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It had been 2 months since the final battle against The Creaking King and Mythical Sausage, both of which met their ends at the hands of the angry mob of Red and Blue.
After the battle was won Nom noticed his body seeming to decay around him, every step was a battle as the bark and resin twisting throughout his body threatened to harden together, fusing in a way Nom knew he wasn't meant to survive.
And still, the moment the knight mentioned this, each of the mages attempted to cast their own versions of healing spells, none of which seemed all too effective. They eased some of the pain that came along with his slow death, but nothing concrete took hold.
That was until Cam got an idea, dragging them back to the Kingdoms and to the grassing fields beside the bridge. The healer mage instructed him to stay put, dragging the rest of the mages off with hurried whispers.
Nom stood confused between Red and Blue, Katie and 4c stood nearest to him, though neither of them could look him in the eyes. The rest of the Kingdoms stood at varying distances, either breaking off in their own conversation, glancing over at Nom periodically, or, stood staring at him with what Nom hoped wasn't pity.
The dying knight looked towards the sky at the setting sun, he could feel his strength leaving him. It wasn't how he thought he could go, but at least he could take solace in the fact that for once his life was used to save people instead of hurt.
Just as acceptance had finally came to Nom, Cam and the rest of the mages ran back, using their staffs or swords to carve several large circles around Nom with what looked to be ruins written between them.
"Guys?"
Scott looked up to him from his work, his face tear stained but determined, "We can save you, this is going to work, it has to work"
Nom can't help his face fall to a sad smile, it's pointless, there's no escaping his fate, he felt it in his bones.
"It's okay, this was my poor decisions, you're not responsible for it"
Scott held his gaze for a few more seconds, a certain sadness in his eyes, "You are a stupid man Nominal Gravy"
With that, Scott went back to work, carving runes into the grass still bloodstained from the earlier battle.
Eventually, each of the mages, including Cherri, finished their work and stood in a large circle surrounding him. Each mage stood in their own circle with an item from their magic specialty in front of them. Grabbing each their magical focuses, they began to focus on casting a spell.
The Earth around them seem to come to life, the wind picked up, river beside them threatening to overflow, and orbs of light rose from the ground.
Nom felt as if his body was lighter, pain seeped from his skin as he watched the bark slowly start to recede from his body. His strength slowly returned to him, though he still felt weakened and dull. The pleasantness was broken by a deep pain in his gut and lungs, leaving Nom to double over, coughing and sputtering as he spit up clumps of resin. Hardened pieces seemed to cut his mouth and throat, tears threatened to spill at the horrific feeling of the bile and resin being forced from his body.
He doesn't remember what happened after, he had lost consciousness pretty fast after throwing up the resin. What he does remember is waking up in the Well Well Well, Katie, Scott, and Mae by his side. He recalls how he knew in his soul that 4c was somewhere around there, though the man refused to show his face until everyone had left.
After he woke up and got thoroughly scolded by Katie, Scott explained what happened. Shortly after he had vomited up the resin Cam had fainted as well. One by one the mages had fainted from mana over exertion. Between the war, the Creaking King, and such a large spell, it took a large toll on each of their bodies. The spell hadn't been fully completed either. Nom once again had a white streak in his hair, his eyes were brown once more but shone orange when the light hit them, and his skin still had parts that were bark like.
"With the resin out of you, the Creaking King should have no control over you or your body, you just like part Ent"
Nom had thought that cool at the time, reassuring a very guilty Scott that he wasn't upset that there wasn't more done. To be fair, 2 months later, Nom still thought he looked cool as hell, but there were downsides to being essentially part tree.
He was considerably less dexterous, bark on and under his skin did not lend itself to flexibility. The bark in question had a tendency to get caught on his clothes or press uncomfortably under his armor. He can still tell when somebody is observing him, which becomes very uncool when he's in a large group and gets overwhelmed. And worst of all, he just hurts. His body constantly feels sore, the same kind of sore that would occur after a day of training. Sometimes his body seemed to reject when he did certain movements, like his nerves are being pinched. He'd tried healing pots or spells but it never seemed to work.
Nom was trying his best to hide this from everyone, they already fret over him enough. He especially didn't want to worry Scott who already felt bad for not being strong enough to complete the spell. It took the half elf a month to fully recover from the spell, he didn't need to seem ungrateful towards one of the ones who saved his life.
It didn't stop his friends and family from noticing of course, he was slower and couldn't take nearly as many of the hits. The knight brushed it off, claiming he was just tired from planning their upcoming sea voyage. No body believed him of course, but he was lucky enough that they hadn't called him on it yet.
There was one thing he noticed helped sooth the pain.
Nom had always liked being around Scott, whether the half elf was giving him advice or teasing him, Scott was always nice to be around. And now that his body had been made into this, just being around Scott made him feel better. His body creaked and ached less, making eye contact with Scott was still dizzying like anyone else but it was in a good way. Nom caught on very quickly that just being around Scott made him feel better.
Now, Nom would never consider himself clingy, despite how Mae and Katie have been teasing him for over the last 2 month. Yeah sure, if Scott was in the room Nom went to his side without question, and sure, he seeks him out whenever they're both awake, but he isn't clingy.
The knight did this before he nearly died, he just really enjoys being around Scott. The pain relief was just a very welcome bonus.
Scott didn't seemed to mind anyway, always welcoming his company with that smile that makes Nom's cheeks warm.
