Daya would always stay close to Malcolm just in case she fell, but at the time she only wobbled at times.
Once their chores were done, daya took a moment to rest, setting her jaw on the back of the chair and closing her eyes “mmm..”
Malcolm was, at first, confused by the way Daya hung around him. But, after a bit, he didn’t mind. Besides, the way she was wobbling occasionally explained her proximity to him.
When they were done, he put the broom and other tools up, then leaned against the counter, watching Daya. He couldn’t tell if she was just tired, or in pain, or both.
“Are you alright?”he asked quietly after a bit.
“I'll live if that's what your asking..”
(boof)
(Sorry. I’ll try to get something up here in a bit)
(oh ok)
(you know you can one inner with me right? I don't mind only a sentence to work off of)
(I know. It’s just a personal preference to, at least, attempt a bit more, that’s all. And, I’ve also been distracted by a lot lately, lol)
Malcolm snorted.
“Pain or exhaustion?”he asked.
(you okay?)
“Both,” she mumbled and closed her eyes. “ but I can bare it, I just took some medicine and ill be fine”
(Yeah. There’s nothing weird going on. I’ve just been extremely busy. And, last week, I was sick, so yeah)
Malcolm shrugged.
“Alright. Just wanted to check.”
“Thank you, and as weird as it sounds, I would much rather be held or cuddled than lay down on my own.”
Malcolm nodded in reply to her thanks, then hesitated.
“I… haven’t held… or cuddled, anyone in… ten or twenty years,”he stammered, unusually timid.
“It was just a joke mal.. You don't have to,” she said before holding her side as she stood. Someone had come into the shop.
She had a clear painful look on her face, but she soon hid it away as she went to help the customer for Malcolm
Malcolm wasn’t sure if Daya was being honest, but he left it alone. He turned when someone came in, and headed for the counter. However, Daya decided to help them. Malcolm didn’t know how to feel about that, but he decided to watch and see how it went.
Daya noticed it was a young man asking about engagement rings, and days gave him the advice he needed and the ring that suit his fiancé best. “ I hope she will be happy,” daya said as he left. Soon her smile faded and she leaned heavily on the counter
The lightheaded feeling took over quickly “ mal.. Somethings not right..” she whispered as she swayed
It was strange to watch someone do his work, but now that Malcolm had the opportunity to watch, he couldn’t help noticing what the young man was buying. And, for a moment, Malcolm saw himself.
He had once been engaged. He had once sought a ring to fit the woman he’d thought he’d marry. But, that was long ago. His fiancée probably thought he was dead. In a way, she wouldn’t be wrong. He shouldn’t have lived the day of the explosion, but he had, except he was most certainly not the man he used to be.
Malcolm blinked when he realized that the man was leaving. He also saw Daya leaning against the counter. When she spoke, he quickly approached her, grabbing one of the couple chairs in the room so she could sit down.
“Sit, relax. Besides the obvious lightheadedness, what else do you feel?”he asked, his tone deadly serious.
“ I feel pressure on my stomach and chest like I'm not getting enough air,” she said softly, sitting down but pulling Malcolm closer.
“I.. I must be losing blood somewhere..”
(boof?)
(Sorry)
Malcolm sighed. He was too focused on Daya to really care that she’d pulled him with her.
“I’m going to kill that useless fucking doctor,”he muttered under his breath before thinking about solutions to this current situation.
“Sounds like internal bleeding. Hopefully nothing worse than that. I can take you to the hospital, or I can find another doctor acquaintance of mine to help you. I’d honestly prefer the latter, but you are the one that’s hurt, so it’s your choice,”he said.
(I missed uuu!)
“Just do what you think is best Malcolm, I completely trust you..” she mumbled and nestled her head into his neck. She was going to have to be carried.
(Lol, I missed you too)
He sighed again, gently wrapping his arms around her and picking her up. It was tricky, and he’d probably regret carrying her later, but he could tell she wouldn’t be walking on her own.
“Alright. Now, I want you to keep talking for me. It can be about anything. I guess, we can start off with… favorite color, or just favorite things in general,”Malcolm said as he exited the store, locked the door, and turned the sign to ‘Closed’.
He then headed down the sidewalk, ignoring any looks from passerby.
“My.. My favorite color is blue. I like the rain..” she muttered, gasping for breath every so often. “ my favorite thing is when.. You'd run your fingers through my hair..”
Malcolm nodded at her words, though he hesitated to react when she described him running his fingers through her hair.
“Alright. What other favorite things can you think of? Favorite food? Craft?”he asked, thinking of random stuff to keep her conscious.
He continued on, eventually turning into a tiny clinic. The clerk stood at the sight of him, nodding and showing him into a back room.
The doctor was an old woman writing down notes. She looked up at his entrance, then her eyes widened in surprise.
“I didn’t think you’d come ba…”
“Shut up. She’s most likely bleeding internally, and she’s one of the few people I’d rather have alive, so make it quick. She was recently attacked, but the first doctor was a fucking idiot,”Malcolm hissed.
He gently set Daya on the bed in the room, then stepped back and watched the old woman with an insistent glare. The woman sighed and went to work checking on Daya.