A medical emergency

[fadingworld]

A deep navy cloak hides his features and the more ornate tunic the courtesan usually wears to greet his clients. Mal hunches his shoulders and slides through the crowds hoping to avoid notice. He keeps his head down until he reaches the home of the doctor and wraps smartly on the door. "Open up," he calls in a voice that expects to be listened to.

How much time did he have? He could not have a client bleeding out. Not this one. Not one who had come to him for help, to be treated privately.

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[fadingworld]

"If you would not mind," Mal says softly. "I fear...I've grown too used to not sleeping alone." He rubs at the back of his neck as he settles closer to Regis. "I think the scariest power any being could have would have to be the power over dreams."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis hums quietly, moving to sit a bit more comfortably without invading Mal's space too much, letting that gentling hand stay on Mal's shoulder. There are such beings out there, he knows, but he won't tell Mal that. No, not when the man deserves some rest.

"You are safe here," he murmurs. "Go back to sleep."

[fadingworld]

Mal shifts a little closer. "Do you dream like humans do?" he asks his voice softening back towards sleep but he's still conscious enough to remember anything that is said.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Once again Mal has shifted close enough that Regis wonders if he'll end up with Mal's head on his lap again.

"I don't know. I don't know how humans dream," he answers honestly. "But I do dream.

[fadingworld]

Oh it is tempting to place his head there. Mal contents himself be placing it right by Regis' thigh. "I don't even think humans dream the same." He breathes in the sent of herbs. "I dream of darkness and people calling for help some nights. Others it feels like I am sleeping in safe warm arms."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis reaches to pull Mal's blanket a bit higher about his shoulders, practically tucking him in. "Then aim for the later," he says, perhaps foolishly. Then after a moment he can't help but to ask, "Do you really dislike sleeping alone that much?"

[fadingworld]

Mal nods slightly. "All my fears, worries, pain were hidden around clients. Bizarrely I slept well when they were at my side. When I was alone...I don't know, it's when I relived things or dreamt of them.

It has been so much better since I have been here though," he hastens to assure Regis.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"It will get better still," Regis comforts, almost wanting to offer the man to stay by his side every night, but it would be better if Mal got through this properly and learned to sleep peacefully to his own.

[fadingworld]

Mal rests a hand just above Regis' knee. "You are the expert," he says with a soft smile, feeling comforted that the other thinks it possible too.

"Thank you," he says softly. "You have a habit of putting my mind at ease with a few words."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"With a few words?" He laughs then, quietly as the late hour demands. "Many would think me incapable of staying to only few words."

Mal too knows by now, Regis love of words. But there are times when he can stray more to the taciturn.

[fadingworld]

Mal laughs softly, "Some words always stand out the most." He could not possibly remember everything Regis said in one go. "Though I do enjoy listening to everything you have to say."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"That would also be a first. A dear friend used to tell me to kindly shut up or she would thrash me, once upon a time. And I am sure she would have, had I not heeded her." He gently squeezes Mal's shoulder. "But I am keeping you awake. Go back to sleep."

[fadingworld]

Mal smiles up, "I think I would break my hand trying to trash you." He shuts his eyes settling down. "Self defense I can do, nothing else." He falls silent and is soon asleep again.

The rhythm of the days resume. Mal finds that sleeping alone is easier when he falls asleep exhausted by the day. He doesn't mind even the more mundane job of rolling bandages, especially when he's finally given the chance to try bandages out on Regis.

"Ready," he calls grinning, advancing, waving the rolled up bandages threateningly.

[mandragoraspiritus]

They have done some bandages before, just on Regis' hands and arms. But today Mal is getting to advance to various ways and various injuries on the upper body. Books with illustrations on the topic and already opened on the desk and they have discussed everything in advance.

While in the comfort of his own home Regis already tends to be without the gambeson he usually favors outside, but now he's standing unbuttoning his shirt as Mal advances on him. "Do not make me regret my decision on this, Mal," he threatens vaguely, giving the man a mock glare as he pulls the shirt off. He's in good shape for a man of his apparent age, lean to the point of being wiry, with some hints of light freckling to his shoulders and a dusting of gray hair on his chest tapering into a line down his abdomen. Without any self-consciousness he goes to sit down on a stool to let Mal reach easily.

[fadingworld]

Mal just grins at the threat. He's been working hard and is pleased with his basic progress. "What is the worst I could do to you with bandages?" he teases.

He brings a small table over by the stool to place the bandages on. His eyes are appreciative for a moment as he looks down at Regis' body. It is very in keeping with what he had imagined.

