can i toss a prompt for noel to relax into your enclosure kit
cw: blood, injury
You and Noel clear out the parlor in record time - maybe it's the sight of two hunters, barging through the front doors, or maybe it's all the blood you're trailing across the floor - it's hard to tell.
The patrons scatter with horrified looks as Noel hauls you towards the stairs, ignoring the innkeeper as he shouts at you from behind the front counter. You barely keep it together as Noel drags you up the stairs, your vision flickering as you grab at your side, tripping up the steps and slapping a bloody hand to the banister.
Noel gets you to the top, though, and then down the hall, and into your room. He slams the door closed, locking the deadbolt harder than necessary before steering you to the bed.
He carefully lowers you onto the mattress, crouching down in front of you and gently pulling your hand away from the three gashes in your side, trying to get a good look at the damage.
"Damn," you breath, your voice thick and wet in the back of your throat.
"You'll be alright," Noel says brusquely, though not unkindly - xe stands up and moves around the room then, gathering xir supplies while you sway unsteady on the bed.
You stare down at your bloody hands, at the red soaking through your clothes, at the gore you can just glimpse through your shredded jacket and shirt, your stomach turning at the sight, and you're forced to close your eyes for a few moments, breathing deeply, your cracked ribs shifting painfully as you hunch forward.
Few more inches over and that lycan would have disemboweled you. The thought isn't as comforting as you hoped it would be.
You think maybe you should just stop accepting jobs where lycans are involved. They always seem to cause you the most trouble - and a lot of hurt.
Noel is dragging one of the shitty wooden chairs from the table over to the bed, sitting it off to the side and dumping his medical equipment from his bag onto the seat. Xe crouches back down in front of you, blinking up at you and once again reaching out to gently pull your hand away from your bleeding side.
"I'm going to take your shirt off, okay?" xe says, and you just nod.
Noel is gentle, always so gentle, removing your clothes and exposing the full extent of the injury. You take a few more deep breaths, preparing for what you know is coming next.
"I'm going to clean it," xe says, xir voice grave. Again, you just nod.
The pain of it almost makes you black out - maybe you actually do, for a few seconds, before Noel carefully lowers you all the way back onto the bed, tucking a pillow beneath your head as he does.
Xe doesn't even warn you for the final step, his hands suddenly warm against your side, then that familiar blue glow enveloping you, the uncomfortable sensation of your mangled torso stitching itself back together beneath his palms, open wounds to itchy scabs to tight, painful scars.
It takes only a few minutes until it's done - but it's an excruciating few minutes.
Eventually, the blue light fades, and you and Noel are both left breathing hard, Noel on his knees beside the bed, hunched over you as you blink up at the ceiling.
You blindly reach out and grab at his hands where they rest on your stomach, taking them in yours and holding them tight even as they tremble in between your fingers.
"I'm sorry," you say, still staring up at the ceiling, lacking the strength to sit up at the moment.
Noel takes a deep breath, xir hands tightening in yours before xe pulls back and hauls xemself up onto the bed beside you, flopping down with a sigh.
He doesn't say anything, just turning on his side to face you, reaching a hand out to caress your face, his hand warm and sticky with your blood. You slowly force yourself to turn, looking over at xem, grabbing at his wrist as you press a kiss into his palm.
You feel xem relax beside you, sinking into the mattress, pulling you closer, careful not to strain the fresh scars along your side as he does. You feel a sudden rush of relief - both of you, safe and in bed, a job complete - a shitty job, but it's done. You let out a long sigh, a sudden calmness in the room after the whirlwind of panicked activity.
"Not our best work," Noel suddenly says after a long silence, and you laugh, though it turns into a grimace as you grab at your side, pain lancing through your torso as you struggle to catch your breath. Noel frowns, propping xemself up and leaning over you, reaching out again to cup your face, gently stroking your cheek with xir thumb as you close your eyes.
"I'll be alright," you say, your eyes still closed, already sinking into sleep - or maybe you're just passing out from blood loss. Either way, you feel relaxed, Noel's presence warm and comforting at your side, xir hand flush against your cheek now.
"Yeah. You'll be alright," you hear him say, his voice soft and gentle as he presses a kiss just below your ear, his arms wrapping around you and holding you close as you drift off into sleep.
