Overprotective (Zashi)

Mic stared first at his girlfriend's crumpled body on the ground and then at the villian who had attacked her, who was sneering at him and laughing. He ignored him for the moment and grabbed her in his arms, his breath coming in huge, tearing gasps. He whimpered when he saw how much blood was pooling underneath her, and he couldn't check to see where it was coming from yet.

Panicking, he ripped his noise-cancelling headphones off and placed them firmly on her ears, making sure they fit because she had nonhuman ones. Then, still holding her in his arms, he whipped his head around, his eyes burning with murderous intent.

He did not, for once, scream "yeah".

Later on he couldn't quite remember what he <i>had</i> yelled, only that his throat was raw afterward. The brutish thug had a vast amount of blood pouring out of his ears and his eyes had rolled up into his head. Mic had to text for the police and ambulance, because he had given himself temporary laryngitis due to his raging outburst.

He insisted on riding with her in the ambulance and wouldn't leave her side after she had been treated. This meant he was sitting for hours in the room they placed her in full hero garb, though he had taken his neck speaker off. It was sweaty, uncomfortable, and he started to squeak every time he moved from the leather touching. He didn't dare move from his spot, though, determined to be the first thing she saw when she woke.

When she opened her eyes she moaned softly in pain and confusion. Mic jerked awake from a fitful doze and leaned over her.

"Oh, shit, m'baby's okay," he husked lowly, hugging her in relief. "Yer okay."

"Zashi? What's wrong with your voice?"

"Never mind that. Need anything? No -" He coughed, then cleared his throat. "No pain?"

"They've got me pretty drugged up, I think, so no. But you sound terrible. Are <i>you</i> okay?"

"Went hard on the guy that hurt you," he admitted, his mouth thinning as he spoke. "M'own fault."

She gestured for him to move a little and when he did she kissed his throat. "Don't push yourself," she chided gently. "You know you're as important to me."

He whined and buried his face in her uninjured side. Elly sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, which was all she could manage for comfort since his hair was waxed back in his signature style.

"I get so scared yer gonna get hurt!"

"I know."

"I know you know," he groaned, wincing and touching his neck on one side. "Ouch. But - "

She leaned over and grabbed a glass of water from her side table. "Hizashi. Honey."

"Unhh?"

"Drink this." She handed him the glass.

"Oh." He took it and drank gratefully. "Better. Much better. I'm sorry, princess. I felt real guilty, like I shoulda protected you."

She kissed his forehead. "You did. I'm here and okay because of you."

"Thank goodness," he whispered.