( cold ) : one muse finds the other frozen half to death outside (Aoki - to - Karma) OR ( loss ) : one muse has just suffered a tragedy and comes to the other muse for comfort (Thor -to- Baatu)
(Doing cold for Aoki and Karma! Not as long as my last one but I enjoyed writing it!)
Snow laid still in the quiet of night, the moonlight sparkling against it in a beautiful display of frost. Bone chilling air whisked through the pine trees, forcing clouds of dusty snow to swirl off from the ground. No creature was out in this harsh winter tundra this late at night except for a single figure.
Aoki traversed the thick layer of snow with ease, seeming to bounce from tree to tree. Miraculously, he made little noise as if he was just a piece of cloth in the wind. Fully covered from head to toe, the shinobi came prepared for the extreme climate he wandered. It was clear to anyone who may have seen him that he was in his most natural environment. But no one else could possibly be there to witness him.
Any movement or sound within the trees or brush of the winter woods prompted Aoki’s sensitive ears to twitch and turn. Small animals adjusting in their natural homes as they slept, gusts of wind that pushed on branches forcing snow to fall. Everything was caught by his keen senses.
Including a faint noise not but a few fulms deeper into the thicket. His blue eyes shifted under the moonlight to peer through the brush, hidden by the shadows. Creeping closer to the sounds, he could make it out to be a pained moaning and short cries. Closer and closer, he finally saw its source. Aoki squinted in confusion before gasping in disbelief. Rushing out of his hiding spot to reveal himself, he sprinted quickly to a ragged Viera leaned against the base of a pine. Oh what a familiar sight to be had.
Slipping off his mask, Aoki’s breath fogged the air, “Karma?” His voice hushed yet violent as if scolding the other man. Quickly examining him, Karma seemed to have horribly unfitting attire for the sheer cold he found himself in. The whimpering bunny had wrapped himself in a ragged coat, but it was by no means helping his situation.
“How did you end up here?” Exasperated, Aoki checked Karma’s vitals. The tips of his fingers glowed from under his gloves in an attempt to magically warm the other. Yet with all of this commotion and movement, Karma did not seem to wake up. Aoki visibly huffed, clearly stressed out. “<Alright you little troublemaker>...” He began to complain in another tongue as he lifted the other much smaller Viera from the ground. Much unlike how he entered the woods, he shuffled and made himself known to anything nearby now. Carrying the extra weight, no matter how light Karma was, made for a struggle back out.
Maybe it was the movement of it all, or maybe it was the warmth of being held, but Karma seemed to mumble and groan to limited attentiveness. “Mmm…” an ear twitched, swiping Aoki on the nose.
“<Hey, little brat!>” Aoki shook his head and looked down at Karma. “Are you alive?”
Karma blinked his dry eyes open and squinted upward to his savior. A weak smile formed across his frosted lips. “Aoki…” was the only thing he could get out before falling back unconscious in his arms.
And so Aoki sighed through gritted teeth and carried on through the dead of night, hoping no vicious animal decided to try to eat them for a midnight snack.
(The story of Baatu finding an orphaned girl while on a mission. D'kota is owned to @aces-and-kings!)
The mission today was far out from the city, towards the outskirts of Thanalan. The heat was mild, sunlight beating down against their backs as they entered the ruins. Like any other mission before, Captain Ardakium led his squadron with confidence and prowess. He was their guiding shield, charging and directing them through the thick and thin of combat and survival. Yet even he was not expecting to encounter his next mission here.
Weak sounds of quiet sobbing echoed throughout the chamber. Baatu brought an arm up to his squadron as he stopped and listened. Armored bodies halted in a metallic clamor which forced the sobbing to turn into a gasp.
From across the crumbling room, a little Miqo'te child picked up her head and turned. Large blue eyes glistened in what little light there was in the chamber. Tears and snot dirtying her already dusty face. Her clothes frayed and torn, dirt staining the ends of her dress. Black hair tangled and messy, caked with mud and grease.
The armored Captain slowly walked forward to the girl, cautious as to not scare her. Seeing as she did not react negatively or run away from his approach, Baatu kneed right down next to her. As gentle as his face would allow, he smiled. “I’m Baatu,” he began, “Are you lost?”
Her little mouth began to pout as tears began to return to the edges of her eyes. “Yes!” Her dry voice cracked as she raised her arms to him and stumbled into a hug. Baatu’s arms quickly caught her and held her against him. Her grip was surprisingly strong at his neck in her embrace, but it was clear that she was scared.
