Work Text:
Why…?
That thought was the one clear thing Tiso could pierce through his muddled confusion. Pain was all he could feel in his torso and head. Each breath he took was short because if he breathed too deeply it would shock his entire body.
Well, not entire. He felt some numbness but the pain took precedent in his mind.
He had to focus on breathing. Short ins and short outs. Bad breathing was better than none, right?
In and Out.
In and Out.
After allowing himself to stay prone in this half conscious state, he attempted to open his eyes.
He expected to see the flakes of ash and gray air of the Kingdom’s Edge. He expected to see other fools like himself getting thrown to their fates, waiting to die side by side like the failures they were.
He couldn’t see anything.
He closed and opened his eyes again. His vision was blurry and he was staring at a dark ceiling. He didn't want to turn his head. He didn't want to move at all. Was he already dead? He was in too much pain to be dead.
Suddenly, some mumbled words came to Tiso’s attention. He wished he could move because he was way more vulnerable than he’d like and he wasn’t alone.
Tiso closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing due to instinct. If he looked dead maybe he’d be left alone.
A hand was placed on his face and he could only hiss. The hand was quickly removed. The voice was much clearer now.
“Are you awake? Hello?”
A person.
Tiso didn't move his head but his eyes flicked to the side to try to look at who was talking.
He then realized why things looked so dark. He could see globs of blue and white shrouded in the darkness above their heads.
He simply couldn’t see.
He looked back at the ceiling, not answering any questions. He breathed sharply in an attempt to swallow the pain and realizations.
The bug with him was gently feeling his torso, checking on what felt like bandages. Tiso slowly moved his right arm to brush the hand away, but even that felt like too much. He rested his arm there, not even moving it back to his side.
“..where..” Tiso mumbled, eyes half open.
“Oh!” The bug chirped at the response.
“We’re in a cave at the bottom of the Kingdom’s Edge. Close to the tram. Do you understand where that is?”
“..mm..” Tiso hummed, trying to blink and come to his senses. Short breaths, in and out.
“..who..?”
“Who am I or who are you?”
“You…”
“My name is Quirrel. A friend of mine found you grievously injured and well, I was the closest they could get to safely and timely.”
Tiso groaned when Quirrel moved some scrap bedding that he put under his head. Felt almost like his hood.
“Can you tell me your name?”
Tiso thought for a good bit before supplying it softly. Quirrel nodded, and watched Tiso drift back off into sleep.
He felt like he needed a lot of it but the air of the cave was uneasy. Quirrel tried to keep his hands busy to ease the anxiety gnawing at him.
He tried to be optimistic but he couldn't help but keep his hopes low for this bug's chance of recovery.
He didn’t even know the extent of his injuries but a shell torn in two was enough for him to count the breaths.
He decided to start a small fire to keep himself busy as he waited for Tiso to wake up, hopefully with more clarity.
-
When Tiso woke up again, Quirrel found him staring at his right hand and slowly moving his fingers.
“Are you okay?” Quirrel asked, standing up from the fire. Tiso turned his head towards his voice and gave him a look that said it all.
“Stupid question, I know, I’m sorry.”
Tiso looked back up at his hand, and said. “Can’t see.” Two words, progress in its finest.
“You can’t see?”
“No.” Tiso’s voice was quiet. He felt crumbled. He felt so strange and wanted the pain and slow feeling to go away. He wanted things to be fast again. He wanted to just spring up and be fine but he just felt...
Pain and numbness.
Quirrel gasped a bit in concern when Tiso attempted to sit up. He moved in short jerks, right hand pressed hard into the ground.
“Hey! Don’t do that, be careful! I’ll have to redo your bandages if you move too fast!” Quirrel was ignored as Tiso sat up and against a rock. His eyes closed tightly and he took slow breaths. Quirrel was already over there looking over the bandages. He gently tugged them.
“You’re lucky, I don’t have to. You know-” Quirrel was about to say something when he noticed Tiso’s left hand did not move at all when Tiso did. Tiso didn't even use it to push himself up.
Quirrel took the hand and felt it. Stiff.
“Tiso. Can you squeeze my hand?” Tiso looked at Quirrel, holding his torso. He looked down at their hands intertwined (at least, he assumed) and the gears were definitely turning. The numbness.
“Let me go.” Tiso asked, seemingly cross, not squeezing nor pulling.
“Can you at least try to move it?”
Tiso used his shoulders to tug away from Quirrel. He couldn't squeeze, his arm was completely dead.
“Oh…” Quirrel sighed, letting his hand go and feeling his arm up. “Tell me when you feel something.”
Quirrel put light pressure on various points and when Tiso made a noise of surprise he stopped. He took a piece of gauze and tied it around Tiso’s arm.
“That’ll do until we can get that...taken care of. I certainly am not going to do it right here right now.”
“What..?”
Quirrel wanted to make a cutting gesture to avoid outright saying it but Tiso couldn’t see that.
“We’ll probably have to amputate it.”
Tiso’s antennae couldn’t go any lower as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath that was quickly let go with a gasp. He made a fist and put his working hand against his head.
“Why…” Tiso said, softly. He really really wanted to know.
“I know...It’s not going to be fun, but you’ll get through-”
“Why am I alive?” Tiso asked nobody in particular.
That hit Quirrel deep enough to stun him into silence. He stared at the ant trying hard to think of what to say.
“You’re...We helped you. Our little friend cared for you like they did me. That’s why.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“But I have and intend to continue.”
Tiso was staring off into the fuzzy nothingness of the cave, allowing Quirrel to continue.
“You know, I don’t know what you were looking for. I don’t know what exactly goes on in that god forsaken colosseum but whatever it is, you can find it. I’m going to help you be able to go and get it without getting yourself killed or maimed further. Do you understand me?”
Tiso looked down, and said. “I want to fight again. I want to win my trial or die trying.”
“You already have.”
Tiso was about to argue, fiery spirit slowly building back up, but Quirrel beat him to it.
“You’re alive. You won. Staying alive is your prize.”
Tiso raised a finger, but it was put under his chin. He thought for a moment, and sighed.
“Also you’re in no fighting condition in the first place. You’ll need to retrain yourself.”
Tiso groaned like a schoolchild at that. Another thing on the pile.
Find out how to get around without sight.
The Whole Arm Business.
And figuring out how to fight again.
That’s annoying!
“That can all wait until you heal and we can get out of here.” Quirrel put his hand on Tiso’s shoulder and said with sincerity. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
Tiso almost believed him. He was still conflicted. Quirrel gave his shoulder a quick squeeze.
“I’m going to start some food if you’d like some. There’s boofly around here so we’re basically set.”
Tiso nodded and as soon as Quirrel stood they both heard the buzzes of those infernal aspids. Quirrel grabbed his nail, even though to Tiso it looked like a big ole stick.
Quirrel looked back to Tiso, who looked a bit worried. He looked like he was thinking about how to defend himself in that state.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got this.” With a determined look in his eyes, Quirrel left the cave. Tiso stared at the exiting mess of colors and looked down at his hand.
Maybe he’d be okay, maybe he’d die in the night.
He guessed he just had to keep fighting.