Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It seemed Will had learned to protect his heart from others before he even learned to speak. Though, at times it seemed he lent this protection to others too since his childhood days, Offering a quick laugh to his brother behind the shelter of doors slammed by them after a sweaty day of training through his yells. Who had been the reason Will was here, ready to fight. It was a strange feeling. Heading feet first into a war. Though, if his dad was still living he would have baked him alive for using his magic, and not only that, but using it to heal, not fight. Though now, he chose to sigh those memories away upon their resurfacing. He would die right now rather than to spend what could be his last day on this plain of life. Though, that intruding thought even furthered the irk he was caught in. Though, the feeling crawled along his stomach,
A feeling that still hangs low in his gut at any given moment, that held even truer as he first got carried away from his family, and nearly everything he’s known to participate in this dawning war, he turned his discomfort to words, finding an odd comfort in the vibration his own voice echoed.
“I don’t get how you do this all the time, Jane, I’m already so scared..” Though it was words that echoed from his worries, he was tinged with a breeze of belief that loosened the fasten his worries had on him. And though they spiked as Jane sat still for a moment before the rapid turn of her head, her eyes a display of the same wretched anxiety Will was ridden with, though, like Will’s own face, the smile that laid below them. attempting to rob that worry from anyone else's view.
“You are always scared..” jane laughed, a slight roll to the words that weren’t entirely false. Ever since they stumbled upon each other, one illuminated with the glow of her families glimmering jewels and one tumbled in the ash that took his dad and sent his mom crying to the richest family she thought of, every memory they had waltzed through together, despite however many laughs were layed within them. They always seemed to be tainted with a strange strand of fear that always seemed to roam with Will. Especially now, as he faced Jane for what could be the last time.
“Don’t act like you aren’t either!” He pushed back, eyes taking in Janes, gentle where dark lashes met rounded cheeks, making sure to memorize nearly every inch just in case tjis cart carried the two to their death. As if she could peer through Will’s mind, Jane rolled her eyes at his ideas, tossed in the speckled light that filtered through the semi sturdy boards of the car that seemed to shake their brains to the point where thoughts were barely comprehensible. A shaking that let sharply wrapped memories bubble up to the surface, flooded with the revisited wails he wept, a familiar tune to him, though the circumstances he never could have thought of. He could never have thought the assuring hand his brother held on his shoulder wouldn’t be there. He would never guess that he and histaring at his brother all the same way he did to Jane in the current moment before he would walk towards the swift cruel blade that ended his life the same way he ended his fathers. Though his suffocating melancholy parted at the start of a string of patters to his legs, a shock that bolted his eyes open to focus on the man across from him. Lucas, whose feet stretched the short distance of the car to batter Wills legs that moved in a dramatic manner at each kick.
“Stop being so quiet, man! It’s time to get hyped!” He joked, voice rising over the soft rattle of frail wooden tires that seemed flat against Lucas’s joking excitement, an annoyed snarl curling over the edges of his voice.
“It’s hard to get ‘hype’ while we’re cramped in a two inch wide van..” The words escaped through the gaps of a teeth revealing smile, one in similar fashion to Lucas’s own though his seemed to light up the dim lit car. Lucas had always seemed to light up a room, well.. Or a tent, as they were tent mates for the past few weeks of this war. And even despite their limited time knowing each other it seems that they have been friends for nearly as long as him and Jane.
“Well mabey not.. Hype.. But mabey like a bit of joy!" His words whispered back in the car devoid of nearly any noise but their own breaths along the shaky trek to the battlefields, the sheer shakiness making Wills eyes roll appear more like a square.
“Yeah you don’t want to spend your last moments being sad!” Jane interrupted with a jab at Will’s ribs, her slim elbow causing a lot more pain than she may have intended. Though, despite this, he rubbed the injury with a crackling smile.
“I don’t think you two beating me up is going to make me any happier!” He laughed even despite the sudden influx of jabs and kicks from both his friends, which only released a fit of laughter from Will even despite the hands clothed in purple attempting to muffle it. And over all their muffled laughter came a deafening click. One that came with the shaking of the cart, even more so than it originally had.
“Soo.. Do you think we're hyped enough..” Lucas managed to exclaim, pulling Will away from the pit of war related worries that rolled over him. Though, it was hard to escape when hid voice was nearly hidden among the cacophony of fighting countries. A wreck Will was soon to be part of.
“Shut up about that, Lucas!” Jane giggled, the sweet sound a rarity that contrasted in the bleak fields of war. Fields that only got more real as the monstrous door they were sheltered behind tipped open, beams of yet to set sun welling in Will’s eyes bleaching his eyes from the battlefield that awaited him.
“Shit guys you are way too underhyped..” He shook his head as he spoke,the words flying out all too excitingly, as if to willingly instill the feeling among his friends. Though it shook free a laugh from Will, his gut was still tight with worry. Even more so as he came to his feet, a tense tingling mass below him. Like his legs had worries of their own they ignored as he stepped forward.
“How excited do you want us to be! I feel pretty good to be heading into a war..” Will giggled, whipping his head towards Lucas as they both trailed out from the barren interior of the trailer, shafts of still blinding sunlight drifting nearly everywhere including his still readying eyes.
“Yeah, Lucas? We’re all laughing what else do you want from us!” She laughed, ricocheting soft pouches on the fore of his arm. A patter that only launched more laughter from Lucas, his joyful smile reflecting most of the sunlight as Will turned his face back to face the readying groups of soldiers ordered by class and shouting for others like them, ready for battle. It was a small spark of order among the chaos they were about to step into. It was a form of chaos he had only learned from his dad when he willed Will to step right into it, avoid the powers that called him seemingly every night, and join the fight. Wich Will, even despite he fathers passing, ignored. Now looking at his friends, who will, at the pleasant of those like his father, ‘Join The fight’. Or at least Lucas would, as he pulled both Will and Jane into his tight embrace, a soft goodbye just in case he couldn't fit one in on the battlefield. Tinted with soft melancholy, they their arms left their tight huddle, the departure leaving a warm hole in will’s chest that kept it’s place through the whole teary charade of their goodbyes, and into the battlefield where he stood, heart pounding as his lonely group of Clerics broke their small huddle in order to plunge into the battlefield. With the memory of his friends, and nearly anyone he's ever met, he stepped, breath halted, into a sea of violence that could end his life. It exhausted him already, despite the eagerness he had scuttering amongst tustling bodies, covering scratches with magic and well wishes before he departed those well enough to get back to their own duties as he proceeded with his. The loop of lives constantly being played with toyed with his nerves, forcing an unsteady shake into the hands that produced so much good that day. And so far. Brought nothing on the other side. As those shaky hands at the witness of violence could really never handle a true fight, at least not yet. He could barely keep his heart from exploding during the minor alterations he made to his patients. It would be a nightmare to take one of the patients on the brink of death, which he almost had before someone more capable plucked him out of the way. Though that action struck his heart with songs of unworthiness, he swallowed those thoughts and trudged on, stringing himself in a tightly woven dance between taught enemy and friend, even despite the enemies short of wrongdoings. Well, unless you count having land as one, which Will looked at as rather unfair, though as his father foreboded, jobs for Clerics were scarce in battlefree areas. And with each step, nose numb with the fresh tang of blood, he wished he avoided his fathers ‘advice’ even more than he tried to previously. And as he reached the tip of his toes, pinned between a soldier, fear leaking from their eyes and— Now blood. Blood which paraded from the increasingly more protruded head of a sword that carried chunks of severed life with it, and with that his chest lurched as if he had been the one stabbed through there. It encapsulated him in a stuck fever, hands moving without notice to cradle the soldier who was fastly becoming just another corpse lost to battle in his arms. Though his eyes had not processed the charade, as they flit up to a solemn face, clad with the determination to lurch forward and steal Will’s life as well. Though Will did not want a fight, he only wanted to save this first life the man who’s face shown bleakly through the gaps of his nulling helmet took, he placed the falling soldier on the ground, one hand freshly blooming with the pollens of his power, ready to seal their heart and anything else the blade pierced. That surge of powers was muted by his focus on the other soldier who took quick enraged steps towards Will, blade leading the charge that sent a skimming rush of air slightly over Will's head, just to the left of his stupidly large cone hat that spiraled towards the sky as Will dove low underneath the sheen of the blade. He had deflected that attempt at his life with the ebbing powers that dwelled in his right hand, his left still at the heart of the nearly dead. He wanted both them and him alive by the end of it, which caused the split of the power to send his attacker backwards. Though due to his obvious occupation healing, it was only enough to buy him enough time to check the injured soldier's wounds. As if he could see through the splitting headache that erupted at his focus, though as he stared at the unmoving figure, both ends of his power seemed to fade. Despite a little string that held on, absorbed deep into the soldiers bloodvessels, thrumming with each weakened thump. Or lack thereof as the last beat slipped through his fingers, which now felt more invaluable than ever. Echoes of disapproval, and assumptions of the soldiers now abandoned life, though his melancholy pondering faded as each footstep from the attacker drew nearer. Each step narrowing his thought to each clash of the sword against the tense air. Nearly as tense as the shift of his head towards the attacker, who’s footsteps carries the dawning blade to a steady position, footsteps halting as to focus on a blow that would decide wills fate. Which he seemed to steer as his hand stretched out, stretching whatever hope of power he could draw up, unknowing to its properties, whether it was sharp of healing or completely of solids, Will was pressed too fast to know. It was a pressure that shoved his eyes shut until a silence fell from his vicinity. The battlefield unwelcome to his brains oddly forced silence. Though as the world came back to his vision in shades of red that parted just to reveal the falling structure of a man whose head weighed on the string of torn flesh it hung off of. He tore the head off of a man. A man whose blood was crusting over his guilty hands that couldn’t even save one person on the brink of dearth. The thoughts that stormed his head released in a breath that guided a hand to his pocket, where he hosted a few flowers picked from more peaceful lands in hope they bring that same peace and beauty of the flowers into the afterlife. Through unnerving trembles that still did little to halt the delivery of the flowers to the two casualties. Though one he should have celebrated, he stomach churned at the loss of any life whatsoever, let alone two lives. So adorning the dead in something more lively and fluorescent helped dull the sorrow of killing. Though, the colored petals were dimmed by red blood as they fell on each corpse, marking the flowers with their own personal touch. Will stayed nearly isolated among the tumbling tides of war, watching sunlight that seemed all too bright for the occasion fall upon the bodies, a masquerade of red adorned by two flowers. The scene replayed in his head, along with so many other details of these two lives as he finally took his steps away. Though it seemed like something died within him just then. Though it might just be the moment passing, or the brutal tear of a first kill, but if he hadn’t known any better he would’ve thought his heart stopped with the fallen strangers. and strangely his feet too at the grasp of a clammy hand lodging itself where his pants separated to meet his ankles. It was a grasp that started his heart once more, a grasp that tugged his head to face the direction that he seemingly just walked out from, though this time a silver glint, inferior to the glow of the sun, yet so much more eye catching, well enough to draw his eyes straight to it, clung to the ground. The ground that Will bent towards. His eyes flaring as the glint twitched, its face barely in sight. Though he didn’t need his face to know that this was not someone he knew. It was someone he should be killing. Though he didn’t come here to kill, he came here to heal, so his haste to avoid a strike was justified.
