Eska jolts awake with a gasp, her chest heaving as if she's just broken the surface of deep water after being submerged too long. Her body tenses and her hands clutch the sheets beneath her as she sits upright, her breaths coming in quick, ragged gulps.
The faint moonlight streaming through the infirmary window casts a soft glow over the room, revealing the sparse furnishings and the faint silhouette of medical supplies on a nearby table.
Her heart pounds in her ears and for a moment, she's disoriented, her mind flashing back to the fight, to Italia's crushing blow, before the present reality begins to settle around her.
As Eska's breathing begins to steady, she notices the tugging sensation on her arm. Looking down, she sees two lines connected to her, their tubes trailing to nearby stands. A mask rests snugly over her face, softly pumping oxygen into her lungs with a faint hiss.
Machines to her side hum quietly, their surfaces etched with glowing runes that pulse faintly and thin wires run from them to her chest.
The sight is overwhelming, but it's nothing compared to the sensation that follows.
As her awareness returns, a searing pain blooms across her chest, spreading like fire beneath her ribs, from one side to the other. She winces, her hand trembling as she brushes against the moist bandages wrapped tightly around her torso.
Her fingers come away sticky with blood. The pain spikes suddenly, forcing a hiss through her teeth and she leans back against the pillows, her body trembling under the weight of it all.
"Eska." Valen's voice comes softly from the corner of the room, low and almost disbelieving. He steps closer, his wide eyes fixed on her as if he can't quite believe she's awake.
For a moment, he's frozen but then his gaze flicks to the side of the bed.
"Hold on," he murmurs, his voice steadying as he leans over her, his concern etched plainly on his face.
"Don't move too much," Valen says softly as he moves a chair closer to her bed and sits.
"I feel like I was split in two and sewn back together," Eska groans, her voice strained as she tries to adjust herself slightly.
"You almost were," Valen replies. He takes her hand, noticing the blood on her fingers. His brows furrowing as he glances toward the bandages wrapped tightly around her chest. "You're bleeding again," he mutters, reaching for a cloth on the nearby table.
He dips it into a bowl of water, wrings it out quickly and carefully wipes the blood from her fingers, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"How long has it been?" Eska asks, her voice raspy as she glances up at Valen.
"A week. The medics said they expect a quick recovery. Apparently, you've got a knack for bouncing back, based on your first days here."
Eska smirks. "You've been here the whole time?"
"I have," Valen answers simply.
Her smirk shifts into a genuine smile before turning into a slight pout. "Wait a second… don't you have paladin stuff to do? Important stuff like glaring at recruits?"
Valen raises a brow, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. "Italia's covering a few hunts for me, and Athos is handling the investigation. Don't worry about it."
Eska chuckles softly, though it quickly turns into a wince as the movement pulls at her sore ribs. "You? Taking time off? I didn't know paladins were even allowed to do that. Are you sure they won't throw you out for being 'too' soft?"
Valen chuckles, rolling his eyes as he wrings the cloth out again and sets it aside. "I'm hardly being soft, Eska. Someone had to make sure you didn't roll off the bed in your sleep."
"Admit it," she says with a sly grin, her tone light despite her exhaustion. "You were worried about me. You couldn't bear the thought of me out of commission. I mean, who else would make your life interesting?"
Valen sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as if her teasing physically pains him. "You're right," he says dryly, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "My life was utterly meaningless without your constant attempts to get yourself killed."
Eska laughs softly, her smile widening despite the ache in her chest. "See? You do care."
"Care? No," Valen replies, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "It's more like... mild frustration. You're like a stray cat that keeps showing up, clawing at the door."
"A cat?" Eska raises an eyebrow, trying to look offended but failing as a grin creeps across her face. "I think you mean something cooler. Like a wolf."
"A wolf knows which battles to pick," Valen retorts, shaking his head. "No, stray cat fits perfectly."
Eska smirks, tilting her head. "You're just mad because you're the one who keeps opening the door for me."
Valen stares at her for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Maybe I am," he admits, his voice softening slightly. "But someone has to make sure you don't get yourself into more trouble."
Eska beams at him, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "See? I knew you cared."
Valen doesn't reply immediately. Instead, he looks at Eska, his expression softening in a way she hasn't seen before. The teasing, the sarcasm—all of it fades, leaving behind a rare calmness in his usually serious demeanor.
Slowly, he reaches out and takes her hand, his touch warm against her still-trembling fingers.
"I'm glad you're okay," he says quietly, his voice low but filled with a sincerity that catches her off guard. For a moment, the world around them seems to still, the quiet hum of the infirmary fading into the background.
Eska blinks, surprised by the sudden shift but she doesn't pull away.
She lets the silence settle between them, her thumb brushing lightly against his hand. There's no need for her usual playful banter or teasing remarks. At this moment, the connection between them is unspoken but understood.
"You're really bad at hiding it, you know," she whispers finally, a faint smile tugging at her lips. But there's no edge to her words this time, no teasing tone—just gratitude, pure and simple.
Valen huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly, but he doesn't let go of her hand. "Maybe," he says softly, his calm smile lingering as he watches her, the weight of his worry finally beginning to lift.
Valen shifts slightly, his thumb brushing lightly against the back of Eska's hand. "You should rest," he says gently, though his voice is still tinged with a quiet concern. "The medics said you need to take it easy. Pushing yourself now isn't going to help."
Eska hesitates with a faint smile. Her eyes drift away for a moment before returning to his, a hint of uncertainty flickering in them. "But… I'd rather stay awake for a little longer. With you. For a little longer." she says quietly.
Valen studies her for a moment, his serious expression softening further. He knows what she means.
He nods slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Then we'll stay a little longer," he says simply, his voice carrying a quiet certainty. "No rush, no interruptions. Just us."
Eska's lips twitch into a small, genuine smile, her body relaxing slightly against the bed. "That doesn't sound too bad," she murmurs, her tone light but with an undertone of something deeper.
She glances down at their joined hands, her thumb tracing absent patterns over his. "It's… nice. I could get used to this."
Valen leans back slightly, though his hand doesn't leave hers. "Yeah," he says softly. "It is." The words linger between them, heavier than they sound, unspoken feelings settling comfortably in the quiet of the room.
For now, they don't need to say anything more. The stillness is enough, the moment shared between them carrying all the understanding they need.