Okay maybe not giant lizards with wings, but still. He'd keep to the trees and not be out in the open, which would theoretically make it even more difficult for a winged creature to follow.
"I could try to finish up some of those bones she couldn't get to. Might not get them all the way there, depending on how bad, but it'll be better than where you're at right now."
"I would really appreciate that. Just please be careful."
He knows Levi is strong and can handle himself, but he's still going to worry.
"I'm in an underground bunker sort of thing under the castle. You can get to it through a hatch in the garden. Tell me if you have trouble finding it."
All told, it'll take him just over twenty minutes to get there. For the first few, he just watches Erwin sleep. It's something he's done quite a lot since coming to Somnius, since they first attempted sharing a bed; Levi doesn't sleep much as it is, and often has a hard time just lying there fully awake. But he's also spent plenty of hours sitting next to Erwin, or curled up and listening to his heartbeat, somehow. He's been doing it even more, lately, after all of those memories came to light. So before he even moves, Levi studies the sight of him, committing it to memory to give himself resolve to get up and leave him, even just for a few hours. It was easier to have Hange here in the cottage, but Levi is plenty aware that there are other people fairly attached to Finnick. It is what it is. There will always be risk when he's not looking.
He leaves a kiss to Erwin's hair and a note on the bedside table about where he's gone, straps into his gear, and leaves.
The hatch isn't the easiest thing to spot, but luckily he finds it after only a few minutes of poking around. Going underground isn't his favorite, but Finnick is far worth the discomfort.
Once inside, Levi calls a greeting before unsnapping the gear from the harness, stacking it neatly near the entry. Finally he strides closer, unclasping his green cloak as he goes. Underneath he's wearing all dark clothing, black pants and a dark gray long sleeved shirt with a wider scoop neck. Reaching Finnick's bedside, he leans in and drops a kiss on his hair, then gives him a critical glance over.
For what it's worth, the underground room is nice. It's furnished, finished, clean, has a bed, glowing fairy lights and even a water feature. Hopefully it doesn't remind Levi too much of the underground he knows.
As he waits for Levi, Finnick drifts in and out of a light sleep, but snaps awake at the called greeting. He's tucked into the bed, and though Night Sky cleaned him up the best she could, he hasn't been able to change his shirt or bathe, so there's still dried blood on his clothes and some on his skin. His non-prosthetic arm is splinted to a small slab of wood and tied against his chest with vines that wrap around him in a makeshift sling.
And there is Levi, handsome as ever, standing over him. His heart swells with gratitude and he gives him a small smile, a tiny laugh through his nose.
"Alive by the skin of my teeth. Thanks for coming, handsome." It's a huge relief to see him, for some reason. Maybe for visual proof that he's safe, or maybe it makes Finnick feel more safe and comforted to have him here. Probably both.
It doesn't - actually, it does feel cozy, which he is surprised by, and pleased to see that it is actually fairly clean (not by his standards, because things rarely are). Even he would have to admit that it's a good space, and he's at least glad that Finnick isn't somewhere dark and dank while he recovers.
Finnick calls him 'handsome' with visible relief in his eyes, and Levi softens just enough to be noticeable, briefly touching his palm to the younger man's cheek, as though just to feel the warmth there. His expression shifts to a furrowed concern as he starts to take in the details - the dried blood, the smell that's clear Finnick really hasn't moved for a day or two. The splint is interesting, but looks well done. Levi isn't a doctor of any sort, but he's seen and tended plenty of injuries in the field.
"Couldn't let you mope about alone..." It irks him a little that Finnick is alone, but there things that people need to do, he supposes, and he's here now.
Hovering one hand above the arm, blue light begins to emanate from his palm, sending energy down into the bone to (hopefully) help it along, mending it slowly. After a moment or two, the corner of his lips grow tight, feeling a phantom of pain begin to throb through his own arm.
Trying to distract them both, he asks: "What else is broken?"
Finnick does hate to be alone, but he couldn't in good conscience keep Night Sky down here with him for days on end, even though she'd wanted to stay. He'd have felt too guilty, so he assured her he'd be okay on his own while she went to take care of herself. It hasn't been too long, thankfully.
He lays his prosthetic hand atop Levi's on his cheek, closing his eyes to savour his warmth.
Levi sends healing energy into his broken bone, and Finnick sighs audibly with relief as the pain immediately begins to abate.
"Ohhhh my god..." He murmurs.
"A rib or two on the other side." He pulls the blankets down to reveal more of his abdomen, his bloody shirt ripped in multiple places by dragon teeth. He points to one such rip along his ribs.
"Sorry it's a mess," he mutters, feeling bad that Levi has to deal with the uncleanliness of the situation. He couldn't get his shirt off without moving his arm, and frankly, did not feel it was worth the pain. At least there are no open wounds.
