Asan’s smirk filled his vision as Hekai slashed his sword to erase it, but laughter echoed through his mind, mocking his attempts. A scream pulled his attention, Kori’s scream. Then pain. A blade. Ripping his body in half. Am I dead? No. I won’t die. I can’t. She needs me. Kori’s terrified eyes replaced Asan’s smug face. She warned him. If he didn’t move just enough, death would have at long last come for him. Kori stood with him. His blade in her hands. What is she doing? She’s going to get hurt. NO! Light surrounded her. Her eyes, focused. She struck the fiend that attacked him. Then struck the roof, collapsing it. His body moved before he thought.
Gentle fingers stroked his forehead. From his fevered dream, he opened his eyes with a jolt and grabbed Kori’s wrist. Looking around, it took a few deep breaths for him to collect himself. A round fire pit ablaze. Stone walls with a heavy door at one end. “The Old Bastion?”
“I think so,” Kori answered.
“We were here a few weeks ago,” he said as he released her. Pain shot through him afresh, as if his back muscles ripped themselves apart. Clutching his slashed arm to his side, he sat up on the stone bench. Every movement sent burning, crippling agony throughout his body. Blood already started to flow again and drip to the floor.
“We need to stop the bleeding,” Kori whispered, her voice shaky.
“I’m fine,” Hekai groaned. Already, the muscle fragments began to slowly stitch themselves back together. The pull of the wound attempting to close brought new waves of anguish. His stomach churned. “Don’t waste your energy.”
Kori looked around the dim room before bolting over to the crates that stored extra items. Pulling out a large burlap bag, Kori rush back over and crouched in front of him before pulling out some familiar medical supplies. She reached over to start unstrapping his vest, but he grabbed her wrist.
“I said I’m fine.” He shoved her hand away. “The bleeding will stop soon.”
“But-” Kori protested. With effort, he brought his gaze to meet hers. Her eyes grew large with emotion and she placed her hand on his. “You need treatment. Please?”
He wanted to comfort her. To reassure her. To touch her like he did at the inn. It took every ounce of restraint within him to keep calm when she invited him into bed with her. If she had been facing me instead of the wall, I would have kissed her and probably more. The second she fell asleep he fled from the room. His hands still ached with want of her warmth.
“You have done so much for me.” Tears streamed down her face. “It’s the least I can do. Please?”
“But I don’t need-” he began, but she interrupted him.
“They would have taken me if it wasn’t for you.” Her body tremored. “I know I’m a burden and even I don’t know what I am, but please let me do what I can to help you.”
He sat and listened to her while studying her distraught features. The pain frayed his vision and filled his mind to the point he could barely understand her words, but her delicate face broke through it all. Maybe, for once, I can be a little selfish…
“Also I’m not sure if you’ll understand this, but I feel like I need to do something good after…” A sob drowned her words.
“Alright,” he whispered. He reached up, hand shaking, and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Is this your blood? Are you hurt?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“I’m sorry.” He dropped his hand, unable to hold it up anymore.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I should’ve seen him coming.” He clenched his jaw and hung his head. “I should’ve done better.”
“He came out of nowhere. There was no warning.” He watched as her fingers found the hem of her skirt. She does that a lot. Is she nervous? His chest fulled with pleasure at the thought of making her nervous. “I… actually thought you were amazing.”
A smile tugged at his mouth for a moment. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen anything like it. No matter what that Asan guy did, you didn’t give up once. Not even after the other guy jumped you.” She hardly took a breath, the words came so fast.
“I still can’t beat Steffen though,” he said with a painful laugh. His lungs protested at the excessive use.
“Not sure anyone can.” Kori smiled. “He fought off a group with one arm while carrying me.”
“Sounds like him. I bet he didn’t even pull his axes from his belt, did he?”
“No,” Kori said. “He took their weapons.”
“Yep, that’s Steffen,” Hekai groaned. “I don’t think he’d use them unless the world was ending.”
She snickered. “I should clean you up.”
She reached over to unfasten the straps of his thick, leather vest. Her fumbling fingers worked the strips through the buckles under his arms and on his shoulder. She slid the leather armor vest off with care. His body stiffened when it brushed the wound on his back. He bit his tongue so as not to call out.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“It’s fine. Had to be done,” he said, his voice strained.
“I… I learned a little about this in school.” She babbled as she worked. He focused on her words, happy for the distraction. His eyes fell on the soft skin of her neck. “Instead of Gym class my last year of middle school, I took first aid. I even got certified.”
