Work Text:
Just an arm sticking out from under the bushes — that from afar he had mistaken for a small branch. Not a good sign, especially on an old hiking trail like this one.
Setting down his pack, Daryk quickly parted the brush to see the rest of what — or who, as it were — was attached to this arm. A young man, no more than a kid; maybe late teens at most. Scruffy nest of dark brown hair, and the remains of tattered clothing barely covering his skin-and-bones body. In no time at all he had him free, grimacing at the sight of him. He scooped the kid up into his arms; an easy feat considering how thin he was. The amount of heat he was putting off was astonishing. "Wow, you're burning up," he muttered under his breath, following it up with a spell of healing. A small spell, to be sure, the best he could do for the moment; but it would have to do.
As fate would have it, he had passed a small campsite earlier that morning. Just a simple matter of backtracking, a few hours' walk. Once there, he immediately set up his lean-to, and a nest of blankets beneath it. The kid never stirred, not even when he settled him in: limp in his grasp, chest barely moving as he breathed. Daryk sighed, and rose to finish setting camp.
An hour later the clearing smelled of incense and broth. He'd had time to meditate, and administer better healing spells. Much to his relief, the fever had broken soon after, and the kid seemed to breathe easier. He'd even managed to get some soup down him. Beyond that, though, there wasn't much else to do. For now he waited, standing to better feel the breeze.
A groggy moan. "Wh...what happened. Where...am I?"
"Steady now." He came and slowly knelt beside him. "You're okay, just take it easy. We're still in the woods. I don't know which woods, to be honest, but it probably doesn't matter."
"Woods…" His eyes cracked open. "With...with who? Who a-are you?"
"With no one. It's just me. And you were by yourself." He offered him a soft smile. "I'm Daryk. What's your name?"
He didn't seem exactly pleased by this news. Another groan, this time as he shifted to try to push himself up, question completely ignored. "I...I have to, to go, they're...they're coming."
"Whoa now, take it easy, kid." He put a hand out to try to stop him, but the kid flinched away, nearly losing his balance as he sat up. "What do you mean, who's coming? And besides, you're not well, you can't go anywhere right now."
He was gasping now, swaying woozily. Legs working under the blankets, trying to find purchase but lacking the strength to do anything. "Go," he panted, "c-can't... can't go back."
A runaway. Daryk raised an eyebrow, reaching out once more. "It's okay, it's okay. Just calm down, let me help –"
"N-no! Don't- Don't touch me!" he yelped, flinching away from him again. His eyes were wild, his breathing fast and shallow, whole body trembling in uncontrollable fear.
Three long seconds passed between them. Their eyes met: bright gold stark contrast against his gaunt and dirtied face. Something clenched in Daryk's chest: an emotion he couldn't quite place.
He sighed quietly. "Easy, easy. I'm not going to hurt you," he said, putting his hand down. "Listen to me. You're safe, I promise. No one's gonna hurt you." He took a deep breath. "Trust me, I won't let anybody hurt you."
Another long pause. He could see him gulping for air. "...So y-you're...not with them."
"Nope." Daryk shook his head. "I don't even know who it is you're talking about. Obviously not people you want to meet again. And no," he added gently, seeing the next question starting on the kid's lips, "I wouldn't make you go back. Or even give you back. Even if I did know who they were. Promise."
A soft whoosh as he released a breath he'd been holding. Just as he seemed about to ask something else he coughed, rough and wet, swaying to one side. Daryk put a hand on his shoulder to steady him, removing it once he knew he wouldn't fall over. Shuddering from the contact, the kid looked at him askance, breath ragged. Shadows accentuated the gauntness of his face; a mix of exhaustion and apprehension in his eyes. "...Why," he rasped after a few moments. Wary, almost accusing. "I don't under— understand. W-why would you...help."
"That's… Well, that's an understandable question." Daryk nodded thoughtfully, sitting back on his heels. Rather than keep eye contact, his gaze dropped to the earth. It would not do to make him feel even more cornered. Instead he stirred around the leaf litter poking out from under the blankets. "Because, I wanted to help you," he continued, keeping his tone even. "It's not within me to leave someone behind like that. Doesn't matter who they are."
He heard him sigh and cough again. "...Why, what...what do you want from me." He sounded so defeated that Daryk looked up again. He was slumping forward: too tired to even try to remain upright. "What do y-you want...to use me for."
Oh god. There was that feeling again; squeezing the life out of his chest. He swallowed past a lump in his throat. Resisting the urge to hug him — or to yell. He wasn't sure which. What hell has he been through to ask me this?
"I don't want to use you," he responded at last. "And I don't want anything from you. I just...wanted to help. Because you needed it, and I wasn't going to just leave you like that." He scooted a little bit closer. "But I get it. I know it's a lot to take in. And you have no reason to take me at my word. I don't fault you for that."
There, he'd gotten his attention again. Glints of gold peeked out from behind a shaggy curtain of hair. It was a look that said a million things, but they all came back to the same one: I don't know if I believe you.
Daryk took a breath. "I can't claim to understand the circumstances that brought you here. And it's not fair to ask you to trust me so soon after we've met. But, for what it's worth...I've meant every word I've said. You're safe; no strings attached." Seeing him lean even more, he slowly slid his hand forward. "Here. May I?"
Silence fell between them once more. His gaze fell to Daryk's hand, inches away from his own. He mumbled something, too soft to hear. It didn't sound hostile...so Daryk decided to chance it, and gently placed his hand over his. Cold, ice cold. Bony knuckles poked his palm as his thumb gently rubbed small circles.
His breath hitched, hand and arm tensing. Daryk stilled, waiting to see what he would do.
At first he thought the kid would pull his hand away. But after a few moments, he relaxed: a sigh shuddered out of him, the tension melting away. Daryk smiled, about to speak — before he had to scoot forward to catch him as he slumped towards him. Out like a light.
Well, then. Whatever he had wanted to say would have to wait. Using his free hand to pull the blankets closer, Daryk bundled the kid against him, and settled in so they could rest.