“Heh. Honestly honey, at this point in time, it really is all the same, and I couldn’t give a damn either way. I trust your professional decision, I mean.” Bit more snappy of a response than she’d intended, but her mindset was still shifted into Akai, and delicacy alluded her now and then. Maybe it was a good thing, because this was certainly the stronger side of her, in comparison to the uncertain, stammering wallflower.
His smile was slightly reassuring, in any case, and she did her best to offer one in return, before diverting her eyes away from his preparations. Regardless of however many occasions she’d had to use them on her own, her uneasiness and distaste for needles wasn’t wholly subsided.
"No, I haven’t. I don’t believe in painkillers except in less severe situations. Not persay because of allergies- blood thinners aren’t a good idea with open wounds, and aren’t horribly compatible with my heart condition. And I actively avoid acetaminophens because I don’t want anything messing with my prostaglandins. Patching up and keeping activity low for a while— that’s how I cope with pain.” Besides, I bring it on myself, I deserve to bare through some of it. She laughed once, humourlessly, at that thought, before flinching, and mentally noting that she shouldn’t watch any comedy movies while she was recuperating.
It kind of blows when it hurts to laugh, dangit.
"You’re a pretty swell paramedic, Hakuba-kun. Consider the fact duly noted, but hopefully not for frequent use.”
"It would be best if you didn’t require services such as this often, yes,” Hakuba’s reply came with a slanted smile, brow quirking in amusement. But even that bit of light-hearted tone came with a healthy dose of reservation; the detective was firm in keeping hold of himself while he worked, no matter how disturbing the situation. “I must admit that I’m relieved that you’re fine with sutures; I’m better with them, anyway.”
The phials were set aside. He hadn’t been aware of her heart, which gave him pause. Well, if she didn’t want pain medication, he would refrain. Not a problem. He exhaled slowly. Turning to his instruments of sterilization, Hakuba set to work on first re-preparing the site, then working the needle. He wasn’t a professional surgeon by any means, but he had certainly patched up more than a few tears in skin before. Deep lacerations, wounds from gunshots, stabbings. It almost startled him how easy it was to tug at her skin, shifting to put himself in a better (though perhaps more compromising) position to sew.
“Starting now. Just keep breathing for me. I’d like to hear more about that heart condition of yours, if you feel up to it.” If she had nothing to say on the contrary, he continued with his work, sewing her back together again.