Page 115 of Caged In

Oh.

My bad.

He hadn’t been aware he’s showing his hurt. He thought he’d been doing a bang-up job hiding his discomfort. Masking it.

“Am I? I hadn’t noticed,” Izz tries to play it down, brushing off Sin’s concerns, even if they do give his stomach butterflies from the care Sin shows him.

Izz discovers it’s rather difficult to walk and not utter pained noises. He tries his best, with Sin eyeing his every move. He wants to show the other he can take it. He’s tough and not a weak pushover. He wants to impress Sin. He’s aware it’s a weird thing to want to impress someone about—not being in pain after their activities involving sharp objects—nevertheless, he wants to.

They step into the cafeteria together. And he’s thrilled with the VIP status, he isn’t so sure he could have stood in the line. His legs are already starting to give out, struggling to keep him upright.

He parts ways with Sin to sit—or rather wince down onto the bench—at The Gang’s table, between Sinj and Blake. With Zidie, Isco, Phelix and Reni on the opposite side, staring at him from across the table’s scratched surface.

The whole table is giving off the vibe of concern, worried at Izz’s harsh breathing. Erik is the only one not looking shocked or concerned, like he somehow knows what’s going on.

He catches the moment the rest figure it out. Sinj positively beams, grinning so wide his cheeks are liable to split. Zidie joins in on the grinning smirk. Reni’s face falls with concern. As does Blake’s. And Isco . . . well, Isco portrays indifference to the whole thing, right alongside Phelix.

He makes a point to not look David’s way, the man is sitting on Izz’s side of the table at the far end. With Blake and Erik between them, so he doesn’t have to see David unless he leans forward and intentionally tries. Which he has no plans of doing.

Izz doesn’t bother addressing their questioning expressions or easing any worried minds. He grabs his spoon, and uses it to shovel down the prison food he doesn’t hold in his mouth long enough to taste. Cramming it right into his barren stomach.

“Was itthatgood?” Sinj elbows Izz in the ribs, luckily missing hitting any of the countless slashes hidden away from view.

“Better,” Izz mumbles around a mouthful of food. Zero pause in the next spoonful he shovels in. He feels as though he hasn’t eaten in weeks.

Zidie laughs along with Sinj, his cupcake face boldly glancing over his shoulder to sneak a look at Sin in the usual place—sitting in the shadows of the far back table.

Izz glances over as well, his eyes connecting with the black ones already boring into him. He smiles softly, refocusing back on his meal.

~~~

The food helps with his light-headedness. The woozy sensations easing away. He’s better now that he has some food in him. His aches are dulling too or perhaps he’s merely getting used to them?

Either way, he’s well enough to be on board with following The Gang to the Rec-Room to play some card games. Slow and steady, with Reni by his side and the rest of The Gang well and truly ahead of them—

“Izz. You ‘right, my man. Ya bleeding,” Reni stops Izz in his tracks, a hand gripping his arm.

Izz follows his friend’s concerned gaze, down to his side—blood is seeping through his shirt.

Guess this one is a little deeper than he thought. He double checks the rest of his body . . . none of the others are bleeding through their bandages.

Does this one need stitches? He should probably have someone check it out. If it is bleeding enough to have soaked the bandage and is coming through his shirt, it would be a good idea to have a professional take a gander at it.

“I might need to go to Med-Wing,” Izz voices his thoughts. Tugging at his shirt, as if pulling it away from the injury will somehow stem the bleeding.

“I’ll take you,” Reni not so much offers, as states. Already pulling Izz in the direction of Med-Wing.

“I can get there myself,” Izz complains as he’s tugged along after his friend. Not that he knows where it is. He has a vague idea but he’s never been there before.

“No. You’re pale and already wobbling. How much blood have you lost?”

A good question. One Izz can’t answer as he doesn’t know.

He lets Reni lead him with hurried steps to the professionals. Watching the blood patch growing in size as they swiftly make their way through the corridors. With Reni muttering all kindsof things along the way. Mostly cursing out Sin under his breath. Izz ignores it, knowing Reni is only worried about him.

~~~

Med-Wing is surprisingly clean—neat, tidy and sparkling clean. With the smell of disinfectant lingering in the air.

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