reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You don't have to thank me. I'd do it a thousand times over if it meant keeping you safe."
Her heart swelled and she leaned forward, resting her forehead lightly against his. "I'm lucky to have you."
"No," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm the lucky one."
For a moment they stayed like that, wrapped in the quiet comfort of each other's presence. Despite the pain and exhaustion, Elenya felt an overwhelming sense of peace.
She wasn't alone - and that made all the difference.
I did not expect Fang to be the number 1 character to reappear in my time at Evershine.
I mean. I love Fang! He's a well-written character with his own reasons and a story that I did not expect. I can relate to his struggle of speaking up, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Although...
I really REALLY wished the Civil corps were given a little more love. Especially those in Portia. They do so much for us🥺💞.
For reference, I've played Portia before and for some reason the civil corps are just so dear to me. They all seem like interesting fellows.)
They just fit the overall vibe of it Idk. Evershine would've probably given them the spotlight for a moment, like fleshed them out a lil more and how things work within the Civil corps.
But all in all, I'd love to get to know them again like it's the first time. It would be a wonderful comeback to Portia...
Yes! I want to see Arlo in Evershine! Or Sam and Remington - or even better: All three of them.
I wish they would give us a character from both games. The problem with the characters from Portia is, that a lot less people have played My Time at Portia than Sandrock and they are bound to get a lot less votes...
With that in mind, I'm really surprised that Arlo (my beloved) is in second place so far.
Summary: Elenya had always been proud of her good reflexes. Combined with her clumsiness, they had saved her from so many injuries and broken glasses. But today this blessing was proving to be more of a curse.
Word count: 7'742
Prompt: Bleeding Through the Bandages
Well, look who's back! It's been a while since my last story, but I started a new job at the beginning of February and haven't had much time to write for a while.
But now I welcome you back to my Bad Things Happen Bingo!
You'll experience the usual angst, followed by enough sweet Arlo to rot your teeth.
It's once again quite a bit to read, so make sure you have enough time for it!
Warnings: Blood, Injury, Stitches, Fainting
Read on AO3: Link
Healing Hands
Elenya had always been proud of her good reflexes. Combined with her clumsiness, they had saved her from so many injuries and broken glasses. But today this blessing was proving to be more of a curse.
It was a mild late summer morning in Portia and Elenya was in her garden, as she often was, working at her workbench. Paulie had posted an order for 3 grinding saws on the commission board and as luck would have it, she still had 3 blade blanks in stock and just needed to sharpen them. She had already finished the first two and the third just needed a final polish to give it the outstanding quality she had become known for in Portia over the last year and a half.
With an exhausted sigh, Elenya lowered herself onto the small stool at her workbench and took off her leather gloves. It was only 10 o'clock in the morning, but she would have loved nothing more than to go back to bed. She had been working almost non-stop for the past few days, finishing the pump and boiler for the new hot springs that Mayor Gale had planned. In theory, she needn't have rushed, but if she was honest with herself, she couldn't wait to relax in the hot water herself.
She had been able to install the machines yesterday, and now all that remained was for Albert to finish the building. And even though she had finally gotten enough sleep that night, the exhaustion still lingered in her bones.
But it was no use. Work never stopped in Portia.
With another sigh, she reached for the water bottle in the corner of her workbench, took a deep drink and put it back. Unfortunately, she wasn't careful enough and bumped her elbow against the nearly finished grinding blade, which immediately slipped over the edge of the workbench.
Without even thinking about it, she grabbed the blade with both hands in a flash, and while this ensured that neither the blade nor the wooden floor underneath the workbench was damaged, the blade slipped a few, but critical, millimetres through her hand, leaving deep, burning cuts in her palms.
The pain shot from her hands through her entire body, and it was only with great difficulty and a great deal of swearing that she managed not to drop the blade and throw it back onto the workbench. Blood immediately began to flow from her palms.
Quickly moving her hands away from her body to avoid bleeding all over herself, she frantically looked around for something to stop the bleeding. Her eyes, blurred by rising tears, fell on her textile machine, which had just finished sewing a fresh piece of fabric.
That would have to do.
On trembling knees, Elenya hurried to the machine and grabbed the fabric, squeezing it tightly between her palms. Another unsavoury curse escaped her as more pain shot through her body, but she gritted her teeth and didn't let go of the fabric.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fucking fuck!
How stupid could a person be? What was she supposed to do now?
The fabric between her hands was already turning red and through the pain she tried to grasp a clear thought.
Stop the bleeding. She had to stop the bleeding somehow. Where was her first aid kit again?
A few single tears escaped her as she stumbled uncoordinated towards her front door, but she managed to open the door and get deeper into her house.
Once in her bathroom, she managed to use her elbow to open the door of her bathroom cupboard and take out her first aid kit. She still held the piece of cloth between her hands and didn't dare let go.
But how was she going to open the box, let alone take out the bandages?
Elenya decided to drop the box to the ground and wedge it between her knees. It took a moment, but with the help of her elbows, fingers and teeth she finally managed to tear open a pack of compresses and a bandage.
She took a deep breath. Now it was time to let go of the fabric.
Carefully, she slowly released her left hand and immediately her stomach turned and she got lightheaded. The cut was deep and blood was still flowing from it.
Normally she had no problem with blood, but when it was her own and in large quantities, her circulation could not keep up. At least she could still move her fingers, so nothing important had been cut, but she was afraid the wounds would need stitches.
Just thinking about it made her even more dizzy, and she shook her head vigorously, trying to clear the black dots from her vision. She had to pull herself together!
Elenya let go of the cloth with her right hand and laid it roughly over her lap and the floor to catch at least some of the blood that was dripping again. Then she grabbed a compress and used three fingers to press it firmly against the cut on her right hand, leaving her thumb and forefinger free.
With these two fingers, she tried as best she could to wipe the blood from the other hand, apply a compress and wrap a bandage around it. She didn't succeed very well. Her hands were half numb with pain and she couldn't muster enough strength to tighten the bandage properly.
She repeated the process on the other side and then collapsed exhausted against the wall behind her. She carefully placed her hands on her drawn knees to hold them above her heart and closed her eyes with a sigh. Pain was still pulsing through her hands and the stress of the whole situation was sapping the last of her strength.
She would have preferred to sit here forever, but the temporary bandages wouldn't last long and she needed to get up to the clinic. She waited a few more minutes for her heartbeat to calm a little and the pain to subside, but then she couldn't put off the inevitable any longer.
With another deep sigh, Elenya slowly straightened up, and as soon as the black dots disappeared from her vision, she set off, holding her hands carefully to her chest.
Without really noticing, she reached the gate to the village, her body automatically following the familiar path. As soon as she turned the corner, however, she collided with something and lost her balance. Fortunately, this something, or rather someone, also had good reflexes and grabbed her shoulders to prevent her from falling. Had it not been for that, her reflex would probably have been to catch herself with her hands, and that would not have been a very good outcome for her.
But now she found herself leaning against a strong chest, her throbbing hands trapped between them, and a warm, familiar voice reached her ears.
"Oh, Elenya, sweetheart! I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Are you all right?"
Elenya's knees went weak as she realised who she had walked straight into. Arlo, her wonderful boyfriend, tightened his grip on her back as he felt her lean into him even more and she could feel his worried gaze on her.
Despite everything, her heart leapt with joy at the gesture and she couldn't help but nestle even closer to his chest. The warmth of his body filled her with a sense of peace that made her forget the stress of the last half hour for a moment. She was no longer alone with her injured hands and only now did she realise how much that fact had affected her subconsciously.
"Elenya?"
Arlo's worried voice sounded again and Elenya finally lifted her head to meet his gaze. Blue eyes rested warmly and questioningly on her face and she tried to smile reassuringly at him. Judging by his expression, she didn't succeed.
"Hey Arlo, I, um..." She didn't really know what to say. How do you explain that you were stupid enough to catch a sharp grinding blade with your bare hands?
Before she could think any further, Arlo finally caught sight of her roughly bandaged hands and his eyes widened in shock.
"Your hands! What happened to your hands?"
He quickly took a step away from her and gently gripped her wrists so that he could see her hands better. Blood was already seeping through the bandages and the sight made Elenya dizzy again. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Oh God, what was wrong with her today? She usually had no problem with blood!
Instantly, the grip on her wrists tightened as she swayed in place and was pulled back against Arlo's chest. Exhausted, Elenya let her head sink against his shoulder.