Since he'd said Night Sky hadn't been able to heal the bones, Levi had been quietly worried that something else had been at play. But feeling the echo of pain, seeing it ease off of Finnick's face and knowing that it's working eases that fear. This place is full of strange shit that regularly confounds him, but being able to physically heal someone take their pain...well. Maybe it's a little on the nose, but it's a relief every time, to feel as though he can actually do something about it.
Even as Finnick apologizes, Levi doesn't flinch or show any sign of disgust - if anything, it's clear he's seen a lot of this sort of thing, and doesn't even hesitate to start moving the ruined and bloody clothing aside once he's given as much energy to the arm as he dares, just to make sure he has enough juice for whatever's left.
"It's fine," he murmurs, because it is, and slips one hand between the rips to settle carefully over the spot, ugly with bruising. Gray eyes flick to Finnick's face a moment, his other hand settled against his wrist, curling under to press fingertips against his pulse. A sharp pain in his side makes him suck in a breath as he starts to mend the ribs.
Finnick figured Levi must have dealt with a lot of this in the past; injuries, blood. He's relieved that Levi doesn't seem to take issue with it, at least not enough for it to show outwardly.
Finnick winces slightly at the pressure of Levi's hand, but then his face relaxes again as the pain dissipates. He closes his eyes and takes a deeper breath than he's been able to take since the attack, and it doesn't feel like a stab to his lungs.
"Oh, that's so much better, love... Thank you." The little pet name slips out in the euphoria of his relief. But as he blinks his eyes open, Levi looks to be in pain.
"Wait, are you... Does it hurt you?" His brows instantly knit together in concern.
For as much as he hates things to be dirty, it's fairly clear that Levi doesn't hesitate to tolerate it when needed; injuries happen, they'll camp in the mud if necessary. Even though Titan blood evaporates, Levi is certain it leaves behind some sort of feeling on his skin that doesn't come off until he thoroughly scrubs, and sometimes that can't happen for a day or more. He'll compartmentalize, focusing on what's important, and live. It's what he's good at doing.
The endearment prickles, awakening pleasant little butterflies in his chest as a faint flush creeps up the back of his neck. Levi presses his fingertips a little more against soft skin, sneaking an almost shy glance at Finnick as he takes a breath of his own. The pain has already mostly subsided, and the bruises on warmly tanned skin are starting to lessen as well. Even with his full capacity, he probably doesn't get the remainder of Finnick's injuries completely healed, but he'll be much more comfortable -and mobile - at least.
He shrugs, and though the energy starts to subside, leaves his hand against Finnick's side, feeling him breathe better now. Good.
"S'gone already. But yeah, I can feel it a little. Not as bad as actually being hurt, and it goes away quickly."
His thumb traces lightly along the line of mended ribs. They might still ache a little, but Levi leans in to leave a soft kiss against the frown on his lips.
"Oh. Okay..." The crease in his brow smooths, and he can accept this, knowing that the pain was so short-lived for Levi.
The combination of pain relief and Levi's caring touch has improved Finnick's mood tenfold. He feels very grateful, and shows it by clasping the back of Levi's neck as he bends down, kissing him back firmly.
"It's more than enough. I really appreciate it," he says sincerely as their kiss breaks. While the pain isn't gone, Finnick now will have more independence and is looking at a lot less time spent recovering in bed overall. He's not sure how he got so lucky as to have such caring and kind people looking out for him.
Levi lets the kiss linger a little, then, focusing on the warmth beneath his hands. Finnick is here, alive and recovering, and he feels a little more of that worry ebb away.
"Mm," he hums in response, leaving just one more brush of lips before leaning away to look at him again. His color is better, eyes brighter, and it's hard not to lean in and continue kissing him. The drain on his energy will start to catch up in the next few minutes, and there are a few other things he wants to do before that happens.
"Can get you out of that sling, probably, and get rid of those rags and cleaned up a bit," he says eyeing the shirt. It definitely needs to go, if nothing else. Levi pulls a familiar knife from his boot and starts to cut carefully at the vines binding Finnick's arm, well mindful of the blade. It'll only take a few slices before it starts to easily come away, and he sets it aside before starting to go for the remains of the younger man's shirt, tugging it enough to get at the hem without jostling him too much in case there's still pain in his ribs. Unless Finnick protests losing it (not that there is much to worry about, at this point), he'll cut up the center and at the shoulders and along the sleeves, exposing tanned skin and the planes of his chest.
Levi's scanning for any other injuries...and maybe just admiring him at the same time, too.
The kiss fills him with a warm relief, the kind you get from kissing someone you thought you might never see again. His brush with death makes it taste all the more sweet to be alive, to be touched again by this lovely man. His lips linger as long as Levi will let them.
