It has been a rough couple of weeks (when has it not) and I’ve really needed a hug. Since all my friends are far way (curse you all, jk) - to cope I drew Ishida getting a hug he deserves.
Do you ever see an art piece that just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy? This is one of mine 🥰
I often think about the time they spent living together and how Ishida agreed to take Myya in even after losing his sister. How hard that must have been for him watching Myya grow up - ugh. And Myya her just absolute devotion to Ishida and how much she sees him as an older brother figure 😭😭😭 they are so precious!!!
Ishida wakes to the sound of rushing water. He rolls over and pulls himself up the bank, limbs sticking in the mud like tar. So much for their quiet afternoon, he thinks sitting up once he reaches the grass. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of his comrades or the cliff he went over. Who knows how far the river carried him. He hope it wasn’t too far, the thought of walking is exhausting. He hopes more, that they were able to finish off the katchra demon without any problems. A shiver cuts through him making his whole body convulse. Time to get moving. He goes to push himself up to stand but a sharp twinge in his arm stops him. The skin and clothes around his forearm are scorched. He peels back some of the chard flaps of his sleeve to reveal more red tender skin. That’s going to need a salve, he thinks. He could heal it, but his magic feels weak from the fight and fall, he’s better to spare it.
It doesn’t hurt half as bad as it looks. He wishes he could say the same about the rest of his clothes. The brightly colored silk kimono is nearly brown from all the caked on mud. It’s torn and charred from ash and its delicate beaded-stitching hangs frayed off the ends, nearly every crystal bead missing, lost to the river. Lousy demons have no respect for fashion.
Another chill puts him on his feet. The water is moving west so he heads east in hopes he can find the way back. It’s nearly nightfall which means he’ll likely have to find shelter before the rest of his crew. He hopes his prolonged absence won’t cause too much worry. The air seems to get colder with every step. His once beautiful flowing outfit now clings to him trapping the cold in. How much longer? He wonders, but looking behind him, it doesn’t look like he’s traveled much at all. Exhaustion is catching up with him. His limbs are heavy and he feels sluggish. He needs to find a safe place to rest.
Hugging the tree line, he lets his magic fan out, just a little bit. Just enough to catch something. And he does, something familiar. Ahead of him, a tall blurry object is coming in fast. Exhaustion muffles the sound at first as his knees give out, but then he hears it clear as day:
“ISHIDA!”
In a blink, his archer is at his side, concern etched in those chiseled features. His hands are on him in an instant, caressing his face with warm calloused fingers.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt?” He asks, plumb eyes scanning every inch of him.
Ishida shakes his head, leaning into his touch.
“Hell’s name. I saw you go over the cliff and,”
“I’m alright. What about the others?”
“They’re fine. Hein got a bit scrapped up, but Myya took care of it.”
“That’s good. And the katchra demon?”
“Ashes.”
“Good, good. So, tell me, how far did I end up?”
“Far enough that we’re going to have to find a place to camp tonight.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“Don’t worry, I saw a good spot not too far from here, can you stand?”
Ishida nods and allows Ryuji to help him to his feet. He sways a bit, but denies the offer to be carried. They walk slow and the archer keeps his hand on his back steading him. Each time he shivers, Ryuji pulls him in closer, and he’s grateful for the warmth. They come to a long cave right beside a small waterfall.
“I’ll get a fire going,” Ryuji announces, grabbing some sticks nearby.
Ishida looks over at the waterfall and down at his mud crusted legs.
“I think I’ll go wash up, or…try to anyway.”
The hard pressure water does wonders for his face and skin. His clothes on the other hand are a lost cause. Admittedly, getting them rewet was probably not the best plan, he just couldn’t stand to have them on anymore. He lets the water run over his face one more time, psyching himself up to put on the wet clothes once more. But as he turns to the edge of the pool, his clothes are gone.
“Uh, Ryuji darling,” he calls out, securing the knot on his pants. “Where are my clothes?”
He walks over to where his sopping wet clothes had been clumped in a pile, only to find a dry neatly folded tunic. He runs his hand over the wooven fabric, before slipping it on. It fits him like a dress and nearly hangs off his shoulder. No surprise, given that the owner’s much taller than he is. He folds the sleeves up to his wrists and pulls the loose hole of the neck up to his face relishing the warmth and scent of pine.
Inside the cave, he finds his clothes laid out beside one side of the fire to dry. On the other side, Ryuji sits shirtless, stoking the flames. Ishida takes a moment to trace where the light highlights his muscles and curves. When the archer catches sight of him, lingering, he fumbles the stick in his hand nearly burning himself.
