Work Text:
This time, it was different.
You could hear quiet snoring from the vent next to you. There was no voice luring you into crawling through, but by this point, you knew the drill. As you clambered through the claustrophobic tunnel, a wave of uncertainty washed over you. Were you about to see something you weren't supposed to? This felt surreal. It most definately was different from the usual encounter with Sebastian Solace, but you could get used to the absence of snide comments from your fishy "friend".
You emerged from the vent, but your body instinctively froze at the sight before you. Sebastian really was asleep. No tricks up his sleeve, no gun immediately pressed against your head, no-- all that was present was the sound of quiet breathing. His tail was curled around himself, his arms propped up against it and his head resting atop of two arms. Bags hung heavy under his eyes, but that wasn't the first thing that caught your eye. Instead, your gaze landed on a gash on his third arm. The small bloodstream trickling from the cut told you that the injury was recent.
Now, you have a medkit on you. Two, actually. One of the expendables who came with you had dropped it after gazing into the eyes of the Eyefestation. Should you use what supplies you had to treat the wound?
...yeah, sure, why not? Either way, if Sebastian woke up and decided violence, you'd just come back. Like you always do.
By this point, you were thankful for the change of the script you followed.
As you stepped closer to the man, he let out a huff which was followed by unintelligable murmuring. You kneeled before him and opened one of your medkits, silently setting it down beside you. After all, you wouldn't want to wake him. He'd probably have a gun to your forehead within a millisecond if you did.
Your hand reached out to grab Sebastian's injured arm, your fingers brushing against the rough skin around the injury. His expression shifted, yet he didn't wake. As soon as you moved your hand away to grab an alcohol wipe, his eyes opened with haste.
An animalistic snarl left his mouth as he rose up, his eyes narrowed as he loomed over your shorter frame. "What the HELL were you doing?!" He barked, his upper right hand reaching behind him for his gun. You motioned to his arm, which upon further inspection, seemed to be covered in old scars.
Sebastian's gaze shifted to the open medkit which laid beside you. He seemed to calm down, yet his guard remained up. Then, he looked at his injured arm. "Were you trying to..." he asked to which you nodded.
"While I was asleep? Where did you think that would get you?" His fins flared up as he interrogated you. "You think I wouldn't wake up to the burning of alcohol? Or you touching me in general?"
You shrug in response.
Despite his skeptical demeanor, he showed you his injured arm. Without hesitation, you begin to gently rub an alcohol wipe over the cut. Sebastian flinches, a hiss leaving his lips. Yet, he didn't move away. He watches as you dress his wound, yanking his arm away as soon as you were done.
"Took you long enough." Sebastian scoffed before turning away and examining the bandages.
"...well? Do you plan on standing there all day?" He questioned, listening to you leave his shop. As soon as you were far away, he huffed. How had he managed to fall asleep? Last thing he remembered, he was talking to Painter and--
"...I guess two days of no sleep is my limit."