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Vax didn't wake up.
Hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months, and months later, Grog sat on Vax's bed, cradling Vax in his arms. He was watching the last leaves of autumn fall from the sleeping branches of the Sun Tree as the sun set behind it.
Sleeping... like the tiny, skinny, limp half-elf in his arms. He sighed as he looked down at his still face, looking for the tiniest hint of change in his expression or body language.
A soft, whispery whine came from deep inside his chest. It was a sound that they'd found so promising the first time they'd heard it; and they'd all filed into the room and sat waiting, waiting, and waiting. They had smiles on their faces, a sweet scent of hope in the air.
But then Pike had called on her Goddess and burst into tears, and the sweet scent of hope vanished like whisps of smoke, replaced by the overwhelming stench of sadness and despair.
Vax didn't wake up.
But the sounds began to vary; sometimes it would sound like the cries of a wee babe, sometimes it would sound like the cries of a fearful child, and sometimes... sometimes, it would sound like the cries of a man being tortured, -dying- or wishing for it. It reminded Grog of that sound. That...
Percy's presence soothed the man, and so did Pike's daily healing. Pikey said he was having nightmares and that his body hurt.
Scanlan, Vex, and Keyleth's presence helped soothe the child. Scanlan played him lullabies, and sometimes Grog could swear he'd hear Vax chuckle. Vex's calm voice reminded him that he had family and Keyleth braided flowers into his hair and conjured up the sounds of trees and flaura whispering in the wind. He liked those. Pikey said that Vax was scared and felt lonely.
And Grog, well, his presence soothed the wee babe. Pikey said that when he cried like he was crying right now, he was just... lost, that he wasn't Vax anymore. That his mind - his soul - was somewhere far away and that he was in his most vulnerable state.
Secretly, Grog wasn't complaining. He liked that Vax wanted him - needed - him sometimes. He liked holding Vax in his arms, cradling him and rocking him like a momma. It still made him chuckle, the idea of how much Vax would struggle all angry eyed and daggery at being held like this. But lately, he wouldn't stop crying until Grog wrapped him in a tight embrace, telling him stories about their latest adventures or his pranks.
Pikey said that Vax could maybe, probably hear them. She said that the priests, healers, and Pikey herself had all done everything for him but that he just wasn't... waking up. His injuries had healed, and that should have been the end of it.
But it wasn't.
"Hey, Grog. I can take it from here," Percy said from the doorway to the room he and Vax shared.
Percy.
Grog bit back a sob at the sight of him. Look, when he met the Lordling, he thought the human was the rudest, cockiest, so many big-fancy-fucking-words of things. He did not like him. He was an ass!
Then all that stuff with the vampire happened, and the demon and after that, Percy became somebody else, or... maybe he became himself. He was nice. He was kind, gentle, and so clever. He made Grog the coolest toys, and he could fix anything. He still carried himself like a prancing peacock, all stiff backed, hands behind his back, proper little nombleman.
Well, the man standing in the door, that was not Percy. That was a shadow of the man he used to be, as if something had bit into him and was eating him alive from the inside. By the size of him, Grog was certain he'd find a many-toothed worm if he looked down Percy's throat.
Percy was tall, and he was never bulky or muscular, but now... gods, he was a willow whisp of a man. His hair was too long, his stubble too scruffy, his clothing hung from him loosely, and he had grown weak.
Oh boy, he had grown weak. In the beginning, he'd carry Vax all over the place. And he did. He never let Vax lie still too long. He bathed him and dressed him and carried him outside to get some sunlight and into the sitting rooms where the rest of the group were sitting. Up and down, they went. Up and down. But as time went by and Percy's hope faded, so did his mind, and so did his body.
Percy got smaller, and Vax got small. He had never been big to begin with, but he weighed probably less than half of what he did the day of... the day that... the. Gods, that sound.
"Grog?"
"Oh, sorry, Percy."
A soft touch to his shoulder startled him even though he'd just heard Percy speak, and he turned to look at the pale, tired man who was now somehow standing next to him.
