Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

Zane's other side as he peered across the plane of Zane's back. “That might be metal,” he observed in a detached sort of manner. “It's gonna hurt like a bitch."
    "Lovely,” Zane said drolly, curling his fingers into the bedspread and laying his forehead against his wrists. “Glad I've had my tetanus shot."
    "I know you can't drink, but what about some painkillers?” Ty offered.
    Zane pressed his lips together. “I don't take them,” he said quietly.
    "Okay,” Ty said with a nod. “So ... want a stick to bite?” he offered.
    "Is it gonna be that bad?"
    "I don't know,” Ty answered honestly. He shook his head and finally just gripped the piece of jagged plastic-covered metal and yanked it.
    The pain was so sudden and sharp that Zane didn't even get to inhale before it streaked through him. His neck and back went rigid and his face went white, and by the time he gasped a breath in he was unable to do anything but just lie there, trembling. After several heartbeats he spoke, voice low, clipped and heartfelt. “Fuck."
    "Yeah, it's gonna hurt,” Ty murmured as he put his hand on the back of Zane's head again and rested it there. “That's all,” he said with a little pat of his hand.
    The muscles in Zane's back slowly started to flex as he cautiously moved to check for what he could feel. “Thanks,” he said quietly, as he started to push himself up.
    "Why don't you just stay down?” Ty suggested seriously.
    Zane turned his chin to look at Ty, studying his face and not seeing any sign of teasing or disgust. He sighed, letting his shoulders slump and his mask crack. The pain and exhaustion showed more fully upon his face as he lowered himself back down onto the bed, still moving very cautiously and stiffly. What a bitch of a day, and it was only half over. He shifted his eyes to Ty, but he didn't have anything else to say to the man. He didn't want to insult or tease right now, and that was about the extent of their relationship, besides having the same employer.
    Ty nodded in satisfaction and hefted himself up from the bed. “I'm going to clean some of that off, okay? Got to go get some things from my room; I'll be right back."
    "I'll be here,” Zane murmured, not droll at all. His patience, his energy, and his pain threshold were all tapped. If he'd let himself joke about it, it might help, but he didn't want to let go of what little reserve and dignity he had left.
    "Don't move,” Ty ordered yet again as he headed for the door. He left the room with the latch pulled so he could get back in, and he jogged down to his room and moved as quickly as he could to gather his small medical kit, not even bothering with the lights. After a brief glance around the dark room he realized that something felt off. The curtains were drawn and there was barely any light for him to see. The stench of Zane's blood on his hands and shirt was beginning to hit him; he hadn't stopped to wash it off. The hair on the back of his neck began to rise, and he gathered his bags and left the room as quickly as possible, promising himself he'd come back to investigate when he hadn't left his partner helpless and injured in an unlocked room.
    When he got back to Zane's room, his pulse was a little higher than he would have liked. Zane hadn't moved. He still sprawled on the bed on his belly, cheek pillowed on one hand, the other curled in the bedspread as he breathed carefully. His eyes opened and looked right at the door when Ty entered, and then he relaxed again.
    "How ya doin'?” Ty asked in a slightly tense voice. He wondered if it was something legitimate hat had caused his alarm or if he had just been on the edge for too long and was finally losing his grip. Finally he decided that he was just tense. And not willing to leave Zane alone in this state.
    Zane tried to shift slightly, but stopped abruptly with a wince. “Fine,” he answered quietly, staring at the wall as he tried to pull together enough strength to get up and get in the shower as soon as Ty was done cleaning him up. “Once you're done, I'll hop in the shower so we can get back to it,” he said. He figured Ty would be chomping at the bit soon, if he wasn't already, and Zane really, really didn't want to give the man another reason to razz him.
    "I'd say you've earned the day off,” Ty replied as he came closer.
    "Day off?” Zane echoed in surprise, craning his head to look at Ty and flinching as his neck pinched.
    "Someone tried to maim you today, Zane,”