Chapter Text
Ban Hammer and Katana had been finally getting to know each other slowly as the days pass. Of course, it didn't mean they were exactly 'close' by any means, but more like acquaintances. Or at least to the samurai, that was how he thought the other viewed their relationship. Ban Hammer though? He was like a rat in a maze, his feelings all over the place. Oh what's a demigod to do when you realize that you sort of kinda might've fallen for a mortal who barely even ever looks your way? But a mortal and a demigod? That could never work out, why would a demigod even need to entertain the idea of love? Surely, this would be a thing that blows by soon enough. Right?
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It was during a sparring session at somewhere that looked like a training arena in Banland when Ban Hammer noticed something was amiss with Katana. The two of them had started to spar more often ever since Katana had finally, possibly begrudgingly, accepted Ban's offer. It was a great way to pass extra time, all the while improving their own seperate skills.
Ban's hammer struck the ground with a harsh 'slam', shaking the ground a bit with his strength. Katana, although not the most agile, still managed to dodge out of the way of the attack in time, the hammer missing him by only a hair. "Not bad! I was sure that strike was gonna land and take you out! " The warden's voice boomed, he always did seem to be at a louder volume than others. He lifted the corner of his blindfold, peeking with one of his eye from underneath the purple fabric, a smug smile tugging at his lips. "You aren't so bad yourself warden, your strength is admirable. " The samurai hummed, making sure to reply but also focus on their sparring altogether, ensuring that he wouldn't be caught off guard by any incoming attacks. His mask blocked his face completely, in turn also blocking whatever expression he had on currently.
As Katana shifted his stance, his body seemed a bit....tense. Ban Hammer only took notice of it then, not exactly being the most observant of the bunch. He raised a brow at what he observed, and without even thinking, he blurted out his words in one go. "What's with you? You're looking all tense as if there's a thorn in your side. " The samurai paused at the warden's words, his mask masking his slight surprise. But it was semi clear that he was likely a tad taken aback by the other demon's words with how silent he was being. He didn't expect the warden to notice, heck, he never even meant to show any discomfort or strain in his actions nor body language. The red inphernal was so sure he was doing a swell job at concealing it. It baffled the rogue samurai how the other inphernal even noticed anything wrong. Maybe he slightly overestimated his own abilities this time.
"I assure you, it is nothing to worry about. But your concern and worry are much appreciated. " Katana straightened his posture. Unintentionally, he let a quiet grunt slip past his lips, further confirming Ban Hammer's suspicions. The purple inphernal frowned at the sight, not appreciating that his question was being brushed aside. Not to mention that Katana was trying to downplay whatever it was that was troubling him. He was a glorious demigod, son of the mighty deity Windforce, warden of Banland! He doesn't get 'brushed aside'! The criminal should be glad he's even here up and asking about 'IF He's oK', instead of arresting him long before when he could've! Jeez, do people nowadays have no respect for the hierarchy?
Ban Hammer desummoned his gear as he made his way towards the other inphernal. He raised a brow underneath his blindfold, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't buy the red inphernal's 'reassurance' at all, he swore even a newborn inphernal lied better than he did.
"What a load of bull! C'mon Tana, surely you could come up with something better than that sad excuse of a reason. " Ban Hammer poked Katana on the side, which made him visibly flinch away from the other's finger reflexively. Of course he would, the bloody bastard and his luck ended up with poking the poor injured samurai directly on the wound. The red inphernal glared at the warden from under his owl like mask, definitely not fond of a finger jabbing him where it hurts....even if he hasn't told the warden about said injury. Nonetheless, he was sure no one would've appreciated being poked randomly out of nowhere.
"Please refrain from prodding me, I do not appreciate such gestures, warden. " Katana huffed, sheathing his blade into the scabbard that was strapped to his waist. Meanwhile, fixing his clothes by smoothing out all the wrinkles caused by the intense sparring session they both shared a while ago. "As I have said, I am fine-" Ban Hammer rolled his eyes, the action covered by the purple fabric tied around his eyes. "With the way you flinched? The quiet grunt you made? Yeah right, it doesn't take a genius to tell that something's wrong. " The taller inphernal made his point loud and clear, pointing out the obvious, leaving no room for any debate nor arguments. "Now spit it out already. " The two stood there in silence for a moment, the air tense between them. After who knows how long, Katana was the first one to crack under Ban Hammer's relentless pestering. Well, it wasn't really that relentless, but Ban still won so he didn't exactly care. As demigod, he gets whatever he wanted after all!....Other than having to actually pay for items.
