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“Clancy, please” Torch prayed as he threw himself into the door again feeling it give way more and more until it finally splintered away, all he could see was a bright light before he was thrown backwards onto the floor, he manages to scramble to his feet, running into the room.
He stood in the doorway eyes moving in between Clancy and Nico unsure who to go to, if he goes to Clancy there's a chance Nico could turn around and kill them both but if he runs to fight Nico there's a chance Clancy could die, his heart thumped in his chest as he decided to charge at Nico, both arms out hoping that he can throw him out the open window he stands in front of.
His hands collide with Nico’s back lurching him forward but Nico braces himself on the windowsill, his dagger slipping out from his blood red cloak landing with a clatter on the floor, Torch grabs it and without a second thought plunges it into Nico’s back watching the blood pour out of him as the bishop gasped for breath, letting go of the windowsill and falling out of it, Torch watched him fall and land with a disgusting squelch and crack.
He turned back to Clancy, slumped with his eyes closed, taking small shallow breaths almost dead.
He runs and slides on his knees over to his Clancy.
“No, no, no, no, no please Clancy” He placed his hands onto the man's jaw closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to the head below him.
He opened his tear adorned eyes to look at his face again noticing that where his hands lay the ink that was crawling up his face was removed and his pale flesh seeped through.
It was in that moment it clicked, he was supposed to save Clancy, not the banditos, not Clancy himself, he, torchbearer was.
He swallowed hard, trying to soothe the lump in his throat, his tears fell onto the other man's face, leaving streaks of skin through the black ink that tried to swallow him.
Torch leaned in closer and before he could even think too deeply about it pressed his lips to Clancy’s, the ink that ruined his face dispersing, melting away to show Clancy’s face once again.
He pulled away, heart racing about to tear himself apart but before he could the dying man in front of him took a deep, shaky breath, Torch noticed all the ink that has once consumed him was gone, it was all skin again, all Clancy again.
Torch took Clancy's shirt off, letting his hands find the dripping wounds, his fingers tracing lightly over them watching the skin start to heal over until there were no injuries to be seen.
Touch took off his hoodie, gently putting it on the pale man beneath him.
“Mmm?” Clancy groaned as Torch cradled his body that was gradually increasing with warmth.
“Hi, I’m here, you’re safe” Torch smiled down at the eyes that were opening to see him.
“Did....did you kiss me?” It came out strained and raspy.
Torch felt his face heat up with a flush of a bright pink blush.
“I...I didn’t......I didn’t know what else to do, I’m sorry” He felt the guilt pile in his stomach.
“I liked it” Clancy smiled up at him, face also getting a painting of pink across it.
“We should get you out of here and back to camp” Torch realised it would be best for Clancy to rest.
“Whatever you say, Torchie” He wrapped his arms around the man's neck, letting himself be picked up and carried out of the tower, leaning his head into Torchbearer's shoulder slipping his eyes shut.
Torch tried hard to not trip on the wild terrain with a body in his arms, succeeding for the most part though he did trip up a few times on the roots of the trees around camp.
Everything hurt, emotionally and physically, the day was drawing to a close by the time he, Clancy and the banditos got back to camp, the fire was lighting up the path back home with beautiful reds and oranges like a light at the end of a tunnel, it's part of the reason Torchbearer loved his name and fire, it always lit up the way for him, it was warm and comforting it was the opposite of Dema where light lacked love.
He lay Clancy on to his cot bringing in a medic to have a look at him to ensure he was well, the medic checked him out confused as to how he was so bloody yet uninjured but all was well with him so he left Torch to look over him.
Torch decided to sleep on the floor of the tent that night, just to give Clancy some space.
Clancy awoke the next morning his eyes finding their way to Torchbearer on the floor, he was only in his shirt which was weird because he was always in his hoodie, then he noticed that he was in Torch’s hoodie which made his face flush and his body all too warm in contrast Torch looked cold, he swung his legs over the sides reaching his arms out nudging Torch in the side.
“Mmm?” Torchbearer grunted out.
“Wanna c’mere? You’re freezing” Clancy frowned.
“You’re awake!” Torch jumped up, rubbing his eyes and grabbing hold of Clancy.
“Yeah, I’m awake, I’m here but also I’m still a bit achy” Clancy giggled running his hands through the other man's hair.
“I was so scared I was going to lose you” Torch grabbed on to his hoodie adorning Clancy’s frame, his Clancy. Sobbing into the material.
“Hey you're never going to lose me, I’m here to stay now”
“Promise?” Torch hiccupped out.
“I promise” Clancy interlinked his fingers with Torch’s, bringing him up to wrap his arms around Torch’s middle, pulling him into a hug and down onto the cot he was sat on.
He let Torch lay down upon him, letting him listen to the thumping in his chest as he laced his fingers into the leader's hair.
“Thank you for saving me, Torchie” He muttered under his breath.
“I’d do it a million times over” Torch lifted his head up to smile up at him.