#tw overprotective

(This series is created using the prompts from @summer-of-whump)

Continued from here

@sparrowsage @painsandconfusion @darkthingshappen

CW: Overprotective caretaker, gunshot wound, pushed too hard

"What's his name?"

"What's your name?" Killian asked, looking up at the stranger standing in the doorway of the hospital room— the man who had saved Shea's life.

"I'm Liam. Nice to meet you." Liam stepped closer and held out a hand for a handshake.

Killian took it. "I'm Killian and this is Shea. Thank you, again, for stepping in when you did."

Shea was still unconscious, but the doctors had said he would be alright. They had removed the bullet and closed the wound.

"He's lucky the bullet didn't hit anything important. May I?"

Killian gestured to a chair, inviting Liam to sit. "Go ahead."

"He should be waking up pretty soon. Who shot him?"

"... The man who owned him before the new law was passed." Killian leaned back in his chair, looking at Shea. "I knew him. And I found Shea because of our connection."

"You're friends with the man who shot him?"

"No—" Killian answered quickly. "Our families know each other, but we were never really friends. We... we're too different. I contributed to the evidence that helped pass the law protecting Ales Homines. Ni— er— the man who shot him, he snapped and decided he wanted to kill Shea rather than release him when the law passed. Probably feared Shea was going to get him arrested for all the awful things he did... but he wouldn't do that..."

"Why not? What did he do?"

Killian shook his head. "It's not my story to tell. He'll tell it when he's ready. He's... he's too gentle to do anything about what was done to him. I don't know if that's just his personality or if it's how the family conditioned him to be..."

"How old was he when he was taken..?"

Killian hesitated. Why was Liam so interested in the details? Just as he was about to respond, however, Shea started trying to sit up. Killian reflexively reached forward and stopped him. "Don't get up. You were shot. Don't hurt yourself."

"I'll get one of the nurses." Liam said, excusing himself.

Shea laid back down. "Ki... Killian..? Where am I..?" He asked, eyes wandering around the white room.

"You're at the hospital. I couldn't get the bleeding to stop. Someone saw and stopped to help."

"... I-I'm at the hospital..?"

Killian nodded.

Shea's face went pink. "I... I'm sorry... I don't want to cause problems... I-I'm okay— really—"

"Stop it. You're not causing problems. Nicholas is. And you are okay now, but you weren't."

"I... but, hospitals are expensive..."

"Don't worry about it."

"I ca... I can't repay you."

"I know. I don't want you to."

The door opened and a nurse entered. Liam didn't come back.

"Hey!" The nurse smiled, standing next to Shea. "How are you feeling? Is the pain okay?"

Shea shrunk back.

"It's okay, Shea. They're not going to hurt you."

The nurse put their hands up. "Honest. I just want to check in on you. I know you're probably scared, but I just want to help."

"I... I-I'm okay..." Shea's voice was small.

Killian sighed.

"Do you think you can stand?" The nurse asked.

Shea's face paled, but he nodded, sitting up carefully.

Killian almost stood, compelled to speak for Shea— obviously he wasn't going to speak for himself. He stopped himself, however. As much a it was difficult to watch, Killian wanted Shea to find his voice. He wouldn't do that if Killian was speaking for him.

The nurse helped Shea stand and Shea took a step forward, then another. Then he stumbled a couple of steps and the nurse had to catch him. Killian also bolted to his feet, taking two steps to help before pausing.

Shea yelped as he was caught and the nurse lowered him gently to his knees. He was trembling.

Killian cursed under his breath before finally making a choice and walking over to Shea and the nurse. "He can't say no to people." Killian tried to keep his voice calm as he knelt next to Shea. "Are you okay?"

"I understand that." The nurse said, their tone a little irritated. "We've had an influx of abused Winged in here since the law passed. Even if he can't say no, you can't say no for him. You can't feel his pain level. I have to take him at his word. Besides. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to take at least a couple steps. It's a perfectly reasonable expectation."

"I-I'm sorry— I-I can stand— I"

The nurse's tone softened. "No. It's okay. You did really well. You don't need to walk any more right now."

Killian knew his expression was dark. He didn't care. "Get out."

"Excuse me?"

"I said, get out. If you take him at his word, then you're going to hurt him. Get out. Send someone else in."

"You want me to just leave him on the floor." The nurse asked, incredulously.

"Yes. Get out. Don't make me say it again."

The nurse's face paled, then flushed red. "Fine." They snapped, getting up. They left.

"Shea?" All the irritation dissipated from Killian's tone. "Hey, are you okay?"

Shea's eyes were brimming with tears. "I-I... That re-really hurt..."

"I know... I know it did. Come here, let me help you." Killian gently helped Shea to stand, supporting almost all of his weight. "Let's get you back in bed. Here. Sit."

Shea grabbed Killian's hand before he could move away. "Pl-please don't leave me here—"

"I'm... I'm not going to leave you. I'm staying here until they release you from the hospital and then I'm taking you back to my house."

The door opened. "You sent the nurse out?" It was Liam again.

"Yes." Killian turned to him without making Shea let go of him. "They were going to end up hurting him worse if they continued with what they were doing."

"You're kind of protective, don't you think..?"

"Yes." Killian snapped.

"Hey, I didn't say it was a bad thing." Liam put his hands up. "Just an observation. I think... he probably needs someone like that right now. I just came back to see if you wanted me to drive you back to your house after they release him."