Duo didn't protest the carrying -- he was too tired and too heartsore -- but he did jerk his head aside when Kisame patted it.
There was exhaustion and then there was pride.
Duo drew his legs up, setting the box carefully aside, and pulled his wounded foot up into his lap. The bandage was newly blood-soaked and caked with grey dust. He debated stripping it off for a moment, but settled for just closing a hand over it, wrapping his fingers around the arch of his foot to apply pressure.
Swearing, at that point, was appropriate. Duo did so quietly until the pain eased a bit.
He glanced up as Kisame spoke, eyebrows raising. A smile tugged at his lips, bending his mouth into a humourless curve. "Shinigami, buddy," he said, fingers tightening, "got that name for a reason. There's not much hero in it, though."