Chapter Text
Kyryll Chudomirovich Flins had brushed hands with Death already.
Flins knew that Death was a peaceful, serene thing. It afforded a sort of tranquility which an active, lived life could never hope to reach. Sometimes he still yearned for the dark and for the quiet, for the lack of thoughts and emotions, for his worries and troubles to be deafened in the embrace of his eternal slumber.
Only sometimes, seldomly these days. For now, he had found a purpose, something to anchor him to this life once more. Matters and people to care about, friends to look after.
Someone to love.
Ah, Illuga. Truth be told, Flins had no intention of outliving him, certainly not for long. But he fully intended for his sweet, human lover to live a long, long life, and he would stick by his side the whole time. Their relationship was still in its infancy, though the two of them had been growing closer across a few years now. And already Flins knew that he wanted to enjoy it to the fullest, for many years to come. Until Illuga grew old, his skin becoming soft and wrinkly from age, his hair greying further- Or perhaps it would turn white. On one hand, Flins was terrified of finding out, yet on the other… Nothing would stop him from living this future with his partner.
Which was why Flins was so ready to step into the strike that had been meant for Illuga.
They had been on their way back from Nasha Town to the Final Night Cemetery when the wild hunt had crept up on them. One moment they’d been talking and laughing, and the next they had been in the middle of an all-out attack. It was a large outbreak, with nearly two or three dozen enemies surrounding them, give or take. Too much to deal with for just a duo of lightkeepers. They managed to hold their own for a few minutes, but even two fighters as strong as them would reach their limits eventually.
They had dealt with half of the enemies when Illuga started flagging next to him. Aedon remained as steadfast as ever, crashing into the monsters that tried to sneak up on them. But Illuga panted heavily as he wielded his polearm next to him, his movements starting to drag, becoming slower. Flins tried to overcompensate for his exhaustion, tried to let his flames and his moon wheel handle more of the attacks, but sooner or later he would burn out too. And then what?
Just when Flins finally saw an opening for them to make a run, a Wilderness Hunter stalked towards Illuga. But Illuga was tired from the long fight and stumbled away too slowly, and Aedon was too far away from his companion to help. Flins saw the creature raise its massive axe and his vision flickered as he imagined red blood spilled on the sandy ground.
Flins rushed over lightning fast, his fire roaring to life as he moved through time and space and left a purple glow in his wake. But fae form or not, immortal being or not, Flins could only do so much to defy fate.
He was fast enough to barrel into Illuga’s body and push him aside, but not fast enough to avoid the axe that was already coming down on his body. Flins had managed to take a step back, avoiding a direct hit to his head, but instead the massive spikes of the weapon embedded in his torso instead. He grunted at the impact, his knees buckling.
Illuga screamed his name. Aedon crashed into the Hunter in a fierce burst, making it roar in anguish as it went down. Flins fell backwards onto the sand, his body crumbling in the aftermath of the attack. A small wheeze left him when the spikes of the weapon pulled from his body and shredded clothing.
Flins felt no pain. He didn't feel much of anything at all, really. Perhaps even immortal fae could reach a state of shock.
Illuga crashed onto his knees beside him and grabbed ahold of his shoulders with shaking hands. Behind them, Aedon took care of the stragglers, keeping them momentarily safe.
“Kyryll? Kyryll! Oh no, no no no”, Illuga muttered to himself as his eyes roamed hurriedly over Flins’s skewered body.
“Illuga”, Flins said as steadily as he could, though he could taste blood on his tongue. “L-Lauma… bring me…” He wanted to form the words, but they wouldn't come out. He wanted to reassure Illuga, to wipe the tears from his cheeks, but he couldn't raise his arms.
That was when Flins realized that he felt cold. His flames were near extinguished. And he felt too at peace for his liking.
This was not how he had meant their life to go.
Before he could mourn this loss, Flins’s vision went dark.
~~~
Illuga had never run this fast in his life.
Tears streaked down his face, constantly clouding his vision, but he couldn't wipe them away. He was panting, terribly out of breath, and there was a stitch in his side that he had been ignoring for the better part of the past hour. The only thing that kept him moving, racing all the way across Lempo Isle, were the flames in the lantern he cradled to his chest, for they kept growing dimmer and dimmer.