Quickly he turns his gaze dispassionate and picks up the first bandage. "Shoulder first," he says. His fingers brush gently over the blade of the left shoulder making a check for wounds. Then over the muscles feeling for tension, treating him like a patient.

"Ready?" he murmurs lifting the correct width of a bandage.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis has made a note of it before when they have practiced on his arms and hands, that Mal has a very pleasant touch. Naturally that is to be expected, with Mal's previous profession, but he's still not being overly touchy-feely. His handling is gentle but firm, hands warm, and... Regis can't quite say exactly what it is that makes Mal's touch so pleasant but he enjoys it. More than he should, he's had to admit to himself.

Now when Mal's fingers probe his shoulder, pushing against the wiry muscles there, Regis has to keep himself from sighing. "Go on then," he says instead, keeping himself in check. "Let us see how well you have caught on."

[fadingworld]

“Those muscles could do with a massage later,” Mal says, “There is too much tension in them.” And he could give a very good shoulder massage. He places the padding against the shoulder and starts the wrap, under and over, gently manipulating and supporting.

When it comes to bringing it across the chest, Mal moves behind Regis, his fingers almost caressing the skin as he glides it over and around. His voice is close to Regis’ ear as he smooths out a wrinkle. “I read that wrinkles in bandages could really irritate the skin.”

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis knows he shouldn't be enjoying this. Or, well, he could take some simple satisfaction in it, that Mal does seem to have a talent for this, that his enthusiastic studying is paying off. And Regis does take pride and satisfaction in that. But that isn't all.

It's touch. He hadn't known how much he'd missed touch.

"You read right," he says keeping his voice perfectly steady and calm, just like for any other lesson he's had with Mal. "They are of course hard to avoid around joints, but should be avoided where they can be."

[fadingworld]

Mal finishes brings the bandages around the chest and brings the ends to be pinned in. Carefully he runs his fingers around the edge of the bandages testing for comfort and for errors.

Carefully he lits Regis' shoulder and is pleased that everything holds. "How does it feel?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

This is ridiculous, Regis thinks as he suppresses a shiver. He should put a stop to this right now. But, Mal isn't doing anything wrong, so what is there really to put a stop to? All there really is is a sudden realization of how much Regis has missed contact, of touch, being touched. But that is all on him and not on Mal, and, he does have better self-control and more self-restraint than to go and do something foolish.

Once Mal is done with his work Regis starts moving his shoulder and arm, testing mobility. "A little bit tight, perhaps, but all in all not bad. It would serve its purpose, if most likely get a bit uncomfortable after a while."

[fadingworld]

"Again then," Mal says and sounding pleased at the prospect. He crouches down to check closely where the tightness is. "Yes, I can see what you mean when you move," he says smiling up at Regis.

"You are a good patient," he compliments him as he starts to unwind the bandages, rerolling it as he goes along. Mal finds plenty of little excuses to touch fingers to skin in the process.

He prepares to start again. This time he traces his fingers up to the neck. "There is also tension here."

[mandragoraspiritus]

At that touch there is actually gooseflesh rising up over the skin of Regis' neck even if he again suppresses any other visible shivers.

"Perhaps, but not relevant to the task at hand," Regis gently chides, turning his head just a bit to cast something of a look over his shoulder. "It is best to keep from getting distracted."

[fadingworld]

Mal notices the goosebumps but merely says, "Let me attend to your neck later then. If you were a real patient I would insist on checking it out."

His hands drift down to where they should be and get work. He goes a little slower this time, carefully checking every inch of the bandage. He's standing a little closer to Regis, and there might be a faint scent of lavender around him.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis is always aware of Mal's scent, his sense of smell being just as acute as his hearing, or even more so. It is always pleasant but even more so today, from the oil Regis can tell the man has used on his skin. It's nice and compliments him somehow and Regis finds himself drawing marginally deeper breaths through his nose to catch it.

Mal is meticulous in his work and Regis approves, even if he's starting to have to scold himself for not being able to keep his focus completely on the task at hand.

After Mal is done Regis again tests motion, rolling his shoulders and lifting his arm. "Much better," he says in approval. "It would still keep any compresses in place and gives some support without being restrictive."

[fadingworld]

Mal beams his face glowing. He finds such simple pleasure in a compliment for his work. Eventually, he thinks he may be able to do some good.

"Where shall I tend to next?" He touches the centre of Regis chest, "Here, or," he brushes his hand down over the ribs, "here?"