{ together we're somehow better than we are by ourselves

[concisely]

[Regardless of skill, when you're fighting, there's always some risks involved. No matter how many perfect battles you fight, there will always be times when your enemies surprise you. There's not always enough time to react. Anyone who's fought a decent number of battles knows that.

By the time Richter realized what was happening, it was too late to stop it; the dog-like creature had caught Emil from behind. Even though Richter called out to him-- there just wasn't enough time.

It wasn't anyone's fault, but that didn't stop Richter from feeling frustrated as his powerlessness shows. Two powerful strikes later, the beast falls, but the damage has already been done. Despite the fact that Emil's still standing... that he's doing his best to be brave, Richter still feels this ugly pain in his chest. Seeing him hurt scared him, deep down, and brought to the corners of his mind things he didn't want to think about. Complicated, painful things.]

Come here, we need to fix that.

[There was no questioning it- they needed to stop again. Even though it would slow them down, the older man didn't care. Any attempts to argue it would be met with zero tolerance.]

Comments

[aureinsof]

[Even knowing Richter wouldn't take no for an answer, it doesn't stop Emil from trying. He hates it when he gets hurt in battle. At least with the others, they usually had a healer around. But with just him and Richter, it means wasting supplies. Why did he have to be so careless...?]

Uhm, all right, but... I'm sorry. I should have been paying more attention.

[The truth was that it had been Emil fighting, not Ratatosk Mode. And he was trying so hard to be a good fighter. Still, he'd messed up, and he drags his feet as he walks to Richter so that he can look at the injury. It definitely feels like it nailed along his back and side but he doesn't want to say much about it.

Richter will just worry more.]

[concisely]

[Richter's eyes narrow at the apology. The words 'it's unnecessary' are on the tip of his tongue, yet he restrains himself. Surely Emil had heard enough of that to know better. No... he was saying it now out of some genuine feeling that he was in some way at fault. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what foolish notions they were, but it wasn't something that he should be brushing off the way he usually did with things he felt he didn't need to hear.]

...at least you're alright.

[It did take him a moment to consider his words, but in the end, he chose what was, he felt, the most important thing to be considered. If anything had really happened to him, he...

His fingers falter just a moment, in the middle of what is otherwise a very swift and careful treatment. Those kinds of thoughts really weren't going to help him any here. Among the things that Richter was uncomfortable with, at the forefront was showing weakness or burdening others with his troubles. He never intended to make Emil face that-- he had enough obstacles of his own to overcome.]

[aureinsof]

[Now that he and Richter had a more open relationship, he felt like he was able to read him better, too. Richter really meant that. It wasn't just a kindness. He really was truly grateful that Emil was safe, for himself in some selfish way too. And that made him... happy, if he had to be honest.]

...It's okay Richter. [Emil hesitates before putting one hand over Richter's own.] I'll be more careful next time. I think you'd be scary if I really got myself hurt bad. [It's mostly a joke. He really hopes Richter wouldn't do anything too bad.] Besides, you don't want to spend all your time taking care of me.

[concisely]

Then be sure you never have a reason to face my wrath.

[...it's a joke. A poor one, really, but an attempt at mirth all the same, or as close as he can get to joking about the matter so quickly after his injury.]

...how does it feel?

[He studies Emil's face as if he's prepared to shoot down anything even resembling a lie.]