“I’m so sorry I think I have to let you die..” What an opener. THough those words finally revealed the young paladin's face, the eyes that gandered back seemed hollowed by the words, life nearly drained from the growingly pale lips below. He was bleeding out. He was gorgeous.
“No.. Don’t let me die here.. Alone..” Blood sloshed around his words, a gurgle that pained Will's head. Though, even despite all the effort the upturned face put into his cry, his breaking plea barely caressed Will's ears. This lonely sound was the final movement to send Wills knee collapsing to the ground, narrowing the uncrossable distance between him and the paladin, whose remaining hand was joined by the other in a fleeting attempt at life. This was the aspect of war Will hated the most: The lives strewn about on the other side, lives that left eyes drained of life with only auburn reflections of what this paladin once was. Memories of a life he couldn’t save with a clear conscience. Though it was a life he would save, despite the swell in his stomach screaming past words of discipline.
“Show me your injuries.” The words fled his mouth, drenched in slight guilt, however the sigh of untensed muscles in the bloodbathed face below him seemed to quench whatever resemblance to guilt he might have had. Though that didn’t stop the paranoid whisper through his veins, the weight of passing eyes on his back and his huge.. Huge hat. The one his hands itched towards, his hands grabbing on, allowing the light to flood into the places it once covered as he balanced it in a way that allowed for a lower chance of being spotted, as well as light that danced along the sharpening edges of the paladins face, seeping into pondering eyes that narrowed due to it.
“I can sit up but its” each word was upturned by a sharp cutting cough. “But.. My stomach.” He finished, his planned words failing him as they drowned in the blood that shadowed his lips,which had released aching grunts at each push to arise. Though at this observation Will glided a hand to his back a subtle reminder to stay still.
“Don’t.. do that.. Just hang in there..” A bubbling surge echoed up his arm, a light of gentle power that aroused his bloodstream. His focus uplifted and turned at the paladins stiffening form, taking him from where he sat pleading from his stomach to lying his back on bloodsoaked ground, wich seemed to bounce back as Will’s power ebbed to a close, closing the short distance between the paladin and the ground. Which he greeted with yet another grunt.
“That was fun..” His tense words came out in a dizzy spiral that paralleled the spiral of Wills anxiety. How much blood had he lost already? And though the thought had been visited much too often, why did Will even choose to be helping him. Though this thought mixed with the taunting words of his dad, constantly battering him for not caring about whatever direction the war was going in, he had just wanted to go in his own direction. Though, that was spoiled by the syllables of his name tumbling out of that radio, though as the memories came to static at the sight of this unknown paladin, a sense of his own direction came flooding back. Quite similar to the sea of blood pumping out of the paladin. The sight of it tensed his stomach and sent hands tearing at the seams between the parting of his uniform, the peaceful purple of his sleeves muted by warm blood as his hands at once made contact with skin about as far from normal as could reach. Wich was shown to only be the start as he parted the clothes surrounding the gash pumping with blood.
“It’s not too bad.. I’ll be done in a minute or two.” Though it was just a gentle lie, he hoped to everything out there that this guy had no timekeeping skills. Though despite that, an exhale led his hand to lay atop the wound, allowing his mind to delve deeper into the image of the severed pieces inside, A pit of worry sewing the pieces together, a as focus probelled him,. Only until A subtle sound parted his attention. just as he begam to delve into the wound.
“Sense you’re.. Saving my life and all.. I want to know your name.” He coughed each word slowly, a gentle drip coming at a similar pace as his healing was now. Though a building laugh threatened to throw him completely out of focus. Though a tether of this guys certain death at a slip of his mind kept an anchor, even though that if his mind did slip, his last words would be about a guy he had barely even knew.
“My name is about the least of your concerns right now.. You’re literally bleeding out. But.. my name is William.” The words came slightly slurred as his mind got lost in healings and remained impartial to the sights around him, the slightly satisfied push of breaths from the paladin nearly all he could hear.
“Has anyone ever called you Will? I don’t know how many times I can say William with a gash through my stomach.” Were the words that parted the silence between their breaths. Well, despite the many silences between hacking and words, where Will managed the brunt of his work. . And mostly scrambled for more words.
“Sometimes, yeah.. But what can I call you then? I mean if you can say it with that cut through your stomach.” He questioned, a sigh bouncing off the final words as the final stitches seeped into place. Despite them being only the inside stitches, he parted the small distance between his sleeve and the paladin's soaked skin, despite the constant flush of blood, his mind was racing for a slight guilty procrastination, despite a life on the line.
“Mike. Since it’s probably too tiring to say Micheal while you're busy fixing my cut.” he coughed, a slight laugh tainting the edges once their eyes met. Merely half a second of his smile, despite pain tight at the edges, and written in his brows, glimmering, sparkled a brunt reminder of his task, he whipped his head away, getting lost in where the pit of his powers met Mike's fresh wound. A wound that had probably spiked from someone he had talked too. Someone who would probably have a new fresh hatred for Will upon the discovery that Will uprooted his work on the enemy. Though, this enemy despite wherever he came from.. Gave Will his name, gave him a chance, even though that chance might get him killed. His head seemed to rage even louder than the tang of battle outside, the scream of tearing flesh now meddling with the hope of a closing wound. In hopes of just one less casualties he allowed himself to settle in amongst the waging war.
“A resurrection while making sure to call you Michael would be tiring.. This would just be a little tedious.” He laughed, one that blended in with the husk of Mike's laugh which seemed to ebb up and down much like a mirror to Wills ebbing power at the moment. A pulse that connected the two as one before they were off without one another for the rest of their lives, left only with the memory of one another's names. And most likely for the paladin, an unforgiving scar.
“And there you are speaking full sentences.. What a hero.” His sarcastic voice spun, nearly incoherent as of the moment. It was either the fault of the battle creeping up to him and Mike, or Mike was getting lost in the battle between life or death. Though despite this, a tang of a laugh still rang from him, and because of this, his laughing in the face of death, that pulled will to laugh along with him, each pushed breath a catalyst that connected each end of his torn pieces of flesh and laid them fresh with new arteries, despite its simplicity, it was this process where Will seemed the most hesitant. His focus sharp against the smooth, breaking barriers of the cut that got lost deeper in pools of unforgiving blood that reflected his slowing speed, a flaw that everyone else seemed drawn to picking out. Though this guy.. Micheal, hadn’t seemed to spare a care at all. Though it filled Will’s brain with a light of gratitude that steered him from the whisper that it possibly had to do with him dying, which past patients seemed to completely discard. Though, he didn’t stand a chance at discarding this work, even as his fading rasp dared to sound once more. “Does that mean nothing to you Will.. I just lent you a compliment.” His voice swung, barely a whisper in the scene of cacophonous battle that paralleled Will’s rush against time, against the swift jaws of death ready to swallow the young man who seemed barely aware of the words he spoke. And even further unaware that each word swooped him closer to death's door.