"Woah, hey, it's all right. I've got you. Come on, I'll take you up to the clinic."
Leaving one arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders, Arlo pulled away from her, planted a soft kiss on her temple and then led her along the path she had intended to walk alone until a moment ago.
~~~~~~
Elenya didn't know exactly how long it took them to get up the hill. She was completely focused on Arlo's warm, reassuring presence, blocking out everything else, including the constant throbbing of her hands. It was only when they entered the cool interior of the clinic that she became aware of her surroundings and found herself face to face with Dr. Xu.
"Oh god, Elenya! What happened?" Concerned, the doctor approached her and cautiously grabbed her hands, which she was still holding protectively to her chest. Two startled sounds rang through the room as she opened her fingers, and Elenya dared to look at her hands again.
The bandages had almost completely bled through, and a few drops of blood were already running down her hands again.
She quickly looked away before she could get lightheaded again.
Why haven't the cuts stopped bleeding? How long had it been?
Dr. Xu also seemed very concerned about the amount of blood and quickly led her over to his desk and instructed her to sit on the stool. Arlo stood close behind her so she could feel his warmth and she was incredibly grateful to him. Now that the inevitable stitches were imminent, panic began to creep back into her.
Dr. Xu quickly cleared the table, placed a flat cushion on top, threw a clean sheet over it and instructed her to put her hands down.
Elenya silently complied.
As soon as her hands touched the sheet, Dr. Xu began to remove the first bandage from her left hand. Elenya did her best not to look at her hands. She felt that if she saw the cuts again, she would faint.
It was only when a large, warm hand rested on her shoulder and a second began to soothe through her hair that she realised her whole body was shaking slightly. Almost immediately, some of her tension was released and she leaned gratefully against Arlo. He supported her like a warm stone in the surf.
Again, two startled sounds echoed through the room as the first bandage was removed, but this time she managed to suppress the reflex to look at her hands. However, she could not suppress a painful hiss as Dr. Xu presumably pressed a new compress firmly onto her wound and wrapped a new, tighter bandage around it. The hand on her shoulder squeezed reassuringly.
"This definitely needs stitches. God, Elenya, how did this happen?" Dr. Xu's voice sounded horrified and Elenya dared to look up at him. Dark, worried eyes met her gaze and she shrugged her shoulders, blushing.
She really didn't want to tell him how this situation had come about, but she could feel Arlo's gaze resting on her, tense and worried, so she gave in with a soft sigh.
"Well, I was working on some grinding saws for Paulie..." She recounted how disastrous her morning had been, hissing painfully several times as Dr. Xu tended to her right hand. When she finished, a soft sigh sounded behind her and a gentle kiss landed on her head.
Tilting her head back, Elenya looked up at Arlo and met his exasperated but loving gaze.
"Oh sweetheart, what am I going to do with you?" He stroked her cheek lovingly and she leaned into the comforting gesture, a sheepish smile forming on her lips.
"I'm sorry." For a moment, she lost herself in her boyfriend's deep blue eyes until Dr. Xu's throat clearing brought her back to reality. She quickly raised her head again and looked forwards.
"Okay, before I take care of your hands, I have a few more questions. First things first: can you still move all your fingers?" The doctor observed her attentively and she nodded. At least in that regard she was still lucky enough.
"Can you show me?" Dr. Xu turned his gaze to her hands and, without looking, Elenya carefully moved each of her fingers. Pain throbbed in her hands as she moved, but Dr. Xu quickly seemed satisfied and indicated that she could stop. Relieved, she sank a little more against Arlo's supportive body.
"That's good. At least the blade didn't hit anything important. Do you know roughly how long ago the accident happened? It's really worrying that the wounds are still bleeding so much."
"It must have been about 10 o'clock." A quick glance at the clock on the wall told her that it was now almost 11 o'clock.
Was she really still bleeding?
Without being able to stop it, she looked down at her hands and immediately regretted it. Dr. Xu had tied a new tight bandage directly over the cut on her left hand, but her right hand was exposed and her stomach instantly turned and the world spun before her eyes. Everything went black for a moment and when she came to, she was hanging slightly sideways from the stool, two strong arms wrapped around her torso and horrified exclamations met her ears.
"Elenya!" It was Arlo right next to her ear. He must have caught her.
Had she really just fainted at the sight of blood? Shame crept up her spine and she quickly tried to sit up, but her body wouldn't obey. The arms around her upper body tightened their grip and gently lifted her up until she was sitting upright on the stool again. Exhausted, she slumped down and wished she could hide her face in her hands.
Could this day get any more embarrassing?
Fortunately, she was able to resist the temptation and instead looked into the worried eyes of Dr. Xu, who had stood up and was now crouching in front of her.
"Does your body always react like this at the sight of blood?"
Ashamed, Elenya shook her head and Dr. Xu's gaze became thoughtful as he scrutinised her face.
She felt completely stupid. Sitting here, Arlo's arms still wrapped around her torso, his tense chest behind her - had he knelt down? - and her injured hands still outstretched on the table in front of her.
"Would you rather lie down?"
Another shake of the head. She just wanted to get this over with.
"Have you been getting enough sleep lately?"
Arlo's arms tightened around her and Elenya had the feeling she'd better not answer that question. But her silence seemed to be enough of an answer for both men and with a sigh, the tension drained from Arlo's body behind her, and his supportive grip became more of a warm embrace.
"Oh sweetheart, what am I going to do with you?" His words rang out again and apologetically, she snuggled against him. Her tendency to forget about her own health as soon as she had a project in front of her had always given him a headache and she was sorry that he was worrying about her again.
"One day I'll get you to look after yourself first and then the town." Warm lips pressed a gentle kiss to her mop of hair and a sheepish smile crept across her lips.
She wished him good luck with that.
"Well then, I'll leave that problem to Arlo. Let's take care of your hands now, okay?" With a sigh, Dr. Xu straightened up, took a small bottle from one of his cabinets and explained: "Here, this is for the pain. Can you help her drink it, Arlo? I'll get everything else I need in the meantime."
"Of course." Arlo took the already opened bottle and then leaned over her to gently place it to her lips. Slightly ashamed that she needed this help, but grateful, Elenya drank the painkiller.
A bitter taste followed by the sweetness of honey washed over her tongue and she had to force herself to swallow the concoction. She knew that Dr. Xu was always trying to improve his medicines, but unfortunately the taste still left a lot to be desired.
As if the latter had already known this, a glass full of water appeared in front of her shortly afterwards and Arlo took it with a soft chuckle. He also held it gently to her lips and she gulped down the water greedily to get the taste out of her mouth.
"Thank you." Elenya turned her grateful smile first to Dr. Xu, who waved her off with a simple hand gesture, and then to Arlo, who still had an arm around her back and was looking at her lovingly from the side.
"Of course. Anytime for you." A warm kiss on her forehead followed Arlo's soft words, then he positioned himself behind her again, his second arm wrapped back around her waist, and with a sigh she let herself sink back against his strong chest.
Her hands were still throbbing with pain, her stomach was churning with nausea and she still felt like she could faint again at any moment, but for a moment she could forget all that and just concentrate on the familiar warmth.
Without noticing, her eyes closed and she was only jolted back to reality when something cold - burning - suddenly flowed over her hands. With a startled hiss, she sat up abruptly, barely managing to stop herself from pulling her hands protectively towards her.
"I'm sorry, perhaps I should have warned you. But I'm afraid that wouldn't make cleaning the wounds any more pleasant." Dr. Xu looked up at her apologetically for a moment, but quickly turned his attention back to her hands, and Elenya had to do her best not to look there herself.
Gritting her teeth, she tried to bear the burning sensation, but the feel of the disinfectant flowing over her open hands felt all wrong and a new wave of nausea spread through her.
Oh God, please let this be over quickly.
"Breathe, Elenya. Come on, you can do it, sweetheart." Only when Arlo's voice suddenly appeared next to hers did she realise that she was holding her breath and that black dots were already appearing in her field of vision. Startled, she took a deep breath.
"That's good. Take a deep breath..." He inhaled behind her and she did the same. "And out again. That's it. Nice and slow."
For the time it took Dr. Xu to clean her hands, she followed Arlo's breathing and was once again so grateful to have him by her side.
"Okay, that's that. Fortunately, the bleeding has almost completely stopped by now. I'm going to apply an ointment now to numb the skin around the incisions so that I can put the stitches in, okay? How are you holding up?" Dr. Xu's dark eyes searched her gaze warmly and, exhausted, she could only nod.
