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Sword has been cooped up in his house for weeks. His mentor has been busy on his own to visit, and Rocket and Medkit were busy with phights. It only really left you to check on him. You didn’t care at all that it had to be you. If your partner was nowhere to be seen for that long, you had to put your foot down and handle it yourself.
You walked over to his house at Lost Temple, taking a long bus ride to get there. You walked forward to a house that still looked decently clean, but the plants and bushes seemed to overgrown slightly more than they should. You walked over to knock on the door, giving it a firm knock, and waited. After a few minutes, you didn’t hear an answer. Not a voice, not footsteps, nothing. It was as if no one was home. You knew otherwise, obviously.
You made your way to the near far left of the bushes. Luckily, the overgrowth nearby wasn’t for nothing. It hid the pathway well incase there was real trouble nearby. You walked towards a secret area on the property, and went down a small path near the house. There, up ahead, stood a red horned demon wielding a sword. With armor strung to his head and armor confidently sitting on his chest, he trained vigorously. Almost TOO vigorously at this point. He looked tired, there seemed to be heavy breathing heard from here. He was draining himself, a little too much at this point. He swung violently, each strike heard with a heavy thud. It could’ve been heard from the front door if you had waited there longer.
You slowly made your way close, close enough to yell “Sword!” He snaps out of it, swinging his body around to point the sword right at you. His breathing quickened from the scream, but slowly quieted down looking at you.
“Y/N…” he panted. He walked over, stumbling slowly as he approached. You shifted your look to a worried one the more you looked at him up close. His hands looked bruised and almost bloody, his eyes looked droopy and drowsy, his face dirtied from most likely the outside dirt. Sword was rough out of shape. Looking at the training dummy wasn’t any better. There was clearly some blood on it, and it didn’t make things better in the slightest.
“Sword.. you look horrible.” You winced at the small injuries clearly untreated. “Should I get—“
“No! No, no.” He shook his head urgently. “Please. PLEASE don’t tell Medkit.” He sighs. “Sorry, I just need a bath, probably.“ He took your hand with a smile. “Come on.” He led you into the house. You felt his rough and blistered hands and felt even more awful. You watched him struggle to open the door, slowly pushing it open with strained and exhausted muscles. You looked at him.
“Sorry I didn’t visit sooner. I thought Rocket or Medkit would at least check in with you sooner.” You watched as he set his sword on the side and started to achingly take off his armor. You rushed over, gripping the armor firmly.
“Nnno, (Y/N), its—“ He muttered. You still went ahead and helped him take off his armor with ease. You set it near his sword and walked him to the bathroom. You flipped the lid of the toilet down and sat him there, helping with his shoes and setting them outside with his gear and weapon. You return to him. He gives you a confused look, beginning to open his mouth to say something, but you set a very careful hand on his shoulder.
“Sword. I get you don’t open up much, but seeing you like this is concerning..” you explain with a soft tone. You didn’t want to yell, that obviously wouldn’t solve anything besides making him mad. Plus, hearing Medkit scold him enough makes you think he just needs someone to talk to regularly. You continue, “Please. Just talk to me. You don’t have to open up about everything that’s wrong, but please just tell me how to help or how to make things better.”
Sword looks hesitant. He bites his lip, trying to figure out what to say. He’s quiet, not even making a noise. You just continue to give him a sincere face as he glances your way. He heavily sighs.
“I’m sorry.” He simply states.
“About what?” You tilt your head, puzzled.
“I’ve been.. trying to get stronger.” He explained, his voice hoarse and small. “I’ve been trying to get tougher in strength, trying to be better at defense, trying to be better in phights. I don’t want to be considered weak. I don’t want to be a weak link. I don’t want to be a burden that people keep around because I’m just ‘another melee’ and don’t do much. I wanted to train to avoid that, but uhm…” he looks at his own, shaky, bruised hands. “I don’t think I did a good job. I never do. It’s something that’s itched my mind for so long, I don’t even know if I’m truly good at what I do anymore… I just feel… I don’t know.”
You glance down. You soon then hold his holds, looking back up at him.
“Baby, nobody thinks you’re a burden, or that you aren’t capable. You’re worthy to be cared for from who you are! You are a good melee, you do things so perfectly, and you care and help everyone on the team equally!” You tighten your grip. “The REAL problem is that you just overwork yourself. You haven’t given yourself a break to rest, charge up and show people what you CAN do. You just need some time to relax, and make sure you’re ready enough to get back on the field.”
Sword stays quiet, giving you an uncomfortable look. Your face quickly worries even more. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No.. no. I think I um.. needed that.” Sword painfully smiled. “It’s just.. Ii would. Kiss you if.. you weren’t hurting my hands.”
“OH! I’m so sorry.” You sputter, slipping your hands away from his.
“Iit’s ok.” He smiled. He slowly leaned in, pressing your lips against his, putting you in a quick and sweet kiss. You lean into it, almost melting if Sword didn’t pull back in pain. You shake your head off of urging for affection just so he could feel better quicker.
“A shower’s a nice way to destress.” You break the silence. “So, do you want to shower now, or?” You smile warmly at him.
His face blotched a bright red. “Actually.. could I ask you something?”
