Night Watch I: Eliza, Ward of Andrew

*Andrew's POV*

I thought about that for a moment. Eliza had just said I could allow her to die a slow, lingering death from neglect. That she would permit it, do nothing to stop it, practically welcome it. What the devil had happened to her?

I sat back and met her gaze for a moment. I couldn’t read her intense, green eyes very well right then, but I could see plain as Day that she had been either tortured or assaulted.

I looked in the kit for a specific jar. It had failed me the very few times I had previously had occasion to use it, but perhaps this time, it would not. Kept for emergencies, I had only ever used 'Lover's Last Kiss' when the situation was dire. Apparently, I had always waited until it was too late, or there had never been any hope to begin with. Juliet had said, ‘if a life could be saved, Lover's Last Kiss would do it.’ It was worth a fortune, Juliet’s family had passed the jar down for four generations. This time, I wouldn’t wait.

I found the large, brown, glass jar of Lover’s Last Kiss. It was unmarked, as its contents were so valuable. I carefully spread the edges of Eliza's wound apart, and packed it full of the stuff. I wondered if the ointment got its name from its uncharacteristic smell. Unlike so many other salves, the odor was quite pleasant, rather like honeysuckle. I watched, fascinated, as it appeared to shift and then harden, pulling the gash together, then forming a protective film over the top. I had never seen it (or anything) do that before! Perhaps it was finally working!

"Tomorrow, at Dawn, we go to a Grand Healer." Eliza’s mouth fell open.

"But Andrew-" Every tribe has at least one Healer. They can do incredible things, and they come with matching, incredible price tags.

I shushed her, clucking like a mother hen, feeling pleased with myself. I finished cleaning out and dressing the remaining lacerations on her stomach, as well as a few on her face I hadn’t noticed right away.

When I began rubbing in the balm, I felt my loins begin to stir a little again, despite my best efforts. With her substantial, warm breasts and soft stomach under my hands, the image of the damned square, something-or-other loaf of bread was wavering. I tried to subtly change the way I was sitting, so that the folds of my kilt hid my forming erection.

"You said I could treat you any way I liked. Well, I am taking you to the Healer’s Tent. They’ll take care of you. End of discussion." I smiled impishly.

Eliza was smiling back, when I carelessly ran a finger over one of her pierced nipples. She raised an eyebrow.

I swallowed, mortified, as I glanced down and saw her whole areola contract, tightening. Her goosebumps returned.

I wanted to touch her nipple again. I wanted to see what the jewelry she had through it felt like inside the little, dark rose-colored bud. I felt my dick throbbing, wanting. Shit. Fuck bread.

"Are you thirsty?” My voice cracked, I was so stressed. “I'm going to get some water." She nodded, chewing at her lip and cracking her knuckles, glaring at the floor.

Fuck, maybe I had pissed her off with my accidental grope. I would be pissed off too, after all she had been through. I felt horrible. I went to elaborate pains to rise to my feet while trying to keep my ridiculous boner out of Eliza’s line of sight. The last thing I wanted to do was further traumatize her. What in the nine hells was wrong with me?

Notes

quote of the moment:

'I found ways to entertain myself in the loneliness however, honestly that is how and why I started writing songs…I would walk around during lunch or in the hallways humming a tune to myself and I’d wind up writing my ideas down in my notebook I always carried with me. I think that it is most important to remember that you don't need anyone in your life but you, obviously there is comfort in friends or people around you…but when life leaves you alone…take that loneliness and turn it into something beautiful' (guess who? source not verified, but i've heard versions of this before, you get the gist. anybody know the actual source?)

hmm... i dunno, mr.b, i ended up writing andy-character-centric bvb fanfiction with my loneliness. definitely not 'beautiful.' not sure you would approve. hahaha! ;) i think you might have preferred i invested in an e-set i could play in my apartment!



i can hear it now: 'that is not exactly what i meant...' (who else loved the golden gods acceptance speech? and who else fucking hates it when fucking whoever replays part of it, and they cut out the part at the end where ashley says thank yous?)

as a side note: i have a tattoo of "stand for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone." does anyone know the original source for this? the only thing i could find was that it could possibly be related to an article or something regarding Juliet/freebleeding, which i would have no problems with, but i wasn't sure if this was the original source material. just curious.