teaism | pls don't judge me I have so many injured guren icons okay

pls don't judge me I have so many injured guren icons okay

[Compared to this, the talking furniture from ages ago seemed almost pleasant. The door clicks shut behind them, and Guren almost wants to drop down right here. It's the first building they've come across in a while now— some sort of cabin in the woods that's falling apart just like the rest of the town they'd started in. Guren was bleeding from a variety of areas— a number of spots on his torso, his head, his face, his thigh— and that doesn't even start on the broken bones he's sporting, but he had a demon to take care of those injuries.

The man he was trying to support next to him was a different story. Hadn't they said something about not wanting to test if he could die and come back...?]

Look at me, Dex. [Guren wasn't trying to hide his worry now. He'd arrived too late, or at least that's his perspective. He shows up and something is nearly finished toying with Dextera like he's some sort of doll— something grey, with wings. Guren couldn't grasp what was happening, but interrupting had shown him that he was nearly outmatched. Nearly. With some biting words, he'd slain the creature(?) just before he was about to be offed himself. It was risky, to say the least.

But they're indoors now. Indoors, and there have to be supplies they can make use of somewhere. He staggers his next step forward as he tries to lead Dextera in, coughing blood against the back of his own hand. He's noticing that even his own injuries are staying longer than usual, somehow...]

Damn it...

[But he needs to know how Dextera is doing. How much can he handle? Guren doesn't want to find out his limit right now. One hand grips at Dextera's shoulder. They've been supporting each other the whole walk here, and he's trying not to weigh him down. His other hand, though the back of it is bloody now, rests against Dextera's chest carefully.] Sit down here.

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[ It’s strange, and it’s settling in slowly, but Dex is right to think there’s something off. His hand won’t heal, something is there, or it’s the forest itself, and they have no idea where they’re going or what to do. He always has a plan, but hearing that question this time is worrying. He doesn’t have an immediate answer.

Maybe it’s that his head feels a little foggy. Actually... ]

Do you feel anything else? [ It’s just him with the foggy head and the strange, creeping feeling he can’t place. Cutting your hand on weird spooky trees isn’t the best, it turns out. Poor Dextera will have to wait on the answer to that question. Guren brings his free hand to his head. ]

[ ...that doesn't feel right either. dextera frowns, looking from the bandage on guren's palm up to his face now. is he feeling okay? he's been pushing himself quite a lot these past few days, trying to take care of dextera's wounds, but it's weird for it to all catch up to him now. ]

I don't.

[ a quick answer, but only because he's distracted with worry. ]

Are you all right?

[ maybe he hit his head on the way down... ]

Yeah, I...

[ His head and his hand throb, and the faint sound of his name tells him Mahiru has been trying to call him this whole time. Alarm crosses his face, he pulls back from Dextera and goes for his sword, completely intending to cut his own arm off.

It barely makes it out of its sheath before Guren falls over. Thankfully, he’s just asleep. ]

[ dextera is already in panic mode when guren makes it worse by going so quickly for his sword—and his stomach nearly turns itself inside out when guren hits the ground like that. ]

Guren—!

[ what happened? what happened? dextera squeezes his shoulder, trying to get his attention, but he’s—dead? no, he’s breathing.

that’s a good sign, but the rest of it is still quite bad.

dextera shakes his shoulder now, and there’s a tremble in his own limbs that had mostly disappeared from his company with guren. it resurfaces now, his body’s natural defense against fear. he should... move him? or maybe splash some water on him? he doesn’t know, and it paralyzes him.

he’s never had to deal with someone else in such a condition. at least with his brother, he was always sure... ]

Guren.

[ He doesn’t stir at all, though as time passes he does occasionally mumble in his sleep. Most of it can’t be understood, but the name Mahiru does make it through. If Dextera keeps trying to wake him, he’ll wake up sooner, but as it is now it takes a few hours to open his eyes.

Once he does, he’s staring in a daze around, and then more urgently. ]

Dextera. [ Where— ]

[ dextera doesn’t give up, exactly, but he realizes that this must be something brought on by the forest. guren won’t wake up normally, and so dextera is forced to bide his time in the peak of anxiety. ]

I’m here.

[ the words leave him in a rush as soon as guren stirs, asking for him, and it would be touching if dextera weren’t so afraid for him. ]

Guren.

[ he didn’t just leave guren there, instead trying to arrange him so his head is propped up by their supplies. he leans over guren’s form now, his expression open with worry. ]

[ Thank god, he’s still here. Time in your mind talking to a demon passes differently than in the real world. Every few minutes meant an hour, and so he can imagine how long Dextera has been waiting. He’s glad to see nothing took advantage and attacked. ]

I’m okay. I’m sorry. [ He reaches to touch Dextera’s cheek with his good hand as he sits up, then glances down at the other. ]

My demon just wanted to talk. [ She had no idea of what was happening, either. Her words were muffled and distorted, like when his first demon had restrictions placed on the first time. Guren was able to read her lips for some things— their connection was out of sync, it was like the opposite of a doping pill, and it came from his hand. That was half of what he’d already found out, but by now it was through his whole body.