"Mm. Please." Finnick nods, more than willing to let Levi cut away his bindings and his dirty shirt. He slowly props himself on his prosthetic arm as Levi works, making it easier for him to pull things out from underneath him. He winces a little at his own movement, but compared to just a few minutes ago when sitting up felt near impossible, he'll take this level of pain any day.
He gingerly moves his injured arm a little, freeing it from its held position against his chest and flexing his fingers gently. It complains a bit at the movement and feels very stiff, but probably no longer needs the same level of immobilization.
"I don't think the universe wants me to have working arms," he jokes. He looks up at Levi, whose grey eyes are tracing his abdomen, and a tiny smirk pulls at Finnick's lips.
"Don't get too distracted, Doctor Levi," he murmurs, though his seductive tone suggests he'd actually be perfectly fine with distracting him.
"Well," he mutters, continuing his work, "the universe will just have to sit the fuck down, if I have anything to say about it."
The shadows of wounds left behind by the dragon's teeth leave little to the imagination of how dire Finnick's condition really was. Dark brows draw a little closer together as Levi lightly traces around pink, healed puncture wounds, still green and yellow and some darker bruising around the edges. A little flow of warmth eases into the flesh around them, trying to help a little with the pain, although he can't do much more at this point. He can't help but think about what Finnick said about having his scars erased, the proof of what he'd endured taken without his consent. ...he'll have plenty, now, but it doesn't feel like anything to celebrate.
At least Finnick seems to be in recovering spirits. Levi flicks him a look that could arguably be called smoldering, a nearly imperceptible curve at one corner of his lips.
"Doin' my best, here," he says solemnly, shifting instead to slide his palm meanderingly over Finnick's stomach, then up his chest, pressing over his heart. "S'pose you can't help being easy to look at..."
Levi leans in closer, slowly, almost like he's about to give him another kiss...
...and stops a few inches away. "Where's the sink, pretty boy?"
"The universe will listen to you, if it knows what's good for it."
Levi's rage burns hotter than the sun, and Finnick is sure that rage combined with his strength (both physical and strength of will) could threaten a God. Or at least a demi-God. Vaeros better watch himself.
Finnick lets himself down softly on the bed again, lying flat. That expression on Levi's face is very handsome, and those hands, touching him, relieving his pain even now...
"Glad you're enjoying the view... Those magic hands of yours are distracting me plenty." Not a great time to be aroused, but he can't help it. He's glad there are blankets on his lower half, still.
Finnick parts his lips to kiss Levi, then laughs quietly at his question.
"Bathroom over there." He points to a little hallway at the other end of the room, which leads to the bathroom and the rest of the castle.
"Damn right it will," he growls, low and soft...almost like a dangerous purr.
Levi can't say much for his own face, but Finnick himself is no slouch to look at, especially when he smiles and laughs, and some of that brightness and warmth comes through. Good, that's better. There's more color in him, less bruising. Finnick seems to spread out even more for him, and there's definitely something very approving in his gaze as he pulls back (not before stealing the quick kiss that he'd teased), gathering the ruined bits of fabric and pulling a few clean cloths from his own bag.
"Be right back. Don't get up and wander off without me." (Very funny, sir).
Pause.
"Unless you need to piss or something?"
Didn't he say it'd been at least a day or two? Probably been difficult to do with broken ribs.
Finnick doesn't know what he's done right to make Levi look at him like that. It's still a wonder to him that Levi likes him at all. But he's eternally glad for it, because nothing thrills him like this man's approval.
Finnick chuckles softly after getting that kiss, then... Blinks.
"Oh. Uh... Yeah, actually, I do..." It's been... At least a day-ish since he left this bed. As soon as Levi says it, it's like his body is reminded of its own needs, and alarm bells ring.
His expression turns sheepish and his eyes dart away from Levi. Kind of embarrassing for the guy you like to have to help you to the bathroom! Especially when you also have an erection! But! He does have to fucking piss!
No, he can't, doesn't always realize he's doing it (he realizes it right now though).
The funny part is that Finnick has managed to do many things right, moreso than the majority of people, even those not trying to get into his pants. He's attentive and patient and kind, and so many other things that Levi really feels...so at ease in a way he doesn't experience with hardly anyone else.
If he suspects that Finnick might have an issue other than just needing to pee, it doesn't seem to register (possibly he doesn't think that Finnick could be this quickly turned on already-). But he'll find a bin or something to stuff the bloody rags into, and then come back to offer the younger man his hand to help him sit up and eventually scoot off the bed.
"Here. Swing your feet off the side and then lean on me."
Levi could definitely carry him, but he's eager to keep what's left of his pride, so he's going to try his best to walk on his own.
He grips Levi's hand with his prosthetic one, pulling himself to sitting with a grunt. He allows his legs to fall over the side of the bed and rises slowly to his feet. His vision clouds for a moment, and he sways slightly, gripping Levi's shoulder. He's unable to feel himself touching Levi because of his fake hand, so he feels like he's floating for a moment, but his vision soon clears and he starts shuffling to the bathroom. Thank god Levi is short, so Finnick doesn't have to lift his arm too much to drape it across his shoulders. He's thankfully at least wearing boxers and isn't completely hard, so it isn't painfully obvious that he was just a little turned on.
