FINALLY,AFTER LIKE FOUR FUCKING WEEKS,AN ETERNITY OF FINISHING WORK SO I COULD WORK ON THIS AND BEGGING MY BEST FRIEND FOR HELP WITH DESCRIPTIONS, IT'S DONE. THE GUARDIAN SHOWER FIC. THANK YOU @raiderchaox ,I WOULD BE FOREVER LOST WITHOUT YOU
@itsgirlcraft @dracl-dragon
Ahem,
WARNING! THIS FIC CONTAINS: nonsexual nudity,help bathing,actual hand on skin contact (washing with hands),body hate,hurt/comfort (mostly comfort),so much praise for Guardian,far too much giggling,magic bag items,and most terrifying of all,Hypno Steve. ENJOY!
Azrial woke up to an upsetting lack of pillows and blankets.
Well. There WERE pillows and blankets nearby, just not on him. And no alternatives (wings) were being provided.
He blinked sleepily,sitting up in the dim light of some nearby torch.
Zero and that thing Zero liked to hang around were curled up against eachother beside him,Zero so closely pressed against Hypno that Azrial doubted if she was actually still breathing properly and Hypno’s tail and half attached limbs wrapped around her. The strange creature’s eye was closed,but Azrial still felt like he was being watched…
He turned away with a shiver, partially because he really was cold, but mostly because Hypno freaked him out.
The rest of the team seemed pretty peaceful, at least the ones he could see. Asra and Light were cuddled up together,Time was asleep,Illusion was with Pyro which was a surprise…the torch was probably in Mark or ICG’s hand,he could hear them quietly talking outside. The rest of their recruits were shrouded in shadow.
Azrial yawned,stretching. Definitely not morning yet. He wasn’t thrilled about being up at this hour. Going back to sleep sounded very appealing. So long as he could manage it,he would fall back asleep eventually…
…then again……
Now that there were more people on the team, more,er,...necessities had become obvious. So at least for tonight,some of the more intelligent people had constructed a kind of makeshift shower. And not that he goes to bed that early, but he had, perhaps, fallen asleep before he’d gotten the chance to use it…
Yep. Okay. He really wanted that shower.
Azrial quietly got out of their bed- how four people had managed to fit in such a tiny bed,he had no–
Wait. Four.
Where was Guardian??
He blinked in confusion,looking around. The angel was nowhere to be seen. …hm.
Then again,he had been through a lot lately. Perhaps he just needed some air. Maybe he was out on a walk.
Nodding to himself and deciding not to worry about it, Azrial crept out the back of the shelter.
The aforementioned shower had been half-carved into the back end of a small cave. Not up to Cozen’s standards but at this point,neither was Azrial. At least they’d had the decency to properly light it. …well,with torches and glowstone,but it was better than nothing.
Staying quiet enough to not catch Mark’s attention (which may be something to bring up with him,because how did their guard not notice at least two people sneaking out?)He wandered into the cave and down the tunnel like area they’d carved out,with the shower space being at the end of it. Finally, this was going to be so-
Azrial stopped dead in his tracks.
The shower-thing seemed to be actually functional,which was the good news. The stone room was very well lit,with a couple blocks half-broken for the water to drain into. Some type of containers,filled with soap and conditioner (Nope,Azrial wasn’t asking where those came from,IGC’s bag was a mystery he could never hope to unravel.) rested on the floor. The water itself came from an infinite(???) He had no idea how that worked) source above,partially heated by nearby lava.
The bad news was that water was currently falling on another person,arms wrapped around themselves and looking at the ground. Azrial didn't instantly see wings,but even so they were instantly recognizable.
AH. That was where Guardian went—
Guardian, finally seeming to recognize that he was no longer alone, jolted and half-turned around to look at Azrial.
The advisor made a strangled sound,immediately covering his eyes with his hands. “SO sorry-I-thought it was unoccupied-”
“Ah.” Guardian sounded like he wanted to crawl into the earth. Azrial would be very,very willing to do the same right now.
“I’ll-ow-” Azrial attempted to just back out,only succeeding in blindly running straight into the wall.
“It-it’s alright,Azrial.” The angel attempted to reassure him,though he did let out a soft chuckle in amusement. “Don’t hurt yourself. You can look,I’m covered.”
Azrial meekly lowered his hands.
Guardian stared back at him,looking a little tired but not at all irritated. His wings were folded across his body,and he seemed to shrink into them a bit as Azrial looked. …they didn’t hide everything though. Not the multiple eyes on his arms and legs,or the small tail,nor the…deep red demon horns on his head.
After staring for what was probably too long,Azrial snapped out of it.
“...Apologies. I…didn’t think anybody else would be in here.” Azrial shifted awkwardly,looking away.
“I thought the same…which is why I decided now would be a good time. Not too late,but…We’re still pretty far away from morning,after all.”
“Mm.” Azrial nodded. Then. “You have a way of measuring time?”
“?? I imagine it would be the same as measuring any other steve…”
“Oh,nevermind-”
Azrial sighed. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He started properly leaving.
After a moment of hesitation,Guardian called after him.