It had happened so fast. One moment Illuga and Flins had fought side by side, and the next Flins had willingly thrown away his life for Illuga’s sake.
Illuga wasn't sure whether Flins had noticed the extent of his injuries during the brief seconds of consciousness he’d still had. Whether he’d noticed that his fae form had immediately vanished along with his flames after being hit, or that he could barely hold on to the glamour over his body either. Flins had tried to speak, had failed, and when he’d passed out he’d suddenly turned into the lantern that was his other form. The one he retreated to when he rested. The one he hadn't shown even Illuga before, though… Well, he now obviously recognized the lantern as the one he always carried on his hip, but hindsight, as always, was 20/20.
“Touching a lantern fae’s lantern is an extremely… intimate act”, Flins had told him recently, a teasing smile on his lips. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, little light, just… that I have never let anyone do so before.”
Perhaps Illuga could understand why, now. Flins’s lantern was old, the metalwork intricate and fragile. The same could be said for the glass. It was beautiful, and should only be treated with the utmost care. Illuga was afraid he was holding on too tightly to it, but he had to protect Flins, now more than ever. He hadn't even hesitated for a second before he’d picked up the lantern and started to run.
“Aedon, go! Go, go, go!”, he’d shouted at his companion, and so Aedon had left, flying through the countryside much quicker than Illuga could ever hope to be. Hopefully Lauma would understand. Hopefully she’d come running towards him, because he wasn't sure Flins would make it all the way to Hiisi Island.
Illuga didn't dare look down at the lantern. He was afraid of what he’d see. How much the flames inside would have shrunken again this time.
A sob got stuck in his throat and he nearly stumbled on the rocky ground of the path he was following. Illuga caught himself and kept running, as fast as before. He couldn't slow down now. Now more than ever, he had to keep going.
This was the third time in Illuga’s life that he had run from a fight to get help. Except this time, he carried his wounded companion in his arms. This time, he might succeed in getting help in time.
If he failed, the only reason would be that he’d been too slow. So Illuga kept running, and running, keeping the singular hope alive in his heart that he would be fast enough just this once, and help was on its way.
~~~
Illuga had nearly reached Nasha Town when he saw a golden glow on the road up ahead, rapidly moving towards him. His knees buckled when he recognized it as Aedon, and a moment later the nightingale circled reassuringly around him already. Illuga gasped, fresh tears forming in his eyes as he finally slowed his run. He looked ahead and found Lauma running– No, galloping towards him. She seamlessly transformed back into her human body when she reached him. Illuga finally stopped moving when she bridged the distance between them to put her hands on his shoulders.
“Illuga! Your nightingale told me everything. Where is he?”, she asked, her voice as gentle and comforting as always, though there was something hurried about her words. Illuga realized that Flins was her friend now too; of course she would be worried for him. He shelved the realization that she could speak to Aedon the same way she could with animals and shook his head.
“I–” For a moment, he remained too out of breath to speak. He’d been running for hours. Illuga pressed Flins to his chest, his arms tightening around him as he tried to catch his breath. He hadn't spent a single second wondering what he would do once he'd found help. Flins had turned into his simplest form when he’d passed out, while the injury he’d sustained had been to his human body. How was Lauma supposed to help him like this? And what would she think once she realized what Flins was?
“Illuga, just breathe”, Lauma said calmly to him. Illuga wasn't sure what he must look like to her in his current state. “Come on, slowly. Inhale, exhale. – Good, again. Inhale, exhale. And now tell me where Flins is.”
“He’s– It’s complicated”, Illuga pressed out, and then finally stretched out his arms. His sleeves and jacket had mostly hidden the lantern he was holding from view before. Lauma’s eyes widened when she spotted it and took a step back. “Lay him down”, she said simply, immediately understanding and not giving Illuga a chance to worry about her reaction at the same time. Illuga did as told and gently, carefully set the lantern down on the ground before kneeling next to it. He felt a bit bad – they were in the middle of nowhere, on some random, dirty road, but he and Lauma both realized there was no time to waste by heading the rest of the way to Nasha Town.
“Do you know if we can make him… turn back?”, Lauma asked hesitantly as she sank onto her knees opposite him, uncaring for her bare skin touching the rough ground. “I cannot heal him like this, Illuga.”
Illuga swallowed thickly. He wasn't sure. He didn't know what to do. They were wasting time.
