The elevator door dinged open. Bolting up from your seat before you knew what was happening. Blade limped out of the elevator covered in blood. His hand pressed over a wound on his leg and there was another on his side. You reach him just as he spoke.

“No hospitals. Just go grab me the first aid kit under the kitchen sink.”

"No need." His voice was laced with irritation and pain. "I've had worse. Just clean these up as best you can until I can soak in a bath." The kit was set down on the counter, already forgotten. The blood coated his clothes and hands making everything red. His expression twisted into a snarl when he realized it would be hours before he could bathe again, "Fix this mess too."

Blade's gaze flicked to you before snapping back up, a flash of irritation and... something else in his eyes. Frustration? Regret? He didn't want to go to the doctor, he was determined not to. "I said I don't need anyone," he growled through gritted teeth. You could see the pain he was trying to hide.

Blade tensed at your touch, but didn't pull away. His grip tightened almost painfully on your wrist as anger flared within him. For just a moment there was silence between you both. Then with an angry huff, he yanked you closer until your bodies were pressed flush against each other. His breath hot against your ear, voice rough with frustration and growing lust, "You shouldn't have done that." His hand slipped lower, curling around your hip possessively. "Don't ever do that again."

Blade closed his eyes, trying to fight down the pain that threatened to overwhelm him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he opened them once more and gave a slow nod. "Fine," he growled through clenched teeth. "But you're coming with me." And with that, he took a shaky step forward before collapsing against the counter. The impact sent waves of agony through his injuries. "Help me up," he muttered roughly.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Blade leaned heavily on your shoulder as he tried to stand upright once more. His hand clenched into a fist at his side, his knuckles white from the effort not to cry out or thrash about in agony. Slowly, stiffly, he made his way across the living room toward the front door, using every ounce of willpower not to collapse under the weight of pain threatening to overwhelm him.

"Where are we going?" you asked as quietly as you could manage, careful not to jostle him too much. His only reply was a curt nod in the direction of a darkened alleyway nearby. "That way," he gritted out between clenched teeth before limping out into the night.

As you followed after him, unable to do more than offer silent encouragement and occasional support, your heart ached

After several minutes of struggling through the alleyway, Blade finally reached a small, dimly lit clinic in the back. The receptionist raised an eyebrow at his appearance as he hobbled inside. "It's an emergency," he grunted out, not bothering to explain any further.

A moment later, you were led into a private examination room where another doctor immediately took over, peeling away your bloodstained clothes and pressing cold compresses against the worst of his injuries. Blade growled in pain but didn't try to stop them as they went about their work. You could see muscles tensing in his jaw and hear his harsh breathing through clenched teeth.

"How long ago did this happen, sir?" the doctor asked him with a professional calm that belied the gravity of the situation. Blade didn't respond immediately; he just continued to breathe heavily

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he managed to croak out a response. "It's... it's fine. Thanks for trying." The anger and resentment that had flared up earlier was gone now, replaced by pain and exhaustion. As the doctor continued to tend to his wounds, Blade leaned heavily against your side, gripping your hand tightly as if he needed the contact to ground himself. His breathing grew more ragged once again. "Just... just get me fixed up," he managed to whisper hoarsely.

The doctor gave them both a reassuring smile and set about cleaning and stitching Blade's injuries as quickly and efficiently as possible. Though the pain was excruciating, you could see the relief in his eyes when the worst of it started to recede. As you waited for him to finish, your grip on his hand tight