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Pibby dislikes getting injured. Before the corruption, she never actually received pain harsh enough to make her cry. It was always a mere scratch or a bruise. That much is expected. With how active she plays with her friends outdoors, it was bound to happen. It had always been bearable and never left a mark on her body. She would fall, but get back up to stand on her feet stronger than ever.
Things started to change when the corruption started.
Her first injury was on her right arm, near her shoulder. It evoked a new feeling inside of her. One that she feared. The sharp pain had distracted her so much that her mind told her to run away. It was the only thought she could focus on then. Thankfully, she had a med-kit with her. She found it while hopping through the first few worlds. She knew the basics, but it was better than nothing.
After that experience, she started to become wary of her surroundings. She knew that wasn't the only injury she'll be getting for the rest of the adventure. That was merely wishful thinking. With how often they have been attacked by the corruption, Pibby would have gained more wounds right? Yes, but also not really.
She received a few new injuries a while after the first. There were several cuts due to glass shattering from an explosion. She wasn't nearby it, but the impact was powerful enough to send a few shards her way. Pibby was forced to block it with her right arm. It grazed her flesh several times, and she had to keep herself from making any noise since she was actually hiding from the corruption. Luckily, the explosion itself had distracted them and she regrouped with Blue safely.
Now, Pibby doesn't want to be rude. She also dislikes raising her voice at others in general. This one was an exception. No matter how much she explains to you about the situation... She wants to yell at Blue for being so fuckinG CARELESS with his own life.
Currently, she was seated next to her unconscious partner who's face kept scrunching in pain with each little movement. Pibby held a cloth in her hands, wiping off the blood that stained them when she was treating Blue's wounds. She sighed. Though wasn't sure if it was annoyance, concern or some other emotion entirely. The front of his body had a gash that almost left her paralyzed from shock. Thank god that they managed to escape. If not, then both of them would have been caught.
It's isn't like Pibby was ungrateful. She really preferred if Blue didn't keep taking hits for her like his life had no importance to anyone. They didn't know if the people who got corrupted were still alive. Both of them agreed that those people are still alive, thety just needed to find a solution to free them. Yet, he was still insistent on dying for her of all things.
Blue meant something to her. Like a big brother she never had. She couldn't imagine setting attached to someone, only for them to die protecting her. She wouldn't be able to get over it, let alone forgive him for doing such a thing.
On the other hand, Pibby couldn't help but feel that it is her fault. If she had been better at combat, is less hesitant on fighting off the corruption and more attentive to her surroundings, she would have been able to dodge in her own. She never needed a shield, let alone a living one. Blue would not need to feel the need to protect her. She could not let this continue. If it did, he might not be able to walk alongside her anymore. She'll be alone until she meets someone else who could actually stick with her. One that can make her feel safe.
She wasn't sure if she could find someone like that.
Pibby sniffled, keeping the medkit into her bag. She tossed it near Blue's head. A bit too aggressively. The girl sat next to him, leaning against the wall, her legs tucked with her arms hugging them. Her body shook. And it's not just because it's cold. With no one to talk to, she was alone with her own thoughts. Yet every thought ends up making her look over to Blue.
A small part of her wanted him to wake up. If only to show her that he isn't dead. There are a few signs that he is alive right now. Like the slow rise and fall of his chest. The soft, labored breathing too. Blue's right hand, which was on his chest, gripped the fabric underneath. I'm his sleep, he turned to his side. Pibby couldn't watch that part.
There was nothing she could do now but watch. Even so, she was too worried to be on a night watch right now. Maybe it was a good thing that they are hiding in a building. It's not like the corrupted people could find them here. So she stayed. Pibby moved to lay down next to Blue, unconsciously inching towards hum to feel safe. She sighs and remained unmoving then.
...
Boyfriend was initially confused. First, he wondered why he had been asleep on the ground. Second, he wondered why he felt so drained. It took some time for him to collect his thoughts. His head slowly turned to the windows. It's bright outside. It could be morning or afternoon. The cool temperature he felt tells him that it is the former.
He tried to get up, but two things stopped him. There was someone holding him, but that barely registered because of the pain that suddenly flared up. His right hand clutched the area that hurts the most, his eyes shutting tight. It was a little hard to reach because of the person hanging on to him.
Pibby. She was practically hugging him. Though it looks as if she was trying to avoid him at the same time. Boyfriend laid back down slowly, careful to not wake her up. Fiddling with his shirt, he only then notice the gap that wasn't there previously. He brought it up a little, finally sees the blood. His eyes widened with mouth agape.
Then everything from yesterday came back to him at that moment.
The corrupted people they had been hiding from had found them. It was bad timing because the duo had been on the run for a while. They went from area after area with no sign of a break in sight. No choice but to fight then and there. It started out fine at first, but he corruption summoned more people and it got overwhelming. They tried to escape. Somebody shot at the ground near Pibby and she tripped. Another had been behind them and was close to striking her.
Boyfriend could've sworn times slowed down as he moved faster than he thought he could. In seconds, he found himself in front of the attack. He felt immense pain. To the point that he didn't realise he moved on auto-pilot. Yeah, he didn't remember anything past that. Perhaps Pibby knows, but he didn't think it was important to know. He was simply glad she was safe.
It was probably best not to squirm around if he wanted her to keep resting. But being the agitated person he is now, he could help but want to move to the window to keep a lookout. Boyfriend attempted to gently remove Pibby's hold on him. He managed to get her right arm off.