"Go get some rest, I've got it," Percy said.
"Ain't you going to bathe him now?" Grog asked, gently shuffling around until he could get off of the bed.
"I am..." Percy yawned, standing on his toes to look at Vax.
"Nkay, let's go," Grog said, getting to his feet and moving towards the bathroom before Percy could object. Behind him, Percy sniffled gratefully, thanking him with a quiet nod.
The first time Grog had momma'd Percy, he'd thrown a tantrum, but by now, he was better at being bossed around - by Grog - only by Grog. Grog had heard a crash coming from their bedroom one night, followed by a pained scream from Percy, and he'd gone running down the hall. He had found Percy kneeling on the ground, Vax on the floor. Percy was sobbing! He'd dropped Vax, and Vax had a tiny scratch on his cheek. Pike and Vex had run in next and tried to pick Vax up.
Percy was too weak to get up, never mind pick Vax up, and Grog had snapped. He didn't mean it, but he'd pulled Percy away from Vax, picked him up, and forced him onto the bed. He held the struggling, cussing man down with one hand on his chest and scolded him with his index finger inches from Percy's face. He told him to stop. He told him that taking care of Vax didn't matter if he didn't take care of himself and asked him just how pissed off Vax would be if he woke up and saw him looking like shit. Percy had scrunched up his nose, and they both chuckled.
"Come on, limp noodle," Grog sighed out, looking at Percy from over his shoulder. The man was trying... he ate, slept, bathed, and wore clean clothes, but he still looked like shit.
Grog kept Vax in his arms as Percy prepared the bath, held him while Percy undressed him, and lifted him into the bath. Grog was too clumsy to focus on all the tiny little details Percy would spend at least an hour on every night, but he knew the routine by now.
Percy took really good care of Vax's body. He washed him as thoroughly as a momma would, leaving absolutely no spot unscrubbed. He washed Vax's hair, and Grog held him up as Percy combed it out. He cut his nails and so on and so on... when they were done, Grog held Vax up while Percy dried him.
They didn't dress him just yet, and Grog carried Vax over to the bed just like he did every night.
"Doing the exercises again tonight?"
"We are."
"He cried a lot today, Perc, think he's in pain."
"That's why we're doing this."
"But..."
Percy sighed heavily as he removed the large tub of ointment from the bedside table, smiling sadly as he looked up at Grog.
"Grog, when he wakes up, he'll be very weak. We're doing this to help him, to keep his body strong, to prevent more pain," Percy explained.
"Why can't Pike do it?" Grog asked, but he helped Percy as he began to apply the ointment, rubbing it deep into Vax's skin to reach the muscles underneath.
"Pike's healing is not enough..." Percy said weakly, his voice breaking.
Grog went quiet, waiting for Percy to finish applying the herbal ointment that made Vax's entire body heat up. Then, he mirrored Percy's movements oh so carefully. They'd start with his hands, flexing them, wiggling his fingers, and rubbing circles into his palms. And up and up they'd go, until they reached his neck. Then they'd move down, ending at the very tips of his toes, working every muscle that they could.
During all of this, Vax would whine uncomfortably.
But during the next part, oh... he'd wail, tears running down his face as they worked.
Grog took a deep breath and turned Vax over, gently positioning his head on the pillow. He didn't help Percy with Vax's back, regardless of how weak Percy was feeling, cause he was a coward. He could barely sit still and listen, but he had to support Percy.
Percy began to work, massaging Vax's muscles all along his spine and outward toward his sides. Vax whimpered, and Grog gently wiped a tear from the upside down face. Pikey explained that his back had taken the most damage, so it made sense, but Grog thought that there was something more to it. He didn't understand how those wings worked, but he knew - he knew - the pain had something to do with them.
"Okay, I'm almost done," Percy said, exahaling a heavy sigh of relief as he worked his way down Vax's body, even massaging the bottoms of Vax's feet.
"Okay, let's get you dressed, small man," Grog said. Percy was quiet as they dressed Vax in soft cotton pants and socks.