He pulls his hand away from Dextera to take the bandage off his hand, instead. It’s bloodied, the bandage is soaked, and even if it’s not currently bleeding, it’s an open wound. It hasn’t healed. ] Something is getting in the way.

[ the wound itself isn't so bad, compared to what the two of them have been through here, but it's a concern that it hasn't healed yet. dextera has no real healing powers, and he's afraid to test his purification on such a small wound—it might just accidentally kill guren, instead. ]

...

[ dextera exhales, relieved to see guren up, but the news is bad. ]

Are you going to be okay?

[ they need to figure out how to fix it as soon as possible, but it's something to worry about anyway—until they repair it, does guren know how to function without his demon or his tricks? ]

I think so.

[He feels... okay, right now. The throbbing in his head has calmed down, but he thinks it's because Mahiru has gone completely silent. He's not sure what he thinks about that. He knows she was fighting something in there for him, but what...? Was it progressing?]

I've already merged with my demon too much. Trying to force it back now... I don't know what it's going to do. But I can't try any direct experiments on myself without my lab.

[Guren this isn't reassuring poor scared Dextera here] So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[ hey! don't mention labs! that's a bad time for everybody, especially when dextera has himself spent way more time in them than he would like to recall. he frowns, concerned for a multitude of reasons now that guren has chosen to take the conversation in this direction.

good, he wants to say, knowing guren can't do anything to himself... but he keeps this one inside. ]

...you don't feel right.

[ he can say that much. guren is off, but that's no more information than they had before, just a different perspective on it. ]

[He didn't choose the human experimentation life it was just dumped in his lap!! A necessary evil... Can't they bond over being experiments or something?

It doesn't seem like it, right now. He tosses aside his dirty bandage like a filthy litterer and puts a new one on, this time a little more carefully. The wound itself isn't a problem at all, but he doesn't want it to get infected, and now he knows it's what caused... whatever this is.]

You can sense that, huh...

[Well, that's not good. He frowns, and when he's done fixing his hand up, his good one links around Dextera's neck, pulling him closer so their foreheads can touch.] It's fine. It just means I have to be careful. Mahiru-no-yo is fighting whatever it is off right now.

[But, honestly... if it gets bad, he can just give her more desire. More greed. He has plenty of both of those things, and it would increase her strength. He would just have to be careful not to go too far! It's fine.]

Sorry to scare you like that.

[ dextera does take relief in being this close, and their clothes have started to dry enough that it's not quite as cold as before, despite being later. the blankets aren't all the way there yet, and his coat was too bunched as a makeshift pillow to properly dry, but the two of them personally have managed it. ]

...

[ he exhales, closing his eyes. ]

It's not your fault. It's not like you decided to get hurt like that. I just...

[ guren takes so many risks that it's hard not to worry, especially now that he might not be able to heal himself as efficiently as before. they could actually die, if caught off guard like before. he shakes his head, re-positioning himself so he can tuck his face into the curve where guren's neck becomes his shoulder. ]

[Someone caring this much about him... He gets it all the time with his friends, but every time someone new does, it's entirely different. Dextera, especially, isn't just someone who cares because Guren is a leader type, or has some other use. It's... different. Different in plenty of ways.

Guren brings his hand to the back of Dextera's head, running his fingers through his hair in gentle, reassuring strokes. He doesn't mind just staying like this for a while.]

I should have died countless times over the years, but somehow, I'm still here. [He can feel the worry from Dextera, and he's pretty sure he knows why. He must be worried that he's weak now. The truth is, he was strong before his demon, but it was never strong enough. But here, reset back at zero, his determination is unwavering. He'll get stronger and stronger until he can protect everyone he cares about and himself.]

This is nothing. I'll get past it just like everything else. I have too many things to do to die. I have to live. So I will. That's all it is.

[Despite how ridiculous the words are, he's so confident and certain that it really is something else.]

[ it's not that he doesn't trust guren. they've come this far, lived this long, and guren has kept his promise of staying steady and focused without dextera needing to follow through on that deal they made when they first came here. he's proved himself reliable as a person, not just as a fighter, and dextera isn't the type to usually doubt people so far.

but it's hard to predict this forest. ]

I don't think I have a choice but to trust you. I'll go crazy if I don't.

[ the words are murmured against him, but dextera is close enough that guren can probably hear them anyway, no matter how muffled or soft. ]

[ Ah, poor Dex... Guren really worried him too much like this. He’ll heve to be careful not to let too much show that would make him worry again. That’s his first thought, fingers still stroking his hair, face turning against his head to press a small kiss. ]

Don’t go crazy. [ He doesn’t want to see that!! It’s quiet, too. ] I’ll be fine. So will you. We’ll stay here for a while longer, first.