Unbeknownst to him, she was already awake. Before he did. She only remained still because she didn't want to bother his rest. She felt an itty-bitty amount if anger stir up from inside when he tried to leave. Again, incredibly stubborn for someone so shy. She purposefully made it easier for him to completely remove her hold on him. Once that was done, her eyes snapped open and sat up to glare at him. Her expression seemed annoyed, but you could clearly tell her true emotions. Her nearly teary eyes and frown sets some guilt inside of Blue.
"Oh, you're awake."
Bad move-
*slap*
Boyfriend backpedaled at the sudden action, rubbing his left cheek. The pain barely registered. He was too stunned to even think about it.
"What is wrong with you?!" She yelled, an accusing finger pointed at him.
He blinked at that. 'D-did I say something wrong...?' He was glad he didn't say that ine out loud. It would've earned him another slap on the face. Maybe even a punch.
"Did you know how dangerous that was?! If I had less medical experience than I do now, y-you.... You could've-!" Pibby could not finish that sentence. She ended up trying to aggressively wipe away the quick falling tears that came out of the blue.
Boyfriend could only watch with wide eyes. Even when Pibby launched herself at him, despite also accidentally touching his wound, he barely reacted. His left arm awkwardly moved to hold her in place. He had only one thought in mind.
What did he do to reduce her to this sobbing mess?
It's... Not like he died or anything. He just wanted to protect her! He was never planning on dying.......
Boyfriend is not familiar in situations like these. Not even Blue. Neither of his two different personalities knew how to deal with some crying because of him. He didn't do anything wrong, only doing what he thought was right. But he had to try. He made her cry, he should try to at least comfort her.
His mind wandered back to a time. Where his thoughts were once overbearing when he was a kid. He cursed his social anxiety and cried at home. He was in completely distress for hours. His mother had helped him through it. She... Held him close told him that no matter what happens, she'll always be there for him.
Mother's always knew how to calm their children huh?
At least, his mom did.
So, he tried to follow her footsteps.
He shifted so that Pibby would be in a better position, and also not hugging into his injury. Using his free hand, he tenderly ran his fingers through her hair in attempt to comfort. He couldn't trust himself to speak, however. Was she that upset of him protecting her? Babying her when it wasn't needed.
He couldn't help it. Blue understood several things better than Boyfriend does. One of them includes, how far one is willing to go to protect their loved ones. Boyfriend had the basics down. He tried protecting his friends when needed but, there was never any real danger. In his opinion anyway. All those people he rap battled against... From little spooky kids, to demon parents, to giant demons and such. Thinking back to it now, he had a feeling of safety Blue doesn't have now. Even with his ability to initiate a rap battle, he could never truly feel safe.
Isn't it strange how he envied himself?
It's like he grew to be a less yet better version of himself. Everything is simply confusing.
Regardless, the point still stands. Blue is one hundred percent willing to take any hits, minor or major, to protect Pibby. He'll endure the constant pain if he had to. It guess like hell, but that's what people like him would do right? They walk through hell, acting as a shield for those who didn't deserve it. He didn't regret standing in front of her at that moment.
The silence between them has made way for a slightly tense atmosphere. Pibby's sobbing had been reduce to sniffles by then. Blue didn't care that her tears had practically soaked his shirt. It wasn't important. Instead, he grabbed a bottle from her bag for her to drink. All that crying must have dehydrated her quite a lot. She took it, not muttering anything as she took small sips. Her breathing was uneven so it took some time.
"...."
"I hate that, you know?" Pibby finally speaks, her voice quavering.
"....?"
"I don't like watching you do that. You'll never know if you will live after taking hesrvy hits like that." She continues.
Blue wanted to speak but she lifts a finger up.
"I'm fine with protection. I get it... I think. But what I don't get is why you seemed so willing to throw your life away for me. For one person." Pibby finally spoke her mind.
"I don't want to see you die either..." Blue mutters.
"Then, why did you do it?" Pibby questioned, her voice being the softest he had heard so far. She wasn't going to move anywhere until she got an answer. That much was obvious.
Blue admits, even he was unclear of his own reasons. He was driven by foreign emotions, ones that he would gladly invite into his heart over and over again. Even until now, it felt new. The drive to protect has never been so high. His entire being burned at the thought of his friends and family being threatened by the enemy. Sometime he even wondered if he might combust because of it.
"Sorry, I don't... Have an answer for that." He says honestly, disappointed that he couldn't think of one to help Pibby's fears. It's better than lying though.
Her breathing shook for a second there. The grip on her bottle tightened. "Can you promise me something."
She said it in a way that Blue knew, she wasn't asking him. She was telling him.
"Don't do that again."
His reply was almost immediate. "You- I c-can't promise that."
"Please?" Pibby handy been looking at him for the entirety of the conversation. It's only now that she did, and her expression broke Blue's heart.
She had pleaded, using both her words and expression. Her eyes were narrowed, red from crying, even now there were tears still trailing down. Her frown was deeper than before.
Blue had never seen a face like that on anyone before. He didn't like it one bit. It certainly works. She may be guilt-tripping him, but he knew where she was coming from....
But...still!
Blue bit his lip, avoiding eye contact. No matter how many times he thought it through, the answer remains the same.
He can't.
Taking a deep breath, he tried another option. "I really don't think I can promise such a thing. I can only try." He sighs.
Pibby's face shifted a few times. The debate in her head reflected on those eyes. She must have known too. That he wouldn't promise her something he was most likely to break rather quickly. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I'll take what I can get." They compromised with that. She had some hope return back to her eyes. He could see it. It would have been better if he was able to stick with the promise, but it isn't that easy. Not when it is a habit he decided to engrave into his very being.
It's dangerous, he understands, but he will find a way. To create a better practice to protect Pibby without getting injured too much.
Perhaps it's time to learn how to grow stronger to do just that.