She just wanted to go home.
In the five minutes it took for the ointment to take effect, Dr. Xu got everything ready for the stitches. Once again, Elenya tried not to look. She generally had no problem with needles, but this wasn't the first time she'd had stitches and the feeling of a thread being pulled through her skin was more than unpleasant and always made her feel nauseous.
Arlo seemed to notice her growing discomfort and positioned himself so that he was now kneeling to her left, his right arm still wrapped supportively around her back and his other hand gently cupping her cheek.
"Hey, are you all right?" He looked at her with concern and affection and she leaned gratefully into his touch.
Her voice trembled slightly as she replied, "I hate having to get stitches."
"It's going to be all right, okay? I'll be here the whole time. And it'll be over before you know it." Encouragingly, he leaned his forehead gently against hers and she instinctively breathed in his soothing scent. Some of the tension drained from her body and she gratefully pressed a brief kiss to his lips.
However, the sound of someone clearing their throat startled her and she turned back to Dr. Xu with slightly flushed cheeks. He smiled at her reassuringly and then pressed his now gloved finger to a spot next to the cut on her left hand and asked her: "Can you still feel anything?"
It felt strange. She could somehow feel the pressure, but she couldn't feel the warmth or the rubbery surface of the glove, which meant the ointment was working and Dr. Xu could start the stitches. She swallowed hard, but then shook her head.
"No. I think... you can start." At her shaky words, the arm around her shoulders tightened and she hid her face in Arlo's chest as best she could. It wasn't easy in her position, but Arlo moved slightly towards her, burying his free hand in her hair to hold her close.
"Don't worry, I'll be as careful as I can." Dr. Xu's reassuring voice reached her ears, but even his words couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling as he made the first stitch. Instantly, nausea spread through her stomach and with a soft whimper, she pressed herself even closer to Arlo. Her heart pounding, she tried to concentrate on his warmth and the hand that was gently stroking through her hair.
"Shh, it's all right. It'll be over in a minute."
And indeed, it wasn't long before her first hand was treated. Elenya felt her hand being gently washed again, the wound disinfected, and then a tight bandage tied around her hand to her wrist. She dared to take a look at it.
The bandage was pristine white, no blood in sight, and with relief she looked up into Dr. Xu's warm eyes.
"You're doing great. Ready for the second hand?" She felt like a little child at the doctor's words, but she probably wasn't behaving much differently and so she just nodded, her cheeks slightly red. The sooner she got this over with, the better.
Before the next stitch could be placed, she quickly hid her face in Arlo's chest again. His hand found its way back into her hair, though a soft laugh rumbled through his chest.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound. Even though he was laughing because of her, it was still her favourite sound and it filled her with warmth. She could melt every time she heard it.
The left hand was finished almost faster than the right, and she wondered for a moment if the cut wasn't quite as long, but it didn't matter. The main thing was that it was over, and she no longer had to endure that horrible feeling.
While Dr. Xu bandaged her second hand, Elenya let herself sink completely against Arlo. Now that most of the stress was over, exhaustion caught up with her and she struggled to stay upright. Immediately, Arlo changed his grip on her to better support her weight.
"You okay, sweetie?" Warm and concerned, his voice rumbled through his chest, and she nodded slightly. She felt warm and safe, a light fog in her head, and she suspected that the painkiller had finally taken full effect. She only realised that Dr. Xu had finished with her hands when he gently lifted them from the table and placed them in her lap. Her muscles sighed in relief. Holding her arms out for so long had become very uncomfortable after a while.
"All right, that's it. You did great, Elenya. How do you feel? Are you still in pain?" Dr. Xu's voice rang out from behind Arlo's back, and with difficulty she managed to pull her head away from Arlo's chest and look up at the doctor with a blurred vision. She had to blink a few times, but then the gentle smile came into focus and she smiled back automatically.
Arlo's gentle laugh reached her ears and she couldn't help but turn her smile towards him at the sound. Warm, loving eyes caught her gaze and her smile widened even more.
Another laugh and Arlo said without letting go of her gaze, "I think your painkiller is working wonderfully, Xu. Am I right, sweetheart?"
Elenya nodded with an approving hum, even if she didn't know exactly what she was agreeing to. But if Arlo said something, it was bound to be right.
"Well, I'm glad." Dr. Xu also let out a laugh, but then became a little more serious. "I'd like to discuss the next steps, but it looks like I'd better do that with you, Arlo. I don't think she'll remember much later."
More words followed, but a new wave of exhaustion washed over Elenya, so she snuggled back against Arlo's chest, leaving the thinking to him. Wrapped in warmth, she let the conversation flow over her.
She caught words like 'don't get wet', 'clean daily' and 'not touch anything'.
Wait... what?
A brief rush of adrenaline gave her enough strength to completely detach herself from Arlo and look up at Dr. Xu in horror.
"You want me to do what?"
Xu met her gaze sympathetically. "For the next three days, you should touch as little as possible. Ideally, you shouldn't grab anything at all. The less the cuts are moved, the better and faster they can heal. I know that's a lot to ask, but if the wounds can't heal properly, the scars could harden and affect your range of movement.”
She was even more horrified. This could not happen! She needed her hands! She couldn't work without them!
But how was she supposed to not touch anything for three days? She wouldn't even be able to pick up a glass of water!
Desperation must have been written all over her face, because two warm, rough hands softly cupped her face and gently turned her gaze back to Arlo.
"Don't worry, darling. I'll stay with you and take care of you, okay?” Full of love and care, he held her gaze and she looked back, confused and uncertain.
"But... you have to work. That's much more important than me.”
"First of all, nothing is more important than you, alright?" She felt herself blushing.
"And secondly, as luck would have it, I was actually on my way to you earlier to tell you that Sam and Remi have banished me to holiday for at least two days with the words 'You work too much'. I'm sure they could also manage without me for three or four days. Fortunately, it's very quiet at the moment."
A mixture of warm relief and guilt spread through Elenya.
Relief that Arlo wouldn't leave her alone, and guilt that thanks to her stupidity she was now taking up all his precious free time. Without being able to do anything about it, tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." A sob escaped her lips and soon she found herself pressed tightly against Arlo's chest, his strong arms holding her together.
It was all too much right now. All the stress, the pain, the exhaustion and the difficult days ahead. She felt helpless.
“Shh, it's okay. It was an accident. We'll get through this. Together." Arlo's warm words washed over her head, but they only made her cry more, and she spent the next few minutes buried in Arlo's chest, her body wracked with violent sobs.
She didn't know how much time passed, but eventually she ran out of energy and just hung limply in Arlo's arms. He didn't hesitate for long, loosening one arm from around her back and sliding it under her knees instead, carefully lifting her off the stool. With just a few steps he carried her over to one of the hospital beds and carefully laid her down on it. He placed her hands gently on her chest and then moved away from her.
She missed his warmth immediately.
"Get some rest for a moment, sweetheart. I'm just going to get some things so I can stay with you for a few days, okay? I'll be right back." A lingering, warm kiss graced her forehead, followed by a gentle caress of her cheek, and then Arlo was gone and she fell into a light sleep.
She awoke when the door to the clinic opened again, but she was in no mood to open her eyes. Instead, she listened to the sound of soft footsteps, the muffled conversation between Arlo and Dr. Xu, and the soft clinking of glass vials. She almost fell back asleep.
But then a warm hand cupped her cheek again and Arlo's voice rang out softly: "Hey sweetheart, ready to go home?"
"Mmmh." Tired, Elenya opened her eyes and was about to use her hands to sit up, but luckily Arlo quickly saw what she was trying to do and gently grabbed her wrists.
Damn, she wasn't going to be able to get used to this.
"Careful. Let me help you." Arlo helped her sit up and with a grateful look, she glanced up at him.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt exhausted, her body heavy with the weight of everything that had happened.
Arlo smiled at her, his hands steadying her as she shifted her legs over the side of the bed. "Of course. Can you stand?"
She nodded, feeling a little more awake now. "Yes, I think so."
With his help, she slid out of bed. Dr. Xu approached her with a small smile, holding a bag. "Here are some extra supplies for cleaning the wounds. Make sure you follow the instructions and come back in three days for a check-up, okay?"
As Arlo took the small bag and placed it in the rucksack she now noticed he was carrying, Elenya nodded with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Dr. Xu. For everything."
