@realitieswarped // a kiss that smears blood everywhere. ( >:) teddy)
There is nothing in the world that compares to the sound of a body hitting the ground at close to terminal velocity, and God help him, Teddy has had to hear it too may times. Just as recognizable is the sound of air forced from lungs all at once, not so much a groan as a 'whoof', in a voice so familiar he could pick it out of a crowd of thousands. If his wings could creak, they would have screamed like the brakes of a runaway freight train with how quickly he changed direction in midair and dove for the ground.
His boots slammed on the ground, the force digging furrows into the already broken concrete shattered, throwing shards in all directions, momentum carrying him forward into a dead run. The battle raged all around them, their friends and teammates battling up and down the street, but Teddy saw none of it. He only had eyes for the crumpled form swathed in red cloth. Dropping to his knees his hands hovered above Billy's form briefly - caught in the terror of whether or not he should move him. But a wheeze caught his attention, spurred him. Billy was breathing, but not well. He needed air.
Thank God for that CPR class he took Junior year. Gently turning Billy onto his back, he tilted his chin up to clear his airway, pinched his nose and, sealing his mouth over his husband's, blew. Backed up, waited, blew again. Felt a hot tear slide down his cheek and splash on Billy's cheek. Blew again.
Billy coughed, sputtered -- Teddy turned his head gently as blood gushed from his mouth. The coughs turned into groans, his body writhing as pain wracked him, and Teddy kept his head supported and just watched, because it was all he could do. The relief he felt that Billy had caught his air was tempered by the terror he always felt when his fragile mate was injured. Billy was only human, despite it all. "Billy… easy, you're hurt…"
Dark eyes cracked open, swiveled up to look at him past sweat-matted fringe. "I'm -- I'm okay now," he managed in an uneven voice.
"I'm -- I'll get the medic," Teddy stammered, making like he was going to get up -- but he felt a tug at his shirt, looked down to see Billy's hand gripping it tightly. Using the leverage to pull himself up, and the look in his eyes told Teddy all he needed to know; he bent, giving Billy the kiss he sought, in spite of the tang of blood that immediately, sharply stung on his lips. A promise.
