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Porco emerged from his Jaw Titan form, weakened from an overexerting battle. He fought against the tendons tying him to the foreign body in the humid environment. As he pushed himself out, something hooked under his arms, assisting in his efforts. Once he was freed, the harsh sun hit his eyes in a rude awakening. He was turned around quickly, his back now facing the nape.
“Porco, Porco! Please be okay, please be okay,” a familiar voice cried.
Pain surged through his skull as he was shaken, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “Colt?” he groaned, everything a blur for him.
“Porco… you’re alright!” Colt pressed his lips onto Porco, holding him in a firm embrace as he came back to consciousness. Porco took a few breaths before opening his mouth, pushing closer to Colt for a more intimate kiss. The young soldier allowed him, wrapping his arms around his comrade. Hints of salt and iron immediately hit Porco’s tongue. His weakened hands reached out to Colt’s uniform, gripping the cloth to steady himself and save himself from the onslaught of emitted steam from his Titan form.
Colt pulled away for a brief moment. “You’re alright, you’re alright… I was so worried, I’m so glad you’re okay…” He went in for another kiss.
Porco gave Colt the cheek, and the enthusiastic blonde immediately pulled his face back. Although he found great comfort in Colt’s affection, he needed to take a break. “I’m glad you’re okay too.” He reached out to the side of Colt’s face, gently caressing its side.
His vision started to get more clear, and he could make out the details of Colt’s face. He lost his grip on the shirt in shock. The skin around Colt’s plump lips was a cluster of deep pinks. A stream of blood hovered above his lips from his nose, and as Colt gasped, steam exited his mouth. Porco shifted his gaze upwards, looking into the tear-swollen pale green eyes.
“Colt… What happened?” He turned his hand so that Colt’s jaw could rest on his palm.
He pushed his face into Porco’s hand, scrunching his eyes and cheeks turning pink.
Porco gently brought his face back to the original position, gazing into Colt’s eyes. “No, no, it’s not that.” He brushed his finger along Colt’s cheek. “You don’t have to tell me.” He flashed a weak smile for reassurance. Colt grimaced, chest heaving as he took every breath. Porco leaned in for a kiss, lightly grazing Colt’s lips. “You’re beautiful, no matter what. I love you so much.”
Colt allowed his boyfriend to kiss him for a few moments before gently putting distance between them. “We have to go, we can’t stay here,” he whispered.
Colt leaned into Porco’s side, pulling him up onto his two legs. Porco could feel how much Colt’s body was struggling with every movement. It was only a matter of time before his muscles gave out. Yet he persevered, slinging Porco’s arm around his neck and steadied the man with an arm around his waist, ready to drag him to safety.
“Colt, take it easy,” he warned, harsher than he meant for it to come across.
“I’m fine , Porco. I got this,” Colt reassured as he strained his breath.
His comrade brought them out onto the open surface, emerging from behind the Titan’s body. He took a few hurried steps, fixing Porco’s balance as he walked. The pair differed greatly when it came to how their weight was distributed, but Colt’s core strength allowed for better balance than most. They weren’t too far away from the trenches, and it only took them a minute to reach it even at their slow pace.
They both kneeled down to get into the trenches, Porco ultimately heading down first and supporting Colt. Porco could feel his strength coming back, but Colt’s was weakening as his legs shook.
“Let’s get you to the infirmary, alright?”
Zeke convinced the nurses to let Colt recover in his room since his injuries were relatively minor. He was hunched in the side chair, pouring the contents of a glass bottle into a whiskey glass.
“Liquor, really?” Porco questioned, leaning against the doorway.
“Hey, he needs some reward after surviving that bloodbath.” Zeke shrugged, putting the glass on the side table.
He walked over to Colt’s bedside, staring at his bandaged face. His mouth was swollen and agape, with bandages keeping cold rags in place around his lower half. “How’s he doing?”
“Oh, he’s fine. Nurse said he has a concussion, which is normal. But he also has a lot of… strange injuries.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Zeke’s face looked like he was holding back a laugh. “Just minor burns around his face and inside his mouth. They don’t know how that could have happened.” He winked. “I’ll give you two some alone time.”
Porco took Zeke’s seat, keeping his head down. He waited for the door to close before leaning in close to Colt. “I love you, baby,” he murmured. He planted a kiss on his bruised and bandaged hand. “I love you so much. You’re the strongest person I know.”
Colt’s half-lidded eyes fluttered as Porco’s compliments sank in.
Porco gently placed Colt’s hand back on his chest, and he reached out to lace his fingers through Colt’s sweat-matted hair. “Let me know if this hurts.”
The lack of protest invited Porco to continue. “I appreciate everything you do, but please, Colt, take it easy. I can’t stand to see you hurt,” he begged.
Colt blinked before nodding slowly.
Porco traced his hand across the side of Colt’s head, carefully avoiding his face as his hand brushed against Colt’s ear. “I wish I could stay with you forever, but I have to go. Magath is waiting for me.” He pulled himself up from the chair, heart aching with the thought of Colt being left alone.
“I love you,” he whispered, pushing a kiss into Colt’s hair as he said goodbye.