BORDERLANDS AU 1

[agoodname]

[IMAGE EATEN BY SKAGGS]

Comments

[agoodname]

It'll get easier the more they work their way out of your system, I think.

[enigmaster]

Hm... [That's all well and good but there was something now and god he just hates how slow his brain is working, when it's usually almost to fast to even keep up with.] How... um... long has it been... [He blinks again, slowly. Words. Right. Just... in order.] ...since... y'know. [His sense of time right now is garbage. He doesn't know how long he's been out.]

[agoodname]

About a week, now. A day or two past that.

[enigmaster]

Oh. [A week. Okay. That gives him a frame of reference, anyway.] How'd... how'd the... um... [...Not going so well. He keeps losing track of what he actually wants to say before he can say it.] Ah... Damn it...

[agoodname]

The Citadel?

[enigmaster]

[Edward sighs, a little relieved Oswald managed to get it.] Yeah.

[agoodname]

Salvageable, thanks to you. [there's a slight bit of gentleness that finds its way under that more neutral tone.] We're rebuilding the parts that were lost.

[enigmaster]

Oh... Good. [He lets out another breath at that. That's good.] Wasn't really sure if... if I got there in time or not...

[agoodname]

You did. You saved most of the Citadel and a lot of people.

[enigmaster]

'm glad... I was kinda worried about it...

[agoodname]

No, you--[he pauses, swallowing]--it was very brave, what you did.

[enigmaster]

[Edward smiles a little wryly. Pressing on his forehead again with his palm, as if that'll somehow help him be more lucid.] I don't know about that...

[agoodname]

I do. [again, he swallows, tamping down] You didn't have to do that. You could have simply left.

[enigmaster]

Thought... about it. Didn't. [Obviously.]

[agoodname]

.....can I ask why?

[enigmaster]

Didn't... feel right. Not really sure I could've just... left. Like that...

[agoodname]

I see. [he does, sort of. The others must've really endeared themselves to him somehow. Or Edward is just a good person. Or both. Either way, Oswald has a lot to make up for] Noble, then.

1/2

[enigmaster]

[Edward scoffs a little.] We can call it that... sure. [And Edward squints a bit, looking at Oswald and... Well, he makes a maybe not so good decision, then. He tries to sit up a bit. This is fine in theory. He's maybe not in the best shape for it, but it shouldn't do any arm. Except...]

2/2

[enigmaster]

[Except, well, he's still expecting support on his right side, which just isn't there. So the instant he tries to scoot up he kind of awkwardly stumbles and tilts. It's not great and it doesn't feel great, either, to be honest. Not helped by... his ribs still healing, so as he hisses at the feeling, breathing in a little too much after, there's an awful feeling inside his torso, too. So. Not his best life choice.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald's eyes widen at that, and he's immediately shooting out of his seat, reaching out to stead him] Wait--don't, you shouldn't be moving, yet. [his face creases into a deeply worried frown, reaching out to try and help him settle again] You're still healing.

[enigmaster]

It's f-- ngh... hhh... [Nope, bad decision, very bad decision, he feels even more like garbage now.] Shit...

[agoodname]

Hold on, just--[and Oswald is bracing one leg on the bed so he can balance and help Edward lay back down] --carefully. Hang on to me, if you need to.

[enigmaster]

N-No, I can... I... [Edward is... breathing a little heavily, but wincing as he does. Trying to keep his breaths... slower and more shallow, because oh, his ribs really hate that. And... yeah, he is hanging onto Oswald a bit, even if he's not super conscious of that fact right now. His grip is shaky, as he's holding onto him. And... honestly, Edward looks a little pale after that. Impressive, considering his general already not great appearance at the moment.]

[agoodname]

[that's....not great. And once he gets Edward resettled, he's pressing his lips together in worry] ....I'm going to call Lee. Just so she can make sure you haven't torn anything.

[enigmaster]

M'fine... [It's kind of a weak and... pretty useless protest. He's not. And he won't be for a while, still, but it's hard for him to properly think about that right now.]