"Okay, smaller man, did you do your chores today?" Grog teased, watching sadly as he watched the life drain out of Percy after the work he'd just done.
Percy chuckled, shaking his head. "Yes, mom. I ate, bathed, did some exercise, I'm wearing clean clothes, and I'm going to sleep soon."
"Good boy!" Grog cheered happily. "Now go to bed. It's past your bedtime!"
Percy simply got onto the bed next to Vax, wrapping around him like an octopus, and closed his eyes. He was asleep before Grog had turned around to leave the room. Grog stared at them quietly, his little boys.
When he made it to his own room, with Scanlan in tow, balancing a keg of ale on his shoulder, they locked the door. Grog sank down onto the floor, exhausted and feeling emotions. He didn't like emotions and sat quietly as Scanlan poured him a mug of ale. He drank it quickly and sobbed. Scanlan placed a tiny hand on his shoulder, humming a song. He was the only one who ever saw Grog cry because Grog told him if he told him he'd kill him. He kinda meant it. Grog had to be strong, Vax needed him, and Percy needed him. Pike already had a lot to deal with. Using so much magic on Vax every day made her tired. Keyleth supprorted Pike, and Vex supported her.
It wasn't just Vax struggling, Vax was asleep, but around him, the world carried on, and they still had to live in it.
They still had jobs to do, people to protect, and monsters to kill. They'd hibernated for a long while before the world reminded them that it was not going to stop turning just for them. In the beginning, they'd spend hours with Vax, but when summer made space for autumn, they began to go about their days normally for the most part. They'd pop in when they had time, but time passed you by whether you wanted it to or not. Time was not kind.
Scanlan was kind. He helped Grog, who helped Percy, who helped Vax. So, Grog sobbed, letting Scanlan comfort him, until he fell asleep pleading that he wouldn't have nightmares that night. He couldn't take any more of those.
Gods. The sound.
Tomorrow would be exactly the same as today, but Grog would keep hoping for the best. He'd help Percy, who'd cry and plead and fall apart over and over again.
Vax had to wake up so that Grog could say sorry... so that Percy could say sorry.
No matter how many times the smarter members of their group told Percy that he was being stupid, he didn't listen, and neither did Grog. They needed to say sorry. And Grog had never wanted to say sorry as much as he did now.
He'd and Percy would get their chance soon enough, but it would come at a cost.
To Vax.
...
The sound.
It didn't go away, Grog kept hearing it, and he was sure that he was awake. He knew because his head hurt from all the ale he'd drank, and Scanlan was still sleeping next to him, snoring louder than Grog thought he did.
It wouldn't fucking stop!
Grog's heart skipped a beat, his skin tingled, his eyes widened.
And he ran.
The rest of the group was already in the room by the time he got there, and he pushed them out of the way. His heart was racing, he was shaking, and everybody was crying.
"Hey... it's okay, Vax. You're awake, you're safe, you're okay," Percy tried to soothe. Vax sat on the bed like a child, hands wrapped around his legs, screaming.
"It hurts! Please, oh gods, please, make it stop!" Vax yelled, shrieking and howling as he fought against an injury none of them could see.
"Okay, Stringbean. Tell me what hurts?" Pike asked, jumping onto the bed to examine the suffering half-elf.
"...my wings, Pike. Please, oh gods... help me, please!" Vax cried.
A silence fell on the group, and Vax whimpered at the confused, saddened group of people staring at him.
"Vax... you don't have wings anymore," Vex said gently, choking back a sob as her brother's head shot up at the sound of her voice, and as they all watched in horror as the memories flooded back into his mind.
"Oof!" Grog huffed in surprise as Vax crawled over and tackled him, squirming and wiggling until he was in his arms. And Grog cradled him in his arms happily, rocking him and tilting him until he was leaning against his chest and away from the dangers of the world he didn't understand could no longer hurt him.
He made his way to the bed where Percy was sitting, smiling softly at the wide-eyed man who had been trying his best to comfort his partner moments ago. Grog joined them on the bed, watching Vax.
