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Plucking away at the keys of her piano was the only thing that she was able to do right now. The fight that she had with Zenos had given her bumps, bruises, a concussion, sprained ankle, and broken ribs, just to name a few of her injuries. She had been told to “take it easy” and to her lover that meant, “no leaving the bed for the foreseeable future.”
Y’qheebo had managed to hobble herself down the hallway from where her bed was located to the music area of her house. It had her piano, harp, and other instruments for her to dabble and compose with. She was currently hoping that since she had got herself over here and was currently seated at the piano bench that Thancred would have no choice but to stop playing nursemaid. The house wasn’t large so she knew that once she started playing he would be down the stairs quickly.
True to her assumption, two bars into the melody she began to play she heard Thancred’s determined footsteps as he descended the stairs to glare at her.
“You’re supposed to be resting.” His tone was clipped and had a hint of annoyance to it.
The Miqo’te didn’t even turn to look at him, as she played her tune. “I’m playing the piano, not training with a weapon. I was perfectly able to walk down the hall.” She quickly glanced in Thancred’s direction, she just wasn’t going to tell him that she had to lean heavily on the walls and furniture to make it.
Thancred sighed, loudly, and she watched as he moved behind her to the love seat.
Was she being fair to him? Probably not. She knew that he worried about her, she would be too if the script was flipped and he was the one limping around the house.
Qheebo tried to contain her wince as she attempted to straighten her posture. Her ribs were still not fully healed, and she knew that she still had several more weeks of healing just from that one injury. She wasn’t sure why she even tried to hide her discomfort, Thancred saw everything no matter how well she thought she was hiding it.
Was she being stubborn? Yes.
Was it because if she were to yield it meant that Thancred was right? Probably.
“I can see your muscle spasms from here. I don’t care for having to carry your unconscious form to the bedroom.” He sounded annoyed.
She removed her hands from the keys, letting the final notes of music fade. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, “I just don’t like being cooped up for too long.” She was now fidgeting with a loose thread on her top.
Thancred came to sit beside Qheebo on the piano bench. He gently turned her head so that she was looking him in the eye. “I know you are strong and independent, but even the strongest person needs time to heal.” His voice dropped in volume as he added, “I was so afraid that I had lost you.” He gently ran his thumb over her cheek, a movement he had done many times before but now seemed to carry so much more weight to the meaning.
And there it was. They hadn’t really spoken about what happened. Usually Qheebo had a way with words, but, ‘sorry for almost dying,’ just didn’t seem like the best thing to say in this situation. She didn’t know if there was anything to say. She looked into his eyes and the words came to her.
“But you didn’t lose me,” she said as she took his hand in hers, pressing her lips to his knuckles, “I’m right here. I am alright.”
He dropped his head until their foreheads were touching. He squeezed her hands in his and they just sat together, the only sound coming from the nutkin who had made a little bed for itself in one of the chairs in the room.
They needed this. This silent moment, just the two of them.
“Can you bring me to bed,” Qheebo mumbled, “you might have been right.”
She knew he was smirking. He didn’t comment on what she said, though. He just stood, collected her in his arms, minding her injuries as much as he could, and walked down the hall to deposit her in bed. He fluffed the pillows and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I know that you’re feeling confined,” he sighed, looking her in the eye, “I guess we can start going out around the yard a bit, the fresh air would be good.”
Qheebo smiled and pulled him in for a hug. “Thank you for taking care of me, I know that I’m not the most agreeable patient.”
Thancred snorted, jostling her a little bit, “you can say that again.” He laid her against the pillows, “get some more rest and I’ll bring tea.” He got up and made to leave, but Qheebo was still holding his hand.
“Please stay,” she said, “I just want you close.” She missed his near-ness during her recovery. He had been sleeping on the couch in the other room, so as to not disturb her while she was sleeping.
He nodded, settling on the bed on top of the covers, while she snuggled down into the pillows.
It was several hours later when Qheebo woke up. Thancred was still in the bed with her, he was sleeping as well. She was curled up into his side with her head on his shoulder, her hand resting gently on his chest. She just watched him sleeping. He had been running himself ragged taking care of her, she was sure, and the couch wasn’t exactly the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house.
She just laid there listening to the sounds of his breathing and the occasional chitters from the nutkin in the other room.