“Wait-”
Azrial blinked,turning back around. “Hm?”
“You…haven’t gotten a chance to shower,have you?”
“...I have not.”
“They’re going to disassemble this in the morning…” Guardian murmured. “...If you aren’t opposed to it,we could…share?”
Azrial contemplated his life choices.
“...Oh,what the hell. Sure.” He started tugging off his cloak and jacket as Guardian politely turned back around.
Once he had properly stripped,Azrial made a beeline for the bottles,squeezing some soap into his hand.
“I have gone far too long without this.” He muttered,shutting his eyes as he started to work it into his hair.
Guardian made an amused huffing sound. “You wouldn’t be able to tell just by looking at you,if it’s any consolation.”
“I very much doubt that.” He sighed.
Guardian thought about it,then shrugged.
“You look fairly average most of the time.”
“Well! I’ll have you know I am usually very pretty. According to two possibly dead-possibly not monarchs and one guard.” Azrial hummed lightheartedly,using the shampoo still left on his hands to start scrubbing his body clean of god knows what kind of filth at this point.
Guardian laughed softly. “Fairly pretty,then.”
“Thank you.”
Azrial made a short,almost purr like noise as he stuck his hair under the water,washing it out properly for the first time in weeks. The temperature was lovely,just hot enough from the placement of the lava and filling the area with warmth and steam. He muttered a thankful prayer to any gods listening,running his fingers through his hair to make sure the soap all got out and then fully standing in it to wash it off his body.
Once satisfied,he went to reach for the conditioner before giving a quick glance to Guardian.
…the angel was fully turned away from him again,wings still wrapped tightly around himself. The feathers drooped from being wet but other than that he was perfectly still,just standing there. …and now that he was close,Azrial started noticing other things. Like that Guardian still had netherrack dust all over him,even though they had gotten out of the spiritless world hours ago. It had been practically an entire day at this point…
“...Have you been bathing yourself in here at all?” Azrial tilted his head in genuine confusion.
Guardian winced.
“Oh,do I smell?” He tried to joke,still looking away.
“No,no…you just…there’s…” Azrial softened his tone. “There’s still dust and dirt all over you. You…know you can wash yourself while I’m here,right? …I can leave if it makes you that uncomfortable-”
“No,it’s…it’s alright. You aren’t making me uncomfortable,Azrial.” Guardian sighed,softly. “I just…am.”
“...”
Azrial nodded in understanding,looking away again.
“...I understand.” He picked up the bottle of conditioner, squirting some out and working that into his wet hair. “No one has said anything,have they?”
Guardian laughed despite himself.
“Heavens no,they’re far too scared. Zero and Asra have made it very clear they will not tolerate any of that. Blue and Light too. Zero won’t even be rational about it,she’ll just bite them. She’s a bit of a holy terror. We’re very lucky she’s chosen the side of good.”
“That I can agree with. I’m surprised about Asra,though.”
“She said the demon’s deaths would be painful.”
“Did she now??” Azrial raised an eyebrow in shock. “Goodness,players can be violent…”
“Eh,I’m used to it. It’s flattering they’re that willing to fight for me,in all honesty.”
His wings fluttered,though not very much,still weighed down by the water. The two fell into a silence again.
Guardian broke it.
“Nobody’s said anything. Everyone…everyone has been very kind. But I…”
Guardian looked down at himself,unfolding his wings enough so that only he could see. Looked at all the scars,and burns,and scales,the extra mouths,the sharpened eyes.
He rubbed the X scar on his face for just a moment before dropping his hand and speaking in a shaky tone.
“I-...I…can’t…it’s so bright in here,you can see everything…”
He swallowed,unable to tear his eyes away from himself.
“I…don’t want to touch…”
He whimpered.
“...I don’t look like myself…”
“...”
Azrial stared at him in sympathetic silence.
“.....I know how that feels.” He murmured softly,though he did not elaborate. “For what it’s worth…I never felt like I was wrong in assuming you were an angel.”
“...Thank you.” Guardian whispered,holding back tears.
Azrial thought about it,then made a decision.
“Would you let somebody else do it,though?”
Guardian bit his lip.
“...a-ah…you……yes,you can touch the scars if you want. I can see why you’d be curious…”
“No,not that.” Azrial shook his head.
“I meant bathe you.”
Guardian straightened up,glancing at Azrial,yellow and purple eyes widening in surprise.
“...Are…wait,hold on,are you offering?”
Azrial nodded.
“..........” Guardian shifted his weight awkwardly. “...I…don’t think I would be opposed to it? But you don’t have to bother…”
“Oh please. You aren’t a bother.” Azrial walked back over to his clothes,crouching down and rifling through his pockets before retrieving a silken cloth. “It’s the dead of night and I can’t sleep until I’m done with this shower. Not like I have anything better to do. Besides,it would be my pleasure.”
“...Alright.” Guardian said meekly,quietly looking back towards the water.
Azrial put some soap on the cloth,humming to himself.
“There,that should do nicely. Now,the scars look mostly healed,but still tell me if something hurts,alright?”
“I’ll,um…” Guardian stumbled over his words,half disbelieving that this was even happening. “...Yes.”
