BORDERLANDS AU 1

[agoodname]

[IMAGE EATEN BY SKAGGS]

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[enigmaster]

...Said I'm fine, right...?

[agoodname]

[Oswald just...arches an eyebrow] Better to make sure, I believe. [DRY]

[enigmaster]

Mm... [Uuuuuuughhhhhh.] Just felt a little sick for a bit, s'all...

[agoodname]

Yes. That's all. [EVEN DRIER] I'm afraid, for now, you'll just have to indulge Lee's every whim. She is your doctor.

[enigmaster]

Yeah, that's all. Just breathed too much, hurt my ribs. Been there, done that...

[agoodname]

You've injured your ribs by breathing too much before? [eyebrow arch at that]

[enigmaster]

I've had broken ribs before. Can't breathe too deep when they're like that. [A lesson he learned the hard way.] ...Way worse last time, though. I didn't, uh... didn't have painkillers then.

[agoodname]

No? [he settles a bit more on the edge of the bed, waiting for Lee to get back] What situation was that, then?

[enigmaster]

Got knocked around a bit... Dad got a little too rough and, uh... we couldn't afford painkillers. [Edward's not looking at Oswald, but it's not deliberate. He's just, you know, out of it still. He can focus his attention on one thing only and right now that's remembering this. It's also something he definitely would not share normally, but right now his filter is pretty much gone, so. There's that.] He'd just tell me to suck it up, basically.

[agoodname]

[Oswald's lips press into a thin line, at that, and there's a slow rage that burns in his stomach] He sounds like an idiotic brute.

[understatement]

[enigmaster]

Yeah. Kinda... S'why I changed names when I left Hyperion. [Not because it was safer that way. If it was that, he would've given a different first name, too.] Didn't want his anymore.

[agoodname]

[.....] I can understand that. Nygma suits you better, anyway.

[enigmaster]

Nashton's... not really me, huh...? [He seems a little amused. Darkly so, maybe, because it's not exactly a fun topic.]

[agoodname]

I should say so. A name of your own choosing is much more fitting.

[enigmaster]

Mhm... I thought so... Thought Hyperion was gonna be my way out of all that... Stupid, really... [From an abusive household into Handsome Jack's personal little cult. Yeah, real good trade, that...]

[agoodname]

...how were you to know what Jack had in store? Or what would happen? I'm sure it seemed viable at the time.

[enigmaster]

Mhm. He wasn't in charge yet when I joined. ...Wasn't ever great, but... it sure got worse...

[agoodname]

.... I've heard that it got worse, but it's all mostly rumors. [he doesn't really have time to all about it further, however, as Lee's returning with another nurse] "Alright, Edward, let's take a look at those ribs and make sure you haven't reinjured anything."

[enigmaster]

[Edward blinks a little.] Ah... okay...

[agoodname]

[It takes a bit to check--Lee and the nurses are very careful about moving him gently. Oswald steps back to give them space, leaning on his cane by the window, just watching quietly.

On the bright side, he didn't injure his ribs any more, but he still strained them more than was necessary. Lee gives him a reminder that he still needs to stay in bed and not to push himself, and lets Edward know that lunch will be in a bit before vacating.

Oswald has been working on something on his ECHO com, and he comes a bit closer again.]

...I imagine you'll want to rest a bit more.

[enigmaster]

[It's... a second, before what Oswald's saying processes. It's still slow. Very much so. Edward blinks a little, trying to wrap his mind around the words and figure out how to respond.] Dunno... I guess...? [He sounds unsure of himself. He barely knows how he's feeling right now, honestly. It's all kind of... hazy.] M'fine right now... [So he says, but he sounds a little far away.]

[agoodname]

[he really isn't. But Oswald smiles, and doesn't worry that it might be strained or tenuous, because Edward probably won't notice anyway] Of course you are. [his expressions softens just a little] Have a good rest anyway, Mr. Nygma.

[enigmaster]

Mm... [He blinks a little sleepily. Very zoned out, there's no way he'll be awake much longer.] Just... sounds weird when you call me that...

[agoodname]

[something in Oswald's stomach twists, hard, and he swallows against the sudden lump in his throat] I assumed you would prefer it.

[enigmaster]

'S... off... [He's pretty much on the edge between conscious and asleep, now, not really committing to either one. He's not really looking at Oswald, more so staring off into space.] Kinda... mm... 'nda stupid...