Coming Home, Coming Home

"Coming Home, Coming Home" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
Akkey opened her eyes in one motion, staring blankly up the ceiling of the makeshift infirmary that was set up for the teleportation team. She could only vaguely remember snippets--the last pop of a portal, a flap of wings, mud and ground caking her face. And a shadow in a dream, barely missed.
It was morning twilight, the room swathed in the dull light of pre-dawn, and as much as her body screamed silently in pain, she forced herself out of bed. She had to go.
"It's only been a couple hours," Juro said quietly from his own resting place, stretched out on the rickety bed with one tired arm over his eyes. He had no plans to sleep, much to Milae's discontent when they stumbled earlier on to where he laid now, but even he knew exactly how much of a toll the portals took on everyone--two hours of unconsciousness was barely a dent in his own recovery, let alone hers.
"Everyone is still knocked out."
"Yeah." Akkey took a moment to collect herself, sitting on the side of the bed with her head in her hands.
"So get back under the covers and sleep--"
"You think I can sleep here? Within the Jaws of Fenrir?" There was bitterness and fear in her voice, and if it wasn't for shadowing side effects, a darkness would've passed her eyes, "Managed to hold myself together long enough to do what I came here for. Did... something with the shadows and Liam, that was fucking great. But I'm not about to risk going through an attack with this many injured people around me, especially in my state," she said, stubborn and tired and soft.
Akkey stood, one hand supporting herself on the bedpost as she shot a look towards the Bookkeeper, accompanied by the resting figures of Milae and Dario on another sleeping spot. Her expression softened slightly at the sight of them, feeling like she hadn't seen them in years before tonight. She made a mental note to invite them to Yrus for a vacation when they could.
She turned on her heel, and slowly made her way out the building in a slightly staggering line. But she paused at the foot of another bed, where Liam laid, with the sleeping Kendra and Vox near him, and surely Nala hovering somewhere unseen. She came up to the side, observing his pale face and the worried lines that creased his family's foreheads. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have made it through the last set of portals.
Akkey twisted the corner of her lips, passing a still shaky hand over her mouth in worry for the boy before knocking her arm against his, now certainly becoming a habit, "Thanks for the help, kid. I owe you big time. Really." she said in a low tone so as not to wake anyone else.
"You take my place in the portal train back. I'll have a story for you in payment," she gave Juro a final look, begging for the favour, but he waved a weak hand up in reply.
"On the house."
Akkey raised her brows in slight surprise, but took the opportunity. She nodded and left, heading to where Stonegit was to take him home.
moe-lazyeye
She found the man, tired and cold outside. The wind blew across his beaten and swollen face as he hugged his heavy, green shirt closer around him. He gave her a smile, his arms looking a little better thanks to the healing efforts. "Morning..." he said.
Despite his battered state, he too appeared ready to make his way home.
akkeyagentofhelheim
"Gods, Stones, why aren't you waiting inside!" Akkey hurried closer towards him as much as her legs would let her, crouching before him as she flicked a wrist to regulate the temperature around them. Her brow creased apologetically, "I'm sorry, I wanted to go back earlier, I didn't... I overexerted myself."
She gripped his knee in place of his hands, not wanting to hurt him further, "Shall we?"
moe-lazyeye
"I've handled worse than a little cold weather. " Stones said good naturedly as he helped support her. "And if there's anyone guilty of wandering out in a frozen wilderness for too long its you."
He breathed a slow sigh, and then nodded. "Yes. Let's go..."
akkeyagentofhelheim
"Oh, hush," she groaned, but couldn't help the small grin that split her face. She twirled her hand around, water trailing the path in the air then streaming down to the ground, widening into the usual portal, bubbling over the snow and mud, above their ankles, knees, and finally submerging them above their heads.
The hum lingered, then it was quiet again, as most of the Rebellion continued to rest.
--
Juro was right--she should've waited a little longer.
Akkey made sure that she was supporting Stonegit as well as she could despite the difference in size, so that he wouldn't get hurt further, as the portal deposited them right inside the tavern door. But she lacked her usual control, and they were thrown up from the ground unceremoniously and landed back on the floorboards with a tangle of limbs and a loud crash, slightly damp instead of completely dry.
"Oww. Fuck, sorry... Are you okay..." Her head spun.
moe-lazyeye
"Yeah." Stonegit squeaked as he cradled his arms, and endeavoured to untangle himself from Akkey. "We better get up though. Stressed or not, if Blunt sees this he's going to say-"
Blunt clamored into the room with wide eyes. When he saw them, their state, their injuries, a million thoughts could be seen in the reflection of his eyes. However...