“It means the world to me. But for your own good, you should stop talking..” His own words were numbed with the surge of power, the length of his use of it culminating in a sharp static in his ears that pierced his thoughts more than his already accumulated headache, clearing them out from every one that wasn’t Mike's teared body, intestines flayed at the tip of an anonymous weapon. The form of weapon, Will hadn’t had the will to observe its ridges with his bare eyes, despite his mind's eye roving over the pattern as he wove each nerve to it’s other half. Just as Mike wove his hand in with Will's unworking fingers, a cold hard caress that barely even tightened around the warmth that Will emitted.
“I would rather die getting to know you than live not knowing the guy who is saving me.” Despite the comforting presence of his words, each word fell out of place, A guessing game at his true intentions. Though to Will, it was almost clear what his ill fated words were saying. And in the midst ofhis words, his far from correct phrasing was embedded with the horrifying reality that his end could be coming. Though Will gulped it down, lost in a grieving come to early, and a will to detatch himself from one who he wasn’t even supposed to be healing. And even despite the latter thought, he coerced the seemingly unending river of blood to harden at it’s edges with a sear of bubbling power that forced it’s way throughout his own bloodstream, an unwavering force that constricted every muscle. Another hidden reason why he hoped for the conversation to end, though he hated the though of the gentle selfishness that this implied, due to Mike being present as he was at the will of a gaping hole through his stomach, one, despite it’s shallowness that only came in the recent minutes of his healing, curled in brutal elegance along his front.
“I would love to know you too.. But I also want to make sure you're alive!” He giggled, his hand tightening along Mikes unmoving one as a way to restore at least just a tiny bit of warmth without the force of his powers, as he finished restoring what was tethered, his other hand soaring above the wound through air thickened with last words and harsh bloodshed. Including Mikes everspilling blood that crust along both his own skin and Wills, though his blood wasn’t the only to taint Will today. It seemed his robe was a patchwork of lives, both saved and passed. “Though, I’m sure you’ll be okay..” He swiftly noted, a rushed conclusion as he came to the realization that his padst words could be interpreted by Mike as a near death scentance. Though in his dizzied state, he seemed to pay no mind.
“‘M glad..” He sighed through a faltering smile. Though Will couldn’t see it from his focus on the wound, he could hear it in each tone in the short sentence as it danced towards his ears, and even more so As even more words began to do so. “But please tell me you’ll stay.. Just for a bit after you’re done.” His voice rang, a mere whisper amound the worries in Wills mind that had been completely chased out by the words that sent his heart pounding at the thought of sacrificing more of the time that was meant to be dedicated to helping those who he fought with, though the other option, leaving Mike barley healed alone had his brain spinning.
“I will. Don’t worry about it.” He claimed, none of his unsurety reaching his voice due to the duty of, no matter how estranged they were, not stirring up any worries in the paladin. Hence, he already had a full plate of his own buried in probably more pain than Will could even fathom. “I’ll be here for whatever you need.” He added, an unnecessary addition that seemed to make sense to him. In order to make sure Mike didn’t discern him as a threat after the woozy halo of bloodloss had cleared.
"Thank you..” He spewed, his weird emphasis on that last word sending all his attention aspin, a twist from his skin to his blood that made it to his heart. What in the world is this guy doing? Even though he probably wasn’t even half aware of what it meant to Will, the odd red that creeped through his cheeks and into the edges of a smile, through it was a completely different red than the one he had on his hands, though that was also Mike’s fault, well not that he could blame him for the coat of blood that crusted along his hand. Though despite the slowly halting blood, that Will was frozen from stopping, Will heard a slight whisper of a laugh, one that probably stemmed from Will's ridiculous reaction, though when his eyelids parted to meet his laugh, Mike’s own seemed to be lowering, draped halfway between here and his next life. At this sight, his own heart pounded every ounce of power he could muster, a river flowing into his slowing heart. A heart Will may forever curse himself for allowing to get this sluggish despite barely knowing its captor. Though if he was one to call a stranger beautiful, then he was sure he was worth preserving. As he rushed his work of preservation, as if it were his own veins, the gentle caress of a heartbeat sped up in the pads of his fingers, directing it to a closely deoxygenated brain. This fact alone brought a slight hammer to his heart despite the simplicity of this act.The daunting shadow of death was enough to make any moment more daunting. Allowing his powers to settle back into the grooves of his stomach, a slight tinge of guilt emerged at Mike's bare irrensponsivness. Rather than a warrior, he looked like a boy, one not yet tainted with the threats of life or death. Will allowed his eyes to linger on the near stranger, a placid face smoothed by the sunshine, and nearly saved by Will, now just a frozen heart under Will’s frozen gaze. Near ready to dig out a melancholic flower, he watched Mike’s eyes peer over the wall that nearly took his life. With a gasp that took him right back into his work, he allowed himself to be immersed in the steady flow of Mike’s breath.
“Are you okay? I.. I’m almost done.” He stumbled, nearly unable to find the right words to say in his brain that laid behind a forehead drenched in the sweat that came both with tedious healing and the close call to death they just had. Will’s stomach was still reeling in the dawn of that moment, despite his attention being held on the home stretch of Mike’s wound. And because of that gash, Mike only let out an affirming hum to that question. A lingering buzz that held Will to fill the ongoing silence with words of comfort and hope to the near fallen soldier, leaving gaps in order to turn his focus to mingling the skin back together, a slight pull that despite its simplicity, was the part in healing that Will had absolutely dreaded. just due to this being the seal of his work if anything within the body was unrepaired, but because of its visibility. Each false vein and once broken skin would forever be etched in a slight puffiness. A reminder to Mike, of his trip past death's door, and to WIll, well if he would ever see him this close once again, of his powers frailty. Errors that had been the point of lectures he dreaded. Despite this, he drew the wound close, an exhale of light releasing Mike from his powers grasp.
“You probably won’t be able to fight cause… you just lost like.. A lot of blood, I mean you almost lost your life, but I bet you'll be okay.” He explained as he rose from the ground, also raising a hand towards Mike's face, as to note that his temperature was warming in the slightest. Though, he only noticed the rise in the temperature of his own cheeks as he felt the paladin's freezing hand flee to grace Will's own.
“Thanks.. By the way.” He smiled, his eyes, though bright beneath their nearly intertwined hands, wildly dazed. It was almost stupid the way those eyes made him feel. As if this whole war had stopped, if peace was made just between their hands. But one could only dream.
“You don’t need to thank me.. You’re just lucky I don’t like to see people die.” He explained in the midst of MIkes laugh, a tranquil necessity amongst the sounds of unsettled conflict. If only they two were the rulers of their respective countries. Then perhaps they could finally be at peace. Though this thought faded at the pull of his hand down. Though not a brunt tug, he allowed the gesture to guide him, or more specifically, his occupied hand to Mike's lips, where he brushed a sweet promise along his knuckles. A gesture that also brushed sweet pink over his cheeks, and what seemed in the dawn's breaking light, Mike's too. Though that had not been in his focus at all, in his mind, it was just the feel of his lips and the joy that looped in his head while a guilty sickness brewed in his stomach. Despite that, Mike's eyes caught Wills in a frail moment, There the noises of war flooded in, screeches that weren’t there moments before. A reminder of who they were, though a gentle clearing cough had Will reeling back to moments before.
“Oh.. Um.. It’s like a chivalry thing in my country.. Comradery.. Loyalty.. All of that.. Stuff.” His silent mumbles drowned by cheerful bursts of soft laughter from Will as he followed in suit, creating a bridge between his hand to the lips of his own, despite the strain on his back, he kept there, nearly creased over him.
“And this is for smooth healing.” He mumbled, words catching on the cold skin of Mike's hand, though, the refreshing touch stained Will’s lips even as they distanced themselves from the paladin, despite their hands still joint in unison. He let their actions float in wordless moments, though each look into the other's eye was enough, before swallowing the courage to speak up again. At the tilt of his mouth came an unbearable skid, robbing him of words, and directing his attention away from Mike and to the hat he had shunned, a hat that from its speckled cone barged an arrow. A stab amongst the calm purple seas, whose hilt pointed afar to one donned in a shine similar to Mike's own. A shimmer of realization exiled Will's hands from Mikes, destined for the air as if they were a weapon.
“That doesn't look like our healer, wheeler..” Her voice carried with the wind, a strong sounding echo, despite a cowering waver tainting the edges. Which was covered by the threat of the drawn bow resting in her fingers. And even with all these threats, Will still found his eyes pulled to Mike.. Mike.. Wheeler? The new addition to the name had seemed to be heard before by Will. Though, through the realization of Mike's eyes reciprocating his glance, despite the deep well of fear, seemed to cast away any resemblance he could think of. Though, it barely did a number on the squirming dawn of fear.
“He just saved my life! Our state or not.. He just saved my life.”His words seemed to run short as he reasoned, despite his efforts, his words barely grazed the pit forming in Will’s stomach at the head of her arrow, her footsteps taking it even closer.
