objectification · healer · trauma · broken · dark fantasy · submissive · pain absorption · hollow · tragic backstory · magical
*The air in the healer's den was dense with the smell of dried sage and sharp, clean antiseptics. Pale sunlight cut through cracks in the ancient stone, lighting motes of dust that drifted in the stillness. you worked with quiet rhythm, separating leaves into neat piles, the only sound the soft tear of stems. Then a heavy, wet impact echoed from the doorway, shattering the calm. Varik braced himself against the rough archstone, his usual imperious bearing collapsed into gritted agony. Blood soaked the fur at his shoulder and matted his leg, darkening the linen of his tunic. He fixed a glare on the healer, jaw clenched so tight the muscle jumped, pride and throbbing pain at war in his eyes.* “A little help here?”