He waved her off with a friendly gesture. "It's my job. Take care of yourself, Elenya. And Arlo, make sure she follows the instructions."
Arlo chuckled, his arm securely around Elenya's waist. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she does."
With a final nod, Dr. Xu stepped back, allowing Arlo to guide her out of the clinic. The walk to the exit felt longer than it actually was, each step reminding her of how weak and exhausted she felt. But Arlo's steady support kept her going.
The journey back to her home was a quiet one, with Elenya concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, while Arlo remained a steady presence at her side. When they reached the door, Arlo helped her inside and shut the door.
"Sit down for now, sweetheart. I'll just take your medicine and bandages to the bathroom, okay?" With gentle pressure on her lower back, Arlo led her to her couch, onto which she sank gratefully. She had declined Arlo's offer to carry her - her legs still worked fine after all! - but she was still glad to be able to sit down. Her exhaustion was growing, and she couldn't wait to lie down for a few hours.
With a quick, gentle kiss on her forehead, Arlo made his way to her bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. Elenya watched him go, lost in thought, and even after he was out of sight, she continued to stare at the doorway to her bedroom. She still felt so stupid and guilty. Here she was, having spent the last year and a half building impossible things and fighting all sorts of monsters, and then managing to incapacitate herself for several days because she couldn't control her clumsiness or reflexes.
But before she could indulge her thoughts any further, Arlo reappeared in the doorway. Much quicker than she had expected and his face devoid of any colour.
What had happened?
Before she could ask, he hesitantly opened his mouth. "Um... d... do you still need that piece of fabric? I don't know if we can save it..."
And suddenly she remembered how she had left the bathroom behind. The contents of her first aid kit strewn everywhere and a piece of fabric soaked in blood on top. And who knew where else she had left traces of blood.
Oh God, no wonder he looked like he'd seen a ghost.
Startled, she jumped to her feet. "Oh shit. Wait, let me..."
She didn't get any further. As soon as she stood upright, her vision went black and her legs buckled. She fell uncontrollably back onto the couch, luckily without falling on her hands, and when her vision cleared, Arlo was already leaning over her. His strong hands cupped her shoulders and gently guided her into a lying position.
"Careful. Let me do this, okay? You just stay here and rest. I just got a bit scared at the sight." He held her gaze firmly and with an annoyed sigh she let herself sink into the cushion of the couch.
She hated this whole situation already. She wasn't used to sitting around idly and certainly not when someone else had to clean up her mess. She wanted to help!
Arlo's big, warm hand cupped her right cheek and she reluctantly met his understanding gaze.
"I know you want to help, but you have to take it easy. I really don't mind looking after you. In fact, there's nothing I'd rather do. I love you and I want you to get better quickly, okay?”
Damn, how could she not melt at those words?
"Okay... And I love you too." Her words of agreement were rewarded with a short, soft kiss and then Arlo straightened up again.
“Good, now that we've got that out of the way: What do you want to do with the fabric? Do you want me to throw it away?"
“Yes, I don't need it urgently. It wouldn't be worth the effort.” She could always make new ones.
“Okay. You rest and I'll tidy up.” Another quick kiss was planted on her forehead and then she was alone in her living room.
With another sigh, she sank deeper into the couch and, without meaning to, dozed off again.
~~~~~~
Strong arms slid under her back and knees and lifted her up, but before she could be startled, a familiar smell reached her nose. With a confused sound, she tiredly blinked her eyes open and was greeted by Arlo's neck.
"It's all right, sweetheart. I'm just taking you to bed.”
Bed? Oh right, she had fallen asleep on the couch.
She tried to lift her head to look at him, but her body felt like it was filled with lead, so she contented herself with snuggling even more against his warm chest. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before she found herself in her bedroom.
Arlo gently set her down on the edge of the bed, his hands lingering to steady her. "Let's get you into something more comfortable, shall we?"
Elenya nodded weakly, her eyelids heavy with fatigue. She felt his hands move to the buttons of her shirt, his touch gentle and careful. A wave of shame and frustration wanted to spread through her, but she was too tired for such emotions and so all that remained was gratitude to Arlo.
His strong, battle-hardened hands were always so gentle with her, so loving, and so she didn't feel the slightest discomfort as he dressed her in a soft t-shirt and warm sweatpants.
"There you go," he said gently, smoothing the fabric. "Now let's get you comfortable."
He helped her to lie on her side and carefully positioned her so that she could put her hands in front of her. He placed a soft pillow under her head and another behind her back to support her.
"How does that feel?" Eyes as warm as his voice watched her.
"It's good," she murmured, feeling the comfort of the bed and the softness of the pyjamas. "Thank you, Arlo. For everything."
Arlo smiled and leaned down to press a tender kiss to her forehead. "Anything for you, Elenya. Get some rest now. You'll feel better when you wake up."
Before he had even pulled the blanket over her and tucked her in, she was drifting off into an exhausted sleep.
~~~~~~
When she woke up again, the sun was a lot lower and she felt anything but better. Nausea churned in her stomach, cold sweat covered her body, her head ached and her hands throbbed and itched terribly. Everything felt off.
With a soft groan, she opened her eyes and was surprised to see Arlo sitting in an armchair next to the bed, intently reading a book. She looked at him for a moment, transfixed, admiring the way the late evening sun made his red hair glow and the way his lips moved silently as he read, as they always did.
But then the terrible itching in her hands picked up again, and with a croaked "Arlo." she drew his attention to herself. His head immediately shot in her direction and he put his book aside to kneel down beside the bed at the level of her head.
"Hey, darling. How are you doing? Feeling any better?" His eyes rested warmly and attentively on her face, but she could only answer with a pained expression and a shake of her head.
His eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Oh no, what's wrong? Are you in pain?"
"Yes, that too, but... I don't feel well. Everything hurts and my hands itch like crazy."
Worried, Arlo pressed his hand gently to her forehead, his eyes filling with even more concern. "I think you have a slight fever. That's not good at all. I hope the cuts haven't gotten infected. What exactly hurts?"
Fever? That would at least explain why everything felt so wrong.
"Everything hurts. My hands are throbbing, my limbs are aching and my head is burning. But the worst part is the itching. Can we please take the bandages off? I can hardly stand it."
It took all her willpower not to scratch.
"Technically, we shouldn't change the bandages until tomorrow morning, but I think it would be better if we checked right away to see if anything is infected. Then we can clean your hands and hopefully reduce the itching a little. Come on, I'll help you up."
With practised movements, Arlo helped her to sit up. The world spun before her eyes as soon as she was upright, and with an unconscious whimper she buried her face in his stomach. The nausea intensified, but Arlo's soothing scent and his hand gently stroking her hair quickly brought relief and she felt well enough to stand.
With Arlo's arm around her back, they took cautious steps into the bathroom where he carefully lowered her onto the toilet seat. He got everything he needed from the bathroom cupboard, filled a small bowl with warm water and then knelt in front of her.
"Let me have a look. I'll be very careful, I promise." He gently reached for her left hand. He cradled it oh so gently in his, her palm facing up, and she couldn't help but marvel once again at how much bigger his hands were compared to hers. Bigger, rougher and yet so tender.
With deft fingers, he began to remove the bandage from her hand. Unconsciously, she followed his movements, her mind focused on the warmth of his palm. It flowed up her arm, filling her heart with calm and easing part of her headache and nausea.
When he pulled the cloth off, he winced at the sight of the cuts, but he quickly composed himself. Unfortunately, she couldn't. Her nausea intensified at the sight of her reddened, stitched-up skin and she quickly turned her gaze to Arlo's face.
He was examining her wound intently, his eyebrows knitted in concern. "Hm, the wound's a bit red, but I don't think it's infected. That's good." His warm blue eyes met hers, his gaze reassuring. "The fever is probably your body's reaction to all the stress from this morning. Hopefully it'll be gone by tomorrow. Let's get you cleaned up anyway. I hope that helps with the itching."
He gave her a gentle smile, then dipped a cloth into the warm water and began to clean the wounds, his touch so gentle it barely caused her any discomfort. Elenya watched him work, her heart swelling with gratitude and love for his care.
After cleaning the wounds with antiseptic, he applied fresh bandages with a tenderness that belied the strength of his hands. He repeated the process on her right hand and then pressed a feather-light kiss on each of her injured palms, making her heart melt at the sweet gesture.
"Thank you," Elenya whispered, her voice full of gratitude and awe at his tenderness.
