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I'm fine. [ Whether JJ is is the real question, or at least so his tone says. ] I was supposed to be the distraction.

[ He's a little put out, really. There he was, being all helpful and acting as bait, and JJ came back and ruined it. Though he's not so put out that he's not widening his stance, bracing himself to take JJ's weight. He even brushes a hand over the back of JJ's neck, feeling how hot his skin is, pressing his fingers to JJ's temples to test the clammy skin there. ]

Not that I'm ungrateful for the help, but you don't seem to be in any shape for fighting.

[ Or standing, really. Cain wraps an arm around JJ's shoulders, willing to let him stay there and lean against him for however long he needs. ]

[ "I'm fine," Cain says, blatantly taking advantage of the fact that JJ hasn't noticed that he's been sliced up. It is difficult for JJ to notice anyway, when it's so pitch black around them, moonlight barely making into the alleyway. If it had been JJ in Cain's position, he'd never both to make light of the fact that he's bleeding, so it's difficult for him to fathom that it would be something that Cain might not mention.

He's certainly not going to put up any sort of front, and once he realizes that Cain can bear his weight, he sags against him, adrenaline giving way to exhaustion. ]

That's true. But it's not JJ Style to leave a friend behind.

[ He smiles, turning his head slightly so that he can smile up at Cain, teasing. The relief of their escape has granted him some mental energy at least, though he shows no indication of moving away. It might be awkward to be in this position when they don't know each other that well, but JJ's comfortable where he is. ]

I'm grateful that you'd sacrifice yourself for me, of course. But what were you doing with those shady guys, anyway?

[ He's not dead, and he can stay on his feet, he's totally fine! Sure, it may be a somewhat broad definition of the word, but what JJ knows won't hurt him. The last thing JJ needs is having to worry about him on top of everything else, after all.

Though the trickle of blood slowly wetting Cain's sleeve might give him away. Hopefully JJ's a bit too woozy and occupied with leaning against him to notice. ]

JJ Style, huh? Well, I'm grateful. It's not a bad sort of style at all. [ There's a bit of laughter in his voice. JJ still seems out of it, but to make such a claim, that it's not his style to leave a friend behind... JJ's a pretty cool guy. ] As for what I was doing, I was trying to track them back to their hideout. [ His voice is wry; obviously the attempt isn't succeeding tonight. ] They were part of the group responsible for that attack in the market, so I'm glad for the save.

[ Never mind that he might not have needed the save in the first place if not for JJ's interruption, or that he might have been able to make a quick escape himself if not for having to worry over JJ during the fight. Such thoughts don't even occur to Cain. He can't regret that his pursuit was interrupted when he'd rather be here to make sure JJ doesn't keel right over. ]

[ JJ's head jerks up at that tidbit of revelation—a move that isn't his greatest idea, his head throbbing at the motion, and body taking a second to reorient before he can fix Cain with a surprised stare. ]

You too? [ Cain had said it so normally, but it's really not normal for regular civilians to get up and pursue criminals. ] Are you part of the police? Why is everyone... everyone's just going after actual terrorists. Is that normal?

[ It boggles JJ's mind, when all the conflict that he'd known before this was limited to sports competitions. Thankfully he'd never been a victim or known anyone who was victim to a crime aside from some petty thefts, but he couldn't fathom regular people undertaking their own investigations to pursue the perpetrators. That in itself would probably lead to committing a crime.

He furrows his brows, fingers brushing down the side of Cain's arm as his hand falls from his shoulder, and he jerks again at the sensation of something wet a foreign against his skin. ]

Wait, wait. [ It's taking a second for his muddled brain to catch up. ] Are you... bleeding? Is that your blood?

[ Then, in a moment of clarity: ]

Do you need a hospital?

[ Ah, just what he'd wanted to avoid having JJ notice... But he can't yank his arm away like he wants to. For one, that'd be too suspicious. For another, he's worried that JJ might fall right over if he makes a sudden movement like that. Cain's left to wince, hoping the expression is hidden by the dim lighting even though they're nearly nose-to-nose, staring into each other's eyes. ]

Of course not, I'm fine. Most of it's not mine.

[ That's reassuring, right? Most of it, it's just a scratch, he lets his casual tone imply, hoping that JJ, in his fevered state, will buy it. JJ seems pretty scattered, after all. Easily muddled. Maybe a distraction will get him out of being worried over?

It's worth a try.

Brightly, Cain presents a not-at-all suspiciously swift change of topic. ]

Anyway, I'm a soldier back home. [ Home, Idelva. He still can't think of El Nysa as home. He still has hope that his home can somehow be rescued and restored. ] A general, actually. I'm used to this kind of dangerous thing. So I guess it is pretty normal for me.

