Chapter Text
A horrible burning sting and cold rain droplets. That's all Medkit could feel. There was this burning sensation that slowed his pacing as he ran, and the heavy rain wasn't helping with his sight either. He didn't know what or where the burning feeling was coming from, until he looked down and saw the one thing he didn't want to see. Blood spewed out of his stomach as the burning sensation got even worse the more he panicked. There was a horrible, nasty wound on his stomach, most likely inflicted by one of the Biografts chasing him. he bit his lip trying to ease the pain as he started to feel his whole body beg for him to stop running and just accept fate.
And maybe he did listen to his body. Because a Biograft lunged at him and grabbed him as his wound started to practically cry for help.
"CREATOR, WE HAVE CAPTURED THE TRAITOR. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO WITH HIM?" The Biografts said in unison as they started to surround Medkit.
Medkit could barely even hear anything until he started to try a regain his focus. Well, maybe he shouldn't so he wouldn't have to hear that irritating voice of him.
"How's his condition?" Subspace spoke from one of the Biografts tiny ear microphone.
"BAD. HE HAS A WOUND AND IS CURRENTLY LOSING BLOOD." The Biograft answered.
Medkit knew what his outcome was gonna be. He'll be back in that damn dreaded place in Blackrock. Forced to work and work or even be one of Subspace's experiments. He shivered at the thought of that, being forced to be his sworn enemy's guinea pig and he'll have t-
"Blackrock won't be so happy having a dead corpse of him the moment he arrives. KILL HIM! DROWN HIM! DO WHATEVER! And bring his body back to me near the backdoor. I'll have fun testing new experiments! Isn't that right Meddy?!" Medkit practically snarled under his breath hearing that God awful nick name he wished to never hear. But... He was gonna be murdered.
His mind started to spiral as he realized what Subspace had told his little pets. That burning sensation coming from his wound was only getting worse as time flew by with every second. His breath soon becoming increasingly loud and heavy. He wanted to run. Run away with any spare strength he even had. But he couldn't. He knew that.
He watched as some Biografts ran off into the distance, most likely due to Subspace's commands and orders. About 3 stayed, not including the Biograft carrying him who had now set him down on the wet ground and is holding his shirt collar.
"GOODBYE, TRAITOR." The Biografts obviously had to shove it in his face as they started dragging him somewhere.
Medkit's sight may have been blurry, but he could obviously see something, and that something... Was a lake.
"Seriously? A lake? Subspace wanted me to have a slow, painful death didn't he." Medkit wheezed as he spoke.
"AFFIRMATIVE." A Biograft came up to his side as it stared at him with blank, dull eyes despite them being lit up.
And suddenly, the Biograft dragging him stopped. He realized what was going to happen. He looked at the deep, navy, lake. It was beautiful... Just not in this situation. It was like it was luring him in, to drown and forget any of this happened. To be free, and no longer have to suffer in that horrible church, or even just witnessing Subspace's presence.
He stared at the lake, watching his vision become more horrible as his head was dunked into the lake. He could feel shadows consuming him as his vision was becoming increasingly dark, his mind spinning like a carousel as any sort of thought process was blocked away. That burning sensation, was now placed near his lungs as he continued to keep his breath held. His body wanted to fight, hell even his mind was telling him to fight back. But did he really want to? So many years of running, and running, only to be placed as a doctor or engineer (In most cases he's both roles). It wasn't worth it. None of it was worth it. His life was nothing if it meant he had to go through this loop over and over again.
And so, he closed his eyes, ready to drift away from this god forsaken world. His heartbeat becoming steady as the Biograft dunking his head pulled away. The burning sensation finally fading away. He started to feel some sort of peace, peace he didn't expect to find. Was he finally dea-
Medkit started coughing and sputtering out water as he was carried away from the lake. What was going on?? Did Sword find him while just for some reason strolling on a walk?? Did the church, of all inphernals find him?? His peace was gone, and he wanted to go back to that feeling.
He wiped his damp hair out of his eye, rubbing his eye in the process to get a good look on who this inphernal was. They were pink. Like, pink. No not their skin, they just wore a lot of pink. Their clothes weren't helping him figure out who this unknown inphernal was, so he tried his best to find any distinguishable features of them (or even just their smell).