She shook as she began to weep again, this time against the Captain as he lifted her up from the ground. His giant hand rubbed against her little back. “Where are your parents?” His voice hushed a bit more than before.
“Gone,” she managed to get out through her sobs.
Baatu turned back to his squadron, child in arms. His expression grew worried and the rest of them understood. They all exchanged nods and began to walk out, protecting the orphaned girl from any more harm.
Most of Baatu’s time was spent down in Ul’dah working his position within the Immortal Flames. The days were long and training was tough, leaving little time for pleasure let alone travel. It all wore him down as he allowed himself no break, but eventually the day came when Baatu put a pause on his duties and gave himself a well earned vacation. While a time off in the city of Ul’dah would have been more than enough for him, Baatu had promised those closest to him that he would go up to see them in Ishgard soon. And so he journeyed.
Perhaps it had been months, Baatu now realized. Reaching the gates of the city, a visible sigh escaped his frowning lips. “Back here again,” he thought out loud as he continued to trudge through the snow. He came prepared, covering himself in wool and leathers against the harsh winter lands of Coerthas. It was obvious that he wasn’t having a good time with the frigid climate. Heavy steps finally made their way past the gates to enter Baatu’s old home.
No matter how many letters he may send and receive, it will never be the same as speaking in person. It had been so long since Baatu had seen E’mal that when the figure of his friend stood a little distance before him, he stopped movement entirely. Quiet snow flurried down around them, soft gusts of wind obscuring little noises within the city. It took him a moment to even register what to do at that moment. A smile soon grew wide across his face, his body rushing at the small Viera at full force. E’mal’s ears twitched suddenly sensing the incoming train of a man, but it was too late. He turned to look at Baatu who was already right in front of him as he grabbed him with strong leather covered arms. The force of the hug knocked the wind out of E’mal’s poor lungs as he was being picked up off the ground. A hearty laugh resonated out through Baatu’s jolly mouth, quaking E’mal’s very core. Yet the laughter seemed contagious and the Viera began to chuckle as well.
Swinging him around, Baatu spun once and finally exclaimed, “E’mal! It’s been forever! I missed you!” Full of cheer, they both warmed up quickly as their laughter subsided.
“Baatu, let go! You’ll crush me!” E’mal couldn’t help but smile as he pleaded. It was nice to see such a friendly face again.
“Oh sorry, Mally!” Baatu carefully let go of him and let him stand, “I forgot you were fragile.” A laugh escaped his continuously cheerful grin.
“You big brute,” the Viera sighed as he smacked Baatu on the chest. “Let’s find somewhere warmer to chat.”
Baatu complied with an excited nod. The two began their way further into the stoneland of Ishgard, warmer with their conversation.
( snack reverse ) : receiver brings sender their favorite food to cheer them up (Y'know Baatu giving Ezie some food would be adorable. Feed the big mans. His favourite food is meat (nondescript) :3c)
The last platter finally hit the red cloth of the table to accompany the other five dishes laid upon it. Aromas reaching all sides of the continent wafted up dreamily through the dry air, warming the space with steam and comfort. Each plate was filled with a different flavor palette; from the savory curry and spices of Thanalan, all the way to the sweet and tangy meats of the Far East. There was even a cast iron of stew native to the city of Ishgard, where they were now. The entire spread was like a recounting of Baatu’s journey put into edible form.
Wiping his large hands on the apron he wore, Baatu gave the other man a toothy grin. “Well, dig in. We don’t want it getting cold.” Baatu popped open a bottle of liquor and poured his company a drink.
Ezekiel didn’t react right away as he seemed to be a bit stunned by the massive feast put in front of him. Did Baatu forget that he only had one guest? His red tinted eyes traveled across the table visiting each available meal until they reached the glass that was handed to him. Tracing the hand up to its owner, Ezekiel watched as Baatu laughed.
“Even I don’t eat in full plate if I can help it!” Baatu smiled as his dinner companion took the glass from him. “Can you even move in that?”
“Yes,” Ezekiel said quietly as he looked back at the food now eagerly- though you would not be able to tell through his stone-cold exterior. The creaking of a chair against the stone floor, the chef sat and began to take portions from the platters. Ezekiel watched silently as Baatu cut into a chunk of juicy steak and used forks to pick up colorful mixtures of vegetables. Until finally he spoke again, “Thank you.”
