SetsunaxReader: Protect

You were sitting at your desk in the infirmary writing up a report on items that you needed during the next supply run in a few days. Bandages, ointment, compresses - the list went on. Being the head nurse onboard the Ptolemaios, the mother ship of the infamous Celestial Being, never got boring. There was always something to do, though you would rather been bored; it would mean that no one had gotten hurt. You sighed as you finished the list and set it to the side to give to the Captain, Sumeragi Lee Noriega, later. Just then the door opened with a whoosh of air. You turned towards the door as one of the Gundam pilots, Lockon, stood in the doorway. He and Setsuna had been on a mission and you didn't think they were back yet.

You blinked. "Lockon? You guys are back already?"

"(Name), Setsuna was badly hurt!"

You leapt to your feet. "What? Where is he?"

"They're bringing him now, I was sent ahead to tell you."

You nodded. "Alright." You yanked a curtain away from the bed. You heard a lot of footsteps and turned to the door. "Put him here!" The group of mechanics rushed over and set Setsuna on the bed. Someone had removed his helmet, but he was still wearing his pilot suit. There was a long rip in the suit at his side that was stained with blood. You grabbed some compresses to stop the blood and pressed it to the wound. "What happened?"

"He was hit and one of the pipes for the cooling system snapped and stabbed into his side." One of Setsuna's mechanics said, frowning as they looked down at the ground. "I should have reinforced them more so this wouldn't happen."

"No this isn't your fault, it's the fault of the jerk that shot him." Another mechanic said, patting the first on the back. "Don't go blaming yourself."

"He's right." You added, replacing the compress with a new one. "The wound is bad and I'll have to stitch it, but Setsuna will be alright. Worst is that he'll be pretty angry about being bedridden." You gestured to a small silver tin and bottle. "Please hand that to me." Lockon grabbed the items and handed them to you. "Thank you." You took out a needle from the tin and dipped into the bottle of antiseptic before you started to stitch up the wound.

"Let's leave her to work." Lockon instructed before leading the others out of the room. "Tell us when he wakes up."

You nodded. "I will as soon as he awakens."

"Thanks." Lockon stepped out and closed the door behind him. You went back to stitching the wound and then wrapped it when you were done. You placed the needle and bottle away and got some pain pills for when he woke up. You put the bottle and a glass of water on the side table next to the bed. Then you turned on the computer on your desk and wrote a report to the captain about Setsuna's condition; how bad the wound was and that you recommended at least a week of bed rest, if not longer.

An hour after you submitted your report, you heard a low groan from behind you. You spun your chair to face the bed and saw Setsuna's eyes open. He groaned again and went to sit up. "Not a good idea. You'll pull your stitches if you sit up." You stood up and walked over to his bed. "You got yourself a rather nasty wound there."

"(Name)." He leaned back closing his eyes. "So I made it back to the ship."

"You had everyone freaked out. I believe your mechanics haven't stopped repairing and modifying your Gundam since you got in."

"How bad is the wound?"

"Fifteen stitches, you won't be piloting for at least a week."

"No, I have to get back out there." Setsuna went to sit up, but you quickly pushed his shoulder down, stopping him.

"Oh no you don't. You are not leaving this bed for at least a week. I already sent my suggestion to the captain and your Gundam is getting a complete look over." You removed your hand and stood back up. "All you're going to do is lay here and relax until your wound is healed. I'm not going to let you even think about training until I say your well enough."

"I can't just sit here. We're at war (Name)."

"And you throwing your life away isn't going to stop the war."

"Or someone else could die because I'm here."

"That is a risk in war." You crossed your arms. "You must really think highly of yourself Setsuna."

He raised an eyebrow at you. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean you think that you're the 'hero' of this war. You're not in this alone Setsuna. You have Lockon and the other Gundam pilots as well as everyone here on this ship. We're all fighting this war. I might not be out on the front lines in a Gundam, but I'm here making sure you can all fight tomorrow and the day after that." You tapped the bed. "I wouldn't tell you how to pilot and you won't question my orders to stay in bed, understand?"

He sighed. "Fine."

"And I'm keeping the door locked if I'm not in here. So don't try sneaking out."

He grunted leaning back in the bed. "I got it already, I'll stay."

"Thank you Setsuna." You walked over to your desk and picked up some paperwork. "Now I'm going to go see the Captain Try to get some rest while I'm gone." You slipped out of the room and walked down the hall to the main room to find Sumeragi. You gave her the supply list you had made earlier as well as a complete report on Setsuna and his status. She agreed with your decision to make him rest for at least a week and asked you to keep an eye on him. Once that was done, you went back to the infirmary.