"Sweetbutt! You never told me you were bi!"
Was what he ultimately ended up saying. And a moment later he had thrown himself down to join them on the floor, so that he could take them up into his long arms.
akkeyagentofhelheim
"Wait, wait, it was just-- oww Blunt what the Hel--!"
She had no opportunity to get her bearings as he scooped them up, engulfing her beneath one arm and Stonegit in the other. But there was no more strength left in her to even resist, and in the silence of the early morning, away from the battlefield and the Jaw's terror, simply the warmth of him enveloping her and the feeling of safety--she couldn't help but laugh despite the pain throughout her.
"We're home..." she laughed again, but with a slight break in her voice, the prick of tears threatening the corners of her eyes as her body was beginning to come down from the high of adrenaline.
moe-lazyeye
"You're home." Blunt confirmed as he buried his face into her shoulder, and then shifted around so he tenderly cup Stonegit's face. "Hel below." He breathed, the relief in his expression palpable. "The other guy better look awful Stones. What have you done to yourself?"
"Only what you knew I was going to." Stonegit said, as he closed his eyes, and leaned into his hand.
akkeyagentofhelheim
"He beat Vidar to a fucking pulp, that's what he did," she shook her head as if disapprovingly, but truthfully with toxic satisfaction as she remembered how the man looked like as he was lead away. She rubbed an eye and gently kissed the side of Blunt's head, then untangled herself from them so Stonegit could finally lie down, carefully getting to her feet.
Her hand waved weakly to dry herself and Stonegit off as she made her way to the bar in a staggered line, resting heavily on a stool, "Dario did what he could with his arms, but you're still gonna need proper care on those... On top of everything else..." she said, worried.
moe-lazyeye
Blunt tsked his tongue in fret as he gave a better examination of Stonegit. “Baby how could you hurt yourself like this?” His usual humor was not present for that statement, and Stonegit let himself curled closer against him.
“I…” Stonegit said dryly, but didn’t finish his sentence. 
Blunt’s face faltered as he checked him closer, noted where his shirt was stained…and how. He put on a warm face as he gathered him up and kissed his cheek. A moment or two later, Stonegit was wrapped up on the couch, and Blunt stepped over to Akkey and slipped an arm around her waste, as if to show he would help keep her up. He held her close, and murmured under his breath. “Akkey…During this fight…did have to kill anyone?” 
She opened her mouth to reply but her voice was stuck in her throat, flicking her eyes towards Stonegit as she went down the line of Conclave soldiers she encountered to get to him… and then after.
Multiple soldiers caught and drowned in the frenzied deluge when the barrier came down. Every slice across a neck and stab through the chest for every enemy that tried to cut her off in her search. The bloody gore that Koiroll left behind, raining on her and Liam, his blood lust ringing loud and dangerous between them as shadows flickered uncontrollably. People caught in ice spikes and muddy waves as they took down the construct. The intentional, Ragnarok-like drowning of villages worth of Conclave riots, crushing under the weight of the ocean, saltwater churning and unforgiving under her finger tips as bodies struggled helplessly.
She could barely nod in response, covering her mouth with the back of a trembling hand that tingled at the finger tips where the shadows would’ve started, as if forcefully stopping her breath from coming out in a dark, smokey mist she knew gave her power, but still frightened her so, so much.
moe-lazyeye
Blunt very carefully held her a bit closer. “Did you?” He asked quietly, even though he already knew the answer. 
akkeyagentofhelheim
“…yeah.”
It came out in a hoarse whisper as she clenched her hands, fingernails digging into her palms, dipping her head to hide her face, “A lot…”
moe-lazyeye
Blunt had never known the horror of killing another. For a moment he felt like a coward. A damn coward. He had stayed behind, even though he had been by Akkey’s side the last time she had been in a wide spread warzone. He had stayed behind even though he knew that the chances of Stonegit being forced to throw away so much of what he had worked towards had been exponentially high.
But then he stopped…and took a breath.
It was okay…he always knew he wasn’t a killer. Never would, could, or wanted. And Akkey and Stonegit alike needed someone like that. Even more, he would not be so lucky as he had during ragnarok, should he have dared to venture into war again. He knew he was a combative liability.
No…his place was here. His place was giving them a home where they could heal.
Blunt pulled her ever closer as he glanced between them. Clothes needed to be changed. Blood needed to be washed. Loved ones had to be cared for.
