the greatest love story ever told;

[succinct]

[ She had known. Both of them had known, that being aides to Prince Zen mean facing danger on all sides, at any given time. They had known that their first priority was their prince.

And yet, the amount of panic and anger that surges up when she sees Mitsuhide fall in the middle of a bandit attack is so sudden that Kiki almost stumbles from the overwhelming force of it. She doesn't, of course; there are too many attackers left standing, and while Zen has escaped with Shirayuki, her partner has fallen.

She doesn't bother to check on him, to verify how bad his injuries are. Instead, Kiki throws herself into the fight with renewed fervor, driving them all away from Mitsuhide, cutting them down in silent, angry slashes.

And when she's left standing, she staggers as quickly as she can, dropping to her knees beside Mitsuhide and automatically checking him for the worst of his injuries with slightly shaking fingers. Adrenaline, she tells herself. She'd be steady otherwise. ]

Answer me. Mitsuhide!

Comments

[succinct]

I'm not interested in your apologies. [ she's already pulling her shirt over her head, folding it and pressing against that ugly-looking gash once she's pushed his hand aside. She has an undershirt on, she'll be fine. ]

And as much as I hate to say this, you'd better keep talking. [ odd, her hands are still trembling. ] That was sloppy, Mitsuhide.

[cavaliering]

[it hurts, but he's used to it--enough, anyway. After all, this is what they do.

So he just holds his breath until the urge to groan goes away, finally letting out a sigh.]

I know... [he lets out another hissing breath. But she said to keep talking, so he can't let himself slump and relax.

That would be rude, and it's not like he could ever deny her what she asks of him.]

Didn't mean to...make you finish them all off...alone...

[He takes another labored breath and then asks the obvious--]

Prince Zen...?

[succinct]

Escaped. Once Shirayuki's safe, he's probably going to come back for his idiot of an aide.

[ She's still fussing over him, hands everywhere at once-- which is unlike her, when she's usually so controlled, not one to make unnecessary movements... but Mitsuhide succumbing to an injury was rare enough. ]

How am I even supposed to take you anywhere like this?

[cavaliering]

[It is a bit unlike her, and he'd be better at noticing if his brain wasn't feeling so fuzzy. As it is, all he can get is the feeling that something is wrong--which is enough.

Even as he's lying there and she's trying to keep him from bleeding out, he's got the time to ask--]

Are you...all right...?

[he'd respond to the comment about her taking him somewhere, probably with a laugh and "i'm sorry for the trouble", but for now...he's got priorities.]

[succinct]

[ Kiki's expression all but screams "ARE YOU KIDDING ME", because he has to be. Why else would the man who's bleeding profusely be the one to ask her if she was all right? Bloodloss had not been kind to him. ]

I'm not the one with the massive stab wound in my side.

[cavaliering]

Ha...

[He winces at that, and it's hard to say if it's from the stab wound or her expression.

But if she thinks she's fine, then she's fine. He just nods once.]

I'm glad for that...

[succinct]

Ridiculous... [ she snorts softly, passing a hand over his blood-streaked hair. Soon. Zen should be here soon. ] How did I even fall for someone like you?

[cavaliering]

[he doesn't even really register it, at first. He notices her touch first, and thinks that it's a nice gesture, even if it does make his heart speed up at a time when he probably can't really afford it--

and then he processes her words.

and he freezes, blinking and staring up at her as if for some sort of confirmation that he really did hear that--before he chuckles ruefully.]

I'm...glad it isn't just me, then...even if I am just imagining all of this.

[from the commotion, though, it does sound like Zen has almost returned.]

[succinct]

Maybe you are.

[ It's all she says, after a lengthy pause-- right before Zen rides up, panicked and already yelling orders to his men. She's quickly ushered away to give the prince a report, while Mitsuhide is carefully moved into a carriage.

She won't see him for a few hours, but he should be in good hands now. ]

[cavaliering]

[Not giving much of a clue, there, Kiki--but Mitsuhide isn't given much of a chance to figure it out from that, and then Zen is there.

He gets some time with Shirayuki (she'd scold him, he imagines, if he wasn't already half-conscious) as she and the palace healers work on his wound, but Kiki did a decent enough job staunching the blood flow that it's nothing life threatening.