He reached out and carefully stroked his hand along the dark metal that crossed the glass of the lantern. “Flins”, he said carefully. “Kyryll, I got you help. Lauma is here. Can you hear me? Please wake up, you need to let her heal you. I need you to turn back to your human body if you can manage it.”
Lauma eyed him, but said nothing. Illuga barely noticed. His eyes were on the sputtering purple flame within the lantern. It was getting weaker. Fear and worry clogged his throat, making him choke up. “Kyryll, please”, he said again, and this time it sounded more like a sob. The flame sputtered again, and a moment later Flins lay before them. He didn't turn with a flash of light or some other grand spectacle. His human body was suddenly there, even paler than usual, blue blood drenching his ripped clothes at his chest and stomach. Weak, purple flames danced around the wound, an ominous sight. Illuga couldn’t help but shiver. He’d only ever seen the flames in Flins’s lantern turn purple when they’d been in danger, confronted with monsters.
Lauma gasped softly when she saw the amount of blood staining Flins’s coat and she straightened. “Help me, Illuga”, she said, her voice firm as she leaned forward. “We need to open this up. I have to see the wound.”
Illuga silently did as told. He opened the familiar buckles and buttons with shaky, clumsy fingers. They opened the jacket, cut open the shirt and undershirt beneath, and Flins looked so much worse underneath his clothes that he thought he was going to be sick.
He really would be sick.
Lauma looked up to Aedon, still flying around them in a state of anxiety that matched his companion. “Aedon, please fly to the Curatorium of Secrets for me”, she said calmly as Illuga retched at the side of the road until his stomach had nothing more to give. “Get Jahoda or Nefer for me. Whoever is there.”
And then Lauma started healing.
~~~
The last time Kyryll Chudomirovich Flins had woken up from a deep, peaceful slumber, it had been because of the blood of a dying lightkeeper seeping into his grave; because of the fae symbols on the stone slates he’d traced without understanding; because he’d begged anyone who might hear his words to come save him and his dying comrades.
That last time, Kyryll the Azure Flame had left his grave in a burst of flames so large that it had graced the distant clouds and scorched the earth of the island that had been his resting place.
This time, someone held his hand as he came to. What a stark contrast that was.
Flins felt different as he opened his eyes this time, as if he had truly knocked on Death’s door and then changed his mind while stepping through. This had been no mere slumber and he instinctively knew, even without the deep-sattled ache permeating his entire upper body, that not much had been left of his life force at all before he’d been saved.
He stared at the ceiling, waiting several seconds for his vision to turn clear, before he realized that he was in the Curatorium of Secrets. Only a single lamp to his left lit the room; it was otherwise dark out. It took effort for Flins to turn his head to the left, which was also where the person rested who held his hand.
Illuga had dragged a chair over all the way to the edge of the bed which Flins had been recovering on. He sat hunched over on top of it, his upper body laying on the bed. Illuga rested his head on his left arm, while his right hand held on to Flins’s even in sleep. His hair was mussed, his undereyes puffy and his cheeks streaked with dried tear tracks. Someone had put a blanket over his shoulder at least, showing that they’d looked after Illuga too.
Flins didn’t want to wake him just yet. Illuga looked like he could use the rest, and besides, Flins wanted to assess the state of his injuries for now. He carefully raised his free arm to the edge of the blanket, and lifted it with a lot of effort. A thin blanket like this one had never been so heavy. He held back a pained grunt as he took in his body. Someone had removed his upper layers, leaving his torso naked safe for the bandages wrapped around… most of it. A bit of blue blood had seeped through the otherwise stark white bandages at three different spots. The highest and largest bloodstain was in the middle of his sternum, the next a bit below that, and the third a bit above his navel if he had to hazard a guess.
The blood looked dry in the weak light at least, so hopefully that meant whatever remained of his injuries had stopped oozing a while ago.
Flins lowered the blanket again. He looked over when the lamp flickered, and noticed that it wasn't a lamp at all. Aedon had been sitting on the nightstand, keeping watch over them, and finally flew over to the door. The nightingale vanished through the small slit where the door wasn't fully closed, probably to tell whoever was keeping watch that he was awake.