“And what did you give him in turn? I suppose if a hand kiss isn’t enough, our war strategies will be.” Her passive exposure of a moment Will deemed as private only deepened the hole in his stomach, and trickled a warming trail of anxiety across his cheeks. Though as his eyes roved along Mike's paling features, it was clear the sense of doom was shared. not only sprouting the reality that they were being watched, but also due to the false blame that took root, which stiffened Mike’s posture with an added tilt to his shoulders, and an aggressive lurch to his eyebrows as well.
“Now that’s just stupid!” He scolded, letting his words linger as he repeated his last word, an emphasis on the ridiculousness of it all. And in that light, Will’s mind ran to his stupidity, an internal blow at his scurried feat to help an enemy.
“It might not be so stupid considering last year.” She growled, each word another one of those godforsaken arrows, breaking the fragility of the moment before into shards. Shards that seemed to dig into Mike deeper than his recently sealed wound, mouth agape in a speechless display of a growing betrayal that contrasted the glimmer of the westbound sun that danced along hardened brows. Making his face finally suit the status of war, as his voice seemed ready as well, the light reflecting every mere jitter that crawled across his lips as they fluttered apart.
“You know that wasn’t me though!” Came his cry, a laughable attempt at a defense.that only drew the woman nearer, her shadow a heightened beast at her feet that enveloped Mike's gentle glow into a harsh purple that awoke Will’s trembling brain enough to will his legs the step even closer to Mike, a stray hand flying to a back clad in the cold reality of armour, offering a deeper shield from someone Will would never know if Mike had trusted of not. Though, his feeble protection faltered as the woman dawned even closer, his shoulders pulling back.. A movement that had been repeated one too many times in his childhood. Though instead of his cowering fear beneath his father, this fear had him standing above their interruptor. He had wondered if MIke viewed her more a traitor than Will viewed himself by that nearly pained look that sat between his brows and dripped into his eyes.
“It might not have been you, but it could be him.. Getting you to stay things.” She spat, Her voice barrelling into him even harder than the show of fiery eyes bored his way. It felt like a shame, like one of the many insults he’d been dealt with from what seemed like the moment he first experienced this world's light, and now, standing where he was, seeing this light for what could be the last time, the words only echoed. A bitter ricochet that sent his heart sinking.
“I’m not doing anything bad, he was dying and I couldn’t just watch him die..” He sputtered words not nearly enough to disprove the sharp claim at the tip of the woman's arrow that drew ever near to Will's heart, her fingers taut against the strings while Wills were slowly enveloped in Mike's cooling grasp. Though the push of unfamiliar skin sent a push of comfort across the hand it held, his wound of fear still lurched deep inside him, the woman's extinguishing sigh to the intertwinement only inducing Will to grip tighter to the Paladin.
“Mike. Just come back before you get yourself killed. That’s all I want to ask.” She sighed, he arrow upright with angered passion despite her words strung loose. And even in the pressure of the moment, he lowered his eyes to meet with the paladins, already gazing back a gesture of equal confusion painting his face. Though, his was overridden with soft emotion at the edges.. Lingering anywhere between sadness and hope.
“I would get killed if I left! I’m still weak from getting slashed in the stomach.. Right Will?” He made a claim that was soon accompanied by a gentle nod from Will as he looked at their opposer. A girl who softened her face, her eyes lowering to the scar deemed invisible by layers of armor. Though, despite her look of sympathy, her and her taught bow drifted closer, the speared end mere inches from a face that she didn’t seem impartial to shooting in order to lure Mike away. And that was written in eyes that reflected Will's face contorted in wild terror as he attempted a stable nod in contrast to his unstable feelings, another war amongst the one raging between their two countries.
“Yeah- yes. He’d need to stay just for a bit longer so I can check for infection and make sure my healing set correct..” His voice nearly coming as a whisper, though despite all the fear cooped low in his gut, a slither of eager power was there curled alongside it. Though, it slightly recoiled at the notion of attack, or maybe the recoil was due to the close proximity the arrow had to his face, that death would be quick no matter how much pain he would be in. Though that thought seemed to lower right along with the bow as it strayed to the ground, though the eager sharpness in her eyes was still locked on him, nearly as threatening as the prior.
“To be honest, Mike, do you really think this guy is better than the healer back at our tent?” She spat, each word a lingering echo in his head that accompanied the soft squeeze of the hand that was still entangled in Mikes, like a gentle apology for an action that wasn’t his own, a warm rush of something that wasn’t necessary. Though he still appreciated it. The small gesture of support from someone he’s known for barely an hour. If his existence wasn’t teetering on the border, he would have allowed his bubbling smile to flow through.
“Come on Max you literally haven't talked to him at all..” He protested as if his other apology wasn’t well fitted enough. Will was distressed, both at the ongoing train of screams flooding in as well as the taunt of the paladin's comments. How was he supposed to even think they were true, and how was he even supposed to partake in such measures when they had no chance of ever seeing each other again. And despite these thoughts that furthered the sheet of cold sweat swallowing him whole, he maintained his grip on Mike, his eyes silently roving over the face now deemed as Max.
“You didn’t either..” she clamoured, casting shadows along Mike's floorbound body as she turned her fire wielded gaze towards him. The remark hanging among them, a fact that sounded so wrong yet rung true. That seemed to ring even truer as the person he’s probably spoke more to than Will probably would ever swoop her arm around his armor clad torso, rising him with a tug that reminded a selfishly endorsed Will to make an attempt to let go of Mike's hand, though it hung limp as Mike's fingers clawed against his skin.
“Yeah I did and he is really trustworthy. I like him...” He grumbled, another effortless endeavor, as he lay there, Max’s mission to ensure him on his two feet nearly complete, though it was falling behind as his body adorned in shining armour hung hesitant between both of their grasps. Quite dramatic for the situation and the recent bloodloss hadn’t help his exaggerated behavior. Though Will couldn’t help from letting a warm tickle of fondness for the paladin wash over him at his express of trust.
“He seems kind of trustworthy.. But it’s really you I can’t trust.” She jabbed, causing Mike's mouth to fall agape, though he still hadn’t let their hands fall to their own sides. And despite their similarly positioned hands, Will's view seemed oddly contrasted to the wavering glint of betrayal that glimmered across Mike's eyes, Will found the comment a bit humorous. Though, he didn’t know the dealer well enough to decipher whether it was a casual insult, or something deeper due to the heat of the moment. The same moment Will was lost in before a grunt from Mike brushed past his ears and rooted him into the reality of the trickling coldness that seeped through his fingers at the absence of Mikes. This absence came with distance. One that erupted in streams of sour protests from the paladin, which only seemed to be absorbed by the very start of the woman's footsteps; A motionless face completely opposite to the pound of Will's heart. A heart that rendered him nearly brainless as he moved with the two interlocked soldiers, a failing mess in front of him. Much alike to the flailing scramble of his brain, in the midst of screaming this past half hour, and lectures from what seemed like the rest of his life. Though, even with this weight that held his head useless and despite everything in his screaming at him to move, to just go on with the war at hand, he found his hands locked on the paladin’s arm as the woman attempted to tug him to where he would never see Will. though his hand never met the paladins, as he roved plates cold to the touch, his eyes met the Paladins, soaked with an unwavering warmth behind amber seas that were fully visible under lids widened at the sight of his longing. The same lids that tensed to provide an awarding smile, though crowded with darkness.
“If- If you take him I don’t think his healing would finish correctly. He’s still-” Those words had him recoiling at every sharp consonant that seemed terribly less sharp than remains of lukewarm armour escaping his grasp through reddening scratches. Ones, despite likely healing themselves with time, that would cause his heart to lurch just about as fast as the paladin escaped. Eyes lost in Wills, filled with the cold regret of something.. Something Will would be more than happy to learn if they would ever find each other again. Something that seemed to be shared with Will as guilt for this feeling swallowed his welling tears. He was just another soldier anyway. It was confusing to Will why they both seemed to care so much. As confusing to him as why he just stood there anyways, despite the strings of chasing that boy with everything in his heart in spite of his country, or have that country lead him in leaving him behind to kill his people pulling on him as he froze wrecked with indecision while his view of the paladin was wrecked by tumbling bodies. One of which placed their hand upon his shoulder.
“Will.. I couldn’t find you for a moment there. I thought you were dead!” The lulling voice of Jane brought him a few steps from his shallow grief. Though he shoved it away for a smile as his eyes turned to meet his friends.
“Nope.. I’m not dead!” He coerced, though the words only brought a strange voice of worry instead of the comfort they promised. How odd was it to worry for your own life when you just cost so many their own. Though, as light reflected Jane’s matching smile those thoughts seemed far placed, as her grief was the reason he worried for his life.
“I can see! I wish you luck though, because they want me to move you to the front lines..” Her solemn words lulled him away from the comforting promises within Jane’s voice, that being substituted for a relentless ring that voiced all of his tension in itself. The front lines. Not to only heal, but to kill. The thought already killed something in him, whatever it was brought a fresh well to his eyes.
“Wait like seriously?” He pushed as if that would snap him out of some incredibly intense dream. However, he had only snapped further into reality as Jane’s hand landed soft on his shoulder, a gentle push that guided him towards something quite the opposite of the comforting gesture.
