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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[ that’s fine, isn’t it? it’s not like either of them are on a schedule—and back in town, even if others are worried about them, no one could possibly be as worried as they would be about each other if they weren’t together. so it’s okay to take their time here, and explore until the forest sees fit to spit them out again.

dextera snuggled as close as is humanly possible in the night, tangling their legs together, and he’s just about breathing his air through guren’s chest he’s pressed so close.

when he wakes up and can’t seem to get back to sleep, even with his eyes closed, he makes good on that promise from the night before—turning his face up, so he can kiss the underside of guren’s jaw sweetly.

even if he isn’t awake yet... it’s nice to do. ]

[ At the feeling of a sweet kiss against his jaw, he smiles, turning his face down into it. It’s nice, and even if he was mostly asleep a moment ago, having Dextera kiss him like that is enough to make him wake up more. ]

Hey. [ Spoken low, affectionate, he nuzzles his face against Dextera’s. He can be cute and cuddly even more when he’s waking up, apparently!! ]

[ hey, he says. guren thinks he's so cool... and dextera falls for it completely, charmed by the nuzzle he receives in reward for kissing guren awake after all. he knows as soon as he moves too much, his body will realize just how cold it is outside this pocket of warmth they've created for themselves, so he shifts just enough that he can kiss guren more, anywhere that's available, without accidentally breaking their cuddle positions. ]

Mm...

[ a little too sleepy to speak yet, but not too sleepy to use his mouth for smoochin'. ]

[ Thank goodness there’s energy for smooching. He laughs softly at the affection, his hand sliding up from around Dextera’s waist to his face, turning him so that Guren can return one of those kisses on the lips. It’s still surreal, he still doesn’t know what they’re doing, but this attraction is too much to just give up on.

Especially when there’s nothing standing in the way. ]

[ they don't ever have to say anything of it, really. this is just how things are, and until someone asks, whatever it is they have is just between them. they'll figure it out later, or never. ]

...good morning.

[ he speaks finally, a long moment after they part from the kiss. it's so rare for him to wake up happy like this, but lately, it's been as natural as breathing. ]

Morning.

[ You know, he still doesn’t want to get up. The sound of the waterfall from this distance is peaceful, and there’s no feeling of anyone watching them anymore. Whatever it was must have gone away, or did it ease up after a point...? It doesn’t matter. What matters is that he can brush his fingers over Dextera’s face and take in that happy expression of his.

That’s how it should be. He gives him another short kiss. ]

I haven’t slept that well in forever.

[ dextera is being spoiled with affection and he hardly knows how to handle it this early in the morning! he's not even sure that it's early, actually, considering they both fought waking up for a while, but it feels too early to leave when he's still so comfortable here. ]

Even without a bed?

[ this is almost better than a bed, actually. it's not as soft, but it's so warm, and they're so close. ]

Yeah.

[ If they had a big bed, it would be even better, of course, but Guren is used to sleeping in both. Missions meant sometimes he had to sleep in weird places! This was more comfortable. He’d compare it more with a bed. Even if... their makeshift pillow-blanket is all sorts of messed up by now. ]

It’s not really camping with all of these blankets. [ They’re blessed. He rolls away, onto his back, just to create some of that cold and see if Dextera comes after him. ]

[ there was no question that dextera was going to come after him. the void that guren leaves is immediate and chilly, and dextera is quick to fill the space. he drags the blanket with him for the short journey, tucking himself closer, warmer. guren is so cruel, teasing him like this... ]

But it's still kind of cold.

[ a comment on their current arrangements, but also a pointed declaration that guren should stay put!!! he rests his cheek on guren's shoulder, but his head is still turned, gaze still up so he can watch guren from this angle. ]

Hahaha.

[ It is cold, he is mean, but he can’t help it. Now that Dextera is close again, Guren turns to wrap his arms around him. If he succeeds, he’ll pull Dextera right on top of him!! He can take the weight, and this is really warm, right? ]

Ah—! [ he's been got! ] Guren!

[ the smallest protest, but only because he's surprised to be pulled like this—it's a strangely affectionate gesture that he didn't at all expect, and he's left staring wide-eyed down at guren this time, on top and, yes, quite warm. ]

What are you doing?

I’m keeping you warm.

[ innocently, in that not so innocent way of his. His arms are around Dextera’s waist, and he moves one hand to run up his back now that he can. ]

Why, should I stop? [ A good nights sleep makes him like This, apparently ]

[ dextera will remember to be grateful for it soon, since this kind of attitude means that guren really is enjoying himself, but right now he's just flustered. there was a degree of flirtation that he could handle first thing in the morning and they've passed it!!! ]

...I didn't say that. [ a beat. ] I'm not too heavy, am I?

Yeah, you're super heavy.

[GUREN. He says it with this asshole smirk of his, and the fact that he can talk just fine and even links his hands behind Dextera's back says he's fine. Maybe not like, for an hour, but for now!!]

It's fine. I'm warmer, too.

[ guren! don't bully! ]

If you're sure.