Baatu looked up from his pouring of stew, “Yea man, no problem.” Another smile spread across his lips, “I didn’t know what kinda meat you meant when you said meat was your favorite food, so I just made a buncha different things.”
Ezekiel finally started to retrieve his portions from the spread. There were foods here that were unknown to the quiet man, making him all the more eager to try them. His plate was soon filled up, a large pile of this and that. The pieces he cut for himself seemed a little too large for your average bite, but with every new flavor that filled his mouth the higher his ears seemed to perk up. “What is this?” Ezekiel asked, motioning to one of these mystery dishes.
The rare sound of Ezekiel’s question forced Baatu to quickly look over to his company in intrigue. It was nice to get a reaction out of him. The Au Ra explained the dish, what it was made of, and where it was originally from, telling a story as an explanation. The night went on heartily like this, Baatu going from dish to dish explaining them as the two ate to their hearts’ content. The clanging of silverware and glasses resonated against the stone walls and rested within the tapestries that hung against them. Long winded rambles of tales branching off from their original topics carried on the conversation. Ezekiel listened as he ate, feeling a sense of comfort in the atmosphere. This was a meal that would fill their stomachs and souls.
A small story of Aoki’s childhood in the forests of the Skatay Range.
Gentle winds whistling through the tips of frozen trees, ringing like a melody to Aoki’s ears. From all the way atop this pine, he watched as snow danced off from dead branches. The night was freezing, beyond what any Hyur could handle, but for this blue skinned Viera it was home. Stars danced above him in the black sky, millions of shining freckles splashed across its skin. The only darkness cast was the new moon, sleeping as all should. But little Aoki had no intention of resting just yet as the night was still as young as he.
It was the perfect time to scout for rare vegetation to press within his favorite book.
Armored feet slid down the tree bark fluidly and with little sound, as if the tree had known these footsteps before. The snow covered ground greeted him with a gentle hug to soften his landing. His legs began to move swiftly across the floor of the forest, every move he made ever silent and agile. Hugging close from tree to tree, it was a near impossible task to be able to spot Aoki. Until he stopped and stared curiously at a soft glow against a tree’s stump.
Cautiously tip-toeing through the snow, he reached the luminescent plants and began to examine them. How curious! How beautiful! His large glistening eyes watched them glow in awe for quite a long moment before he carefully picked one of the flowers. Nimble hands quickly pulled out a leather bound book and placed the flower gently on a page. With a slow close of the book, he tucked it away back into his satchel.
“Thank you,” a small whisper escaped his dry lips as he left the plant on its own once more.
The night would go on like this, though finding more unique plants was difficult. It was a miracle he found one at all. Yet his time was running out before he had to get back home. Sneaking past the guards was always an adrenaline filled challenge, but Aoki managed to slip past them and back to his home seemingly easily. His room greeted him with warmth and safety from the harsh winter lands outside. A little lamp was lit and burning ever faintly, just enough for the little Viera to see in the dark. Sitting amongst a pile of furs and pillows, Aoki got comfortable and emptied the contents of his satchel.
The fruits of his labor became apparent as he added new flowers to his collection. Leaning back and observing the splendors he had gathered to adorn his shelf grew a smile on Aoki’s face. What a pleasure it was to find flowers in this frozen forest.
( visit reverse ) : our muses visit receiver’s favorite place from childhood
(Technically not childhood, more like from his young adulthood years. But yea!)
Warm lights glowed softly surrounding the gates of Ul’dah, small moths fluttering around them. A gentle breeze entered the usually sweltering city as the night was in full swing, leaving the man standing at the entrance with a chill. Hands in jacket pockets, he watched the dry grass and trees dance against the wind as he waited. His black scaled tail swished slowly back and forth against the cold dry air. The sounds of the city were muddled from the chirps of crickets and frogs outside. Until he heard the sound of heels against the stone. His horned head turned expectantly to see who it was.
“Sorry, Baatu. Did I keep you waiting?” the approaching woman spoke as she locked eyes with the other. Walking out into the moonlight, her golden eyes seemed to glow. Her deep brown hair curled down around her shoulders and framed her pretty face. Her ears and tail bounced lightly as she walked closer to her companion for the evening.
“Nah, you’re good, Vaza,” Baatu bared sharp teeth as he happily replied. “I pretty much just got here.” His one good eye looked his company over, up and down. A brow rose, “Are you cold?”
