[ Soldier can try to deny his fear all he wants — paint it as dislike, even — but Herbert Ludwig is too perceptive to be fooled by such obvious denial. He’s known Jane for long enough to understand the distinction between his hatred and his trepidation. ]
[ There aren’t many — if any — things that can make Soldier genuinely afraid, so to have confirmation that he had somehow earned a spot among such a small list should have been oddly satisfying to Herbert. Maybe in a different circumstance it would’ve been an achievement worth his pride, especially after he’d accentuated it with genuine praise of the doctor’s capabilities. Although whatever minute fulfillment he could’ve gained from his teammate’s words was vastly out-weighed by the displeasure he feels in knowing that it became reason for his ally to avoid him. The annoyance stemmed from the fact that it prevented the doctor from performing his job, sabotaging Soldier’s health, and his viability to be a reliable protector to him on the battlefield, in the process. It negates the genuine praise that he’d received at the end … almost. He appreciates the sentiments greatly, especially when there are so few who are willing to speak of him with such flattery. Still, the situation as it stands is far from ideal. ]
[ A deep frown enters his expression at the sight of the bruise that Soldier had been hiding from him, brows furrowed to convey the depths of his dissatisfaction at the sight, which had only been amplified by his teammate’s admissions. ]
Respawn can’t solve every problem that you have. That’s why you have me.
[ He sighs to allow his exasperation some form of release. Honestly, what is he going to do with this lead-poisoned Einfaltspinsel? At the best of times Soldier’s reckless abandon and violent tendencies made him the patient that frequented his infirmary the most. At this point Herbert became used to his visits, so to see a lack of him had already given Medic his suspicions. He didn’t account for the possibility that Soldier would be deliberately avoiding him due to some newfound fear, or that the problem would be this bad. If Herbert was honest with himself, he’d admitted that it had him worried for Soldier’s wellbeing, but it also left him frustrated by how much this has sabotaged their working relationship without intention, and hearing how the other has been attempting to replace his services didn’t leave him feeling much better. ]
[ The respawn machine, however miraculous it may be, was no substitute for proper ( albeit ethically questionable ) medical treatment. If the Administrator thought otherwise then she wouldn’t have went out of her way to find a suitable doctor for the eight other menaces she employed. Based on the look of Soldier’s torso, his bandage solution was a far cry from a replacement for Herbert’s expertise. The damage done to the innards beneath must’ve been bad to produce that sort of color. ]
I only gave you the sedative to help you calm down. You were distraught back then. All that drug did was slow down your brain’s activity. It never changed who you are. It just felt that way because you’re always so … how do I put it? Intense. You simply aren’t used to being mellow, so when your mind was forced into it, it somehow gave you the impression that you’d lost your sense of self as well.
Rest assured, mein Freund, that was never the case. No amount of drugs I give you could ever make you un-American.
[ Medic tried to give some sort of consolation, and in the process his tone of voice became noticeably less grumpy to make his message more digestible. ]
If you don’t have outbursts like that again then I won’t have to give you the drug anymore.
[ He didn’t wait for Soldier’s consent before he took the hem of his shirt into his own hand to keep it lifted. His eyes subjected the bruised area to a clinical stare. ]
Now let me have a look at this. You’ve avoided me for long enough.