[ Everything in this forest seems dangerous, but Guren will be even more careful than usual. Without his demon, even small injuries will worry Dextera. He doesn’t want to upset him more than he already has. ]

[ despite the difficulty that got them here, this particular area does seem peaceful. the water is warm and welcoming, even if it was cold getting out of it, and the lakeshore seems to be relatively lush—even grey, as it is. with color, it would seem like an oasis, amidst the dark forest. ]

...okay.

[ he's calming down now, assured by guren's confidence even if he can't make himself thoroughly agree with it just yet. he takes a deep breath, and lifts his head so he can give guren a proper kiss... something welcoming, relieved that he's still here for them to have this conversation. ]

Okay. [ a second time, more confident. ] It's... not too bad, here.

Right?

[Smiling at that slow shift into something nicer, Guren leans in to kiss him again. He'd been a little surprised that Dextera was confident enough to initiate one on his own, but of course he likes it. Of course he wants to hold onto... whatever this is.]

The water was even warm. I didn't get that chill to the bones like the water in town. [Thank god, too, or they'd still be freezing. They're just a little damp, and their items could use some more drying, but...]

Going in on purpose wouldn't be such a bad thing... We could probably find a part that's a little more shallow for you.

[ guren probably doesn't mean anything by it, but dextera is still a little embarrassed to have it mentioned that he needs something shallow. he never learned to swim! he grew up in a laboratory! so what!! ]

...I would be okay to just put my feet in.

[ maybe he's scared... but it's a mild fear, the way some people are nervous to try a new food, or are a little hesitant about making a phone call. ]

[The embarrassment is cute, so even if he didn't mean it, he might tease him in the future a little... For now, though, he's smiling, looking to the water and letting his fingers finally slip out of Dextera's hair.]

Do you want to do that with me? We can sit and relax for a little bit. [His smile fades a little as he thinks, but he makes sure to keep its skeleton in place.] I doubt you were able to get any sleep while I was out...

[So, relaxing is good. Maybe it'll even help him be able to sleep later...?]

[ dextera nods. he'd like that—and guren is right, he didn't get any sleep. he couldn't even think of sleeping with guren out as he was, although exhaustion did creep over him once or twice during lulls of silence. every time guren had murmured something new, though, dextera was awake again with the hope that he was returning to consciousness.

things are easier now, obviously.

he pulls off his boots, scooting closer to the water and staring down into it. despite being in the middle of the forest, it actually seems... more than peaceful. it seems safe. ]

Are there lakes where you're from?

Yeah.

[Guren goes ahead and slips his own shoes off, scooting to the very edge of the water next to Dextera. He rolls his pant legs up and then lets his legs hang over, dipping easily into the water. See, it's nice!!]

When I was about five, I even remember this waterfall... It was where I would go to train on my own. [The water is still warm... Guren leans down and dips a couple fingertips into it, too.]

With the world how it is now, it would be too difficult to go sight seeing. Shibuya is walled off, so it's like its own little world. There are just wrecked buildings and crashed cars outside of there, and if there aren't horsemen of the apocalypse to worry about, it's the vampires.

[ dextera follows guren’s lead and rolls up his pants, slipping his legs into the warm water. now that he’s not being plunged into it and choking on every breath, it really is pleasant. soothing. he smiles, briefly, and then turns his face to guren—he actually trained under a waterfall? really?

he shouldn’t be surprised. ]

Maybe you could go back one day, anyway. I bet it’s even nicer than it was before.

[ he scoots closer to guren... casually. ]

[He laughs softly, but it's to hide his thoughts. The spot with the waterfall is where he first met Mahiru. He doesn't want to say that at all, let alone mention that he's been back to his mansion to turn the basement into a lab for human experimentation.

There are the bodies of so many of the people he wants to bring back to life in there.]

Yeah... maybe. [But he leaves it at that, focusing instead on the cute way Dextera scoots over. He's going to feed it by innocently resting his hand on the small space of rock in between them as he peers at the water. He's maybe a little hopeful about it.]

Do you like lakes like this?

[ it’s for the best that dextera doesn’t realize what he’s thinking about—at least not until guren’s thoughts turn a little lighter, and dextera can pick up on that hopefulness between them.

he slides his hand into that last space between them, his fingers brushing against guren’s fingertips in a way that’s oddly shy, considering how much they always touch hands.

it’s the mood! the mood is hard to resist. ]

I’ve never seen one. [ he admits that freely, kicking his legs gently through the water. ] I’ve never seen anything like this.

Really?

[His heart feels more nervous than he'd ever give away in body language and expression. Again, he feels like a kid. What is this, puppy love? But it's different, it's so much stronger, and it's hard to make himself turn away. His fingers slip closer at the slight brush, interlacing a few of them with Dextera's as they rest against the ground.]

I wish you could have walked up to it normally. Places like this are beautiful, even when they've lost all their color.

[He turns to give Dextera a look, a small smile. This mood... it's much better than before.]

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