TRP: Goro and Hansel (Osyluths)

LINA

[Setting: Day 461, an island off the coast of Skyport.]

Goro managed a killing blow on one of the devils with a guiding bolt, but the thing took it with him down a ravine when it died. Motherfucker. He'd had just enough magic left to teleport himself out, but no. Had to go for violence instead.

He kinda passed out a little at the bottom of the ravine, probably from hitting his head, which was bloody and throbbing when he was aware of things again. He was half in a creek, the corpse of the devil pinning him down. He shoved it off, groaning, and crawled to his hands and knees.

He squinted toward the top of the ravine. Ah. There was a big maple tree he recognized, 'cause of the funny way the branches forked. He hadn't fallen too far. It was quiet up there, though, and that made his whole chest tighten with fear. "Hansel!"

IZZY

The fucking things kept soaking up Goro's magic, and Hansel could not, fucking unfortunately, stab more than one thing at once. He could tell that Goro had been throwing out the hardiest spells he had, silver-blue flashes staying on the edges of Hansel's vision to keep from blinding him, but the weird dragonfly-winged creatures could take a beating. They didn't much care for being stabbed, but Hansel didn't much care for being poisoned and slashed into, and it was just one of those fucking fights that went on too long. He'd already had to shake off some of the pain and refocus by the time one of those flashes alerted him to the fact that Goro -- and one of the creatures -- had slipped into the nearby ravine.

Fucking shitty job anyway. Wasn't paying them enough. Hadn't even told them what they were getting into. Made him fucking angry enough to give him a fresh burst of energy -- still had one of the bastards to take care of, and then he had to get Goro back. Couldn't have this one hitting him in the back; he already fucking hated it hitting him in the front enough, jabbing that goddamn stinger into the joints in his armor. He could feel the poison burning into his shoulder, and it just pissed him off more, but didn't make things any easier, that was for sure -- he needed that burst of furious energy just to hit it enough times to finish it off.

Numbness leached through his right arm, out from where it had gotten him in the shoulder, making it hard to even hold onto his trident, and the thing finally died, speared on the tines, just as he lost his grip. Fucker. Good. He tried to wrench his trident out of it, but couldn't with his right hand, and couldn't unbuckle his shield to switch main hands, so he had to just leave his trident there, for now. Had to get to Goro. Goro hadn't popped back up -- might be in trouble.

.

He was a bit lightheaded, though. Fuckin' poison. He stumbled before he reached the ravine, having to take a knee. Needed to get to Goro, though. Fuck. He could be hurt down there -- had to be, with the fall, but the monster had gone down, too, and --

"Hansel!"

He let out a breath. Okay. Okay. Good. "You a'right?" he called back.

LINA

Goro breathed, relief flooding through him. "Yeah," he called back. He stared up the steep wall of the ravine, grimacing.

IZZY

"Good," Hansel managed, a bit weaker. "S'good. Can you, uh ... get back up here?"

LINA

"Yeah," Goro said doubtfully. He'd just have to, somehow.

IZZY

He didn't sound sure. Hansel pushed himself back up to his feet, stumbling a little, again. His arm was fucking useless, just spreading pain and trailing numbness. "S'aright, I'll come to you," he said, trying to figure out how he was gonna make that happen when he felt pretty close to passing out. Supposed he could just fall in the hole, too. At least then they'd both be in one place.

LINA

"No, no, no, no!" Goro yelled. He could hear how weak Hansel sounded. "You're gonna slip and fall on your ass down here. Just -- listen, can you tie a rope around a tree trunk, or something, and toss it down to me? Ain't far, it's just kinda steep."

IZZY

"Nah, nah, I'm comin' to you," Hansel argued, 'cause he didn't think he could tie a great knot one-handed.

LINA

"Hansel. Don't. I fuckin' swear." Goro staggered closer to the wall of the ravine, looking for handholds. "I'm coming up."

IZZY

"I'm already here!" He'd managed to make it to a big maple tree by the ravine, and stopped to lean against it and squeeze his eyes shut for a moment, trying to make his head stop spinning.

LINA

"Yeah, just fuckin' stay there! Oh my god. I can see how dizzy you are, asshole. Don't move." Wincing, 'cause everything hurt, Goro grabbed onto a couple protruding rocks and managed to drag himself up a foot or so. Not great.

IZZY

"I'm fine!" Hansel insisted. "I'm just gonna ... gonna, uh." Hm. He was pretty fuckin' heavy, especially with his armor and all his weapons on and such. He dropped down in place. "Don't need a fuckin' tree," he muttered, and fumbled to get his rope off his belt. Just looped it around the arm that was still good for shit a good few time, then chucked the other end down into the ravine, and dug his heels in. "I can pull you up."

LINA

Goro stared at the rope dangling next to him. Then he ignored it, reaching for another handhold. It was damp, and his fingers slipped right off. "Fuck," he muttered.

IZZY

"Goro!" Hansel yelled, exasperated. "Grab the fuckin' rope. I swear to god."

LINA

"I'm fine!" He grabbed a different handhold and slipped off that one, too.

IZZY

"You fuckin' ain't!"

LINA

Goro tried again, and managed to drag himself up another foot or two. He winced some more, panting, and looked at how much further he still had to go. Reluctantly, he put one hand on the rope.

IZZY

Hansel felt a little bit of a tug. "You better put more goddamn weight on that line," he threatened, which was about all he could do.

LINA

Goro scowled and grabbed it with both hands. "You're gonna fall. I don't got enough magic left to revive you."

IZZY

"I ain't gonna fuckin' fall," Hansel groused. "I'm heavy as fuck."

LINA

Goro groaned. He dangled more of his weight from the rope and walked his feet up the side of the ravine, slow and careful.

IZZY

Hansel grunted a bit and slid an inch before his boots dug in enough. The rope cut into his arm. Some great fuckin' good it did him to be all experienced at safe, secure knots when one of his goddamn hands wasn't working. He grumbled, then called, "I got you. We're good."

LINA

Goro's heart skipped a beat when he felt the skid, but the rope did feel more solid after that. He kept dragging himself up, breathing hard, arms shaking, until he made it over the edge. He promptly collapsed onto his knees.

IZZY

Hansel dropped the rope as soon as Goro was on solid ground, leaving it coiled around his arm, and reached for Goro, making a grabby motion and grunting.

LINA

Goro grabbed onto Hansel's arm to drag himself back up, then planted his face against him. "Mmph."

IZZY

"Mmph," Hansel agreed, looping his arm, and by extension, his shield, around Goro. The other arm was limp and useless by his side, palm up. "Don't fuckin' fall in holes an' shit."

LINA

"Didn't try to," Goro grumbled. "Where you hurt? I got a little bit of magic. Just a little. I'll get the worst thing."

IZZY

"Psshh, I'm fine," Hansel lied.

LINA

"Uh huh. Come on. You take any hits to the head or gut?"

IZZY

"Nah. Well, prob'ly," he admitted. He tried to shrug his shoulder, and it moved a little, but made him hiss in pain. The poison burned up closer into his chest. "Got poisoned. Is all."

LINA

"Ah, fuck. Okay." Goro hooked a hand around the back of Hansel's neck and kissed his forehead. "Where? Shoulder?" His other hand hovered over the wound.

IZZY

"Aye. S'pretty numb," he said grudgingly. "Caught me in the joint."

LINA

Goro muttered a prayer to cure the poison. That left him pretty much spent. One spell left, for emergencies. "Probably take a few minutes for you to feel better. Won't get any worse, though."

IZZY

The burn cooled, spreading out from where Goro's hand had not quite touched him. Hansel let out a breath he hadn't been meaning to hold and relaxed a little. He leaned up to kiss Goro's cheek. "Thanks, ahuv. I'm fine. Mean it." Then he gave Goro a stern look. "Your head's fuckin' bleeding, by the way. Don't think I didn't fuckin' notice." He'd just figured Goro was all right for now, given that he was moving around and talking and such.

LINA

"Head wounds bleed a lot," Goro said.

IZZY

"Aye? Y'tellin' me that blood ain't supposed t'be inside you instead? Fuckin' heal yourself, asshole."

LINA

"Can't. No magic left."

IZZY

Hansel narrowed his eyes. "You lyin'?"

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes back.

IZZY

Hansel huffed. "C'mere." He pushed himself a little more upright and rolled his shoulder, feeling the pins and needles race through it. He winced a bit, but it was fine -- he stretched his fingers and reached to pull Goro's head down and kiss his hair. Didn't really have to -- he had that spell he could use from a distance, the one that didn't need touch -- just wanted to. It was only a bit, but it was all the magic he had, a little warmth and green-gold light.

LINA

"Hey!" Goro jerked away. "What are you doing! You oughta save that shit!"

IZZY

"For fuckin' what!" Hansel demanded, holding onto him.

LINA

"Emergencies!"

IZZY

"Oh, aye, what fuckin' emergencies am I gonna help with, eh, with all my magical powers?"

LINA

"What if I get knocked out, huh?"

IZZY

"I'm a fuckin' medic too, y'know," Hansel grumbled.

LINA

"Medic who don't got a clear head. Can't handle seeing his husband bleeding a little." Goro poked him in the chest.

IZZY

"Bleedin' more'n a little, fucker." Hansel poked him back, careful-like, to keep from poking him anywhere painful.

LINA

"You oughta take a look in a mirror, big guy."

IZZY

"You oughta stop flirtin', 'cause we're both 'bout dead," Hansel pointed out.

LINA

Goro grumbled. He looked around. "Guess we oughta set up camp somewhere. I can patch us up better in the morning, so we just gotta tough it out tonight."

IZZY

Hansel scowled. He didn't fuckin' like it. Could be other dangerous shit about. Closest town was pretty far away, though, and he really did need some rest before hiking back. "S'pose." Wasn't plannin' on makin' this an overnight trip, though. Goddamn bone demon things were tougher'n they were supposed t'be. I ain't got campin' supplies on me. Just a buncha tridents an' javelins an' axes."

LINA

Goro grumbled again. "Well. Guess I don't need a proper bed or nothing, long as I got you. But that doesn't help you much."

IZZY

"Hey, now." Hansel jostled him. "Y'think I can't rough it? Used to sleep in trees all the time before I got to Skyport the first time." He paused. "Was a lot smaller then, though."

LINA

"And you got a half-elf sleeping on you, adding to your weight."

IZZY

"Pffft."

LINA

Goro pulled away, tugging his hand. "C'mon. Let's find a good spot. Build a fire."

IZZY

"Aye." Hansel grumbled and pushed himself up, still feeling weak, and a bit light-headed, but not so bad. "Gotta get my trident back. Left it in a motherfucker."

LINA

"Psh. What'd you do that for?"

IZZY

"Had to get t'you." He slipped his hand around Goro's to lead him over to the dead creature. "Y'know, I love that trident, but I ain't married to it."

LINA

"Pssssh. I was fine. Trident can't save itself."

IZZY

"Aye, well, you couldn't either, huh," Hansel teased.

LINA

"Hey. Fuckin' could so. I'd'a got up eventually."

IZZY

"M'kay."

LINA

"When you ever known me to give up and quit, huh?"

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd gently, 'cause he couldn't argue with that, and let go of Goro's hand to wrench his trident out of the demon thing. He gave it a lingering glare. "Fuckin' people hirin' mercenaries an' not knowin' what they're sendin' me out for," he muttered. "Fuckers."

LINA

Goro grunted in agreement. He stared at the devil's body and shuddered. "Let's walk as far as we got energy for. Don't wanna sleep next to those things."

IZZY

"Prob'ly not a lotta other critters around, " Hansel pointed out. "Wild dogs an' such know this was their stompin' ground. Safer to stick nearby."

LINA

"Ehh. Let's at least go where we can't see 'em."

IZZY

He kicked at the nearest one. "If you want."

LINA

"I do." Goro took his hand again.

IZZY

"Could always set'em on fire." He squeezed Goro's hand and leaned over to kiss the side of his head. "That'll show'em."

LINA

"Dunno if we could get one hot enough to melt the bones. Sounds like a waste of effort, you ask me."

IZZY

He squinted over at it before they left. "Aye. Do seem like they're mostly bones, I s'pose."