"They're dead. Vax. We're back in Whitestone. Let Pike look at you, okay? Please?" Percy said gently, resting his hand on Vax's knee.
Vax stared at him wordlessly for a while, sniffled, and stopped crying. He reached out and touched Percy's face as if he thought that he was dreaming.
"You're real this time," Vax said softly. His voice was thick and unpracticed, and it sounded painful to use.
"I'm real, and you're awake, and you're going to be okay," Percy soothed, smiling for the first time since...
"Why does it still hurt? Pike?" Vax asked, struggling slightly to look for Pike in the room full of people.
"I don't know, buddies, let's see what I can do?" She said, walking closer and pressing a gentle hand to Vax's shoulder. She gasped, leaning closer and focusing intently on Vax's body. Then she fell backward, pale and panting.
"Sarenrae... I need you, that's a lot of pain," she said softly, sniffling as she held her amulet in her hand. "I've done what I can for now, but..."
While Percy and Vax stared at each other, intertwining their fingers, Grog stared at Pike.
"How much pain, Pikey?" He whispered. Pike winced and tried to evade the question by shuffling around on the bed.
"Pike? How much pain is he in?" Vex asked sternly.
"... I don't know how he's still alive..."
"I. I'll go find Allura? Gilmore? A witch? All of them, I'll go find all of them!" Keyleth stuttered before disappearing.
"I'll go fetch some potions," Vex said quickly.
And one by one, they ran from the room, looking for a way to be helpful and for a way to deal with their new reality. In Grog's arms, Vax weakened quickly, his eyes staying closed longer after each blink, his grip on Percy's hand loosening.
"Vax? I... I want to apologize, I... gods, I'm so sorry!" Percy cried, wiping his nose as he struggled to speak the words he'd said to Vax a thousand times while he was asleep.
"I know. I love you," Vax said softly, stiffling a yawn.
"I love you too! I love you so much, I never thought I'd get to say that again," Percy said as he sobbed, raising Vax's pale knuckles to his lips to kiss.
"Hey Vax... I'm sorry too, I. I couldn't save you, I wasn't strong enough... I'm so sorry!" Grog said, finally allowing himself to sob in front of somebody else.
"Gods... sentimental buggers, aren't you? I forgive you, although you did nothing wrong. May I sleep now?" Vax mumbled, crawling out of Grog's lap and grabbing a pillow.
Grog began to stand, with Percy not far behind, but then Vax began to scream again. His back arched unnaturally as he tried to claw at his spine, gasping desperately. The healing Pike had cast on him had already worn off. And he wouldn't stop screaming, no matter how much Pikey explained that his wings couldn't hurt cause he didn't have any, he kept screaming that they did hurt.
Eventually, Allura and Gilmore calmed him down enough that he could go back to sleep, and this time, it was Vax clinging onto Percy like an octopus. Oh, and Percy wailed happily, wrapping his arms around Vax's shoulders and holding on as tight as he could. Grog was pretty sure that Percy could die happy lying on his back, Vax's hair all over the side of his face, his nose pressed into Percy's neck, and limbs all over the place.
Grog made his way closer softly and used a single finger to pull Vax's hair out of Percy's way. The tired but smiling man nodded softly, and they did their best not to wake Vax up. He still had dried tears on his face, but that would have to wait till later. They were too scared to touch him.
Whatever strength Vax had used to seek Grog's comfort when he first woke up was gone when he woke up hours later. He seemed too weak to move, and he struggled to eat. The holy people had kept him alive with magic, after all, and his body was no longer used to food. He gagged at the mushy whatever Percy was trying to coax him into eating, and his hands were too shaky to use. Eventually, Percy had to feed him, and Grog had to momma Percy into eating too.
Percy was obsessed, fluffing pillows, tugging blankets, wiping Vax's face clean over and over again, and bolting closer every time Vax moved a muscle. At first, Vax looked slightly frustrated with it, but after he'd been told how long he was asleep, he just relented and let Percy be Percy.
And Grog was happy to see Percy be Percy. He hadn't been Percy in a long time.
