“He did mention that.”

Zev looks Drex up and down. “You don’t look much like a healer.”

"Heard that before. Call it a natural talent."

He holds his hand up, and green light suffuses his hand.

He’d only ever seen Nova’s flames, so seeing another kind of magic is rather...well...spell binding. 

“That...looks convincing. Not that I’m any kind of expert.”

He smiles, surprisingly warm on his stern face.

"Aaren is concerned. Said you were out in the rain. Mighta been in a fight. Wanted me to check you over. That okay?"

“Nova first,” he says, gesturing with their joined hands. 

"...this is easier if I'm touching you. Even just the smallest contact, touching finger tips, massively helps. Can do it without if that's a problem."

...Nova doesn't know how to answer that, just presses a little closer to Zev.

He leans his head back onto Nova’s. “I’m right here.”

Nova very cautiously reaches out one hand.

Drex shuffles around close enough to touch Nova's fingertips when he reaches out, closes his eyes and-

Green light suffuses him, flows down his arm and through his fingers, into Nova.

Panic does flare in Zev to see anything he doesn’t understand affecting Nova, but he...trusts ‘Chelle. And she clearly trusts Drex.

He keeps a tight hold on Nova’s hand, stroking his thumb back and forth, trying to keep his touch soothing. 

It's only five minutes before he pulls back. "There. Feel better?"

Nova nods hesitantly.

Drex looks over to Zev and tilts his head, holding his hand out.

Zev squeezes Nova’s hand once Drex is done. 

He takes his other hand out of his pocket, and reaches out to Drex, putting his hand calmly into his. 

Drex doesn't close his hand, closes his eyes again, and the green light flows down his arm. It feels warm as it flows through Zev, comforting as it makes it's way through him.

When it reaches the wound in his shoulder, it seems to- coil around it, goes warmer for a moment and then- moves on. And Zev's shoulder feels better than it perhaps ever has.

If he had a free hand, he would touch his shoulder in wonder. As it is, they’d need a crowbar to force him to let go of Nova.

Drex pulls back, breathes out, opens his eyes. "Better?"

Zev took his free hand back and quickly dived below the collar of his shirt and hoodie to feel out the place the bullet had entered. 

There was nothing. 

“It’s....it’s like it didn’t happen,” he said, tone full of wonder. 

"See what I mean? He's the best."

"C'n get rid of those tats too," Drex offers. "Not right now. But if you want, c'n come back and do that."

His hand goes straight to the tattoo. Zev can’t remember what he looked like without it. 

What Nova looked like. 

"Think 'bout it. Can't do it right now anyway."

He wants it off Nova’s face. Wants any proof that those monsters ever thought they owned him. Nova wasn’t anyone’s property, wasn’t anyone’s toy. He was free now. Zevran would die to ensure that. 

“Thanks.” He nods at Drex.