damned_institute | NIGHTSHIFT 28: M31-M40 HALLWAY

"He's being stubborn about being stubborn now," Shana confided with a conspiratory nod to Shadow as she curled up against him. "But he did apologize today. He brought me flowers. He said he picked them himself. Why didn't you tell me you were already in love with him?" she demanded, her mind only able to focus on one thing at a time right now, and it didn't even occur to her that she was talking about the elf as if he wasn't even there.

Shana's babbling caught Shadow a little off guard and he looked at Valyn before he laughed softly, smoothing Shana's hair down her back. "Well, I always thought it was fairly obvious," he replied with a smile. "Did you really believe that Valyn was so pampered he needed someone to warm his bed roll?"

"Alright, both of you." Valyn held up a hand, sounding tired. "If the two of you are going to gossip about me, at least do so where I can't hear." He didn't appreciate being talked over that way. And about personal things as well.

"You could always gossip, too, you know," Shana replied logically. "It's not like it's anything you don't know. Speaking of which," she changed topic again, fixing Shadow with an intently narrowed gaze. "Did you know he thinks we're related?"

He looked over and saw that Valyn was growing irritated. Shadow figured he'd had his fun but now he should leave them alone. He didn't want to gossip in front of the elf but it was too tempting to continue egging Shana on.

"Really?" Shadow said, pretending as if this was the first time he had heard that. "Well, you know what that means. If you and Valyn are related then so are we. We must be cousins!"

"Shana....?" Valyn reached over and pressed his finger to her lips. "That's enough, Shana. I know you're under the influence of opium, but perhaps it would be best if you kept your questions to yourself right now."

He only glared at Shadow, displeased with his cousin encouraging the girl.

Shana relented at the brush of his finger against her lips, sliding back against the headboard. The touch had been nice, but it didn't change the fact that he'd just told her to stop talking. She couldn't decide whether to be angry with him or stay distracted by the fact that he was STILL wearing no shirt.

Despite the fact that it was technically a question, she flicked a sideways glance at Shadow. "You'll check on Keman for me?" she asked softly, still very worried about her brother.

"I'll check on Keman," Shadow replied, shifting off the bed and leaving ample room for Valyn to sit next to Shana. "I think it's best if I let you rest anyway. If I keep talking to you, I'll keep you up."

He stood up and walked over to the door. "I'll be back in a little bit. Rest, the both of you."

Shadow gave them both a grin and a little wave before he walked out of the room.

Once outside he didn't go towards the healers. He decided to check out the hospital a bit. If he ran into any monsters Shadow would just turn and run. He didn't have a death wish, he was just curious. He turned right and walked down to the end of the hall, opening the door and slipping outside.

[headed here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/253623.html?view=18993079#t18993079)]

"Keman will be fine," Valyn promised, leaning back and settling beside Shana. And now he was alone with her. In bed. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, hoping she wouldn't make the situation awkward.

"Don't worry yourself too much about it. Just rest. You'll feel better in the morning. And more clear headed."

"What happened?" she asked, her voice still slightly subdued, as the realization dawned on her that asking Shadow to check on Keman left her alone with Valyn. A shirtless Valyn. Her cheeks started turning slightly pinkish.

"With Keman, I mean. I felt him. We were coming to find you, and then the bird..." She shuddered at the memory; the grotesque thing would probably haunt her nightmares for days.

"It was on one of the caravans," Valyn explained. "He was fighting one of the...creatures. It got him." He sighed and shook his head, remembering watching it with horror.

"But he's going to be alright. I healed him as best I could, and now he just needs to rest. He'll be much better in the morning, and so will you. They see to us before the day starts."

"They?" she echoed, looking bewildered for a moment. "They who?"

"I don't know." Valyn shook his head. "Whoever runs this place. The humans, the Head Doctor, them. They're the ones who did this." He pulled down the bandages around his throat, displaying the stitches holding together the large gash across his skin.

He supposed he should go and put on a shirt of some sort, but he was honestly feeling too tired to move.

"That was where the fake Shadow attacked you?" Shana asked, leaning in as she lifted careful fingers to brush over the scars, a small frown flitting across her lips. "Does it hurt?"

"Yes." Valyn reached up and took Shana's hand, guiding it away from his throat. "And it's fine. It only hurts when I talk or swallow." It was a weak attempt at a joke, but it was true. It still felt rough, when he spoke. And he was rather sure it always would.

"Keman did a good job of sealing the wound before I bled out."

"We can stop talking, if it hurts," Shana offered, still frowning, recalling that he'd already told her to do that once.

"No, it's alright. It's not that bad. It just feels...rough. Here." He placed his other hand - the one not holding Shana's - across his throat. "But it's a far better outcome than the alternative."

Was she coming off of the medication? Valyn couldn't quite tell. But it was...nice. Laying here with her like they were. He didn't want to think too deeply on it, but it was nice.

"I like you with your throat. Even if you do talk too much sometimes," Shana informed him with a Very Serious nod.

"I know you do." Valyn patted her hand, awkwardly. "You'll have to forgive me if I prefer you when you aren't under the influence of poppy."

"I wasn't sure you preferred me at all," she countered, sliding sideways a bit until her head rested against his uninjured shoulder. She felt very... very relaxed. Not sleepy. Just kind of... she couldn't think of the right word, but Valyn was comfortable and warm and she liked it.

"We're not talking about this while you're under the influence of strong medicine." Valyn could only imagine how he'd upset her when she was even less rational than usual. But he sighed and shifted so his arm was loosely around her shoulders, letting her rest against him.

"We don't have to talk about it," she agreed amicably. Then she smiled. "You make a nice pillow. You're warm."

"Don't...get used to this, Shana." He hated to say it, but the words were out before he could stop them. He was only being kind because she was hurt and under the weather.

"I won't," she said softly, staring at some distant point across the room. "In the morning, you can tell me it was all a dream, if you want."

"I won't tell you that." Valyn closed his eyes, tilting his head back. "It would be without a point. We both know it's happened. Besides, Shadow would be cross with me if I did."

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