However, Nom recently came to a very embarrassing realization. Coming into physical contact with Scott is like heaven, everything just feels right with world, his body feels better than it did before he ever took the resin.
He found this out when Scott was worrying over him. Nom was admittedly having a bad day, hurting more than normal. After he danced around the question of what was wrong, Scott gently look Nom's head in his hands. He cupped his cheeks, holding him with a look of contemplation before he let one of his hands graze his forehead to check his temperature, the other still holding him.
Nom found himself leaning into the touch without realizing, it took a lot of his will power to not melt to putty in Scott's hands that moment. Pure blissful relief mixed with a fuzzier feeling he dare not name filled him. The mage attempted to take his hands away before Nom caught them, stopping him from moving away. Scott had looked down at him, surprised and a little pink. Nom quickly realized what he as doing, turning beet red and dropping the others hands. He had quickly stood, making up some half assed excuse to run away. Scott, ever the saint, was kind enough to not mention that embarrassing moment again.
Bringing Nom to today. He had planned this morning to be a productive one, waking up early, doing a little farkle to add to his horde, and to work on the list of things needing to get done before he set out on his boat with the friends and family wanting to join him.
That at least was the plan, but when he woke up it was like his body protested his every move. His joints creaked, his body ached, and he just felt weak. It wasn't enough to keep him bed bound, little is, but it was enough to render him mostly useless for the day. He laid in bed for an extra hour, lost almost a stack of gold in farkle, and wandered around Blue, list in hand, really doing nothing.
Nom had resigned himself to a miserable day as he walked in the direction of the castle when he saw the flower mage jumping across his floating path towards his house. Nom watched him for a minute, they were both probably busy getting ready for the trip, he really shouldn't bother him..
But, he could at least say hi..
Getting across the flower parkour was a significantly harder task then first imagined for his sore bones. The man nearly fell more times than he'd like to admit for such simple jumps.
Steadying himself on the solid ground he looks down to Scott, who is currently standing with his back to Nom, looking up at his house.
An idea gets stuck in his mind, one that's purely selfish and he hopes Scott won't mind.
Nom slowly sneaks up behind Scott, if the stealthy mage noticed him he didn't make it apparent.
Hesitantly, Nom wraps his arms around Scott's waist, hugging him from behind and hiding his face in Scott's neck. He can feel the mage jump at the contact, glancing back in confusion.
"Is something the matter Nom?"
Nom shakes his head, hiding it farther in Scott's neck. All of the pain he feels slowly melts away, body relaxing as he continues to hug Scott. He can't fathom why he's waited so long to do so.
Gently fingers find their way to Nom's hair, gently carding through the brown tuffs before gently, always gently, tilting Nom's head back so that he and Nom can make eye contact.
"You're not normally so affectionate, in fact you tend to avoid it. What's with the change of heart?"
Nom's face heats up. He wants nothing more than to lie, run away like this never happened, but he swore to be honest with Scott.
"You"
Scott looks visibly surprised and flustered, "Oh"
They stand like that for a minute, Scott trying to find something to say and Nom selfishly basking in his presence.
"It'll be more comfortable if we head inside? I can at least hug you back"
Reluctant to let go but easily swayed by the idea of Scott hugging him back. Just for the healing.
Scott leads him inside once Nom releases him, leading them both up to Scott's bed. The half eld he sits down, back against the backboard, and opens his arms.
Nom must be a weak weak man with how quickly he allowed himself to collapse in Scott's arms. A familiar and comfortable warmth washes over Nom when one of Scott's hands finds its way back into Nom's hair.
They sit like that for a while. How long? Nom isn't sure, he's too focused on Scott to worry about anything silly like time.
Scott breaks the peaceful silence, "Do you want to tell me what's wrong now?"
"I don't know what you're talking about"
Scott rolls his eyes, "You've been acting off since we saved you. And Now you're clinging to me. Which I don't mind! It's just out of character for you"
"I- Promise you won't blame yourself?" Nom sits up where he now realizes he was practically laying in Scott's arms.
Dread and panic fills Scott's face, "Huh- What- What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything! You're perfect! That's the point, what I say isn't on you okay?"
Scott nods hesitantly, though he still looks unsure.
"I, Well- You know how I'm part creaking now? Which is great! I prefer being alive to dead! But I don't think humans and trees were, y'know, meant to mix.. So my body just kind of hurts, most of the time.."
Scott looks at him in dismay, about to speak but Nom is quicker, "But! When I'm around you a lot of it goes away, and when I- uh- touch you? It all goes away? I don't know, it's probably dumb magic stuff"
Nom can't help but look away at his confession, face red and embarrassed. His attempt to wallow in self pity was quickly stopped by Scott's hands gently grabbing him and pulling him back down into a hug.
"I wish you told me sooner" Scott sounds upset with him, he hates when Scott is upset with him..
Scott continues, "I'm happy that you told me though, if I were to guess, pale oak trees are always in a state of decay, my magic heals and grows plants, so I assume my magic is just overflowing from me and healing you"
Nom nods along, letting his head fall between Scott's neck and shoulder. He feels Scott doing something, removing his hands from where they rested on Nom, before they came back, casting a spell that make Nom shiver. It was like drinking really cold water after exercising.
"Just a healing spell, well a plant one, but I hope it works for longer than the regular ones"
"..Thank you Scott"