Title: Scenes After Battle
Fandom: Ryusoulger
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Bamba, pre-Bamba/Melto
Content notes: Main character injuries
Summary: Yesterday there was was fear and anger and frustration, today there is trust. Some Bamba-centric angst.
A/N: chances of this turning into a longer fic are Relatively Good...

Yesterday

Bamba hasn’t said a word since Towa collapsed, but his body language speaks volumes. He stands in the doorway with his arms crossed and a scowl dark on his face, listening while the others try to come up with some sort of plan. It’s not the first time one of them has been down, but it’s worse than any of the other times because, well.

This time it’s all Bamba’s fault.

The Minusaur was born from him – he can feel his strength seeping away by the moment and he knows his anger and frustration is only making it worse, letting the Minusaur drain him faster, but he can’t control his emotions.

Not where Towa is concerned.

For the longest time, it’s been just the two of them. Towa has acclimated to being part of a bigger team far better than Bamba and while he’s glad about it he’s also still uncertain. It’s good they have more numbers as they continue to fight the Druidons, but Bamba worries about his little brother.

And that’s exactly what the Minusaur is feeding on.

And exactly why Towa is unconscious, hurt, his fate in question.

Koh insists it isn’t Bamba’s fault, but they all know better. Neither Melto nor Asuna has commented on it and that’s enough confirmation for Bamba. Melto in particular has been avoiding his gaze, like if their eyes don’t meet Bamba won’t know Melto’s judged him and found him wanting. Like Melto won’t know Bamba cares what he thinks, even now.

“What are we going to do?” Bamba asks, voice harsher than he intends because he’s fighting to stay conscious as he feels the Minusaur feeding on all of the negative emotions in him, every one of them amplified by his brother’s fate. His knees buckle and he collapses, crying out as pain wracks his whole body.

“Bamba!” Melto rushes to his side, catching him under the arms and lowering him slowly to the floor. “You need to rest. We can take care of the Minusaur.”

“No.” Bamba fights against the pain and the exhaustion, fights Melto as he tries to stand again. “No, I have to do this.” And he does. He has to save Towa, has to save his brother.

Melto grips his shoulders and holds him down. “Stop!” he shouts, gaze meeting Bamba’s, fierce and bright. “You need to rest. We’ll save the both of you, you have to trust us.”

Bamba wants to protest, wants to get up and force himself to keep moving, but his whole body aches and Melto’s eyes aren’t full of the judgment he was expecting and he feels almost warm under the stern, worried gaze.

He manages a nod before he gives in to unconsciousness.

Today

“Idiot.”

Towa’s voice wakes him, draws him back up from the darkness behind his eyes. He blinks his eyes open and looks over at the cot next to him. Towa is up, ribs wrapped and left arm in a sling, but his eyes are bright and there’s color in his cheeks and Bamba feels lighter at the sight.

“You’re all right!” he says, trying to sit up. He groans as pain shoots through him and a hand at his shoulder pushes him back and he looks up to see Melto seated on his other side.

“You have to rest,” Melto says quietly. “But yes, Towa is okay. We defeated the Minusaur and you’re both going to be fine.”

Bamba isn’t thinking when he takes Melto’s hand, interlacing their fingers and squeezing gently. “Thank you,” he says, holding Melto’s gaze.

Towa laughs, the harsh sound startling Bamba and Melto, causing them to pull apart.

“I should go,” Melto says, standing quickly. “I’ll let the others know you’re awake.”

He hurries out of the room, leaving Towa and Bamba alone for the first time since the Minusaur formed. Bamba looks around, fixing Towa with a glare.

“When did that start?” Towa asks.

“Shut up.”

“Just curious.”

“Go to sleep.”

“Didn’t you want me awake yesterday?”

Bamba reaches under his head and grabs his pillow, throwing it at Towa’s head with a soft thump. “I said shut up.”

Towa laughs again and Bamba watches him add the pillow to the one already on his cot, and Bamba does his best to disguise his regret at throwing it in the first place as he lies there without one.

But, he thinks as he settles back, closing his eyes and trying to get back to sleep, at least Towa is all right.