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“My beloved…” grimaced the blond as the adeptus in front of him hissed, the wet rag tapping on the open wounds on his back. “Why must you always get into combat?” Kazuha’s bloodied hands pushing the rag onto the open cuts on his back, three diagonal lines covering his already scarred back. The wind blew the trees leaves, making background noise as Kazuha focused on the adeptus’ wounds.
The green tattoo painted on his right arm revealed his true form, something Kazuha had yet to see. Maybe he didn’t wanna, the adeptus that sat in front of him had told him all sorts of tale of his true form, how he had saved countless people yet had killed just as much, how he had soared the land and sky as the world fell apart and all he could do was watch as his friends and family fell. Kazuha applied more pressure onto the wounds, the adeptus no longer hissing or groaning and instead breathing in and out as the cool water mixed with his blood. The rag that the human held that once was white now stained a dark red.
“You know it’s my duty, human. I can only protect those who live now, and make sure this land no longer suffers as once did my land.” Xiao deadpanned, no hint of anger in his voice. Kazuha shook his head, some hair falling from out of his loose ponytail.
Ever since Xiao had watched his friends fall into darkness or worse things that Kazuha could ever imagine, he had promised to protect the current living, and the futures of living beyond. The adeptus had been at it for decades or even longer, the human had lost count after Xiao had begun to explain more about himself and his past. The wind blew even harsher than before, the leaves hitting against each other as Kazuha’s keen senses could only smell the wood and blood from the adeptus. It wasn’t comforting but told him that Xiao was alive. That his lover was alive and safe with him now.
The green and glowing spear that sat next to them being their only light source for them minus Kazuha’s small lantern that now didn’t hold a flame from the blows of the wind. Kazuha wrapped some bandages all around the toned chest and shoulders, making sure to wrap gauze on top of them as well. Hopefully that would tone down the swelling that was destined to happen. The human could only do so much for the other, Xiao had always said adeptus could heal faster than the normal human being but that didn’t stop him from trying to support his wounds whenever he came back from combat.
Xiao didn’t dare to turn back, knowing the human would most likely have bloodied hands and a small patch of his blood on the human’s cheek due to the human often trying his best to swipe the sweat away by himself. Kazuha didn’t ask for help much, if he couldn't after a few tries he would finally admit defeat and get help or return later to try once again. It usually all ended with him getting Xiao’s help. Not that he was complaining, he would never complain when it comes to Kazuha, even if he was busy.
The human had somehow snuck his way into the adeptus’ heart, the adeptus unknowingly allowing him in as well. His heart pace picked up whenever the human wrapped his arms around him when they slept, whenever Xiao had gotten a smell of Kazuha’s smell, a mixture of apple and strawberries. Whenever they touched bare skin to bare skin, when they met lips, and when they lantern gazed during the moon festival. The glowing of the lanterns made Kazuha’s milky skin and rose eyes shine even brighter than usual. Kazuha’s button nose made him seem even smaller, smaller than Xiao himself, and delicate.
Xiao left his thoughts when he felt thin yet firm arms wrap around him from the back, and blonde hair tickling his cheek. A warm peck on his shoulder from Kazuha made him gently smile and chuckle to himself. A hand stroking the latter’s hair softly, and slowly, making Kazuha’s stomach explode with fireworks, and flowers blossom in his stomach.
“What are you doing?” Quietly asked Xiao, smiling to himself as the familiar scent of strawberry and apple came back and the smell of blood faint. Xiao missed that smell, his senses were always above human average, and that made him much more sensitive to certain things like smell, touch and feel but everything with Kazuha felt just the right amount of comfy. He was never uncomfortable around the male, he just wanted to wrap his arms around him and never let him go into the harsh world he has to live in.
“Nothing..” Responded Kazuha, carefully hugging the adeptus even close, wary of the injuries he had memorized on Xiao. “I just missed you, when you came back injured and bleeding, Xiao. I..” Kazuha stuttered. “I thought you were gonna die. Can you imagine how worried I was?”
Xiao stopped stroking Kazuha’s head, sighing and letting his eyes fall to his glove wrapped hands. The blue haired man could only remember bits and pieces from when he fled to Kazuha’s hideout, he remembers the bleeding out, fading in and out of consciousness as he jumped and ran as quick as he could, and when he had woken up he had been face to face with a crying and panicking Kazuha, both of them on the floor as Kazuha applied pressure to whatever injury was stinging.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’ll be fine anyways, I’m an adeptus, we don’t die as quickly as you humans do.” Kazuha looked up at him, eyes wet and glittery. Xiao placed a quick kiss to his lips, trying to make sure the other knew he was okay and there, alive and breathing. “I’m fine my love, I always will be.”
The green spear that sat next to them still being their only light source, the two looking into each other’s eyes, xiao’s sharp and cold eyes staring into Kazuha’s round and doe eyes. Tears slipped out of the round rose eyes, making the other quickly panic and switch their places until they both sat knee to knee to each other, making quick use of wiping away his tears with his gloved hands.
“No crying please, do not shed them for me, I do not deserve something as precious as them. I am a mere adeptus protecting your world and you.” The last word Xiao said had made the tears shed even more, Xiao kissing away the tears as they all fell. While Xiao was comforting the other, kissing him, stroking his hair, and at one point having him in his lap, they had both failed to notice the lanterns that flew in the sky, too immersed with each other and their own pain.