Work Text:
While cooking his tenth dish of the day, Ryoma slices another daikon, ready to put it in a stew. He thought he could do this while blindfolded, but the moment he lets his concentration wander even slightly… the knife slips.
Pain explodes through his finger as the knife slices a gash on his skin, and Ryoma hisses, “Shit!”
Blood drips over the daikon and the chopping board, so Ryoma pulls his hand away, turning on the spot to search for a cloth to staunch the flow. His finger throbs, blood dripping off his hand and staining his grey hakama.
“Uncle Hajime!” Haruka cries, rushing over to him. “Oh dear, what did you do?”
“The knife slipped. I’m fine,” Ryoma says. “It barely hurts.”
“But you’re bleeding. Come here.”
Before Ryoma can reply, Haruka grabs the wrist of his uninjured hand and leads him across the room. She encourages him to sit down near his folded futon, and the moment Ryoma takes a seat, the cats wander across the room to investigate. As blood continues to ruin his hakama, Ryoma watches Haruka rush over to the kitchen, before returning and kneeling at his side.
“Can you hold out your hand, Uncle Hajime?” she says.
Ryoma does as requested, letting Haruka take out a clean cloth from somewhere and wrap the fabric around his bloody finger, covering the wound.
She squeezes his finger, applying pressure to the injury, and says, “I don’t think it needs stitches. Just maybe don’t do any cooking for a few days. We don’t want you bleeding on the food.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Ryoma says, chuckling.
Once the worst of the bleeding has stopped, Haruka fetches a bandage (made of strips of an old blanket) and wraps it around his hand, securing the cloth in place.
“There you go,” she says.
“Thanks for this, Haruka.”
“You’re welcome,” Haruka says, giving him the most adorable smile that warms his heart.