Chapter Text
L'Arc Berg lived a peaceful life as a humble farmer. He owned a small home and a little patch of land to grow his crops. He did what he could to survive, and took what came with calm. When the rain flooded his crops, he stepped through the water to save what he could. When animals ruined his crops by eating them in the dead of night or running through them, trampling them, L'Arc salvaged what was left, and went on to re-sow it and repair the broken fences. When the harvest season was over, L'Arc would carry his harvest to the city to sell, while keeping a little to himself, and a little more to give as an offering to the Gods.
At least one time a week, L'Arc would climb the small mountain a good half day's walk away from the little village he lives outside of, with a small sack on his back containing an offering. L'Arc did not know what God resided within the Temple on the mountain, but he prayed nonetheless. Instead of traveling all the way over 5 mountains to get to the God or Harvet's Temple in one of the bigger cities, like the rest of this little farming village, L'Arc opted to climb the mountain once again. With his little land, he had no time to waste going all the way to another city for a four-day trip; he had to watch over his land and make sure nothing happened to it if he wanted enough food and wood to stay warm and strong for the winter.
When L'Arc had been but a child, his family had owned a smith in a city a couple of mountains over. L'Arc's father had taught him everything he knew about making strong and sharp blades, and even let L'Arc make some small ones of his own. But, when L'Arc had been 11, having just finished his training, his father suddenly gained a lot of debt. Because of the debt, L'Arc's father had to join the military as a smith to gain some money to pay back the debt. But, only a few months later, they were informed of his death during the war, and L'Arc and his mother were thrown out of the smith.
Sadly, while wandering around looking for food to eat and shelter to stay under, L'Arc's mother had become sick. While wandering, she'd prioritized L'Arc's well-being over her own, knowing he was still a growing boy and had ended up sick and weak as a result. She'd fallen and passed on in a flower field of red when L'Arc was 12, leaving L'Arc to wander about and take care of himself from a young age.
After his mother's passing, L'Arc had gone about looking for ways to earn money and had found a job at a port town. He was to help carry cargo and such from and to the ships arriving at and leaving the port. This went on and L'Arc lived in the port town for years, growing up to a strong and healthy young man.
But, at 17, the port town was attacked by another country because of the war, and L'Arc was hit during the attack. Having hurt his leg from a heavy wooden post falling on his. After finally getting out, L'Arc had looked around to see only chaos, havoc, and fire around him. L'Arc had then quickly escaped the town and started wandering once again. But, with no access to medical help, L'Arc's leg healed a bit wrongly, and he had to walk around with two pieces of wood and cloth wrapped around the sides of his shin, and a cane.
After wandering for some time, L'Arc had arrived at a small farming village. Not being able to do any proper work in the village with his leg, L'Arc had to resort to begging on the side of the street. That was until a kind old man came to help L'Arc. The man owned just a small hut and a little patch of land just outside the village. He'd become too old to take care of and work in the field, so he decided to have L'Arc do it, in turn for shelter and food. Despite L'Arc working slower with his bad leg, the old man never complained nor told him o hurry up, only patiently waiting on the side while sometimes stirring up a little conversation as L'Arc worked. The old man had sadly died after a couple of months, leaving L'Arc with the hut and the small field. L'Arc had buried the man in the outskirts of the forest by the hill and sent his soul off with a prayer.
One day, 24-year-old L'Arc had once again climbed the mountain to the Temple, a sack on his back to offer to whichever God resided within the temple.
This time, however, there was someone there.
In the years L'Arc had come to the temple, he'd never seen even a single other human by the Temple, only small animals scurrying around.
But this time, someone was standing outside the temple, broom in hand, sweeping the fallen tree leaves off to the side of the clearing.
L'Arc couldn't help but stare in awe. He was beautiful. With messy black hair like a raven's wing, soft-looking pale and spotless skin, and eyes green like emeralds, shining in the sunlight, the young man standing there was absolutely gorgeous. Rivaling even the Gods, L'Arc dared think.
Calling out to the beauty, L'Arc climbed the last couple of steps on the long stairs, stepping into the clearing.
"Hello?" L'Arc called
As the young man looked over, looking only a couple of years younger than L'Arc, it seemed his face brightened.
