Work Text:
If you think about it - stitching yourself shut is a skill of its own.
Well that's what Blue wanted to think about instead of cursing like a mad man at MIRA's corner cutting.
It was a miracle how successful the company was in the first place but honestly - do investors really focus on the worker conditions when deciding what will pay off more in the future? They don't.
Neither do they take in the account that sharp metal corners should be rounded for everyone's safety. Especially for personel but guess none really cared much for that either.
Blue only grumbled trying to properly hold the curved needle while not aggravating the angry cut even more, which was right down the outside of the forearm. Needing to twist all of your muscles to "properly" grasp it and the fact that they were actively sewing with their non-dominant hand while biting on the fabric of their coat - Really felt like a hell of a workout.
Surely they could've just staplered it back together within minutes, wrapped it in gauze and be over with it till it heals(leaving an ugly memory behind of a bumpy scar). If MIRA had those.
Could've been quick and "easy" - and while not the most painless procedure .. well sewing it back together wasn't a pleasant one either.
Far from it if anything.
Pulling gently they carefully passed through the skin once more, making a face while doing so. Brows knitted together tightly trying to focus on the stitching part rather than the stinging pain that stretched throughout, threatening to break a tear out of Doctor's eye.
Red, ugly and so so madly painful that it almost didn't feel real. The painkillers did the trick well enough but it didn't take away from the strain of intentionally piercing yourself.
On others it felt easy or at least comfortable - the subject was still more than often, laying down so you had the best angle to sew them back together and if needed they were moved to an even better position. Although in this case it often ended up with bruises for the patient that lasted for a week or more...
Less bloody and if anything you had at least someone to wipe it off if it got too much or a chance to do it yourself.
It wasn't the best stitch for this kind of job but it wasn't exactly like they had a free hand to do it properly. Even if they did - it wouldn't be theirs and teaching someone else on the fly wasn't a job they could do - not willingly. The pleasantries of doings so were left behind buried 5 meters deep in uni.
Grumbling something inaudible close to a curse Blue tightened the stitch once more as it loosened.
"Do not put too much tension." Sounded in their head as they pulled on the thread. The dorsal side of the forearms already have thin skin making it tedious to work with especially with already existing tension the rest puts on it with all the work-
There was of course blood - trickling down and from the elbow to the floor they'd need to clean in the morning. They'd need to clean everything in the morning. Sanitise from the ground up, maybe even close the medbay to do a full clean - that would be useful.
Grumbling an illegible mess Blue was quick to finish it faster than the light-headedness got to them. Even further than it already did and the worst that could happen right now is panic. Being lost meant messing up even more and those signs only screamed about the countdown.
Trembly hands, loose grip despite being tensed up like coil in a toy - all right there for anyone to see.
And well hopefully the rushed stitches would hold. Blue breathed out heavily when the wound instinctively stung at the contact with saline solution.
Now it was only the case of not getting it wet further than cleaning it briefly, ignoring the disgusting uneven tension. It angrily glaring at the back of their head as gauze was applied - enough to breathe and hold it in place just to pray that it be discreet much.
_
Maybe muscle memory will come in handy this time. Their injury flared tauntingly as they approached the stack of papers before giving it to Orange, wincing briskly in the process as it stretched. It shouldn't be bothered, not for the closest week but MIRA doesn't care. Blue didn't care.
"Gorgeous! Thank you, Doctor." Orange cooed as expected, turning on their heel without much of a wait, disappearing into the hallway with a spring in their step.
Turning to the rest of the papers Blue sighed, their right arm whined from so much writing on a daily basis - Breakfast? Writing. Lunch? Writing. Dinner? Writing. There was no minute when they didn't stop filling out all the forms, agreements, reports on the smallest sneezes due to dust. Everything.
The cut cried in protest, mockingly pulsed at the slightest attempt to focus on work. The work has been going slower because of this, as if it could get more annoying. Stupidly the sharp corner of the table still stared at them tauntinly.
_
The doors to medbay remained shut this day. No noise escaping out of it besides the regular hum of the led lights that echoed throughout the whole ship.
"Blue? What are you doing here so early?" Yellow's voice was chirpy but sharp as usual as they came into the kitchen watching as their only doctor already sat at one of the tables - writing.
Few papers laying on their left and a familiar cup of coffee right next to them.
"Good morning, Yellow and Brown. The medbay is being throughtly sanitised as required by the protocol. It will be closed for the closest 3 hours." Blue quickly replied but as polite as ever as they watched both nearly melt at their explanation. Not wasting more time Blue hurriedly returned to the documents left till any more distractions came in.
Their arm whined in protest as they picked up the pen once more. The wound has been getting angrier.
_
The last paper was sighed with a trembling hand as they gazed over their work. Despite the supposed breaks it didn't erase the aching, stinging and hot to the touch skin. Almost as if they were burning up from the inside which - they had check ups to run.
Always more to do.
Reluctantly they got up, taking the regular notepad along with their beloved pen which resigned in their hand comfortably.
_
The pen tumbled soundly from their grasp as it hit the table's surface with a faint click.
Blue grumbled under their breath as the gauze began seeping with crimson.
That shouldn't happen - didn't take a genius to say that, a few droplets were normal but this.. Sharp pain ran from their arm to their whole right side like a chain reaction as one grasped the cause of this problem like it would calm the pain down.