Which is a relief, because it means that a few hours later, he's in a bed and not being poked and prodded by concerned people. This is a huge improvement, even if he is exhausted. But he can't rest yet--he's got too many thoughts bouncing around in his head about what Kiki may or may not have said.]

[succinct]

[ Given ample time to get herself cleaned up (and a new shirt), Kiki still takes an additional hour before she speaks with Zen about checking on her partner. He's asleep by now, she imagines. It won't cause any harm to just look in on him.

It's also why she won't say anything when she enters, leaning against the doorframe for a minute as she studies him. Good; he looks better. ]

[cavaliering]

[It takes him a moment (he was probably dozing) before he stirs and realizes that she's there.

Or, well, he hopes she's there, or the possibility that he was hallucinating before increases.

Well, nothing for it but to see. He tilts his head that way.]

Kiki...?

[succinct]

[ She shifts away from the door now, taking a step or two closer to the bed. ]

You say that like you don't remember what I look like.

[cavaliering]

[That gets a bit of a laugh, quiet but truly amused.]

I wasn't sure if you were really there or not...

What a relief.

[succinct]

... You haven't properly slept, have you?

[ MITSUHIDE... ]

[cavaliering]

[And maybe it's his exhaustion or his "hallucinations" or the fact that his guard is down, but the answer is obvious to that, isn't it?]

No. I wanted to see you first...

[maybe "wanted" isn't the right word...?]

Sorry, I mean I needed to see you first.

[succinct]

[ Leave it to Mitsuhide to be painfully sincere when he was either in an odd state of mind or completely exhausted. It's almost endearing as it is exasperating, and Kiki sighs before she plants both hands on her hips. ]

And here I am. Care to take care of yourself now?

[cavaliering]

[He just looks wry at her sigh--at least that's something familiar.

But he shakes his head a little, shoulders slumping.]

I don't think so. It's just that...I can't tell if I imagined it or not.

[usually he's pretty good at reading Kiki, but like this...it's hard to say for certain.]

[succinct]

Imagined what?

[ Kiki, don't be mean to the poor guy who almost died. ]

[cavaliering]

[so cruel.

And with a response like that, he can't help but look up at the ceiling, sighing faintly and smiling even at the memory.]

I must be pretty desperate to have imagined something like that...

But it was something I will treasure regardless.

[succinct]

[ she moves now, seating herself on the edge of his bed. ]

Treasuring something you thought up? Isn't that even stranger than your usual?

[cavaliering]

[...ha. He glances over at her, before returning his view to the ceiling.]

Maybe.

It's just that...if your dreams came true, even if you were imagining it, wouldn't you treasure that moment?

[succinct]

I'd rather treasure a moment that actually existed. Otherwise, wouldn't it still be a dream?

[cavaliering]

[which is, admittedly, enough to get him to look at her. She doesn't usually tolerate too much silliness, much less actively encourage it.]

...Unless I wasn't imagining it after all. I think that would be the best possible outcome.

[succinct]

[ ... There we go. ]

You weren't imagining it.

[cavaliering]

[...ah. It takes him a moment to process that, and then a tired but undeniably happy smile spreads across his face.]

...Is that so...

Then I think I'm the luckiest person who's ever been stabbed.

...Kiki. I fell for you a long time ago.

[succinct]

[ Her own lips quirk up in a smile, one not as wide, but probably just as genuine. ]

You mean, when you realized I wasn't a man?

[cavaliering]

[Okay, now there's the time for embarrassment. He blushes, chuckling ruefully.]

Alright, you've got me there. I really messed that one up, huh?

[...but now that it's confirmed, his eyes are drooping, even if he's doing his absolutely best to stay awake.]

Still...I'm glad you're by my side now.

[succinct]

[ after a pause, Kiki reaches out to rest a hand on his head. ]

Go to sleep. I'm not going anywhere.

[cavaliering]

[He just sighs at that, in clear relief, and slumps a little, finally allowing himself to relax.

After all, Kiki is there, and everything he'd ever wanted has come true, so what does he even have to stay awake for?]

...All right...

[And he'll easily drift off to sleep with Kiki at his side.]

[succinct]

[ True to her word, she won't budge. She'll eventually drag a chair to his bedside and keep watch over him, only dozing every so often. Zen understands. ]