LINA

Goro walked close to Hansel, looping an arm around his waist. "You got anything to eat?"

IZZY

"Aye, always."

LINA

"I just wanna sit by a nice fire, hug my husband, and get some damn food in my stomach." He shivered, feeling the chill already from his wet clothes.

IZZY

"Mm. Yeah. Sounds good." Hansel squeezed him, leaning a bit of weight on him as he limped along. "Wish I could learn how to do them, y'know, fuckin' fire spells. Like Mishka can do. I just got water. Can dry you off, though," he offered. Goro'd still be cold, but it was better than cold and damp. Was getting pretty chilly.

LINA

Goro nodded. "That'd be pretty good. Just... y'know, the wind, plus the water, it's a bad combination."

IZZY

"Mm." It'd take a while, but he started making little swirling motions, pulling the water out of Goro's clothes.

LINA

Goro grinned. "It's cool that you can do that. Magic husband. Neat."

IZZY

"You're more magic'n I am, ahuv," Hansel pointed out, scoffing a little to cover up that he liked it.

LINA

Goro batted that away like it didn't make a difference. "Bet my dad would've been happy I grew up to marry a druid."

IZZY

"Psh, bet he wouldn'ta cared, so long as you were happy about it."

LINA

"I mean, I'm sure he'd support me either way, but you gotta agree he'd be a little extra pleased."

IZZY

"Dunno." Hansel pondered that. "Don't think it'd matter much t'me if, y'know, Jonn was seeing a sailor, or what have you."

LINA

"Sailors are a dime a dozen. I mean, no offense. But druids are cool."

IZZY

"Sailin's cool," Hansel said, mocking offense.

LINA

"Ehhh." Goro shrugged. "Kinda anyone can learn to do it."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh."

LINA

"You ever know someone who just plain couldn't, then?"

IZZY

"Aye. Some folks get too sick, never find their sea legs. Can't tie a damn riggin' knot to save their lives, or get scared of height too much. Get all wound up on the sea too long -- cabin fever, an' all."

LINA

Goro shrugged. "Eh, still. I mean, don't get me wrong. You being a sailor is sexy and all."

IZZY

"Uh-huh," Hansel said, amused.

LINA

"Maybe it's just 'cause I'm a city boy, but you being a druid feels more special."

IZZY

"Aye, an' you grew up in a port city, too. I bet me bein' a sailor'd be all exotic to Luka," he teased.

LINA

"Pfff." Goro slowed to a stop, looking around. He checked to make sure they couldn't see the bone devils anymore. "This spot seems pretty good."

There was a nice mossy cradle between two big tree roots for a bed, and a few feet away a fallen log for sitting in front of a fire. Goro put his arms around Hansel, teeth chattering at the thought.

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel wrapped both arms around him to give him a good squeeze. "Aye, should do it." He mused over the best way to get Goro warmed up. "Hey, you get outta some of them clothes an' take my coat, a'right?" He said it firmly, like it wasn't really a question. "Bundle up. An' I'll kick around for some firewood."

LINA

Goro grumbled and didn't let go of him. "You want me to get naked in the fuckin' woods."

IZZY

"I always want you t'get naked," Hansel agreed, "but, y'know, mostly I wanna make sure you get warm. Ain't gonna happen with you wearing cold clothes, aye? My coat an' sweater are all warm from bein' on me," he coaxed.

LINA

Goro grumbled some more. He stepped back from Hansel and started to strip, glaring at the trees.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head quickly. "Once we got a fire, we'll get your clothes warmed up," he promised. "An' I'll get you warmed up."

LINA

Goro nodded. He made grabby hands for Hansel's coat, shivering.

IZZY

Hansel shrugged it off to hand it over, then pulled his sweater off, too, leaving him in just his undershirt. He offered to hold the cost so Goro could get the sweater on.

LINA

"Aren't you gonna be cold?" Goro said, eyeing him.

IZZY

"Pffft."

LINA

Goro stared, unimpressed.

IZZY

"Just put on the sweater, love."

LINA

Goro shivered, glaring. "Or else?"

IZZY

"Or else," Hansel agreed.

LINA

Goro scoffed. "'S'not what I meant." But he took the sweater and put it on, anyway.

IZZY

"Aye, well, we can flirt more once you ain't freezin' to death," Hansel told him, and stepped in to wrap the coat around him, slipping his own arms under it to pull Goro against him and nuzzle into his hair. "See? he murmured. "Better."

'Course, Hansel was cold, now, but he'd be fine.

LINA

"Now you're cold."

IZZY

"Nuh."

LINA

"Yeah huh."

IZZY

"Callin' me a liar?"

LINA

"Sure am. Bad one, too."

IZZY

"That's real hurtful, ahuv," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

"Psh." Goro shoved him lightly. "Where you going to get wood? Staying where I can see you?"

IZZY

"Aye, promise." He kissed Goro's hair again and reluctantly pulled away. "Ain't gonna go far."

LINA

Goro crouched down, bundled in the coat, and watched Hansel, frowning.

IZZY

Hansel winked at him and set about gathering up some kindling, from dry grass and fallen leaves to twigs to branches, then came back and crouched down, as well, to start building a little firepit. He hadn't seen any good-sized stones to ring it. There'd probably be some nearer to that ravine, but he didn't much wanna go back that far -- not and leave Goro alone, but not and pull Goro away from the fire once it was going, either. He mulled that over as he pulled his flint out of its pouch to start trying to spark up the tinder, holding himself real still to keep from shivering. Goro'd give him hell for that.

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes. "Take your sweater back."

IZZY

"Make me."

LINA

Goro slipped out of the coat and pulled the sweater off, then tossed it so it landed on Hansel's head.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel pulled it off and tossed it back. "Hey. Careful. A spark coulda caught it."

LINA

"Put it on," Goro whined.

IZZY

He softened. "A'right, a'right. You're keepin' the coat, though."

LINA

"Fine, yeah." Goro tossed the sweater to him again, waiting until he was looking this time so it wouldn't spark. Then he dragged the coat back on and shivered under it.

IZZY

Hansel tugged the sweater back on. Goro didn't put out as much heat as he did -- it'd cooled down since he'd taken it off. Maybe he could get it warmer with his own body heat and then make Goro take it back. Hmm.

Either way, the got the grass to catch, and blew on it gently to encourage the fire to grow. It'd still take a bit and some babysitting, but he beckoned Goro closer and moved over so they could huddle together next to it.

LINA

Goro crawled over to Hansel's side. He used as much of the extra bulk of the coat as he could to spread across Hansel's back, and he kissed Hansel's shoulder near where the thing had poisoned him.

IZZY

Hansel hooked an arm around his waist without looking, keeping an eye on the fire to make sure it'd grow. He squeezed Goro against him, though. "Oughta get some good stones, once it's built up a little. Didn't see any nearby, though." He glanced at Goro. "You gonna be okay if I wander off outta sight to look for some?"

LINA

"I'll be fine. Question is are you gonna be alright, ahuv. You're limping and shit."

IZZY

"Psshh, I've had worse."

LINA

"Ain't we all. Still don't like the idea of you wandering around by yourself."

IZZY

"Ain't gonna be alone." He reached to pat his trident.

LINA

Goro rolled his eyes. "Dummy. Stay within yelling distance?"

IZZY

"Aye, your holiness."

LINA

"I mean it. You talk to me while you're looking."

IZZY

"Wasn't jokin'." Hansel turned to kiss his head. The flames had caught onto the larger kindling, now. "I will, ishi."

LINA

"'Kay," Goro said reluctantly. "Be careful."

IZZY

"Y'know I never am."

LINA

Goro scoffed and kissed Hansel's cheek.

IZZY

Hansel gave him one more squeeze. "Y'know what to do if the fire starts dyin' down?"

LINA

"Yeah, yeah. Blow on it, poke it, make sure the tinder lights."

IZZY

"Aye. Good boy." He ruffled Goro's hair.

LINA

"Pssssh. Get outta here, you know-it-all. Big tough woodsman."

IZZY

Hansel snickered at him and nuzzled into his hair, kissing him a couple more times. "A'right. The hell am I gonna talk about while I'm outta sight, anyhow?" he asked, pushing himself up. His leg did hurt -- fuckin' bone beast had given him a pretty solid slash.

LINA

"Just tell me what you're seeing, and shit. Hey, be careful."

IZZY

"Aye-aye." He wanted to lean down and kiss Goro's head again, or give him another squeeze, but at a certain point, it really did have to be the last one and he had to wander off. "You keep a sharp eye out, too, a'right?"

LINA

"Always," Goro said. He leaned forward to blow on some embers.

IZZY

"A'right." Reluctantly, Hansel set off. "Plenty a' trees," he commented, limping through the brush. "Shame we don't need any more fuckin' trees. S'pose we're all set when we need more firewood, though. Fuckin' silver linings an' shit."

LINA

"Hey, don't go back toward the ravine," Goro called. "Don't want you to fall in it."

IZZY

"Uhh," Hansel said, on his way to the ravine.

LINA

"Hey! Hansel!"

IZZY

"That's where the rocks are gonna be, love," Hansel called back, kicking the dead bone beast on his way.

LINA

"Hansel! God. You got a limp!"

IZZY

"Ain't seein' your point!"

LINA

"You might lose your balance!"

IZZY

"Gonna be fine, motek!"

LINA

"If you go down that ravine I'm coming head first after you."

IZZY

"Hey," Hansel objected.

LINA

"I'll do it, fucker. I will."

IZZY

"You can come after me, but y'better be safe about it."

LINA

"Nah. Gonna be reckless. Teach you a lesson."

IZZY

"Goro," Hansel complained.

LINA

"Hansel."

IZZY

"I gotta get rocks so we can get warm!"

LINA

"You found any yet?"

IZZY

"Aye, a couple." He had them cradled in the crook of one arm. "Still need more."

LINA

"You warm enough?"

IZZY

He shrugged, then remembered Goro couldn't see him. "Aye."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes in the direction of Hansel's voice. "Just hurry, I guess."

IZZY

"Goin' as fast as I can. Gotta limp, y'know."

LINA

"Ugh. Rubbing it in."

IZZY

Hansel snickered loudly.

LINA

"Gonna get back at you. Dunno how, but I'm gonna."

IZZY

"Get back at me by sittin' tight and gettin' warmed up. Y'know how much I hate it when y'take care of yourself."

LINA

Goro tried to scoff and snort loud enough for Hansel to hear it.

IZZY

"I heard that."

He had a pretty good armload of stones at this point -- it'd do. He started heading back.

LINA

"You got a lot of rocks yet?"

IZZY

"Aye, comin' back, love. Be there in a --."

There was thump and the sound of branches cracking, and then a lot of swearing.

LINA

Goro lurched to his feet. "Hansel! What happened?"

IZZY

"Fuckin' -- goddamn motherfuckin' roots an' shit --."

Hansel hissed. He'd managed to fall on the rocks he'd gathered up, which was pretty fucking uncomfortable, but more pressing was that the leg he'd already been favoring had a certain familiar pain to it. Right around the ankle. Maybe a twist, maybe a break -- couldn't be sure.

"I'm a'right," he yelled. "Fuckin' stay by the fire, I'm fine."

LINA

"I'm not. I'm not. I'm coming." Goro stared at the fire, then back toward the direction he'd heard Hansel. "Do I -- do I stamp it out?"

IZZY

"What? Fuckin' -- no, no, leave it, it's fine. An' stay there!"

LINA

"No!" Goro started walking. "Where are you? What happened?"

IZZY

"I'm fine." he insisted, wincing as he pushed himself up, at least enough to sit. "Just -- just tripped a li'l. I'm fine."

LINA

"Keep talking," Goro called, heading towards his voice.

IZZY

Hansel narrowed his eyes.

LINA

"You want me to get lost?"

IZZY

"Goddammit, Goro!"

LINA

"I'm almost there!"

IZZY

He grumbled loudly enough for Goro to hear him, since this was happening with or without his help.

LINA

Goro kept plunging through the bushes until he came across Hansel, sitting next to a bunch of rocks. Goro dropped to his knees next to him. "What happened? I know you're fuckin' hurt or you'd'a got right back up."

IZZY

"Nothin'," Hansel grumbled, 'cause he couldn't argue. He grudgingly admitted, "Mighta twisted my ankle a bit, is all."