Thanks to Levi's healing, walking doesn't cause him much pain, he's just a bit sluggish and weak. Probably due to the blood loss, he figures. His head also throbs a bit now that he's standing, probably for the same reason.
He sits down to pee, just to make things easier. He doesn't mind being mostly nude or pissing in front of Levi; he lost that part of his shame years ago. He exhales with relief as he empties his bladder.
Even as Finnick sways, he stays upright, easily taking his weight. If he notices anything strange about the shape of said boxers, Levi doesn't comment on it - so he probably is too focused on getting him safely to the bathroom instead. One arm goes bracingly around Finnick's waist, and he feels warm pressed close as they shuffle there together.
As he pisses, Levi turns his back and steps out a little, just to give him a bit of privacy even if it's not strictly needed.
"Yeah, you should," he agrees over his shoulder. "And eat something. I've got something that should work. I'll get it for you when you're back in bed."
"Alright," he murmurs, standing up with another grunt. He looks in the bathroom mirror, leaning on the sink. It's dimly lit by fairy-lights, but he can see himself, and isn't fond of the image. He sighs heavily.
"I do look like shit," he grumbles, wetting a cloth in the sink and starting to clean himself up with his 'good' hand.
"You went through shit. Makes sense." It's hardly a judgment, after all. Hearing the water run, he glances back over his shoulder before turning back around, watching Finnick for a moment or two, debating on whether or not to offer to help. He's long been in the habit with Erwin to not assume he wants assistance with every little thing, and has to believe Finnick is much the same way. But he also knows that soldiers and people who are used to doing everything on their own often hate or forget to ask for help; he's much the same way, after all.
He also doesn't want to wander away only for Finnick fall on the floor.
"...let me know if you want an extra hand," Levi offers from the doorway. It's not intended to be funny necessarily, but he'll be there whenever the other man is ready to shuffle back to bed - except that he'll deposit Finnick carefully in a chair with a glass of water to sip at while he strips the dirty sheets off the bed and lay down fresh ones. Only then will he permit him to get back in.
He rubs the cloth on his face and behind his ears, but the metal hand doesn't feel very nice, and isn't as effective at such a task. It's rarely as effective as a real hand at anything, except it is a bit stronger.
"If it's one of yours, I'd welcome it," he mutters, definitely not inclined to ask for help but not willing to refuse it either, especially when it involves Levi touching him.
"Lucky for you, I've got two." There's enough deadpan in his tone that it's likely that is meant to be funny. But without any further ado or especial fussing, Levi sets the cover over the toilet (using a bit of toilet paper so that he doesn't have to actually touch it), and then a towel over that before ushering Finnick to sit and taking the cloth from him. He takes a minute to wash his hands, and then lets the cloth soak up some warm water before wringing it out again. A step brings him back over, standing between his legs.
Finnick had already done his face, but Levi starts there again anyway. Nudging his chin upward, gray eyes linger on aquamarine, and it's a little like looking at the sea on a bright, cloudless day. It's not hard to see how tired he is yet. Really, the man could do with a proper bath, but it's not possible yet with some of those wounds yet healing. This will have to do.
"Let me know if it's too hot," he mumbles before starting. Perhaps surprisingly, he's gentle - but there's yet a thoroughness and a method to his movements, ensuring he can clean as much skin as he can reach. One hand cleans, the other carefully guides Finnick to move his head from side to side, chin up and down. There's tenderness in the way his touch lingers, tracing softly over an eyebrow or along a cheekbone, moving over a scar on his throat.
Erasing scars, as though they could erase the horrors they'd inflicted on him.
He sets the thought aside, moving the cloth to trace over the curve of one shoulder, then the other, before stepping back to the sink to rinse and wring. The arm comes next, and Levi starts with Finnick's hand, wiping down the palm, then each finger, cleaning under the nail and around the nailbed. Even in these moments of focus, he flicks his gaze towards Finnick's face every so often, to check for signs of pain, or if holding himself upright is getting to be too much.
"...you have nice hands," he says quietly, before moving on to his upper arm. At least he's got one left.
Finnick exhales a quiet, breathy laugh at that. It hurts less to laugh now.
"Well, now you're just rubbing it in," he mutters jokingly in response. He sits on the toilet and watches Levi closely, staring up into his gray eyes unblinkingly as the older man begins to clean his face. The look in his eyes portrays a complete trust in Levi, and a sort of reverence.
