Ninja shenanigans

[pinupninja]

[ there are very few fights where Kasuga has found herself backed - no, slammed into a corner, and she's loath to admit it, but without Sasuke, she can't confidently say she would still be alive.

But she is, and he is, and although their opponent still lives, he's doing so at a safe distance-- far enough for Kasuga to dazedly drag herself up against a nearby tree and fumble for her medical kit. Sasuke-- she'd lost sight of him, and she leans back against the trunk with a ragged breath before she turns her head to see if she can spot him now. ]

Comments

[pinupninja]

I won't kick you.

[ninjamom]

Gee, thanks. [ He motions for her to have a seat. ]

[pinupninja]

[ which she does, settling between two of the larger tree roots. At least the wounds aren't too hard to miss; the material's been shredded. ]

[ninjamom]

[ That it has, and he grimaces a bit. He begins cleaning the wounds, starting with the worst of them, long-fingered hands moving quickly and with surprising gentleness.

He doesn't dare look at her face while he's working. He's already been reminded of how close they came- no need for his thoughts from earlier to repeat themselves. ]

[pinupninja]

[ she manages to hiss out softly between her teeth rather than jerk her leg away when the injuries flare up in protest, curling her fingers into the dirt. It's almost worse when someone else is tending to her, when she doesn't know when to be properly braced-- but there's also something to be said about the care he takes with her.

... It's... sweet? ]

[ninjamom]

[ It's probably safe to assume that Sasuke has done his fair share of bandaging other peoples' wounds- the fact that he had to deal with a very young, very rambunctious Yukimura notwithstanding. Still, the way he treats her is... different. It's not like he thinks she's made of glass- he knows her too well to make such a stupid assumption- but the fact of the matter is that he doesn't like seeing her hurt.

Only when he's done does he glance up from his work ]

Holding up okay?

[pinupninja]

Don't you start coddling me now. [ strained expression and slightly pale features aside, she simply raises an eyebrow and gives her leg a glance. ] You did a good job, Sasuke.

[ninjamom]

Not coddling, just checking. [ He moves to sit down next to her, examining the cuts on his own leg. He's got a rather nasty one on one side too. ]

Thanks. I'm kind of an old pro at this kind of thing.

[pinupninja]

With who you look after-- I'm not surprised. [ her gaze follows his, and then she clicks her tongue, expectantly. Neither of them got out of this unscathed, that's for sure. ]

[ninjamom]

[ A laugh ] He's a handful more often than not.

[ Doo doo doo, gonna bandage his leg now, yep. ]

[pinupninja]

[ and she's reaching out to catch his wrist, gaze half-reproachful and half-earnest. ]

You're not much better.

[ninjamom]

[ Caught! The look he gives in return is a bit sheepish. ] Maybe it's contagious.

[pinupninja]

Then do me a favor and don't spread it any further. [ a quick flick of the fingers nets her the bandages and she's leaning in to clean what she can of that wound, before returning to bandage it. ]

[ninjamom]

[ He leans back against the tree, eyes falling shut. There's another chuckle, this one sounding decidedly more tired than the others. ] As you wish.

[pinupninja]

[ this grants Kasuga the opportunity to discreetly look him over, to reassure herself that he's not reeling from bloodloss, he's just exhausted. Either way, she remains silent. ]

[ninjamom]

[ Exhausted indeed, and maybe a little rattled. Either way, he sits back, eyes shut, and aside from the occasional sharp intake of breath as she cleans his wounds, he remains in contemplative silence. ]

[pinupninja]

[ it doesn't take long to finish; if nothing else, she's efficient. And with that accomplished, she slowly joins him in letting the trunk hold her up once again. Finally-- ]

We shouldn't stay out in the open.

[ninjamom]

Probably not.

[ Their assailant could be back, and he knows that. Still, he doesn't move right away. ]

... I'm glad you're okay.

[pinupninja]

[ that gives her pause. ]

... We wouldn't be cut down all that easily, Sasuke.

[ninjamom]

[ He glances at her ]

We both had our fair share of close calls.

[pinupninja]

Recalling the past never helped either of us.

[ninjamom]

Ah, I guess you're right. We should focus on the now.

[pinupninja]

Which means stand up.

[ninjamom]

I'm going, I'm going. [ It takes him a moment to stand. Ugh, already, everything hurts. ]

It's probably going to be slow going.

[pinupninja]

[ she rises with him, one arm wrapping around his waist to steady both him and herself; Kasuga isn't exactly able to stand tall here. ]

Slow progress is better than none.