LINA

"Which one?"

IZZY

He waved at the right one, disgruntled.

LINA

Goro yanked his pant leg up and started untying his boot, frowning at Hansel and watching to see how much pain it caused him.

IZZY

Hansel suppressed a grimace as much as he could.

LINA

Goro pulled the boot and sock off gentle as he could. His ankle was red, and swelling fast. "Wiggle your toes."

IZZY

"Ehh." He was pretty sure it was gonna hurt like hell if he did. He gave it a shot, though, and hissed through his teeth.

LINA

"Dummy," Goro muttered sadly. "Alright. Ah. Let me carry the rocks back to the fire, then I'll come back and help you walk over. Deal?"

IZZY

"I can make it," Hansel insisted. "Just wrap it up an' I can get over with my trident."

LINA

Goro ignored him and started gathering up the rocks.

IZZY

"Hey."

LINA

"Stay here." Goro staggered to his feet with the weight of all the rocks. He took a couple steps and was already huffing and puffing, but he wasn't gonna let Hansel win this one.

IZZY

"Goro," Hansel complained.

LINA

"I'll be right back!"

IZZY

He scoffed and chucked a pebble in the general direction of Goro, careful to not actually hit him.

LINA

Goro staggered on, cursing under his breath. By the time he reached the fire it was all he could do not to collapse, panting and sweating. He dropped the rocks in a pile, then quickly and sloppily arranged them around the fire. Still breathing hard, he started back for Hansel. "Coming!"

IZZY

"Aye, y'better be," he grumbled. "Leavin' me out here with a fuckin' broke ankle an' shit."

LINA

"You went and broke your own ankle, so don't gimme that." Goro walked faster as he got closer, then dropped down next to Hansel and promptly put his arms around him. He pressed his face against Hansel's neck and gave a discontented grunt.

IZZY

He hugged Goro back. "'M fine," he said firmly. "Really."

LINA

"Dummy."

IZZY

"Hey, no need for that kinda language."

LINA

Goro whined wordlessly and pulled away. "I can heal it, maybe. Last of my magic."

IZZY

"You said you'd done used the last of your magic," Hansel accused, like he'd really believed that.

LINA

"I like to have one left for emergencies, is all."

IZZY

"Keep it, then."

LINA

Goro ground his teeth, deliberating.

IZZY

"I ain't gonna die or nothin'," he insisted. "Lissen, if somethin' happens before mornin' and I gotta move to fight, or somethin', then you can heal me real quick, yeah? 'Til then, you save it. For emergencies."

LINA

"I guess," Goro grumbled. Was always his biggest worry -- something worse would happen, and he'd have wasted his last spell. "Stupid of you to heal my head earlier. Coulda saved that for yourself."

IZZY

"I like your head," Hansel told him, kissing it. "I like you havin' blood in it, still."

LINA

"Psh. Sucker," Goro said weakly.

IZZY

"Wasn't stupid, neither," he said. "Coulda been bleedin' into your brain or some shit. Said I'm a medic too, didn't I?"

LINA

"I was fine."

IZZY

"Y'don't know that."

LINA

"Yeah huh. Cleric."

IZZY

"Don't mean you got feelin's in your head other people ain't got."

LINA

"Yeah huh."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh."

LINA

"You don't know."

IZZY

"Do so."

LINA

"Nuh." Goro kissed his cheek. "We gotta get back to the fire. Ah, I shoulda brought my kit with me, but I wasn't thinking. Gotta splint your ankle. Wait one minute while I go grab it?"

IZZY

"Got mine on me." There were some benefits to carrying around most of what you owned on you all the time. He fumbled into his hip pouch to pull out the kit and handed it to Goro.

LINA

"Ah, good." Goro rewarded him with another cheek kiss. "Gonna splint it in your boot so it's flexed. Put your sock back on?" He dug through the kit for a bandage.

IZZY

Hansel grumbled, but reached to do it, wincing.

LINA

Goro unlaced the boot most of the way and yanked the tongue out as far as he could get it. The ankle was pretty damn swollen now. He passed the boot to Hansel. "Put that on, real careful."

IZZY

"You don't tell me what t'do," Hansel told him, doing it.

LINA

"Uh huh." Goro gathered up a few short, sturdy sticks from the ground and sorted through them until he had the best ones. He scooted into a better angle for working and slid them carefully into the boot on either side of Hansel's ankle. "How's that feel so far? Ain't gonna be comfy, but I don't want it digging into your skin."

IZZY

He shrugged.

LINA

Goro sighed. "If it cuts you, you'll get an infection. Is it cutting you?"

IZZY

"Pfft, I ain't gonna get cut by a stick."

LINA

"Oh my god." He used the bandages to tie the boot and splints on snug, then tucked in the excess lacing so Hansel wouldn't trip on it. "How's it feeling?"

IZZY

"Broken," he admitted. "S'fine, though. I can walk."

LINA

"That's what you said before, and look what happened." Goro climbed to his feet, anyway, and offered Hansel a hand.

IZZY

"M'always fine," Hansel insisted. He pulled his trident off his back to help himself push up with, taking Goro's hand but not pulling on him.

LINA

"Yeah, well, same here." Goro positioned himself close to Hansel with an arm around his waist. "Ready?"

IZZY

"M'always ready," he said stubbornly.

LINA

"Oh my god. Just..." Goro snorted and slowly started walking.

IZZY

Hansel grumbled some more and shuffled along with him, using the trident as a walking stick. "Y'did good gettin' those rocks back," he said. "Shit was heavy."

LINA

"I'm kinda strong."

IZZY

"Pretty hot."

LINA

Goro snickered. "You got any whiskey on you? Help with the pain."

IZZY

"Always got whiskey on me. Why, you need some?"

LINA

"Nah, for you. God."

IZZY

"Don't need none."

LINA

"When do you not need whiskey?"

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "Hey."

LINA

"I know my husband."

IZZY

"It's for emergencies."

LINA

"Uh huh." Goro grinned and squeezed Hansel's waist.

IZZY

He scoffed.

LINA

They made their way back to the fire and Goro guided Hansel toward the log to sit. "Let me find you something to prop it up on. Hang on."

IZZY

He scoffed some more.

LINA

Goro kissed his head once he was sitting, then went off to forage. He found a piece of mostly-rotted wood a few feet from the fire, a chunk off an old stump probably, and carried it back. He set it up so Hansel could stretch his leg out. "There, try that."

IZZY

Hansel settled in, trying to get comfortable, and grumbled wordlessly as he propped his leg up. "Meet your standards, doc?"

LINA

Goro stood back, arms crossed, appraising him. "Nah. You're missing someone to cuddle. Wonder how we can remedy that."

IZZY

He flung his arms open.

LINA

Goro rubbed his chin, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "You're saying... you wanna cuddle me?"

IZZY

"Any port," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

"Hm. Well, it's a non-standard treatment, but if you think it'll help."

IZZY

"Sure of it." He wiggled his fingers, beckoning Goro in.

LINA

Goro sat on Hansel's good knee and put his arms around him. "Oh, I got another medicine I like to prescribe sometimes. It's called kisses." He peppered some all over Hansel's face.

IZZY

"Hm, hmm." Hansel grinned smugly, closing his eyes. "Think I might need a higher dosage, there, doc."

LINA

"Mm." Goro indulged him with a few more. "You sure? Gotta be careful with these. Guys can get addicted to 'em. Can't go a single day without."

IZZY

"Bad news on that front," he said solemnly.

LINA

"Uh oh."

IZZY

"So how d'you treat kiss addiction?"

LINA

"Cold turkey, bud. It's the only way."

IZZY

Hansel gasped softly.

LINA

"'Less you're lucky enough to find someone who's willing to supply you every day."

IZZY

"Wish I had someone like that."

LINA

"Well..."

IZZY

"You think you might know a guy who could hook me up? 'Bout yea high, half-elf, real cute hair, nice cheekbones ..."

LINA

"I know a half-elf who's kinda... pointy and assholish," Goro offered.

IZZY

"Aye, that's the one."

LINA

Goro snickered and leaned in to kiss him some more.

IZZY

Hansel grinned and squeezed him. "That's the stuff."

LINA

"Spoiled. Addicted." Goro kept kissing him.

IZZY

"Aye. S'true. An' you're, uh, what's the word -- enablin' me."

LINA

"Well. I may be a doctor, but I'm also a criminal."

IZZY

"Hot."

LINA

"You think so?"

IZZY

"Know so."

LINA

"Well. Long as we're on the same page about that." Goro grinned and snuggled against him. "Hey, how's about that dinner? You want me to get it ready?"

IZZY

"Might help you keep warm, keepin' active," Hansel mused.

LINA

"Maybe. What's on the menu?" Goro climbed off Hansel's lap to start going through his bag.

IZZY

Hansel watched him, amused. "Help yourself, there, ahuv."

LINA

Goro paused, blinking at Hansel.

IZZY

"What if I had somethin' embarrassin' in there, huh?" he teased. "Or I had a surprise for you."

LINA

"Oh," Goro said, embarrassed for himself now. He passed the bag over to Hansel.

IZZY

"It's fine." Hansel took it, grinning, and reached to pull Goro in too, to kiss his head. "Ishi."

LINA

"Kinda forgot all our stuff ain't just..." Goro gestured vaguely, at a loss.

IZZY

"The same stuff?"

LINA

"Yeah."

IZZY

"See, thing is." Hansel kissed his head again. "It is. All my stuff's your stuff. Was just jokin'." He nuzzled into Goro's hair, grinning more. "'Cause it's cute. 'Cause I'm happy you feel that way."

LINA

"Pssssh." Goro buried his face against Hansel's neck.

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd back at him and squeezed him with one arm, going through the bag with his other. "Got a couple apples, some nuts, some jerky. Wasn't plannin' on more than a snack."

LINA

"We can make it something nice, anyway," Goro insisted. He hesitated a second, then started going through the bag again alongside Hansel. He pulled out a big napkin and spread it on the log next to Hansel like a tablecloth.

IZZY

"Could roast the nuts," Hansel considered. "Make'em a little tastier, have somethin' warm to eat."

LINA

Goro nodded eagerly. "You do that, I'll cut up the apples?" He moved to sit on the far side of the napkin and pulled out one of his knives.

IZZY

Hansel made a pleased sound and dug the little pan out of his kit, scooting to get closer to the fire and settle in a bit more. He glanced at Goro and grinned without saying anything.

LINA

"What?" Goro said, grinning back as he sliced apples.

IZZY

"Just look real cute in my coat. Sleeves too long, an' all."

LINA

"Psssh." Goro grinned some more and ducked his head. "You look better in it."

IZZY

"Mm, dunno 'bout that."

LINA

"Well, too bad. I'm right."

IZZY

"Aye, well, I respect your opinion even though it's wrong," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

Goro stuck out his tongue. He popped a piece of apple in his mouth, but when he was done slicing the rest he put his knife away and waited for Hansel to finish roasting the nuts.

IZZY

"Could fry the apples, too," Hansel suggested. "Drizzle'em with some honey. Your uncle gave me some. Meanin' that he put it in my bag when I wasn't lookin', I assume, 'cause I found it in there after we got home."

LINA

"Huh," Goro said. That was interesting. "Sounds good. You sure you're feeling up for doing all that, though?"

IZZY

"Ain't hard. I can talk you through it, if y'like."

LINA

"Well. It's probably like frying potatoes, right? I know how to fry potatoes."

IZZY

"Yeah, pretty much. Sizzle a lot more, though."

LINA

Goro fished the frying pan out of the bag and set it over the fire. "Need butter, or anything?"

IZZY

"Aye, got oil in the mess kit." He nodded to it, then gave Goro a grin.

LINA

"What?" Goro said, grinning back. He pulled out the oil bottle and drizzled some in the pan.

IZZY

"Nothin'." He kept grinning.

LINA

"You didn't have other plans for this oil, did you?"

IZZY

"Nah, nah. No plans. I ain't a plannin' kinda guy."

LINA

"Pssh. Good thing, 'cause I bet you'd have to cancel 'em with that ankle."

IZZY

"Dunno, I can be pretty creative."

