Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 9)

(Yeah fair)
(Also think we got cut off so not sure what she’s agreeing to haha)

“For sure.” She nodded. She was barely even tired at this point.

(Also oof @ my autocorrect it went “she was barely even talking” instead of tired then switched to “barely eating” — TOO SOON)

(Whoop sorry! Internet issue;I just fixed it.)

(Dang autocotrect got its finger on her pulse)

"Good. Thank you." He dipped his head.

(All good!)

“Of course,” she said with a nod and little smile, though she was still attempting to look ahead rather than at him. It seemed less embarrassing for them both that way. “Is there a good window up there?”

"Yes." He nodded. "Haven't been in there for a long time but I seem to recall a very large window facing the direction you pointed in."

“Sounds good.” She hesitated as they got to the fourth floor landing, deciding to offer a break in case he wanted to rest. “…you good?”

"I need to stop for a moment." He straightened, leaning himself against the wall and closing his eyes tightly. "Thank you."

“Sure thing.” Ky stepped away, focusing on keeping her breathing silent. He wouldn’t let her help him up the last flight if he noticed she was breathing even a little heavy. Even though she was fine. It was more the stairs than his weight, honestly. She’d already had to climb two flights to get to the library and now she had to climb two more. She wasn’t accustomed to them.

(Just got to work again! Be back in like 4 hours lol)

(See you! Have fun!)

He opened his eyes after a few moments, staring down at his leg in silence. His bedroom was on the fifth floor as well; would he be able to make it up there in a year? Half a year? He rested a hand on his leg with a small sigh, rubbing it wearily.

(Spoiler: I did not. Goddamn my fucking job)

Ky recovered faster than he did, but didn’t want to rush him. Should she try to distract him? Or just keep her mouth shut. She decided that was the safer move. Best not to piss people off when they were already in pain — bad things happened.

(Aw I'm sorry)

"What do you think?" he asked after a few moments, tapping his leg.

(Thanks ;-; I have a gimpy wrist from a stupid, stupid thing I did in high school. It usually doesn’t bother me at all, it’s just weak in a very specific direction. So I usually don’t notice it at unless I try to use it in that angle lol like I can’t pick up a tray/laptop with my left hand only. Sure. Fine. Whatever. Sunday I think it was I got my hand caught in the net and it hurt it again. Next day it was a little sore but okayish and then a fucking bass hurt it again. Been fine the past two ish days, weak, but not sore. And tonight another fucking fish decided to fight me at exactly the right angle and my entire forearm hurts like fuck. Much worse than the rest of the week)

Ky glanced at him, startled. Surely he wasn’t asking her about whether he should amputate his leg. Surely. “…About what?”

(Fish are fake remember
You gotta fight em back for fucking up your wrist again)

"If every bone starting at the knee and going all the way to your foot was shattered and hurt to walk on for twenty years, would you cut it off or keep going as you are?" he asked plainly. "Strictly from your own perspective."

(Yeah actually I guess I can’t complain too much, I wasn’t being particularly nice to that fish in that exact moment haha)

So he was asking her that.

“Um… well… I mean… if an apothecary says… um…” She hesitated. Fuck it. He was explicitly asking her for her opinion. If he didn’t like it, well. Maybe he’d stop asking for it. Stop forcing her to make decisions. “…but personally, I think I would. I don’t see the point in being in pain if there are aides to help. And there are.” She flushed. “…but… I mean… that’s just — like, it’s not — I think it’s a lot easier as a hypothetical than an actual question. I may feel differently if it were my leg in question. I don’t know.”

"Mm." He flexed his toes, wincing. "I'm not sure I want to get rid of it."

Ky glanced at his leg. “…Are there like, crutches or something to take more of the weight off?” She glanced at his injured hand and then quickly looked away. Was that a mistake? “If… I’m not sure if that would help.”