“Hi,” he says, mouth hanging slightly open.
“Hi,” Ishida smiles, fidgeting a bit under the heavy gaze.
“You should come get warm,” Ryuji suggests nodding at the fire.
Ishida complies, moving close to the embers like a moth. As he shifts to sit more comfortably, Ryuji’s arms wrap around his waist, pulling him into the archers lap. He feels like a furnace, completely cocooned in warmth.
“Better?” He hears Ryuji ask, as he rests his chin on his shoulder.
“Much,” Ishida hums.
Ryuji tucks his nose into the crook of his neck breathing deeply.
“You smell like me,” he says.
Ishida’s stomach sparks like the embers of the fire.
“Probably because I’m wearing your shirt, handsome. Thank you, by the way.”
Ryuji nods and pulls him into closer.
“I like it,” he says, “seeing you in my clothes.”
“Do you now?”
Ryuji answers by pressing a kiss to his neck, just under his ear.
“I do,” he says and Ishida shivers. “You look…you look like you’re mine.”
“Hm,” Ishida hums, shifting to touch Ryuji’s face so their eyes meet. “I am yours, darling.”
He turns to straddle his lap, looping his arms around Ryuji’s neck.
“All yours.”
The corners of the archers lips twitch, desire pooling in his eyes. His kiss is hot, as if he’s trying to burn his very being into Ishida’s lips. He isn’t entirely sure he has the energy, but when those lips move down his neck to his exposed collarbone, he decides to let the archer have his way with him. Oh the horror.
Tag list: @magnus-the-maqnificent @high-warlock-of-brooklyn @my-archerboy @littleturtle95 @khaleesiofalicante @radisv @raziyekroos @spotsandclawsthings
This one is for the lovely @sassybookworm2020 who requested Rishida with “Touch him, and die.”
Hope you enjoy!
“I said lower your weapons!” The thug demands.
Ryuji stands firm, arrow pointed at his head, despite the other two pointing short swords at him. He glances at Ishida who remains calm, a mild look of annoyance on his face. Always knowing when he’s eyeing him, those golden eyes meet his. It’s a wordless command that he should do as he’s told. Begrudgingly, he lowers the bow. The moment the string is loose, one of the other men rips it from his hand, and tosses it into the woods behind them.
Anger twitches inside him. They’ve already interrupted his evening and now it’ll be interrupted further having to find his bow. He looks back to the caster in hopes that he’ll be allowed to act, but Ishida shakes his head.
“Any weapons on you?” The leader asks, pointing his dagger towards Ishida.
“None that I’d waste on you.”
Ryuji smirks at the callous remark. The casters tongue is a weapon sharper than steel. There are times he thinks he could very well out quip Takashi though the dumb thug doesn’t seem to share the same sentiment. He scowls and waves the dagger in front of him, as if the fan-like motion is threatening. Ridiculous.
“Alright then,” he says, “hand over your money and jewels. Quickly now!”
Really? They’re robbing them? Ryuji rolls his eyes and looks down over at the shorter man next to him, but he’s already removing the bangles on his wrists. They clang to the ground, one by one. Ryuji bites the inside of his cheek. The three goons would be easy enough to handle, but he can tell there are more hanging around. He knows Ishida can sense it too and that’s the reason for his obedience. He also knows, magic is out of the question, not this close to town, who knows the kind of sensors his father has set up. It’s too dangerous. They’ve no choice, but to comply…for now.
He unties a small pouch with a few coins in it and drops it to the ground while Ishida finishes removing his rings. Afterwards, he tucks his hands behind his back, fiddling with the hidden dagger in his sleeve.
“And the necklace!” The robber says.
Ryuji twitches and turns his attention to Ishida, tension spreading through him like a wire. The caster clutches the pendant with steady fingers.
“No.”
“What?”
“I said no. You have plenty there to do with as you please. The necklace stays with me.”
“Listen here wench,” the thug spits, “if you won’t hand it over, I’ll pry it off your corpse!”
He lunges forward and the tension in Ryuji snaps. He hits underneath the thugs hand, releasing his grip on the dagger. In the same motion, he catches it while unsheathing the one hidden in his sleeve. He steps in front of Ishida, one arm outstretched towards the the other two thugs, and one holds the leaders own dagger to the side of his throat.
“Touch him, and die,” he warns.