LINA

Goro snorted and shook his head. He tossed the apples in the pan and gave them a shake. "Both of us lost a lot of blood and shit, too. Oughta take it easy."

IZZY

"I got plenty a' blood where it counts."

LINA

Goro snorted again, and it almost turned into a giggle. "God. Nothing makes you quit, I guess."

IZZY

"You got that right," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

"How long 'til the apples are done, you think?"

IZZY

"Dunno. Kinda go by feel." Hansel nodded to the pan. "See if they're soft yet."

He settled in comfortably, pretty relaxed and content for being in a shitty cold forest with a broken ankle. Was in the shitty cold forest that had Goro in it, after all. They had fire, and food, and sure, not as much blood in them as they ought to have, and not as much magic as they might like to have, but not so little they'd die.

LINA

Goro plucked a piece out, muttering ow ow, and nibbled on it. "Nah, needs a little longer."

IZZY

He snorted. "Not with your fingers, chatichi. Meant stab it a li'l with a knife or somethin'."

LINA

"Too late."

IZZY

Hansel tsked and shook his head. "Get your ass over here." He patted his lap. "They ain't gonna burn."

LINA

Goro sat on Hansel's good leg again and put his arms around his shoulders.

IZZY

Hansel wrapped his arm around Goro in turn and kissed the side of his head happily. "Hey."

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

He kissed Goro a couple more times. "Love you."

LINA

Goro grinned, like he'd never heard it before. "Love you too."

IZZY

"I know y'do." He gave Goro a squeeze. "Good clever doctor. Savin' me an' shit. Don't even need magic or nothin'. Just that good. The best," he said firmly, nuzzling into Goro's hair.

LINA

"Pssh." You'd've been fine on your own, he wanted to say, but that sounded like he was encouraging Hansel to go out and be reckless by himself. Hell no. "Just a splint," he muttered lamely instead.

IZZY

"Best splint I ever got. Came right to me, too. Don't get that kinda help from the fuckin' Church of Helm, eh? Just the Church of Goro," he teased.

LINA

Goro snorted and kissed Hansel's cheek. "Husband special."

IZZY

"Oh, aye? Y'know, I got a husband special, too. If you're interested." He kissed Goro's hair one more time. "Ain't gotta do nothin', thought. Just, uh, y'know. Just like flirtin' with you. For fun. Talkin'. I know this ain't the most romantic fuckin' hole in the ground," he said, kinda embarrassed.

Goro got embarrassed, sometimes, when Hansel flirted with him too much where people could see and hear them, and that was always fucking great and adorable. Hansel just worried a little bit, now and then, about making Goro actually uncomfortable -- not as much as he used to, 'cause he was pretty sure Goro had the whole idea of safewords down, now. He just didn't want to get carried away with harmless flirting and have Goro take it too seriously.

LINA

Goro grinned and nuzzled against him. "Anywhere's romantic when it's with you. But also, you gotta fuckin' rest."

IZZY

"Lissen, if you wanna ..."

LINA

"Stop right there, big guy. I don't need to hear about your legendary endurance."

IZZY

He snorted. "All I was gonna say is I could jerk you off. That romantic enough for you?"

LINA

"No! If we're gonna do something I wanna do it proper."

IZZY

"Oh, I see how it is. Handjobs ain't enough for Goro Voronin-Bell anymore," he teased. "I really do have you spoiled, huh?"

LINA

"Don't know how many times I gotta tell you. I got no problem getting myself off." Goro grinned at him, all cheeky.

IZZY

"Maybe you can do that an' I can watch, then."

LINA

Goro snickered and hugged Hansel tighter, pressing his face against Hansel's shoulder. "Hey, d'you like getting to call me Goro Voronin-Bell?"

IZZY

"I like gettin' to call you anything." Hansel kissed the top of his head and grinned. "Sure do, though."

LINA

"I like hearing it," Goro said. "Still feels new."

IZZY

"Mm, pretty new in the grand scheme of things, still." He glanced over to the apples, sizzling away. "You might wanna give those a quick toss an' check on'em, ishi."

LINA

Goro looked over his shoulder. "Oh. Yeah." He hopped up and jostled the pan. "You distracted me. Ow, ow." He snatched another piece out with his fingers to sample.

IZZY

"What'd I tell you about usin' a knife, dumbass?" Hansel asked, amused.

LINA

"My way's faster."

IZZY

"You just do it 'cause you're a masochist."

LINA

Goro used the napkin as a potholder to move the pan over to the log. "Am not."

IZZY

"Are so."

LINA

"Nuh uh."

IZZY

Hansel reached over to swat him on the ass.

LINA

"Hey."

IZZY

He grinned.

LINA

"Where's that honey at?"

IZZY

"Dunno, poke 'round in my bag where a Voronin'd hide shit."

LINA

Goro snorted and looked in the bag. He pulled out the jar of honey and took the lid off, then stuck a finger in to sample. "Mmmm." He held the jar out to Hansel to do the same.

IZZY

"I'm good with just havin' it on the apples."

LINA

"You say so." Goro held the jar closer and stared into it for a moment. He slumped a little. "I miss him already."

IZZY

"Aw. Val?" he leaned over to kiss Goro's shoulder. "We can visit him again real soon. Maybe lure him out t'the castle."

LINA

Goro nodded. He drizzled some honey over the apples, then replaced it in Hansel's bag. "That'd be good. Konstantin and everyone, too."

IZZY

"That'd be good. I like'em."

LINA

"Figures. Ma says they're all like me."

IZZY

"Does she, now," Hansel said, holding his grin back a little.

LINA

"Yeah. She even said meeting Val was like meeting me if I'd grown up in the woods or something."

IZZY

"Mm." He made it look like he had to think about that. "Aye, s'pose I can see it. You oughta tell him 'bout your ring. Bet him and Konstantin would both like that." Being paranoid shut-ins, and all. Goro just had the means to be a paranoid shut-in inside his own head. Was real useful.

LINA

Goro snorted. "Yeah, I didn't think to, but you're right. Maybe then Val would get one and I wouldn't be able to Send to him. Psh." He pulled a couple forks out of the bag and passed one to Hansel.

IZZY

"Think he'd probably let you," Hansel pointed out, taking the fork.

LINA

"Maybe." Goro ate a bite of apple and thought while he chewed. "Ma also said -- she said she thinks growing up on the street was extra hard for me, 'cause it's, uh, you know, a lot of shit going on. Overwhelming. And once she met the other Voronins, that just confirmed it. She thinks we do better in the woods, where it's quiet and we can kinda take things at our own pace, and shit. But I don't know. Luka sounded like he really liked Skyport."

IZZY

"Huh." He really did think about that one. "Yeah, y'know -- Luka was grown then, though, an' I bet he still mighta ducked outta the city if it got t'be too much for him. Luci thinks you an' her are a lot alike, an' I know she was pretty spooked when she left the Sanctuary, those first couple times."

LINA

Goro frowned deeply, thinking. "Huh. It's hard to imagine how I'd've felt if I hadn't grown up in Skyport. Dunno how much it would've spooked me." He ate another apple. "I like living in the country. Ma says it makes me more relaxed, but I told her that's just 'cause I got a family now. She thinks it's part of it. Whatever."

IZZY

Hansel gave him an amused look, munching. "An' meetin' Konstantin and Val didn't change your mind any, huh."

LINA

"Well..." Goro thought for a long time, then shrugged.

IZZY

"Uh-huh." Hansel nudged him. "Whassamatter, can't give Mari the satisfaction?"

LINA

"Listen, she just says a lot of shit."

IZZY

"Aye, and ain't she right a lot?"

LINA

"She is, but. She can't be right all the time."

IZZY

"I dunno ..."

LINA

"It's impossible."

IZZY

"What's somethin' she's been wrong about, though?"

LINA

"She thinks all people are good or have good inside them."

IZZY

"Eh, don't know that she's wrong. Can't know what inside folks."

LINA

Goro snorted. "You ain't met Lively Fred."

IZZY

Hansel shrugged. "Aye, well."

LINA

Goro shook his head and munched a few roasted nuts. "Anyhow. Fine by me, whatever the reason. Can't much see myself wanting to live in the middle of Skyport again. Too fuckin' loud all the time."

IZZY

"Mm. Aye, sounds good t'me. Someplace quiet," he said, just daydreaming out loud. "On the coast. By a forest. Town close enough by when we need things, but not too close. Lotta room to wander an' hike through the woods."

LINA

Goro sighed happily and leaned into him. "Yup. That right there." He grinned up at Hansel until his cheeks hurt, then buried his face against him.

IZZY

"Mmm." Hansel squeezed him. "Could be happy in the city, too, or anyplace so long as we were together."

LINA

Goro nodded, still grinning against him. He hugged him tight. Might've been happy to stay like that all night, except his stomach started growling. "Pfff." He lifted his face and ate another apple slice. "You said you got some jerky?"

IZZY

"Aye, in th' bag." He started digging through it one-handed. "Keep it around for other folks."

LINA

"You getting enough to eat?" Goro took the jerky when Hansel brought it out. "Need me to go forage you some berries, or some shit?"

IZZY

"Psshh. Nah, I'm good, love. Won't die before the mornin'."

LINA

"Know you ain't gonna die, but I don't want you to feel hungry, either." Goro shoved a few pieces of jerky in his mouth. "How would you feel if my stomach was growling all night, huh?"

IZZY

"Hey, now," he said, amused. "Don't flip it back on me. Playin' dirty." He kissed Goro's head. "Really am fine, though."

LINA

"Thought playing dirty was all fair and shit, far as pirates were concerned."

IZZY

"You ain't a pirate, though. Innocent cleric."

LINA

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm secretly a con artist."

IZZY

Hansel nodded knowingly. "Shoulda known. Nobody's that innocent."

LINA

"But really, I think I was being fair. Your days of looking out for everyone and not taking care of yourself are over, asshole."

IZZY

"Oh, yeah? Try an' stop me."

LINA

"I will. I got the best ammo."

IZZY

"You reckon?"

LINA

Goro nodded. "Not taking care of myself."

IZZY

"Dia-fuckin'-bolical," he said solemnly.

LINA

Goro shrugged dramatically, like there was nothing he could do about it.

IZZY

"S'pose that means I just gotta double down on takin' care of you."

LINA

Goro prodded him in the chest. "Likewise, jerk."

IZZY

"Guess it's all gonna even out then, aye?"

LINA

"Guess so. Marriage, and all."

IZZY

Hansel grinned. "Aye. Sure is."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes. "And no playing dirty by tying me up, or some shit."

IZZY

"Pirate," Hansel reminded him.

LINA

"You're only allowed to tie me up with my consent, and shit."

IZZY

"Aye," he agreed. "Don't seem like much of an obstacle. You always like bein' tied up."

LINA

"Nuh uh. Only when it's sexy. Ain't sexy when you don't take care of yourself."

IZZY

"Nah, nah, I'm only gonna tie you up t'make you take care of yourself. Just gonna have to find some other strategy t'make me do it, I s'pose."

LINA

Goro glared harder.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his forehead.

LINA

Goro glared even harder.

IZZY

Hansel snuggled him.

LINA

Goro scoffed. He ate another handful of nuts. "We'll see. We'll see how it really goes, asshole."

IZZY

"Aye, we will," Hansel said docilely, eating some nuts, too.

LINA

"Maybe I get to tie you up sometime, huh?"

IZZY

"You could sure try."

LINA

"You'll let me, I bet. 'Cause you love me."

IZZY

"Hey."

LINA

"What? Ain't true?"

IZZY

"Y'know it is."

LINA

"Then?"

IZZY

"Playin' dirty."

LINA

"Pirate," Goro pointed out.

IZZY

"You ain't."

LINA

"So? Thief can't complain when someone steals from him."

IZZY

"Can so. Can get revenge, too." He grinned and tickled Goro's side.

LINA

"You sure you wanna do that, when you're more ticklish'n me?"

IZZY

"Bet?"

LINA

"Don't need to bet. I already know. You do, too. Bluffing."

IZZY

"Nahh."

LINA

"Yeah huh." Goro pressed a finger against Hansel's side and gave it a threatening wiggle.

IZZY

Hansel kept his poker face up.

LINA

Goro dug a little deeper.

