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"Fount…" Healer attempted to nudge him awake, rubbing his cheek.
Fount whined, Healer kissed him on the cheek in response.
"Sun's up, darling~." Healer giggled, pushing another kiss on his cheek.
"No…"
"Well, I'm getting up. You can stay in bed if you'd like."
Healer got up, Fount immediately whining as his warmth left.
"Come back…" Fount mumbled, reaching out for him.
He chuckled and grabbed his staff off the wall, it's eye jumping to Fount immediately.
"You're the one who asked me to tell you when I was up."
"I wanna cuddle," Fount whined, "Pleaseee? Just a little longer?"
Healer put his staff back down, wrapping his arms carefully around Fount's waist and slipping back into bed.
"I love you," Healer stated, kissing his forehead.
Fount gladly yanked him down beside him, Healer latching onto him in return.
"Just a few minutes…?" Fount begged.
Healer chuckled, "I was already going to, my Fount."
Fount curled up around him, allowing Healer to play with a small strand of his hair.
He'd always end up braiding Fount's hair. It made him look so much prettier, really.
Healer looked even more beautiful than Fount did with his hair braided, of course. He was quite good at doing it himself, while Fount had never learned to never needing it. He didn't mind having his hair up, of course, but there was no point in doing so just to take it down every day, or let it get tangled at night. Especially when he didn't even like doing his own hair.
Healer finished the little braid and moved on to another random strand.
"So, what do you need to do today, hm?"
"Nothing, really, just organizing some records, and writing. It's winter, don't really have much to do," Fount answered, "Academy's on break for now, and cookies don't bother to come to the Spire through the cold."
"It's not snowing, is it?"
"Nope. Shouldn't be for a couple more weeks."
"Hm…"
"And what exactly are you doing, hm?"
Healer giggled, "Nothing. I was thinking of picking the last of some herbs before the snow killed them…"
Neither of them said anything for a few more minutes as Healer continued to braid Fount's hair, before pushing a kiss to his cheek and hopping off the bed.
Fount stayed still and watched Healer as he continued to prepare to go outside, trying to ignore the worried glances he gave him.
Aw, is someone worrying him again?
"Hush," Fount mumbled, incidentally making himself loud enough Healer could hear. He whipped his head around, tilting his head as he tried to understand what Fount meant.
"Ah— not you," Fount muttered.
Healer frowned, "Oh. Are you alright?"
"Mhm… used to it."
Healer sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for Fount to say something.
Fount didn't, instead staring at the stars in the Spire's ceiling, watching them swirl and flow and fade, around and around, over and over until Healer decided to interrupt.
"Starlight," Healer asked, lying beside him, "would you like for me to stay with you?"
"You don't—"
"I want to. Please just tell me what you really want, darling."
"…I'll be fine alone."
Pfft, you'll probably do something idiotic that he has to fix, like jumping off the Spire or cutting yourself for the billionth time.
"You're sure?"
You might as well, right? It's not like there's any purpose in you sticking around anymore. Other than for your poor little precious Healer! Because he'd obviously never be able to recover if you died, wouldn't he~? Heh.
"Yes, I'm sure. It's not like the ink is going to jump out and drown me."
Are you sure you really want him to leave? It's obvious to everyone what'll happen once he does, isn't it?
Healer's hand hesitated over his arm, looking up at him.
"You know what I mean."
"…Mhm."
"I just— I want to be sure you're okay."
"…I am, I promise. Don't worry for me, Orchid. I won't do anything like that."
You'll only disappoint him. Quit making promises you can't keep.
"Alright. Alright, well— I still need to put my hair up, okay?"
Healer stepped in front of the broken mirror on the wall, blocking most of it from Fount's view. He leaned his staff on the desk behind him, starting to braid his hair in two little braids on each side.
Fount didn't get up, watching Healer fiddle with his hair, taking out the braids and instead splitting his hair into fourths, taking the front two and braiding them, and pulling them together in the back.
He always braided his hair so beautifully. Fount swore it could've been a kind of magic of it's own, how good he was at it.
Fount finally stood up, stumbling over to Healer and wrapping his arms around him.
You know how horrible you are, right? You're the most horrible thing in Healer's life. You might as well fix the problem before it gets worse. He won't care if you die. He won't care if you're gone. He would be better off if you were dead.
"Love you," Fount mumbled, kissing his neck.
"I love you too."
Healer finished up his braids, starting to skip over toward the door.
Fount grabbed Healer's hand, earning a head tilt from his partner.
"Wait."
"Mhm?"
Fount's face flushed, "I— uhm… I want…"
He paused, Healer waiting patiently for him to finish with his sweet little smile.
Witches, was he really about to run his day like this? He could just wait until they were going to bed, or… something. That way Healer wouldn't worry for him all day.
"I want a hug," Fount mumbled, "Please?"
Healer giggled, "Is that it?"
"…Mhm."
Healer pulled him into a hug, Fount latching on as tightly as he could. This caused Healer to stumble and let out another giggle. It sounded much more nervous this time.
"Darling, are you okay?"
