lunehealed:
IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS, saem finds naotomo ─── and despite the bloodshed which surrounds them, despite the darkness which presses in upon them, for a moment, saem feels calm. a flood of memories come back to him in a rush, and saem is taken away from the terror of battle to an image of he and naotomo spending many warm afternoons in each other’s company ; gourds of soju and sake shared between them amongst smiles and laughter ─── two people who couldn’t be more different coming together and sharing the same space. sharing cherished memories.
the sound of a potted plant smashing against armour brings saem out of his reminiscing ; the warm dream shattering as the battle surges back into focus around him. saem’s terrified ─── he’d been terrified for the safety of his family, and now that terror finds itself renewed. he doesn’t know what he’d do if any harm came to naotomo. though saem’s worrying is hardly warranted ─── within the makings of a few mere seconds, naotomo has made good work of the foe who had been charging at the two of them ; tangling their limbs in vines. “ don’t kill him ! there’s been enough bloodshed here. ” saem implores ; his softness betraying him of his inability to inflict harm against even an opponent who wished him dead ─── “ please, let’s just find a way out of this. we don’t need to hurt anyone. ” even in the midst of all this violence, saem truly believes every peace-filled word he speaks.
“ come, ” with a renewed resolve, saem takes naotomo’s hand with his own, leading him through the carnage ─── and by the grace of the gods above, the path opens up in front of them unhindered. saem doesn’t know how he’s found the strength to run through the battle with naotomo in hand ; but he’s running, running, running, until he suddenly realises that all is quiet ─── the battle now long behind the two. observing that they’ve managed to make it to a corner of the castle untouched by violence, with ragged breaths, saem turns to face his friend of old ─── a warmth in his eyes despite the war which rages on around them. “ it’s good to see you, naotomo. ” barely two moments after he speaks these words, saem falls to his knees ; adrenalin wearing off, and exhaustion sinking in.
It would be a simple motion, a twitch of his fingers and that man who tried to hurt them both would be gone. The vines were already causing the man to start to go red from the constriction and some warriors would find the shame of being beat in such a way to be too much dishonor anyway. It would be a mercy. But he was pulled from his violent thoughts as Saem implored him to stop, as if he could read Naotomo’s intentions. Whatever he was feeling at the moment, turned to shame. Ever since he had left the Joseon court, he has promised himself he would try to walk the path of peace, after all he had been taught in his travels. And now look at him, one battle and his old urges surged through.
But before he could apologize, Saem took his hand and started to pull him away.
Always saving me from myself. After running for a distance through the palace, going down and through areas that Naotomo could hardly remember, Saem finally stopped and so did Naotomo. As they both waited for their breath back, Saem spoke with a happiness that was such a stark change from the environment they just left, Naotomo almost laughed. “You as we....” He was about to answer, but his answer was cut off as his friend fell to his knees, the obvious exhaustion clear on his face. “Saem! Are you hurt?” He quickly grabbed ahold of him before he fully fell. He quickly searched him but he saw nor blood nor injury. “I need to get you back to your people.”