The way he touches Finnick seems to encapsulate Levi. He's meticulous, he's neurotic about cleanliness, he's utterly caring and kind and protective, and all of that translates through his movements. Even with a blank face, his touch communicates that Finnick is something precious to him, and Finnick actually feels that way. He rarely, if ever, has been sent the message that his body is worth caring for, for its own sake. Even the Capitol fixing his wounds and erasing his scars and bathing him and putting him in makeup and beautiful clothing was only so he would be appealing and palatable to the rich, since they can't swallow anything unsightly or disabled by the abuses they've suffered. It was not done out of care for him. It was done to make him a product, an expensive one, to be consumed and used over and over and over. Levi cleans him simply so that he doesn't have to feel dirty, so that he doesn't have to see his own blood again, so that he can feel more comfortable, so that his wounds don't get infected. He's not attentive to the task as though Finnick is a thing to be cleaned, the way the Capitol stylists would pluck out hairs without a word of warning, wax you while talking to their coworker about their vacation like you're not even there. Levi puts effort into making sure he doesn't hurt Finnick, so that it can feel nice as well as serve a practical purpose.
In this moment, a small part of Finnick is healed by a warm cloth and gentle hands, and a small part of him wants to cry a thousand tears until his body aches and shakes and collapses from exhaustion, because it's perhaps only now when he's being treated the way a person should that it truly hits him just how dehumanized he felt before.
Levi tells him he has nice hands, and Finnick thinks, I love you. He doesn't say it. Not yet.
He just says, "Do I? I mean, of course I do. I know that." With a wry little smile. Of course, every part of Finnick's body is perfect and beautiful and he's never thought or felt any other way about it. He's never loathed his own beauty or scrubbed his skin raw in the shower.
His arm and hand are still quite stiff, and he grimaces slightly as he tries to move it, tries to clench and unclench his fist. Too sore, and it barely has half his range of motion, so he just moves it as much as is needed to clean it properly. Levi isn't hurting him.
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Levi looks away, maybe at Erwin since he seems to be at home.
"Sky had to go take care of something. I'm sure there's someone else around here I could message, but... I don't want to bug anyone."
It's difficult to get up and get things for himself, but he could if he needed to.
"I'll be okay, though. I don't want you to risk running into one too..."
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Okay maybe not giant lizards with wings, but still. He'd keep to the trees and not be out in the open, which would theoretically make it even more difficult for a winged creature to follow.
"I could try to finish up some of those bones she couldn't get to. Might not get them all the way there, depending on how bad, but it'll be better than where you're at right now."
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He knows Levi is strong and can handle himself, but he's still going to worry.
"I'm in an underground bunker sort of thing under the castle. You can get to it through a hatch in the garden. Tell me if you have trouble finding it."
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Very funny, sir.
All told, it'll take him just over twenty minutes to get there. For the first few, he just watches Erwin sleep. It's something he's done quite a lot since coming to Somnius, since they first attempted sharing a bed; Levi doesn't sleep much as it is, and often has a hard time just lying there fully awake. But he's also spent plenty of hours sitting next to Erwin, or curled up and listening to his heartbeat, somehow. He's been doing it even more, lately, after all of those memories came to light. So before he even moves, Levi studies the sight of him, committing it to memory to give himself resolve to get up and leave him, even just for a few hours. It was easier to have Hange here in the cottage, but Levi is plenty aware that there are other people fairly attached to Finnick. It is what it is. There will always be risk when he's not looking.
He leaves a kiss to Erwin's hair and a note on the bedside table about where he's gone, straps into his gear, and leaves.
The hatch isn't the easiest thing to spot, but luckily he finds it after only a few minutes of poking around. Going underground isn't his favorite, but Finnick is far worth the discomfort.
Once inside, Levi calls a greeting before unsnapping the gear from the harness, stacking it neatly near the entry. Finally he strides closer, unclasping his green cloak as he goes. Underneath he's wearing all dark clothing, black pants and a dark gray long sleeved shirt with a wider scoop neck. Reaching Finnick's bedside, he leans in and drops a kiss on his hair, then gives him a critical glance over.
"You look like shit. Still alive, though."
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As he waits for Levi, Finnick drifts in and out of a light sleep, but snaps awake at the called greeting. He's tucked into the bed, and though Night Sky cleaned him up the best she could, he hasn't been able to change his shirt or bathe, so there's still dried blood on his clothes and some on his skin. His non-prosthetic arm is splinted to a small slab of wood and tied against his chest with vines that wrap around him in a makeshift sling.
And there is Levi, handsome as ever, standing over him. His heart swells with gratitude and he gives him a small smile, a tiny laugh through his nose.
"Alive by the skin of my teeth. Thanks for coming, handsome." It's a huge relief to see him, for some reason. Maybe for visual proof that he's safe, or maybe it makes Finnick feel more safe and comforted to have him here. Probably both.