Indeed, it only took a minute before Aedon came back, Lauma following closely behind. She carefully stepped into the room, and a relieved smile formed on her lips when Flins raised one hand to wave at her. Flins took in her appearance as she walked over to the bed. She was wearing a dark green silk night robe that was no doubt Nefer’s. Lauma had discarded her jewelry for the night, so she had probably been resting already. Bandages covered both her left and right hand. Flins felt a spark of guilt when he saw them.
“You gave us quite the scare, Flins”, Lauma said quietly once she reached him. She smoothly sat down on the edge of the bed next to him and folded her hands in her lap. “How do you feel?”
“I feel rather lucky to have been in such excellent company, managing to find the best healer in the nation so quickly”, Flins said softly. Lauma just fondly shook her head at him, as if she had expected something like this already.
“How are your injuries? Are you in pain?”, she asked more clearly, and Flins sighed. “I feel as though I have shaken Death’s hand”, he said after a moment. Lauma’s features turned more serious, and she nodded after a long moment. “I think you might be right about that”, she whispered. “Had Illuga and I reached each other any later… I had to heal you outside, in the middle of the open country, Flins. It took a lot of effort to get you to a point where we could safely move you. I reckon your faster healing is the only reason you’re alive.”
Flins sighed again. “So you know then.”
Lauma smiled after a moment. “I’ve suspected for a while. You’ve never been particularly subtle.”
Ah. Flins had fought for his life and narrowly escaped Death, only to be teased by his friend now. How terribly cruel.
“You’re right, my faster healing certainly helped. But I would have never managed to heal from that injury on my own”, he finally admitted. Flins looked over to Illuga’s sleeping face, tucked away against his arm. He shouldn't be sleeping like this, it would hurt his back. “How is he?”, Flins asked softly.
“He… was beside himself”, Lauma said slowly. “He made himself sick with worry, and it did not help that he ran uninterrupted from the northern beach at the Nothing Passage, all the way to the southern tip of Barrowmoss Barrens. He had nearly reached Nasha Town when I finally got to you two.”
Flins swallowed thickly. Had Illuga truly crossed more than half of the island in a sprint to get him help? All that rocky, rough terrain? How many enemies and monsters had he dodged on the way?
“He collapsed after he saw your injuries”, Lauma said softly. “I had to send Aedon back for more help. I wouldn't have been able to get you and Illuga back here without Nefer’s and Jahoda’s assistance.”
Oh, Illuga. His sweet little human. Flins yearned to wrap his arms around him and pull him into the bed, into his embrace. He wanted to reassure him, to wipe away any more tears that fell. Except, right now, Flins felt as weak as a newborn fawn. He knew it would only be a matter of days before he was back on his feet, his torso as smooth and unmarked as always. But until then… he was bound by this weak body.
“I looked after him too, of course, once you were stable”, Lauma said just then. Flins wasn’t sure whether he liked being read so easily. One look at his young partner and it had been enough for her to know what he was thinking about.
“I reckon Illuga refused to sleep in his own bed or on one of the couches in favor of staying near?”, Flins asked when he looked back at Lauma. She merely smiled at him. “You know him well.”
Flins sighed softly. He really wanted to hold Illuga then.
His attention was pulled once more when Lauma got up from where she’d been sitting. “Is there anything you need, Flins?”, she asked softly. “Water? Food? I admit I know little about the fae’s healing abilities and what might aid them.” In truth, Flins would have an easier time recovering if he turned back into his lantern form. Keeping up with the glamour, while it was a task that required no conscious thought, was something that took energy. Not a lot, but enough to hold back his recovery at least a little. But the thought of pulling his hand out of Illuga’s grasp while he was sleeping was a cruel one. So Flins shook his head and merely smiled reassuringly at his friend.
“Thank you Lauma, you have assisted me greatly already and I will not forget it”, Flins said. “Please, go rest. I will be fine on my own now. I shall meditate until morning comes, and I will already feel better by then.”
Lauma searched his face for a long moment before she crossed her hands in front of herself and nodded. “Very well”, she said quietly. “I will leave you be then. Aedon can always get me should you need me.” Flins knew that he wouldn’t, but he nodded agreeably all the same and then wished Lauma a good night. He briefly watched her leave before his eyes returned to Illuga’s sleeping figure.