He kissed the top of her head, and his heart skipped a beat when he heard Stonegit twitch once from the couch. The man had had started to drift off, and had been stirred back to conciouness from unpleasant memories. He pulled his lips away from her brow. “Can you fill the bath with hot water? I’m going to get each of you fresh clothes, and real food. I know it’s not much. But we can start by soaking some of this off.”
akkeyagentofhelheim
She shivered slightly, shaking herself out of her own trance, and nodded, rubbing her eyes and getting on her feet carefully, “Yeah. Yeah I can…” She glanced towards Stonegit as she left the two men, heading to the bathroom, wishing again for the third time that day that she had healing abilities like Hunter.
The water spilled into the bath, steaming at its surface as it filled up and warmed the room. Akkey watched it swirling around, leaning heavily against the edge of with her hands, sleeves and bracers torn from the Koiroll fight. Ah shit. I left my sword behind. She remembered randomly with a disappointed wrinkle of her nose.
The water churned again as it reached the top, and she turned the tap off. She so badly wanted to go to the cove, the lake water there will always have a comfort no other place will ever have, but she was simply out of portals. She pulled out towels and bandages, and medicine from the cabinet that she hoped would help the bodyguard even a little, and stepped slightly out of the bathroom with the bundle in her arms, “It’s ready…”
moe-lazyeye
A few moments later, Blunt eased himself into the bathroom with a tray of food. Easy cuts of bread, meat and cheese. Something that would nourish and fill them, yet still be easily managed from a reclined positions. With a foot he nudged open the fire box under the bath, and laid the groundworks for what would eventually become a bed of coals. Akkey’s water manipulation abilities had been a good call for getting the water to temperature quickly, but he didn’t want her to have to worry about it after this. She needed to relax, they all did.
Stonegit carefully stepped inside as he gingerly rubbed his sore arms and shoulders. Dario and the healers had done a great job of fusing up the cracks in his bones. But the tender pain and low mobility would doubtless last weeks. Blunt had also seen to it that Stonegit had gotten out of his well traveled clothes, and into a clean pair of bathing shorts. With an exhale, Stonegit practically melted into the water with a groan. Blunt helped him settle in and then turned to Akkey as he passed her a fresh set of clothes, ones that were also suited for soaking in a bath. “Here…” He said quietly as he brushed a bit of her hair. 
I can’t rush them…but all of this…it’s already been on their minds for days upon days…cold, warzone sponge baths don’t do anything for grime and blood. Ration packs don’t shake off the ghosts that come with a day full of killing and screams…I can’t rush them…But I need to move them away from that battle as quickly as I can…
akkeyagentofhelheim
She glanced up at  Blunt at his touch, looking very small and fragile as she clutched the bundle in her arms. But she didn’t move when he spoke, staring somewhat blankly towards the water, feeling timid and intrusive all of a sudden after spending all of her energy searching, chasing, and fighting for Stonegit, and now it skidded to a full stop and it was calm and slow. So she hesitated.
“Uhh. It’s fine. I can go after…” she blinked, a little confused with herself. 
moe-lazyeye
“Mm-m.” Blunt quietly disagreed as he led her behind a changing curtain. “You’re both exhausted, and hungry, and I’ve missed you both terribly. So lets all eat, drink, and soak this off together.” He snuffed his nose against her ear and hairline a little in play. “Besides. Anything that involves doing something after Stones is done, can happen in the cabin. This we can share though.” 
akkeyagentofhelheim
The hand that shot up to push him away by the chin came so fast it was almost like Akkey had a burst of energy, but it lacked the usual force as she squinted up at him with the characteristic nose wrinkle and flushed cheeks, head shaking in exasperation and amusement. “Fine…” It was a blur of clothes and belts as she relented and swept past him, scurrying to the bath and submerging herself immediately up until over her nose like a blanket on the opposite side.
The relief that washed over her was almost instant, and she expelled air into the water, letting it bubble to the top as she automatically breathed underneath without thought, having done it so many times, her long hair spilling over on the surface like multiple dark tendrils, eyes closing almost all the way through. Okay this isn’t so bad…
moe-lazyeye
Stonegit’s eyes were heavy lidded as he absent-mindedly reached over to eat a wedge of bread. “If I fall asleep…please don’t let me drown…” he mumbled.