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Finnick calls him 'handsome' with visible relief in his eyes, and Levi softens just enough to be noticeable, briefly touching his palm to the younger man's cheek, as though just to feel the warmth there. His expression shifts to a furrowed concern as he starts to take in the details - the dried blood, the smell that's clear Finnick really hasn't moved for a day or two. The splint is interesting, but looks well done. Levi isn't a doctor of any sort, but he's seen and tended plenty of injuries in the field.
"Couldn't let you mope about alone..." It irks him a little that Finnick is alone, but there things that people need to do, he supposes, and he's here now.
Hovering one hand above the arm, blue light begins to emanate from his palm, sending energy down into the bone to (hopefully) help it along, mending it slowly. After a moment or two, the corner of his lips grow tight, feeling a phantom of pain begin to throb through his own arm.
Trying to distract them both, he asks: "What else is broken?"
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He lays his prosthetic hand atop Levi's on his cheek, closing his eyes to savour his warmth.
Levi sends healing energy into his broken bone, and Finnick sighs audibly with relief as the pain immediately begins to abate.
"Ohhhh my god..." He murmurs.
"A rib or two on the other side." He pulls the blankets down to reveal more of his abdomen, his bloody shirt ripped in multiple places by dragon teeth. He points to one such rip along his ribs.
"Sorry it's a mess," he mutters, feeling bad that Levi has to deal with the uncleanliness of the situation. He couldn't get his shirt off without moving his arm, and frankly, did not feel it was worth the pain. At least there are no open wounds.
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Even as Finnick apologizes, Levi doesn't flinch or show any sign of disgust - if anything, it's clear he's seen a lot of this sort of thing, and doesn't even hesitate to start moving the ruined and bloody clothing aside once he's given as much energy to the arm as he dares, just to make sure he has enough juice for whatever's left.
"It's fine," he murmurs, because it is, and slips one hand between the rips to settle carefully over the spot, ugly with bruising. Gray eyes flick to Finnick's face a moment, his other hand settled against his wrist, curling under to press fingertips against his pulse. A sharp pain in his side makes him suck in a breath as he starts to mend the ribs.
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Finnick winces slightly at the pressure of Levi's hand, but then his face relaxes again as the pain dissipates. He closes his eyes and takes a deeper breath than he's been able to take since the attack, and it doesn't feel like a stab to his lungs.
"Oh, that's so much better, love... Thank you." The little pet name slips out in the euphoria of his relief. But as he blinks his eyes open, Levi looks to be in pain.
"Wait, are you... Does it hurt you?" His brows instantly knit together in concern.
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The endearment prickles, awakening pleasant little butterflies in his chest as a faint flush creeps up the back of his neck. Levi presses his fingertips a little more against soft skin, sneaking an almost shy glance at Finnick as he takes a breath of his own. The pain has already mostly subsided, and the bruises on warmly tanned skin are starting to lessen as well. Even with his full capacity, he probably doesn't get the remainder of Finnick's injuries completely healed, but he'll be much more comfortable -and mobile - at least.
He shrugs, and though the energy starts to subside, leaves his hand against Finnick's side, feeling him breathe better now. Good.
"S'gone already. But yeah, I can feel it a little. Not as bad as actually being hurt, and it goes away quickly."
His thumb traces lightly along the line of mended ribs. They might still ache a little, but Levi leans in to leave a soft kiss against the frown on his lips.
"Think this is all I can do for now..."
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The combination of pain relief and Levi's caring touch has improved Finnick's mood tenfold. He feels very grateful, and shows it by clasping the back of Levi's neck as he bends down, kissing him back firmly.
"It's more than enough. I really appreciate it," he says sincerely as their kiss breaks. While the pain isn't gone, Finnick now will have more independence and is looking at a lot less time spent recovering in bed overall. He's not sure how he got so lucky as to have such caring and kind people looking out for him.
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"Mm," he hums in response, leaving just one more brush of lips before leaning away to look at him again. His color is better, eyes brighter, and it's hard not to lean in and continue kissing him. The drain on his energy will start to catch up in the next few minutes, and there are a few other things he wants to do before that happens.
"Can get you out of that sling, probably, and get rid of those rags and cleaned up a bit," he says eyeing the shirt. It definitely needs to go, if nothing else. Levi pulls a familiar knife from his boot and starts to cut carefully at the vines binding Finnick's arm, well mindful of the blade. It'll only take a few slices before it starts to easily come away, and he sets it aside before starting to go for the remains of the younger man's shirt, tugging it enough to get at the hem without jostling him too much in case there's still pain in his ribs. Unless Finnick protests losing it (not that there is much to worry about, at this point), he'll cut up the center and at the shoulders and along the sleeves, exposing tanned skin and the planes of his chest.
Levi's scanning for any other injuries...and maybe just admiring him at the same time, too.