And there he saw it, a wood arm. The wood arm was fending off any Biografts that weren't dead on the ground, and that's when Medkit realized he was being carried with one arm. For SFOTH sakes, how strong is this woman?! He tried his best to watch the Biografts get beat up by a singular arm 2 ran away while this singular Biograft tried their best to fight Vine staff (they failed).
Medkit's shock luckily replaced the painful feeling the wound was emitting until he was suddenly set down onto the ground and soon all his senses were coming back. He tried his best to mask the aching and replace his expression with a more stoic and slightly calm one as he glanced over at Vine staff who was panting hard.
"Are you... Okay...?" She asked as she looked over at Medkit, panting a lot as there was a lot of visible scars around her entire body.
Medkit shot up an annoyed glare before shaking his head. Suddenly Vine staff grabbed Medkit and started carrying him with ease, almost like he weighed nothing and was just some piece of feather you'd find down at a street. He was surprised at how strong Vine staff was, considering she was also a healer which, he hasn't seen in such a long time. Maybe it was because of all that gardening and flowering work she does? Who knows... Regardless, Medkit was too exhausted to think. He wanted to just fall asleep in her arms, hoping that his burning, painful, aching, feeling would just for some reason disappear when he woke up.
"I'm taking you to my roommate's cafe, it's not too far from here and I have a key to his cafe just in case." Vine staff told Medkit who was drifting off to sleep.
"Yeah... Okay..." Medkit managed to mumble.
"Hey, wait don't fall asleep yet! You don't have your wound treated!" Vine staff shrieked as she started speed walking to crossroads.
Medkit blinked tiredly. Was this the part where he finally gets to rest? It didn't feel so bad. Aside the fact his wound was physically hurting him. But he didn't mind dying this way. It was a lot more peaceful, with the rain rhythmically pattering onto his face, it felt... Serene.
He suddenly went back into reality as he heard a small bell chime. Vine staff immediately placed Medkit down on one of the booth chairs, making his back face against the wall with this window you can look out as she summoned her gear.
"Oh SFOTH I really hope this works...!" Vine staff quavered, trembling and fiddling around with her gear.
Medkit watched with curiosity as Vine staff prepared a spell, casting it onto Medkit as he blinked. At first, it felt like he was cursed with something. But then, the agonizing pain he had to endure from his wound, started to feel... Warm...? It was almost... Soothing. Like taking a certain medication to make you fall asleep.
Medkit glanced up to gaze at Vine staff who was already walking into the kitchen, most likely looking for something to help out Medkit. She then appeared with a towel in one hand a medical kit in the other. She could've asked me to summon my gear... Oh well. Medkit thought as he watched her rummaging through the medical kit.
"Aha!" Vine staff spoke enthusiastically as she pulled out a wrapping bandage.
"Hold still, I'm gonna wrap this around you."
Medkit wanted to reject her wrapping the bandage around his waist, but at the same time the wound was still hurting, and he really needed it to go away. So, he abided with her as slightly leaned up from his laying position, allowing Vine staff to easily wrap the bandage around his wound.
While having his wound bandaged, Medkit thought about so many questions he wanted to ask Vine staff such as 'Why did you save me? You know I'm a criminal.' or 'what were you doing in the area I was?' But those questions would have to be asked later as Vine staff grabbed a towel from the booth chair on the other side of the table. Was that always there, or am I going crazy? Medkit thought as she handed him the towel.
"Here, this isn't much, but it should keep you dry!" Vine staff fish tail wagged a little as she spoke.
"Would you like coffee or a treat? I'm not the best at making those types of things, but I can try!"
Medkit hesitated for a moment. Why was she offering him help? As much as he wanted to question Vine staff's motives, he just couldn't. It was like his throat had started to close up. But, even if that was the case, he wanted to ask. He had to ask.
"Why are you helping me?" The words spilled out of his mouth as Vine staff tilted her head.
"I saw you getting drowned by those robot thingies... I just wanted to save you." Vine staff replies even though she needs to be medically cared for with all those scars she achieved from the Biografts.