Azrial nodded,waiting expectantly. Guardian let out a sigh before moving his wings out of the way.
…Goodness,there were so many scars. Especially on his shoulders and upper chest. There were also quite a few burns,the worst of the worst on his legs. Patches of red scales,piercing eyes…
“My,and I thought I was the pretty one.” Azrial teased,before starting to rub the cloth over his shoulder.
For a moment,Guardian’s mind just went blank. His body tensed from the long-remembered sensation of silky soap,though the flesh was still tender from the burn. It wasn’t so bad,Azrial was being fairly gentle. But more importantly,did Azrial just-compliment him?? That? Was not the proper first response to seeing Guardian’s body? After the shock had worn off,sure,Zero and Asra and Time had started throwing them at him faster than a yellow steve trying to land a lightning strike,but…not the first response.
“...Excuse me?”
“Hm?”
“...Just then,why did you call me…?”
“That would be because you are,Guardian. There’s not much to misinterpret there.”
He continued scrubbing with the cloth,covering most of Guardian’s arm and shoulder in the soap (he tried to avoid the eyes). Guardian furrowed his brow in confusion,trying his hardest to misinterpret it regardless. Perhaps Azrial needed to get his eyes checked. IGC probably had glasses in her bag,heaven knows she had everything else. She somehow got this soap,and he was still wondering how.
She had said the bag was magic but still,even for magic bag items this was nice. So soft and smooth,and it even seemed to hurt less than normal soap in the painful areas. He couldn’t help but to sigh contentedly. Had he un-tensed a fraction of an inch since this started? No. However…the consistent scrubbing with the soft cloth felt nice,and the soap smelled like…he didn’t even know. Wildflowers and mint and grass right after it rains and the air right before it snows…
For some reason,it reminded him of the spirit world.
He snapped out of it as Azrial pulled the soapy area of his body into the hot water,washing away the soap and sense of calm,trails of dirt being coaxed by the water into the drain-like areas.
Guardian swallowed hard and looked away,embarrassment radiating off him. What on earth was he doing,Azrial probably hadn’t been serious about this offer in the first place and even if he had been now he was definitely going to be grossed out,ohh this was bad-
His extra eyes opened wide in worry,leaving soap to stream into the one on his arm and making him flinch hard.
“Oh,dear-”
Azrial took his hand and pushed the arm further into the water,holding it up so any more soap went down it instead of up.
“Apologies,I thought I was being careful…” He muttered in annoyance at himself. Guardian just blinked.
“Oh,no,it’s fine. I do it on accident all the time.” He laughed awkwardly. “They’re a pain,sometimes.”
“Well I’d rather not blind you.” Azrial huffed.
“...You’re acting rather casual for talking to someone who has eyes on their arms.”
Azrial just shrugged. “Eh,not the weirdest thing I’ve seen so far. Is the soap out?”
“Ah. Yes. It’s okay.” Guardian tried and failed not to sound surprised as Azrial let go of his arm to go get more soap.
“Honestly,we might end up using the whole bottle…” Azrial murmured,getting the cloth ready again.
“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.” Guardian tilted his wings in interest. “...do you have a system for this,or…”
“Ah,this is how I used to help-” He hesitated for a moment,before continuing,coming closer to Guardian again. “Um,the king bathe. Sometimes it would just be too much for him.”
“Oh,I see. You’re used to it then.”
“Mostly. I haven’t done it in a while though.” He smiled sheepishly,starting to scrub Guardian’s other shoulder. “I suppose I’m a bit out of practice.”
Guardian chucked lightly,shaking his head. “I wouldn’t be able to tell.”
“Good news for me,then.”
Guardian laughed again.
“...in all honesty,I almost never do in-depth cleaning like this. …that’s a little gross,huh…”
“Not really. You still smell nicer than most of the guards I had to be around.” He wrinkled his nose up at the memory.
“Mm,makes sense. Well,just tell Mark gently.”
“Hah-oh, I’ll certainly try.”
Guardian smiled,before looking away again.
“I just usually try to do it very fast. Minimal,ah…minimal contact. In dark caves,if at all possible.”
He grows quiet for a moment before speaking up again.
“To tell the truth,for the first week or so after…it happened…I just bathed with my cloak on. …”
Azrial paused.
“...I wish you’d stop talking with that tone. It isn’t shameful,Guardian.”
He started gently working the soap in again,loosening the filth from the angel’s skin. “And I’m glad you’ve progressed beyond that,even if a little bit. …though speaking of that,perhaps we should wash your cloak too…” He mused,before shaking his head. “Ah,later.”
“...” Guardian swallowed again,though he managed a small smile. “...for the record,having you do it is a vast improvement.”
Azrial gave a hum of satisfaction. “Why thank you. I’d like to think I outrank a cave.”
Guardian laughed,sopping wings fluttering. “You most definitely outrank a cave.”
“Thank you.”
He moved Guardian into the water again,this time managing to avoid any eye casualties. Then he stepped behind him.
“So,I’m not used to working with these.” Azrial patted the dripping wings. “How do you typically wash your wings? Or how have you in the past.”
