Work Text:
Jigen just finished bandaging Lupin's wrist, the wound he got while running away from yet another assassin who was after them.
"It's going to give you one hell of a scar. Your pain tolerance is still surprising me."
The gunman said with raised eyebrow. He already was impressed with Lupin's patience when he got shot in the leg while protecting Jigen, an action he couldn't understand for long, something that was still haunting him, the way not he only couldn't protect him but also the way he was the cause of the hurt and how the only way he could react to something like this at the time was pushing Lupin away before he could hurt him more.
"You keep forgetting I'm the best thief in the world. It's not the first time someone hurt me and won't be the last. I got used to it."
He shrugged, grinning widely, proudly raising his chin.
Well. Jigen would prefer if he wouldn't get used to shit like that.
"Now, time for you."
Lupin mused, moving on the couch, so he could face the gunman.
"Tch, I'm fine, I told you already."
Jigen rolled his eyes which was a wrong decision because the second he did so pain shoot through his head. Still, it was better than what Goemon and even Lupin went through. He just had to disinfect the wound and it was going to be alright.
"Come on, don't be stubborn. You are scaring everyone with all that blood on your face."
Lupin held out his hands, wiggling his fingers as he shuffled closer to his partner. Jigen sighed, staring at the thief in silence for a second, while the other was just smiling, patiently waiting. Finally, he gave up, throwing him bandage that was left after caring for Lupin's wound.
"Just don't take your sweet time with it. I don't want all my work to go to waste if you move your hand too much."
The thief smiled even wider, if it was even possible, and patted Jigen's knee.
"Don't worry about it, I'm gonna be as fast as possible."
He ensured as he stood up to change the water that his partner previously used to clean his wound. Jigen's stare followed him to the bathroom and back as he sat on the couch. The gunman saw the smallest hint of pain on thief's face as he put too much pressure on his wrists but soon it was gone. Jigen had to remind himself that Lupin in fact really had worse.
"I'm gonna have to take off your hat, Jigen."
Lupin said, staring at the spot where the gunman's eyes were hidden and Jigen had to stop himself from biting a lip. Why would he say that? Couldn't he just take it off? Why would he try to be so delicate with him? He wasn't made from the glass. He didn't need it. So he just shrugged.
"Go for it."
With those words the thief leaned closer, placed one hand on the hat and started slowly raising it, while holding strings of hair that were held together with a brim of the hat with dried blood. Move revealed the mess that was Jigen's head, something that looked worse than it really was. Lupin hissed at that and Jigen got that feeling again. Stop. I had worse. It's not bad in any way. No need to be so scared about something as small as some blood.
Then his partner got the cloth and started dabbing softly at the wound and skin around it, cleaning the mess and revealing the cut. He worked carefully but not slowly and Jigen already knew his partner was skilful when it came to taking care of the wounds - he was the one that cared for Jigen's arm when he was shot, stitches made swiftly and precisely. But this time stitches wouldn't be needed. And this wound wasn't life threatening and sure, maybe it would make him slower a bit for a few hours but all he needed was a bit of rest. There was no point in taking care of him in that way. But Lupin was a stubborn man, and as a stubborn man he was still cleaning the cut and this way Jigen could see his face so close, eyes fully focused on the wound. When he leaned down to take a bottle of alcohol they used to disinfect wounds he caught Jigen staring at him with a deep frown. But instead of commenting it in any way he just winked, quickly coming back to his work.
"Gonna hurt a little."
He knew Jigen had worse. Shit. He was here for him when he had worse. Why being like that then? The feelings of annoyance and vulnerability danced in his chest in choreography he knew so well as he felt alcohol being poured on the head. Then the soft moves again, cleaning strings of hair around the cut. He glanced down, not to have to stare at the thief's face anymore as he put gaze on the wound. He thought that maybe this way he can survive to the end of it but suddenly Jigen felt his chin being raised, two long fingers holding it.
"Head up."
Lupin mused, shooting him a smile before his eyes focused on Jigen's head again, bandaging it and only now the gunman realised how tense he was. He tried to relax his arms, knowing all of this is finally coming to an end. But he couldn't be more wrong when a hand was put on his cheek, Lupin checking his work, moving Jigen's head from side to side. Then he reached for the cloth once again and to the horror of Jigen started to clean the blood from his cheek. Now their faces were on the same level and Jigen suddenly couldn't bear it anymore. He grabbed Lupin's wrist, making him hesitate in the move.
"Stop it."
And he hated how his voice sounded in a quiet room, how it almost felt like he was begging, so much vulnerability in it, because of something so mundane. How could he be a mess because of this, how fucked in the head he is.
"Stop treating me like I could shatter at any moment. I'm not weak, I don't need care like this."
He hated, hated how his voice sounded almost like a sob, how could he tell him he wasn't weak when he was close to crying now, how Lupin could ever see him as someone strong enough, why would he choose to have him as a partner when all he did was putting him in danger and having to rely on him all the time to fucking do anything, and-
"Of course you aren't, idiot, I've seen you. Now, let go off my hand, don't be a stubborn brat."
No, Jigen couldn't have that, couldn't have it, why Lupin was polishing a walking gun this way? Why not just leave him to take care of his wounds by himself, why do this?
He didn't realise he was saying it all out loud until Lupin frowned. Jigen bore the stare until the thief sighed, and he thought that maybe finally he will let him go but instead he just opened this damn mouth again.
"We are partners, Jigen. I care if you're hurt or not and I want to help you with the wounds, if I can. Especially the ones that make you think you should bleed all by yourself. And if cloth on your cheek and bruises on the wrist are what I have to go through to make you change this stupid, idiotic thinking, then so be it. I paid higher prices in the past for people that couldn't care more."
Jigen blinked, releasing Lupin's wrist from his grab and felt his heart ache. Lupin showed he cared in more than one way through the time, putting his own life in danger to protect him and even while Jigen was too scared to show his actual feelings, and instead of saying he cares he pushed his partner away, Lupin stood there still, saying his feeling out loud and without hesitation. Always proud of them, wanting to share them with the whole world, knowing it's nothing he should be embarassed about.
There was no way not to fall in love with him.
And with that Jigen grabbed Lupin's hand and pressed it with the cloth to the cheek.
"Okay. I trust you."
He declared and it meant more than any other words he could say in that moment and Lupin knew it.
The thief came back to work with a smile, cleaning dried blood from the gunman's skin, the other letting him, eyes closed, only a soft smile dancing on his lips.
It probably wasn't the last time thoughts like that appeared in his mind. Not the last time he would feel bad about being vulnerable. But today was a day when he let someone take care of him and that's what mattered for now.