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“Care to explain what this is, my little witch?”
Elias turned from where he had been putting the finishing details on a sketch of Mandragorga officinarum - mandrake root - to see Ulbrig was standing in the doorway. He took up the entire frame, head just a hair’s breadth away from the top. Clutched in one of his big, meaty hands was a shock of blue fur.
“It’s a rabbit’s foot,” Elias said simply, turning his attention back to the task at hand.
“Yes, naturally. And it was affixed to my armor because?”
“Because I thought it would serve you better.”
“Ah. Right. Well, love, it’s a…sweet gesture, but I’m not sure what good having the dismembered digits of a cute little critter does me.”
Elias chucked softly, finishing his sketch with a flourish. Setting it aside, he stood and made his way to his lover in three short strides - a feat that could be as much accredited to the small room he was afforded as a member of the Commander’s entourage as it was the length of his legs. When he reached him, he closed Ulbrig’s fingers back around the trinket, his own clasped gently over them.
“Just…leave it attached for now. For me.”
Ulbrig eyed him - suspicious was not quite the word to be used, but there was an uncertainness that could not be overlooked. Finally, he nodded, “Aye, alright then. Still not sure what good this will do me, though.”
“Trust me,” Elias said, leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on his lips. Ulbrig allowed the distraction, fully immersing himself in his lover and forgetting the talisman, for a time.
Until not even a week later, when the Commander launched their assault on the Ivory Sanctum. Both of them had joined her, and at one point they had found themselves flanked by an army of mythically enhanced demons. The ensuing scuffle, even with the help of their heavenly allies, was hard won.
There was a moment when all had seemed lost - when Ulbrig, forced back into human form by blood loss, had looked up to find the ugly, pincered claw of a glabrezu above him. He couldn’t explain how, but the need to move hit him just as it started its ascent. He was not a light man, but he somehow managed to lumber out of the way, the whoosh of air behind him telling him how effectively the creature had missed by.
The demon turned to him, ugly maw twisted in a grimace. It made to strike again, only to be enveloped in a swirl of green magic. When it cleared, in the demon’s place stood a dog, whimpering and turning tail before he could react.
Ulbrig turned, not at all surprised to see his witch standing there with his hand outstretched.
“You’re welcome,” Elias said. The barest traces of a smirk graced his lips. “Twice over,” he added, looking pointedly at the rabbit’s foot still affixed to his armor.
All around them, cries of victories from the angels rose, along with relieved sighs and hollers from their own group. Neither of them uttered a cry of their own, however, as Ulbrig pulled Elias to him and kissed him, this time fiercely. When he pulled back, Elias’ eyes were uncharacteristically bright, smirk having developed into a full-on grin.
“Aye, just don’t go getting a swelled head about it, love.”