Basil and Thym Short Stories

"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

Basil rushed to push a cloth up against the wound on Thym's side, slowing the heavy bloodflow.  
"It's just a scratch." Thym protested, even as they winced "Im fine."
Basil sat by his apprentice on the floor of their dorm and shook his head.
"You look like you were stabbed!  What happened?"
Thym looked up at Basil and grinned.  Their nose was bloodied and there was a large bruise starting to form along their lower jaw.
"Just a little scuffle uptown.” they said dismissively “You should see the other guys"
"Uptown?" Basil gasped lightly "did you drag yourself all the way back to the Keep?  Alone?  How much blood have you lost?"
"Oh Im sorry" Thym snarked "I forgot to measure it as I was trying not to die."
Basil sighed. "I'm going to take a look at the wound real quick, ok?"
Thym nodded, and Basil lifted the cloth, examining with a keen, calculating eye, and then quickly replaced it, pressing down on the cut again and ripping a pained gasp out of Thym.
"Doesn't look deep enough for any vital organ damage." Basil said softly, relieved "But its not going to stop bleeding on its own.  Let's get you to the medical wing and get you patched up."
"All right." Thym sighed, shakily trying to pick themself up off the floor.  Basil stood with them and offered support, holding Thym up with one arm and continuing to apply pressure to the wound with the other.  Thym's steps were slow and unsteady as they made their way down the halls of Orion Keep, and they leaned on Basil heavily, until they finally shivered and whispered "Hey...Bas?  I think...I might..." before they could finish, they blacked out, and as Basil caught them, he was surprised to find that he'd already been supporting most of their weight.  Thym always found ways to make themselves seem big, but now, as Basil scooped them up and carried them the rest of the way to the med wing, he was forced to notice how small his apprentice really was.  

  When Thym awoke, it was back in their own room, with Basil at their side.  
"Thym.  Welcome back."
Thym sat up a little. "Heh, how long was I out?"
"About an hour." Basil replied, sitting on the edge of the bed "got you all patched up, but you need to take it easy.  Those stitches won't help you if you don't take time to    heal."
Thym settled back into the blankets. "Yeah, I know."
Basil looked away and sighed a heavy sigh.
"Thym, I wish you'd stop doing this.  I know it's hard to ask for help, and I know that you don't like to walk away from a fight, but-"
"Woah, woah, slow down Bas," Thym interrupted "it isn't like this is a habit, it was bound to happen once."
Basil stared at Thym intensely, but silent, challenging their lie, until Thym looked away, ashamed.  "I know, I know.  You saw the scars.  Listen I...came from a rough background.  Stuff like this happens and you pull yourself back together and move  on."
  "That doesn't have to be your life anymore!" Basil protested "What if I hadn't happened to hear you getting back last night?  Thym...you're one of us now.  No one here is going to take advantage of your pain, we don't see you as weak. We just want to help.  I just want to help."  
  Thym was silent.
  Basil stood "well, you need water and some iron rich foods, I'll be back in a moment."
  "Hey, Basil?"
  Basil stopped, halfway out the door, and looked back. "Yeah?"
  Thym smiled.  "Thank you."