You opened the door and raised an eyebrow at the scene in front of you. "What's going on in here?"

Lockon turned to face you. "Oh (Name)!" He was standing by Setsuna's bed, while Setsuna was pushing something back towards his chest. "I heard Setsuna was awake so I figured I'd give him something to keep him occupied while he was here."

"And I told you I don't want it." Setsuna complained as he pushed what looked like magazines more towards Lockon.

"Come on, you'll get bored just laying here for a week. You need something to keep you entertained." He grinned. "What better way to keep yourself going?"

"I don't have interest in things like this."

You walked into the room. "Lockon is right that it would be good for you to have something to do here."
<o>
"See even (Name) agrees with me."

Setsuna clicked his tongue. "Because she doesn't know what type of magazine you're trying to get me to read."

You raise your eyebrow. "What are they?"

"Just some magazine's to keep his blood flowing." Lockon answered.

Setsuna pushed the magazines away harder. "I don't want them."

"Why not?" Lockon glanced over at you before looking back at Setsuna with a large grin on his face. "Oh I see. The real thing is always better then a magazine."

Setsuna's cheeks turned a faint red, making you blink. Could he be blushing? "Just get out of here already."

He chuckled. "Fine, I'll leave you to 'rest'." He took the magazines. "Have fun." He nodded his head to you. "Take care of our boy (Name)."

You smiled. "Of course, he's in good hands."

Lockon chuckled again. "Perfect choice of words~" Without explaining what he meant, he left the room.

The door slid closed and you turned to Setsuna. "What was that all about?"

He looked away from you, but you could still see the red dusted on his cheeks. "Nothing."

"If you say so. Lockon did have a point though, is there anything you want while you're here?"

"A way to get out of here faster."

"The only thing for that is rest. Your body needs to heal and regain it's strength."

"You expect me to be able to just sleep?"

"Yes, or I could give you something to help you get some sleep."

"No, I don't want to be drowsy." He closed his eyes. "I'll just try to rest myself."

"Alright, I'll wake you at lunch time." You walked over to your desk and turned on your computer to get some work done.

About two hours passed when you suddenly heard a groaning from behind you. You turned in your chair and looked at the bed that Setsuna rested on. He was tossing and turning violently, a gleam of sweat covering his face. You grabbed a cloth and hurried over to him. "Setsuna, Setsuna wake up." You shook his shoulder hard. He gasped and his eyes snapped open. "Hey, it's alright. You're safe." You dipped the cloth in a bowl of water near by and dabbed it on his forehead.

"(Name)?" He asked, his voice softer then usual. He was probably still out of it from whatever dream he had.

"It's alright, you're safe in the infirmary."

"You're not dead?"

"No, I'm very much alive."

"I thought I hadn't protected you." He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. "I couldn't save you and you were killed."

"It was just dream, everything's okay."

"It won't be if I stay in here."

"And you'll be killed if you go out there in your condition."

"I have to," he sat up, "I have to get back out there and protect everyone. I have to protect you."

You felt your cheeks warm at the statement, but you still quickly raised your arm to stop Setsuna from getting up. "You still can't go, you'll reopen your wound."

He looked you right in the eyes. "I refuse to be weak and useless."

"You are not weak and you are not useless. You're human and you need to remember you could die."

"That doesn't matter." There was a loud smacking noise. Setsuna blinked, putting a hand on his cheek. "(Name)?"

"Don't you ever say that!" A tear slipped down your cheek. "Of course it matters!" You sniffed as you rubbed your eyes. "You matter to a lot of people."

"Maybe, for my skills as a pilot."

"Idiot." You took his hand in yours. "We care about you because your Setsuna. You're our friend and we don't want anything to happen to you."

"This is war, people are going to die."

"If you believe that, then why were you upset about me dying?"

"You're not on the front lines."

"I could still die, that's war right?"

"I won't allow it."

"Why?"

He yanked your hand, pulling you towards him. "Because you're not allowed." He slammed his lips onto yours, causing you to gasp and cling to his shirt. He slowly pulled back, keeping his face close to yours. "I won't allow you to die."

Your cheeks were bright red. "There's only one way you can do that."

"Oh? How's that?"

"You'll have to stay alive so you can protect me." You grinned. "And to do that, you'll have to stay here and recover."

Setsuna groaned, laying back on the bed. "Fine, fine. I'll stay and get better."

"Good." You shyly pressed your lips against his, but pulled back quickly. "Now get some rest."

He smiled lightly. "Alright." He closed his eyes and relaxed.

You smiled, taking your seat. Even with this war going on, you were able to find this slice of happiness and you would do everything you could to keep it.