“Yes. Don’t be afraid, I’ll be there too.” Her words came nearly as congested as Wills had. Though, it had been little Will felt her tension lingering, a feeling he had also been quite versed in. However despite this, the tension wasn’t enough to keep him from lifting a stiffened hand to Jane’s own, her pulse a mess under his hand. Though, it was hard to distinguish if it was his own as their conjoined footsteps took them closer to the rumbling of bodies in the foreground. Bodies that he eventually merged into, on hand soft from a kiss and the other hardened by metal. Though different metal than the swords that sliced at forced invisible walls crafted from those same hands as the battle raged on. His heart pounding, though outrageously different than how it pounded with Mike, Seemed to be the only stability among the passing hours of sewing ripped skin and occasional blow to foes. Though through all this repetivity there was one thing he kept searching for in each new set of armour: Mike. Though his hopes were inadequately crushed at each unremorseful gaze beneath each helmet, a gaze at faces that were not of the paladin.. Well not his paladin. Though he had learned his name, Micheal, his brain had always made use of the latter words in order. A combo that twisted his stomach in a way only the warring matters at hand could distract him from. Even despite the repetivity of shield, strike then heal.. Heal than shield and strike.. It was quite an effort to keep his hammering heart from leading him straight to a ground soaked with curdling blood of those he killed, and so much more, even some he had known and couldn’t save, some he hadn’t even known, but still carried a heavy burden of grief on his shoulders accompanied by the memory of enemy lives slipping away at the ends of his own fingers, despite the second chances at the same chance of life blooming from his same hands. His thoughts made the stretching hours all the more dreadful, even as the once high sun sagged lower, along with Wills Will to fight and heal. With dragging eyes, nearly as slow as the ever-going tick of time, which focused on a line of trees, nearly as scattered as the sunlight, though scarce of any red blood the sun illuminated within the field. And in all its dreamy fashion, it was only a quarter of a thought to go towards that sheen of light but for a moment. To sit at peace with what he’s done. Though, his willingness to break thrust his stomach into a tizzy of memories, a plague of words that fueled endless comparisons to ready built warriors, their morals worn and built as well, to terminate the enemy. A result Will’s father fawned over, but Will shy’d away from. Maybe that’s why he helped his paladin, to finally disprove his fathers endless wordful shuns at Will’s notion to be a Cleric. At his Willingness to help those mingling with the end avoid that unrewarding outcome, not wrought it upon others. But he’d done the wroughting too. The realization hit in one sharp breath. Was his fathers goal of a shameless Will really unavoidable? Maybe it was just skewered? A mere strike back at one who threatened to rip his life from him. He seemed so lost in endless memory, a tie to a past he willed to forget, one that was only parted as his eyes fell upon that heavenly treeline, rippling with a green innocence untouched by the sins of war. And Will wanted to bring his own to that line, or that's what occurred to him between jams of sharply tumbling memories that clung to his lungs, gentle reminders of every other moment like this, and hardened his breaths. He wasn’t fit for this. No matter how drilled it was into him, he kept his prance to the treeline. A dizzying strut that felt even heavier than the contorted half dead faces his mind replayed. A new image with every step. Each one growing more contorted, bearing even more pain with each step. WIth each step came his fathers words of being strong, being worthy, of giving up a life of mostly healing despite his gifts, though with a tug on his hat, a rip that teared through the ridiculous purple cone atop his head, came the boy he saved. Mike. Despite their differences. Came the few others he’s saved, came Jane's relief as she stumbled upon him, despite being guilt torn, alive, came the rush of scenery, came life. And also came the sight of his hat's downfall, a purple smudge against his vision, though it had been tainted with the trail of broken fabric that guarded the hole split by an arrow. Little by little it dawned upon him until it formed a pit in his stomach, a pit held his sudden gratefulness for life, that that arrow was meant to be splitting his head, not the towering fabric of his hat. The same hat he let leave his vision as his head whipped around, party discarding the wreck his hat was left in, and fully discarding the visions of his past he had been tainted with earlier. But now, his vision was only tainted with faces of war torn strangers, fully engrossed in selfish attempts to take the others life, Though amongst the crowd that danced in the glow of the lowering sun, there was one body stationary, bow drawn taught beneath a face that was completely unknown to Will. Though his image was scattered by the silhouettes of others he saw the ghost of a familiar face accompanying the attacker. One that attempted to scatter the shot through swift pulls on the still drawn bow, though it seems his work was finished by the time his eyes met Wills along the battlefield, his hands aborting the bow the flash a smile, one that wasn’t weakened by pounds of blood loss.
It was Mikes.
How did he get away from that girl who dragged him to the healing tent? And even more importantly, Why had he been clinging to the bow of another soldier, a tilt bringing it up just enough to avoid Will, though by the deepening look on the others face, it was done very noticeably. Though, despite the words that started to flood out of that scrunched face, his eyes only framing Will as a smile, lit from the embers of the astonishment of getting out alive, and from being face to face with the person who allowed it, lit up his face. Like it was a magnet to Mike as he took eager footsteps towards Will, completely ignoring the evergoing words of the stranger, though out from that bubble, his eyes shifted to a comfortable slant, nearly too comfortable for the crowded battlegrounds they were on. And even despite the sheer unnecessarily of the moment, he allowed his own smile to carry him past toppling bodies and towards Mike. Though as their shadows began to overlap, a melancholic cry reached out over the field, tainting the battlefield with arrays of emotions, some caught in hues of victorious laughter while others seemed lost in the sad face of losing a piece of their homeland. It was the siren of surrender. The surrender of Mike's country. Though, before any of that could be processed by Will, he scoured deep into Mike's eyes, those that shared a glint of happiness rounded by guilt that oddly, Will held too, even despite all those lives he took amounting to victory. He hoped his gaze was enough solemnity for Mike to relate towards, since he would have wallowed in even more guilt if his expression somehow rubbed in the victory. Though as the distance between them remained unclosed, with just wallows of air drifting between them, along with occasional celebrators, Will allowed his expression to deepen, offering a slightly sarcastic fistbump that punched a laugh from Mike, nearly the only sound that floated between the two before an arm of a fellow soldier was on Mike's back, beckoning him to accompany the long limp to their homeland. Though Will allowed his hand to drift there as well, pausing only a moment to let a thank you drift between them before Mike's smile and gentle laugh blew him away, his face holding a quite angular softness as the sun's remaining rays bounced off his fleeting face. A face Will made sure to capture in his mind until he could squeeze his beauty onto paper through strict lines and warm colors, despite the cold fate of their eternal separation, though Will pretended not to make much of it, as he too turned away from the fading shadow of the paladin, whose fading figure also seemed fixated on Wills gaze, his head turned just enough, until Wills eyes failed him, turning away from the sorrowful affair, and into a the happy buzz of endless bodies, colliding and sharing countless moments that were bathed in the rose colored lenses of victory. Though Will, oddly absorbed with the tragedy of it all, saw all the red stains through the tainted glasses. How many people were killed for the sake of the rights of land. Though The sight of Jane and Lucas rushing towards him in a happy daze was a lovely distraction. So he rushed towards the two, his sadness almost left behind as he stepped into a gentle embrace from them both.
“We lived!”Lucas spoke dark words that brought a symphony of lightness upon Will, even as they parted from each other's arm in a beat of laughter. It was miraculous sight to see their faces, glimmering with the joy of simply not dying. Their light rubbing onto Will as he reflected their smiles.
“I saw Will almost get shot..” El laughed, soon joined with Wills' own as he pondered which time.. The one that ended the tender moment between him and the paladin, or the one that only avoided him because of the paladin. And due how invisible to anyone else he seemed in the moment, El’s mention of seeing his antics replaced his laughter with burning red cheeks.
“Wich time? There was two!” He laughed despite the burning pit in his stomach, and the darkness of the moment. His sorrows nearly masked by the prescience of his friends, whose guilty laughter followed his words as his hand followed after Jane's shoulder lingering there as he let his feet finish crossing to his friends.
“I don’t know, but I am so glad we all lived..” Her hopeful remark greeted Will as their reunited group began the tiring trek towards their own camp, one that would have the luxury of moving to these very battlefields after the gentle precautions of cleaning the mayhem that had recently occurred. Though for now, Will was overjoyed to leave the bloodied field, as was everyone within his group judging by the rather telling darkness of their eyes. Though their conversations as they neared their temporary settlements carried the absolute opposite of this darkness.
After the trek and giggly departure from his friends, their silhouettes merging with hundreds of others crowded in celebratory bonfires signifying that it was finally time to be alone. His tent awaited him at the far side of the camp.. A long trek away through hundreds of soldiers carrying a lightness at the end of the battle the Will didn’t feel at all. A sigh had his feet dragging, despite their rather hefty pace, just to avoid meeting the eyes of fellow soldiers, a mere step away from eyes that could discern him and pick his job as a cleric apart as he attempted to ignore the tug of anxiety, forcing a smile he definitely wasn’t worth after killing like five people. Each step seemed even longer than the last, a sickened dance that led him into a suit of still unshed armour, the clang ricocheting through his body and forcing a rehearsed “sorry..” that still hadn’t weighed on his determined stride, though the grief of this too made the cold tinge sting even harder as he waltzed back to his tent nearly unwilling to stop, though, as the culprit returned a rehearsed apology, there was something about his voice that drew his eye back along the towering rows of tents and onto the form of the stranger, who had done the same, though he gazed from eyes sheltered beneath swirls of dark locks, whose color contrasted with the bright smile that erupted on his face. One that mirrored his one, It was one he never saw before, but it still seemed all too familiar as his brain shoved the image of a nearly dying soldier, brought from death's door and back onto the battlefield with a kiss to his healer.