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"Mm. Please." Finnick nods, more than willing to let Levi cut away his bindings and his dirty shirt. He slowly props himself on his prosthetic arm as Levi works, making it easier for him to pull things out from underneath him. He winces a little at his own movement, but compared to just a few minutes ago when sitting up felt near impossible, he'll take this level of pain any day.
He gingerly moves his injured arm a little, freeing it from its held position against his chest and flexing his fingers gently. It complains a bit at the movement and feels very stiff, but probably no longer needs the same level of immobilization.
"I don't think the universe wants me to have working arms," he jokes. He looks up at Levi, whose grey eyes are tracing his abdomen, and a tiny smirk pulls at Finnick's lips.
"Don't get too distracted, Doctor Levi," he murmurs, though his seductive tone suggests he'd actually be perfectly fine with distracting him.
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The shadows of wounds left behind by the dragon's teeth leave little to the imagination of how dire Finnick's condition really was. Dark brows draw a little closer together as Levi lightly traces around pink, healed puncture wounds, still green and yellow and some darker bruising around the edges. A little flow of warmth eases into the flesh around them, trying to help a little with the pain, although he can't do much more at this point. He can't help but think about what Finnick said about having his scars erased, the proof of what he'd endured taken without his consent. ...he'll have plenty, now, but it doesn't feel like anything to celebrate.
At least Finnick seems to be in recovering spirits. Levi flicks him a look that could arguably be called smoldering, a nearly imperceptible curve at one corner of his lips.
"Doin' my best, here," he says solemnly, shifting instead to slide his palm meanderingly over Finnick's stomach, then up his chest, pressing over his heart. "S'pose you can't help being easy to look at..."
Levi leans in closer, slowly, almost like he's about to give him another kiss...
...and stops a few inches away. "Where's the sink, pretty boy?"
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Levi's rage burns hotter than the sun, and Finnick is sure that rage combined with his strength (both physical and strength of will) could threaten a God. Or at least a demi-God. Vaeros better watch himself.
Finnick lets himself down softly on the bed again, lying flat. That expression on Levi's face is very handsome, and those hands, touching him, relieving his pain even now...
"Glad you're enjoying the view... Those magic hands of yours are distracting me plenty." Not a great time to be aroused, but he can't help it. He's glad there are blankets on his lower half, still.
Finnick parts his lips to kiss Levi, then laughs quietly at his question.
"Bathroom over there." He points to a little hallway at the other end of the room, which leads to the bathroom and the rest of the castle.
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Levi can't say much for his own face, but Finnick himself is no slouch to look at, especially when he smiles and laughs, and some of that brightness and warmth comes through. Good, that's better. There's more color in him, less bruising. Finnick seems to spread out even more for him, and there's definitely something very approving in his gaze as he pulls back (not before stealing the quick kiss that he'd teased), gathering the ruined bits of fabric and pulling a few clean cloths from his own bag.
"Be right back. Don't get up and wander off without me." (Very funny, sir).
Pause.
"Unless you need to piss or something?"
Didn't he say it'd been at least a day or two? Probably been difficult to do with broken ribs.
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Finnick doesn't know what he's done right to make Levi look at him like that. It's still a wonder to him that Levi likes him at all. But he's eternally glad for it, because nothing thrills him like this man's approval.
Finnick chuckles softly after getting that kiss, then... Blinks.
"Oh. Uh... Yeah, actually, I do..." It's been... At least a day-ish since he left this bed. As soon as Levi says it, it's like his body is reminded of its own needs, and alarm bells ring.
His expression turns sheepish and his eyes dart away from Levi. Kind of embarrassing for the guy you like to have to help you to the bathroom! Especially when you also have an erection! But! He does have to fucking piss!
sorry about the wait lovely <3
The funny part is that Finnick has managed to do many things right, moreso than the majority of people, even those not trying to get into his pants. He's attentive and patient and kind, and so many other things that Levi really feels...so at ease in a way he doesn't experience with hardly anyone else.
If he suspects that Finnick might have an issue other than just needing to pee, it doesn't seem to register (possibly he doesn't think that Finnick could be this quickly turned on already-). But he'll find a bin or something to stuff the bloody rags into, and then come back to offer the younger man his hand to help him sit up and eventually scoot off the bed.
"Here. Swing your feet off the side and then lean on me."
Although he could probably carry him.
no worries! <3
He grips Levi's hand with his prosthetic one, pulling himself to sitting with a grunt. He allows his legs to fall over the side of the bed and rises slowly to his feet. His vision clouds for a moment, and he sways slightly, gripping Levi's shoulder. He's unable to feel himself touching Levi because of his fake hand, so he feels like he's floating for a moment, but his vision soon clears and he starts shuffling to the bathroom. Thank god Levi is short, so Finnick doesn't have to lift his arm too much to drape it across his shoulders. He's thankfully at least wearing boxers and isn't completely hard, so it isn't painfully obvious that he was just a little turned on.