…Guardian laughed.
“Like this.”
A flash,and the once very real wings switched into detailed tattoos on his back. Azrial yelped in alarm,taking a couple steps backwards.
“...Goodness.”
Guardian giggled behind his hand.
“My sincerest apologies,I couldn’t resist.”
Azrial scoffed,rolling his eyes.
“How dare you. I’ll have you exiled from the kingdom.”
“Noo,heaven forbid! Well,that’s fine. I’ll just send Hypno in my place.”
Azrial shuddered.
“You are a cruel man,Guardian…”
Guardian snickered as Azrial brought the washcloth up to his skin. “It’s your own fault for being so easily startled…”
“Okay,now you sound like Gemma.” Azrial grumbled.
“Considering how highly you speak about her,I consider that a compliment.”
“...touche.”
He hesitated,tilting his head as he stared at Guardian’s back.
“...How hard should I do this? I don’t want to damage them…”
“Oh,you don’t need to worry about that. They’re basically unable to be harmed in this state. It’s a way of protecting them. As well as keeping me from having to feel wet feathers. Ugh.”
Azrial chuckled,starting to scrub them,though still looking somewhat impressed. “A very reasonable safeguard.”
“Indeed!”
Azrial hummed softly,covering the tattoos in bubbles. “Doesn’t it feel strange when they aren’t there,though?”
“A bit,I suppose.” Guardian contemplated. “I wonder if anyone would even recognize me if I didn’t have them…”
Azrial scoffed again. “Of course they would. Even if you had your cloak on,all you’d have to do was speak…”
“Well what if they thought it was that Victor fellow?”
“If you tell them you think they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between you and Victor,Guardian…everyone here is going to be very,very insulted.”
“Hah-Oh,I suppose you’re right…Besides,we do have Hypno anyway. He could certainly tell.”
“That he could…hmph.”
“What,I know you don’t like him,but-”
“No…” Azrial sighed. “I’m worried I’m starting to see the value in keeping him around. And that is one being I should not get attached to.”
Guardian laughed,surprised. “Oh goodness.”
“I know,I know…”
“You know,I’ve always half expected you to suggest we leave him behind. Say you forgot about him or something. He would find us regardless,of course…”
Azrial gasped in mock offense,stepping back with a hand over his heart. “Me? Do the same thing Zero’s always ranted about? Guardian,I’m surprised you think so lowly of me…”
Guardian glanced back at him before laughing louder,small tail wagging awkwardly.
“Ahh,so you do pay attention to those rants!”
“It would be hard not to. She’s quite good at drawing in an audience.” He admitted,rolling his eyes with a smile.
“Asra and Illusion have been starting to get in on it too.”
“Heaven help us all.”
“As the overlooker of heaven,the spirit world cannot save us from those three.”
“Drat.”
Azrial sighed,stepping closer and starting to scrub again. The dirt stuck on the scales was bugging him,so he tried scrubbing a little harder.
Almost instantly,Guardian let out a loud purr which startled them both.
“...Sorry about that-” Guardian looked longingly at his cloak,partially wanting to hide in it.
“It’s quite alright,but what was that for…?”
“...Itches…” Guardian muttered,staring very hard at the wall. “Those patches,um,itch. It’s irritating.”
“There’s a bunch of dirt on them,of course that’s irritating.” Azrial continued like this was the most normal thing in the world,wetting the washcloth in the hot water again before deciding to scrub even harder.
…Guardian hid his face in his hands and purred,very loudly. Azrial bit his lip in an attempt to hide his smile,though it really didn’t matter since Guardian wasn’t looking. Still,it’s the thought that counts.
“Oh,does it feel nice when I do that?”
“...yes…” Guardian eeked out,embarrassed.
Yep,hiding his smile definitely wasn’t working.
“You don’t need to speak so softly,I’m not going to stop.” Azrial continued,finally succeeding in getting some of the grime off those patches. “There,that’s better.”
Guardian just nodded,tail swishing at Azrial’s legs.
“Goodness,you can get so shy about things…” He laughed softly. “Let me know if I start scrubbing too hard,alright?”
“It's embarrassing…” Guardian complained with a little huff. “I'm supposed to be more put together than this…”
Azrial sighed. “Aren't we all. …So,can all steves purr?”
Guardian unconsciously moved closer,thinking. “Mm,I believe so? Though of course we don't do it all the time. That could get irritating, I'd imagine.” After a short moment,he giggled. “Though the threat of it getting irritating did not stop Hypno from purring the entire time he was with Rainbow Steve. Genuinely every time I saw them,I swear-”
“I'm quite sure being irritating is the last of his concerns.” Azrial rolled his eyes.
“Oh,too true.” Guardian sighed. “He does have his moments,though.”
“I suppose he does.” Azrial hesitated. “Was it just me or did his horns look different when you all came out- I know there was a worry of doppelgangers but he seems to be his usual self,so?-”
“Oh no,that's him alright. He actually…” Guardian fidgeted with his hair for a moment,blushing shyly. “Apparently he molded them to look more like mine after they all found out. That's what Zero told me,anyway.”
