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The afternoon had settled into that quiet, golden kind of stillness that only seemed to happen when the world had finally decided to slow down for a few hours. The bedroom windows were open just enough to let in the late breeze, stirring the thin curtains in gentle, lazy movements. Dust motes drifted through the sunlight that spilled across the wooden floorboards, catching the light like little drifting sparks. On the bed, Haltor was half-reclined against the headboard, one arm lazily draped around Nazir. Or perhaps more accurately, Nazir was draped across him.
The human had curled himself against Haltor’s chest like a particularly content cat, his head resting just beneath the tiefling’s collarbone, one arm loosely slung over Haltor’s waist. His long black hair was slightly messy from sleep, spreading across Haltor’s shirt in dark, soft strands. Haltor, for his part, had accepted this arrangement with the kind of resigned fondness that came with loving someone who had absolutely no concept of personal space. His long legs hung slightly off the end of the bed-there simply wasn’t enough room for someone who stood at six and a half feet tall and his tail lay curled loosely along the mattress.
One large hand rested comfortably on Nazir’s back. The other idly traced little absent-minded circles against his arm.
Nazir hummed softly.
It wasn’t quite a tune, more just a quiet, content little noise that he made when his brain had settled into that peaceful in-between space where thoughts moved slowly and nothing felt urgent.
Haltor glanced down at him. “You realise,” he said casually, his voice quick and refined as always, “that if anyone from the party were to see me in this position, my reputation as a stoic and imposing paladin would be utterly ruined.”
Nazir didn’t move. “Mm.”
Haltor raised an eyebrow. “That was not the appropriate level of concern.”
Nazir’s fingers lazily tapped against Haltor’s side. “Think they’d believe you got kidnapped,” he murmured.
Haltor scoffed. “Kidnapped.”
Nazir nodded slightly. “Mm. Small guy pinned giant scary tiefling. Terrible tragedy.”
Haltor let out a quiet, incredulous laugh. “You’re nearly six foot tall.”
“Small emotionally,” Nazir replied without opening his eyes.
Haltor stared at him for a moment. Then shook his head faintly. “I cannot believe I chose you.”
Nazir smiled faintly against his chest.
For a while they simply stayed like that. The room was quiet. The warmth of the afternoon wrapped around them comfortably, and Nazir’s breathing slowed into a relaxed rhythm. Then, after a few minutes, Nazir shifted slightly. Not a full movement,just a small adjustment, like he was trying to settle more comfortably.
Haltor noticed immediately. “Something wrong?”
Nazir didn’t answer right away. His brow furrowed faintly. Then he blinked slowly, lifting his head just a little. “Haltor?”
“Yes?”
Nazir rubbed one of his eyes. “Everything look… weird to you?”
Haltor frowned. “I should certainly hope not.”
Nazir squinted slightly toward the window. “The light’s… blurry.”
Haltor tilted his head. “Blurry?”
Nazir nodded faintly. “Yeah. Like when you rub your eyes too hard.” He blinked a few more times, trying to clear his vision. It didn’t help. His eyes drifted down to his hands, resting on Haltor’s chest. His fingers twitched slightly. “…also my arms feel funny.”
“Funny how?”
Nazir wiggled his fingers experimentally. “Like pins and needles.”
Haltor considered that. “Have you been lying on them?”
“No.” Nazir flexed his hands again slowly, watching them with mild curiosity. The strange tingling had spread down into his legs as well. Not painful. Just… odd. “Maybe I’m hungry,” he muttered.
Haltor looked down at him.
That actually sounded plausible.
Nazir had a habit of forgetting to eat for concerningly long periods of time.
“Yes, well, that would track with your usual life choices,” Haltor said.
Nazir pushed himself upright slightly. The movement made his head swim. He blinked hard. “Huh.”
Haltor frowned faintly. “You look rather dazed.”
Nazir rubbed his eyes again. “Just blurry.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed. “I’ll grab food.”
Haltor gave a small approving nod. “Yes, do that. Preferably something that vaguely resembles actual nutrition.”
Nazir stood up slowly.
The room tilted slightly as he straightened.
He paused for a second.
Haltor noticed. “You alright?”
Nazir shrugged. “Yeah.” He stretched his arms above his head, trying to shake off the strange tingling crawling through his limbs. “Just feel weird.”
Haltor watched him thoughtfully.
Normally when Nazir felt a seizure coming, he knew. He explained it to Haltor before,a twitch in his left finger, a strange metallic taste. But Nazir didn’t seem alarmed. Mostly just… mildly confused.
Haltor relaxed slightly. “Food,” he reminded him.
Nazir nodded.“Right.”
He started toward the door.
The wooden floorboards creaked softly under his feet as he crossed the room.
The blur in his vision hadn’t gone away. If anything, it felt slightly worse. The edges of things seemed smudged. Soft.