But Vax was not okay, not just yet. By evening time, he was struggling to stay awake, his head constantly tilting down and his eyes closing until he startled awake.
Percy and Grog still bathed him, worked his body, and dressed him. This time, Vax tried to help and tried even harder not to cry, but by the time they got to his back, he was howling in pain and begging for them to stop. Grog was sure. Vax had said so himself, the pain had to do with those wings.
Grog didn't go to his room and drink that night. Oh no, he was not taking his eyes off of that slippery half-elf until he dropped from exhaustion. This was a good thing because somewhere deep into the night, he woke up to the sound of Vax crying softly, lying on the very edge of the bed and far away from Percy. He was shivering and curled up like a babe.
"Hey... you alright?" Grog whispered, moving closer slowly as he watched Vax startle with fear when he sat up.
"..." Vax's bottom lip trembled, and his eyes were watery.
"Vax?" Grog called softly.
"It hurts, Grog. Oh gods, it hurts so bad, and I know they're not there... but it doesn't change the fact that I can still feel them! They're not listening, Grog. I... they think I'm in pain now, that it's bad now, but I've been in pain the whole time. I wasn't sleeping!" He whispered.
Shivers ran down Grog's spine at the revelation, and he leaned closer, hoping that Vax would explain.
"I don't know where I was, exactly... but I could hear and feel everything, and I was in pain the whole time. By the time Pike came to heal me in the morning, I'd have been screaming for hours. I was never sleeping... I was just hovering, in an empty void, neither here nor there. I was screaming and begging. For anyone to hear me, for my matron, for... I could hear Percy and you. I could hear the pain and fear and remorse in your voices, and I ached to comfort you, but I couldn't. I just had to linger, not getting worse, or getting better. I just existed, Grog, and it was hell.
"I'd rather have my wings plucked a hundred times over than experience the last six months again," Vax whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Vax. That sounds horrible... but you're back now, and we'll find a way to help you!" Grog reasoned.
Vax bit his lip, relaxing his body slightly as he lay staring at Grog on his side. Grog shuffled closer and sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at Vax helplessly. Again.
"You can't tell them, Grog. Please, they can never know. About what happened to me when they thought I was sleeping, okay?" Vax said seriously.
"Well, that's not fair. Do you wanna hide secrets from them?" Grog argued.
"Im trying to protect them, Grog. They've - you've - been through a lot. Do they really need to know how much worse it really was for me? That'll hurt them," Vax said.
"... I don't think that's my decision to make, but Percy deserves the truth," Grog said sternly. Vax paled at the idea, his eyes going wild as he began to shake his head.
"I can't put him through that pain, Grog, please!" Vax pleaded.
"No, he's been in pain since the day it happened, Vax. He's... a ghost. Did you hear him crying over how he regrets getting angry at you over all that stupid shit? Could you feel him bathing you? Working your muscles?" Grog asked.
"I did, and it helped... I understand, but not right now, okay?" Vax mumbled.
So Grog watched Vax desperately trying to hide as much pain as he could. He never complained about his wings again. He watched Vax spend the little energy that he did have to comfort others, smiling and cooing and soothing. He was so weak, but Vax - predictably - fought cause that's what Vax does.
Grog was certain that the emotions Vax was dealing with and that everybody who now needed his support was why he struggled to heal physically. Grog and Percy helped him every day. They held him up and helped him walk. They held him, first to hold something and then to lift and carry something.
If it was difficult for Grog to see Vax struggle, it was impossible for Perrcy. Grog found him sitting on the balcony one day, sobbing.
"Hey buddy, you okay?" He asked.
Percy shook his head, looking up at Grog with hopelessness and fear in his eyes. "It's worse, isn't it? When Vax was asleep... he was okay, but now his life is just more torture. What if I can't save him from this, Grog? What if the pain and misery never go away? I always thought - or dreamt - that when he woke up and I'd said sorry, I would feel better. But I don't... and he's hiding something, I know it. He's lying. He'll tell me that he's okay, but I'm not stupid, he's not okay. I know my own fucking partner!" Percy said bitterly.