"Hello, can I help you?" The young man greeted back
"Oh, I'm just here to pray and give a small offering. If I can ask, who're you?" L'Arc answered, coming closer to the young man
"I'm the new Shrine Keeper at this Temple. I'm Iwatani Naofumi," The young man told
"Well hello again then. I'm L'Arc Berg, I usually come here to pray." L'Arc told the other
"Oh, I won't stop you then," Naofumi said, going back to his sweeping
L'Arc nodded to himself before going over to the Shrine beside the Temple, placing down his offering before slowly getting on his knees and raising his hands while bowing his head. After the silent prayer, L'Arc got ready to get back up, only to be startled by Naofumi's voice beside him.
"How long have you been coming here?" Naofumi asked
L'Arc, startled, looked beside himself to see Naofumi standing above him, a curious look in his eyes.
"Ah... Some years now. I've been coming almost since I arrived at the village by the end of the forest." L'Arc answered, gathering himself before slowly getting up, leaning a bit on the branch he'd found a while ago to help him walk.
"So you're the one who's been leaving offerings all that time?" Naofumi asked
"Yes, I suppose I am. I've never seen anyone else up here." L'Arc answered
"That's not so weird. Most people believe this to be a forgotten Shrine of a God no longer in existence, so they don't believe they'll gain anything from praying nor offering." Naofumi told, a sad-looking appearing in his eyes
"But you believe that this God is still here?" L'Arc inquired
"Hmm, I don't know about that, but I believe that if the God had a whole Temple and a Shrine build, they must've had some importance once," Naofumi answered, turning his head to stare off into the distance, before turning around and walking over to sit on the porch of the Temple
"Do you believe that the God is still here since you've been praying and offering for so long?" Naofumi asked, leaning his chin on his palm, and his elbows on his knees
"I do not know about that either, but it is kind of reassuring to know someone may be listening to my prayers, whether they choose to answer them or not," L'Arc answered
They stayed like that for a bit, in silence as the sun began to set upon the horizon of forests and fields, the hilltop having the perfect view for it. After a bit, L'Arc said that he could be getting back home soon. Naofumi bid him goodbye before L'Arc began descending the many stairs of the tall hill.
When L'Arc was out of view, Naofumi looked back at the sunset, and let a soft smile grow on his lips, his eyes turning soft in the light of the pink and orange gues the sun cast.
It was peaceful.
As time went on, it would almost become a routine whenever L'Arc came by the Shrine to pray and give offerings. They would exchange greetings before L'Arc would give his offering and pray. After that, they would chat until the sun would begin to set. Sometimes, Naofumi would offer tea, sometimes fruit, and sometimes even a whole meal. L'Arc would end up taking the offers with a kind smile, happy to have a friend to chat and have fun with.
One time, Naofumi had asked where L'Arc lived, and L'Arc had, in turn, pointed to his little hut and field. Since Naofumi couldn't seem to find it, L'Arc had pressed close to the other, taking one of Naofumi's arms and pointing it to where his home was, while using his other hand to move Naofumi's head. Not realizing how close they were, Naofumi had smiled, commenting that it looked so small from the mountain, but cozy all the same. Turning his head to L'Arc again, only they had both of them realized how closer their faces were, their breath against each other's lips. L'Arc had quickly turned away, using his hand to cover the bottom half of his face, though Naofumi could still see his crimson blush growing to his ears, matching his hair and ruby eyes.
Another time, L'Arc had asked Naofumi if he knew what God or Goddess the Temple belonged to. After thinking a bit, Naofumi had answered that he didn't know, or seemed to not remember. L'Arc had let it be, as he'd never really minded, it was only a curious question.
The two of them spent a lot of time together, slowly getting closer and closer. As they sat together on the edge of the porch of the Temple, their legs dangling over the edge, they would slowly inch closer, until they sat flush against each other, Naofumi's head on L'Arc's shoulder, and L'Arc's head on Naofumi's as their voices quieted to low whispered against the forest breeze.
Months later, L'Arc began to notice something. His leg, which had honestly only gotten worse in the last 7 years, was beginning to feel better, and he could now work in his field without any help, only to need a short break after. And it seemed his field was faring better than others. When the rest of the village's lost almost all their crops to either droughts or flash floods, L'Arc still had over half of his left, leaving him with enough to survive the winter. Though, he still shared with the rest of the village, not wanting them to go onto the next life just because he might've been a bit greedy.