IZZY

He winced. "A'right, actually, y'know, I got whacked by one of those things about there. Little bruised."

LINA

"Aw." Goro hunched down so he could give that spot a kiss instead.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head.

LINA

"Don't think you're getting out of this completely. Once you're healed up, it's on."

IZZY

"Psshh. Yeah, yeah. I know." He pulled Goro close against his side to cuddle him again.

LINA

"You talk a big game, but you're a baby."

IZZY

"S'rude."

LINA

"You started it. Got nobody but yourself to blame."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a doleful look.

LINA

"See? Not a word to say in your defense. You know I'm right."

IZZY

"Just thinkin' you're mighty cruel."

LINA

"Oh yeah? Should I try being sweet to you instead?"

IZZY

"Dunno. You got it in you?"

LINA

Goro rearranged his arms around Hansel's shoulders and kissed his nose. "For you, I can be anything."

IZZY

"Softie."

LINA

He grinned. "Yeah. Only for you."

IZZY

He grinned back. "Aye. I know."

LINA

Goro curled up on Hansel's lap and rested his head against his chest. He let out a sigh, snuggling against him.

"Val said I'm not as soft as Luka," he said after a minute. "And Jasmilia. Last time I talked to her, she said almost the exact same thing. 'He was softer than you.' Dunno... why that is." He frowned and chewed his lip. "If it's the Basha part, or just... how I grew up."

IZZY

Hansel mm'd quietly, curling one hand around the back of Goro's head to tuck him there securely and stroke his hair. "Dunno. 'Bout the Basha thing, I mean. Don't know how much stock I put by blood, like that, anymore -- folks bein' like their parents. Think it's more ..." He considered for a moment. "Dunno. All I know is, I used t'think my stepdad was right about me, an' my orc blood made me ... bad. So I acted like a fuckin' jackass, 'cause I thought I couldn't be any other way. But I got my act together way before I found out 'bout Yehuda." He shrugged. "So I dunno. Think it's all how you decide t'be, an' how you get t'be, with the people you're stuck bein' around."

Felt kind of embarrassing to say it out loud. He'd been thinking about this kind of thing, himself, for a while now. Wasn't sure if he made any sense, though. Wasn't sure if he might just sound kinda dumb.

LINA

Goro just kept frowning, thinking.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head and rested there, frowning a bit.

LINA

"How come I'm like those other Voronins, then? You and Ma both thought so."

IZZY

"Dunno." Hansel shrugged again. "Prob'ly a dumb idea."

LINA

"Ain't a dumb idea. I think people get to choose, some. But also, your stepdad was just fuckin' dumb, and wrong. Marion told me your dad was quiet and gentle."

IZZY

"Aye, but that didn't matter none when I thought he was awful."

LINA

Goro went on frowning. "So you're saying I could decide to be soft."

IZZY

"Think so."

LINA

Goro tried to picture it. He shook his head.

IZZY

"Couldn't picture myself any different, back in th' day, either," Hansel admitted. "Never would've thought I'd get here."

LINA

"I can't hardly picture you the way you say you were."

IZZY

He nodded. "Lot different than you were when I first met you, already, too. So'm I."

LINA

Goro scowled. "I cry now. Sucks."

IZZY

"Does not," Hansel nudged gently. "I cry, too. Ain't a big deal."

LINA

"It's embarrassing."

IZZY

"Aye, an' bein' embarrassed's the worst thing there is?"

LINA

"No, uh. Just." He shifted uncomfortably. "I cried a lot when I was a kid, and bad shit happened. Other kids were real shits about it. I had to learn to stop. So it seemed good."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel kept his angry grumble to a minimum and tried to focus on the sympathy, instead. "Aye, well. Yeah. Human kids back home made fun a' me for it, too. I got you."

LINA

"Fuckers."

IZZY

"Y'know." He hesitated. "Y'know, my old crewmate, Corven -- she was always real blunt and serious, didn't give much away. Only ever saw her cry once the whole time we knew each other, an' I mean not just from feelin' bad, but from gettin' hurt, too. Just didn't do it. An' I always thought she was real ... cool, y'know? Wished I could be like that. But she never made me feel shitty for cryin', either. Didn't seem like she thought it was a bad thing, even though she didn't do it. Never made fun of me for it, even when she didn't like me. S'pose I thought that if she was like that, then it was a'right for me to be how I am."

LINA

Goro nodded slowly. "I ain't never seen Morgan cry, but she seemed to think it was good that I cry now."

IZZY

He nodded back. "Good. S'good."

LINA

Goro scowled. "Bet Jasmilia didn't like how much I cried when I was a kid." He thought for a moment. Going over the same few fuzzy memories he'd always been plagued by. "I guess... maybe I was a soft kid. I remember always holding her hand and hugging her. When I got scared I'd hide against her." Fucking strange to think it was the same person. The woman in his memories was warm, safe.

IZZY

Hansel growled. "Aye, well, ain't gotta tell you my opinions about Jasmilia. Fuck'er," he said anyway.

LINA

"She wanted to make me strong. Sharp," Goro said, unnecessarily. Hansel knew.

IZZY

He scoffed. "She made you scared."

LINA

"Nah, pretty sure I was scared to start with."

IZZY

"Aye, all kids're scared. Fuckin' parent's job ain't to make that worse."

LINA

"Yeah," Goro said gloomily. He scoffed. "Can't ever imagine -- wanting Theo, or Tikva, or Vanya or anyone like that to feel scared on purpose. To try and toughen 'em up, or some shit. Makes me feel kinda sick. That lady's real fucked in the head, I guess."

IZZY

"Sure fuckin' is." Was hardly news. He kissed Goro's hair. "Good goddamn tell that whatever she didn't like was prob'ly fine, then, huh?"

LINA

"Yeah." Goro snorted. "Wonder what she'd think of you."

IZZY

"I'd show her what t'think of me," Hansel muttered.

LINA

"Would you, now?" Goro grinned.

IZZY

"Aye. Just you say the word."

LINA

Goro hmmed thoughtfully. He kissed Hansel's chest, then went back to resting his head on it. "Might gotta, just to keep her away from Theo and Bakir for good. Dunno how Bakir'd take it, though."

IZZY

"Mmph." Hansel frowned, disgruntled. "Yeah. Kid needs help."

LINA

"Yeah." Goro frowned too. "Amari's... working on him, maybe. I don't know. She won't tell me much, 'cause she ain't a gossip, but they spend a lotta time together, going on walks and shit. She says he's been sick, like -- a sickness in his heart, that Jasmilia gave him, and he's healing now. I ain't really seen a difference, but she don't seem worried."

IZZY

Hansel mused over that. Mari had helped Goro, and all. "Prob'ly knows what she's doin'," he said. "Sure she'd say we shouldn't off Jasmilia, anyway, though. Ain't exactly what she's workin' towards."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Damn straight about that. Tell you what, though, I hear a little ice in her voice whenever she says the lady's name. Ain't never quite heard the like from her."

IZZY

"Aye, well, Jasmilia fucked with her kid. Y'don't fuck with folks' kids." He kissed Goro's head again. "Enough to push a pacifist into slappin' someone."

LINA

Goro snickered. "Think I'd pay to see that."

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "Aye, me too. Can't believe Luci used to be an Eldathyn," he said thoughtfully. She had been for so long, but when he actually thought about it ... "Kid's vicious. She ain't no Amari."

LINA

"Oof, you got that right. I wouldn't wanna get on her bad side."

IZZY

"Been there. S'bad," Hansel agreed.

LINA

"'Least she don't hold grudges 'til death, I guess?"

IZZY

He snorted again, quietly. "Aye. Well. She's young. It'd be holdin' a grudge a real long time, eh?"

LINA

"Don't stop some people. Bet you Larkin's still got blood feuds with kids who crossed her when she was five years old."

IZZY

He snickered a little. He could see that. "Ah, s'different for Larkin, though. Growin' up with the Basha, an' all. Gotta make examples, an' shit like that." He shook his head. "Simpler out on th' sea, just bein' a pirate."

LINA

"What, crew of the Red Blade never had to make examples of people who fucked with Captain Haeth?"

IZZY

"Sure, but we just killed'em."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Fair 'nough. You ever take 'em on your crew if they groveled hard enough?"

IZZY

He scoffed. "Grovelin' don't mean shit. I told you 'bout Hunter, right?"

LINA

"You've told me some stuff. What're you thinking?"

IZZY

"Just that she used t'be part a' Jonesy's crew. Was before my time, though. Don't know the details. Wasn't about grovelin', though," he said. "Had to forsake Jones. She defected on her own, so it wasn't any big deal for her. Eli said Hunter swam after the Blade after a skirmish, showed up all injured an' half-drowned, said Dread Jones wasn't her captain anymore." He shrugged. "Proved herself, I s'pose."

LINA

"Huh. How come she defected, anyway?"

IZZY

"Dunno, honestly." He shrugged again. "Not much askin' about each others' pasts. No one ends up a pirate 'cause it was their first choice."

LINA

"Ah. Yeah. Same with street kids. You don't ask questions, much. No one got there in a happy way."

IZZY

He nodded. "Yeah, s'pose not."

LINA

"Feels weird to me now, though. When I love someone, I wanna... know everything about 'em." Felt embarrassing to admit, for some reason.

IZZY

"Didn't have many people t'love, before," Hansel pointed out gently.

LINA

"Yeah. But. Y'know, usually I wanna respect people's privacy."

IZZY

"Aye, well. What d'you mean by usually? Ain't sure what counts as usual, y'feel me?"

LINA

"Me neither. I'm the last person you oughta ask."

IZZY

"That's my point." Hansel jostled him a little. "Can't be any usually when your life's as weird as ours's been. Can't really set a bar for anything, I figure."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Yeah, alright." He grinned up at Hansel and kissed his chin. "Still stuff I don't know about you."

IZZY

"I'm an open fuckin' book," Hansel said easily.

LINA

"Are fuckin' not."

IZZY

"Am fuckin' so."

LINA

"You're like an onion. I gotta keep peeling. Got pretty far by now, though."

IZZY

"I'm an onion," Hansel repeated, amused.

LINA

"Yup."

IZZY

"You still got some work t'do on your flattery."

LINA

"Oh, is it flattery you want?" Goro straightened up and cracked his knuckles. "I can do you, no problem."

IZZY

He snorted.

LINA

"Lessee. How can I put it." Goro rubbed his chin and appraised Hansel. "Mysterious. Broody. A grizzled sailor with lotsa secrets."

IZZY

"Uh-huh. Tons."

LINA

"Sure, I know most of 'em now. Bet I don't got all of 'em, though. C'mon. Tell me something I don't know. Make me gasp."

IZZY

"Really don't think I got anything," he said. "What're you fishin' for? Narrow it down, eh?"

LINA

"I dunno. Tell me something embarrassing from when you were a kid." Goro grinned wickedly.

IZZY

"Y'know most a' what I got from when I was a kid was less embarrassin' and more traumatizin', right?" Hansel pointed out.

LINA

"Yeah, 'course. But I bet there's still lots of cute stuff. Marion's told me some."

IZZY

"Maybe she's gotta better memory for it than me."

LINA

"She said you used to always tell Leigh bedtime stories. He loved 'em and kept begging for more, and you were a huge sucker."

IZZY

"Aye, but that ain't embarrassin'," Hansel said.

LINA

"So you don't think it's embarrassing that you're hella cute and a huge softie?"

IZZY

Hansel narrowed his eyes. "Don't think it's embarrassin' t'love my little brother."

LINA

Goro smiled and kissed his cheek. "Nah. It ain't. Just real fuckin' cute. Felt like my heart got bigger when Marion told me about it."

IZZY

"Uh-huh. An' I'm the softie."

LINA

"You are."

IZZY

"Aye, an' so're you." Hansel nuzzled into his hair.

LINA

"Nuh uh. Proof?"

IZZY

"Thinkin' it's cute that folks tell their little siblings bedtime stories."

LINA

"Normal people think that. Not just softies."

IZZY

"Bet Jasmilia wouldn't."

LINA

"She ain't normal."

IZZY

"Aye? Who's normal, then, huh?"

LINA

"Uh." Goro scratched his head. "Joan?"

IZZY

"Joan don't think stuff's cute."