Grog clenched his fist behind his back. He didn't like keeping secrets, but this was not his truth to tell.
"He's trying his best," Grog said eventually.
Percy chuckled humorlessly, biting into his trembling lip. "I know, gods, I know. He is, and he's doing well, but watching him struggle like this... the pain was supposed to be over. He should have woken up, and it was supposed to all be okay. Why is he lying to me? What is he hiding?"
"... maybe he's trying to protect you, Perc? Maybe he doesn't want you to feel even worse," Grog tried.
"Me? What about him? I'm so fucking tired of that. He's always doing that! He throws himself into harm's way recklessly, and he's so focused on trying to help everybody else that he neglects his own safety and needs. The self-sacrificing son of a bitch!" Percy choked.
"You gonna be angry at him all over again about him doing what he's always done? Vax is not going to change, Percy. And you're allowed to get angry, and you're allowed to be worried, but is it worth it? You and Vax need to stop doing this... this thing where you let stupid shit give you emotions stronger than love," Grog reasoned.
"No... you're right. It's not worth it. Vax should never feel that he needs to hide something from me. I love him so much, Grog. I just want him to get better!" Percy said, bursting into tears all over again.
Grog took a deep breath, patting Percy's bony shoulder.
"Then let's do that," he said encouragingly.
...
So they did. The first snowdrops began to fall, and Vax stopped mid-step, held up by Grog, to smile at the sight. He wanted to go outside immediately and rolled his eyes irritably - but fondly - at how many layers Percy and Grog forced him to wear. He was strong enough to dress himself!
The three of them were outside for a long time, doing Vax's exercises in the crisp, cool air under the shelter of the Sun Tree. They were in good spirits, but Grog could tell that Vax was struggling to hide the truth that day, so when Percy went to accept some warm tea from a loving townsman, Grog cornered him.
Vax was too stubborn to ask for help, or be the reason for somebody else's pain. He'd rather take it to his grave, and Grog was not letting these two boys suffer unspoken words or remorseful thoughts again.
Death was always around the corner. Lovers shouldn't hide around corners, avoiding each other as well.
"It's time, Vax’ildan. Stop lying," he said sternly. Vax paled at the idea and shook his head for only a second before caving under the intensity of Grog's glare. He nodded, and Grog nodded. Grog took a tiny cup of tea and walked away, leaving a visibly anxious half-elf and his confused looking human sitting on a blanket under the shade of the tree. He was close enough to watch them, but out of their way.
He watched Vax frown, fiddle with his fingers, and take a deep breath. Percy put his hands on Vax's knees, waiting for a truth he knew had been hidden from him. And Grog could tell, he could tell from Percy's posture and Vax's expression when the truth finally came to light.
He expected Percy to be angry, but he wasn't. Instead, he listened, gently rubbing comforting circles on Vax's knees.
And the truth made Vax strong. Grog saw it. He saw the moment that the pain, loneliness, and need to protect everybody else drifted away in the wind. Percy wasn't angry at him. He didn't scold him. He just pulled him closer, embraced him, and cried along with Vax.
"You two better now?" Grog asked after leaving them alone for a long while, getting restless.
"Yes, thanks, big man," Vax said lightly. Percy smiled and nodded, still sniffling.
"Great!" Grog sighed out, falling down onto his back and slowly beginning to make a snow angel.
Something in Percy's brilliant mind clicked, and he had Vax on his back moments later, coaxing him into mimicking Grog. Vax looked extremely confused, but did as Percy asked.
And it worked.
Vax had his arms outstretched, his legs closed, and was just lying there, staring up at Percy, who was doing something with his glasses.
"Can you... tell me when you see your reflection, would you?" Percy said excitably.
"Nkay... I can see myself now, yes..." Vax said curiously.
Percy and Grog jumped at the sound of Vax's breathy yelp, and Grog watched on curiously as Vax moved his arms as if he had his wings. Percy chuckled happily, manouvering his glasses so that the sunlight reflected in them in just the right way, allowing Vax to see his reflection.
