Chapter Text
You suck in a deep breath, the hissing sound through your teeth as you look down at the blood seeping from the wound. Pressing your hand down hard upon the wound, you screw your eyes shut. It was a poor decision to try confronting an alpha when it was already irate. In the end, you had escaped with some injury, of which you were trying to hide, sneaking back toward the camp.
You didn’t want to make a fuss, and late as it was, you had hopes that most would have been tucked away for the night. The chill of the snowy tundra was surely enough to make most retreat into their tents. That looked like the case when you slowly picked your way into the campsite.
Panting, you reach out to steady yourself on one of the rocks that provided shelter in the area. You just needed to make it to your tent…
“It’s certainly taken you a while to get back.”
A long sigh leaves you as you stumble forward a little. Of all people, it had to be the one man who was a stickler for safety that was waiting up. Half lidded eyes find him, and despite yourself, you try to offer him a smile.
“H-hey Ingo…Yea, sorry, it was another late night of exploring…” You try to sound halfway convincing, but the exhaustion was bleeding through every word. Turning slightly, you try to keep his eyes from noticing the blood oozing into your clothing. “I’m turning in now, no worries.”
A hum leaves him. Trying not to shuffle or tense, you take another step back before offering a wave with your free hand. “I-it was good to see you, Ingo, I’m going to…To turn in…”
You didn’t get far. As you turned to walk away, it seemed he’d only taken a few long strides before he grabbed your arm. You couldn’t resist the force as he gently halted your advance. Wide eyed, you look toward him. His own gaze was on the poorly hidden wound. The blood was dripping between your fingers, your leg, onto the ground.
“Ah…” You start to speak quickly, averting your gaze immediately as if caught in the midst of stealing. “I-I was just going to take care of this…”
The critical eyes studying the wound, the frown upon his lips seeming tighter than usual. Without a response, he began tugging you towards your tent. His grip only seemed to tighten as he led you. Pushing his way into the small area, he’s quick to light a lantern and points out the spot you usually rested.
“Sit.”
The way he says it wasn’t a suggestion. You shift awkwardly on your feet before slowly settling down upon the rolled out bedding. You don’t admit it out loud, but it was a relief to be off your feet. Every little step felt like it might have been your last trying to trudge back to camp. Sat down now, exhaustion settled into your body. You wanted to close your eyes again, but the snap of his fingers brought you back to focus on him.
Ingo had rummaged through your small stash of belongings, finding necessary items to treat the wound. He’d snapped his fingers once more, keeping an eye on you briefly before turning his attention back to the items at hand.
“Don’t close your eyes,” he orders you once again, “let me see the wound and then I’ll decide if you’re fit enough to sleep, much less stay out here for the rest of the night.”
Arguing with him would have been impossible even if you had the strength to do it. You try not to fuss as the situation was serious. Up to this point, you’d always been as careful as you could be. Dragon pokemon, however, were not to be trifled with. Even a small Gible proved dangerous.
He’s settled at your side. Gingerly, his hand hovers over the wound. You take the incentive, carefully tugging torn fabric back. Another pain filled hiss leaves you as you screw your eyes shut. Agony would not describe the way it felt to finally free the tender wound of it’s meager bindings, loose cloth and your hand.
“How bad is it?” Peeking open one eye, you don’t quite look down at the oozing wound. You don’t want to see the torn flesh. But as his hand came to brush against the gash, you couldn’t help but look.
Seeing the damage, you suck in a breath. The flesh was torn significantly and while blood wasn’t pouring from it, enough was dripping down your waist to cause concern. Despite that, your stomach seemed to churn. Light headed, you exhaled a slow breath.
“Hey…” You hear Ingo’s voice call out to you but it’s lost, like an echo riverirating out but getting nowhere. “(Y/N), look at me. Don't look down, look at me.”
And you try to, you really do when he speaks. Your ears begin to ring, lightheadedness catches up. Before you could register his grip upon your forearm, you’re already falling. He’s still calling out to you. Once or twice, you swear he’s cursed. The panic in his voice…You wanted to wake up and soothe it. The harder you try, the further you seem to drift.
Everything goes black soon after, and the pain begins to disappear.
—--- ▲ —---
“I think they’ll be okay…”
Slowly you began to rouse, the voices drifting into your consciousness. You were surrounded by warmth, despite recalling being in the snow capped mountains.