"You know I'm a criminal. Tell me the truth." Medkit hissed, already annoyed with Vine staff as he went straight to the point, noticing in the corner of his eye Vine staff's fish frills rising.
"I..."
Vine staff glanced away for a moment. This made Medkit even more confuzzled. He tried his best to see if he could read Vine staff's eyes, yet they were hard to comprehend. Almost as if Vine staff was also confused on why she helped Medkit. She just helped a criminal who's in a freaky cult and you just... Decide to save him? His answer would soon be discovered at Vine staff turned to look at him.
"I know you're trying to run away from the cult." Vine staff sharply said as her eyes were filled with sorrow, looking down at Medkit whose eye widened.
How did she know? Was it that obvious he was so damn done with the church or something? No... That couldn't be the case. There was no way she could've possibly known he was trying to run away.
"What do you mean." Medkit narrowed his eye in both confusion and suspicion.
"Well, when I saw you being drowned, it looked like you kind of just... Gave up on life" Vine staff's voice trembled as she spoke.
She wasn't so wrong about that. He did want to die, with every wakening moment. He wished he'd get to be free from the cult, and from Subspace's stupid presence.
"And? I was injured before I was even drowning. I didn't have any strength to fight back." Medkit retorted. Knowing damn well that what he said was half true. He did have some of the strength to fight back, he just chose not to.
I can't trust her nor tell her. Not yet. Something doesn't feel right. Medkit tried reading Vine staff's expression again. This time he could clearly see she was trying to cover something with an excuse.
He glared at Vine staff who was letting out what sounded like a defeated, heavy sigh. For a moment, she would look down at her shoes and soon gaze at Medkit who was drying his hair as he shot up a scowl at her.
"Okay. Okay. You've caught me. I know you're trying to run away from the cult because my brother eavesdropped on your conversation with Katana." She held up her hands in defeat as she looked down at Medkit with a surrendering look.
"I knew there was someone watching us." Medkit let out a soft snarl as he scrunched up the towel in his hands.
"Is that all you know? Or is there more you're not telling me."
"I don't know anymore. I didn't want to indulge in my brother's stupid conversation about spying on you and Katana's conversation." Vine staff replied coldly.
"Are there any more questions you'd like to ask?" She then turned around, ready to head over into the little kitchen in the cafe.
Medkit rested his chin on his hand, thinking whether he was done questioning her and wanted to peacefully sip on some black coffee, or ask her his final question. He'd glance up at Vine staff who was waiting patiently for his answer, fidgeting around with her cursed arm as she took some small peeks at Medkit.
"I have one, final question." Medkit would say, feeling some uneasiness tensions in the air as he opened his mouth, getting ready to question Vine staff.
"What were you doing in the area that I was in."
This time, Vine staff tensed up. Medkit could definitely see it in her. For so many years after studying an inphernals body, he started to learn the body language of an inphernal. So, noticing this sort of reaction from Vine staff, meant something was obviously wrong.
"I've pretty much lied to you this whole entire time, so, I guess I'll give it to you straight." Vine staff sheepishly gazed at Medkit as her fish tail lashed around softly.
"Now that Katana knows Shuriken eavesdropped on your conversation with him, Katana has assigned me and my brothers t-"
"Don't you have one brother?" Medkit interrupted Vine staff.
"I consider Slingshot as one of my siblings." Vine staff grumbled, lashing her tail angrily.
"My apologies. Continue."
"So, anyways, He assigned us to watch over you, keeping an eye on you in case of any danger. We had separate days to look after you knowing that you straying away from the cult could cause some suspicions to rise. And today just so happens to my day!"
Medkit nodded, realizing the whole reason why he's been feeling much more paranoid often, is because of these three. They have been watching him from a distance, taking note of everything he's did for the day. You could consider them to be guardian angels, just not... Fit to be one.
"I guess I appreciate you and your... Brothers for looking after me." Medkit thanked Vine staff, noticing her fish tail wagging like crazy.
"And, may I have black coffee..." Medkit flushed, a bit embarrassed to even ask a question like that in the middle of a serious conversation.