“Huh!” Azrial blinked, genuinely surprised. “That was rather sweet of him if that's true. Hm…”
“Like I said, he has his moments.” Guardian shrugged,smiling as Azrial tried to get a bit more dirt off.
“At least we know he likes us? You and Zero,anyway.”
“Oh,he wouldn't be here if he didn't like us. He would have just left.” He purred softly. “I'm honestly quite proud of him. He could very well have tried to do everything on his own but here he is working with us…though he has taken a liking to irritating you-”
Azrial sighed dramatically. “They always pick on the advisor…”
Guardian laughed quietly before moving into the water to wash the soap off,getting his hair wet in the process. Azrial hummed.
“May I do your hair as well?”
“If you'd like!” Guardian closed his eyes,letting the water run over him. He seemed significantly less uncomfortable than when Azrial had started,and he hummed again,proud of himself for making the angel feel at least slightly more at peace. He hung the cloth over the top of the conditioner (he was NOT putting it on the floor,eugh.) and put more soap into his hands.
“Okay,you have to come out of the water for me to be able to do anything-”
Guardian opened one eye to stare sadly at him “Must I…?”
“You must. Unfortunately.” Azrial shook his head,smiling.
Guardian made a disappointed sound,but stepped out regardless. …It was a little more stressful,having to face eachother directly. Azrial glanced him over again for a moment,noting with minor surprise that minus the demonic and angelic features,they had similar bodies…he shrugged. Interesting,but of no matter. Guardian glanced down at himself again,wincing.
“Ah ah,no more of that.” Azrial reprimanded him. “Come now,looking at yourself too much will make anyone critical. Relax.”
Guardian blinked up at him before nodding and bending his head forward.
“Thank you.”
Azrial started working the soap into his tricolored hair,lathering his scalp with-...okay he wasn't sure what kind of shampoo this was,but no matter. It was nice. Smelled like…okay,he also didn't know that. It just reminded him of Cozen for some reason…
Azrial massaged the soap in,fingernails lightly scratching his head and making his scalp feel pleasurably warm.
He flexed and unflexed his hands in a pattern,which Guardian seemed to appreciate if the bouts of purring were any answer. Though they kept cutting themselves off every time Azrial's hands bumped those horns. Hm…
Well, compliments certainly never hurt anything.
“These are quite striking.” Azrial teased, wrapping his hands around them and tracing his thumb on the base of one,leaving a trail of soap. “I can hardly believe you wanted to cover them up.”
Guardian stiffened.
“...Azrial,you don't have to-”
“Don't you trust me?”
Guardian blinked,surprised.
“Yes,of course,but…”
“You believed me when I told you I was the advisor of Cozen,correct? And again when I encouraged you to trust the rest of us when you were worried?”
“Of course I did,but Azrial-”
“Then trust me now.”
Azrial cupped his face with one hand,keeping the other firmly on his horn.
“You,Guardian,are beautiful.”
…Guardian squeaked,staring at him wide eyed. Even the sharper eyes on the rest of his body seemed to soften, looking at Azrial in disbelief. He tried to form a response,but no words would come. Just tears,running down his face.
Azrial smiled softly,pressing their foreheads together,the shampoo getting mixed with the conditioner that was still in his hair.
“Do you believe me now?”
“I-” Guardian stammered. “.......I…don't know why,but…yes…” He whimpered softly,shutting all his eyes and leaning against the advisor completely. Azrial didn't flinch,just went back to rubbing his head.
“Good. You deserve to know,really.”
Guardian just hugged him,bending his head down so Azrial could keep going.
“... you're lucky I can't die, or that might have sent me to an early grave.” He muttered.
Azrial rolled his eyes, speaking lightheartedly. “So dramatic…”
“You're one to talk.”
“True,true.”
“...thank you.” Guardian whispered.
“You don't need to thank me just for telling the truth. …Though,do let me know if anyone tells you otherwise. I'll have a talk with them.”
Guardian snickered, equal parts amusement and surprise. “Oh my,are you threatening people now?”
“Can't let Zero have all the fun.”
“Goodness…I didn't know you had it in you,really!”
“Always underestimating me…you thought I was going to leave Hypno Steve behind and you don't think I'm willing to defend you? Guardian,do you even like me at all? Lean your head back-”
Guardian hummed happily,letting the water rinse the soap out.
“I do,I do,I promise!”
“You'd better,you're the only normal friend I have in this team.” Azrial huffed,helping squeeze the soap out of a section that had been left braided.
“What about Zero?”
“Zero is NOT normal.”
“Heheh,ah,I guess you have a point there. She is wonderful though.”
Azrial nodded,wriggling out of Guardian's hug to go get the conditioner. He may have grabbed at it a little too fast though,and promptly knocked the rag off of it. He stared at it in dismay.
“Ah.”
Guardian put a hand in front of his mouth, trying not to laugh.
“It's- it's probably fine.”
“It's staying on that floor.” Azrial grumbled,pumping out some conditioner and walking back over to him.
“...get out of the water-”
“It's nice though…”
Azrial gave him a deadpan look and Guardian giggled, finally stepping out again.
