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Exer and David sat there for a quiet while. Under the moonlight, as Exer's green magic swirled around them, keeping them safe. Dancing green sparkles and hearts had made Exer flush in embarrassment but he was filled with contentment nonetheless. If David couldn't see it, Exer wouldn't mention it. He felt a wave of warmth hit him as David squeezed him in closer.
It should have been uncomfortable, the cold grass making Exer shiver that was slowly turning into mud as soft rain drops fell onto them. David didn't seem to care-- so neither did Exer. He felt a warm drop of water hit his shoulder, unsure of whether it was David's tears or the rain. He didn't want to know, so he opted on closing his eyes shut instead, gripping the back of David's shirt tightly as his shoulder began to soak.
David sniffled and pulled away, and as Exer caught glimpse of David's puffy red eyes and tear-stained cheeks, he was forced to come back to reality. His magic slowed down as he realized David had been crying.
"Exer," David started, and Exer didn't want him to finish. He wanted to sit there, holding David in his arms forever. Until his bruises healed, until his swollen lip stopped bleeding, until every single tear was dried and drained from his glassy blue eyes.
Exer swallowed away any remains of tears. "Yes?" He felt his voice crack as he whispered lowly.
"I'm sorry."
Exer felt his eyebrows almost furrow, his heart already carved out and squashed by David's pleading look begging for forgiveness of whatever he was sorry for-- which Exer wasn't sure of.
"For what?" Exer asked, frowning, cupping David's cheek.
David shook his head, like he wanted to respond but wasn't quite sure what to say. "I don't know," He finally added, feeling Exer wipe away his tears with his thumb. "For having to take care of me. For dealing with all my bullshit and my shitty dad."
Exer smiled despite himself, feeling a tear threatening to fall. "What are you talking about?" He said softly. "That's what I'm here for."
David sighed, taking his hand and placing it on where Exer's hand had been resting on his cheek. David's hands lingered on the others only for a moment, lost in thought. David shooed his thoughts away as he shook his head, taking Exer's and sliding it off his cheek and into Exer's lap.
"No," David simply responded. "You have your own problems, your own things to deal with." David looked away. "It was my fault anyway.. I.. should have been more careful."
Exer bit his lip, contemplating on what to say as his fingers interlaced with David's.
"Day, Did I say that to you when you helped me through all my magic attacks?" Exer looked away. David opened his mouth to speak but Exer spoke first. "You're always here for me, you always were." He smiled. "Now I get to be here for you."
"Your-- your magic attacks are different," David says, finding the chance to speak. "You can't control them."
"David, there is absolutely no way you could've predicted.." Exer trailed off. "This.." He placed his hand back onto David's cheek. "And even if you could, I would never have expected you too."
David could only look back into Exer's eyes with a look that could only be described as heart wrenching. Exer felt his world collapse as he noticed the frown on his lips, the un-phased broken look in his eyes he only made when he was thinking 'I don't believe you.'
"Day," He whispered, starting. David looked at him sadly, waiting for him to continue as his tears stopped. "It wasn't your fault."
David's breathing came to a halt as his eyes widened ever so slightly.
"You know that, right?" Exer added quietly.
"I-" David started, but couldn't find the oxygen to continue. He sucked in a shallow breath. "I know."
Exer didn't seem convinced, but muttered out "Good." anyway.
"I know." David repeated shakily. "I know." he whispered as he felt more tears flow down his face. David pretended his black-eye didn't hurt as he closed it shut, hiccuping and biting his lip to contain his tears. He pretended it didn't hurt when Exer pulled him in closer, tighter, squeezing his ribs and squishing his lungs. He pretended as his busted knees slid across the grass, as his beaten up knuckles scraped the back of Exer's cloth shirt, and as his sore arms attempted to squeeze Exer back.
He remembered the way he flung his arms around his head defending himself from injury, and the way William had grabbed both of his wrists, prying them open and pinning him to the wall-- David kicked and flailed his legs to no avail. He was bigger and stronger and he was always going to win in the end, even if David had attempted to try harder. It was no use.
David felt his breath hitch as his lungs started to feel small-- feeling trapped in Exer's embrace. David, suddenly feeling too small and Exer too big despite the height difference, pulled back from the hug. "Sorry." He mumbled again.
Exer shook his head to say it was okay, albeit missing the warmth of David.
Exer was calm, comforting and as he looked down at their hands where Exer had been rubbing soft soothing circles onto David's scabbed knuckles with his thumb. It should have hurt-- but it tingled in a way that grounded him. In a way that ripped him out of the reality where William had beaten him and shoved him into one where Exer was there forever, rubbing soft soothing circles into his knuckles. In a way that told him "I know it hurts, but I'm here."
"I love you." David had whispered, because it felt right. The warmth of Exer's calm embrace, the quietness of no yelling or screaming or cursing, the way Exer had pulled on his heart strings in the worst way possible-- but in a way he's never felt before.
Maybe it was too quick to say It-- but as David saw Exer's eyes light up in a way he's never seen before, he knew he felt it too.
Exer felt his heart pulse with magic, something he never liked the feeling of until now-- here-- In David's embrace. Love was a word that hurt your heart whilst giving it the flow it needs to pump oxygen to your lungs-- it helps you breathe whilst choking you, engulfing you with its warmth. He hugged David again before letting go promptly as he remembered David needed space. David smiled at Exer to say thank you. He didn't know what to do with his love, so he ultimately decided on squeezing David's hand. David must have understood because he squeezed his hand back with some strain-- but Exer didn't mind.
David looked at Exer before looking away again-- eye contact becoming too much for him. He stared at the ground before slowly leaning in for another hug, this time softer. Exer reluctantly hugged back once he realized David was ready for It and softly rubbed circles into his back. He didn't even notice the tears that started to fall down his own cheeks. Despite his brain yelling at him-- that he should be stronger for David, the hug broke any last effort at holding them in.
David smiled into Exer's shoulder because it still felt scary-- everything felt scary. The way It had only became darker since they'd been sitting out here, the way the crickets started to talk to each-other, and the way the cold December air started to tickle the top of his nose. None of that mattered with Exer-- at least not with him holding him like this.
David glanced at Exer's eyes that were focused on rubbing up and down on David's back.
Yeah, alright. He could get used to this.