Chapter Text
“Agh!”
Subspace yelped at the burning flash of his own poison engulfing his good arm. Backing up and away from the bubble, he shook his head and tried to focus on winning the Phight.
Although his ears were still faintly ringing, he couldn’t miss the piercing sound of Banhammer’s obnoxious cackle. The warden took advantage of Subspace’s distracted state to slam his hammer down upon the shorter, effectively downing him and gaining another point for the opposing team.
Medkit watched from the sidelines as the scientist continued to unceremoniously injure himself, constantly hitting himself with his own poison, or backing into one of his bubbles.
The healer sighed frustratedly as he watched Subspace continue to scramble around like an idiot. Luckily, they were ahead by tons this round, but he would need to have a talk with the other about this. If the scientist ever cost them a round because of his recklessness, he would never hear the end of it.
( Oh, well. Best to nip it in the bud .)
{…}
Subspace laughed heartily, gloating as their team’s victory was announced. Medkit stared him down, mumbling curses under his breath as he walked over to where the scientist was standing.
The healer was met with a raised eyebrow, “Oh, Meddy! What brings you-”
Subspace was interrupted by a gloved hand gripping his forearm, sternly pulling him away from the rest of the group (much to his protests).
After sufficiently getting out of earshot of their teammates, Medkit released the scientist, hardening his glare.
“Geez, what was that for!?” Subspace complained, rubbing the spot where Medkit had grabbed him.
“You have got to start being more careful with those crystals. You are being so clumsy , hitting yourself with your own weapons?! If you don’t get your act together, you’re going to cost us a match.”
The scientist blinked a few times, before sighing, running a hand through his hair.
“Sfoth, I get it! No need to lecture me like an old man!”
Subspace narrowed his eyes, still processing what the healer had said.
“What, you mean that thing with Banhammer? That rarely happens, just a one-time thing! Besides, we still won! What’s the big deal?”
Medkit groaned, grudgingly opening his first-aid kit. “The deal is that you’re being reckless. We won today, sure, but if this happens again in the future, we won’t always be so lucky. Besides, now I have to take time out of my day to heal you.”
A beat of silence,
Before Subspace laughed like that was the funniest thing in the world.
The healer bared his teeth, growing increasingly frustrated with the other’s antics. “What?! What the hell is so funny?!”
The scientist continued giggling to himself, “Why on earth do you care if I get hurt?! Last time I checked that would be the furthest of your concerns.”
“Because it’s my job , dipshit. Now show me your damn shoulder and don’t make this difficult.”
Subspace stopped laughing, staring dumbfounded at Medkit like he didn’t actually think the healer was being serious.
“Well??” Medkit raised an impatient eyebrow.
Silent this time, the scientist complied, grumbling something to himself as he abruptly shoved his good arm out towards the other.
Gingerly taking Subspace’s arm in his hands, he examined the severity of the various chemical burns dotting his skin.
He rummaged in his kit for a moment, before pulling out an ice-pack, a towel and a flask of cold water. The scientist looked away, avoiding eye contact. (Medkit made a note of how surprisingly uncharacteristic this was).
Without warning, the healer opened the flask and drenched the burns with water, some of it splashing on their shirts.
Subspace hissed at the contact, reflexively tugging his arm back, but Medkit kept it in place, his firm grip unwavering.
“Stay still.”
Pressing the ice pack to the other’s shoulder, he grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his arm. Tying it around the ice pack, the healer fumbled with the knot for a bit before yanking the cloth, securing the makeshift bandage.
“Keep this on for a few hours, change it when you get home. It should stop swelling after a bit.”
Subspace didn’t thank Medkit as he walked away, heading back towards the group and out of his sight. His clawed, rugged hands traced the place where the healer had touched him. His hands had been so…gentle compared to his own.
(He couldn’t help but wish Medkit’s touch had lingered just a little longer.)
{…}
A week or so had passed, and the two hadn’t spoken to each other aside from Phights. Despite this, they could feel that the suffocating tension surrounding them had lifted, even just by a little.
This particular match had Medkit feeling exhausted. Their team had lost by a landslide, and he was thoroughly tired.
The moment the defeat announcement rang out, he stalked away from the group, finding his way to a nearby alleyway and slumping against the wall.
Closing his eyes, he let himself relax as the sounds of rain pattering against the concrete slowly filled his ears. (Was there supposed to be rain today?)
(If only he hadn’t run out of coffee this morning…)
“…Meddy?”
The healer jolted, not expecting anyone to follow him. Cursing under his breath, he whipped his head upwards towards whoever had startled him.
He was greeted with the sight of a…rather pathetic looking Subspace, hair drenched and flat from the downpour, various cuts and scrapes littering his visible arm. The blood was running down his arm calmly due to the rain, a sharp contrast to his otherwise pale skin.
“What..are you doing here?” The healer stood up, furrowing his eyebrows.
The scientist lowered his head. “You could…help me out, right? Like last time?”
(Ah.)
Medkit sighed, feigning irritance (though he didn’t really mind) as he lugged his first aid kit over his shoulder, fiddling with the clasps as Subspace leaned against the brick wall beside him.
Wordlessly, he grabbed the scientist’s arm, and was met with no resistance this time. He began to patch up the wounds, neither of the pair exchanging a word.
When he had finished, Subspace’s arm cleaned and wrapped up, the healer looked up, meeting the other’s eyes.
“Be more careful next time.” He patted the scientist’s shoulder, walking away before either of them could comment on the sudden display of affection (if that’s what you could call it).
Left alone with his thoughts in the alleyway, Subspace couldn’t fight the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
(They both knew in the back of their minds that this was going to be a reoccurring thing.)