He reached the doorway.
And then.
The tingling in his arms suddenly surged.
Nazir barely had time to frown. “Huh…”
His knee buckled.
His body hit the floor with a dull, heavy thud.
From the bed, Haltor’s head snapped up instantly. For one split second his brain refused to process what had just happened.
Nazir was on the ground.
Face down.
Completely still.
Haltor was off the bed in an instant. “Nazir-!”
By the time he reached him, Nazir’s body had already begun to seize. It started with a sudden jerk through his shoulders. Then his arms. Then his entire body locked rigid.
Haltor felt his stomach drop straight through the floor.
Oh gods.
This was it. This was one of them. He’d never actually seen one before.
Nazir had always hidden them away.
But now, now the human’s body was convulsing violently on the floor in front of him. His limbs jerked sharply, muscles tightening in harsh, uncontrollable spasms. His head struck the floor once. Haltor dropped to his knees beside him. “Nazir-!”
Panic surged up his throat.
But he forced himself to breathe.
Think.
Nazir had told him what to do.
He just had to remember.
Don’t panic.
Right.
Too late.
But at least panic productively.
“Right.. right.. Alright…” His voice was moving fast now, words tumbling over each other as his brain tried to keep up. “Side position, yes- that’s correct-” Carefully, Haltor slid a hand beneath Nazir’s shoulder and rolled him onto his side.
Nazir’s body convulsed harder. His heels thudded sharply against the floorboards.
Haltor’s heart hammered painfully in his chest.
Gods it looked awful.
Nazir’s jaw clenched tightly.
His fingers curled inward, twitching violently.
Haltor quickly grabbed a folded cloak from the nearby chair and slid it beneath Nazir’s head so it wouldn’t strike the floor again. “There,” he muttered quickly. “There we go.”
Nazir couldn’t hear him. His eyes were open but unfocused. Staring past Haltor at absolutely nothing. His entire body jerked again.
Haltor flinched. His instincts screamed at him to grab Nazir and hold him still but he forced himself not to.
Nazir had been very clear.
Do not restrain him.
So Haltor simply stayed beside him. One hand resting lightly against his shoulder. Grounding himself as much as Nazir. “It’s alright,” Haltor murmured. His voice was quieter now. Gentler. “I’ve got you.”
Nazir’s body shook violently again.
Haltor clenched his jaw.
This was torture.
Waiting.
Watching.
Knowing there was nothing he could do but let it pass.
Seconds dragged painfully.
Each tremor made Haltor’s chest tighten further.
But slowly…
Gradually…
The convulsions began to weaken, Nazir’s limbs jerked less violently, the tension in his muscles started to fade. His breathing came in ragged gasps.
Haltor exhaled shakily. “That’s it,” he whispered. “That’s it, darling.”
Nazir’s body finally went still.
For a long moment the only sound in the room was his uneven breathing.
Haltor stayed exactly where he was.
Watching.
Waiting.
Just like Nazir had told him.
Then finally, Nazir stirred. His brow furrowed faintly. A small, confused sound slipped from his throat.
Haltor immediately leaned closer. “Nazir?”
Nazir blinked slowly. His eyes struggled to focus. For a moment they passed over Haltor without recognition. “…mm?”
His voice was barely there.
Haltor’s chest ached. “Easy,” he said softly. “You’re alright.”
Nazir stared at him. Confused. Lost. “…what…?”
“Seizure,” Haltor explained gently.
Nazir blinked again.
Processing that took a moment.
Then his brow creased.
“…oh.”
Haltor helped him sit up slowly.
Nazir sagged heavily against him immediately. Every muscle in his body felt like wet sand. Weak. Exhausted. Haltor carefully lifted him and carried him back to the bed. Nazir barely protested. His head lolled against Haltor’s shoulder.
Once he was settled back into the blankets, Haltor climbed in beside him and pulled him close. Nazir instinctively curled against him again. Just like before. But now his body felt limp and drained. His thoughts moved slowly. “…did I fall?”
Haltor let out a quiet breath. “Yes.”
Nazir frowned faintly. “…sorry.”
Haltor huffed softly. “Absolutely not.”
He pulled Nazir closer. Nazir pressed his face against Haltor’s chest again, eyes drifting closed. Haltor held him carefully. Almost protectively. As if Nazir might disappear if he let go.
Minutes passed.
Nazir’s breathing slowly steadied.
Sleep crept up on him quickly, seizures always left him utterly drained. Before he fully drifted off, he murmured quietly: “…you panicked.”
Haltor sniffed. “I did not.”
Nazir’s lips twitched faintly. “…you talk even faster when you panic.”
Haltor opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
“…perhaps briefly.”
Nazir hummed sleepily. Satisfied with that answer. And not long after, curled together beneath the quiet afternoon light, they both fell asleep.