(For reference, Minty's preferred Male shell is pretty much
this. Except with green hair. As for the female shell.....welp, haven't decided yet
Anyway....)
Xhai took a shaky step forward and grit his teeth as a lance of white-hot pain shot down his leg. Looking down, his eyes widened at the gigantic black pinion protruding from his thigh. Against his better judgement, he gave it an experimental tug and swore loudly.
"Well, damn......Guess I'm not removing this on my own...."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than there was a flash of light in front of him, and a familiar green-haired boy emerged. Xhai blinked and automatically took another step forward. This time, his injured leg gave out on him completely and he pitched forward, only to be caught by his newly-arrived friend.
"Mika sends her regards, Xhai. It seems Aaru was right to insist we send reinforcements."
Setting Xhai down in a seated position on the ground, the boy gave him an appraising look. Then, after a few moments, he knelt down and ripped the pinion out of Xhai's leg in a single, swift motion. It was to Xhai's credit that he didn't pass out as his world seemed to explode in sheer
pain. An awkard silence passed, marked only by Xhai's laboured breathing. Finally...
"What in the actual [TORNADO FANG], Minty!? You turn up out of the blue and suddenly fancy yourself a field medic?"
The boy, Minty, flashed Xhai a lopsided grin that reminded him a little too closely of his own before replying.
"Mika anticipated that might be your reaction. That's why she asked me to do this, too."
Before Xhai could blink again, Minty produced a syringe from....
somewhere..., jammed it into his neck and pushed the plunger. As soon as it was removed, Xhai clapped a hand to his neck and glared up at his mint-haired ally. Minty, fortunately, decided to defuse the situation and explained before Xhai found his voice.
"Before you ask, Mika is aware that you are capable of recovering from all but the most severe of injuries on your own..." His gaze flickered down to the large wound on Xhai's torso, before shifting upwards to the silvery orb hanging in the sky above them "....AND that your healing capabilites are not at their best in circumstances like these. She's been developing this particular trick as a way of artificially activating your body's recovery systems....to a limited degree."
Indeed, as he watched, Xhai's wounds stopped bleeding and crusted over. Helping the scythe-wielder back to his feet, Minty flashed him a disturbingly Aaru-like grin.
"There. Feeling better now?"
Xhai gingerly shifted his weight onto his injured leg, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the pain had dulled to a manageable level. Exhaling, he turned to his friend.
"Yeah. Thanks. So, what are you doing here?"
Minty had already focused his attention on the battle raging a short ways off, but answered Xhai over his shoulder.
"Leo explained that you were attacked by an enemy capable of flight. Aaru told us you were injured and insisted we send someone to help. And out of everyone that has access to ranged offense..."
Xhai caught the point quickly enough.
"You were the only one that would've worked. Typhon'd be too slow....and if you sent...."
Minty nodded, an expression of.....sadness?...flickering across his face.
"If we'd sent him, you'd have been in as much danger as your enemy. Still, I think I can be of assistance. Can you still fight?"
Xhai hefted his scythe, ignoring the dull burn in his side, and shifted his stance slightly to favour his uninjured leg.
"Yeah, I can manage. Thanks for the backup. Ready to go pluck a turkey?"
Minty's expression changed to one of confusion for a brief moment, but then went blank again even strands of razor-wire emerged from his fingertips.
"I am unfamiliar with that expression, but yes, I'm ready to fight. It looks like the enemy is injured, if only a little. Let's go."
With that, the two shot back towards the battle with every intent on backing up Fugo.