[ dextera doesn't mind this position as long as guren doesn't mind it, and it's true that they're both close and quite toasty because of it. he smooths his hands across guren's chest, sliding up to his neck, then capturing his face—again, maybe, just to watch. ]

How are you feeling?

I can tell there's still something preoccupying Mahiru-no-yo... but it doesn't hurt at all. I feel fine, right now.

[Hopefully a more honest answer will put Dextera at ease... He watches him quietly, letting his teasing fade to a stop for now.] I'll tell you if it changes, so don't worry.

[ that's good. dextera doesn't feel as worried as he did the day before, now that they've both had some sleep, and they're in such a calming area. it's hard to fret too much with guren's hands linked behind his back, keeping him safe right here.

he leans down, answering that request not to worry with a kiss—how strange, how magical, to just be able to do something like this and it's perfectly acceptable. it might be weirder if he didn't kiss guren all the time!! ]

[At this point, it really would be weirder, wouldn't it? With how things are now, it feels like things like this should just keep building and building. Well, obviously there must be a point where it events out... But even that doesn't sound bad at all. Quite the opposite.

He's thinking gross domestic things right now, distracted and kissing him back, asking for a little more with it. It's first thing in the morning, but he can get a little kissing before they get up, he thinks.

It's only when he thinks that kissing any more will get them too excited that he shifts, hands carefully on Dextera's back to keep him close as he flips them over slowly.]

Haha. [He breathes against his lips once he sets him down on his back, hands slipping out and fingers touching his cheek.] Are you ready to start moving? We can take it easy.

[ guren moves him so easily... but it’s kind of exciting, in this subtle way, that he’s strong enough to just flip and pull and push dextera as he pleases. he wants to keep kissing! but guren probably did pick a good time to exert his control and ask a question. ]

I’m ready. I just need my coat...

[ his precious coat!! he would probably die of heartbreak if something ever happened to it. it’s just a ratty old piece of fabric, like all the other shitty things he uses, but it’s his—and there’s some purification involved, which makes it a little more important in his hands than someone else’s. ]

I laid it out to dry over there. [He gestures, moving out of the way to let Dextera up.] We should pack everything else up, too, anyway.

[He's going to start working on that, since they're probably not going to come back here unless they don't find anything promising down the way. He figures they can take it slow, see how it is. As he's working on that, though, he glances over to Dextera putting the coat on.

An important thing, then? He'll have to remember that, since he wouldn't have put importance on it until now. Hmm.]

Is it finally dry? I guess I slowed it down when you let me use it as a pillow.

[ dextera looks much more comfortable once it’s on, anyway, and looks far less naked as well. ]

It’s dry. [ a pleased report, for such a simple thing. he retrieved his boots next, which have also thankfully dried, and then hitches his sword to his back. ] Thank you.

[ he looks battle ready! but hopefully they won’t have to battle—either way, he seems a little brighter than he did when they first wandered into the woods. a little more alive. ]

[Guren just has to shove everything they brought back in the bag, put his own jacket and shoes back on, and then grab his sword, and then he's ready to go. It doesn't take too long, but even if Dextera has to wait a little, he knows they're not actually in a rush. They're not trying to beat night time or anything like that. Just... move at their own pace.]

Is that coat important to you? [He figures he'll ask once he's standing again, gesturing that they can start following the water down.]

Important...

[ he maybe didn’t completely realize how important he thought it was until guren pointed it out, but then he nods, regarding the sleeve with some thoughtfulness. ]

It’s one of the few things I have that feels like... “mine.” I woke up with it, and I’ve kept it through all the times I’ve died.

[ it’s not sacred, but it is something precious to him. if he lost it, he would be devastated!! ]

I see.

[That means he'll have to look out for it, too! Worrying about the life of a coat as well as a person... it's something he can do, he just needs to know about it. Now, it can stay safe! Hopefully.

The water they're following drops down a couple of smaller waterfalls in the stone. Short distances that Guren and Dextera can step or hop down from. There's still forest surrounding them, but it doesn't feel nearly as eerie as the forest they'd dropped from above.

Guren notices something ahead that he worries is fog. When it's been so clear down here, he's nervous to see it— but as they get closer, he realizes that it's only steam. In grayscale, it's a little more difficult to tell the difference, but he can feel the temperature of the area changing. Stones, the air... He steps over to the water, crouching to carefully test the heat with the back of his hand.]

It's a natural hot springs. [It doesn't feel too hot to get in, either... It's a lot hotter than the warm water they'd fallen into, but it's... inviting. For some reason, relaxing isn't the exact word to come to mind. It's definitely inviting.]

[ dextera has most certainly never been even near a hot springs, let alone in one. he hasn’t even really taken a lot of baths—none that he can remember, and probably just showers before that. he’s nervous at the idea of water so hot it steams, but at the same time...

he finds himself gazing into it, dipping his fingers in before he can think better of it. ]

...it’s hot.

[ okay, maybe that’s obvious! but he still says it aloud anyway, and next decides to scoop up some of the water and let it drip through his fingers. something about it... he wants to get in. ]

It’s nice, though.

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