"I can't feel the pain!" Vax exclaimed. He burst into tears, flexing his fingers and moving his body easily, as if a restraint had been removed from his back.
"What's happening?" Grog asked, smiling at the sight of Vax's happy face.
"I've heard of this before, and I feel rather stupid for not having thought of it before. Although, if I had known earlier..." Percy said.
"Percy!" Grog interrupted, steering Percy back on track.
"Oh. Right. Phantom limb syndrome, or phantom wing syndrome in Vax's case, if you will. His body thinks the wings are still there and sends pain signals to his brain, which responds as it should. Now, seeing those wings, or even just a representation of them, fools the brain into thinking that they still exist, allowing Vax to soothe their pain. Now, if my..."
Percy sighed dramatically, looking down at the two confused men in the snow who looked at each other, lost.
"Vax thinks he has wings. Therefore, he can stretch them and realise that they aren't damaged anymore," Percy explained.
"Why didn't you just say so, man?" Grog asked with a sigh.
Percy sighed, choosing to be silent as he placed his glasses back on his face. They watched on anxiously to see what would happen to Vax, but he sat up easily, smiling.
"The pain came back, but it's manageable. Thank you, Freddie. And you, Grog. Look at you saving me," Vax said cheerfully.
This time, it was Percy and Grog's time to sob because they finally had a way to help. They weren't helpless anymore.
"How lucky I have been to have you in my life, how lucky indeed. Now, can we go? I want food, not mush, food!" Vax sighed out dramatically, holding his hand out for Percy to pull him to his feet. He still stumbled, his long limbs still wobbly, but he stood.
...
He stood on his own, on his own two feet, because he no longer carried the weight of the world on those skinny legs. And when he faltered, Grog and Percy were there to help him. They always would be. The pain came back, but they had a way to help. If they could fool his brain, potions could fool his body.
...
Grog and Vax were sitting on the floor in a dark, empty room that Percy had cleared out hours before. They were both confused but intrigued by Percy's animated rambling and fidgeting with something behind them. At first, when a light behind them came to life, all they saw was their shadows, but then.... something behind them clicked.
Grog gasped as he stared at the image in front of him, watching Vax's shadow grow a large pair of black wings, illuminated by the light behind them. It was an illusion, but one so strong that it had the half-elf hypnotized. Something clicked again, and the wings began to move. They moved in a rough, static way at first, but as the clicking continued, they began to flap, opening and closing and fluttering in an invisible gust of wind.
Grog crawled over to gawk at the contraption Percy had built, a drum-like thing that spun around, allowing light to shine through pieces of the drum that was carved out into the shapes of Vax's profile and wings. It spun perfectly, a beautiful piece of intricate craftsmanship made by a master, made for his love.
Vax sat quiet, a single tear running down his face as he watched himself fly. He sat like that for hours, just staring, completely unaware of the others joining them in the room, or their sobbing and joy.
Grog chuckled and grabbed the little thing out of Percy's hands just in time as the half-elf bolted - with all his Vax speed - at his lover, tackling him to the floor and pressing kisses to his face. Grog smiled as he watched the two men laugh and embrace. He'd waited a very long time to see them happy again.
Vax used the device almost daily, promising never to keep a secret from Percy again, until one day Percy decided that Vax was strong enough to join them on a job.
He scowled and cussed as the group huddled around him like a herd protecting a cub, but he was happy to fight again. It went well, and they were all standing around in the clearing, covered in blood and soil. Vax was readjusting the armor that still wasn't quite his size until the air around them went cold. They froze in place, steadying their weapons as they waited. A soft, whispery sound alerted them to something at Vax's side, and he turned to look at a flock of ravens sitting nearby.
They morphed until a tall, masked woman clouded in shadow stood there, a smoothness to her movements as she leaned down and touched the armor. It shrunk to Vax's size, lit up, and the sound of wings fluttering in the wind filled the quiet air, followed by a burst of darkness as a great pair of feathery wings came to life.
Renewal.
"My beautiful Champion, Vax'ildan, welcome back."