LINA

"Bet she does, deep down."

IZZY

"M'kay, Amari."

LINA

Goro scoffed.

IZZY

"No comeback?" Hansel teased.

LINA

"I can't argue with someone being totally irrational, is all."

IZZY

He snickered. "Yeah, a'right."

LINA

Goro snapped his fingers and pointed. "Marion. Marion's normal, she ain't a softie. And she thinks it's cute."

IZZY

"Hmm. Maybe."

LINA

"No maybe. I'm right."

IZZY

"Maybe."

LINA

"Aha. You don't wanna admit it."

IZZY

"My mom's a li'l bit of a softie," he hedged. "Adopted you straight on sight. Showin' up lookin' like a drowned cat."

LINA

Goro was caught off guard for a second, then he scowled. "Wasn't how it happened."

IZZY

"Think she might disagree with that one."

LINA

"She didn't adopt me. She just... invited me in, and shit. 'Cause it was cold out and I looked like a humble cleric and all."

IZZY

"Uh-huh. Y'know she did adopt you, though, right?"

LINA

"Well, eventually she became my mother-in-law, if that's what you mean."

IZZY

"Nah, nah, love. Way before that."

LINA

Goro squinted.

IZZY

"You can ask her next time we're home, you don't believe me."

LINA

"Fine. Maybe I will. She's gonna give you a real strange look."

IZZY

"She ain't."

LINA

Goro thought about how Amari had called him her son for a good few years before he ever accepted her as his mother. He decided not to tell Hansel that, though. "We'll see."

IZZY

"Sure will," he said contentedly.

LINA

"Psh," Goro said, hoping that would count as him winning the argument. He snuggled against Hansel and gave him another squeeze.

A second later he sat up straight, staring deep into the woods. "You hear something?"

IZZY

Hansel lifted his head and stayed quiet, listening. People, sounded like -- not moving like animals, something like wolves that'd have the good sense to stay away from a fire and out of the bone beasts' territory. Nah. Had to be fuckin' people.

He growled and curled his shield arm around Goro, making a fist around his trident's staff again. "People," muttered. "Three or four of'em, about."

LINA

"Maybe they're nice people," Goro said, without much hope.

IZZY

Hansel grumbled. "Sure. Maybe."

LINA

"Do we stay quiet?" Goro whispered. "Or let 'em know we're here?"

IZZY

He scowled. They were outnumbered, low on magic, and hurt. "Better to bluff and maybe avoid having to fight'em," he muttered, then barked, "Hey! I fuckin' know you're there, jackasses. You can drop the act."

LINA

The footsteps through the trees stopped suddenly. There was some whispering. Sounded like an argument, maybe. Then a woman's voice calling, "Hello out there! Travelers? May we join you?"

IZZY

"No. Fuck off."

LINA

There was another whispered argument. The footsteps came closer, and three people emerged out of the trees. Unmistakably bandits -- bedraggled and mismatched, with prominently displayed shoddy weapons, though one of them had a pretty nice leather cuirass on her.

Goro glared. "Thought he told you to fuck off."

"Hey now," the woman with the nice armor said, holding up her hands. She was the one who'd called to them. "We're just here to see if you might be able to spare a bite to eat." Her eyes fell on Hansel's trident, and lingered there.

IZZY

"Fresh out," Hansel said flatly. "Fuck off."

LINA

"That so?" She put a hand on the hilt of her scimitar. The guy next to her was stroking his crossbow. "Maybe you could donate us a little gold, then. So we can buy a meal of our own."

The crossbow guy piped up. "Hey, something happen to your leg?"

IZZY

Hansel didn't have the patience for bandits making polite suggestions even on good days, and this wasn't much of a good day. Pirates were simple. Sail up, kill folk, take shit.

He scoffed and dug the end of his trident into the ground, pushing himself up to his full height -- using Goro for balance, a little, but acting like he was just keeping his arm around him protectively. "Just how fuckin' stupid are you, anyway? You new around here, or what?"

LINA

"Just trying to get by, same as you," said the woman. She jerked a thumb at the third bandit. "Y'know, Ginny here's good with medicine and bandages and shit. She could take a look at that ankle for ya."

"I'm a fuckin' cleric," Goro said. "His ankle's fine."

"I knew a cleric once and he didn't have to use bandages or nothin'," said crossbow guy. "Just snapped his fingers and magically fixed stuff."

Ginny and the woman who seemed to be the leader were sharing a glance. The leader nodded and Ginny approached Goro's bag, sitting open on the far side of the fire.

IZZY

Hansel narrowed his eyes.

Nah.

His trident was pretty firmly planted into the ground -- he let go of the haft to grab one of the axes on his belt, flinging it at the woman heading for Goro's bag and landing it solidly into her shoulder.

"I wouldn't," he threatened quietly.

LINA

Ginny yelled and crumpled to one knee, grasping weakly at the axe. Crossbow guy reacted immediately. He took aim at them and fired. Landed straight in Goro's shoulder, making him yelp, but Hansel cut in with the shield and absorbed some of the shock.

The leader lunged forward and swiped at them with her scimitar, but it glanced harmlessly off Hansel's shield. Took a jab with her dagger, but the shield caught that too. The crossbow guy was taking aim again. Goro hissed a prayer to envelop him in sacred flame, but the asshole dodged it.

IZZY

Scowling, Hansel swiped his trident up again, lunging out for the one who seemed to be the ringleader and sinking the tines into her leather armor. His thumb went to the battery attachment, automatically, wanting this shit to be over with quickly, but the thing was spent, all of its charge emptied into the creatures from before. The first hit wasn't too solid, but the second went in deep, anyway.

LINA

The lead bandit screamed, outraged. She swung her scimitar at Hansel, but it bounced off his shield so bad she nicked her own shoulder with it on the way back. Seeming to realize Goro made for an easier target, she stabbed him just under the ribs.

Goro winced and leaned a little closer into Hansel. Right now, though, he was most worried about the fact that Ginny didn't seem totally out of commission, after all. She'd pulled out her own crossbow and taken aim at them, but her arrow went wide. Goro prayed for another sacred flame, and this time it met its mark. Ginny let out one final scream, then finally collapsed.

Crossbow guy was backing away into the trees. He fired again, but missed. He pulled another arrow from his quiver.

IZZY

The leader landed a hit on Goro, which did not fucking work for Hansel. He snarled and lashed out at her furiously, three deep stabs, the barbed tines of the trident ripping through her. His final blow drove her to the ground, dead, and he turned his beared teeth on the retreating archer, advancing once step to stomp on the man's boss's throat with a squelching sound. It made him waver, his weight on the trident and on Goro, but hopefully it got his point across.

LINA

Gave Goro some pleasant goosebumps, seeing Hansel take the lady out like that. Last guy was getting away, though -- too far away for Hansel to reach. So Goro pointed at him, preparing to call another sacred flame.

The guy saw it happening, though, and switched his aim a touch from Hansel to Goro. He fired, and it landed in Goro's shoulder alongside the first one. Glanced off the shield a little again, but Goro felt the last of his strength give out from the hit, anyway. He dropped to his knees, then onto his face.

IZZY

Hansel grunted in alarm, not able to keep his footing without Goro's support -- they both went down, his hand sliding off his trident as he grabbed at Goro instead, which only did a bit of good, at the end of the day. Both of them still ended up in the dirt, and his ankle throbbed in pain, and Goro was limp against him.

That fucking archer was still on his feet, though. Hansel growled and whipped his lighting javelin off his back -- hadn't used it fighting the devils before, so he muttered its command and shot it at the archer. It turned to blue lightning and met its mark, making the air smell of burned flesh and metal, and when it cooled to being a javelin again, the archer was dead.

He never loved using that javelin -- didn't like the burnt metal smell, made him antsy -- but it was sure fucking effective. Let him ignore the enemies and focus on Goro again, cradling him and gently rocking him awake. No more magic left in him, but he could still do that much -- kiss Goro's forehead without the green-gold glow and murmur to him.

LINA

Goro frowned and groaned, pawing at Hansel. "You okay?" he mumbled. "You hurt?"

He'd lost track of what was happening. They were fighting some bandits. Goro thought he oughta open his eyes and look around, but his eyelids were heavy.

IZZY

Hansel shushed him. "M'fine. Dummy. You're the one that got fuckin' knocked out."

He shifted, hissing, trying to get his leg into a comfortable position again.

LINA

Goro's eyes flew open. "Your ankle."

He sat up, and was rewarded with a blinding pain in his shoulder. He whined and relaxed back into Hansel's arms.

IZZY

"Hey, hey, settle," Hansel said gently, though he didn't really think he had to. There were a couple of arrows lodged into Goro's shoulder, so moving that arm around too much was going to be a problem. "I got you," he said, frowning. "I got you, love. Relax."

LINA

"I gotta check your ankle," Goro said fiercely.

IZZY

"You ain't gotta do shit," Hansel told him. "All you gotta do is hold still an' let me take care of your shoulder, aye? 'Less you wanna use that last little bit a' magic t'heal us both."

LINA

"Ain't enough to get two people." He squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. Ah, this fuckin' sucked. Arrows in the fucking shoulder. Just about one of the worst places to get 'em.

IZZY

"Then get your damn self," Hansel grumbled, knowing he probably wouldn't. He gave Goro a careful squeeze and started fumbling for his kit.

LINA

"You know how to get 'em out safe?" Goro asked, pretty fucking sure Hansel did, but wanting to hear it.

IZZY

"Aye, love. I got you. Said so, didn't I?"

LINA

Goro nodded. "I trust you. Gonna suck, though."

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head. "Sure is. Gonna be okay, though."

He squinted at the wound -- well, wounds -- and grimaced. The arrowheads were sunk into Goro's shoulder, so he couldn't get a look at them, but one or two had pinged off his shield. Murmuring reassurances, he glanced around until he spotted one lying in the dirt -- they were flared out, barbed like the tines of his trident.

"Goddammit," he muttered.

Without any magic, it might be best to just ... leave them in. Goro wasn't bleeding too much, right now -- more from that slash under his ribs than from the arrows -- and if Hansel tried to get them out, he'd probably just do more damage. Serena had taught him to carefully cut the wound larger in cases like this, with a clean knife, so that the barbs could be eased out without tearing. Then it was mostly a matter of treating the damage you'd done yourself, getting the arrow out.

But if Goro could just get some rest, then he'd be able to heal himself without going through all that extra pain. Could give him enough whiskey to make him drowsy and numb, stay awake to keep watch and let him sleep it off. Hansel wasn't sure what there was to be gained from cutting into him right now, making him bleed more.

He stroked Goro's hair, fretfully, considering the options. Could hardly bear to just do nothing, but didn't want to cause him needless pain.

LINA

Goro groaned softly. "It's bad, isn't it?" Motherfucking bandits.

IZZY

"Ain't that bad," he said quickly. "Just -- don't wanna make you bleed by pullin'em out when there ain't any reason to." He winced. "Think you can sleep with'em in? Get your magic back?"

LINA

Goro groaned again. "Maybe. Maybe you could knock me out."

IZZY

"Got plenty a' whiskey," he offered weakly.

LINA

Goro held out a grabby hand.

IZZY

Hansel gently rearranged Goro so he was more upright, leaned back against Hansel's chest, and fumbled for his flask to press it into Goro's hand. He kissed Goro's hair a couple times, not fucking happy with this solution -- not fucking happy with any solution at hand.

LINA

Goro took a couple gulps from the flask. "Ugh. Hansel, it's gross. Why do you drink this stuff for fun?"

IZZY

"Y'think all booze's gross," Hansel pointed out.

LINA

"Yeah," Goro said, not understanding what that had to do with anything.

IZZY

"Maybe that's a Goro problem, and in ain't about the booze."

LINA

"Mm," Goro said skeptically.

IZZY

"Either way." He kissed Goro's head again, and winced at the sight of the arrows. "Sorry I ain't got anything you'd like better."

His coat was pinned onto Goro by the arrows, now. Hansel found his knife and started carefully cutting a line away from the arrows, to free the coat up.

LINA

"Your ankle doing okay? Fuck those motherfuckers, making you get up and stand on it again."

