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Bam slowly made his way back to his room as he exited the rice pot, trying his best not to cringe in pain with each step, the training today having been especially... Brutal. It was painful, yes, but it was necessary, so Bam doesn't mind it too much.
"Hey, Bam. How was training in the rice pot? Wait... Is that... blood? What happened? Did you get hurt while training?"
As soon as he crossed the doorstep to his room, Bam was met with the sight of his best friend and lightbearer sitting on the bed, waiting for him to come back from training as always. Said person was now dangerously close to his face, examining him from head to toes, scanning him for any possible injuries. Bam couldn't help that warm feeling that blossomed inside his chest and smiled weakly.
"Ah- Khun, don't worry, I'm fine. It's nothing big, just a few scratches here and there. I just need some sleep and tomorrow I'll be as good as new!" Bam smiled as he replied, attempting to reassure his mother hen of a lightbearer. Even though Bam didn't dislike that treatment at all, he just couldn't bring himself to burden his friends in any way.
Khun only stared at him silently, his gaze doubtful as he opened his mouth to answer. "At least let me patch you up. There's no way you're going to sleep in that state. I'm not letting you. As your lightbearer and best friend, it's the least I can do for you."
Bam was surprised by the drastic change in Khun's expression as he spoke those last words, his tone darkening a bit and his face displaying an expression that Bam could associate with... Guilt, maybe? He frankly didn't know, but he noticed how Khun's eyes left his to stare at the ground.
Bam was about to ask if anything was wrong, before Khun's face suddenly cleared, that expression gone from his handsome features, as he hustled Bam onto the bed, exiting the room to grab a first aid kit.
Bam patiently waited, trying his best to quiet his agitated mind, jumping a bit when Khun re-entered the room, realizing he must have spaced out a bit.
The boy looked up, smiling softly at the sight of Khun, who sat next to him once more, placing the first aid kit on his lap and opening it.
He grabbed a small container from inside, filled with a white liquid, which Khun took a small piece of cotton from, and placed it over a cut in Bam's eyebrow. It stung at first, but after a minute, it began to sting less and less, until it was barely noticeable anymore.
"You really should take better care of yourself. I know that self-preservation isn't your thing, but at least show some restrain during training. Your body won't last if you keep treating it so poorly" Khun spoke as he continued treating Bam's various wounds, focused on his task.
"I know... I just can't afford to slack off, I need more power... I need the power to protect you all. Everything I do is necessary. I don't care what happens to me if it means those I love are safe." Bam answered with a tone full of resolve and determination, earning a soft sigh from Khun along with a conversation concerned glance.
"Bam, you are not a god. You are human. You- your body have limits that you shouldn't cross," after a short pause, Khun continued "Also, I know that you care for your friends a lot, but you are not responsible for anyone's life beside your own. This place is dangerous, and everyone climbing the tower knows it. You are no god. You can't protect everyone, so get that kind of thinking out of your head. It'll only serve to ruin you"
Bam frowned. "I know that... I know that already! I... I just can't stand doing nothing when I have the power to do it. I finally found people I want to stay with, what's so bad with wanting to protect them? Besides, I'm sure you'd do the same, if you were in my shoes."
"... I can't say I wouldn't." Khun chuckled softly, before his expression changing to one more solemn, serious. "I know that there's no changing your mind, but please, promise me that you won't work yourself too hard. Like, don't come out of training half dead like you did a week ago. You never know when real danger will strike, so try to be in your best condition at every time, okay?"
Bam smiled softly, knowing that Khun's last sentence basically translate to 'I'm worried about you, please take better care of yourself', foreign warmth blooming inside his chest yet again as he answered. "I promise you, I won't do that again. Last week I kind of overestimated my capacities, so... It was an accident. Don't worry, it won't happen again"
Khun eyed him for a moment, probably looking for signs of falsehood on his features, beforehis lips curled into a gentle smile. He nodded, satisfied, and turned away from him, focusing his attention back on dressing the few wounds Bam had left. Bam closed his eyes, his focus closing on the feeling of Khun's ever so gentle hands handling his body with care, allowing his consciousness to drift in that warm and fuzzy feeling.