He had to be dreaming.
“Will..” The paladin mouthed, nearly numbing Will at the thought he hadn’t only remembered his name, but was using it in his Wills countries base, were the polished glimmer of his armour would send anyone into suspicions. And even despite Will's trust in the young paladin, sent his heart pounding into suspicions as well. How did he get in.. Were there others? His words nearly failed him.
“Mike.” HIs mouth moved silently, despite a push of unwarranted air that brushed against his lips with a gust that continued as he stepped forward towards Mike, nearly bumping into yet another unsuspecting passerby. He had to get him somewhere safe. Or somewhere where justice for his country could be served to him for breaking and entering, but that was a decision his heart expelled to later. “I’m so glad to see you alive..” He let out nearly unconsciously as his feet bridged the distance to Mike in uneasy steps that matched the pace of his pounding heart. What had he gotten himself into?
“Me too.. I mean glad that like.. You’re alive! I saw you on the frontlines.And man do frontlines suck.” His smile tainted the fearful words that touched topics so many could never even fathom to think of, words that Will wished he never understood. Though.. There was a sliver of inner light that held gratitude towards his position in the war, for him and.. Mike wouldn’t be able to meet. Though this hope was buried quite deep. How could he stand befriending someone that was taught to be the sworn enemy even if he showed no harm and was seemingly handsome, and not to mention kind.. But that wasn’t the only reason he kepy Mikes cover. Was it?
“You tell me.. You were the one bleeding out earlier!” He joked, a laugh clearing at the bearing of a quick jab from a galloping stranger., One despite all the passerby’s joy, stirred the push of armour from the battlefield that now lay in the past. WIch reminded him of his exposed position with an enemy. Though despite the his eyes followed the stranger with a laugh that drowned in the chorus of the strangers victory song and drowned oyt the memories of the forsaken bloody battlefield, as hs arm followed it’s own Will, tying itself through Mikes as they took themself down the road.
“Yeah.. Wasn’t fun.. But at least I met you!” He fired, his feet reluctantly following Wills as they weaved through faces both discerning and celebratory and his brain weaving through happiness of the comment.
“Yeah I probably would have died if a handsome paladin like you weren’t to save me” He laughed back, a pit of happiness at whatever bravery he held to speak those wors being overrun with the concern of what would even make him speak that so quick. Their prolonged silence filled with the words of the surrounding crowds was jolting enough to make him start to form an apology before Mikes words interrupted his spiral.
“We both did eachother a lot of favours today huh..” He spoke more gently as Wills eyes fell on him, despite the crowds he had walked this same route 1000 times in the past days, so in his eyes it was okay to take his eyes off the road to view a more scenic area wich was flush with dark eyes freshly glimmered with the glimmering shadows of passing by lanterns staring right into his own. Thier eyes danced between each other's features for a few moments that felt like hours until Will felt a yank from the arm of Mike, wich in complement tore his eyes from him as Mikes unwilling nearly fell to the ground, only suspended halfway by their tethered arms, wich were dragging Mike along for seconds before the moment could fully reach WIlls mind.
“Oh my gosh.. Way to not make it obvious..” He laughed, though it came scattered as he hadn’t known weather the paladin would take back the visit if he seemed anything but distraught at the fall, though the laughs that accompanied his own made that seem even more unlikely.
“To be fair I have no clue how things are around here!” He complained amongst scattered laughs, his body scattered in the dented grass, painted dark by the moon, while his skin remained a rather unhealthy unhealthily pale hue that ennunciated the scarce stain of transferred mud as he fiddled his legs until they reached a point Will could easily tug the arm he held to help him balance.
“Then what are you even doing here..” He replied, a rather critical question hid in a tease that soon got swept up by a small tinge of laughter, as Mikes weight shifted off of Will, now standing as they had been before, though now, he was splattered through with mud.
“Telling the man who saved my life thank you of course..” He panted, stepping into his height, his arm slipping out of Wills on it’s way, and even despite his oddly still equipped chilling armor leaving Will even colder than that area was while they were attached.
“It really wasn’t much! I just hate seeing anyone in pain..” He laughed, taking a sharp turn at the sight of the looming yellow fort he called home for the past few days, even though his body nearly recoiled at the idea of not only a near stranger entering it’s premises, but one who he was surely supposed to have let die. But he was sure it’s woven yellow walls could hold a secret or two.
“And I hate barely knowing the man who saved my life, so here I am!” Will felt a blush of gratitude climb his cheeks, splitting his smiling face with a bubble of laughs that accompanied the image of Mikes flimsy backpedal after his delayed stop. As he finally caught up to will, the lanterns that brought the tent its signature hue, and brought a tinge of that blinding yellow to the depths of Mikes eyes, who wouldn’t seem to rove past Will, stuck in the golden haze of the moment. “So.. Why did you stop? Uh do you need help?” He asked, his voice barley reaching a whisper that cascaded along Wills face. The swift winds breaking him of the weird daze. One he hadn’t been able to break sense their meeting. Maybe it was guilt, maybe it was him longing to get closer, that he may never know. Though with the Paladins instigation of closeness it may have been guiding him towards the second option, and through the daze, that’s what cleared the path to his tent.
“Oh! This is my tent I thought that you would want to go somewhere.. Not so.. Public.” His smile broadened with his words that didn’t really meet Mike as he forced his legs to scale the rather unnecessary stairs that jut into the waterfall of curtains the parted around his hands. Lifting his eyes, he found Mike close in his footsteps.
“Am I really that embarrassing?” His croak echoed through the darkened tent, despite its relatively cluttered interior. The silence could only be met with the conclusion that his tent mate, Lucas, wasn’t home. And though he felt guilty, he was glad he wasn’t there to feast his eyes on Wills new friend.. Or whatever the paladin was. The only thing to meet him was the comforting scent of lavender that was now a familiar tinge to his nose, despite the warm linger of mud and sweat it attempted to cover. Whatever scent it was, it smelled like as much as a home he was allowed in these past weeks.
“You are not, but that outfit of yours..” The brunt of his words were in time with the soft click of lights that brought a rush of gently glowing scenery to his eyes all too fast, his eyes narrowing as though to avoid the revealed mess, though with hopes that Mikes only care was Will, he turned from illuminated piles of clothes that leaked from his roommate's part of the room. “It’s not everyday you keep your armour on after the battle..” His feet doing a semi practiced dance over the floor in a field of careless laughs before he sunk into the sea of welcoming yellow that was his bed, the unrelieved tension from the battle seeping out in ways that nearly forced him to lay down, though with Mike there he warded off the urge and swished his hand in a silent ‘come here!’
“You may not dig it but the ladies do! They are suckers for a loyal man!” He chuckled, thumping along the rather short distance to the bed. His voice, though speaking of ladies, seemed empty of compassion and most definitely empty of experience. Just that was enough to hoist a laugh from Will as Mike hoisted himself onto the bed, sending uneven waves towards WIlls end of the mattress, making a wave of colored pillows and old stuffed animals drift around the two.
“Sure they do.. Does a loyal man run away from his own camp to seek the warmth of another man?” He explained between chuckles, the edge of sarcasm giving the thought a unexpected flirtatious edge that cleaved Will with a sting of embarrassment enough to permanently seal his mouth shut, and from Wills view it seemed it hit Mike too, though his jaw hung slightly agape, filled with false offense topped with unexpected words to be followed with laughter.
“Well.. Mabey not my loyalty to the maidens but it shows my loyalty to you..” Mike leaned into his words, a sizeable distance from Wills blooming smile, both rooted in laughter and Whatever jittery feeling seized him at those words. The jittery feeling that wracked his nerves and pulled them to Look up at him, his delicately plated armor contrasting his un-perfect demeanor, though each had it’s charming edge.
“Theres no need for any loyalty! Take it as like a gift!” He laughed into his words, …
“Yes there is! You saved my life when you should have been trying to kill me! That’s why I made an oath to myself.. To find you and protect you or whatever.. That’s why i kissed your hand.. To seal the oath.” His admitting words broke the silence, tearing Wills gaze straight back to him through a sinking feeling, not only through his chest, but through his very bloodstream, though, through the slight shock of Mikes declaration he couldn’t decide weather it was tainted by a heavy regret onb how daring the man was, or admiration to the same reasons. Though despite this, he allowed a smile to grace his face at the thought, the memory of the seemingly meaningless kiss going even deeper, his face nearly mirroring Mikes own, though his seemed to tear at the edges.
