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"ah, Shu, what have you done today?" Vezalius Bandage asks with a teasing lilt to his slightly accented voice. his eyes twinkle as the sorcerer trudges in.
Shu Yamino gives his usual chuckles, scratching his neck sheepishly. "i might've burned myself with my own flames…"
Zali shakes his head, already heading towards his medic kit and Shu already plopping down onto the couch. this is not the first time Shu has appeared with an injury. he was quite careful, but his own magic is quite unpredictable. and besides, there was bonuses to visiting the French hero…
Shu sneaks a collected look at Zali's back. his gaze traces over the ravenette's figure, lingering on the corset on his waist. then up to the strands across his nape, spread and over his collar bone. Shu had to admit; Zali is a gorgeous man. despite the scars across his body--which Shu couldn't understand why scars were perceived as ugly, he thought it to be a physical manifestation of accomplishment--Zali has a beautiful face and a soothing voice. even when talking about blue cheese, it was a treat to hear his voice.
but Zali thought the same of Shu.
the French man returns with his kit by Shu's form, gently setting down the kit and opening it smoothly. he can feel Shu's violet gaze on him as he puts items down one by one.
"just a burn?" Zali asks, plucking a cotton swab.
"yeah but it won't stop growing," Shu replies, peeling his white glove off with a wince. Zali leans in, inspecting. truly, a burn spread from the sorcerer's pretty fingertips (focus Vezalius) up toward the wrist. Zali frowns as it does grow ever so slowly further.
the medkc goes to put gloves on, just in case it's contagious. "does it still feel like it's burning you? a burning sensation as it spreads?"
"kind of, but it's tolerable," Shu responds, wiggling his fingers. "like a dull burning, if that makes sense."
the ravenette hums, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. he gently takes Shu's hand, absentmindedly rubbing comforting circles as he leans over to grab a tie from his kit. somehow, the spot Zali is rubbing becomes warmer. then fades as Zali pulls away to wrap the tie around Shu's forearm, securing it tightly. then shifts his gaze to the small ointments in jars, tubes, and more stacked along the small table in front of them. he seems to be contemplating.
finally, he chooses a jar, shimmery and clear. Zali brings it up to the light and doesn't miss the way Shu's eyes follows the movement curiously. it makes the medic smile slightly.
"i can't believe you make all this stuff," Shu says as Zali dips the cotton swab into the substance. "it's actually incredible, Zali."
Zali takes Shu's hand once more, offering a sweet smile with those honey gold eyes of his. then flicks down to the injury. "i am a medic. i must make sure i have a cure or something similar for each patient."
"you're too humble," Shu muses, a smile curving his lips as Zali does his work. "i think you're doing a giga great job."
the french man puffs a laugh at the use of his team mate's vocabulary. "and you're too pretty to be getting injuries like this so often."
"ooh." Shu grins wider, observing Zali with reddening cheeks. he doesn't know what to say. he giggles nervously.
Zali meets the sorcerer's gaze, soft. "i mean it, Shu. as much as i love you in my office, I'd prefer it to not be at the sacrifice of your well being."
Shu, suddenly flustered, forces himself to look away. the other gloved hand goes to hide (somewhat of) his face, but there was no denying the royal flush of his face. Zali chuckles, low and light, and continues.
it feels oddly intimate. as Zali wraps the last bandage around Shu's wrist, kneeled before Shu with his golden hoops sparkling with each subtle movement, it made Shu a bit more anxious. he wasn't used to this gentle one on one moment, to be treated so carefully like a flower in the wild. perhaps that's why he always found himself here, in front of the medic hero. who never tired of his presence and was there whenever he needed.
"all done."
Shu blinks out of his dazed stupor and Zali rises, placing all the items back in their resident compartments. after peeling off his gloves, he closes the kit shut, locks the latch and goes to put it away when Shu's hand reaches out to tug on the medic's pant sleeve. Zali turns with a surprised look.
"uh…" Shu blushes furiously, dropping his hand in embarrassment. "i don't know why i did that."
studying the sorcerer's expression, Zali raises a hand up to Shu's face, combing it under his bangs to press his palm against Shu's forehead. "would you like to stay longer so i can monitor your burn?"
Shu's eyelashes flutter shut at his cool hand. it contrasts his hot skin. he swallows thickly, unsure whether to accept or decline. his ears burn. his heart races.
"please say yes."
eyes open instantly, staring up at Zali's golden eyes. there's pink dusted across his features. "i would…like you take care of you longer."
Zali leans down slowly then pauses a few centimeters from his hand on Shu's forehead. then he presses a kiss against the back of his own hand and Shu's head angles a bit back at the action. he shifts back to look at Shu's expression.
after a while, voice dry, Shu answers, "okay. I'd love to stay longer."
a smile of relief. hand reluctantly goes by the french man's side and Shu already misses his touch. and Zali already misses the heat of his skin.