“Still what a scare.” the other voice joins in. That voice you recall, it was the professor. “This has yet to happen to our top scout. If you would, for me, make sure they stay here for the rest of the day. We’ll pack up and head back to the village until (Y/N) has fully recovered.”
“That I can do.” The other answers in a hushed tone. “I take this very seriously. It was not too long ago that I was pulled from the snow by Sneasler. I know of the dangers far too well. (Y/N) was lucky to make it back on their own.”
“Yes, and I hope this doesn’t come to pass again…”
You blink your eyes open slowly as the flap of the tent opens briefly, then closes once more. The cold air that rushed in brought you back to reality. Groaning, you slowly begin to move. Your hand comes to your head, as if it would soothe the throbbing pain within it.
“I suppose you heard all of that.” It’s Ingo’s voice, you realize, as your gaze finds him. He’s without his coat. When you look at what is covering your body, you realize that along with a blanket, his tattered garment lays on top of you. “You passed out soon after you saw the gash. It might have been better that you did. While I have a steady hand, closing that wound with a needle and thread is not pleasant for anyone conscious.”
Gazing at him, you swallow thickly. Your hand has fallen back onto your stomach. Wincing slightly, you try to do as he says and stay still. That alone is a difficult feat, but you manage for now.
You couldn’t shake the image of the blood…
“I guess I’m not a big fan of seeing my own blood.” You answer him, as light hearted as you could manage. Your tone betrays you however, thick with exhaustion. “I’m sorry about troubling you…Or anyone else for that matter.”
Sinking down beside you again, you glance away awkwardly. He’s too hard to read. You can never quite tell if he’s happy or angry, upset or annoyed. It’s always a frown, alway a blank stare from those white eyes. You had noted his gaze was like seeing and unseeing at the same time.
Whatever he was looking at, looking for, you could never really tell.
“You’ve worried me, nothing more. I was not troubled by helping someone I care about.” He finally answers you in a gentle way. “Why did you try to hide how badly you were hurt? You wouldn’t have been able to tend to it yourself.”
You shake your head slightly then, trying to bring yourself to look at him. “You care about me?” You question instead, deflecting from what he asked you. “I didn’t know…” You hear him sigh at that. Maybe it was the wrong thing to say, but you genuinely didn’t know. He was a bit of an intimidating figure, though not at all unfriendly. Getting a read on this man was simply difficult.
“Did you feel you would be a burden if you were hurt?” He guesses, getting his thoughts back on track for you. Your throat begins to burn. Ingo guessed it far too easily and your features begin to grow tighter. “It would seem you are carrying a little too much, (Y/N).”
“Even if I am…” You start to say, croaking slightly as your chest begins to heave. You didn’t get much further. You didn't want to cry here, not in front of him.
“Well,” Ingo speaks with a small sigh, “I suppose it’s a good thing I’ll be the one keeping an eye on you. Under my watch, you’ll have nothing to do but take it easy. You’ll likely return to the village later on.”
A sigh leaves you. It seems like you can’t argue with him. The man certainly was a stickler for the safety of others and in that, he’d keep a watchful eye on you. It wasn’t as if you planned on getting up anyway. Risking reopening the wound on your side wasn’t in the cards.
Especially so if it meant seeing more blood…
Instead you finally turn to look at him. You still can’t make out what he’s thinking, but you swear there’s a ghost of a smile on his lips. It’s small, subtle, but there’s a gentleness in his eyes that seems long forgotten.
“All right…” Muttering the answer, you reach out carefully and snag his hand with your own. He blinks down at you, inquisitive in nature. “Just…Let me hold your hand for a while, okay? Don’t ask why…” You needed the support. If he didn’t mind and was going to be looking after you anyways, you hoped he didn’t mind it.
Eventually his fingers curl around your hand. He offers a tight but comforting squeeze. “That’s fine.” He speaks softly, soothing your nerves a little more. “You can rely on me, as well as the others. Don’t forget that. But for now, just rest. We’ll go over the rest when you’ve recovered…”
You nod silently, doing as he asked. Rest was all you could do now, allowing your thoughts to take you away. If you needed support, he and many others were there. Warmth spread through your chest at the thought. Maybe, with him, with others to shoulder the burden, the rest of the journey would become a little easier.
You wouldn't hide your pains anymore, physical or otherwise, not from him- not from anyone else. But if something like this happened again, you knew the first you would be seeking out. The man, an interloper much like you, who you never could get a read on. For now, you simply ponder that and the warmth spreading through your chest, before closing your eyes, drifting off once again.