When Bam felt the hands retreating, he barely stopped himself from whining out loud, having allowed himself to relax a little too much- he almost fell asleep while Khun took care of him. That won't do.
"There, all done. I don't think I've missed anything, does it hurt anywhere else?" Khun asked as he got up, starting to put everything he used back in the first aid box, eyeing Bam and waiting for his answer to close it for good.
"No, I think it's... All good. Thank you." Bam answered with way less awareness than he'd like, his eyelids becoming more and more heavier with each passing second.
"Don't mention it. This isn't much compared to what you do for us every day" Khun smiled weakly, that same expression from earlier back on his face along with his voice carrying a hint of bitterness, but Bam missed them both, his mind clouded with sleep.
"Anyway, I think it's time for me to go then, if you don't need anything else."
"You're leaving al-" Bam spoke his thoughts out loud before his brain could even think them, stopping himself mid-sentence but to no avail, since the most was said.
"Yes, it's pretty late and... I'm beginning to feel sleepy as well. Why? Is anything wrong?" Khun offered him a both slightly concerned and questioning glance, his eyes not leaving Bam's as he waited for the other to speak.
"No, it's- Sorry, I'm just exhausted too. I don't know what I'm saying. There's nothing wrong. Sorry for having kept you up this long. You can go now." Bam, having regained some awareness after that his tongue slipped in such an unfortunate way, answered him with a sheepish smile, his cheeks flushed red after what he just happened to say.
Khun continued to stare at him though, doubt evident in his eyes, his brows furrowing slightly. "If there is anything you want to say, go ahead."
Why must this guy always be so sharp? Bam looked down at the ground. The truth was that he liked very much the feeling of Khun beside him, and his mind just considered the idea of asking Khun to stay a little longer, or even stay the night tonight. But he banished that thought, not wanting to burden his lightbearer even more than he already did.
He was about to dismiss Khun's question, when he looked up and met his gaze, and found himself frozen before Khun's gentle gaze as he smiled reassuringly, as if saying 'it's okay'.
Bam did something on an impulse. Something that he might very much regret doing then. "Could you... Could you stay with me tonight?"
Khun stood frozen for a few seconds, this question probably having taken him completely off of guard. A feeling of uneasiness was starting to build inside Bam's stomach, as he gripped the blanket tightly with one hand and brought the other to the back of his neck, scrapping it, his-
"Of course. I'd love to," Khun chuckled as he sat back down on the bed, putting the first aid kit he held by his foot on the ground. It was Bam's turn to freeze now, not expecting that at all. Well, he honestly didn't know what he was expecting. But he for sure didn't expect things to go that way.
"Bam? What's wrong?"
"Ah- nothing, sorry I guess I'm just tired..." Bam answered as he crawled under the covers, exhaustion clear on his face.
"You should go to sleep then- don't worry, I'll stay here." Khun went to sit down at the foot of the bed, his back resting against it.
"What- you can't sleep like that! You can come here- ah, if you want, of course..." Bam positioned himself at the edge of the bed to create enough space for Khun, using the cover to hide his face when he realized what he just said.
Khun eyed him... Expectantly? "... You don't mind?"
"Of course not."
"... Okay," Khun smiled softly as he stood up and crawled in the bed, placing himself at the edge as well to give Bam as much space as he could.
The silence was awkward for a bit until Khun spoke up.
"Good night, Bam."
"Good night, Khun. Thank you..." Bam whisperered, being already half asleep, his eyes closed and facing Khun as his mind slowly drifted into unconsciousness.
"Don't mind it," Khun mumbled with a soft smile on his face, allowing himself to rest as well, closing his eyes and feeling sleep overtake him. Khun was lulled to sleep by the sound of Bam's quiet breathing which still filled the silent room, all he could feel at the moment was warmth, which he hadn't felt in a long time.
The following morning, they were found nestled together, Bam holding Khun by the waist and Khun resting his head on top of Bam's, by Hwaryun, who left quietly right after, deciding that their discussion could wait a little bit.