“An oath!.. Do I have to make one back?” At Will’s words, Mikes face seemed to spring back into action, eyes roving across the gentle plains of Wills face, seemingly settled on the dark point just above his lips, his hands anything but settled. A mirror image to Wills thoughts, scattered along detailed explanations of both their executions, one for crossing defined borders, and one for hosting the prior mentioned criminal, while also fostering the light the oath brought, the connection between two people that really shouldn’t be connected. It seemed toi be painted out just as one of his elaborate daydreams.
“Not as long as you let me take you out of here!” He whispered, draining Will all Will’s thoughts into a pit that lurched deep in his stomach. Taking him where? Why? Was he about to be kidnapped by a man he saved earlier. With these faults he adapted Mikes own restless tendencies.
“Take me out? Why? To spend time with me?” He laughed out the last part of his whispered phrase carrying a small hope that Mikes whole idea of whisking him away was a joke, even despite Will having barely anything to remain here for, well despite Jane. She would probably go wild at his disappearance. A thought only quenched by the weight of Mikes hand, wich swiftly grabbed his jittering own.
“Well that.. And because.. Um well your camps getting attacked tonight.” He spat his words out in blocks, adding a slow tinge or even more disbelief to Wills absolutely tilted world as of the last few seconds. Even despite his deep disbelief, he deepened his grip on Mikes hand, even though he had no clue at it’s stability, it had undeniable comfort in it’s unwavering warmth, wich had no business jerking a smile out of him at the sake of words he didn’t know how to say. All this was something he could bearly even fathom, let alone at the hands of a paladin he met mere hours ago. The same paladin sharing his cot that seemed more solid than ever under the weight of the oncoming decision he faced. “I know it’s stupid! I know I just met you and this is really uncalled for and I could get executed at any moment, but I really really thought you’d come along.. I thought that it would be right.” He added through distraught silence, though his eyes never stopped talking, those deep wells of brown that kept capturing Will. He admired how well his soul shone within them.
“I would come with you.. But like how do I tell everyone I’m not going to see them again cause a guy from the enemy team says I should?” He voiced, hand still crammed between Mikes with a sheen unwarranted sweat.
“I don’t know, make something up? Like oh my god I just saw..” He let his words trail, obviously more on his tongue, though it seemed he was puzzled on wich to say next. “I don’t know like a bear! I bet they'll want to leave then too, and then they wouldn’t die either!” He explained out of pure optimism, his eyes wide with the feeling. A feeling that holed up in Will's chest at the delivery of Mike's words.
“Yeah that’s going to work..” He laughed, a spurt of pessimism catching up to him as he stared into the slithering shadows that echoed along Mikes lantern lit face. This struck him as way too surreal, an absolutely gorgeous man that you just happened to save turning up at your door illegally just to ask you to run away with him. “Why did you come to save me in particular , is there something evil you're doing..” He let his anxiety wander, even despite his willingness to trust Mike completely, this was seemingly a lot to ask as they just met like.. moments ago. THough he regretted this train of thoughts as the sour words settled into Mike's face.
“I told you.. Oath. Just trust me.. I want you to be safe, I already have a plan!” His hopeful words were carried through a smile that showed the broad whites of his teeth that completely contracted the dark swirls of his hair that jostled just slightly as he lifted their conjoined hands to his chest, where he was met with the cold sting of metal.
“Does this plan have to be done in full war gear?”He laughed, his finger stretching out to dance along the cold stretch of armor. His curiosity following this stretch, as he was very intrigued in Mike’s plan.
“Can you stop picking on me about this! I came here with the other soldiers ready to end your life! Heaven forbid I want to save you man!” He laughed, the hearty sound a ricocheting vibration along his hand as Mike shook it even further with false annoyance. He laughed with him despite his mind scouring over what he even did to avoid his fellow soldiers long enough to complete his oathful mission to find Will.
“Well.. Is it going to make our mission harder?” He answered, leaving just a hint of his recently reached decision in his word.
“Our? So you’re coming with me!” He leaned closer with every word, as if his tension from the obviously ambitious question was being released through each awaited word. At his marvel, Will couldn’t help but clench the hand that was balled in his.
“I mean I think so! It’s a pretty short time for such a big decision like this-” His sputtering was cleared by a warm flutter at his unoccupied hand, which was now held by Mike, whose bundled hand grew distanced from his chest as he stood, now a great height above Will who was bathed with Mike’s shadow as his face facing Wills as his eyes were guided up towards him.
“Don’t worry about it, we’ll stop back to check for survivors, I doubt there will be too many casualties!” His words wandered, nearly a complete reflection of Will’s wandering mind, and his wandering eyes that roved along the shadowed crease of Mike's ecstatically curved face, light bouncing between each revealed tooth and settled on their intertwined hands.
“I’m also worried about you? How is your wound doing? My healing isn’t always the best..” He questioned, his words nearly unstable under the intense glint of Mike's eyes, which only deepened as he squirmed his hands away to tug at the steep metal that adorned his torso. And at the realization of what he was doing he sheepishly looked away.
“Oh yeah I was gonna ask you about that but I kinda got distracted.. It’s a bit.. Uh red but it’s not too bad, right?” Even despite his subtle shame, he yanked his head back to Mike at the word ‘red’ Unless magic healing usually came with irritation, though Will rarely stuck around his patients for that long, nor was torn away from his patients as soon as Mike was torn away from him. Deep in his heart. He was deeply relieved of his return. Though the result of the cut did anything but relieve him as he laid his eyes upon bubbles of blistering skin, most likely the result of his poor cleaning job. The scar, though one of many that speckled the skin, dancing towards a buildup of discolor that might have been anything from scar tissue to a mark he was blessed with from his birth, was the most prominent. Will could have nearly killed the man, with a divot from his power marking his skin, it would be hard to dodge his grief.
“Do you mind if I touch it?” He ripped his eyes from the wound to look for an answer in Mike's face, which came through an exaggerated yet silent nop, wich allowed Wills hand to drift towards the area which held his eyes once more, meeting the fingers with a densely uncomforting heat, which he tried to purge as he shut his eyes, powers swelling as he flayed his hand against the scar that trudged across taught muscles. The same ones that tighten with hidden laughter as the sea of powers raged on to subdue the swelling. And the ones Will pictured as he delved deeper into his power, though this image was much more vivid than needed he couldn’t really help that his body was something similar to art to him. At that thought his power surged ahead of him, a lack of control that came at the reddening of his face. Though he couldn’t tell if it sprouted from an idle jealousy or admiration.
“That feels so weird..” He gasped, A loose hand returning to graze Will's shoulder, rooting Will a bit further from his magical trance, nearly absorbed by the ghost of Mike's hand. Absorbed from his work for enough for his open eyes to get ahold of the shifting wound, one that tossed and boiled from underneath sealed skin, started a similar motion in Will's own stomach. His eyes forcing themselves back into the shut realm of his work.
“Yeah.. It was a bit different when you were almost knocked out. A lot easier too.” He joked, each word steering him away from a focus he tried to maintain as he proceeded in his attempted purge of whatever settled beneath Mike's fair, smooth skin.
“So you’re saying you like me better almost dead?” Came his voice bubbling down the line, A shoved moment of fake offense between a stream of glittering laughs that fell as a perfect tether between the real World and the finishing touches of Mike's wound. He usually found healing jobs, especially the ones that took numerous sittings, to be tedious, and boring, but this one with Mike, making sure he was okay, was oddly more satisfying. Though, as he prepared himself to express his awkwardly fitting gratitude and displace Mike's claim, A rustle of heavy hanging curtains ripped him fully from his focus, his hands tight along Mike's torso and his eyes seizing the entryway, its rippling yellow now split with a dark head. Lucas. Wide eyed and staring.
“Oh man, uh I didn’t realize you were home uhh. celebrating.. I’ll just grab something and I’ll be out.” He sputtered, eyes darting from their conjoined form, that was guiltily separating as if they had done anything but healing, to whatever he was aiming to pick up. Whatever gratefulness Will felt in the past moment was definitely far from him now.
“We're not “Celebrating”! I’m just healing him, he was injured during the battle.. Feel free to stay.. We are going to leave soon anyway!” He croaked out the truth, not having any of the energy to form the elaborate lie Mike was fond of. Though, Mike stared at him with mere confusion as he returned to the cot, allowing the brunt of the lantern light to return to both of their faces and for both sets of hands to return to their respectful owners. Even despite the past affair being completely innocent, it felt wrong. It burned.
“Thank goodness I don’t know how long I could stay out there for even though the food is great.. Where are you guys gonna go?” He questioned through an exhale that was seemingly meant to clear the air of the past tension, though as he lanked his way to the cot across from Wills, the awkward air stilled even further, the only motion being Will facing his eyes to Mike's to search for any semblance of an answer he could use.And even despite the glow the eyes held, he couldn’t help but feel a trudge of guilt going there for help. Heck, they weren't even supposed to meet, what was Will doing, letting his emotions spiral for a near stranger?
“We.. Were going to go.. See the town outside of here. We’ve heard they have great food too.” Mike smiled, even though the words were made for Lucas, his glance wouldn’t leave Wills. It was a glance that despite their humbling situation, was filled to the brim with a lightfull hope that even furthered the ball of despair filling his stomach.
