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"Ow! That hurts!"
"If you'd stop moving, it would hurt less."
Durin pouted at Albedo. Albedo didn't seem to take notice. Or if he did, simply chose to ignore it. He was more focused on trying to wrap up Durin's shoulder.
...
"So, what are we going into Mondstadt for?" Durin asked as he skipped down the path alongside Albedo.
"To pick up some materials. And we may as well go see how some others are doing since we're here." Albedo replied.
"Are they heavy materials?"
"Not this time."
"Good. My arms still hurt from the last time."
It happened in an instant after that. Out of nowhere some Hilichurls appeared and swarmed the two of them.
Durin gasped in pain as on the exit, one Hilichurl slashed out, hitting his shoulder and drawing some blood.
...
"Ow! Albedo!" Durin whined loudly. He squirmed, trying to break free from the hold his brother had on his arm.
Albedo sighed as he was dislodge from holding Durin. "I can't treat your wound if you keep moving. Sit still."
"It hurts." Durin protested, turning his injured shoulder away. "You're being too rough."
"I am not. It's going to hurt a bit." Albedo responded, clearly trying to keep himself calm despite the attitude Durin was giving him. "The sooner you let me wrap it, the faster the pain will stop. Now, please."
Durin shook his head. "No."
"Durin."
"I'm not letting you touch it again. I can take care of myself. I'm not a helpless child."
"You're not going to be able to properly bandage your shoulder. Just let me do it."
Durin shook his head again. "No."
With that, he grabbed the bandages from Albedo and began awkwardly attempting to wrap his shoulder himself. He wasn't a kid. He could take care of himself. Take care of his wounds.
Albedo was being annoying. He didn't need his help at every little thing. He was far more capable than needing Albedo to wrap a wound.
"Durin." Albedo spoke firmly as the other dropped the bandages from his shoulder for the third time.
"I can do it!" Durin insisted, trying and failing once again to get the bandages to stay in place while he wrapped them around.
He frowned, and tried again. He could do it. It shouldn't be this hard.
"At this rate you're going to bleed to death. Just give me it." Albedo sighed before snatching the bandages back.
"Hey! I had it that time!" Durin protested.
He did not have it. But Albedo didn't need to know that.
Though, the look Albedo gave him at that comment made him pretty certain he knew that was lie.
Albedo wiped off the mess of blood trickling down Durin's arm again. "Stubborn, aren't you?"
Durin just huffed and turned his head away.
"There's no shame in needing assistance. It doesn't make you weak." Albedo continued as he began to wrap the wound up, thankfully now with much less resistance.
Durin didn't respond, prompting Albedo to continue.
"I know you feel as though I'm doing too much for you sometimes. It's not that I don't think you're capable of handling yourself, it's just that I know from experience some things are easier to handle with someone else there." Albedo said.
He finished wrapping the wound at last. He gave Durin a small pat on the head, prompting the other to look over at him.
"I just... want to be stronger like you. I don't want to have to rely on people all the time. I feel like... everyone just sees me as a little kid who can't take care of himself." Durin mumbled, averting his gaze halfway through his talking.
"You're still young. You just need to give them some time to see you in action." Albedo replied, sitting down on the fallen log beside Durin.
Durin sighed. He didn't say anything in reply, but flicked his tail behind him in a show of frustration. He knew everyone was still getting used to him. And he knew he did sometimes still act a little childish. But it was hard to just sit back and wait.
"You're too overbearing sometimes." Durin said quietly. "Just so you know."
"Am I?" Albedo sounded slightly surprised. "I try to give you the freedom to make mistakes and learn."
"Yeah but... then things like this happen and you just... immediately take action and don't even give me a chance to do anything." Durin whined.
Albedo frowned for a brief moment. "I see. I'm sorry then. I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I guess I am a little overprotective of you still."
"A little?" Durin rolled his eyes. "That's an understatement if I've ever heard one."
"Fine. Maybe it's more than a little. I'm trying not to hover as much but it is hard to let you go sometimes." Albedo reached over and ruffled Durin's hair. "You're my little brother. I can't help but want to protect you."
Durin gave a fake pout, crossing his arms and turning away. "And this little brother is tired of being seen as little."
"Hard to say if that'll ever happen." Albedo teased back. "But I will try to keep it in the back of my mind to give you more room to assess situations first."
Durin looked back over at Albedo. He gave a lopsided smile. "I'll be keeping score of how many times you fail that promise."
Albedo smiled back. "I hope there won't be a single number."
"Yeah." Durin stood up, testing his injured arm. "We should probably get moving again, shouldn't we?"
Albedo stood as well. "We should. Before anyone starts wondering where we are."
They began walking down the path once more, slightly more cautious of any unexpected visitors this time around.
"Are you gonna make me carry things back?" Durin asked.
"Depends." Was all Albedo answered.
"Cryptic as always, I see." Durin rolled his eyes.
"I simply don't know how the things I ordered are packaged. We'll see once we get there."
"Could've added that on the first time."