Slowly, good things were starting to happen to L'Arc.
One day, a raging storm had come over the village with rain falling heavily, lightning lighting up the sky, and thunder booming miles away. While L'Arc was lying on his futon inside his hut, the rain heavily pounding on the roof, all he could think was 'I hope Naofumi's gonna be fine through this storm...'.
After hours of lying there, unable to sleep, a flash of lightning lit up right outside L'Arc's hut, thunder booming loud enough for his ears to ring.
As the ringing died down, L'Arc noticed orangeish flickers of light on the wall opposite of the one towards the field. Turning around, L'Arc quickly got up, running towards the door and around the corner of his hut, only to see that the lightning had struck his field. Still worried, L'Arc hoped the rain would be enough to put out the fire before it spread to the rest of the crops.
Only, a couple of minutes later, the rain started to let up before disappearing, letting the fire start to take onto the rest of the field. As people began coming out of their homes, L'Arc could hear people start shouting and screaming. It seemed like there were other's who'd been hit by the storm and thunder too.
From atop the hill, Naofumi could see smoke rising from multiple places in the village L'Arc lived by, presumably from the lighting from the storm that just passed. Looking towards L'Arc's home, Naofumi's eyes widened as he saw a large amount of smoke rising from very close to L'Arc's place.
Naofumi then realized that L'Arc could be hurt or trapped by the fire. No!
In a hurry, Naofumi had thrown the fruit basket he'd had in his hands to the floor of the Shrine, Naofumi hurried outside, without even putting his boots on, dirtying his socks as he ran through the mud and puddles the storm left. But he didn't care, he had to make sure L'Arc was alright.
Naofumi felt himself become weaker the longer away from the Temple he ran, but he ignored it, sprinting down the mountain as fast a possible without falling. As he got to the bottom of the mountain, he took a quick few seconds before sprinting off again.
About 30 minutes later, with a couple of small breaks, Naofumi came outside the forest, right by L'Arc's place. Quickly looking around, Naofumi looked over to see L'Arc in his both flooded and burnt field, trying to salvage what he could.
"L'Arc!" Naofumi shouted, running over
L'Arc perked upon hearing Naofumi's voice and looked over to see the raven running over. Quickly, L'Arc got out of the field, putting down the little crops he'd managed to save, only to have Naofumi run into his arms.
"L'Arc! I was so worried! I saw the smoke- and by your house- I thought you'd gotten hurt- or worse!" Naofumi rambled on, clutching the front of L'Arc's worn-out Kimono, tears swelling up in his eyes.
"Hey, hey, I'm fine, nothing happened to me or the house. There was just a fire on the field, I didn't get hurt, I promise," L'Arc said softly, rubbing calming circles on Naofumi's back with one hand, and just holding the shorter male close with the other
"I was so scared... I thought- I thought you'd gotten hurt... Or worse..." Naofumi muttered, suddenly feeling very weak, slumping against L'Arc
"Naofumi? You okay?" L'Arc moved Naofumi off a bit to look at the other
As L'Arc looked at Naofumi, the raven had started breathing heavily, face a little flushed, and his eyes were unfocused.
"Hey? Naofumi? Can you hear me? Naofumi!" L'Arc worried, only to have Naofumi slump against him completely, barely keeping his eyes open
Worried for his friend, L'Arc quickly slung one of Naofumi's arms over his shoulder and put an arm around his waist, to help Naofumi over to his home. After getting inside, L'Arc laid Naofumi gently down on the single hay futon he had, covered by a piece of cloth. It wasn't the best, but it was more comfortable than lying on the ground.
Putting the back of his hand on Naofumi's forehead, L'Arc winced. Naofumi was burning up.
"Gods, Naofumi! Why did you come all the way down here when you're this sick?" L'Arc lightly scolded while looking around to see if he had any clean water, still unsure if Naofumi was actually listening.
Unfortunately, L'Arc found no clean water close by, which he'd planned to use to cool Naofumi's forehead. Looks like he'd have to take a trip to the well.