Illuga usually wasn’t a light sleeper. His hyper vigilant partner always slept with one eye open, waking at the smallest sound. He really must be beat after the marathon across Lempo Isle he’d completed today. Flins sighed. He felt bad seeing him there, half sitting, half laying down.
Flins contemplated only for a brief moment before he braced his free hand beside himself. He exhaled slowly and then pushed himself up into a half sitting position. His vision went white and a shredding pain spread through his torso, telling him belatedly not to push it. Flins barely managed to hold back a pained wheeze. Lauma might have healed the worst of his injuries, and his own healing abilities had assisted well enough, but the damage had been too severe for him not to feel any lingering effects for now.
Flins took a steadying breath before he slowly turned, until he could place his hand on Illuga’s shoulder. He closed his eyes before summoning his flames, something made harder by his exhaustion and pain. Still, while it wasn’t as easy as usual to move through time and space, Flins was well enough to move Illuga along with him. A split second passed and Flins had moved over enough in the bed to make space for Illuga next to him. He still held Illuga’s hand, so it took some effort to drag the blanket over them both. When Flins had finally succeeded, he carefully laid down again. His entire torso ached from those few movements alone, but the result was well worth it. Illuga was still sleeping, next to him now, turning over into Flins’s body to seek his warmth even in sleep.
He closed his eyes and willed his mind to rest. For the second time in his life, Flins had woken that day from what might have been an eternal slumber. It was only after this second time that he felt truly glad about the matter, though.
Perhaps he was a fool, for Flins was disillusioned. He knew that no living being could hope to reach for tranquility and peace in the confines of a finite life. Only Death, kind as it was, could help one attain such serendipity. He wasn’t like his kin, the other fae, yearning for eternity while being ignorant of the fact that only Death could afford you as much. Flins should mourn the fact that he had walked past Death’s door twice now, without stepping through. Instead he was glad, relieved even.
For his future lay next to him. Sleeping peacefully, holding his hand. Unharmed.
Eternity was precious beyond measure, but so was Illuga to Flins. He knew that he did not have to fear Death. It was a peaceful thing, devoid of worries and emotions, perfect in the tranquility it offered to everyone equally. But Flins would rather live a finite life with his loved one, full of all the joys and tribulations life had to offer, than spend eternity knowing he had missed out on everything he could have had with Illuga by his side.
~~~
Illuga woke up sometime in the early morning, which was a small miracle for several reasons.
For one, he’d actually managed to sleep through the night. No nightmares, despite the horrendous previous day. No dreams at all, in fact, which was another small miracle. He must have been too exhausted for dreams.
He also hated sleeping in different, new places. He had been to the Curatorium before, of course, but not to sleep. A new bed always offered little rest to him.
Why was he in a bed anyway?
Illuga opened his bleary eyes and wiped tiredly over his face. He laid in bed under the blanket, still in his outer clothes from what he could tell, and had cuddled into Flins's body. At some point during the night he must have let go of his hand and instead held on to his arm. Flins’s eyes were already on him when Illuga finally looked up at his face.
“Good morning, young master”, Flins said softly. Illuga swallowed thickly. He wouldn't cry again. He would not cry again. But seeing Flins alive and well now nearly got him to that point. Illuga’s lips formed into a slight pout as he sniffed and then he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Flins's neck.
“Oh my”, Flins breathed lightly when Illuga pressed his face to his neck. A moment later his arms wrapped around him in turn, as steady as ever. It reassured him. Just a little.
They were quiet for a while. Illuga’s heart calmed again, and Flins' steady strength helped with that. He was alive. He’d survived. He hadn't left him. Illuga had managed to save him.
“Did you move me into the bed first thing after waking up?”, Illuga asked finally, his voice muffled because he refused to leave the sanctity that was Flins’s neck.
“I might have”, Flins said softly. “Lauma told me how much and how far you have had to run yesterday. You were exhausted. I did not want you to hurt your back and neck further, sleeping on that chair.”
Illuga could feel the consequences of his little sprint in his legs. His calves ached and his feet were worse, even while lying down. “I’ve survived worse”, Illuga mumbled anyway. “And I did it to save you. It was worth it.”
Flins sighed softly and tightened his arms around him. Illuga fully expected Flins to tell him as usual that he should look after himself more. It seemed to be one of his favorite topics, to insist that Illuga didn't care for himself enough. Instead, Flins said, “Thank you, my little light. I would have hated for our life together to be cut short.”