IZZY

"Psshh. After that good splint work? I could fuckin' run on it." The coat was free. "Here, sit up a li'l. Get your back against me, an' we'll cover up with th' coat. Nice an' cozy, eh?"

LINA

Goro sat up obediently and rearranged himself so Hansel could pull the coat off him and over them both. "Those motherfuckers," he insisted. "They weren't nothing, but they got a good jump on us just 'cause I'm almost outta magic. Hate it. Worst fucking luck."

IZZY

Hansel murmured in agreement, more concerned with tucking the coat around them, careful of the arrows. "Coulda been worse. Still took care of'em, no problem, didn't we?"

LINA

"Maybe. But now I'm all laid up and can't take care of you right," Goro muttered, gloomy.

IZZY

"Already took care of me just fine, ahuv," Hansel said firmly.

LINA

"Psh, you'd say that if all I did was give you a kiss on the cheek."

IZZY

"Aye," he agreed. "But lissen, y'did. Only reason I was able t'stand up an' fight'em off was you fixin' up my ankle already."

LINA

Goro grumbled, still dissatisfied. "Maybe oughta use my last spell on you now."

IZZY

"Hey. Fuckin' don't." He scowled. "This ain't a fuckin' emergency on my end. You're the one with goddamn arrows stickin' outta you."

LINA

"Gotta make sure you can protect me, them, if more bandits come along."

IZZY

"I can protect you just fine," Hansel argued. "You gotta be in good enough shape t'back me up, is all."

LINA

"Mmph." Goro could feel the whiskey kicking in, but he wasn't sure it'd be enough to get him to sleep. "Maybe... maybe you should cut 'em out. Then I heal up the cut. Maybe."

IZZY

"I ain't cuttin' a goddamn thing if you don't swear you're gonna heal it after," Hansel said, suspicious.

LINA

Goro snorted. "I ain't gonna leave myself bleeding out, if that's what you're worried about. Just --" He grunted in frustration. "Hate using healing magic on myself when there's someone else hurt."

IZZY

"Exactly what I'm fuckin' worried about," Hansel grumbled. He knew his goddamn husband.

LINA

"Well, I wouldn't do a bait-and-switch on you, alright? I just... ain't sure about the whole thing, period."

IZZY

"So you're sayin' --," Hansel started, and then closed his mouth in case that was a good idea, actually, and he should keep it under wraps.

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Nothin'. Never mind."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes.

IZZY

Hansel stroked his hair.

LINA

"You plannin' something?"

IZZY

"Told you, I don't make plans. Ain't a plannin' kinda guy."

LINA

"Ain't true. You planned to marry me."

IZZY

"Aye, well, that was different." He kissed Goro's head. "Special."

LINA

"Pfff." Goro narrowed his eyes again. "You're up to something, though. I know you were about to say something."

IZZY

"I ain't up to shit," Hansel said docilely. "Just you keep thinkin' about whether you want me t'get them arrows outta you."

LINA

"Hey," Goro said. "How come? You gotta tell me."

IZZY

"'Cause I want you to not have goddamn arrows in you, is why."

LINA

Goro scoffed. "God, alright. You got me. Let's do it."

IZZY

"You sure?" Hansel asked -- a little bit because he knew it'd be hard to cut into Goro, even for his own good, and a lot because even though he'd been considering it, he didn't think he could really go for it if Goro didn't want him to.

LINA

"No," Goro admitted. And in his head echoed all the shit that would've come out if it was anyone but Hansel: 'Course I'm fucking sure. I ain't a goddamn wuss. Come on, do it.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head again. "Ain't gonna do it if you ain't sure. Y'know it's gonna fuckin' hurt." He frowned, thinking through their limited fucking resources, here. "Can give you whiskey, make some ice t'numb it up. Got enough magic for that. Give you somethin' to bite down on. Talk t'you the whole time I'm doin' it." He nuzzled into Goro's hair, still frowning. "M'outta practice, but I'll get it over an' done with fast as I can. Promise."

LINA

"Nah, nah, don't... bother with the ice, and shit. I can handle it. I've had worse. Lots worse."

IZZY

He scowled. "Hey. Wasn't givin' you the fuckin' option."

LINA

Goro rolled his eyes. "Just prolonging the inevitable, you go to all that trouble. Do it. C'mon. Right now."

IZZY

"I'll do it in my own fuckin' time," Hansel grumbled. Had to work himself up to it. "Have some more whiskey. Doctor's orders." Meanwhile, he tugged at his bandolier, working it off awkwardly.

LINA

Goro glared. "Tastes bad."

IZZY

"Don't care. Drink a bit anyhow."

LINA

"Ain't the boss of me," Goro muttered weakly.

IZZY

Hansel gave him a stern look.

LINA

"Ain't," Goro insisted.

IZZY

"Drink the fuckin' whiskey, Goro," Hansel ordered. "I ain't doin' this without keepin' it from hurtin' you as much as I can. Just leave enough for me t'clean my knife."

LINA

Goro gave him a nasty look, but he drank some more whiskey. "'M doing it 'cause I want to."

IZZY

"This ain't no time to be bratty." He managed to get his bandolier off and set it aside, so he could get more comfortable, then pulled his waterskin off his belt.

LINA

"Psh. Alright, when are the Hansel-approved times?" Goro knew he was being cranky, but he still felt a rush of affection for Hansel, trying to take good care of him. He grabbed at Hansel's sweater with his good hand, just wanting to touch him.

IZZY

"When it's hot." Hansel kissed his head, then shifted -- wincing a little because of his leg, and keeping an arm around Goro to support him. "Drink a li'l more an' then lie down, a'right? Can keep your head on my leg if you want. It don't hurt."

LINA

"I don't wanna drink too much," Goro said seriously. "It'll make me puke."

IZZY

Hansel appraised him. He was a lightweight. "You feelin' buzzed at all, yet?"

LINA

Goro nodded. "Queasy."

IZZY

"M'kay." He took the flask out of Goro's hand and kissed his forehead. "Lie down, then."

LINA

Goro obeyed that much without argument, at least. He rested his head on Hansel's leg and frowned up at the trees.

IZZY

Hansel leaned down to kiss him again, and stroked his hair. "'Bout as comfortable as you're gonna get? Need anything?"

LINA

"'Nother kiss."

IZZY

"Y'know, a guy told me they're real addictive," Hansel said solemnly, giving him another one.

LINA

"Oh, Hans, I succumbed to that a long time ago. There was never any hope for me."

IZZY

"Good thing you got a reliable dealer, then, huh?" He gave Goro one more smooch, then straightened up, settling in as comfortable as he could, himself.

LINA

Goro frowned. "You alright?"

IZZY

"Ain't lookin' forward to cuttin' my husband up, is all." He pulled his knife out to douse it with booze, off to the side.

LINA

"Psh. Gonna help me feel better, though."

IZZY

"Aye." Didn't make it feel much better, in the moment, was the problem. He squinted and started to carefully cut Goro's robes away from the two arrows. They'd landed in pretty close to each other. That was gonna make it a little trickier.

LINA

Goro grabbed onto one of Hansel's forearms with his good hand. Supposed he wouldn't be able to keep doing that once Hansel actually started cutting the arrows out. Still.

IZZY

"Gonna go real slow," Hansel told him, keeping his voice quiet and level. "Careful-like. 'Til I gotta go fast -- then we're gonna get it over with, soon as I can, aye?"

LINA

Goro frowned. "You should just go fast the whole time."

IZZY

"Nah. Ain't gonna be sloppy." The robes were well out of the way. "Careful. Like I said." He poured some water onto the wounds, then waved his hand a bit, freezing it against Goro's skin to start numbing it. It was pretty far from warm out. He didn't think they needed to worry about it melting fast, even right near the fire.

LINA

"Ouch," Goro muttered, knowing it wasn't much compared to what was coming.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his forehead. "Just gonna let it numb you up a bit."

LINA

"Yeah," Goro said glumly. He traced invisible lines on Hansel's face with a finger. "You're hot."

IZZY

"You ... talkin' 'bout the temperature, or?"

LINA

"Nah, I mean you're good looking."

IZZY

"Pfft. A'right, just checkin'."

LINA

"I'm tryin'a distract myself."

IZZY

Hansel petted his hair, a little, thinking. "You want me to talk through what I'm doin', or talk about somethin' else? Distract you?"

LINA

"Either way. Just gonna enjoy watching this big strong hot guy take care of me."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel nodded solemnly. "I see how it is. Just eye candy. I gotcha."

LINA

Goro grinned. "Ain't just pretty face. You're also gonna warm me up after."

IZZY

Hansel winked at him. "Oh, aye. Sure am."

LINA

Goro snorted. Then he let out a sigh. He unhooked his bracelet with his teeth so he could hold it freely in his mouth. "'Kay, you gonna do it?" he asked around the bracelet.

IZZY

"Nah, I'm gonna make you sweat it out."

LINA

Goro looked unimpressed.

IZZY

"Psshh." He kissed Goro's forehead again. "Just tryin' to get one more laugh."

He gestured again, and the ice melted, drops rolling away. He wasn't sure if it was actually going to help, but he figured he had to try. He glanced at the misfired arrow he'd picked up before, frowning at it -- the two in Goro's shoulder had landed so close together that it was going to be hard to make clean lines out from where the barbs had sunk in. There'd be some overlap.

"You fuckin' swear to Mask you're gonna heal yourself, after this, aye?" he threatened.

LINA

Goro nodded. "Swear."

IZZY

"A'right. It ain't gonna be neat, is all I'm sayin'." He leaned down for one more kiss. "Love you."

LINA

"Love you too. I trust you."

IZZY

"Mm." He frowned, still not happy about it. "A'right. Bite down, love."

He waited for Goro to obey, then gently but firmly held Goro's shoulder down in place with one hand, and made one cut out from the shaft of the arrow -- this first one on the shallow side, checking how deep the arrowhead was.

LINA

Goro bit down even harder and grunted, scrunching his face up.

IZZY

"I got you," Hansel murmured, making himself stay focused on the work, as much as he wanted to stop and cuddle Goro to reassure him. The arrowhead was deeper. "Goin' in again. Arrow's in pretty deep."

He gestured to pull some water out of his canteen, rinsing away the blood that'd welled up, and cut deeper this time.

LINA

"Nhn." Goro grabbed for Hansel again, but didn't wanna bump his arms. He ended up with a handful of sweater. "Hurry."

IZZY

"You're a'right," Hansel told him. "Know it hurts. Gonna be okay."

He used his thumbs to pull the cut open, just to be extra sure, and squinted. Aye. Deep enough. He took a breath and swirled the now-bloody water over the wound again, keeping it as clean and as visible as he could, then picked up the pace now that he had a guideline to go by. Three more cuts, then one arrow'd be out.

"Sera showed me how t'do this," he said, for distraction. "My friend, y'know, the Selunite pirate. Real ornery elf. I'd help her out sometimes, is how I learned most of this shit -- keep her from havin' t'use up too much magic."

LINA

Goro whimpered, eyes squeezed shut, breathing heavy. "Nn?"

IZZY

"Mmhm." He made the mistake of glancing to Goro's face, and winced, losing track of what he was doing for a moment and wanting to apologize, wanting to squeeze Goro's hand, but both of his were busy. Focus, commander. He took another breath and talked as he made the next cuts. "She always said a lotta shit I didn't understand, y'know, doctoring shit. Fancy words. Taught herself about it outta books, was what she told me. Didn't have that formal education an' such."

The tip of the knife blade clicked against the second arrowhead on that third cut, and Hansel froze and grimaced as the sharp metal shifted inside Goro.

LINA

"Nnn." Goro squeezed the handful of sweater tighter. He tried to stop panting, since moving his chest was just making it worse. He held his breath.

IZZY

"Sorry, ahuv," Hansel whispered. Eldath, he wanted to stop and hold Goro's hand. He rinsed the wound again, instead -- the little bit of water he'd been shaping was more blood, now, and he could still coax it into being dragged around, but it felt heavier, somehow, less interested in listening to him.

LINA

Holding his breath was making him lightheaded. He breathed in and out and batted his eyes open. The tree branches overhead crossed and shifted in his vision.

IZZY

Hansel carefully pulled the wound open wider, again, so he could see to avoid the second arrowhead. "Almost got this first one, motek. Second one's gonna come out lot quicker, okay? You a'right?"