No wonder the stitches didn't hold, of course they weren't intended for this much strain and work even if light.
Breathing carefully Blue didn't waste more time getting up from their chair, trying to avoid looking too close at their hands as they washed them.
Each movement straining causing them to mewl another pathetic sound. The least that was needed was interference of other's - that could put everyone in danger.
Despite the attempt to stay calm their hands trembled. Left one being less coordinated to grasp the equipment needed, being far too loud for the usual stillness of the room. Blue's ears rung in alarm drowning out the noise of metal clashing with plastic and their own blasphemy that felt too loud even if it was a whisper.
"The worst you can do is give into panic" the phrase repeated in their head like mantra while their eyes squinted down at the needle on the plate. Unprofessional
Were they really deservant of such praise if they couldn't even sew shut their own wounds to last?
Their feet almost got tangled as they sat on the nearest cot to the computer, curtains drawn automatically not even thinking till the pain shot like a personal punishment from god.
Unwrapping the gauze the skin quickly began to squiwel at contact with colder air whining and crying with blood. Few stitches ripping the thin skin leaving ugly raging scars behind.
"Blue?" Another voice spoke up from the furtherest corner of the room making goosebumps go down their spine nearly making the needle drop to the ground.
Faint ruffling of the curtain was heard before Blue quickly emerged from behind them, forearm clutched with a piece of new gauze.
"Apologies for my appearance, Lime. Did you need-" Blue was immediately interrupted as the other stared at them - quickly approaching with tools clicking in their pockets.
"Did they get to you?!? Blue I swear-"
"No no, Lime! Please, calm down. It's my own stupidity." Just as quickly as it began it ended, the engineer stared at their doctor in loud disbelief. Their doctor and stupidity didn't go hand in hand, at least it should never had.
The silence painfully stretched between them which usually would get filled with their velvety sentences that seemed to be lost somewhere.
Wordlessly Lime shook off their own thick gloves, taking Blue's forearm unceremoniously as they riled up other's coat sleeve higher. Something the doctor would do, minus the lack of warning and rambling..
"I got - injured, as you may see. It's nothing to be concerned about, I assure you." They weakly explained quickly, attempting to stop other's attempts at interference and help. Lime's grip didn't waver instead hurriedly guiding them back to the cot ignoring the confused callouts of the doctor. Hands heavy on their shoulders.
Without a question they quickly took a step back to find the metal sink, one they immediately noticed the first time they unfortunately ended up here.
"Lime- I assure you I can manage it by myself." Calling out once more Blue watched as Lime approached just a few seconds later with a glare pushing them back down unceremoniously.
Oh how the tables have turned - Blue would've done it gently, coaxing Lime to sit down each time they attempted to hide away once more - while Lime was brisk and straightforward. And maybe that's what was needed right now. Unmoved motivation that couldn't be broken.
"I might not have a licence but I can sew."
Lime grumbled defensively, trying to find anything to set other's arm on comfortably. All those machines sent a shiver down their spine, yet they continued attempting to shrug it off for now.
Trusting an engineer their engineer to stitch you back together.. you'd have to be crazy in the head to actually do so and their doctor might aswell be.
Lime quickly set the cot's pillow on their lap as they sat down right next to the doctor, taking Blue's arm to lay on it which - probably the best thing either could come up with right about now.
Blue only silently nodded biting down on their own coat - it could be worse.
"Those gremlins- pushing ya to scar this badly.." Lime muttered, hastily ripping the sterile packaging of the needle and thread, tightly grasping it.
It was already out of Lime's expertise though thinking about it now it made sense. In the end as an engineer they definitely got injured and undeniably weren't stupid, despite the popular belief.
The engineer just... had their own ways to deal with said cuts and wounds. Some more clever than others.. definitely questionable, though. Alone tucked away god knows where but as it seemed all of the self healing attempts were more than successful since Lime was still there. Still avoiding medbay like the plague despite maybe trusting it just a bit more..
Blue didn't hesitate to offer a third trembling hand of aid, grasping scissors to cut the thread as Lime went on with the proper knots despite them being messy and uneven.
They would at least hold better - hopefully.
It was a quick job. Quiet and tense as the needle passed through the skin one last time, being tied off and cut accordingly with Lime exhaling with relief. Blue continued breathing heavily for a while longer as the other quickly bandaged their work for it to hold - which they would need to re-do later...
"Thank you-" Blue murmured under their nose as they spat out their coat trying to collect themselves as quick as possible, attempting to scurry away from the other to finish the job.
"I appreciate your work. It- would have taken me a while to stitch it up with one hand." They repeated once more with more coherency, quickly glancing at Lime who grabbed their wrist. Forcing them to stay put with a glare even if the work was done and coast was clear they stayed put.
"You are an idiot." The engineer said after a few seconds. Voice carrying no malice only.. annoyance as they stared at Blue who looked like they just seen a ghost to put lightly. This reaction was off-putting in a way even Lime's quickly brain couldn't master to describe.
"Sorry?" Blue managed to get out with a slight squak failing to gauge the tone or what to do even- this was unplanned. Hell the entire situation should have never happened if not MIRA's rigorous corner cutting. Whole body tingling in a way that could only be described as uncomfortable.
"Idiot." Lime repeated once more not offering any other explanation.