[Once Kate is up, she's steady enough, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she steers him towards the door and urges him out of the room, her breathing a little shaky.]
[Damin growls his response, as if how he said it could hide how shaken he is. He doesn't want to think about what's happened. Kate is safe. As long as he focuses on that, he can figure out the rest later.]
[She shoots him a sharp look for the way he answers, but she isn't going to argue. She doesn't want to bleed all over the place, after all, and head wounds bleed like crazy.]
Okay, okay. Let's just... sit down, alright?
[So she steers them towards the couch, untangling herself from him and sitting down slowly, fighting the wooziness.]
[Before Kate has finished the sentence, Damin is crouched by her pack. There's still some gauze they can use and, to his relief, some disinfectant. He sits beside her and looks her over.]
[He rips part of the gauze off to dab some disinfectant on it.]
Just with girls who almost had their brains bashed in.
[It should come off as funny, but his delivery is flat. Damin gently presses the makeshift rag around the bloodied areas, doing his best to wipe off the mess.]
[He knows she's trying her best to make him feel better. Damin doesn't want to think any more on it. The back of his throat still burns and his head is still foggy. He's only managing to focus because Kate needs someone to help look after her.]
I didn't know what else to do.
[His voice is quiet and tight, as if it's been squeezed into a hole.]
[Kate knows how that feels, the sheer animal panic when someone you care about might be dead. She's learned to cope with it, mostly, to keep her head straight, but she wouldn't expect that of him. After a second, she leans forward to rest her forehead against his shoulder, closing her eyes against the pounding in her skull.]
I'm okay. Just a bump on the head.
[Probably.]
He wasn't... moving right. You were just defending us.
[The light weight of her head is comforting. Kate's hand is still warm. It means she's still alive. He must have done something right to have kept both of them safe, but none of her reassurances take root. Damin always told himself he didn't care if he fought. Yet...]
You could've done better.
[It comes out hushed, almost angry. As if he's berating himself.]
You're used to handling bad guys. I always act like I know what to do, but-- I don't know anything, Kate.
[The motion's welcome. Kate's physical presence, warm and inviting, reminds him that she's still all right. Damin moves his arm so he can envelop her in a half-hug.]
Out of sight, out of mind. That's what I'm trying to do.
[Kate laughs again, trying to sound nonchalant and just missing. It might even sound just a bit hysterical if he's listening for it, and she shivers, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She hates being this freaked out. More than that, she hates that it's so obvious.]
Right. Let's just hide in here all night. A couch is better than the floor.
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Are you okay? Did he hurt you?
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[Damin growls his response, as if how he said it could hide how shaken he is. He doesn't want to think about what's happened. Kate is safe. As long as he focuses on that, he can figure out the rest later.]
Your head looks bad. Let me wrap it for you.
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Okay, okay. Let's just... sit down, alright?
[So she steers them towards the couch, untangling herself from him and sitting down slowly, fighting the wooziness.]
I think the first aid kit is in my pack.
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You're a mess.
[Says the boy who was puking earlier.]
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Is this the way you flirt with all girls, or just me?
[Dry as the Sahara. She remembers that puking, Damin!]
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Just with girls who almost had their brains bashed in.
[It should come off as funny, but his delivery is flat. Damin gently presses the makeshift rag around the bloodied areas, doing his best to wipe off the mess.]
... I'm sorry. I didn't look carefully enough.
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It's not your fault. I didn't look, either.
[She reaches out to squeeze his arm gently.]
I'm fine, seriously. No fussing, okay?
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I'm already in the middle of fussing over you. You want me to stop?
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Not if it makes you feel better.
[Kate's just not going to think about the dead body in the other room, or the fact that they have to spend the night with it.]
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But it annoys you.
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[She's teasing, trying to make him feel a little better. And then, softer and more sincere:]
You probably saved my life.
[Not that she wants to think about how he did it, but. Details.]
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I didn't know what else to do.
[His voice is quiet and tight, as if it's been squeezed into a hole.]
I couldn't stop myself when I saw you like that--
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I'm okay. Just a bump on the head.
[Probably.]
He wasn't... moving right. You were just defending us.
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You could've done better.
[It comes out hushed, almost angry. As if he's berating himself.]
You're used to handling bad guys. I always act like I know what to do, but-- I don't know anything, Kate.
[His hand squeezes tighter.]
I was scared as hell, princess.
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I don't know what to do half the time, either.
[Not here, at least.]
I was right there, and you were the one saving my ass. You know enough.
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[Damin drops his hand so he can curl it behind the small of her back.]
I don't know how you do it.
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[Probably more the latter. Kate shifts closer, trying to soak in as much comfort and warmth from him as possible.]
God, I wish we didn't have to stay here tonight.
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Out of sight, out of mind. That's what I'm trying to do.
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Right. Let's just hide in here all night. A couch is better than the floor.