He answered her gratitude with a gentle kiss, his lips warm and soft on hers, and she automatically followed him as he pulled away. Her movement earned her an affectionate chuckle and another brief kiss, but then he really pulled away from her, reaching instead for one of the small vials he must have gotten from Dr. Xu.
"Here, according to Dr. Xu's instructions, you are allowed to take some painkillers again. It should also help with the nausea and, with any luck, the fever." He uncorked the bottle and held it carefully to her lips.
She could tell from the taste that it wasn't the same mixture as before, but that didn't make it any better. But to her surprise, her nausea didn't get any worse, as she had expected.
As soon as the vial was empty, Arlo set it aside and started to put away everything he had used. As Elenya watched him again, she suddenly began to shiver, and before she could even say anything, Arlo took off his grey sweater and pulled it over her head instead. She was instantly enveloped in his familiar scent and warmth, and with a happy sigh, she buried her nose in the soft collar.
Oh, how much she loved this sweater.
As soon as he had finished tidying up, Arlo turned back to her. "You should eat something, even if it's just a little. It'll help your body recover."
Elenya grimaced. "I still feel nauseous. I don't think I can eat much."
Arlo insisted gently. "Just a little, for me? How about some crepes with fruit sauce? I'll make them just the way you like them."
Damn, he just knew her too well.
She agreed, and he helped her into the kitchen, where he sat her down at the small dining table. She watched as he moved around the kitchen, preparing her favourite crepes with practised ease.
The kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of baking crepes. Arlo's movements were efficient and confident, the result of the countless times he had prepared this dish for her. He whisked the batter, heated the pan and expertly flipped the crepes, always keeping an eye on her to make sure she was comfortable.
He brought her the finished crepes, pulled one of the chairs close to her, and picked up a piece of crepe with a fork, holding it out to her. Full of frustration and shame, she glared at the fork as she realised he was trying to feed her.
She had been wrong earlier. Her day could get even more embarrassing.
She almost snapped at Arlo that she was no longer a child and could eat on her own, but luckily the logical part of her brain was able to intervene before that.
Because firstly, no, she couldn't eat alone right now, no matter how much she wanted to.
And secondly, Arlo was not at all to blame for her shitty situation. It was all her fault.
On the contrary. Without him, she would have been completely screwed and the last thing he deserved was to be snapped at by her.
Arlo still held the fork in front of her face, his gaze patient and full of understanding love, and her brain finally gave in. For it was Arlo sitting next to her. Arlo who loved her and whom she trusted with her life. There was no need to be ashamed in front of him.
So she let him feed her, and despite her initial reluctance, the crepes tasted wonderful and comforting. Each bite gave her a little strength, and the sweetness of the fruit sauce was a soothing balm for her frayed nerves.
After dinner, they moved to the couch where Arlo wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled up against him. He picked up the book he had been reading and began to read to her, his voice a balm to her weary soul.
The warmth of his body against hers, the familiar hum of his voice and the captivating story created a cocoon of safety and love around her. She closed her eyes and let the rhythm of his voice carry her out of her discomfort and into the world of the story.
When it was time for bed, Arlo helped her into the bedroom. She lay back down on her side and he climbed into bed behind her. He gently slipped his left arm under her head and wrapped the other around her waist, pulling her tightly against his chest.
"Good night, Elenya," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I love you."
"Good night, Arlo," she murmured back, feeling his love and warmth surrounding her. "I love you too."
With Arlo's steady presence by her side, Elenya finally drifted off to a more restful sleep, knowing that no matter how hard things got, they would always face them together.
So, I had been bored over Christmas and started recreating the romanceable characters from Portia in The Sims 4. I didn't finish them back then, but now I've finally got them all! I'm not sure if you can even recognise them, but I've done my best with what I've got! (I'm very sorry for Oaks, but the Sims 4 sadly doesn't offer a bearskin coat).
I made Arlo shortly after I got the game 2 years ago, and he's gone through a few different lives since then. xD From living off the grit, going to college, owning a horse ranch to being a tourist/archeolocist in Selvadorada. Always with Elenya at his side.
I can upload them to the gallery if anyone is interested in playing with them or just letting them run around in their world!
Patiently, Arlo waited outside Elenya's workshop. Relaxed, he took in the white, glittering landscape, the low winter sun warm on his face.
It was 4:15 p.m. and his little whirlwind of a builder was once again running late for their date. He could count on one hand the number of times she was actually on time, but he didn't mind.
He knew how much she loved her work, and how easily she lost track of time.
She was never more than 20 minutes late, though, so he expected her to show up at any moment. And no sooner had he finished that thought than he heard hurried footsteps from the direction of Peach Plaza.
He looked in that direction expectantly, and sure enough, Elenya's small figure appeared shortly afterwards. A warm smile immediately spread across his face. Seeing her was always the highlight of his day.
Today she wore a warm red hat, a matching scarf around her neck, a thick black coat and sturdy boots. A small weight fell from his shoulders as he saw her wrapped up so warmly. Since the onset of winter, he had been even more worried about her than he normally was, and when he saw her at her workbench the other day, wearing only sneakers and a hoodie, her hands already blue from the cold, he almost had a heart attack.
The lecture he had given her - after he had warmed her up properly - seemed to have worked, thankfully.
But as she finally arrived in front of him, still catching her breath, the next wave of concern washed over him.
"I'm sorry, Arlo..." She coughed briefly. "Mayor Gale had been holding me up."
"Hey, it's all right. Take a deep breath, okay?" Arlo gently gripped her shoulders and took a deep breath, encouraging her to do the same. Fortunately, she knew the procedure well by now and didn't need to be told twice.
After a few deep breaths, her breathing returned to normal and, relieved, he pulled her into a warm embrace. Even though they had her asthma under control with Dr. Xu's help, he was always worried that she might have an attack.
"It's okay, Arlo. I'm fine." Elenya mumbled against his chest, but didn't seem to mind his hug and cuddled up to him with a happy sigh.
"I know you are. But I'm always worried about you. But enough of that." He gently pushed her away from him and pressed his lips to hers instead. They were a little chapped and cold, but that didn't make the kiss any less wonderful. As soon as they had to catch their breath, he broke away from her again.
"Hey sweetheart, glad you could make it."
"Hey." Lovingly, she smiled up at him. "I would never miss our date. But..." An apologetic look appeared on her face. "I'll have to put it off a bit. Gale kept me because he wanted to ask me if I could fix the railing on the hot air balloon platform. During the last flight, one of the baskets must have crashed into it, taking part of the railing with it. I promised him I'd do it straight away to prevent anyone slipping and falling into the freezing pond. But it shouldn't take long! I just need..."
As she explained, her words became faster and faster, as if she was afraid he might get angry if he were to think about it too long, and he quickly used the best technique to calm her down. He gently pressed his lips to hers again and her rushed words instantly fell silent.
With a soft sigh, she leaned into the kiss and he couldn't help but smile a small satisfied grin. That just worked every time.
This time out of breath for a much better reason, Elenya looked up at him, her eyes wide, and he gently brushed a strand of hair from her face that had come loose under her cap.
"It's all right, sweetheart. Safety always comes first. But if you don't mind, I'd like to come with you. We can start our date with a little ride to the duck pond, you work your builder magic, and then we can warm up with a relaxing dinner at the Round Table. How does that sound?"
Arlo didn't need to hear Elenya's answer to know. The way her green eyes began to light up told him enough.
"Oh, that sounds wonderful. I'd just have to get the materials. I should have everything here, though. Can you saddle Rayna in the meantime?" Without really waiting for his answer, she scurried off over to her factory and he looked after her, smiling fondly.
He loved to see her in her element. She usually had such a quiet, gentle personality, but when it came to building things and helping other people, she blossomed like a beautiful flower. He could watch her work for hours without getting bored, so he didn't mind at all that it interrupted their date.
Just ten minutes later, Elenya had packed everything she needed and they were off at a leisurely trot towards the duck pond. Arlo held the reins firmly in one hand while Elenya sat in the saddle in front of him, her back nestled against his chest. He always loved the way her small body fit so perfectly between his arms, as if she was made for him, and couldn't help but pull her a little closer.
They didn't talk much on the way, just enjoyed the familiar closeness, and Arlo was almost a little disappointed when they arrived at the hot air balloon platform. Nevertheless, he quickly dismounted to help Elenya off the horse before she could try it herself. The snow was quite deep and he didn't want her to stumble.
