TW// blood, mentioned domestic abuse

... can Metronome be its own warning?

Rain grimaced as a wet rag when along her back, shivering from the cold that was left behind its swipes. Nosebleed carefully touched on her side, the faintest squeak of pain making her lighten her touch to be feather light.

"Nothing seems broken, just a few bleeding scratches and old bruises. If he can keep his grimy hands off you for a week, they'll get better," Nosebleed stated, before taking another rag and patting an open scratch dry, the relatively clean rag becoming slightly bloody.

The thought almost made Rain laugh. Like he would give her a break, that's not how they work. Rain flinched as Nosebleed carefully touched around the wound again, the skin sore and slightly red.

"Did he push you in the ground or something? How did you get this much dirt on you? You're lucky you came and saw me as early as you did, infection is already trying to settle in," Nosebleed mumbled.

"That fast?"

"You'd be surprised how fast germs can cause harm to a person."

Rain looked over her shoulder to glance at the other, seeing her work diligently, gently taking a peice of bandage and pressing it too her back, making her give an slightly loud groan of discomfort.

Honestly, she should be use to pain at this point, it seemed to happen on a nightly occurrence now. Get maybe 3 hours of sleep, wake up, have breakfast, follow her Commander around or share with him messages, have dinner, go out to the beach, go to Nosebleed if she had any wounds if she accidentally got him angry, and go to bed.

A never ending routine, something Rain was, sadly, very accustomed to.

Nosebleed was already halfway done tending to them. Soon she'd have to go back to her and Mono's shared room and sneak back into bed. She really didn't want to, but she couldn't risk getting caught and be left to explain why she wasn't there when he woke up.

"Almost done."

Rain felt her gently press down on the bandage to make sure it was in place. She smoothed it out, before pulling away. Rain fixed the back of her coat, pulling it back down in the back. Well, it was nice to be out while it lasted.

"Thanks again, Nosebleed. Guess I'll see you tomorrow," she mumbled, getting ready to stand up. She felt the other lean forward, pulling her into a hug from behind. The other's arms wrapped around her, her chin gently resting on the Orcale's shoulder.

"Rain, I don't want you staying there tonight... why don't you come and sleep in the Doctor's room, with me and Twist. He won't mind, I promise," Nosebleed pleaded.

Stay with them? As nice as the sounded, being okay and free to have her own bed to herself for once...

She really would like that. It would be a nice change she could relish in for once before things went back to normal. She... she could break the rules for once.

No, no she couldn't. She could never be that lucky.

"Sorry, but I can't risk myself getting into more trouble," Rain mumbled.

"Rain, please, I don't want to see you get hurt again,"

"I'm sorry, but I can't,"

"... Than promise me something than, please?"

Rain gave a small sigh, gently touching the other's hand. Just one more moment, one more moment like this... Stars above she didn't want to move from this spot.

"Promise me we'll leave some day. Where we won't have to worry or meet in secret like this, for anything."

Rain wanted to promise her that, she wanted to promise it back.

But she couldn't.

She lost too much from being in a former promise.

Pushing away the harsh feeling of guilt of what she was forced to do, Rain pulled the other's arms away. She pushed herself up, dusting off her coat and tights. She couldn't look at the other, instead mumbling, "Thanks for treating my injuries."

She left.