“If you keep this up,we'll never get out of here,I hope you realize this.”
“Oh nooo…how terrible…” His tail wagged again,though not very well. It didn't seem to know how to,alternating between side to side,diagonal,and a couple awkward attempts to go back and forth. It was vastly entertaining,and Azrial had to bite back another smile at Guardian's expense. That tye-dye abomination,though Azrial hated to admit it,was very good at controlling his tail…perhaps he could give Guardian tail lessons or something? Azrial shook the thought out of his head before Hypno could read it or something. They had been asleep,but still,Gods only know what that creature is capable of…
“Hush,you.” Azrial rubbed the conditioner in,slick hands working in the substance as best he could. “Do you really want to be in here long enough that someone else walks in?”
“Mmm…I suppose not.”
“That's what I thought.”
He hesitated,tilting his head and staring at Guardian.
“...ohhh,your ears are fluffy! Er-furry? …There really isn't a professional way to say that- I had just assumed they were stuck up pieces of hair.”
“Ah,nope.” Guardian smiled. “They're just fuzzy.”
“Huh! Fascinating…” He muttered.
“Out of everything,that's what catches your attention??”
“It's interesting!”
“There's literally nothing special about them they're just fluffy. And currently wet.”
“Well remind me to conduct more research when they're dry then!”
“And by research you just mean pet.”
“...perhaps.”
The angel laughed quietly before starting to purr again when Azrial rubbed the conditioner on his ears.
“That feels nice?”
“It does…” Guardian agreed,leaning his head closer. Out of curiosity, Azrial lightly scratched behind one of them.
Instantly the purring became almost deafening,and Guardian started (seemingly unaware of it), thumping his foot on the ground like a rabbit.
Azrial couldn't help but laugh, continuing to do it. “Oh my goodness.”
“What- oh-” Guardian blinked his eyes open,blushing. “Okay that wasn't fair-!”
“Calm down,I won't tell anyone…” Azrial looked off to the side. “Maybe.”
Guardian sighed. “You will…”
“Maybe just a few people. Don't worry about it.”
“Mhm…”
“It is rather cute though.”
“Oh,quiet, you…” He pretended to bat Azrial's hand away. Azrial just hummed,massaging in the conditioner more.
Azrial deemed his work satisfactory,patting Guardian's head. “Now,that can stay in there for a while…”
He glanced over in disappointment at his fallen cloth. “I didn't get finished with the rest of you though. That's going to bother me.”
Azrial blinked down at his hands.
“I mean,I suppose I could just…if you're comfortable with it,of course.”
Guardian let out a short half sigh/half laugh of disbelief. “You know what? Go for it. You haven't been put off by literally everything else,I don't think physical contact is going to frighten you off.”
“Oh good,you do believe me.” He tilted his head up with pride,getting some more soap in his hands.
“...you can be very convincing.” Guardian admitted.
“I'm pretty sure that's why they hired me.”
“I wouldn't be surprised. You would think they'd hire for intelligence.”
“Indeed. …Wait,what would be the other option?”
“You did say they called you pretty.”
“Hush!” Azrial laughed. “Do you have any idea how badly that will damage my reputation if anyone hears you suggest THAT'S why they hired me?!”
“I mean,was I WRONG though?”
“Hush!!!”
Guardian purred happily,tail with no sense of direction wagging still.
“Okay,now…I mean it this time,let me know if I hurt you. Or just- make you uncomfortable in general. Or get soap in your eyes…”
Azrial shifted awkwardly,glancing at his hands.
“...Would you feel better if I just closed them?” Guardian offered. Azrial exhaled in relief.
“That would make this less stressful,yes.”
Guardian nodded,shutting them all with a hum.
“Go ahead. I trust you.”
Azrial beamed,warmth blooming in his chest.
“Thank you.”
Very carefully,he started rubbing the soap in,starting with the shoulders again in case he missed anything the first time. Guardian tensed for a moment when he started,before slowly relaxing again. Azrial's hands were wrinkled from age (and probably the water by now) but still soft,and so gentle. He massaged the liquid into Guardian's skin,scratching lightly whenever he came across one of the scaly areas and immediately moving to another area every time Guardian tensed up. It took everything in Guardian not to just completely melt against this man. How on earth did his kingdom ever think he was some criminal mastermind? They must have been out of their minds.
Azrial decided he was satisfied with the first part- he HAD gotten most of the mess off there earlier- moving on to his chest. First the upper area,scrubbing around his neck and collarbone,then moving a bit lower to scrub around where the eye on his chest was. He hummed softly. Guardian certainly seemed comfortable.
His chest, which had a more prominent shape than most men of his age, was tender and soft, and he could likely nearly cup the full breast in his hand. Azrial hesitated instead, lightly placing a hand on one.
“Is this okay?”
“Hm-?” Guardian half-opened one eye,before his expression softened. “...Yes,Azrial,it's okay. Go ahead. I'm alright with it.”
Azrial nodded,taking them into his hands and massaging the soap against them,stepping closer and squeezing lightly to get a better hold on them once they became slick. He rubbed his thumb over the top of one,utterly focused.