With a heavy sigh, and also heavy reluctance, Katana finally gave Ban Hammer the truth he's been pushing for from him, his disdain towards the demigod evident in his tone as he spoke. "...Fine..if you really MUST know, it was merely a simple injury I've sustained during one of my....duties. " It was a downplay on the situation, or maybe he really thought it was a small injury that required no fuss. Either way, Ban Hammer was resisting the urge to wring Katana by the neck in that moment. Ban Hammer has had his own fair share of injuries in the past, much to his distaste of course. He was a demigod for crying out loud, he didn't do 'injuries', that's weak mortal inphernals shit, and he was definitely NOT weak nor a puny mortal.
"Do you take me as an inphernal who was spawned yesterday or something? " The warden's patience was wearing thin, not like his patience lasted that long in the first place. "For SFOTH sake, I'm gonna assume your injured somewhere on you're side, preferably where I poked you. " The purple inphernal took a step closer with every word he spoke. "If it really were a 'simple injury' as you've claimed, I doubt it'd strain your movement this much. " By the time Ban finished his accusation, he was face to 'face' with Katana. It was an attempt to intimidate the samurai, though he's long learned that this move had no effect on the other, which was a bummer. "Like I've said before, spit it out or I'll make you. " A wide grin was plastered on the demigod's face, inching closer than ever.
"....Is this a threat, warden? I do not fear you. " Katana didn't back away, didn't try to put distance between them, merely stood his ground. 5 second, 10 seconds passed before anybody broke the silence. "...BAH! Your no fun, I can't get through you as easy as the others, but that's what makes you so damn interesting. " Ban Hammer slung an arm over Katana's shoulder, making the other tense up in surprise.
The red inphernal moved away from the hold, Ban didn't exactly care. "But seriously, it's not like I'm gonna use your injury to blackmail you or anything. If I wanted to arrest you, I would've done so already! Easy peasy! " The warden's grin grew in size as he boasted, Katana narrowing his eyes behind his mask at the cocky inphernal before him. "Pray tell why are you so..insistent, on my situation? " The persistence of the demigod was starting to get on his nerves, although the red inphernal was trying his best not to let it show.
"Yeah yeah I know it ain't my business. But let's be honest, you aren't exactly known for your....self preservation skills. " Ban Hammer shrugged, his tone a hint of teasing. The rogue samurai most definitely did not appreciate his playful criticism. "If you wish to mock me, I suggest you plainly leave me be. " Katana turned around to take his leave. Ban Hammer groaned in annoyance, gosh, was it really that hard to get his memo? "That wasn't my point- ACK, whatever. " He pinched the bridge of his nose. "What I'm TRYING to say was that if an injury on your side put such a strain on you, then clearly it's not something small. " That made the samurai pause momentarily, as if processing the other's words.
"Did you even treat your wound properly? And after all that vigorous sparring we did, I highly doubt your wound is gonna stay closed properly. " Right, he didn't consider that. Or maybe he did consider the possibility but ignored it anyways as per usual. Pushing those thoughts aside, Tana only muttered a hesitant acknowledgement, not liking the fact of being exposed, it made him feel...unnecessarily vulnerable.
"It is not of your business, I suggest you leave this topic be, warden. " The samurai huffed in annoyance, he didn't exactly took others trying to mind his business kindly. Ban Hammer's lips pressed into a thin line, when Katana refers to him by his title he knew that meant the other was displeased. He didn't know why he even bothered, why he even tried to reason with Tana—probably one of the most stubborn and closed off inphernal he ever had the misfortune to know. Yet, he still found himself seeking out the company of the mortal inphernal, more times than he'd admit. Seeked him out more than anyone else. Despite knowing his past, despite being constantly pushed away with coldness and distrust. On days like these, on days like those, even the purple demigod didn't understand himself, his heart nor his mind, if he even relied on the latter when it came to the red inphernal. But surely, there's nothing more to it than entertainment, right? He was a demigod, a being beyond mortals. He was beyond these mortal feelings and needs. He's supposed to be, isn't he?