"Let me help you." Wrapping both hands tightly around her waist, he carefully lowered her to the ground and then planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"There, safely on the ground." Grinning, he looked down at his pouting builder and dodged her blow against his arm.
"I could have done it on my own." Crossing her arms, she glared up at him, but he had an easy solution for that too. As it happened, it was exactly the same as when she started babbling nervously.
After another deep, loving kiss, she was snuggled back into his arms, a happy sigh escaping her lips.
"I know you can do it on your own, but I didn't want to risk you tripping and landing in the cold snow. Now off you go. The sooner you work your magic, the sooner we can get warmed up at Django's."
Arlo's eyes softened with a touch of worry as he added, "Please be careful, though, okay? That platform looks really slippery." He glanced over at the platform, its surface glistening slightly in the sun. When wood glistens, it's never a good sign, and the chances of a thin layer of ice were very high.
"Don't worry, Arlo. I'll be careful. It's not the first time I've worked outside in this weather." Elenya gave him a quick, reassuring kiss, then grabbed her bag from the saddle and walked over to the platform.
Arlo followed her movements with watchful eyes, but when he saw that she could walk on the platform without any problems, some of his tension eased. He decided to watch her from a few paces back, so as not to disturb or accidentally startle her.
He watched for a few minutes as she sawed the frayed pipes straight, then measured the exact dimensions of the resulting gaps before cutting the new ones. To his relief, she moved away from the dangerous edge to do so and he let his gaze glide over the beautiful landscape.
The sun was already setting and both the water and the snow around him were glowing in all kinds of beautiful colours. If there was to be another clear day like this soon, he would have to take Elenya up to the church. The view from up there at this time of day was simply incredible and he just knew she would love this natural spectacle.
And maybe... he could finally use the ring that had been hidden in his room for a few weeks now?
He was just imagining how Elenya would react when a startled cry tore him from his daydream. In an instant, his eyes darted back to the platform and he was horrified to see the very thing he had been afraid of.
Elenya seemed to have lost her footing at last, and before he could give his own feet the command to move, she fell over the broken railing with a dull thud, followed by a splash.
Completely frozen, he stood there for a split second before his legs finally began to move. With her name on his lips, he sprinted to the platform as fast as he could, barely managing not to slip on the icy wood as well. Panicked, he leaned over the intact part of the railing, hoping to find Elenya swimming, albeit completely frozen, but instead he had to look down at her slowly sinking body.
Damn it, why the hell didn't she try to get to the surface?
He saw the answer a second later. The water was crystal clear, so he could easily make out the red streak coming from her head.
Fuck, she'd hit her head too!
As quickly as he could, Arlo tore off his jacket, sweater and shoes and hurried over to the shore to wade into the icy water. The freezing water was like a shock to his body, but he didn't have time to pay any attention to it. He was completely focused on saving Elenya!
Fortunately, the bottom of the pond was sloping very slowly, so he could easily run forward to where Elenya had fallen into the water.
After a far too long 30 seconds, he finally reached her, the water now up to his waist. She had completely sunk to the bottom by now and he took a deep breath to brace himself for the shock, plunging his arms into the water until he could grab her under her arms. His chest touched the surface and his front was completely submerged in the icy water, but the shock barely registered in his brain.
Without any effort, he lifted her up until he could free one arm and slide it under her knees. The light wind that hit his now wet torso cut into his skin like little knives, but he couldn't have cared less about that right now. Elenya showed no sign of life.
She lay lifeless in his arms, her face pale as chalk, her lips blue and her body not even shivering from the cold. He didn't think he'd ever run so fast in his life.
Breathless with panic, he set her down on the fateful platform and dropped to his knees beside her. He tried to feel her pulse on her neck, but his hands were numb with cold, so he decided to press his ear against her chest.
Holding his breath, he listened intently and after a few terrifyingly long seconds he heard it. Faint and slow, but there it was.
Thu-thump. Thu-thump.
Slight relief flooded through him, but there was still one huge problem. She wasn't breathing. Her chest wasn't rising and falling, and for a panicked moment he didn't know what to do. His brain was paralysed with fear.
Come on Arlo, you have to do something! She's dying!
Finally, his brain kicked in again and he frantically began to rip open Elenya's jacket to free her chest, then turned his attention to her head. Gently, he tilted her head back slightly to open her airway, squeezed her nose tightly with one hand and then, after taking a deep breath, pressed his lips firmly against her blue ones.
He really hoped they were only blue from the cold and not from lack of oxygen.
He pumped his breath into her as evenly as he could. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her chest rise and fall slightly, and after waiting 6 seconds he repeated the process. Each time he had to repeat it, his panic increased.
Why the hell didn't she start breathing? Was he doing something wrong?
"Come on, sweetheart! Breathe! Breathe for fucks sake!”
He had just completed his 12th rescue breath when he finally heard a sign of life. A soft gurgling sound came from her lungs and he hurried to turn her on her side. Coughing and gasping, gush after gush of water escaped from her and he gently patted her back, hoping to help.
For almost a minute, Elenya tried to get rid of the water she had inhaled, but then it finally seemed to be all out and her body slumped lifelessly again. For a brief, panicked moment, Arlo thought she had stopped breathing again, but the rattling sound coming from her lungs told him otherwise.
She was far from out of danger, but she was breathing again and, exhausted, he collapsed for a moment. Now that some of the adrenaline had worn off, he began to feel the cold seeping through his wet clothes, threatening to paralyse him, but he quickly forced himself to move again.
He had to get Elenya out of her wet clothes as best he could. He quickly pulled the jacket completely off her body, and with some difficulty managed to remove her stiff sweater and T-shirt.
Elenya didn't make a sound during the whole procedure, not even when he accidentally bumped against her head wound, and his premature relief quickly faded. He really had to hurry.
He quickly tore off his own wet T-shirt and socks and put on the sweater and shoes he had had the good sense to take off. He slipped his still-dry jacket over Elenya, hoping it would keep her torso, and therefore her heart, warm long enough for them to reach the clinic.
He briefly considered bandaging her head injury, but the cold meant that there was hardly any blood oozing out and he decided that this would only waste more time unnecessarily.
Sure that he had done everything in his power to keep Elenya alive for as long as possible, he gently lifted her back into his arms and ran back to Rayna. Without even glancing back at the platform and the items left behind, he lifted Elenya onto the horse and then hoisted himself behind her. He couldn't waste another second.
"Come on, Rayna, ride as fast as you can." With a gentle nudge to her side, he spurred the horse on, one arm wrapped tightly around Elenya, his hand resting on her chest to count every faint, rasping breath.
He hoped he wouldn't be too late.
The airstream pulled coldly at their bodies and he tried as best he could to shield Elenya from it. He kept casting anxious glances at her, hoping to see the slightest sign of life, but not even her body shivered to fight the cold. If her chest hadn't moved under his hand, he would have thought she was dead.
Even at the fastest gallop, it took them nearly 15 minutes to reach the clinic, and Arlo could feel the cold getting to him. His limbs stiffened and he found it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open.
Shaking his head vigorously, he tried to keep the fog out of his head. He couldn't give in now!
Fortunately they had reached the gate to Portia by now and he steered Rayna to the left to speed up the hill. They finally arrived at the clinic with a hard stop and Arlo struggled to get out of the saddle. His pants had turned to ice with his legs and he found it difficult to move.
Nevertheless, he managed to lift Elenya safely back into his arms, for nothing in the world could make him drop the love of his life. He stepped stiffly through the door of the clinic and immediately attracted the attention of the two doctors.
Dr. Xu was the first to react.
"Oh God, Arlo! What happened? You two are frozen!"
It was only when Arlo tried to speak that he realised how much his teeth were chattering from the cold. "Elenya... she... she fell into the duck pond. Had to... get her out. Was... wasn't breathing. Help her... please."
"Of course! Quick, put her down here." Dr. Xu pointed to one of the beds and Arlo followed his request.
"Phyllis, quick, get all the blankets we have! And fire up the stove. We need all the heat we can get." The two doctors sprang into action. Dr. Xu set about freeing Elenya of all her wet clothes, while Phyllis dug out blankets from every possible drawer.
And Arlo just stood there, his feet frozen to the ground. The fog in his head, which he had managed to control on the ride, returned, blurring everything in front of him.