Vaza tilted her head as she looked back up at Baatu, “I’m fine. I have a coat.” Her expression grew quite confused as she looked over her own outfit, contemplating if she showed any sign of chills.
“Alright, well just lemme know if you get cold,” Baatu smiled again and started walking away from the city entrance.
Vaza followed her new friend as he guided her through the outlands of Thanalan. As the two got further from the city, the commotion of civilization grew fainter. The sounds of wildlife’s night surrounded them softly like a thin blanket. She watched the occasional glow of insects amongst the dried grass, and the movement of small frogs that seemed to appear from the shadows of rocks. She answered any questions asked by her companion every now and again, but it was clear that her attention was on her unfamiliar surroundings.
Suddenly, Baatu stopped walking, causing Vaza to look up at him in curiosity. He pointed up to a mass of boulders against a cliff, “Up there.” He turned to Vaza and smiled, “Watch your step!” His massive form started to trudge up the rocks, easily finding a place for each step as he walked this path many times before. Vaza watched Baatu for a moment before starting to climb up herself, following in his footsteps with ease. As Baatu set foot on the top of the cliff, he turned back and offered out a hand to Vaza who gracefully accepted it.
“This is it!” Baatu looked at his company with a warm smile, the tips of his pointed ears and scaled nose a light shade of red. He walked to the edge of the cliff and sat on the smooth rock ground. He turned his head to Vaza as he pat the empty spot next to him, “Take a seat.”
In an elegant motion, Vaza gently sat next to Baatu. She looked over the edge of the cliff to see how long of a fall it was but was quickly interrupted by the sound of a glass bottle opening. Her ears quirked up as she turned back to her company with surprise.
“Don’t worry, I brought you one too,” Baatu smiled as he revealed the two bottles of liquor he had apparently been keeping in his jacket. He handed the opened one to her and popped open the other. “I used to come out here to watch the stars.” His face turned up towards to the sky as he took a sip.
Vaza tilted her head up as well, her mouth slightly opening. At this moment she realized that she was too focused on the earth and her surroundings that she did not even think to look up. The night sky looked back down at her, the millions of stars shining brilliantly against the darkness. She had seen the stars many times before, but the dry air here gave visibility like none other. It was like looking into the soul of endless space.
“It’s away from the city enough to not have any lights block out the stars,” Baatu spoke again as he leaned back, making himself comfortable.
“It’s beautiful here,” Vaza couldn’t peel her eyes away from the view, the stars’ reflections against her glossy eyes. “Thank you for showing me around… and this spot.” Her face finally turned back to her company with a smile, her cheeks a little blushed over from the chilly night.
“Cheers!” Baatu smiled, holding up his bottle. Glass clinked together as they began to converse the night away.
Vaza sneezed. And seemingly out of nowhere, Baatu draped a blanket over her shoulders. “See, I knew you’d get cold!”
Only a shimmer of a few stars shone in the sky, city lights clogged up what could have been a brilliant star scape. A shame. Splashing, rushing water, steaming hot as it ran from the rock. This smell, similar to home. He waded through the water quietly, not a splash was made against his pale skin. He got to the end of the pool closest to the ocean, looking out. The sea was calm, quiet and pleasant. She too is resting. What little light there was had been reflected off her surface like a warped mirror. Like a sea of glittered ink. Deeper, he submerged. His shoulders now completely covered. Long ears relaxed, melting downward with his hair. The blue strands of his hair were now soaked at the ends and floating around him. Maybe it was time to change styles again. A heavy sigh left his nose and allowed the tension in his muscles to loosen. He dipped deeper, now his nose just above the water. His tired eyes closed. He fully submerged. Quiet.
Sheets thrown around the mattress, crumpled and messy. The bed laid still as no one accompanied it. Moonlight shone through the little windows that spread across the back of the room. He sat on the wooden floor, his bare feet against the cold surface. Knees against his chest, arms wrapped around his legs. Strands of hair covering part of his face, but no efforts made to pull them back. He put his head on the glass of the windows gently, the rest of his body attempting to follow after. An ear pressed upon the glass, he listened. And closed his eyes. The sounds of the sea, the sounds of the city. The sounds of people, even in this late hour. Or was it already morning?
Tiny writing of a distant memory Aoki has in a dream.