"…No," Fount mumbled, "No, I— please don't leave. Please."
Healer's smile faded, "What's wrong?"
Fount tugged away a little, Healer holding on tighter.
"Fount? What's wrong?"
He released a sob, grabbing onto Healer tighter once again.
Healer didn't say anything, pulling Fount down to sit with him against the wall. Fount kept sobbing harder and harder, Healer scratching him behind the ears, then rubbing his back, then starting brushing the tears out of his eyes.
Fount choked through his words, "I'm— sorry— I'm sorry— I shouldn't— I don't wanna— I can't— I don't wanna—"
Healer kissed his forehead, "Do you wanna talk?"
"Mhm— I— but—"
"Alright, breathe then. Please?"
Fount tried to follow his breath, Healer brushing his thumb in sync with his own breath to help him.
"It's okay… shshsh… you're alright, Fount. I'm right here, okay?"
"No— no. I'm not— I'm not."
"…Alright, I understand, but please calm down so we can talk, okay?"
Fount copied his breathing, Healer giving him a little smile as he did.
It was fine. He was fine, Healer wasn't upset.
…
Why did they have to keep doing this?
Why did he keep doing this? Healer was just trying to calm him down, but Fount had to be an annoying, whiny asshole who clinged to him every time he was a little bit upset.
So why couldn't he figure out a solution? Why couldn't he calm himself?
He was intelligent, wasn't he? So he should be able to figure out how to handle himself, and how to get better on his own.
So. Why. Couldn't. He?
"What did you need, Fount?"
"…I— I don't want to be alone."
"Why not?"
"I think— I'm gonna do something stupid— like— hurt myself if I'm alone, but… Can you please just come with me today? You— I don't need you to help me, just— I don't know, stay with me until I feel better."
…Great, now he was trying to make Healer's entire damn day revolve around him.
"Okay. I've wanted to stay around you for a day for a while—"
"Promise?"
"Hm?"
"Do you promise you mean that?"
"…Of course."
Healer nudged him toward looking down, kissing him on the forehead.
"I don't like it when you think I wouldn't want to be around you. I love you."
"…I know. Sorry."
Healer stood up and pulled Fount along with him, peppering his face with kisses, as much as possible before Fount nudged him off.
Fount giggled, "I get it, I get it!"
"Love you, Starlight. Really"
Fount smiled at him, "I love you too."
Fount picked up a few records, Healer peaking over his shoulder.
"Can I help carry something?"
Fount passed him a couple scrolls, kissing Healer on the cheek before they left the room.
"Okay, remember, no kisses."
"Why not~?!" Healer giggled, "You don't love me enough?"
"You know why."
Healer smiled at him, "I know… I just really want to kiss you."
"Well, it's not like I'm busy answering questions, so maybe when we're alone."
Healer giggled, "Of course…"
Fount glanced around and snuck a kiss on his cheek, Healer's face flushing bright red.
"You just said no kisses!" He whispered, Fount releasing a giggle.
"Well, it's not like anyone's around. Too early."
Healer smiled, returning the kiss on his cheek.
"You didn't check," Fount shouted, "But it's fine, I suppose."
Fount waited until they were about to turn a corner, then bolted down the hallway, Healer yelping at how quick he took off.
"STARLIGHT!" Healer scolded, chasing behind him.
Fount giggled, glancing between Healer and the way forward, making sure he was still following behind him.
He stopped at a split between hallways, glancing back to be sure Healer could see which way he was going before bolting down one of the two.
Healer had gotten a little bit closer in the time Fount had stopped, finally catching up when Fount stumbled on a fold in the carpet. He jumped on top of Fount, staring down at him with a little pout.
Fount giggled, trying to wiggle out of Healer's grip. Healer kissed his cheek, then rolled over to his side, hitting the floor with a soft thump.
Fount nuzzled into his shoulder, the rough carpet scratching against his cheek.
"Why'd you bolt off?" Healer whined, gripping onto Fount's hand.
"I dunno. Wanted to see what you'd do. Plus, I was running toward the section these go in anyway, so I was sure you'd catch up."
Healer pouted, though he was clearly trying not to laugh himself, "Well, then maybe I could just let you run away next time!"
"Awww! I was only playing!"
Healer barely managed to hold his laughter down.
"I love you~" Fount stated, twirling a bit of Healer's hair.
"I love you too."
Healer pulled him up, both of them starting to pick up the scrolls they'd scattered around.
"Promise you won't bolt again?"
"I certainly will not. I like you too much to really run away."
Healer giggled, "Oh yes, not like you just bolted away from me without any explanation!"
"I said I was playing."
"Could've said so earlier."
"Fine. I will."
"Fine. I will next time."
"What do you mean next time?!"
Fount snickered, "Nothing, nothing…"
Healer smiled, skipping off toward the library's doors. He looked adorable with how happy he was.
Fount caught up to him, happily going on about whatever new spells he'd come up with. Healer listened to him. He'd always said he'd loved hearing Fount go on and on about his ideas, and Fount supposed that was true, considering how interested he'd seemed.
Fount could talk to him about anything forever if he'd let him.