“i’ll be sure to kick your ass properly next time.. i’m sure aedon would love that kind of show..~”
at the mention of his companion, the golden kuuvahki bird fluttered close, giving his lover a well deserved peck at his ear.
“ … alright, fine .”
illuga had murmured quietly, deciding that now was not the time. he respected the knight’s boundaries, arms looping around lohen’s neck while he was lifted up.
the ratnik’s head leant against azure uniform, letting out a quiet huff of a laugh.
“please— we can .. talk about it later, birdie. for now, hold onto me. ”
not wanting to keep thinking, to keep exposing his one weakness, the knight abandons the other’s hips, arms scooping the man right up.
though he liked to complain, it was a telltale sign to him that both his bird and boyfriend got on so well… that was all he wanted.
“… i’d do anything for you. well… within reason for now..~”
“… a body vacation..”
he couldn’t stop the small smile at that… as he opened one eye to see his little golden companion chase after affection from his lover.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀”nothing is broken it is merely weary..it’s craving a moment of relaxation from you that’s all..think of it more as your body wants a vacation. “
he sits beside him, digits of free hand stroking the soft feathers of the sweetheart perched
for the first time ever.
“… i love you… i love you with every fiber of my being but … you were not in control today…i wonder if there’s a way to tell when it takes over though … a sign ..”
“… lohen…”
he murmured his name softly, a hand raising to cradle his lover’s cheek … ten years of corruption… and yet? his kuuvahki companion had sniffed it out in seconds, aedon cooing softly at the scratches and then choosing to perch on lohen’s shoulder
“ since i was 10. ”
it came out in a pained whisper. now that the cat was out of the bag, unable to hide it much longer, he lifted his gaze to meet his, sighing.
fingertips graze the purplish hues on his neck, brows furrowing over how painful it must’ve been.
“… that wasn’t you..”
he whispered, finally letting his body relax once he could see that danger was over, and that lohen had complete control.
“how long have you had this abyssal energy in you..?”
a hand lifted to his boyfriend’s hair, stroking slowly through navy strands
“ .. i did this .ᐣ ”
voice came out in a whisper, incredulous. crimson hues seem to tremble, fixed on the clear imprint of slender fingers around pale skin.
“ haha. i was the one that did this.”
as he curled down against his chest. his fingers moved slowly, methodically, as illuga stared up at the sky… connecting dots he hadn’t seen before… aedon must’ve known. this whole time, aedon was only attacking him to try to help him…
the ratnik had barely just hit the ground, lungs burning when it seemed lohen was lost all over again. a ragged and desperate sound coughed out when his back hit the ground and lohen seemed to reach out to finish the job.
“ 𝘯𝘰.. 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦… “
his voice was broken,
once more, the abyssal rot seized control, crimson eyes bleeding into an ink-dark purple. the knight lunged back into the ratnik’s body, straddling his waist as desperate hands clawed upward to choke the life from his neck a second time.
yet .. the strike never landed. fingers fractured with a violent tremor, hovering bare centimeters from already bruised skin—something was resisting.
illuga, too, had experience with the terrifying thoughts they put into motion .
but just as he was preparing for the worst, in the blink of an eye he witnessed his lover stab himself, flinching below him from the ground… but then realising his eyes were clear.