Guardian sighed in relaxation. Seconds after that,his wings popped back to normal,fluttering very happily.
The angel squeaked,opening eyes to glance back at them. Azrial chuckled lightly.
“I think that means I'm doing a good job?”
“...definitely take it as a compliment.” Guardian glared back at his wings for embarrassing him again. The wings had no reaction to this,as they are in fact just a part of him. Azrial just laughed more,finishing working the soap all around them before very gently letting go of them and tracing his hands under.
Guardian weakly sighed again,wrapping his wings and arms around the advisor.
“...sorry-”
“What do you keep apologizing for, exactly?” Azrial questioned,humming. “I mean hugging makes the workspace a little tight,but I'm close to you anyway…”
“...I don't know.” Guardian admitted. His wings remained folded around Azrial,not nearly as soft or comfortable while wet but still so warm and secure. “I've never…I don't…goodness.” He took a deep breath, trying to collect himself while Azrial waited.
“I've never really been bathed before? Or…been near many people without my cloak on.”
He held Azrial tighter,thinking.
“...I've never been so readily accepted in this form,is all. I mean,you,Zero,Asra,Time,Hypno…even people like Illusion and Pyro…you're all so very kind…I suppose I'm just…nervous I'll do something to ruin that.” He sighed quietly.
Azrial paused from washing him to hug Guardian back.
“My dear Guardian. You are far,far too hard on yourself. You have been nothing but utterly angelic,every day since I've known you and in the past based on the others' words. You hold yourself to an impossibly high standard,you know that? People here adore you, Guardian. Surely you've seen the way they look at you. Our first Light clings onto you,Blue and the other version of him clearly appreciate you. Hypno likes you enough to mimic the parts of yourself that even you despise,and Gods only know what Zero would do if you ever got hurt. Do you think we're just being kind because we think you're perfect,and once that illusion shatters we’ll abandon you? I'm sorry to break it to you,but we will never leave you,Guardian. We love you. And if I can,even just for a moment,get you to see yourself the way all of us see you…truly,that will be one of my greatest accomplishments.”
He pulled back,brushing aside an orange lock of Guardian's hair while Guardian just stared at him wide eyed.
“...Heavens above, you're good with words.” He finally breathed after what must have been ten minutes.
“I try my best.” Azrial shrugged,smiling.
“You…Azrial. That- …god steve.” Guardian shook his head,still stunned.
“Should I add on that I trust you with my life,or will you collapse?”
“AZRIAL-”
“I’m teasing,I'm teasing…” Azrial hummed. “...not lying,though.”
Guardian finally let go of him to hide his face in his hands.
“You shouldn't be so surprised,after all isn't it normal to trust beautiful angels?”
“AZRIAL-” He hid himself in his wings as Azrial laughed behind his hands,utterly pleased with himself.
“Sorry,sorry,I couldn't resist.” He grinned.
Guardian sighed, turning the wings back to tattoos and shaking his head. “...Again,it's no surprise that they hired you.”
“So I've heard.”
He finally went back to the task at hand,rubbing soap on Guardian's stomach and doing his best to avoid the deeply burned areas.
“They don't hurt too terribly any more…” Guardian attempted to reassure him. Azrial's response was muttering some indecipherable curse against the entirety of demon kind. It probably wasn't professional for that to make his tail wag,but it certainly did.
Now kneeling to reach,Azrial tilted his head.
“...are those mouths under your control?”
“...more or less?” Guardian offered. “I don't really use them for anything,they're kind of just…there.”
“Understood. I just don't want to get soap in them.”
“Ugh,please don't,I highly doubt I would like that-”
“I'll try my best.”
With that,he started scrubbing Guardian's hips and torso,trying to avoid the mouths. Unfortunately,a hand grazed too close to one,and…
“GAH!” Azrial yelped,falling to the floor as one snapped at him,trying to bite. Guardian gasped in panic,stepping back with a hand over his normal mouth. A million apologies formed in his head,but before he could make any of them reality,Azrial just glared at the one that tried to take a chomp.
“Nippy bastard.” He muttered like he was reprimanding a puppy,flicking some soap at it defiantly. When the mouth stayed closed,he stuck his tongue out at it.
Guardian snickered behind his hand,now thoroughly confused but mostly relieved.
“Are you alright??”
“Everything's in tact but my dignity,I’d imagine.” He huffed,going back to kneeling. “I don't like that one.”
“I wasn't expecting that…what do we even do about something like that?” Guardian frowned down at it.
“...Muzzle?” Azrial suggested. “Or,what's that thing the players mentioned…duct tape??”
Guardian made a baffled strangled sound before doubling over in laughter,arms wrapped around himself as his sharp teeth glinted in the light. “AZRIAL,NO,ABSOLUTELY NOT.”
Azrial smugly smiled up at him,vastly pleased with this reaction. “I believe it's a good idea!”
“Where would we even get that-”
“I'm sure IGC has everything!”
“NO!” He laughed.
Azrial made a happy purr like noise as Guardian calmed down.