Fragrant petals dancing upon the breeze, mingling with loose hair. Smiles and light laughs, her warmth matching that of the sunlight of spring. Her fingers brush through your hair, retrieving one of the pink petals. Her lips move, she speaks, but you cannot hear her. You know she speaks fondly as her gaze rests comfortably on your own. Before there is time to think, she takes your arms and whisks you away. In the blink of an eye, you see her look back at you, her silken black hair flowing around her. Her lips move again. She does not speak, but you know the movement. She calls your name. Your eyes open with tears threatening to fall. You’re awake now.
( loss ) : one muse has just suffered a tragedy and comes to the other muse for comfort
Aoki and E'mal. Seraph aftermath. You Know What I Mean
(This is a long one, and I am pretty proud of it ;-; Lots of angst...)
It happened again. Left alone once more. Again. And again and again. He fell to his knees in defeat, armored plates slamming against the stone ground below him. His face was void of color as he looked down to his own shadow. A last chance was now long gone, through the metal gates and through the snow.
Sharp waves of unexpected warmth crawled through him and shook his head. Painfully gritting his teeth, Aoki tensed and quaked in helpless rage. His gloved hands shot to his hair and started frantically pulling and messing with it. “<It’s your own fault!>” He growled gutterly in a foreign tongue. Heart beating fast, fingers strained, back shivering. “<You keep fucking up!>” Fear and panic, so familiar and never accustomed to. A wave of numbing static coursed through him until he had no more energy. Weakened arms went limp against either side of him.
Little flakes of snow fluttered down to rest on his now disheveled hair. He sat silent and still as if petrified. Slow moving breaths became less and less visible from under his nose. If there was noise around him, he could no longer hear it. Just the ringing of anxiety. Another familiar feeling. Yet with no strength and no plan, his body still managed to pick itself up from the ground. It turned and began to walk.
He could not hear the chains that adorned his armor hitting against the plate. He could not hear his soft footfalls against the stone ground. He could not hear the distant sounds of people talking within the city. He could not hear others walk past him as they gave him confused or concerned glances. He could not hear the world around him as his body decided to push him forward. Until it stopped, and he stood silently looking upon a wooden door. Before his mind came back to him, his knuckles had already knocked upon the door.
“Why am I here?” Aoki’s first thought occurred to him as he heard the door unlock and swing open. A familiar face was there to greet him.
“Oh,” E’mal stared back at the other Viera with gentle surprise. “Hello, Aoki. I wasn’t expecting you to stop by… And so late…” his keen eye glanced over Aoki with an increasingly furrowed brow. “I thought you always take better care of your hair.” He teased out of habit, but then stayed himself as his glance fell upon Aoki’s hollow expression. “Come in, alright? You’ll freeze out here.”
Aoki was hurriedly pulled into the warmth of the chamber, the door closing behind him. He took a few steps further into the room before he stopped movement entirely. Something was stopping him, something inside him. It felt as if something began to hold his throat tightly, as if something threatened to hurt him if he continued. The familiar sense of fear crawled back through him.
Before he was snapped back to his surroundings once more by a gentle grab on his arm. Wood crackled softly in the fireplace, a faint scent of baked sugar wafted in the air. He was pulled further into the home and found himself sitting on a cushioned seat. His weak eyes finally laid upon the other who had let him into his chambers. Mouth slightly ajar, as if needing to speak but having nothing to say.
E’mal sighed heavily as he watched Aoki struggle to form words. Shaking his head, he adjusted his silken robe tighter around him as he sat next to the helpless man. “What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, dear.”
Aoki’s eyes trailed off of E’mal as he sat down, leaving him to stare down to his hands that rested on his thighs. A voice so unusually quiet left his dry lips, “Seraph left.”
As the words left his mouth, his throat started to close again. He tried to swallow, but there was nothing but dry air. His eyes squeezed tight as his senses began to mute again. Blacking out could happen at any moment now. Then a hand was on his shoulder and his eyes shot back open. In front of him was a glass of water which he took from E’mal. A surprised look dawned his face as he didn’t even hear the other man move.
He sipped slowly, then sighed shakily.
“Tell me what happened, Aoki.” E’mal was sitting by his side again.
The next few moments were difficult, and to Aoki, it felt like an eternity to explain. Reliving the conversation that had just happened not but moments before. Revisiting words and emotions he never wanted to hear or feel again. There were moments he had to stop to catch his breath, tears swelling up and choking on the lump in his throat.