"Of course! And don't worry about paying it! It's on the cafe...? Is that how they say it?" Vine staff paused for a moment, blushing a little in embarrassment before speaking again.
"A-anyways! I'll get to making it! See ya!" Medkit mused as he watched Vine staff hurriedly rush into the kitchen, hearing her softly scolding to herself for even trying to use the slang her brother's friends use.
After about 5 minutes, Vine staff approached Medkit's table with a black coffee in her hand. She set it down next to Medkit as her eyes met Medkit's for a moment before glancing away.
"Thank you." Medkit softly blew his hot, steaming coffee as he took small sips of it.
"You're welcome!" Vine staff beamed, having small sparkles in her eyes as she contently watched Medkit before grabbing a broom to sweep the floor.
What felt like an eternity of silence and awkwardness with the soft sounds of the broom's bristles swooshing against the floor, Medkit gazed up to look over at Vine staff who was... Sweeping the floors in circles? She looked awfully tired, and her scars were still untreated, even if they weren't hurting her, it could potentially get infected.
"Vine staff, come over here." Medkit motioned his hand signaling Vine staff to come towards him.
Vine staff's fish frills rose at the sound of his voice as she looked over at him, having small glints of confusion and tiredness in her eyes as she set the broom aside. She paced over towards Medkit, raising one of her brows the moment she arrived at his table.
"Is there something you ne-"
"Your scars. They'll get infected if uncared for." Medkit softly grabbed her not cursed arm and rolled up her Kimono sleeves, revealing a ton of scars.
A soft, light green glow emitted in Medkit's hands as his gear appeared. He grabbed his medical kit, opening it revealing a disorganized but somehow tidy placement of medical supplies.
"Uh... Would you like me to sit close to you, so it'd be easier for you to care for my untreated scars?" Vine staff inquired.
"This is fine as is." Medkit would answer, completely lying to himself as he struggled trying to at least clean off the debris from the scars.
Suddenly, Vine staff sat down next to Medkit as she laid her arm out for him. He looked up at her, confused as she tilted her head, also a bit confused. They exchanged awkward glances, unsure of what to say to one another before Medkit continued treating Vine staff's wounds.
Finally done with treating her scars, he let go of her arm, watching her curious eyes trail over towards her treated arm. She gave a warm smile to Medkit, ready to hug Medkit to show her gratitude towards him before he backed up more into the wall.
"Sorry, I don't like physical touch." Medkit explained before Vine staff could hug him.
"Ah, sorry...!" Vine staff apologized, pulling her hands away from Medkit, standing up from the booth chair.
It was now awkwardly silent again. While Medkit did enjoy the silence and quiet in the cafe, it felt weird knowing someone else was here with him. And that someone was Vine staff who'd you think would be loud and cheerful. But instead, she's more... Quiet? It doesn't seem like she knows how to hold on or make small talk. (Especially after she just scolded herself for not knowing some idiom earlier when making Medkit's coffee)
Medkit looked outside the window, noticing how the rain had finally started to soften and calm down. It was time for him to take his leave, even if he didn't want to leave, he still needed a place to sleep.
"Hey Vine staff." He called out to Vine staff as he stood from the booth chair he was sitting on.
"I'll be heading out now."
"Right now?" Her fish frills shot up as she looked at Medkit who was now getting ready to leave.
Medkit nodded solemnly as Vine staff stared at him with soft, sorrow eyes. It almost looked like she didn't want him to leave, like she was enjoying the company even if they weren't talking or having a conversation with each other.
"If you uh... Don't have really any place to stay at when wanting to stay away from the church... Stop by here in the afternoon when the cafe is closed to customers tomorrow! Or any day really!" Her eyes lit up as she spoke with a soft tone of hope in it.
Medkit thought for a moment. Stay here in this cafe? Away from the churches awful coffee and cafe? He wouldn't mind that. He did like how serene and peaceful it was in this cafe, with just him and Vine staff. He softly looked over at Vine staff, holding her gaze as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Sure. I don't mind coming here in the afternoon when everyone's gone and the cafe is closed."