He didn't even notice himself swaying slightly on his feet until suddenly a small hand closed gently but firmly around his upper arm and pulled him a few steps over to a stool. Without resistance, he allowed himself to be lowered onto it, his knees buckling beneath him.
What was wrong with him?
Confused, he looked down at his hands. Why were they shaking so much?
Something warm suddenly wrapped itself around his shoulders and, even more confused, he looked up into Phyllis' worried blue eyes.
"Arlo? Can you hear me?"
He started to answer, but then he noticed what was wrapped around his shoulders. A blanket. But that wasn't right. Elenya needed it. He was fine.
He tried to pull the blanket off, but his arms wouldn't move.
"No... Elenya... needs..." A frustrated sound escaped him.
Why wouldn't his arms move? He had to help Elenya!
"Hey, Arlo! Calm down! Everything's fine. We're taking care of her. But you were in the cold water too. You need to get warm." Phyllis desperately tried to stop him pulling off the blanket and, to his confusion, she succeeded.
The more he tried to move, the more exhausted he became. The fog in his head thickened and he was only vaguely aware of Phyllis trying to get his attention.
What was happening to him?
He could feel himself tipping to one side, then everything went black.
~~~~~~
When Arlo came to, he felt exhausted. Pain throbbed behind his temples and his body felt stiff.
What had happened?
He sensed that he wasn't lying in his own bed. The mattress was a little too soft and he would never use so many blankets at once. Why were there so many blankets?
Then it hit him. The duck pond. The ice-cold water. Elenya!
He shot up, only to regret it immediately. The pain in his head began to pulse and with a groan he let it fall into his hands.
Fuck.
It took a moment for the pain to subside enough for him to lift his head. As soon as he did, Dr. Xu's worried face appeared in his field of vision.
"Arlo, you're awake. How are you feeling?" The doctor's eyes watched him intently. Arlo decided to tell the truth.
"Exhausted. My head hurts and everything feels a bit stiff. How long have I been out? What about Elenya? Where is she?"
He was about to swing his legs over the edge of the bed to get up, but Dr. Xu stopped him.
"Slow down Arlo. You were slightly hypothermic too. Gave Phyllis quite a scare. But you weren't unconscious for long, about 40 minutes. Elenya is... quite well, considering the circumstances. We're still slowly bringing her body temperature up, but she's already started to shiver again. Look, she's over here". Calm and understanding, Dr. Xu tried to reassure him, but when he realised that his words weren't having much effect, he stepped aside to reveal the second hospital bed.
Arlo finally noticed that the beds weren't in their usual places. Instead, they had been pushed as close as possible to the small stove that stood in the left corner, giving Arlo an unobstructed view of Elenya's trembling body.
An intravenous line disappeared beneath a thick layer of blankets, her hair was dry and a white bandage was wrapped around her head. But what struck him most was that her lips were no longer blue. Relieved, he slumped down. As he took in the details, he noticed a small device clipped to Elenya's finger - a tiny, pulsating light on it.
His gaze fixed on the device, he asked Dr. Xu, "What's that on her finger?"
Dr. Xu followed Arlo's gaze and explained, "It's an oxygen metre. It measures the oxygen saturation in her blood. It's at 94% right now, which, given the circumstances, is okay for now. We'll keep a close eye on it to ensure it stays that way."
Arlo found a glimmer of reassurance in the small, pulsating light on the oxygen metre, a tangible indicator that Elenya was still breathing fine.
"How... how is she otherwise? Will she be all right?" Anxiously, he looked back at Dr. Xu. He knew that just because her body temperature was slowly returning to normal didn't mean that she was going to get better.
Dr. Xu sighed heavily.
"Well, that depends on a number of factors. Can you tell me how long she hasn't been breathing?"
Arlo strained to remember what had happened. The pain in his head made it difficult to think, but he thought he could estimate the time fairly well. The answer terrified him.
"I think it took me about two minutes to get her out of the water and back onto the platform and start the rescue breaths."
Oh God, what if she had suffered brain damage?
But instead of being horrified, Dr. Xu's tense shoulders actually slumped slightly in relief.
"Okay, that's shorter than I feared. 2 minutes is a long time, but hypothermia actually has an advantage in this situation. The slowed metabolism means the body needs less oxygen, so 2 minutes is less critical than under normal circumstances. That's at least one less thing for me to worry about." The serious look Dr. Xu gave him made his heart sink.
"I have to be honest with you, Arlo. I can't promise you she'll make it. I've listened to her lungs and there's definitely some water left in there. That in itself is extremely dangerous, but with her asthma, I'm really just waiting for her body to react violently to it. If we're lucky she'll get a severe case of pneumonia which we'll get under control again, and if we're unlucky..."
The doctor didn't finish his sentence and Arlo was grateful. He felt like he was back in the freezing water again. He sat there in complete shock.
Was he going to lose his wonderful, loving Elenya after all?
He didn't even notice how his breathing quickened, or how his hands clenched in the top blanket that covered him.
Dr. Xu's words echoed in his head, a haunting chorus of uncertainty. Arlo wrestled with the dread, the fear that every breath Elenya took could be her last. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the images of a future without her, a future he never wanted to experience.
The room seemed to close in on him, crushing him with the weight of helplessness. "I can't lose her," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. He felt a hand on his shoulder and was torn from his dark thoughts. Helplessly, he looked into the dark eyes of Dr. Xu.
"Arlo, nothing is certain yet. We're going to do everything we can to help her. We won't give up on her."
With a nod, Arlo tried to dispel the dark thoughts. Dr. Xu was right. Elenya was still with him and he would do everything he could to keep it that way.
His eyes wandered back to the bed beside him. The flickering light from the stove cast shadows on Elenya's face. Arlo studied her features, memorising the curve of her lips, the way her eyelashes curled against her cheeks. As if in a trance, he followed the slow rise and fall of her chest, letting it help him to calm down.
He didn't know how long he sat there, his gaze fixed on Elenya's chest, ignoring everything else around him, but at some point the throbbing in his head became noticeable again and the exhaustion returned.
With a soft groan, he had to admit defeat to his body and let himself fall back into the pillows. In an instant, Dr. Xu was back at his side, a small vial of clear liquid in his hand.
"You should rest, Arlo. Your body has been through a lot today as well. Here," he held out the small vial, "this should help you sleep and relieve your headache. And don't worry too much about Elenya, Phyllis and I will be here to look after her the whole time. "
Arlo accepted the bottle gratefully, but made no move to drink the medicine. His eyes darted between Elenya and Dr. Xu.
"Can you tell me what else is wrong with her? What about her head? Could that be causing problems too?"
Dr. Xu sighed and tried to reassure Arlo.
"Well, her head isn't a major concern. The wound wasn't too deep; I suspect it's just a mild concussion. As for her other injuries, she had early signs of frostbite on her feet and hands. I applied a warming wound healing ointment and wrapped them for protection. I can't guarantee there won't be any nerve damage, but I'm reasonably confident. The warm saline solution we're using to gradually warm her up should help."
Arlo listened intently, but the emotional strain was draining him. His body begged for sleep, despite his inner struggle to keep a watchful eye on Elenya.
Sensing Arlo's inner conflict, Dr. Xu reassured him, "As I said, Arlo, we'll take care of her. Get some rest." Nodding, he gestured to the vial and Arlo complied. He downed the liquid, nestled back under the warm blankets, and soon drifted off to sleep.
~~~~~~
Arlo awoke to a state of chaos.
At first he didn't realise what was happening, his brain struggling to clear the fog of sleep. His body felt heavy and he wasn't sure where he was.
Two voices, urgent and desperate, pierced the haze of his confusion, telling him that something was terribly wrong.
He strained to remember what had happened, but only slowly did images begin to form in his mind. Snow glistening in the evening sun, Elenya hurrying towards him, the balloon platform and the duck pond.
The duck pond!
Alarmed, Arlo shot up in bed.
Elenya! Where was Elenya?
He looked around frantically until his gaze finally fell on the other hospital bed. Dr. Xu and Phyllis were scurrying around it, exchanging words he didn't understand.
What was going on? What was wrong with Elenya?
With difficulty, he managed to hoist his heavy legs over the edge of the bed. They didn't really want to carry him, trembling beneath him, but he didn't have time for that now. Something was wrong with Elenya and he needed to find out what it was.
~~~~~~
An hour later, Arlo found himself sitting in the chair next to Elenya's bed, a fluffy blanket wrapped around his shoulders and a warm and, according to Dr. Xu, invigorating cup of tea between his hands.
