Whumptober "I'm Fine"
TW: Blood!
No. 15: “I don’t need you to help me I can handle things myself.”
Makeshift Bandages | Suppressed Suffering | “I’m fine.”
and for AI-less Whumptober 4. Hiding an injury / betrayal / lying
Three of the little words Ethan just uttered impale him, lancing his heart all the way through, but Benji has little focus to spare on that now. He's furious, but more than that he's terrified. Ethan is drenched in his own blood, the dramatic wound at his side is threatening and deep, and will definitely kill him if he doesn't get medical attention soon. To top it off, there are gunman at their heels and many steps between them and their transport.
Benji replies, "Don’t try to distract me from my tirade! You are going to make this up to me later!"
Ethan breathes through the pain and says, "Yes, sir."
"Stop being agreeable and charming when I am fuming!" Benji snaps, but his ire cools into something more malleable when he catches the unmistakable fondness in Ethan's eyes.
That fondness is why Ethan makes stupid, altruistic moves like this one, opting to bleed out rather than put Benji at risk. He'd rather die before he'd see me hurt, Benji thinks and frowns.
It's a familiar refrain, a tune that's seemingly stuck in Ethan's head in an endless loop. It's a love Benji can't handle, fervent and unadulterated and so authentically Ethan that Benji can't hold onto this anger in the face of it.
As his fortitude wanes, Ethan grows heavier against his side, borrowing more of Benji’s strength as they walk.
“M’sorry, Benji,” Ethan whispers, and for an alarming moment Benji thinks he’s going to faint.
Benji digs his fingers into his unwounded side and tugs him closer.
"Just concentrate on staying conscious and putting one foot in front of the other," Benji says as he leads them onward. "I'll take care of the rest."
Releasing a pained sigh, Ethan nods, dropping his chin towards his chest. “Thank you,” he breathes, at once both grateful for Benji and vulnerable at his side.
A great swell of protectiveness rises up then envelops Benji whole. He feels a dizzying rush of tumultuous and overwhelming sentiment, and wonders briefly if this is how Ethan feels all the time.
Benji won’t let anything happen to Ethan. He’ll steer them clear, and once Ethan is sorted and out of danger, they are going to have a frank discussion about priorities and maybe one about love if Benji has the courage for it.