“I stand by that plan. Anyway,I'm going to keep working if that's alright?” Part of him questioned how he hadn't run out of soap yet. Most of him decided it wasn't worth questioning.
“Yes to the continuing,ABSOLUTELY NOT to the everything else.”
“Fine,just let my fingers get bitten off!”
“Okay,okay,I'll hold them closed! Goodness…”
Azrial managed to finish cleaning up his sides with no casualties,moving onto his thighs which were much less dangerous. He again tried to avoid the burns,massaging the soft skin where areas seemed tense. Given that Guardian was once again happily purring,Azrial decided that this was very much a good idea,rubbing his knuckles against the less damaged areas.
Guardian swayed before steadying himself. “Woah,okay-”
“You can sit if you need to.” The advisor hummed.
“...aren't you the one who complained the floor was dirty?”
“Do you want your legs massaged or not?”
“......I don't think anyone's ever asked me that before.” Guardian murmured,sitting on the floor in front of Azrial,who continued rolling his hands against Guardian's skin and working the soap in. Guardian closed his eyes again,tail wagging.
“It does feel quite nice,though.”
Azrial paused to run a soapy hand up the tail,getting that clean too. It wagged faster once he pulled away again.
He worked his way down Guardian's calves,did a quick scrub around his ankles before hesitating,shrugging,and starting to wash his feet. Guardian's face heated up slightly,half wondering what exactly Azrial's disgust limits had become,the other half feeling like this was somehow sacrilegious even though technically he was the angel,so it really wasn't. But ultimately none of it mattered,because they really were equals,weren't they? Even though everything was so confusing,and neither of them had really seen anything like the other before…even though it had only been days…
Guardian just purred loudly at his friend.
…
Finally finished,Azrial helped Guardian up and into the water for the last time. Guardian stared down at himself,somewhat amazed. The scars were still there,but shock had worn away from them and everything else,and Guardian just genuinely noted with happiness that there was not a single speck of dirt left on him. He didn't even know how long it had been since he was proud of his appearance,but…he actually was right now.
Azrial smiled as he stepped out of the water,very pleased with himself. “Better?”
“Absolutely.” Guardian beamed at him. Azrial gave a short hum of happiness,turning to leave when Guardian grabbed his arm.
“Huh-”
“Azrial,you never washed your conditioner out.”
“...OH!” Azrial blinked. “Oh goodness-”
“Am I THAT distracting?” Guardian teased,moving to the side as Azrial finally washed it off.
“Hush,you…” Azrial sighed,squeezing out the water as he stepped out. “I didn't forget,I’m simply tired.”
“Well lucky for you,we’re going right back to bed.”
“Yay…” Azrial muttered,starting to walk back to his clothes.
Guardian waited until he was across the room to bring his wings back to normal…and aggressively flap them,water droplets being flung everywhere.
Azrial just blinked at him.
Guardian sighed contentedly,wings once again fluffy and dry.
“...interesting method.” Azrial decided,pulling his clothes back on.
“If it works,it works.” Guardian countered,walking back over and pulling his cloak on,feeling much better than when he had taken it off. He started walking out,then paused to look back when he realized Azrial wasn't following him.
“...what?”
“Nothing,I just…” Azrial sighed.
“...it's…I enjoy spending time with you,Guardian,all of you. Despite how annoying some of you are……I don't know.”
He glanced at the wall,thinking.
“Maybe it's selfish of me,but there's a part of me that just wants you all to stay in Cozen.”
Guardian's wings twitched as he nodded slowly.
“I've…been thinking the same thing too,as a matter of fact. …I'm sure you humans have your own afterlife,but…”
He smiled nervously,looking at the ground.
“Recently I've been wondering if I could just keep you all in the spirit world.”
“...if you had said that to me a month ago,I would have called you a maniac.”
“And now?”
The two locked eyes for a moment.
“........only if I can bring Elric and Gemma.” Azrial decided,a small smile on his lips. Guardian beamed at him.
“Most certainly.”
The two crept back into their makeshift base without being spotted. Seriously,they REALLY need to talk to Mark about paying more attention.
Azrial sat on the bed,straightening in alarm when he noticed Hypno staring at them.
“§ø, whát§ thî§ âbôût tåīl l駧õñ§?” He asked innocently.
Guardian blinked in confusion. Azrial just huffed.
“Hush up. If you wake Zero,I'm sending out entire army after you.”
Hypno quietly laughed,voice glitching as he rolled his eye in a “as if!” gesture. He carefully lifted Zero up as Guardian snuggled in,slipping his wings under them. Hypno laid back down,content with this minor chaos. Even in her sleep Zero smiled happily,cuddling against the soft feathers as she murmured something about rainbows and dark beings and a machine. Hypno gave another quiet laugh at that before drifting back off,stroking Zero's hair as he did so.
Azrial snuggled into the wings as well,content with everything as he slipped back into sleep.
Guardian nestled fully into their cuddle pile, feeling himself starting to fall asleep too. He couldn't remember the last time he just felt…at peace.
This universe truly was wonderful.
He pulled his hood off,rested his horned head against the pillow with a smile,and fell into a nightmare-less sleep.