"It ISN'T my business, BUT, I'm making it my business! " The samurai opened his mouth to argue back, before being silenced by Ban lifting a finger to his face in a shushing motion. "Whatever you say isn't changing my mind! " He lowered his hand, his grin returning. "It's settled! You, are coming with me! " Ban Hammer didn't even give the other time to react before he started dragging them to his humble abode in the fiery land of Banland, making them almost trip over their own feet a couple of times.
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The warden took a few shortcuts here and there. By that it meant he jumped like a maniac, holding the shorter inphernal against him tightly in his grasp. They both arrived in front of the front door of Ban's house, safe and sound! Well, as sound as possible for Katana. It seemed like he was ready to puke his guts out any moment now after that fiasco. The shorter inphernal swallowed down his nausea, taking a deep breath before getting dragged through the door into he assumed was the living room of the house belonging to the warden, albeit mostly begrudgingly.
Stepping foot on the property, it was actually surprisingly tidy, especially considering Ban Hammer's personality. There were bookshelves, every book on it neatly placed, with some books laid out on the main coffee table as an exception. The walls were somewhere a mix of purple tones on the lighter and darker side, giving it the illusion of variety. It wasn't messy, bold or over the top as Tana expected. Instead, the place was decently well kept, bold but also subtle and quite minimalistic. There were surely treasures occasionally presented on shelves on the wall, some were pictures of Ban himself with who Katana assumes was Windforce—Ban's 'momma' that he mentions like every other second, especially during phights. "What? Did you expect something different? A cramped place is hard and time consuming to clean up and I'm a busy guy y'know! " The warden huffed, no real heat behind his words at all. Katana simply nodded, following Ban Hammer further into the house, presumably into the warden's room.
"You go sit on the bed, I'ma go grab the first aid kit in the bathroom, don't you dare think of going around snooping or trying to escape. " The demigod 's expression hardened before dissolving back into his usual cocky smirk, leaving the other alone, sitting on the edge of the bed. The only sounds were the rustling noises coming from the bathroom and a ticking clock, counting the time as it went by slowly.
Maybe after searching for a minute or so, the warden finally stepped out of the wash room, first aid kit in hand with the same stupid look on his face. "Booyah! Took a lil while longer than expected but I found the dang thing. " Being the size that he is, the medical box looked almost comically small in his hold as he walked over to the bed with it. The mattress dipped lower with the combination of both of their weights. With a click, the medical box opened without any difficulties , the inside revealing different equipments lined up neatly, ready for use.
"Alright since we're gonna do this, the whole 'me helping you' and all that, I'm gonna need you take off your top. " The utter nonchalance caught the samurai off guard, way off guard. "....Excuse me? " He blinked in minor disbelief at the audacity. "Take your top off, how else am I supposed to check your injury genius, do you think I have x-ray vision or something? " The words sounded mocking, as if mocking the red inphernal for not being able to comprehend such simple instructions. Maybe Ban didn't understand just how his own words sounded to the ears of another.
Reluctantly and also begrudgingly, Katana slipped his open kimono off his broad shoulders. He set the fabric aside, now sitting there on the bed with only his hakama on, sarashi wrapped against his chest and the bloody bandages around his abdomen. Ban took off his blindfold, if he was gonna treat wounds, he prefered actually being able to see. It lessens the chances of accidentally worsening the wound too.
The samurai's gaze from under his mask lingered just a beat longer than he intended on the four purple toned eyes that had been hiding under fabric the whole time. It was the first time he'd seen the warden without the blindfold on, the other had always insisted on keeping it on. He never pried of course, that would make him a hypocrite. The samurai had his own reasons for keeping his mask on, personal reasons, so he assumed it could've been the same for the purple inphernal. But as it seems, that wasn't the case, not that he actually cared. It wasn't anything big, so why should he?
Ban Hammer raised an eye at the sarashi around Katana's chest. "What's with the bandage around....'here'? You injured there too or what? " He gestured with his hand, like he couldn't find the words to properly articulate his thoughts. "It's a sarashi. It is also not your business nor important. "
Ban grumbled under his breath, something along the lines of 'the other being too uptight and rude'. All the while, the red inphernal was slowly unwrapping the bloodied bandages, careful so to not irritate and possibly worsen the state of his wound.
