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Desperation started to claw at him. His wings were in a sling, still healing from the freak accident that caused the roof to collapse on him while he was constructing it. They lay heavy, more a nuisance than help right now. They've been at it for a while now, and he just now arrived at their house, so he's been out in the cold for roughly 3 hours now. The thick coat he usually donned when making long trips was left inside, he didn't think he'd need it, not for something so simple as getting some firewood. And that was his mistake, he didn't think, he got too careless. Especially now that the others are starting to find them, he should've been more careful. Now he paid the price, dead weight on his back, freezing skin made worse with his bones hollow. Thankfully he still carried his weapon, not stupid enough to leave it behind. It's not like he's going to die, the three mercenaries in front of him weren't skilled enough to best him.
But.
His fingers are frozen, he can barely feel them, his face has gotten numb what he approximates is thirty minutes ago, dead weight on his back makes his body sweat, even more, lowering his already low body temperature even further, every breath he takes in is shards of glass against his lungs.
He can do this, but he just wants to go back inside and lay down on the furs in front of the fire. His body is heavy, and he's shaking ever so slightly, but he grips, at least he thinks so, his sword tighter to avoid the three before him to notice.
As uncomfortable and heavy he feels, he knows the other three are faring far worse. Littered around their bodies are slices and stabs, ripped edges starting to get clogged with their own blood. They don't have the stamina that he has accumulated over his lifetime of living and relying on himself, and it shows. Their hands are brushing the snow-covered ground, backs hunched over, and heavy pants warming the frigid air.
It's only a matter of time before they drop, they're obviously not used to the cold like he's gotten accustomed to. Just a bit more…
A zap of pain wakes him up, his bitten tongue throbs. He can't let his guard down.
One assailant springs up and thrusts out his sword.
As he was about to block, a shadow covered him. He only had moments to realize who it was, copper and soot filling his nose before they went to attack on all three.
Techno.
Wanting to get this over with already, Phil went for the attacker loading up a crossbow.
Quickly breaking the wood he elbowed the attacker before plunging his sword through their neck. The splatter of warm blood brought feeling to his cheeks.
Turning around to check on Techno, he caught him slicing the neck of the remaining assailant, letting the body drop to the snow-covered ground.
Meeting Techno's gaze, Phil went over to him– or well, he tried. His knees buckled the moment he tried to move them. He felt warm arms grab a hold of him before he met the same fate of the corpse, barely recognizing it as Techno. Black spots danced across his vision, vertigo making his stomach churn.
One minute he was out in the dark and freezing cold and the next he was in a palette of warm browns, the fireplace melting the stiffness out of him. He's gently placed on the pile of furs Techno strategically placed in front of the fireplace. He was vaguely aware of Techno asking him to lift his arms, but the sudden loss of weight surprised him. The bandages holding his wings were undone, and Techno was stretching them out, slowly and carefully to avoid pulling at the muscles.
It was... nice. The soothing repetitive action of stretching, the warmth of the fire taking place of the chill that nestled in his bones, the crackle and pop here and again. He didn't even notice his eyes closing before Techno called for him.
"I'm going to start treating your wounds, ok?"
When the silence stretched with Techno showing no indication that he'll start, Phil nodded.
There wasn't much, the cold was the biggest burden along with his immobilized wings. A few nicks, bruises, and scrapes here and there were the most he got out of the fight. The dull stinging sensation was the only thing stopping Phil from sleeping right then. Large and rough hands being gentle, rubbing the skin around patches of cloth, ghost feeling of lips meeting the bandages did not help him to stay conscious.
Eventually, Techno finished, and just as he was about to face plant with the furs beneath him, he whispered, "Do you want me to preen your wings?"
And how could he ever deny the pleasure of getting his wings cleaned? Especially with how gentle Techno always was.
He answered with a noise, more preoccupied with settling on his stomach to get comfortable. The soft and plush furs brushed upon his arms and legs. Smothering his face into them, he let out a sigh, then chirp as Techno started the process.
Techno's preened his wings plenty enough to get the hang of it by now. Starting from the top, he carefully went through each individual feather, righting the ones sticking out, and gently pulling out the damaged or loose feathers free.
His soft chirps turned into a low whistling, no specific melody. It rose and fell in line with his breathing, each note lasting longer than the last. Rising and falling.
He could barely hear it over the fuzziness in his head, but Techno was humming along. Chirping briefly again, happy and so in love with the other, he went back to whistling, quieter this time. Not to just hear his darling clearer, he was so, so tired.
With the warmth curling around him, the soft furs underneath him, Techno's hand preening his wings, Phil would dare someone to stay awake.
~
He woke for a bit but heard a soft hush from the love of his life.
"It's alright, we're just going upstairs, go back to sleep"
Squirming a bit closer to him, Phil focused on the steady beating from Techno's heart.
Ba-dump, ba-dump, da-dump
Staying awake while being surrounded by warmth was as hard as you expect it to be, but he managed it.
Once Techno had situated them on the bed, Phil moved from his side of the bed to snuggle up to Techno's chest, listening to his heartbeat again. A soft rumble went through his chest, Techno chuckling, but it quietened and his heart was heard once again.
Before he let sleep take him away, he heard a quiet, full of adoration
"I love you"
Letting out a quiet chirp, he fell back to the arms of sleep, knowing that Techno understood him
I love you too