inhotwater | BORDERLANDS AU 1

[It's a special day today. Bridgit's been by a few times now, to help Edward put this together -- he's stubborn, but he really can only do so much with one arm down. Which this should fix, with any luck. The eye situation is... still in the works. But first up is a new arm.

It's not quite Hyperion quality, but that's alright. Hyperion products are way too yellow for his liking, anyway.

Building it with all the right measurements was hard. But now comes the even harder part of attaching it. This should be done with proper medical oversight, of course, but. Well.

It's Edward.

So here he is, in his hospital room, with a new prosthetic arm he was told would be attached in a few days, when Bridgit's got time to help him. And, instead, he's in the process of affixing it himself. The initial mechanisms for it are all in place already. It's just a matter of connecting it.

Just... just connecting it.]

Come on, Nygma.

[He takes a deep breath... and carefully, if a little awkwardly... affixes it.]

--Fuck!

[He hisses harshly, the pain of the nerves connecting... well. It's a lot. But it's on and that's what matters.

Boy, it sure would be unfortunate if a certain Penguin decided to come visit him today.]

[golly it sure would be. Which is going to be Edward's bad luck when Oswald walks in right as he affixes that arm on--]

Edward--what are you doing?

[Ah... fuck. Of course Oswald comes in now, of all times... Right when he's this vulnerable. Just his luck, of course.

Not that he has a lot of time to dwell on that fact. His nerves are currently on fire, still connecting to his new arm.]

I'd-- nnn-- I'd think it... o-obvious...

Oh, excuse me-- [and he's hitting the call button on the wall, before striding across the room, mouth twisting into a scowl] --I should've just asked why are you doing it without Bridgit and Lee, is that it?!

Don't-- [He's immediately starting to move to stand, which... not his best idea ever.] I don't... I can do this myself...

"Can" doesn't mean "should!" Honestly, you're in one of the few hospitals on Pandora with the best doctor and biomechanist money can buy and you're doing that to yourself-- [yeah he sure is ranting now and as Edward's trying to get up, he's reaching out to put a hand on his good shoulder, holding him down] --sit down, you maniac!

It's fine--

[And for a moment it is. Oswald's pushing him down and that's fine enough, it's his good shoulder, it's nothing too bad... in theory.

The problem being is it's contact and he's already a little... wired. So instinctively, he's freezing up... and trying to push Oswald away. With his other arm, of course.]

[And that? Yeah. That hurts like a bitch. The nerves are adjusting. It's the process, the process just fucking hurts.]

Ahh--!

[well well well if it isn't the consequences of his actions]

[hhhh great no, this is terrible actually--but he is immediately releasing him.]

Edward--

[but before he can get any further than that, here's Lee, coming in and just seeing all of...this]

"Oswald--? What happened?"

Some genius decided he was going to go ahead and attach his new arm himself! [snapped, as he just...gestures at all of Edward lmao]

"He what--?" [that sure is a noise of exasperation, and she's turning to lean out of the doorway, calling for painkillers to be brought over before making her way to the bed, pulling over a chair] "Hold still, Edward."

[He wants to insist, immediately, that he's fine. He handled it, he knows how to do this, he doesn't need people making a goddamn fuss over him, that's exactly what he didn't want. He wants to comment something to Oswald, about how yes, he is a genius, thank you for noticing.

He doesn't manage any of that. Instead, the second Lee's getting close his mouth just moves on its own, as his heart races, and he's backing up and away from her.]

Don't touch me--

[It's... panicked. And suddenly he feels very detached from himself. Ah... was he this panicked...? He hadn't realized...]

[she pauses at that, in her chair, assessing]

"--Edward. Take some deep breaths. I won't touch you, but it's best if you don't move."

My... my breathing is perfectly fine--

[Never mind that he finds himself instinctively searching for exit routes, even though he's frozen up. He's not getting up, but at the same time he wants to be anywhere but here. And now they really have something to look at, huh...? Good job, Edward. Made a scene trying to avoid one...]

I-I had this perfectly under control...

[Until Oswald just had to come in. Of all times...]

"And you still have it under control." [her voice is gentle, but firm] "And you're probably correct that your breathing is fine, but as your doctor, I need you to check it for me, please. Make sure it's four counts in and eight counts out."

[...he's not getting out of this, huh.]

...Fine.

Since you're so insistent.

[He's usually a little more polite to Lee. It's still Edward, sure, but he's been nice enough to her. This is a little more... impatient. He'll... focus on his breathing, at least.]

Edited 2022-06-07 20:30 (UTC)

"I appreciate it."

[and she'll just let him get on with it, until a nurse comes in with some painkillers and a cup of water--which she'll take from them, before sending them off]

"How's the breathing coming?"

...It's fine.

[He's immediately eyeing those painkillers. After how long he's been in here, he knows them when he sees them, after all.]

...

I don't need those.

"Of course not." [and she'll set them on the side table along with the water] "They're just there if you want them."

Well, I don't.

[They do help with the pain, definitely, but... he hates how numb he feels with them. Or... maybe not exactly that.

...]

I'm managing. I installed it correctly, so. There's no damage.

"I'm sure it's fine, yes."

[she's pushing to her feet]

"Oswald, why don't I walk you out."

[Edward... doesn't say more, for now, but as Lee says as much, he just carefully glances Oswald's way. Almost timid, now, despite how hostile he can be.]

[Oswald's hand is white-knuckled on his cane, and looks like he's somewhere between making a biting comment and throwing a fit. Except he's also pretty pale, even though his face is scrunched up in those two between emotions]

....right. Yes. Best come back later. [his voice is...very tight]

"When the matter's resolved." [again, that gentle but firm tone of voice, because she knows him well enough to know that whatever reaction is brewing is Not Good and would probably not be good to happen in this hospital right now lmao] "I'll send you an update as soon as possible." [and she's going to take his arm and lead him out]

[Edward's just switched to staring at the floor. The adrenaline's gone and now he just feels... bad? Bad. It's a vague sort of feeling, where he can't quite place the emotional cocktail going on right now. Just that he does not care for it.]

[yeah it's not the best of situations

So Edward gets to be alone in that room for a bit while Lee takes Oswald out of the hospital.

She'll be back as soon as he's out, though, but for now he's got a minute or two of peace and quiet]

[...he looks, for a moment, at those painkillers. It would help. And it would make him feel less of... all of this, probably.

...

No. Better not. He'll just... wait for a bit, for when Lee returns. Give his arm a little more time to adjust.]

the sound we hear it is our hearts they are in time

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