While his back was turned, L'Arc heard Naofumi groaning, followed by fabric rustling. Turning around, L'Arc found that Naofumi had sat up, using one hand to hold himself upright, and the other holding his head. Intending to get off the futon, Naofumi tried to get up, lifting off L'Arc's outer kimono which served as a blanket. Only to have his arm give out under him.
Rushing over, L'Arc caught Naofumi just before he could hit the ground. Carefully, L'Arc laid Naofumi back on the futon as he spoke.
"Naofumi, you need to stay down. You can't go anywhere when you're sick like this," L'Arc said softly, brushing Naofumi's bangs out of his eyes.
"Need... to go back... to the Shrine..." Naofumi panted weakly, eyes unfocused as he looked up at L'Arc
"You can go back to the Shrine when you get better, alright? You're too sick right now." L'Arc smiled gently, patting Naofum's head
After a couple of minutes of L'Arc running his hand through the other's hair, Naofumi fell asleep, breathing heavily and still flushed and burning, but at least he was resting a bit.
Seeing Naofumi having fallen asleep, L'Arc bot up and found a wooden bucket before leaving the hut with a last glance at Naofumi, to go to the well for clean water. Naofumi was still sleeping soundly when he left.
After about half an hour, L'Arc came back with the water, finding Naofumi still sleeping soundly, L'Arc sat the bucket down a bit from the futon before finding a piece of cloth. Folding the cloth a couple of times, L'Arc kneeled beside Naofumi, dipping the cloth in the cold water, before lying it across Naofumi's forehead. L'Arc caught Naofumi faintly sighing as the coolness hit him.
After that, L'Arc went back out to his field, noticing it's started to get dark, the sun going down behind the forest opposite of the mountain with Naofumi's Shrine, and re-started on salvaging what he could after the storm.
As the night rolled around a few hours later, and the last rays of the sunlight disappeared, L'Arc went back into the hut. It seemed Naofumi had slept the whole time. As L'Arc started getting ready to make a simple dinner, Naofumi woke up groaning.
As Naofumi tried to sit up again, L'Arc hurried over to gently push him back down.
"You need to rest, Naofumi. Lay down," L'Arc told him gently
"L'Arc~" Naofumi whined, a frown on his face at how sore his body was
L'Arc only gave him a gentle smile before taking the cloth off his forehead and re-dipping it in the water, before putting it back.
"I'll have some dinner ready soon, okay? Just see if you can get some rest until it's done," L'Arc smiled
"M'kay..." Naofumi muttered, settling under the covers
Silence fell upon the hut, as the sunlight disappeared completely from the sky, and the stars started to shine, L'Arc lit the few candles in the hut while the stew simmered. L'Arc kept an eye on the food while Naofumi watched him in silence, eyes filled with something special.
After a few taste tests, L'Arc proclaimed dinner to be done and took it off the stove. Before getting out bowels and utensils, L'Arc went over to help Naofumi sit up against the wall. But, he accidentally kneeled wrongly, making pain shoot up through his leg from his knee. With a wince, he sat Naofumi against the wall, reassuring the other that he was fine when asked.
Leaning back to make sure the other was comfortable, L'Arc stared at Naofumi.
Face flushed red, panting with teary eyes with his clothes and hair disheveled, and sweat drops cascading down his body, L'Arc couldn't help it as his eyes trailed from the raven's eyes to his soft-looking rosy lips, down to his pale, spotless neck, and then down under the edge of his white kimono-
L'Arc quickly pushed those thoughts away as soon as he realized what he was thinking, turning around to hide his red face. Quickly, L'Arc started getting out two bowls and spoons and pouring a portion for each of them.
Behind him, Naofumi smiled with fondness as the redhead.
As they ate, L'Arc helped Naofumi, whose arms were too weak and hands too shaky to hold the bowl up properly without spilling everything, by feeding him. Naofumi didn't mind and appreciated how L'Arc took care of him.
As L'Arc ate his dinner, Naofumi gently placed a hand on his knee, the one he'd winced at.
"Hm?" L'Arc asked, pausing his eating to give his attention to Naofumi
"Does it hurt?" Naofumi asked softly, rubbing his thumb over it
"Ah, only sometimes, when I step wrongly. It's actually been getting better since I started going to the Shrine!" L'Arc answered with a smile
As L'Arc went back to eating, Naofumi had a sad look on his face as he kept his hand on L'Arc's knee, until the other had to move.