It took a moment before Illuga leaned back and looked up at Flins in surprise. Flins seemed a bit confused about Illuga’s obvious surprise after a moment, but he didn’t ask what had gotten into him. And Illuga didn’t ask Flins to elaborate. Did he want to hear what else Flins might have to say? Would it be just his usual charming and smooth-talking or did he mean his words as he said them? Illuga thought they hadn’t built much of a life together yet. Their duties kept them busy. Illuga’s past had prevented him from getting too attached to anyone for a very, very long time, especially romantically. They lived at different places, had different hobbies, were different in character and even in species. Their relationship was a recent development, only blossoming in the aftermath of the battle against the Doctor, when Illuga had come back from Snezhnaya after evacuating and hadn’t been sure Flins would even be alive.
Flins had told Illuga that he’d had feelings for him for a while now already, and Illuga had ignored his own feelings for a number of years. Neither of them had said those three words yet. Illuga hadn’t been worried about that; he wanted to take it slow.
Except, Flins had nearly gone dying on him again. And followed it up by saying that he didn’t want their life together to be cut short. What was a weak man like Illuga supposed to do with that?
“Me too”, Illuga whispered finally. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Flins’s lips. “Don’t ever do that again, Kyryll. You scared me yesterday.”
“I apologize. I did not mean to”, Flins said gently. He grasped one of Illuga’s hands and raised it to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to his palm. “But you must understand that I did it for very selfish reasons. It would have killed me to see your blood spilled, Illuga. And I knew that in that situation at least, I stood a better chance at surviving, especially with you by my side.”
Illuga wasn’t sure why it was this that drew tears into his eyes again. Was it because of how Flins had trusted him so unconditionally for no reason? All Illuga had done in the past when the worst had come to pass was to run. To run, and run, to get help, to get backup, but it had always been too late. He’d always failed, and Illuga had always been the only one to make it. Why would Flins trust a person like that? Why had he been so sure that Illuga wouldn’t mess this up? That he wouldn’t leave him to die too?
“Oh, Illuga”, Flins sighed and gently wiped his tears away when they fell. He pulled him close again, steady as ever, and gently rubbed his back. “My little sun, I’m here, aren’t I? Everything turned out okay.”
Illuga remained quiet. He was content hiding away in Flins’s arms at least for the moment. He would have stayed there longer hadn't he heard the creak of the door a minute or two later. Illuga quickly sat up and looked over to the door to find Lauma standing there.
“I… did not mean to interrupt you. Apologies”, she said gently as she walked into the room.
“You didn't– It’s fine”, Illuga said quickly as he hurriedly moved out of the bed and into the chair next to it again.
Lauma just smiled reassuringly at him as she moved over to Flins’s side. “How are you feeling this morning?”, she asked him. “Better”, Flins said simply. “I’ve had time to rest with my partner beside me. That alone helped greatly already.” Illuga flushed at Flins’s words, but the other two didn’t seem to notice. He watched as Lauma carefully helped Flins sit up and then removed the bandages to check on the wounds beneath. All the while Lauma asked Flins about his pain level, whether he could do this movement or that, whether he was sure there was nothing she could give him to aid him in his healing a little more.
Illuga got up at some point and rounded the bed so he could look at Flins’s wounds before Lauma covered them in fresh bandages. Most of Flins’s torso was bruised, though the coloring had already changed from vibrant purple and blue to green and yellow overnight. The wounds that the spikes on the axe had left behind looked like craters in his torso with new skin stretching over them. Lauma had told him that the one at his sternum had been particularly bad because that spike had penetrated the bone. Still, they had to be glad that nothing worse had been hit. Any deeper and it might have punctured Flins’s lungs or heart.
When Flins noticed Illuga watching him so closely, he looked down at himself. “It is rare that I see this body in such a state”, he mused out loud after a moment. “There is no need to look so glum, though, Illuga. These wounds will be gone in a matter of days.”
“I suppose”, Illuga said softly. “You got lucky.”
“I didn’t. I had you with me, and we both happen to know an exceptional healer.”
Lauma only smiled at Flins’s words. She didn’t let him distract her from wrapping new bandages around him. “Stop it with the smooth-talking, Flins.”