Perhaps this was truly the first time Aoki had confessed to E’mal. No other time would the blue bunny let his thoughts and emotions spew so freely. Only a broken heart could form such a broken man. And he did not stop himself. So unlike any time before, he let himself be seen in his emotions. Tears streaming freely down his face, makeup running with them. Shaking and trembling as he tried his best to stay together. He even allowed himself to be hugged by the other. Strands of misplaced hair getting tucked behind an ear, fingers combing through to calm him.Tired and strained, he finally brought his eyes back to E’mal.
“I’m s-sorry,” his words were never more honest than they were now. “I’m a horrible man. I’m a horrible f-friend.” His face then rested on his palms as he leaned down into himself. “I’m sorry, E’mal.”
A gentle hand laid against his back as he was responded to with grace, “While it’s true you’ve done bad things, you still have a chance to make things right.” E’mal leaned down a bit to match Aoki’s face. “Seraph will be back. He has to come back for supplies. So when he does, you better go to him and stay with him, Aoki.” His hand began to rub the other’s back. “You understand? He needs you more than ever right now. And by the looks of it, you need him too.”
His words were like little stars in the darkness of night, guiding and true. Aoki looked over at E’mal once more, an unintentional expression of pleading in his glossy eyes. He nodded and sat upright once more. Bags had grown under his now puffy eyes, makeup smudged and smeared across his face, his hair was still a mess. He nodded again with no energy to argue and whispered, “Okay.”
Before Aoki could get another word out, E’mal stood up and laid his hands on his hips. “You're staying the night- at least.” He began to walk around his home, opening drawers and cabinets to retrieve blankets and towels. “And please!” E’mal stood in front of Aoki once more, “Please take a bath. You look awful, honey.”
Aoki stood with what little energy he had left and took the cloth E’mal presented to him. He bowed ever slightly, “Thank you.” His voice low and worn from his hours of audible heartache, it was clear that he had exhausted himself.
For the rest of the evening, he did as he was told. He bathed and cleaned up, relaxing his muscles with the hot water and wiping away the destroyed makeup over his eyes. After drying off and changing, he immediately went to his bed for the night which E’mal had made from his couch. His weary head hit the pillow and his eyelids closed heavily. And while anyone would think he could fall asleep after the events of that evening, he could not. His eyes stayed closed, all the more vulnerable to his thoughts in this dark space. He lay still but a moment before his brows furrowed and lips tightened in a frown. His tears ever endless.
Seeing life go so fast, like lights spreading down the highway, passing me by and blowing the wind in my hair. I’ve got the air knocked out of my lungs, a sudden shake awake. Blinking to clear my clouded eyes, I realize I’ve been on the same road. It’s already night, the lights of the city against the river below. I can look back and see I’ve only walked a few steps. Yet time goes faster and faster, this feeling of pressure and urgency rising. Why have I stayed on this road for so long? I see the end of the bridge yet I feel stuck where I am. I must go, I must start again. I can’t stop walking. I need to run! Tears threaten to swell up to cloud my vision again.
She laughed as if my question was a joke. She laughed and I froze in shock, as if stunned by her sudden cheer. She laughed, and I should have felt bad, but her smile was warmer than any other night.
“You truly believe I control how you feel? Those are your feelings, are they not? You are responsible for them. You have done all of this to yourself!”
Her words shot through my bones like icicles that chilled me. I shivered and scowled and looked down in defeat. Was she right? Have I been lying to myself?
“Loyal Knight, tell me this. Have you used me as a means of escaping your own responsibility? Have you never taken control of your own future? Have you avoided the hardest thing to do? If you have, then how can a queen trust you? Tell me how I can trust a knight who cannot trust himself.”
“Wang Haoyang!” A burst of joy rushed into the spacious tent. The ivory flaps falling closed behind him. His bright white hair glistened as it whipped around his shoulders and back. Yet his face shone brighter as his smile spread wide across his rosy cheeks. “We got good news!” He rushed to the side of the bed, not even pulling up a chair this time. He sat gently on the bed and looked down to his now wide awake companion. The boy in bed shifted up into a sitting position, the excited yet delicate boy helping. Wang Haoyang looked up to the other boy with a confused expression that could have been mistaken for annoyance. “Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying are alive and well!”
Haoyang stiffened and his eyes went wide. His jaw dropped a bit before he spoke, “W-What? How…”
“My father was just informed! They made quite the scene at the last clan meeting!” The white haired boy smiled as he spoke, but was interrupted as he watched Haoyang's face turn soft for the first time he had ever seen. A smile spread across Haoyang’s lips as tears started to form at the edges of his eyes. He held a wrapped hand to his face and used his arm to wipe away the tears.