“If you want to, you can go with us..” Will added, tearing his eyes from the hole they dug in Mikes, though the Memory of Mike never left him as he felt a swift jab dig into his side, which had seemed to grab Lucas’ attention as he swallowed a laugh, that unlike Mike’s laughs from earlier, added a strangling weight. Even though he had to admit, Lucas was one of the only friends that stuck with him through training that he was ridiculously fond of, but just the lingering moments from before, and the soon to be done escape of tonight, the moments seemed too precious to be spent like this, or well, with Mike. Though Will had cursed himself for that, it was his fault alone that Mike was here. In his tent. Meeting who he considered one of his best friends.
“Nah, I think I’m good.. You two have fun out there!” He chirped, sighing into a far lean that took the rest of his body crashing down onto the mattress that recoiled with a rough thump. The last thing he was going to miss about this place were the cots. Let Mike's kingdom have them, maybe that would be a punishment for letting a knight slip out of their country's chivalric bond to fulfill his own oath. Even though Will wasn’t even sure they deserved a punishment for it, Will seemed to be fond of his new friend. Or whatever you would call this. Though he would be anxious to relay it in front of anyone more loyal to his country, like his father, who would probably hang him out to dry with the regrets of having faith in another guy, he was grateful that someone could earn his trust this fast. “I mean, I know cause I’m not going I shouldn’t be entitled to too many questions, but who are you? I mean like, not you Will, but him, I don’t know if I’d ever seen him around.” He broke the air after a healthy silence, turning in Hike and his direction as the words left his mouth and punched Will right in the gut. For someone with such bad anxiety about others finding out foul truths he was a terrible liar. The question rattled in his head, forcing a smile Will didn’t know what to do with.
“I’m Mike! I think I’m in a different unit than you because I am around here. A lot.” The lie drifted seamlessly from his tongue, though with further knowledge of their situation, the end of his words seemed to f lay the lie right out in the open. At this, Will turned his head, a glimmer of amusement dancing between their eyes as they met.
“Yeah he does cavalry!” He chimed, mingling his Words with Mikes in one consecutive song that supplied their little lie with details that really held their stories straight. This would have been a lot simpler if it weren’t for Wills wavering tone.
“So.. You're not in Wills unit.. With all the magic people?” Piped Lucas from the other end of the room, not completely gone even in the midst of Will and Mikes prolonged eye contact, wich broke for only a moment as Wills eyes caught Lucas’ swift re-angle, his hands catching glinting glares of light as the fluttered to cradle his face.
“Yeah, I’m a horse man, the only magic I need is right beside me!” His words crashed against Wills ears, Willing a sheen of sweat, though he couldn’t tell if it went with the painfully warm blush that creeped along his cheeks, or the deepening pit in his increasingly anxious stomach. And even despite the swirl of emotions, he willed them all to push a smile on his face, though it wasn’t too forced, as it came out with a soft misplaced laugh that came as Mikes arm danced the distance between them to settle on his shoulder.The stretch of the movement sent both of them to collide. And though he was tinged with guilt, he took a moment to bask in the warmth of where he landed in the crook of his neck.
“You sure you don’t want time to finish healing?...” His words dragged Will out of the warm haze he was in, eyes glued to Lucas’s cold avoidance of their contact, though Will made no effort to end it. If Lucas would tease him for this for as long as they lived so be it.. And though the teasing taunted his brain with the ideas that Lucas tossed around, Will could probably put up with it.. If it meant Lucas would accept Mike. Well, without knowing where he came from. Though, it already seems as if Lucas would accept him, as if he was actually with the paladin.
“No no please stay! It’s not like that.. At all!” He laughed, eyes still glued on Lucas’s unresponsive ones, that cradled the light as they interpreted how the most mundane objects took in that glare. And even despite the upright messiness of the room, nothing could compare to the jumble of wills stomach, which further cluttered at Lucas's comment. His shoulder still cluttered with Mike's hand that held him into his shoulder, his drooping head finding somewhat of a sanctuary here. It might have been just to play with Lucas, a guy Mike barely even knew, but this seemed undoubtedly right to Will, though he beat himself up for it. It was like another war outside of the one their state thought they had just ended.
“You want to get going now..?” Mikes raspy whisper cut across the plain of silence, his arm once linked over Wills shoulder trailing a tingling path along Wills robes until it reached his own, still bare, side, leaving Will left with a sparkling energy from the touches buildup. Or perhaps it was from Lucas’s keen eyes. He nearly laughed to himself at the thought of endearing years of teasing for this, even despite him and Mike's purely platonic comradery. Though, those teases would only reach his ears if he stayed. What was he thinking, leaving with someone he just met? All the regretful thoughts stirred in his gaze as he untucked himself from Mikes shoulder, the warmth from earlier succumbing to the lukewarm air. Though, if Mikes suspicions of attack were correct, he would be dead before hearing any teases from anyone.
“Sure..” The words reluctantly tumbled out of the passive look he attempted to pull into an eager grin. Though the well of sudden sympathies for his hometown behind his eyes made this act rather unbelievable. In spite of his hesitations, his hands glided across Mike's lap fumbling across the patchwork of a limp shirt, a pale yellow against the flickering lights. Though only when he dragged it to the void of Mike's lap, is when he recalled his exchange of presents with Jane. All her hard work and loving intentions were laid in every stitch. A loving that was unknown by that Paladin. “You.. Might want to put a shirt on..” He grunted his secret worries that his full armour suit would set their mission aflame, and with it them. Legs stretching, spreading the anxious thoughts as they stood, towering above Mike who’s eyes were set in a hopeful yellow flame by the subtle gift. Love could be passed on, and with that is how Will came to regret nothing.
“Yeah I’ve been looking at sticks here for a solid minute!” Lucas clamored almost as fast as Mike stuffed the shirt on the lanky body that was the brunt of the joke, though, despite his pace, he had only been halfway through the action before Lucas’s play at an insult reached his ears and he halted, his arms changing their paths through the sleeves to make a sharp pull at the collar, all a distorted ruffle inside the fabric that carved away at his pull to show his face, agape at the audacity of Lucas’s words. Which compelled him to hop up onto his own two feet despite the rest of his limbs' occupations.
“Who are you calling sticks? Horse riders are just built in a different manner!” Each world came louder than the next at each half planned step towards Lucas. His laugh made his defense less than serious, his harmlessly wandering demeanor could rob anything of seriosity, though in a matter of seconds, his arms pushed through the Ill fitting sleeves that flowed around his arms as they fell, accompanying the hair that fell around his eyes as they shifted back to Lucas, who’s eyes steered to avoid contact by dragging Will into the midst of their ongoing war.
“Will, I don’t even like guys and I’m questioning your taste.” The words of sharp disaste softened by the laughter on his tongue. The bubbly sound accompanying Will's own laughter that filled his gaping mouth, though as he moved it to speak another voice came forth. Though before he registered the voice, the only thing echoing in his head was the realization of what Lucas dropped, though it seemed Lucas was in on Will's love life the entire time, he didn’t drop that big of a hint in front of one who was clueless, and possibly hate ridden about it. The thoughts left Will's mouth sealed as fast as he let it gape beforehand.
“Don’t bring him in on this! He doesn't even like me like that.. But if he did then I’d say he has a great taste!” His laughter ridden words quenched the nerves coiled in Will's neck, coming over it, a bubbling feeling that only seared as he spotted Lucas’s stubborn roll of the eyes, which he was shy to copy, hiding it behind a tight jawed smile accompanied by an even tighter posture as he took hurry strides towards Mike. Resting his hand on shoulders covered in his draping shirt. He couldn’t help but picture the speckled skin that lay just a layer beneath. Though, despite this he was sure to live through Mikes claim of not liking him that way, though he had to shut up a part of his brain before it danced away with the grace of a daydream of what it would be like if he did. He had to leave….
“Alright, sticks, let's get out of here before I have more wounds to tend..” He added through a breath that was almost completely laughs. A gentle joke as he less than carefully pushed Mike along the cluttered floor, his steps at a completely contrasting pace that made the push a lot more work than it should have been. Though a slight tug in his stomach sent a panging reminder of the distance that was soon to face Will and Lucas. As to stop the entire attack, he halted his footsteps, Mike nearly toppling over Will's outstretched hand.
“Oh… And Lucas, if I don’t see you before I leave tomorrow, just know that you are one of my best friends, you have been the highlight of this camp for me-” He started words flowing as if they were tears at the goodbye that was very unfit in their current situation. Though Mike seemed to pick up on this, a slight mumble cut his sentiments, though Will didn’t seem to mind it, as it did save him from even more teasing if they did ever reunite. But he had to be safe.
“He doesn't seem like a highlight at all to me..” His voice arose right between Will's words. Followed by laughter of the majority, though Lucas’s hurried adjust to his stance, a hand tight on his pillow ready to launch it at the next sight of Mike, which he hurried nearly wordless from, spare from half meaning goodbyes, though Wills carried the whole world, despite their quick dip out of the curtains and into the darkness of the night, both those fresh with celebrations fenced by the oncoming fires of enemies, and the darkness of his future as a military abort, with only Mike and the dawn of his old memories as companions.