You nod. “Of course.”
“Ccould you maybe.. help me shower? It’s fine if you don’t want to.” He added on the last part in a very flustered tone. He winced as his head turned away, he seemed embarrassed. You didn’t expect him to ask, but it’s better that than struggle to wash yourself. You just quietly nod. You weren’t sure how to really help at first. He just motioned for you to turn around, and he quickly slipped all his clothes off. You heard him yelp in pain, but you still kept yourself turned around just incase.
“Are you ok?” You quietly ask.
“Mmhm..” Sword hummed. “Sshit, I thought I could at least get in by myself.”
“Do you need help?” You cocked an eyebrow. Sword hesitated.
“Yeah. I um, I do.” He replied. You turn, making sure just to keep looking up at his face. Just to not make things weird. Sword looked more bruised in a few spots, but at the very least he keeps his body in shape. Very horrible conditions to do so, but he keeps it in shape in the most saddest way possible. You put your arms out to help, but pause, sloowly going over to him over the shoulder, or trying to.
“Do you mind if I..?” You ask, motioning to guide him in. Sword shrugs.
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
You nod silently as you press on his back carefully, leading him to the tub. You support his upper body as he slowly gets in, slipping the rest of the way with a thud from the accident of your clumsy and slippery grip.
“Sorry!” You gasp, making sure he’s okay. He didn’t seem like he was in too much pain, so he shrugged at you with a smile, only waiting for the water. You turned it on, making sure the warm water ran so it wouldn’t bother his skin. You wait for it to fill up, just sitting near him next to the tub. You rested on the fluffy mat as you hummed. It was pretty narrow for a decently tall guy. He wasn’t as tall as the others, but for Lost Temple, you think they would have bigger showers for such huge prices.
“If this thing were bigger, I’d offer you to join.” He chuckles and leans back, glancing at you as you stare at the faucet. You anxiously laugh at the comment.
Once it filled up halfway, you made sure the drain was closed as you shut off the water. You grabbed a washcloth and doused it in soap, beginning to scrub him down. Sword leans into your scrubbing pretty easily. You continued scrubbing his upper body and back. His arms were covered in blood. His face crunched up as you scrubbed them, but you tried coaxing him as best as you could and tried to make it brief. You personally refused to get any lower since he wasn’t comfortable with it, and eventually he did take the cloth from you to wash himself on the lower halves of his body. You turned your head away, waiting for him to finish up. He assured you he had washing himself off covered, and finished up soon after. He stood up, shaking as he balanced himself straight. He looked a lot more clean, and most of the wounds look less worse. You helped him, drying off him top half. You scooped him up by the back with one hand, carefully holding his hand in the other, slowly getting him out. You didn’t feel like you should dry off the other half, and Sword caught onto it quick.
“Want me to do it myself?” He asked in a curious tone, a hand going onto the towel you held. “It’s okay if you want to. I don’t really care.”
“Are you sure?” You squinted.
“Yep.” He simply nodded confidently.
“Just checking.” You begin drying his entire body off, carefully wiping him down. “I’ve never really.. um. Helped somebody like this before. Sorry.” You awkwardly chuckle.
“Psh, you’re making this sound weirder than it is.” He snickered, ruffling your head a bit. You squeak swatting his hand away. “Hey!” You hiss. He giggles at your response, taking the towel and wrapping it around his waist.
“I’ll be right back. Sit tight on the couch, ok?” He set a kiss onto your cheek before walking off faster than earlier. The shower did help, at least. You walked yourself into the living room. You weren’t dumb enough to think that injuries like blisters and such don’t magically vanish. He was still obviously in pain, just not in as much as before. You glanced to a shelf nearby to see first aid. You thought, sure, it was weird and kinda dumb to listen to Sword and not let Medkit know, even if he most likely does the very minute he sees Sword again, but you refused to let him just not be treated with just a bath and that’s it. You grab the first aid just as he was stepping out with some pjs. He sits down as you start opening it up.
“Ok! Just hold still for a minute.” You smile softly. Sword just sighs, keeping his body still as you start bandaging up a few of his wounds. He hummed a tune, just to help himself focus off of the pain. You put a few bandaids on a few spots before you pat his back. “Alright! All done.” You grin. Sword inspects the bandages before giving you a smile.
“Thanks!” He smiles wider. He soon wraps his arms around you, squeezing you in a hug. You nuzzle him back, his body curling around you and sprawling on top of you. He leaned back on the couch once you were in his grip.
“What are you doing?” You giggle.
“Nnnoothhing.” Sword replies in a sing-songy tone. You snuggled him as he began to pepper kisses around your cheek and neck. You snicker, Sword stopping to give you a kiss right onto your lips. You reciprocated, wrapping your arms around his waist, pulling away to tenderly kiss his forehead. He purred, resting on your shoulder. He sighed dreamily, his body pressed up against yours from his arms locking you close, almost protectively.
“Sweetheart..” He whispered softly, very visibly relaxed. “Could you stay? For at least a few hours?”
You glanced at him, his response to shift his face to rest his cheek on your shoulder. You chuckle, nodding with a smile. “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that.” Your hands run down his back up and down as he relaxes.
You stay like that until his legs start cramping from being crossed.