“And more,” the white haired boy smiled again, this time more gently, “They announced their plans to go to war with the Wen Clan!”
This information made Haoyang look back up at the other boy with surprise. His expression quickly changed to that of anger or determination, it was hard to tell. But he nodded sternly and gripped the blankets of the bed he rested upon. “Thank you… Shanyue Li…” he finally spoke again, his voice quiet and thoughtful.
“Ah?” Li began to stand again, “O-Of course.” His cheeks began to turn a little pink. “I heard the news and thought you should be the first to know.” His smile was small as he stood and fidgeted with his robes.
“Li…” Haoyang started to slip out of bed, feet hitting the ground before Li could react. He stood tall and close to Li, who instinctively took a step back from his peer who suddenly rose from bed.
“H-Haoyang! You still haven't fully recovered!” Li’s hands reached out but did not touch him in caution and nervousness.
“Thank you!” Haoyang bowed suddenly to Li’s surprise. “Thank you, Shanyue Li, for taking care of me for so long!” He seemed to almost shout at the floor in this formal address. “I would not have been alive without you!”
Li’s jaw dropped and his face went entirely red. “W-Wha- I-I was just- I was just-” He nervously trailed off as he got increasingly more embarrassed.
“Because of your kindness, I am able to see my clan again,” Haoyang still had his head down, his now short black hair framing either side of his face. His voice was stern and strong, but a tinge of emotion seemed to try to break through, “Thank you!”
“P-Please, Haoyang… You don’t have to thank me so formally…” Li bit his lip as Haoyang stood back upright. Tears had begun to form at the sides of his eyes again but his expression was serious. Li’s eyes glistened, locking onto Haoyang’s eyes. They stood silent for a moment just staring at each other before they both realized what was happening. Li turned with his hands in front of his face and Haoyang looked away back to the ground.
“Y-You still aren’t well! S-Stay in bed… p-please!” Li rushed out of the tent, the flaps falling closed to the now silent interior. Haoyang slowly sat down on the bed and looked up to the cloth of the tent, daydreaming of the reunion that had yet to come. A small smile spread across his lips once more.
A guardian angel? Perhaps. Born onto your back, they stay there forever. Watching and waiting, being strong for you, getting weak. Trust them and be truthful to them, grow together, overcome together. You’re not alone, and never have been. Don’t be blinded by emotion. Be reasonable.
He leaned back up with a huff, picking up an arm to wipe off the sweat dripping down his face. Dirt covered his gloves, his shirt, his pants, and now his face. His eyes darted around to scan the open field, darkened by the cloudy night sky. Little strands of moonlight escaped through the clouds to reveal tombstones lining up across the grass covered ground. She needs these bodies. He reassured himself, leaning against the shovel he stuck into the dirt. They’re already dead and gone. We’re working for a brighter future... to bring them back. He looked down at the gravestone in front of him. It was brand new, still clean. They needed the fresh ones as they were easier to work with, easier to revive. I’m doing the right thing. The man quickly went back to work, shoveling on through the dead of night.
I lay still on my side, faced away from my lover as they sleep. My eyes are dry and tired, yet every time I try to sleep, my own mind startles me awake. I don’t want to wake them, but I need to move. Slowly, I slip out of bed and reach for my robe. Quiet as a falling leaf, I leave the bedroom and head down the hall. Tying my robe on, I reach the kitchen in the earliest hours of the morning.
Still, I stay quiet, as I don’t want to wake anyone in the house. My restless and anxious hands start to make some tea. The process can be soothing: the boiling of the water, the steeping of the leaves. And there I stand. Alone with my thoughts again. The moment came to an end too fast. I felt wrong again.
Taking my new mug of chamomile, I sneaked through the house once more. Quietly, slowly, I paced around until I found myself out in the garden. It was chilly, a dry winter night with no clouds in the sky. As I looked up, I traced the stars with my eyes, one to one to another to another. The moon was a slither and provided no light, but I do not need it.
Cautiously, I walk from stone step to stone step. Peace. I need peace. I am searching for peace. I look down to the koi idly swimming in the pond. Perhaps they can keep me company? I sit close by and sip on my tea. My eyes can’t help but stare at the currents of the water above the dancing koi. The sound of the flow. The starlight twinkling off the surface of the water. The cold air against my skin. The heat of my mug. These little things I use to try to ground myself.
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