Flins sighed exaggeratedly. “How cruel. Always these allegations from my very own friends.”
“Considering your close brush with death, you certainly seem to be in good spirits today, Flins.” Illuga looked back over his shoulder when he heard Nefer’s voice. Flins smiled when he saw her come in. “Ah, Nefer. Good morning to you too. Nothing like nearly dying to raise one’s spirit, hm?” Nefer huffed a soft laugh as she strolled into the room. She watched Lauma work briefly before her eyes settled on Illuga.
“Jahoda just came back from Piramida”, she told him. “The starshyna has been informed of what happened. They sent a group of lightkeepers to deal with the wild hunt outbreak you encountered. Any stragglers you left over should soon be dealt with.”
Illuga’s shoulders sagged slightly in relief. “Alright, that’s good. Thank you, Nefer.”
Nefer shrugged as if it was no big deal, but Illuga knew that this was just another debt to her that she could call upon.
Lauma finally finished wrapping the new bandages and got up again. As if Flins had read Illuga’s mind, he said, “I have incurred a life debt to all of you. You have my utmost gratitude, and I will work hard to pay you all back in kind.”
Illuga blinked in surprise, and even Lauma looked taken aback. It was Nefer who sighed and shook her head. “While I would love to make use of something like that… You aren't indebted to me, Flins. All I did was help Lauma bring you here and give you a room to rest. Illuga is the one who saved you, and Lauma is the one who healed you.”
Flins’s features relaxed a fraction at her words. Illuga sat down next to him at the end of the bed and wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Are debts truly such a serious thing for the fae?”, he asked. “I thought it was more of a… cautionary tale from legends that’s told to children.”
“And yet, don't all legends stem from reality?”, Flins said, not looking at him, or any of them. Flins was always so easy going, it was almost unusual to see him so serious. The others seemed to notice it too. Nefer and Lauma exchanged a silent look, though neither of them said anything before Flins continued.
“Back in the old days, you humans were right to fear us. Some of my kin would go out of their way to save mortals – incurring a life debt forced a lot of them into servitude. And those few humans that were smart enough to offer something of equal value instead, such as their true names, their memories, or their luck, were they really better off at the end?”
A shiver inexplicably ran down Illuga's spine as he listened to Flins’s voice. He sounded strangely detached as he looked back, staring into the distance as he let those memories come to him.
“Life debts are a serious issue”, Flins went on softly. “This is where you get the rule from to never thank a fae. For what is thanking someone, if not acknowledging that you are indeed indebted to them? So forgive me for treating this so seriously. Paying you back after you saved my life is the only course of action in my eyes. You do not need to acknowledge this, nor do you have to reassure me. Just know that should you ever need my help, I will lend you my hand.”
“Very well”, Lauma said after a moment of silence. Flins blinked and finally he smiled again. He looked like he’d returned from his memories back to the present.
“Given what I just told you, I am loath to ask you for another favor”, Flins said. “But please, I would be grateful if you could keep the matter of my identity a secret.”
Nefer raised a brow at that. “I did not realize that it was a secret you were trying all too hard to keep.” Flins laughed sheepishly, though he winced immediately in pain and raised a hand towards his chest. Illuga frowned and rubbed over his back until he relaxed again. “Well… Not everyone has such astute eyes as you, Nefer. And as a matter of fact, most people only see what they wish to see anyway. It does not require any trickery from my side to make them keep their beliefs that I am merely a bit of an odd sort.”
“You didn't have to ask”, Lauma said simply and crossed her arms. “We’re friends. Your secrets are ours. Isn't that right, Nefer?”
Nefer sighed softly and nodded. “Of course, yes.”
Illuga fought to hold back a smile at the face Nefer made. He looked back at Flins and leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek. “Alright, so now that that’s all settled, how about another day of rest for you and we can head back to Piramida tomorrow?”
Flins made a face. “I am perfectly capable of heading back today already. Also, why do you want to go to Piramida?”
“You literally almost died yesterday. And to keep an eye on you, of course.”
“Oh, Illuga. Am I not a picture of heal– Oh. Oh my.”
Flins had gotten up from the bed to probably show them just how well he was already, only to crumble right in front of them. Illuga had luckily gotten up immediately and caught Flins with a strong arm around his waist before he could fall, his other hand settling on his shoulder to steady him as he helped him sit down again.