After dinner, L'Arc covered the pot the best he could, as there was still some left they could eat tomorrow for breakfast.
It was only then, that L'Arc realized he'd let Naofumi take up the futon. Naofumi still laid awake as L'Arc looked around for another place to sleep, not wanting to make Naofumi uncomfortable. Noticing this, Naofumi let a little smile slip onto his lips. They'd already borderline cuddled on the porch of the Shrine many times while watching the sunset, and now L'Arc was worrying about being too close.
Reaching a hand out from underneath L'Arc's kimono, Naofumi reaching out for L'Arc.
Quickly noticing, L'Arc came over to sit beside the futon again.
"Naofumi?" L'Arc asked
Naofumi only whined as a sudden headache started to form. Patting the floor a couple of times, Naofumi reached for L'Arc's hand.
"You okay?" L'Arc asked, now putting his hand in Naofumi's
"Sleep..." Naofumi muttered, weakly tugging on L'Arc's hand
"You wanna sleep?" L'Arc asked
"You too..." Naofumi muttered before letting out another whine
"Ah, I know, but there's nowhere for me to sleep up the floor," L'Arc answered meekly
"Beside me..." Naofumi murmured as his eyes started to drop
"You want me to sleep beside you?" L'Arc asked, his cheeks flushing a bit pink as he looked at Naofumi
"Mhm..." Naofumi muttered
With a last groan, Naofumi gave a last tug on L'Arc's arm before promptly passing out again. L'Arc stared.
With a sigh, L'Arc crept onto the futon beside Naofumi, lying on the very edge of it.
The next morning, L'Arc was the first to wake up, finding himself with warmth in front of him. Opening his eyes and blinking away the sleepiness, L'Arc found himself cuddled up with Naofumi, his chin on top of Naofumi's head and arms around the other. Naofumi was curled up in front of him, clutching the front of his inner robes. Naofumi's face was still flushed and he was still panting heavily, but that was to be expected. Such a high fever wasn't going down in just a single night.
After gently untangling himself from Naofumi, L'Arc got up and poured himself a bowl of the leftover stew. After eating, L'Arc gently shook Naofumi awake so he could eat breakfast too. After feeding Naofumi about half of the bowl, Naofumi quickly fell back asleep.
As the days went by a bit after that, L'Arc slowly fixed his field, but Naofumi's fever wasn't going down.
At some point after a few days, Naofumi started getting stir crazy, even in his weakened state and whined about going outside. In the end, L'Arc caved in and carried Naofumi out to lay in a haystack right outside the hut. When he was awake, Naofumi watched as L'Arc worked in the field from his place on the haystack.
After about a week, L'Arc hadn't gone to the Shrine, being too busy fixing his field and caring for Naofumi.
One noon, as L'Arc was getting lunch ready
"L'Arc..." Naofumi muttered, watching the redhead
"Yes?" L'Arc answered
"You haven't been to the Shrine..." Naofumi said lowly
"Because I've been busy with you and the field," L'Arc answered quickly
"Won't you go?" Naofumi asked
"Not until I'm sure you're better," L'Arc answered with a smiled
"Please go," Naofumi muttered
"Naofumi..." L'Arc trailed off, pausing his bread cutting to look behind him at Naofumi
"Please? For me? I promise I'll be fine," Naofumi asked
Looking at Naofumi's puppy eyes, L'Arc could only sigh before complying.
"I really can't say no to you," L'Arc sighed with a smile, "I'll go tomorrow,"
Naofumi smiled weakly
"Now eat your lunch," L'Arc said joke-sternly with a grin
Naofumi's smile widened a little.
The next day, L'Arc went on his way to the Shrine. After a few hours, he arrived back at the hut and found that Naofumi's fever had gotten a little down, enough for him to be able to eat on his own.
After another week, L'Arc began to worry even more. Naofumi's fever showed no signs of going down, and he was getting weaker and weaker, only really being able to do anything whenever L'Arc came back from praying.
L'Arc worried a lot, especially with how winter was slowly approaching and the weather was getting colder.