“School?” he asked, his eyes trailing her exposed collarbone.
“Y… yeah.” She stumbled when her eyes met his. “It’s where you go to learn about stuff. It was where I was when we first met.”
“Hmm…” he said. He continued to examine her. “Is that so?”
“You know, I always wished for it,” Kori blurted.
“For what?” His eyes shot to her face.
“To meet you,” she confessed, fiddling with the edge of the leather. “I’ve always seen you and wondered who you were. But now I’m not sure it was a good thing. I’ve caused you nothing but trouble since I got here, and all because of a selfish wish.”
Hekai’s hesitation dissolved. His hands itched to touch her smooth skin, but his body screamed not to move. Instead he leaned his forehead on her shoulder. The closeness only ignited his desire further. He stifled the urge to kiss her neck and nibble at her collar bone, but his thoughts still swarmed around desire to know what she tasted like. She smells like grass and sunshine.
“Ah! What… what’s wrong?” Her body froze on contact.
“Just tired.” He tilted his head closer to her neck.
“If… If it’s too much, just tell me.”
“Not physically,” Hekai whispered. Does she know she’s killing me? He traced the crevice between her neck and shoulder with the tip of his nose. She gasped and a quiet moan escaped her throat. He smirked, thrilled at her reaction. If he wasn’t wounded, if they were completely alone, how far could he go? Could he reach out his hand and make her his? Make her stay with him? No, I can’t. She has a home to go back to. He banished the thought with a cry from his soul, more painful than the gash on his back.
“Wha… What do you mean?” Kori asked
Hekai sat up with a groan. “It’s nothing.”
“O… Okay.” Hands trembling, she set the tattered garment aside. Looking in the bag, she pulled out a knife. She stood, seeming to want to cut his shirt off at the wound site. A gasp shot from her. With the amount of pain radiating from the gash, he knew it couldn’t be good. The strands of severed muscle that pulled to stitch back together had not connected yet. Must be down to the bone… Kori swallowed audibly, as if trying to keep her stomach in check.
“There is no need to concern yourself,” Hekai said, trying to placate her distress. “I’ve dealt with worse.”
“What could be worse?” she said with a broken voice.
“You’ll see,” Hekai said in shame. As useful as his healing ability is, it tended to leave very visible scars. Few parts of his body were unmarred.
Kori used the knife to cut away the shirt. After sheathing the knife, she tossed it back into the bag. She pulled the cloth away from his skin and towards his front and slipped his arms out with ease. She gasped, dropped the shirt, and cupped her mouth in shock. Hekai knew all too well of the damage his training and lack of self preservation had caused across his body.
“I know,” Hekai said, averting his gaze. “Not the prettiest of sights.”
Kori shook her head. “You’ve lived through so much pain and all I’ve done is give you another scar.”
“Kori,” he said, looking into her eyes. “I’d be in worse pain if something happened to you. I’d take this any day over that.”
“But why?” She knelt down in front of him.
“You ask that after putting yourself in danger to save me?” He smiled.
Kori’s eyes grew wide for a moment, flushing color across her cheeks. She averted her eyes and nodded before continuing her work. Kori stood to retrieve the water skins and a bucket from nearby. She grabbed a piece of cloth, soaked it with the water and leaned in closer to wipe clean the dried blood, dirt and sweat from his chest and arms. Hekai closed his eyes and sighed in pleasure at the touch of the cold cloth. She squeezed out the cloth into the bucket and re-soaked it to continue with his neck and shoulders. Careful yet firm, her touch only made him crave her more. Every time he locked eyes with her, she avoided his gaze with the color in her face deepened and spread from her ears to her neck. The need to feel how hot her skin was flared so suddenly Hekai didn’t register his hand reaching for her till a bang on the door startled him to retract it. Steffen entered the room and caught the two occupants off guard. When his eyes landed on Kori with the cloth in her hand helping Hekai, his expression became unreadable. Damn it. I’m not going to hear the end of this. Hekai averted eye contact.
“Young Miss,” Steffen said, his tone coated with golden honey. “I wondered if you could do me a favor and give me a moment with Hekai. There is something important I need to discuss with him.” He noticed her obvious confusion. “There is a spring about 50 yards up the path. Would you be so kind as to fill the water bladders?”
“Oh, uh… Sure.” She looked back at Hekai, glancing at his hand before shaking her head. “Oh, wait… I still…”
“No need to worry, I will finish with him,” Steffen dismissed.
“Okay.” Reluctant, she gathered the bladders and, with one last look at Hekai, left.