Thanks to Levi's healing, walking doesn't cause him much pain, he's just a bit sluggish and weak. Probably due to the blood loss, he figures. His head also throbs a bit now that he's standing, probably for the same reason.
He sits down to pee, just to make things easier. He doesn't mind being mostly nude or pissing in front of Levi; he lost that part of his shame years ago. He exhales with relief as he empties his bladder.
"I should probably drink some more water."
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As he pisses, Levi turns his back and steps out a little, just to give him a bit of privacy even if it's not strictly needed.
"Yeah, you should," he agrees over his shoulder. "And eat something. I've got something that should work. I'll get it for you when you're back in bed."
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"I do look like shit," he grumbles, wetting a cloth in the sink and starting to clean himself up with his 'good' hand.
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He also doesn't want to wander away only for Finnick fall on the floor.
"...let me know if you want an extra hand," Levi offers from the doorway. It's not intended to be funny necessarily, but he'll be there whenever the other man is ready to shuffle back to bed - except that he'll deposit Finnick carefully in a chair with a glass of water to sip at while he strips the dirty sheets off the bed and lay down fresh ones. Only then will he permit him to get back in.
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"If it's one of yours, I'd welcome it," he mutters, definitely not inclined to ask for help but not willing to refuse it either, especially when it involves Levi touching him.
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Finnick had already done his face, but Levi starts there again anyway. Nudging his chin upward, gray eyes linger on aquamarine, and it's a little like looking at the sea on a bright, cloudless day. It's not hard to see how tired he is yet. Really, the man could do with a proper bath, but it's not possible yet with some of those wounds yet healing. This will have to do.
"Let me know if it's too hot," he mumbles before starting. Perhaps surprisingly, he's gentle - but there's yet a thoroughness and a method to his movements, ensuring he can clean as much skin as he can reach. One hand cleans, the other carefully guides Finnick to move his head from side to side, chin up and down. There's tenderness in the way his touch lingers, tracing softly over an eyebrow or along a cheekbone, moving over a scar on his throat.
Erasing scars, as though they could erase the horrors they'd inflicted on him.
He sets the thought aside, moving the cloth to trace over the curve of one shoulder, then the other, before stepping back to the sink to rinse and wring. The arm comes next, and Levi starts with Finnick's hand, wiping down the palm, then each finger, cleaning under the nail and around the nailbed. Even in these moments of focus, he flicks his gaze towards Finnick's face every so often, to check for signs of pain, or if holding himself upright is getting to be too much.
"...you have nice hands," he says quietly, before moving on to his upper arm. At least he's got one left.
cw dehumanization, reference of sexual abuse
"Well, now you're just rubbing it in," he mutters jokingly in response. He sits on the toilet and watches Levi closely, staring up into his gray eyes unblinkingly as the older man begins to clean his face. The look in his eyes portrays a complete trust in Levi, and a sort of reverence.
The way he touches Finnick seems to encapsulate Levi. He's meticulous, he's neurotic about cleanliness, he's utterly caring and kind and protective, and all of that translates through his movements. Even with a blank face, his touch communicates that Finnick is something precious to him, and Finnick actually feels that way. He rarely, if ever, has been sent the message that his body is worth caring for, for its own sake. Even the Capitol fixing his wounds and erasing his scars and bathing him and putting him in makeup and beautiful clothing was only so he would be appealing and palatable to the rich, since they can't swallow anything unsightly or disabled by the abuses they've suffered. It was not done out of care for him. It was done to make him a product, an expensive one, to be consumed and used over and over and over. Levi cleans him simply so that he doesn't have to feel dirty, so that he doesn't have to see his own blood again, so that he can feel more comfortable, so that his wounds don't get infected. He's not attentive to the task as though Finnick is a thing to be cleaned, the way the Capitol stylists would pluck out hairs without a word of warning, wax you while talking to their coworker about their vacation like you're not even there. Levi puts effort into making sure he doesn't hurt Finnick, so that it can feel nice as well as serve a practical purpose.
In this moment, a small part of Finnick is healed by a warm cloth and gentle hands, and a small part of him wants to cry a thousand tears until his body aches and shakes and collapses from exhaustion, because it's perhaps only now when he's being treated the way a person should that it truly hits him just how dehumanized he felt before.
Levi tells him he has nice hands, and Finnick thinks, I love you. He doesn't say it. Not yet.
He just says, "Do I? I mean, of course I do. I know that." With a wry little smile. Of course, every part of Finnick's body is perfect and beautiful and he's never thought or felt any other way about it. He's never loathed his own beauty or scrubbed his skin raw in the shower.
His arm and hand are still quite stiff, and he grimaces slightly as he tries to move it, tries to clench and unclench his fist. Too sore, and it barely has half his range of motion, so he just moves it as much as is needed to clean it properly. Levi isn't hurting him.
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