It revealed a not so pretty sight. It looked like the samurai was stabbed, the cut wasn't a small one either. The stitches were crudely done, as if the one who did it was in quite a hurry. The thread holding on was way too tight for comfort, it could not have been comfortable moving around with it on. Not only just that, the wound wasn't properly treated, that was certain. The sides of the wound were red and inflamed. Upon closer inspection, the stitching was broken, the deep gash reopened and bleeding once more.
"Jeez, did you just slap a few stitches on with a thread and needle then call it a day? This looks horrible, probably worse than when you actually GOT the wound. " The warden let out a snort, a force of habit of his to laugh at bad times. Katana narrowed his eyes at Ban, as if it'd somehow shut him up that way. Honestly, he probably hoped that was the case. But alas, his mask was in the way of sending the memo to the other. Even then, the warden felt like he was getting glared at somehow....Katana really did remind him of a cat in a way, so feisty and hissy but then calm and relaxed the next second, vice versa.
Ban wanted to poke and prod at the uneven stitches, though he knew that if he did he'd surely receive a blade stuck in between his eyes. He resumed inspecting, taking out some ointments, antiseptic, gauze, etcetera.
With surprisingly steady hands, Ban started to snip away at the old stitches that was causing all the problems with a pair of scissors that were clearly too small for his hands. The fresh and old blood around the wound was cleaned up with a wet cloth, antiseptic being applied afterwards. Old stitches were replaced with new ones that were actually quite well done despite the handiwork belonging to the warden of all people. Katana didn't speak even once throughout the entire process, merely groaning few times when he felt the needle piercing through his skin.
It was done faster than the red inphernal expected, staring down at the gauze around his waist. It was neatly secured, there wasn't really any discomfort unlike when he rushed himself. Subconsciously, Tana placed a hand over the now patched up wound. He traced the length of the wound with a finger, as if mentally taking note of it. But then he was suddenly brought back to reality, remembering where he was.
"....Thank you, for patching me up, I've taken up much of your time. " Katana cleared his throat, shrugging off what he was just doing a moment ago.
Ban Hammer was subtlely staring, his hand tingled with a sort of spark. Even though he's tended to the other, he sort of liked the way the samurai's skin, his flesh, felt under his touch. His palm pressed gently against the red inphernal's body, the noise he'd make when he got even a teensy bit too rough with him-
"Huh? Oh, anytime! That's what pals are for, isn't that right? If you ever need help with something like this again, you should totally pay your's truly a visit and stuff! " The warden was quickly pulled back into the present by the voice of the other inphernal. It didn't take long for his egotistical and boisterous tone and personality to return at all. The purple inphernal placed both hands on his waist, a toothy grin following soon after.
That earned Ban a soft scoff from Katana. "I have better things to spend my time on...But I appreciate your..offer. " There seemed to a softer tone to the way the samurai spoke to the warden. This was probably one of, if not the only time he's even heard the other say something positive to him that wasn't just a measly compliment about his combat skills and strength. It only made Ban's grin grow wider.
"Don't go growing soft on me now, or I'll start thinking that you actually enjoy my company! " The warden laughed openly, a hand patting the shorter inphernal's shoulder. "I am not, and I do not. " Katana's tone hardened once more at Ban's comment, flinching slightly before pulling away from his touch, though he didn't exactly seem to care about it.
"It's getting quite late, I still have some duties to attend to before night falls. I must get going, thank you for having me. " Without any further elaboration, Katana got up from the bed where he had sat the entire time he was here at the other's house. He reached the door in no time, hand resting on the knob. "Have a good rest of the day, we shall talk again during our next sparring session. Good afternoon, Ban Hammer. " And with that, the door was opened and shut with no sight of the red inphernal anymore.
Ban Hammer didn't even get to bid the other farewell himself before he was gone without sparing a single glance. Though as soon as Katana was gone, his grin dropped. He lifted his hand, running it through the thick locs of his hair before dropping it to his face, rubbing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Just what has gotten into him?