Cal's eyes went wide at the fast explanation before turning towards a very pale Zedd. "You're letting a little kid sell and make knives? Really, Zedd?" Said man set his head down on the desk and let out a small groan. "Please just end me…" Zedd said, though he sounded muffled. Picking his head back up, he looked at Nathaniel tiredly. "Please don't tell everyone that. I could get in so much trouble…"
Cal meanwhile crouched down again, looking a bit closer at the small blade. It really was made well.
"It's almost startling how well this is made.
"Oh… okay, Mr. Zeddicus." Nathaniel turned his attention back to Cal when the dagger was complimented. "Thanks! I think they're fun to make. It's really sharp, see?" Nathaniel ran his finger along the blade and showed Cal the thin trail of blood it left behind. "I sharpen it when I can… I always carried it around when I was living on the streets just in case I got attacked or something." He sucked on his bleeding finger a bit, humming thoughtfully to himself. "I liked to work on this kinda thing when I wasn't training."
(Omg I'm getting too attached to this kiddo)
Cal flinched at the sight of blood, just being able to stop himself from moving Nathaniel's hand away from the blade. "Nathaniel, try not to cut yourself anymore? It's not a good habit to start," Cal suggested politely. Zedd however simply handed a small bottle of pink liquid to the small boy. It was smaller than his finger, so it wasn't too much of a loss if it broke or spilled. "Put some on your finger and go get dressed. Your clothes should be dry," Zeddicus stated, already moving to get a larger bottle he already assumed Cal was looking for. It was a light blue tone rather than pink. It was used to assist deeper and older wounds, thus was a bit more expensive.
"Okay, sir!" Nathaniel accepted the small vial and returned up the stairs. He found his normal clothes and put them on, reluctantly taking off the hoodie so he could wash it. He was nowhere near being able to reach the laundry detergent or fabric softener, so he climbed on top of the washing machine. He managed to grab both, although they were very heavy for him. He slipped when he tried to get down off of the washing machine and slammed into the ground, getting the wind knocked out of him upon impact.
(nO NATHANIEL)
(YOU DON'T HAVE TO WASH IT BABY)
(DON"T HURT YOURSELF)
(HE WANTS TO WASH IT BUT HE'S TOO SHORT)
(HE'S TRYING HIS BEST OKAY)
(Zedd: nATHANIEL WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DID YOU FALL?)
Cal was just handing Zedd his pay when they both heard a loud thud from above them. Cal blinked a moment before asking, "Do you… uh, maybe wanna go check on him?" Zedd sighed, taking the money before marching up the stairs to see what had caused the loud noise. "Nathaniel?" Zeddicus called, looking for the small boy.
Nathaniel choked trying to respond, tears stinging his eyes. With the wind knocked out of him, he couldn't breathe. He lay trembling on the ground with the laundry detergent and fabric softener laying beside him, both thankfully undamaged. Nathaniel wasn't terribly hurt either, but not being able to breathe was understandably pretty scary to him. He couldn't call out to let Zedd know where he was.
(Okay but getting the wind knocked out of you is scary as hell and I feel like authors rarely do it justice lol)
(Facts. The first time it happened to me, I thought I was dying)
(Y'all know what time it is)
(Dudeeee you stream when I need to sleep. Ill hope in for a sec-)
It was strange not hearing any sort of response in return. Usually Nathaniel was very quick with his replies- mostly apologies. He moved to check the bathroom, wondering if the boy had tripped or knocked something down when getting dressed when he noted the door to the laundry room wide open. Zeddicus stepped towards it to see Nathaniel gasping for air on the ground. He carefully moved Nathaniel so he was at least sitting up, leaving a hand on his back. "Keep trying to breathe. It's okay, you'll live."
Nathaniel choked and coughed again, a couple tears rolling down his cheeks. He was still shaking and pale, seeming scared despite Zedd's assurances. After another couple or minutes, he drew in a shuddering breath. He was pretty lightheaded by now, but still conscious for the moment. "I-I'm sorry, I… t-tried to wash the hoodie you g-gave me, and… I c-couldn't reach these, s… s-so I got on the washing machine, a-and… I got them, b-but then I fell…" He stammered, still not breathing great.
Remembering how well the hug worked last night, Zedd pulled Nathaniel gently into his arms. It didn't feel as entirely odd as last time. "Shh. You don't gotta wash it. Next time you can toss it in one of the baskets in here, okay?" Zedd offered, gesturing to two woven laundry bins to the left of the washer and dryer. His lips turned into a light frown, hoping the small boy would calm down easy enough. It still hurt his heart seeing Nathaniel so spooked. Not that he'd say that.
Nathaniel nodded shakily, rubbing at his eyes as he huddled close to Zedd for comfort. "And w-when I hit the ground, I… I c-couldn't breathe…" He choked on his words and coughed again. "I-I don't think I damaged anything, sir…" He glanced over at the bottles of laundry detergent and fabric softener, which both seemed to be entirely fine. "I-I'm sorry if I made you come up here and stop talking to your friend…" He said softly. "And I'm sorry for talking about the knife…"
"I came up here to check on you. I don't really give a damn if the bottles fell over. As long as you're not freaking bleeding again…" Zedd trailed off. "And secondly," he started again, looking Nathaniel in the eyes now. "I told you not to tell anyone else because I don't want some dumb orphanage people or some crap like that to be on my case for letting you do something you're trained to do," he said, moving his hands as he spoke. The feathers on his wings ruffled thinking about all of the court issues he'd get involved in should anyone report the 'danger' the angel was in.
Nathaniel nodded again, hiccuping a bit. "I-I don't think I'm bleeding…" He examined himself carefully, his gaze pausing on the bandage around the deeper gash from the previous day. "Oh… that one started bleeding a bit again, but aside from that, I'm okay." He eyed the blood blooming through the bandages curiously. "I'm sure it's fine." He huddled closer to Zedd and sighed shakily. "I'm sorry for the trouble anyway…"
Zedd couldn't help but sigh. "I swear, I'm gonna have to make you carry around healing potions and bandages constantly at this point," he said. It was treated like a joke at first, but now Zedd was seriously considering it. "It's okay though. I think I'll just close up downstairs for today. Gotta get you clothes and stuff so you aren't wearing the same thing every day." Zedd began to stand up from the floor to do exactly that, patting Nathaniel on the head as he did so.