[ Yes, someone made him general of a not particularly small army. What he doesn't care to mention is that he'd consider throwing himself into danger as normal even without being in the military. Risking himself for others is something he does without a second thought, with or without the rank to back up his penchant for doing whatever he wants. ]

What? [ What? ] You were a general? But aren't you my age?

[ Then again, he reflects, delving into an internal monologue, people used to be considered adults at a much younger age, even back on Earth—even in the present day in some places. It could very well be part of the culture to hit puberty and be thrust into the world as an adult as young as twelve or thirteen. That could be likely for Cain, given that he'd described himself as a "soldier" rather than stating he was in some specific country's military. Not to mention the fact that he's used to fighting with knives instead of rifles.

Needless to say, JJ is distracted, lost in thought before his attention wanders back to Cain. ]

Did you join the army right after puberty? [ Which isn't as relevant as: ] And even if you're used to it, I don't think you can become immune to blood loss.

[ Cain's diversion hadn't worked as well as he might've hoped, and suddenly it feels like JJ can't stop smelling the blood, aware of its presence between the two of them. His hand wanders back to Cain's arm, hovering before settling lower, by his elbow. ]

Maybe you just can't feel how much it hurts. It could still be dangerous.

It's fine, I promise. It doesn't hurt at all, I've had much worse!

[ He's laughing as he says it, entirely feigned. Just another smokescreen to keep JJ from worrying over him, even if what he's saying almost isn't a lie — he has had worse, and just like now, had tried to hide the extent of his injuries.

Really, why isn't this topic change strategy working! ]

And no, not right after puberty.

[ His voice is teasing, no offense taken. He is around JJ's age, and he knows he's young for his position. Having to flee from your kingdom when it's destroyed from the inside out, lost to corruption, does that. He's also quite happily trying to avoid that very relevant point about blood loss. It's another bid at distraction, but still playful as he balances JJ with one arm and pokes JJ's cheek. ]

[ That sounds fake. JJ's never been stabbed, but he's had paper cuts, and once accidentally sliced his finger while cooking, so he can imagine that having a huge gash that is actively bleeding is probably not the best accessory to be wearing.

Not that he knows the first thing about dealing with wounds like this. Does Cain need stitches? A tourniquet? ]

Are you dizzy? Cold?

[ He also has no idea what happens when you're experiencing blood loss, this is the absolute worst. Never mind his own feverish state and rapidly depleting energy—his eyelids are starting to droop from fatigue, and he dips forward to rest his forehead on Cain's shoulder again.

In lieu of any actual medical attention, he wraps his arms around Cain in a hug. ]

It's going to be okay.

I... yes. [ Laughter in his voice, and Cain, despite the pain in his arm, lifts his hand to pat JJ's head. ] It's going to be okay, that's right.

[ He's bleeding, but sluggishly, not enough that he has to worry about blood loss soon, after all. And it's funny, adorable really, that JJ who can barely stand on his own, who's leaning on him for balance, is telling him that it's going to be okay. If anyone should be worrying, it's Cain. JJ only seems to be getting worse, if the way he's hugging Cain is any indication. ]

I'm not cold at all now, actually. Thanks, you're very warm. [ Wry, teasing, and he shifts, trying to get JJ to put an arm around his shoulders instead of a hug. ] But we should still probably get you home.

I was on my way to the clinic. [ JJ mumbles into the fabric of Cain's shoulder.

It's true. The symptoms of the illness were becoming a bit too much for him to bear, the coughing and nausea getting in the way of his ability to sleep, giving him the motivation to charge out of his apartment in the middle of the night out of pure frustration.

But the truth works in his favour in more ways than one, a sly smile spreading across his face as he tilts his head slightly to direct it at Cain. ]

So I guess you'll have to get your arm checked out anyway.

[ It all worked out in the end, didn't it? ]

[ A brief moment of silence before Cain lets out a startled huff of laughter, his breath close enough to ruffle JJs' hair, warm against the shell of JJ's ear. ]

Well, since that's where you were going anyway... [ His voice is dry, but a little admiring. He's giving in, not even going to try to argue. Cain knows when he's been beaten, and JJ's outmaneuvered him quite neatly here. ] You're a sneak, you know that?

[ A sneaky sneak who's using his own illness against Cain, and there's nothing Cain can do to that. He certainly isn't about to let JJ wander through the streets alone, after all. ]

[ JJ had been doing nothing but being honest, but he's happy to soak up the praise, quite liking the way that he comes across as this mastermind.

Which is why his eyes are positively sparkling when he straightens up again, though it comfortable to lean against Cain, warm and sturdy against JJ's loose limbed form. ]

I'm more than a pretty face.

[ His grin stretches wider at that, and he gives Cain a playful wink before pulling away, his energy—coming and going—having returned for the moment. Or at least, he has enough that he can walk to clinic without needing Cain to carry him. ]

But come on tough guy. [ His arm winds around Cain's shoulder, and he gives him a friendly pat. ] Let's get you checked out.

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