It was truly an effort to foster a relaxed and casual atmosphere by having Stonegit and Akkey dawn their respective bathwear. But Blunt had no time for such luxuries as he settled his naked self in the third corner of the steaming waters with a sigh.
akkeyagentofhelheim
“‘Kay…” Akkey replied through the water, words bubbling and barely audible as she leaned back, her eyes following Blunt cross her line of sight with a mildly entertained squint. She was quickly realizing how more tired she was than hungry as she unknowingly sank even further into the warmth.
moe-lazyeye
Blunt casually slipped his arms wide on either side of himself. That way, in the event of either one of his partners falling sleep in the tub, he could catch the back of their heads to prevent them from drowning.
“I am…so glad you are both alive.” He said, and his heart nearly skipped a beat at the mere thought of the alternative. “If I had lost either of you…”
Stonegit glanced at him, and his eyes lowered. “I’m sorry Blunt…”
Blunt raised a hand. “No…as insane and risky as it was…what you did…it needed to happen. For more reasons than one.” He squinted a little. “Also, you might be hiding it really well. But I can tell by the look on your face…you’re too damn proud of yourself to handle apologizing.” He gave a wink.
Stonegit paused, and then slowly lowered into the water to hide his smile. “Yeah…” he murmured.
“Hel yeah,” Akkey laughed under her breath in agreement. Her mind rolled back to the Koiroll fight; as worrying and stressful that battle was, the outcome –and the path to it– was nothing short of amazing. Her right hand came up above the water, following the lines her old scar made on her palm. She squinted slightly, and the water around it coiled then suspended into a small tendril, which wasn’t new at all, but this time it was tinged with black shadows, a dark mist floating just above her sharp, manicured nails.
moe-lazyeye
“Everything okay there darling?” Blunt asked. Neither of the two noticed him quietly brace his hands on the edge of the tub.
Here’s hoping I didn’t use that emergency portal recklessly…
“What’s that color?”
akkeyagentofhelheim
She was distracted from studying the water for a moment, then looked up in attention. Her hand closed quickly and it bubbled inside her palm, hiding it from view, “Oh, it’s uh…”
Akkey frowned, then slowly opened it again to show them. It suspended itself higher into the air, churning in an endless, personal cycle,  “I learned some new tricks yesterday thanks to Liam.” The very small amount of darkness swirled for a few more seconds, then dissipated into nothing. Her brows were creased, but there was a small grin that pulled at her cheeks as well. She laughed lightly, “This was just like… leftovers, I guess you could call it? I can’t do it by myself. But Liam did… something with his shadows, and it… mixed with mine, and cold and dark went together. Like black ice…”
She looked up at both of them, twisting the corner of her lips up hesitantly, uncertain, “I think… it helps…” She blinked her eyes slowly, smoldering green like an old fire.
moe-lazyeye
“So it works for you the way Blunt’s liver works for him?” Stonegit asked mildly, his eyes closed as the back of his head leaned against the edge of the tub. 
“Pardon me.” Blunt said with mock offense. “I only drank…a little…in your absence.”
“It was a keg a day-” 
“Yeah it was a keg a day…” Blunt admitted as he hung his head a little. He then glanced at Akkey. “Still though…this could be huge for you. That extra cushion of security and peace of mind. It could do wonders.”
akkeyagentofhelheim
She had laughed at the light jabbing, then nodded, “It already did, I think.” The fact that even her short rest at the Jaw that morning had gone that well was a good thing.
“I might go talk to Liam again and figure that shit out,” she stretched, before moving to drag herself out of the bath, water trailing off her and back into the tub in a drying motion. It had calmed her down sufficiently that she was ready to just crash. 
“I need to sleep, so I’m gonna go ahead…” Akkey passed a gentle hand over Stonegit’s forehead at the same time to brush away a lock of hair and waving away the cold droplets that were left on his face still in worry. “Taking the extra bed.” She mumbled with a tired wave, turning away to head out first.
moe-lazyeye
Stonegit raised a hand lazily in response to her touch to bid her goodbye. For a moment, the motion made him feel like he needed to slip under the water. But he stopped himself at the last minute, as the water was far too hot for that right now. “Rest well.” He mumbled, still mostly asleep. 
Blunt reached out to give Akkey’s a gentle squeeze as she passed. “Hm, no, main bed will do just fine, as long as you’re comfortable with it. I’ll just sleep in the middle.” 
akkeyagentofhelheim
“Yeah, okay,” she was too tired to resist, and went to curl up under the covers, blankets characteristically pulled up to her nose, already asleep before her head even hit the pillow, finally home.