With a heavy heart and full of worry, his gaze was fixed on Elenya's chest, which was slowly rising and falling with a terrible rattling sound. A transparent mask lay over her face, fogging up with each breath and providing her with extra oxygen.
Arlo couldn't remember exactly what had happened in the last hour, but he knew that Elenya's temperature had suddenly skyrocketed overnight and that Dr. Xu and Phyllis were struggling to get the fever under control. In addition, her oxygen saturation was deteriorating and she was plagued by violent coughing fits.
The sound of her painful coughing and unconscious whimpering still rang in his ears, and he was incredibly glad that Dr. Xu had finally found something that both lowered her fever and suppressed the coughing urge.
According to Dr. Xu, what he feared had happened. Severe pneumonia. And it came on quickly. Elenya's vulnerable lungs and weakened body barely managed to clear the dirty lake water from her lungs.
With a sigh, Arlo drank the last of his tea, placed the cup on the small table beside the bed and took Elenya's right hand between his own as carefully as he could. The palm and each finger were individually wrapped in bandages to protect the skin from further damage, and he hardly dared to apply even a little pressure.
The exhaustion of the previous day still coursed through his body; according to Dr. Xu, he also had a slight fever, but that wouldn't stop him from watching over Elenya. He carefully lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a feather-light kiss to the back of her hand.
"I'm here, sweetheart. I'll take care of you. You just rest."
What followed were 8 days of stress, worry and fear. Each of her terrible coughing fits tore a hole in his heart.
Day and night, Arlo watched over Elenya, sitting at her bedside, talking to her, soothing her hot forehead with a cool cloth and chasing away any terrible fever dreams. He left her side only to eat, shower and occasionally sleep for a few hours in the other hospital bed.
Dr. Xu and Phyllis took turns so there was always someone with her. Visitors also came regularly, but Arlo hardly noticed them. He was far too focused on Elenya and every little change.
Her eyes opened from time to time, but each time they were glassy and she seemed oblivious to everything around her.
This was almost more worrying to Arlo than if she were just lying there unconscious. To see her normally bright green eyes so dull and empty frightened him. Dr. Xu said it was probably due to the high fever, but what if she had suffered brain damage from the lack of oxygen?
What if she never came back to him fully again?
He quickly tried to push that thought out of his mind and turned his attention back to Elenya's face. He was alone in the clinic at the moment, the two doctors taking a much-needed rest after the past few exhausting days. This morning, Dr. Xu had finally been able to remove the oxygen mask without her oxygen levels dropping back to dangerous levels, and so he was finally able to look at her face in full.
Her face was pale and sunken, with two red spots high on her cheeks the only colour left, deep shadows under her eyes and her dull hair framing her head.
Her face blurred before his eyes and he rubbed his eyes in frustration. He had barely slept the last few nights. His dreams had been haunted by blood-stained water and blue lips, and only Elenya's hand between his could bring him out of the nightmare.
His body seemed to have finally reached its limits, and without being able to do anything about it, his burning eyes closed. He briefly considered lying back in bed, but decided against it. He wouldn't get any decent sleep anyway.
Instead, he pulled the chair a little closer to the bed and let his head sink onto the mattress next to Elenya's hand. His back would pay for it, but he didn't care right now.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he fell asleep.
~~~~~~
Something rough tickled Arlo's cheek. He wrinkled his nose and tried to shake it off, but it refused to budge. In fact, it pressed a little harder against his cheek and now he realised it was more of a caress than a tickle. Confused, he opened his eyes.
His vision blurred and it took him a moment to realise where he was. During this time, the something did not stop caressing his cheek and he closed his eyes again for a moment to savour the feeling.
He almost fell asleep again when he finally realised what, or rather who, was caressing him so tenderly.
All at once he shot up in his chair.
With wide, disbelieving eyes, he stared up at Elenya's face and sure enough. There they were. Those beloved green eyes, tired but clear, looking straight at him.
"Elenya..." Still in disbelief, her name left his lips like a breath.
He couldn't believe his eyes. She was awake! And now she smiled at him! It was weak, but it was a smile, and it made her look so much healthier that it brought tears to his eyes.
Then it had indeed been her fingers, still wrapped in bandages, that had gently caressed his cheek.
"Elenya..." Her name left his lips once more as he stood up, ignoring the pain in his back, and then carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, the need to be as close to her as possible overwhelming him.
"You're awake." He cupped her left cheek gently with his hand, and with a barely audible sigh, Elenya nuzzled into his palm. The familiar gesture loosened a tension in him and he couldn't stop a few scattered tears of relief.
At last she was with him again. His wonderful builder.
A worried, hoarse sound escaped Elenya at the sight of his tears, her face twisting in pain and he quickly tried to calm her down. Her throat was sore from the many violent coughing fits and Dr. Xu already predicted that once she woke up, it would be a while before she could speak again.
"Shh, everything's fine. Don't try to talk. I'm just so glad you're finally getting better." Still cupping her cheek gently in his hand, he leaned down and pressed his forehead lightly against hers.
He closed his eyes for a moment, relishing the feeling of her closeness, soaking it in. He felt each of her warm breaths on his lips and he didn't think he'd ever felt anything so wonderful. Another weight was lifted from his shoulders.
A light touch on his thigh made him open his eyes again to see Elenya's eyes looking at him with love. Only with great difficulty did he manage to suppress any more tears.
Instead, he finally did what he should have done in the first place. He sat up again and reached for the glass of water that was always ready on the bedside table.
"Here, would you like some water?"
At Elenya's slight nod, he gently pushed the straw between her lips and softly reminded her not to drink too fast. With small sips, the glass slowly emptied, but before half the water was gone, Elenya's lips went slack again and her eyes threatened to close. Arlo could see her trying to fight her exhaustion in frustration and hurried to put the glass back down.
"Hey, it's all right. You've been really sick the last few days and you need to rest. I'm here, okay? I'll take care of you." He gently pressed a kiss to her forehead in the hope of calming her down a little, but she still didn't seem willing to go back to sleep.
With heavy eyes, she looked up at him pleadingly, but he didn't know how he could help her.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you in pain? Shall I get Dr. Xu?" Full of concern, he looked down at her, ready to run off immediately if she answered his questions in the affirmative. But Elenya just shook her head gently and tried to speak again, but only another painful sound left her lips and Arlo quickly tried to stop her.
"Shh, please don't speak. You'll only hurt yourself. "
He desperately tried the next question. "Are you cold?"
Elenya hesitated briefly at this question, but then nodded cautiously.
He finally seemed to be getting somewhere, but when he asked if he should get her another blanket, she answered in the negative again and instead tapped the mattress next to her with her trembling right hand. And finally, Arlo understood what she wanted from him.
"Oh, of course. Nothing I'd rather do. But we have to be careful, yes? Let me know immediately if I hurt you."
Arlo rose from the bed and then carefully slid his arms under Elenya's legs and back to gently push her to the other end of the bed. Just as carefully, he laid down beside her under the covers and gently pulled her into his arms, making sure the IV in her left arm couldn't slip.
Once he had his arms firmly around her weak body, she relaxed in his arms and her head nuzzled against his chest with a contented sigh. Only then did he notice that he was wearing the soft grey sweater that she both loved on him and loved to wear herself. Every time he wore it, he could hardly remove her from his chest, not that he would ever mind.
Happy that he had unknowingly been able to offer her even more comfort, he pulled her a little closer to his chest and enjoyed the feeling of finally holding her in his arms again. The fear and anxiety inside him finally calmed down. Gently, he pressed a long kiss to the top of her hair and whispered, "Sleep well, sweetheart. I've got you."
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
I wrote a little story that has nothing to do with my Bad Things Happen Bingo (still hurt/comfort thought because my brain can’t produce anyting else). If you are looking for something short and are also craving a warm hug from Arlo, maybe you can give it a go!
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: My Time At Portia (Video Game)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Arlo/Builder (My Time At Portia), Arlo/Female Builder (My Time At Portia)
Characters: Arlo (My Time At Portia)
Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Mental Breakdown, Crying, Stress-Crying, Mutual Pining, Hugs, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Touch-Starved, Elenya (Builder), Elenya really needs a hug, and Arlo will give her one, Fluff
Summary:
Elenya found herself at a loss, standing in front of her garden gate, her gaze unfocused on the spot where two agents of the Free Cities Debt Collection Agency had been moments before. What was she supposed to do now?
