Predecessor (Connor x Reader)

27 - We've Done This Before

You glance up at him, eyebrows raised. "Bleeding, Connor. That's what she is to me right now."

He crouches down, nodding. "Understood."

You press the cloth in tighter, then glance over your shoulder.

"Connor, I need you to help me hold pressure. Just here." You guide his hands carefully into place over the wound.

He complies without hesitation. "Vitals are unstable but holding. Heart rate elevated, blood loss moderate. There's no arterial damage."

Cherry groans. "God, I love it when men talk dirty."

You frown, opening the gauze. "Can you bleed quieter, please? Keep talking and I'm charging extra."

"Good thing I'm not paying." She huffs something like a laugh, then winces.

Connor, unfazed, keeps steady pressure.

You glance at the wound again, your own scan confirming it: deep puncture, clean entry, no fragments. Ugly but survivable. You take over again, pressing fresh gauze into the wound and layering a second towel on top.

Connor watches you closely as you work. "You've done this before."

You shrug. "Bleeding's universal. Pressure and tape work on everything."

"Everything? Should've called you when I cracked my phone screen." Cherry smiles, but it's thin.

Connor frowns. "You're halfway to unconscious and still making jokes?"

She laughs weakly. "Only thing keeping me awake."

You keep applying pressure. The bleeding has slowed now—not stopped, but it's bought time. For now.

"No stitching?" Cherry asks.

"Wouldn't help," you say. "Edges aren't gaping. Just needs to stay closed and compressed."

You keep the towel pressed, firm.

"Ten minutes," you murmur. "Just give it ten. Let your body do the work."

The seconds crawl. Your hands ache. Blood seeps slower now, not soaking—just a dull, warm dampness. Cherry's breathing steadies a little.

You peel the towel back slowly.

The bleeding hasn't stopped, but it's sluggish. Dark.

You exhale. "Okay. That's something."

Cherry speaks weakly. "I hope I get a lollipop after this."

Connor pours alcohol onto a gauze and hands it to you.

"This will sting." You say.

"Oh, now it's gonna sting?" Cherry mutters.

You dab carefully around the wound. She flinches hard.

"Fuck—okay, ow."

She sucks in a breath through her teeth, then adds, quieter:

"God, I wish this was less familiar."

You sigh. "Yeah. Bleed five times, the sixth one's free."

Connor glances at you. "She's not the only one who's used to it, is she?"

You glance briefly at the scar on his hand. "Guess you're not so special."

Cherry huffs a dry laugh. "Hate to break it to you, golden boy, but I've got a whole stamp card."

Connor doesn't answer. Just watches you as you tape the gauze down, eyes narrowing slightly.

"She'll pull through," you say, eyes on the gauze. "If she sits still for the next few hours."