Writing Prompts Archive/12/Escher Strange

Tia’s hands hovered above the purplish-red bruise covering Escher’s right shoulder. “Hold still.”

A small sphere of light pulsated above the wound. The pink-haired Hyur grimaced, biting his lip to hold back the pain. Half the bruise lightened slightly, leaving a jaundiced patch on his skin. Tia exhaled. “That’s the best Vercure can do. You have to take it easy for the wound to fully recover.”

Escher pulled his sleeve back up and rotated his shoulder; the sharp pain stopped him. “Tch, that’s my casting arm.”

Tia grabbed a bread roll from the basket. “Maybe next time don’t stand in front of a nine-fulm-tall beast when it’s about to attack.”

“I was casting.”

“I’ve seen you do instant fireballs. Do those instead.”

“I can’t do those all the time, that would put me out of my leylines.”

Tia dipped the bread into his bowl of soup. “Is it so important you stay in that circle?”

“It makes my magic stronger.”

“Escher, you can’t cast stronger magic if you’re unconscious.” Tia pointed the half-eaten bread at his spouse. “You’re lucky our conjurer pulled you away, or you’d suffer worse.”

“Maybe if she didn’t pull me away I could’ve gotten my last shot in,” he grumbled. “Then we could have finished sooner and I won’t have a popped shoulder.”

“Or take longer because you would be *eating dirt*.” The Miqo’te growled.

“That’s why I need to stand *in* the leylines, why is that so hard to understand?”

Tia slammed the table so hard the few people left in the tavern stared at them. He shouted, “So just get your magic lines to heal you next time!” and stormed up the stairs to his room.

“I’m working on that!” Escher shouted, but Tia was gone. The other patrons returned to their matters.

He turned to the shadowy figure leaning against the fireplace. “You saw it. You agree, don’t you?”

Lynn continued to silently nurse his ale.

“I don’t think I’m being unreasonable to not move until the leylines disappear. It eventually does, so if I can bring down the enemy, I don’t see-”

“Escher.”

He stopped. Light bounced off Lynn’s golden eye, glowing brightly in the dark.

“We already take a lower cut paying off everyone to keep your secret.”

Escher knitted his brows. “‘We’? It should only be coming out of my share-”

“Tia says family sticks together, no matter what.”

His mouth dropped slightly. “I-I didn’t know,” he stammered.

The blue-haired Miqo’te shrugged, then continued. “Is it fair for Tia to lose his husband over a pittance?”

The crackling of firewood did little to alleviate the tension. Lynn drained his tankard and set it down. “Apologize to my brother. I’m going to bed.”

The clink of dragoon armour faded, leaving Escher alone at the hearth. *He scowled. I’m right, damn it, I had the cast, I had the shot, I could have done it before the beast attacked. We would be clear, I wouldn’t have injured my shoulder from getting yanked halfway across the field, and we wouldn’t have this argument.*

And yet, Lynn’s point stood: **Tia shouldn’t have to worry you’ll die every battle.**

*He should have told me-*

**Must everything be spelled out, like a child?**

*If I’d known earlier, I’d-*

**Why must ‘when’ make a difference, you selfish prat?**

He ruffled his hair and made a frustrated sound. He had some apologizing to do.

\*\*

Tia was fast asleep, or so Escher would have thought had he not seen a maroon-coloured tail peek out from the covers, flicking sharply from side to side.Shite, he’s still mad.

Escher pulled off his gloves, hung his jacket on the chair, and sat at the edge of the bed facing the wall. Easier to apologize when you can’t see. He cleared his throat.

“Tia, I’m sorry.”

The tail paused.

He took a deep breath and continued. “I was thinking about myself and not the party. It was selfish, and I-”

Tia cut in. “What did my brother tell you?”

*Well, that’s one matter sorted.* “I didn’t know. I thought I was the only one paying for it.”

Tia pulled the covers up. “So it makes no difference.”

“No, but it is something to keep in mind.” He turned to the Miqo’te-shaped lump on the bed. “Battles are unpredictable. I can only promise that much.”

There was silence. “Fair enough,” Tia harrumphed.

Escher pinched his nose bridge. *That went well*. The covers rustled, he heard bed springs squeak, and Tia's face popped up next to his. He jumped slightly.

Tia’s ears twitched. “You know, I had a thought.” He stuck out his tongue. “Our saliva heals wounds faster than normal medicine. Do you think it’ll work on Hyurs?”

Escher blinked rapidly. “Wha-?”

“It’s something to keep in mind.” The Miqo’te grinned.

He smiled. “Fair enough,” and unbuttoned his shirt.