There’s movement beside him and he turns just as one of the other thugs smashes a vile on the ground. A putrid smelling smoke explodes from the ground. Ryuji grabs for Ishida, but makes the call to take advantage of situation. These aren’t trained soldiers, he tells himself. They just blinded themselves. Using the smoke as cover, he heads for the shadow of the trees to get a better view. As it clears, the three thugs stand huddled together, Ishida in the middle of them, unbothered.
“Where’d he go?” One of them asks, sword still drawn.
“Who cares, lets just take the lot and get on with it.”
“Looks like your friend left ya for me,” the leader says turning to Ishida. “You better hand over that necklace.”
“Oh, you couldn’t be more wrong about that,” the caster answers confidently, “and I told you, the necklace, stays with me.”
A thug on the left grabs Ishida by his arms and pushes him to the ground, while the other takes a fistful of his hair, pulling it back so that he can look up at the leader.
“I told you, if you won’t hand it over,” the leader threatens putting a dagger to Ishida’s cheek, “then I’ll pry it off your corpse.”
Before he can act, Ryuji drops from the trees behind him. He grabs his wrist and twists it, listening to the bones snap as he drops the dagger.
“You were warned,” he tells him, before plunging his own dagger into his throat.
“Why you- hold him!” One of the other two thieves shout.
Ryuji barely has to lean out of the way to doge the too-wide-of-a swing from the thugs short sword. In one swift movement, he disarms him, and flips him onto his back, dislocating his shoulder so he can’t pick up the weapon again. He places his foot on the mans chest to hold him in place, while he aims his dagger high. A grunt stops him and he looks to up to see the other place his sword across Ishida’s neck.
“One wrong move and the wench gets it!” He threatens.
Ryuji lowers his arm and points the dagger at his head.
“Let him go,” he demands. “I won’t ask again.”
The daring thief, yanks on the casters snow-colored hair, baring his neck. A mistake he won’t have time to regret. Ryuji lowers his arm down to his side, waiting, while drawing another from his other sleeve. Then, the moment he sees the thug relax his grip, he throws the small push blade. It lands in the thugs windpipe. Without waiting Ryuji turns his attention back to the thug on the ground. The man tries to bring his fingers to his lips, no doubt attempting to call for help. With one kick, his neck snaps to one side, severing the head from the spinal cord, and his hand falls to the ground.
“Any one else?” Ryuji asks, turning to the forest.
In the distance, he can hear the patter of footsteps disappearing into the forest. Good, he thinks and turns his attention to Ishida.
“Well, that was exciting,” he hears the caster say as he approaches, but all of the sound drowns out the moment he notices a bright red cut across porcelain skin.
He drops to his knees, cradling the others face like a broken vase. How? He wonders, running a careful thumb just under the thin red line. It must have been when that bastard fell back. The sword was too close. It’s his fault. He bites the inside of his cheek. Stupid.
“Darling, if you stare any harder, I may turn to stone,” Ishida says.
“Sorry,” Ryuji mutters, letting go.
“Don’t be. It’s just a little scratch,” Ishida raises his hand to his face, a blueish hue forming around his hand.
Panic startles Ryuji forward as the wound stitches itself back together and he grabs his wrist.
“Don’t,” he whispers. “It’s too dangerous.”
“It can’t be helped,” the caster shrugs, “I hate seeing you worry.”
Ryuji watches as Ishida runs his fingers over the wound, light bits of blue sparkles coming out as he does. Below them, the wound seals itself, skin gluing back together.
“Now all it needs is a kiss.”
Ryuji leans forward without hesitation and places a small kiss where the cut had been, feeling Ishida smile as he does.
“There. All better.” He says, golden eyes sparkling like the sun.
He reaches up and rubs in-between Ryuji’s brow, where they furrow together. The tension that had coiled itself around him bleeds out at the cool and familiar touch and he feels himself smiling. He hands the caster his jewelry back and puts his coin pouch away. Then helps Ishida to his feet, watching as he peers around him at the bodies lying on the forest floor.
“I believe this is when we flee the crime scene,” he tells him.
Ryuji nods, looking out into the dense wood.
“I’m sorry about your bow,” he hears Ishida say. “Though you can always have Takashi buy you a new one, or I can…with his money.”
Ryuji eyes the man beside him curiously.
“What? He’s a Prince, he’s got money to burn. Besides, I’m rather eager to find somewhere private where I can show you how grateful I am to have been defended so valiantly.”
Heat rises to Ryuji’s cheeks as he lets the caster pull him into the woods, his bow forgotten.
Tag list: @magnus-the-maqnificent @high-warlock-of-brooklyn @my-archerboy @littleturtle95 @khaleesiofalicante @radisv @raziyekroos @spotsandclawsthings
