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Gable was slipping in and out of clarity as Dref moved around their torso, cleaning and stitching their wounds. Whatever tincture Gable drank was working to numb their pain, but it made them tired and slouch onto the wall they were propped up against. It was fascinating to watch him work. Even frazzled and half-dressed, he seemed in his element.
“I never thought I would be one of your experiments. It’s interesting.” Gable caught Drefs eyes as a bit of the haze cleared. Dref was never particularly relaxed, but Gable’s eye contact was intense. Gable, themself was intense, but having their undivided attention on him made Dref’s heart beat quicker in his chest.
“Ah, I’m– this is– I’m just– I’m merely stitching you up. I’m not– there’s no experimenting. I’m–”
“We’re going to have to tell Nodoze to do a title change. Physician is– that’s not it. You’re not a physician. It’s part of it.”
“I am a physician.” Dref was becoming concerned. Even with Gable standing at seven feet, they should be unconscious with the amount of medicine they took. But he supposed it only confirmed his suspicions; Gable wasn’t exactly human.
“Well, you’re more than that. Lots of different things.”
“You’re more than you seem as well, Gable.” Gable’s body relaxed even further under Dref, and their eyes glazed over a bit more as a small smirk crept up on their face.
“Eyyy. Two of a kind, birds of a feather,” – with their good arm, they pumped their fist slightly – “ Woo!”
“I wouldn’t presume to include myself in whatever you are. I have my suspicions. I’m sure Nodoze has his suspicions as well.” silence fell over the two as he continued to stitch a cut on their abdomen. The cut was positioned over a large phoenix tattoo, one of many on Gable's body. As the skin was pulled together, it seemed as though it began to heal instantly, as if it was fusing together.
Dref, leaning towards Gable, in a hushed voice, said, “I think that you are extraordinary.”
“Hmm. No one’s called me that before.” Gable spoke softly and leaned in as well.
“I cannot believe that to be true.”
“Hmm. Maybe a long time ago.”
“But you are not human.” Dref thought back to the deep scars he had seen on their back earlier in the day, no human would have been able to survive those injuries.
Gable knew that Dref had seen the scars; there was no point in denying his claim. Oddly it was a comfort to have someone know. But it wasn’t just someone, it was Dref, one of their dearest friends, someone they trusted. “Do you want to see them?”
“Do you require medical attention that would necessitate– yes, I would very much like to see them.” at that, Gable slumped forward, Dref catching them by their upper arms, and bowed their back to allow him to peer over their shoulder at the two scars. Keeping a steadying hand on Gable's chest, he stepped to their left and turned to look over the two scars. Well, scars might not have been the best way to put it. They still seemed to be open wounds, not bleeding but still not healed in any way. It was nauseating for Dref to look at, but he couldn’t bring himself to look away, entirely entranced by their macabre beauty.
“Did it hurt?” Dref brought his other hand to ghost along their mid-back careful not to touch the gashes.
“Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Still does.”
“Does it– is– is there anything that I can do? Not what I can do, but I can do–”
“I’ve tried. That’s sort of the point, I suppose. I’m never supposed to forget.” they felt the light touch of Drefs fingertips briefly on their lower back, obviously in an attempt to comfort them. In any other circumstance, or if it had been anyone else, it wouldn’t have eased Gable, but here, with Derf, it did.
“You’re–” Dref stabled his voice and licked his lips, “You’re an angel.” it wasn’t a question; he knew, there wasn’t any other possibility.
“A fallen– a fallen– a fallen angel? Is that– I don’t– you exist.”
“I’ve never thought about what I’m supposed to be called now that I am the way I am. I guess that’s the most accurate.”
“You had wings,” unthinking Drefs fingers lightly grazed their back again, “and your wings are gone.”
“Oh yeah. Oh yeah.”
“And Travis? Travis is a fallen angel as well?” Gable broke out into a small laugh, their shoulders shaking and leaning further into the hand Dref had still placed on their chest.
“Oh, no, no. No.”
“I– oh, um, he is– he’s not like– he’s–”
“He’s old. I don’t know anything else. He’s real old. Tell him how old he is. He’ll like that.” the medicine was still fogging Gable's mind, jumbling their words, but it was beginning to fade just a bit. This conversation, now coupled with Drefs fingers lightly running up and down their spine, wasn’t helping to ground them.
“I don’t know how old he is.”
“He’s real old.”
“How old are you?”
“Oh… When did time start?”
A small laugh was pulled from Dref. He couldn´t believe the extraordinary nature of Gable. He realized they must also be tired, so he pushed them gently back up against the wall and turned to grab a shirt they would be able to wear. Gable watched as he first pulled a shirt on himself, then walked back with a large button-up shirt. There was no talking as Dref carefully slipped Gable into the shirt, only a few winces from them as the shirt was worked over a particularly sensitive cut. Drefs hands were slightly shaking as he went to close the buttons, but before he could start on the second one, Gable lightly pushed his hands away.
“It´s alright, I can do them. I’ll just want your help getting back to my sleeping quarters.”
“You– you could stay here if you like. I’ll have to re– re-dress your bandages when you wake up anyway.”
“You need your rest as well, Dref. I don’t want to impose.”
“Alright, b-but you will come back when you wake.” Gable nodded while pushing themself up off the table and slung their good arm over Dref.
As they stumbled through the halls of the ship, Dref tightened his grip on Gable's wrist as they leaned further into him with every step. Exhaustion and pain started to replace the light feeling of the draught Dref had given them. The pain wasn’t only in their wounds, but rather it snuck down into their bones and was now leaching into every inch of their body and into every thought and feeling. The ache was everywhere, everywhere except Gable's wrist and a small portion of their hip. Wherever Drefs skin made contact with theirs, it was as if the warmth was drowning the rhythmic pulse of pain.
Dref helped them into a cot, pulling away his warmth and leaving Gable surrounded by discomfort.
“No, no. Come back, Dref.” He quickly made his way back over to Gable with concern in his eyes.
“Are you in pain?”
“Yes. My head, mostly. I feel like my brain is melting.”
“I might h-have something for you. I’ll be right back.”
“No!” With one hand, Gable grabbed his arm and tugged him in closer while the other pressed to his cheek and brought their foreheads together, “You’re warm. It helps.” Gable's light breath fanned over Drefs face as he tried to regain his composer. However, all he ended up doing was shifting closer to them. He was now hovering over Gable's cot, so close that they were breathing each other's air, and their noses touched solidly.
“You’re a good physician.” Gable was barely projecting a whisper, but it rang in Drefs ears like a gunshot.
“Th-thank you. You should r-r-rest” Gable shifted, pulling their faces closer together. The corners of their mouths lightly pressed against each other. Dref was tense under the touch, but as Gable slowly turned their head to brush their lips together, he relaxed. It was light and brief, some might not even consider it a kiss, but it sent waves of warmth through the both of them. Dref pulled away lightly, taking the hand that had been loosely gripping his wrist, and brought it up between them.
“When you wake, find me.” he gently lifted their hand to his lips, delicately placing a kiss on the back of their hand, “Goodnight, Gable.”
“Goodnight, Dref.”