Page 127

Story: Bonding Beasts

I tap into my awareness. Ben is here, and the body next to him is Kimi because I can see Alzghoul out of the corner of my eye. Ben, at least, won’t let them touch me. The jury is still out on broken Kimi.

“I’ve heard you accept payment for healing,” the first voice says.

I don’t answer him.

“Is that not against a mender’s code?” He interrupts my thought process again, and I can’t help sighing in irritation. He has no idea how much work goes into repairing an eye.

When I still don’t reply, he says, “And you heal villains? That, too, is against a mender’s code.”

I know he’s waiting for me to focus back on healing this guy before he makes his snarky comments, probably to catch me off guard or something, but it’s annoying.

“I wonder if you’re truly a mender at all.”

“Okay,” I lean back and glare at every male at the table. I’m not sure which one of them is the jerk, but I’ve had enough. It’s official. They’re douchebag frat boys. “I’ve had enough psychotic bullshit to last me for one day. Can I get to healing this guy, or will the pointless interview continue?”

“What’s wrong? Not able to focus?” one of them mocks, a different voice, so not the interrogator.

“No, I’m not able to focus,” I glare at him. “Someonekeeps interrupting me. Reinflating an eye is a little complicated. Now, if everyone could shut the fuck up for five minutes, that would be awesome.”

All their heads turn toward the leader.

“Carry on then,” he scowls, and I notice that he’s the one asking the questions. What a jerk.

“Your service,” I say with all the surgery sweetness I can, saluting him sarcastically and returning to work.

It takes longer than five minutes, and I can hear them muttering faintly in the background, but I’m able to give the wound the attention it deserves. I’m actually proud of myself as I finish.

His lid is closed, the muscles controlling them not quite up to opening yet, so I’m unable to see my work. I lean back with a smile, and my spark nestles back to sleep.

Both his eyes are closed, and he seems almost like he’s falling asleep before my voice jolts him.

“You’ll want to keep that eye patch for a little while. Your equilibrium will be off, and your eye will need a break. Maybe stay seated when you take it off at first, just until you get used to it, and don’t push it. It will get tired, but that’s normal, so don’t freak out when the lid starts to droop. You can rub your eye if it itches or anything. No more infections. There shouldn’t be any pain in the lids, either. If anything comes up, just have Al call me again, okay? Maybe leave your douche-bag friends outside.”

He stares at me with his one open eye in surprise. The rest of his group seems to be holding their breath. Guess they thought I couldn’t do it.

I grin at Patch, “Open your eye, delicate flower, and tell me how many fingers I’m holding up.”

He takes his time opening it and ends up squinting as it waters heavily.

“Oh shit,” I realize the problem and turn to his group. “Can one of you toss me your sunglasses? He’s going to be sensitive to light.”

They all stare at me as if I’m insane.

“Hellooo,” I wave my hands above my head at them. “Is this thing on? Sunglasses. Need. Light. Hurt.”

One of them smiles and removes his sunglasses to toss them at me. I lean forward to catch them and hand them to Patch.

He slides them on, both eyes squeezed tightly shut.

“Just take your time. There’s no rush,” I reassure him. “Steal your buddy’s glasses, though, because lighttransitions will be hard on you for a little bit. I forgot about that, sorry.”

Every time he tests it, I can tell because he sucks in a sharp breath and holds it. I let him work through it at his own pace, but his friends are shifting nervously in their seats.

“Harald?” the leader guy asks hesitantly, and I want to smack him.

“He’ll be ready when he’s ready, impatient Ivan,” I snap and lean towards him to glare. “Don’t rush him.”

Leader guy’s mouth closes with a snap, and he stares at me with wide eyes, “My name is not Ivan.”