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Talcott has always sort of known that he wasn’t good enough for Iris, but it doesn’t really hit him until he falls in battle to an arachne. He has to stumble away from the fight with a hand over his wound. He can feel the poison sapping his energy, but he can’t do anything about it. Antidotes are hard to come by since Noctis disappeared into the crystal, and he ran out of them days ago. He really hopes someone will have one for him when the fight’s over.
The arachne chases after him and he trips over a rock in his haste to get away. His sword is long-gone and he reaches for a dagger instead. Not that it’ll do him any good.
“Talcott!” Iris materializes from the darkness with a katana in hand, wielding it as expertly as Cor to block and parry the attack. Talcott can’t help breathing a sigh of relief, rolling onto his back and letting his head thud softly against the ground. He normally loves watching Iris fight, but his vision is starting to waver.
He zones out as the fight goes on, but when he comes to, Iris is kneeling at his side with a bottle in her hand. He can feel the effects of an antidote purging the poison from his body, and he almost cries with relief when Iris shatters the potion bottle over his side. Glorious, glorious healing magic. He closes his eyes and savors the feeling of his skin knitting back together.
“Talcott, Talcott, can you hear me?” Iris pats at his cheek and Talcott moans feebly. “You’re okay, you have to be okay, Talcott please—”
Is Iris crying? Talcott opens his eyes, but it’s too dark to see her face. “I’m fine,” he mumbles, patting her hand. “Did you get it?”
“Of course I did. What kind of stupid—“ Iris sniffles loudly. “I’m going to pretend that’s the blood loss making you loopy enough to think I couldn’t handle a giant spider-woman.”
Talcott grins. “I’ll take it.”
He starts trying to sit up and Iris’ hands are immediately on his back, steadying him as he wobbles to the side. Ugh, he hates being hurt. But at least it gives him a reason to lean into Iris’ strong arms.
Once they’re finally standing again, Iris wraps her arms around Talcott’s chest and hides her face in his collarbone. He always forgets how short she is.
“You’re not allowed to do that again.” Iris’ voice is muffled by his shirt. “And you’re definitely, definitely not allowed to die. If you die I’ll kill you.”
Talcott pats her back awkwardly. He almost believes Iris would be able to find a way to kill him after he’d already died. “Nothing’s going to kill me,” he says. “I’ve got you looking after me, don’t I?”
Iris gently smacks his chest. Then she moves both hands to either of Talcott’s shoulders and pulls him down into a very thorough kiss. Talcott's embarrassing squeak of surprise is lost in her mouth.
“Maybe I’ll let it kill you next time.” Iris pouts. “It’d serve you right, you jerk.” She wriggles her way out of his arms and turns away from him. The rest of their hunting group is busy holding off an iron giant. Talcott feels tired just thinking about rejoining the fight.
“Well, no time like the present,” he says, pulling out a dagger and flipping it in his hand. He’s feeling surprisingly confident. Iris kissed him. There’s no way he’s going to die now.