“Mhm. Yeah, sure”, Illuga said dryly. “You really showed us there.”
Lauma chuckled softly as Illuga made Flins lie down again. Flins made a face all the while, both from being in pain and being wrong, which was only soothed when Illuga pressed a peck to his lips. He sighed when Illuga pulled the blanket over him and tucked him in a moment later.
“Do you want something to eat? To drink? I could bring you breakfast”, Illuga asked.
“Jahoda said she would be making tea after she’s freshened up a little”, Nefer offered.
“I’m fine”, Flins sighed again. “But it is very much appreciated. I suppose I shall simply rest for a while.”
Illuga smiled as he stepped back. He’d probably bring Flins something to eat and drink later anyway. For now he’d go eat with the others, though, and leave Flins to rest. Illuga appreciated the others’ company in any case. He’d always been able to calm down best in the company of friends. Besides, he still had Jahoda to thank for making the trip all the way to Piramida.
Illuga only came back to check on Flins an hour later, and found him gone from his bed. His eye already wanted to twitch in irritation at his impossible partner when he saw something peek out of the blanket at the top. Illuga walked closer, only to realize that it was the top of Flins’s lantern that was hidden by the blanket. He couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
He settled on his knees beside the bed and propped his elbows on the mattress. Illuga rested his chin on one of his palms and with the other hand he reached out, gently tracing the metalwork of the lantern. It was warm, and the flame within the lantern flickered as merrily as always. No longer an ominous purple, but the soft azure Illuga was used to.
“Do you rest more easily like this?”, Illuga asked, sounding vaguely amused.
“This form helps me conserve energy.”
Illuga startled slightly, not having expected his partner’s voice to come from the lantern. “I didn’t realize you can speak like this, Kyryll.”
“I love to surprise.”
They both fell quiet for a moment. Illuga tugged the blanket a little down so he could gently press his palm against the aged glass of the lantern. “Is this okay?”, he whispered softly. He hadn’t forgotten Flins’s words – that touching a lantern fae’s lantern was an incredibly intimate act. But perhaps so was cradling your loved one to your chest as they bled out while you carried them to safety. Illuga thought that it couldn’t get more intimate than that.
“Yes”, came Flins’s hushed reply. Did Illuga imagine it or did he sound… nervous? Was he flustered? What was Flins thinking? What did this mean to him? Illuga couldn’t begin to guess.
He stared down into the flickering flame, his thumb gently caressing the old, tinted glass. Illuga leaned a little further over the bed to bring himself closer. His other hand reached for the lantern on its other side to smooth his finger down the light metal casing that held the glass. The flames reacted to his exploring touch, dimming for a heartbeat before glowing ever brighter. How unexpectedly expressive. It made Illuga smile.
Illuga recognized the immense trust Flins must hold for him to let him touch him like this. It was an honor, really. He wondered how many humans had ever found themselves in this position before, having a lantern fae lie beneath them like this. It was a special moment, one Illuga would treasure in his heart. The flame shivered, pressing against the glass from within when Illuga leaned down to kiss it ever so gently. The glass was warm beneath his lips, welcoming, and it made Illuga rest his head on the sheets when he pulled back. He didn’t mind staying like this for a while.
“Young master”, Flins said after a moment, his voice shaking just slightly. The tremor in it was barely audible, but Illuga knew Flins well enough to hear it immediately. “Will you lie down with me?” Illuga smiled and silently got back into bed. He lay down on his side and gently picked up the lantern to bring it closer against him. Illuga could admit that he needed this as much as Flins apparently did. This scene stood in stark contrast to what they’d been subjected to just the day before. Illuga would never forget that day. He would never forget the utter horror he felt when Flins pushed him out of harm’s way, only to hear the dull sound of a weapon meeting soft flesh and Flins’s pained grunt a moment later. Illuga would never forget the burn in his lungs and legs as he ran, this very same lantern cradled to his chest, growing ever colder as the flame within grew weaker.
Illuga needed this, because he needed a softer, sweeter memory to overshadow the bad one. He needed to feel that Flins was alive and well, and most of all, safe in his arms. So, Illuga settled into the sheets. He drew the blanket tight around them, and held Flins tight as he recuperated.