LINA

Goro took a beat too long to answer. "Uh huh."

IZZY

'Course he wasn't, but at least he felt okay enough to lie about it. "'Kay. Good," Hansel told him. "I got you, love. You're doin' real well, aye? Holdin' still for me, an' all. Don't hold your breath, though, a'right? You gotta breathe. Can you do that for me?"

Last cut was done. He set his knife aside, on their makeshift tablecloth from before, and flexed his fingers. They were aching from the tension, and he wasn't done yet.

LINA

"Uhhhh," Goro said, attempting another uh huh. He breathed.

IZZY

"Hey. Look at me, love," Hansel said firmly.

LINA

Goro's eyes drifted closed again.

IZZY

"Goro." Hansel shifted the hand that was holding Goro's shoulder down to graze the back of it against his face. "Hey, chataltuli. I need you t'look at me."

LINA

"I am."

IZZY

"You ain't, love." All right. Okay. He couldn't dither on this for too long. "S'all right, though. Just listen, aye? Breathe with me. Nice deep breaths."

He took a breathe in, making sure it was loud enough for Goro to hear, then out, watching carefully for Goro to follow.

LINA

Goro did his best to follow along, but it wasn't quite with the same timing.

IZZY

He was a little off, but that was okay. "Attaboy," Hansel told him quietly. He held Goro's shoulder again, and on the slow exhale, he pulled the arrow out -- straight up, following the channels he'd cut in.

LINA

Goro winced and grunted.

IZZY

He tossed it aside. Fucking arrow. Piece of shit. Bastard bandits. "Doin' real good, sweetheart," he promised. "More'n halfway there."

He was fucking dying to break and kiss Goro's forehead -- he'd gone even paler, and clammy with cold sweat, and Hansel just wanted to curl around him and murmur sweet things and warm him up. No time, though. He picked the knife back up, and kept breathing how he had been, hoping Goro would keep trying to match him, and also 'cause he needed a fucking reminder, himself.

LINA

Goro was pretty sure he was gonna pass out before Hansel was done, but he didn't wanna say that. Freak him out. "Nn."

IZZY

"Mm," Hansel agreed. "Hey. What's that word -- fancy one for cuttin' people, when it's for, y'know, medical reasons? Y'know the one?" he prompted, swirling a finger to get fresh, clean water.

LINA

"Uh?"

IZZY

"Y'know it. S'like -- slice. But it ain't. Fancy word. Doctors use it. Yeah?" He lined up the next one, careful.

LINA

"'Cision."

IZZY

"Mm." He nodded. "Aye, that's it. So smart, ahuv," he murmured, blunting the incision with soft words. This one went deeper. "How'd you get t'be so clever, eh? Taught yourself all kindsa languages, an' shit, too. Believe you're the sharpest person I've ever known, Goro Voronin-Bell. Ishi."

LINA

"Nuh."

IZZY

"Are so. Don't fuckin' argue with me, jackass." He paused. Felt a little too mean to bicker with Goro right now, as automatic as it was. "Sorry."

LINA

Goro didn't say anything. He'd kinda forgot what was happening, and it dulled the pain for a while, but now he could feel it again. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter and batted at Hansel, almost instinctively, trying to get it to stop.

IZZY

Hansel grimaced. "Sorry, love," he said again, but pushed on. "I'm sorry. Done real soon. Gonna be okay."

His hand shook a little, but he made another swift, deep cut. He kept his knife sharp, at least.

LINA

"Stop," Goro said weakly. Meant it in a more general way. Make it stop kinda thing. But that was too many words.

IZZY

Hansel did, for a beat, and made a quiet sound he didn't mean to make -- something in between a whimper and a cry. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and dragged his hand on. "I'm sorry. Can't. I got you, my love, s'okay. I'm sorry."

LINA

"'Kay." Goro grabbed at Hansel's sweater again, still squeezing his eyes shut. "Trust you."

IZZY

Hansel made an unhappy nnn sound. He blinked a couple times to clear his eyes. "Almost done," he promised weakly. Last cut. Incision.

LINA

"Jus'yank it out," Goro slurred.

IZZY

"Fuckin' ain't." Hansel sniffed. "Breath for me, love. You hear me?"

LINA

Goro tried to breathe noisily once to get Hansel off his case. He coughed a little.

IZZY

He'd take it. He really just fucking wanted this over. "'Kay." He took a second to steady himself, then drew the second arrow out, careful of the barbs, and threw it away, too. "Arrow's out, love. A'right. Heal what y'can, an' I'll bandage up the rest, aye?"

LINA

"Nn."

IZZY

"Don't nn," Hansel said, aiming for stern but landing in scared. "Fuckin' heal yourself."

LINA

"Nn?"

IZZY

"Goro." He swallowed. Not time for panicking. "Y'still have magic, don't you?"

He didn't wait for the answer. Already had the supplies out with the rest of his kit, so he reached for the hooked needle and thread, but his fingers were trembling. Was gonna make it fucking difficult to sew.

LINA

"Mm." Goro lifted his head, blinking. Awareness, and the pain, poured back in. He groaned and rested his head again, holding his good hand over the wound. He hissed out a prayer. Wasn't much. Focused on the arteries. Stopping the bleeding. Making sure the bone wasn't exposed.

IZZY

Hansel let out a shaky breath. Thank fuckin' Mask for that one. "A'right," he said softly. "A'right. That's good. Real good, love. You're okay." He stroked Goro's hair -- was gonna take him just a second to steady his hands enough to thread the needle anyway. "Did real good for me, sweetheart."

LINA

Goro felt a little more clear-headed now he'd stopped the worst of the bleeding. He blinked up at Hansel and grinned.

IZZY

"Hey." Hansel managed to smile back, a little.

LINA

Goro snickered softly. "'S'what you say after you fuck me."

IZZY

"Goro," he protested weakly. Was true, though. God.

LINA

Goro frowned. "Were you crying?"

IZZY

"Nuh-uh." He leaned down to kiss Goro's forehead, then fumbled for the needle and thread again.

LINA

"You were."

IZZY

Hansel decided to not answer that, and just threaded the needle.

LINA

"I was okay," Goro insisted.

IZZY

"Know you were. Real strong. Stubborn motherfucker." He got the thread, after a couple too many tries, and pulled it through. "I'm gonna give you some stitches, a'right? Keep it from tearin' back open."

LINA

Goro groaned. "Fine."

IZZY

"Gotta keep you in one piece 'til mornin', aye?" He sniffed, then bent over Goro to start stitching. "Just some little stabs. Ain't nothin' next t'them arrows. You ever had stitches before?"

LINA

"Duh. Who hasn't?"

IZZY

"Just checkin'. Got that healin' magic, an' all. You stitch yourself up, back before Mask?" He blinked a couple more times quickly so he could see better, focusing on making the stitches straight and well-spaced, like Sera'd taught him.

LINA

"Couple times. Or someone else'd do it." Goro winced at the needle pricking and the thread pulling through, but it wasn't nothing compared to the pain of being cut open.

IZZY

Hansel nodded. At this point he was saying shit just to keep saying it, to keep himself occupied. "Sewed myself up a few times, when I was a pirate, 'fore the Blade. Did a pretty shit job of it 'til Serena showed me better. Had some scars from my own bad work, there for a while. All faded, now." He took another breath and stretched his fingers again, closing his eyes for a moment. "I'm better at it now, though. Promise."

LINA

"Don't mind if you give me scars," Goro mumbled. Be a better memory that most of the ones he had.

IZZY

"Well, I ain't gonna," Hansel grumbled. "Gonna do better."

LINA

"Just hurry," Goro said. "Need a good hug."

IZZY

"Need some stitches." And a hug. Hansel needed a hug. And some whiskey, actually. Still had a bit.

LINA

Goro grumbled. "Not that many."

IZZY

"Y'need what I say y'need," Hansel told him fiercely. "I'm takin' care of my goddam husband."

LINA

"I'm the doctor, remember?"

IZZY

"You're the fuckin' patient, right now." That said, he was finished up. He tied the end off and started packing the spool away.

LINA

"Worst surgery I ever got. Not enough kisses."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled, and muttered, "Sorry."

LINA

"Aw. Aw, ahuv, no." Goro reached up to touch Hansel's face. "I'm just kidding. You did real good. You did amazing."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled some more and grunted. "S'fine. M'fine. You're the one that's hurt."

LINA

Goro struggled to sit up so he could reach Hansel for a kiss. "You're hurt too, dummy."

IZZY

"Hey, hey, don't --." He knew better than to fight over, though, and it wasn't like he didn't want it to happen, too, so he just quickly looped his arm around Goro to support him. "Careful, ahuv. Be careful."

LINA

"I'm fine. 'Cause you did a good job." He kissed Hansel's cheek.

IZZY

"You ain't fine." Hansel gave him a gentle squeeze, though. "Still hurt."

LINA

Goro couldn't deny he was in a lot of fuckin' pain, still. But it wasn't a big deal. "I'm pretty close to fine."

IZZY

Hansel nodded. "Gonna get you closer," he promised. He pulled the roll of clean cotton gauze out of his bag. "Lemme wrap you up, an' then we'll get nice an' warm, aye?"

LINA

Goro nodded and held his arm out a little so Hansel could wrap the bandage properly. He tried not to wince.

IZZY

He made as quick work of it as he could, making sure it was tight, but not too tight. Only had to last the night, anyway. Then he pulled Goro back up against him, back to chest, and settled the coat over them before slipping his arms underneath it to wrap around Goro securely, and bent his head to press his face into the crook of Goro's neck, on the good side.

"Love you," he said, muffled.

LINA

"Love you too." Goro reached up to rest his hand on the back of Hansel's head. "Thank you."

IZZY

"Mmhm." He nodded. "Ain't a big deal." Felt like a fucking big deal. "Had t'do it."

LINA

"Hey. Don't talk like that. Was a fucking big deal. I couldn't've done all that shit myself, could I? Probably would've passed out without you talking to me."

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd weakly. "S'fine. You ain't gotta fuckin' ... compliment me, an' shit." He squeezed Goro, not being so ginger about it since it was around his midsection, far away from the wound.

LINA

"Ain't complimenting. Just telling the truth."

IZZY

"Mmph."

LINA

"Don't mmph me."

IZZY

"Y'can't stop me."

LINA

"Can so."

IZZY

"Mmph."

LINA

"I'll pull my stitches out, then, if they're no good."

IZZY

"Never said they weren't any good," he grumbled, quietly glad that Goro was feeling okay enough to be fuckin' ornery.

LINA

"Well, then. Said it yourself."

IZZY

"Mmph." He squeezed Goro again. "Just glad you're a'right."

LINA

"I'm just glad you're with me."

IZZY

"Glad we're together," Hansel said, like it was a contest.

LINA

"You're always glad we're together."

IZZY

"Aye," he said. "S'why I married you."

LINA

Goro snorted softly. "Cheesy."

IZZY

"Is not."

LINA

"It is."

IZZY

Hansel shook his head.

LINA

Goro covered his mouth, just about giggling.

IZZY

Hansel smiled against his neck and kissed him, sniffling a little.

LINA

"Hey. You alright?"

IZZY

"Aye. M'okay. Was just scared." It was easier to admit that, these days. "Didn't wanna hurt you."

LINA

Goro shifted around, slowly and carefully, dislodging Hansel's face from his neck. He stroked his cheek and kissed him. "I wasn't scared," he said, and meant it. "Knew you had me."

IZZY

Hansel looked at him for a moment. He was pretty sure he believed that -- that Goro wasn't just trying to make him feel better. Still, though. "Well. I didn't know it," he mumbled. "So I was fuckin' scared."

LINA

Goro gave him another kiss. "Guess being married means... y'know, only one of us has gotta know something at a time. S'alright."

IZZY

He nodded, supposing he was okay with that. "Aye."

LINA

Goro nuzzled against him, scraping his cheek on Hansel's beard.

IZZY

Hansel nuzzled him back, giving him a good firm hug. "Better."

LINA

"What's better?"

IZZY

"Everything."

LINA

Goro made a puzzled sound.

IZZY

"'Cause we're together. An' married. Just ... in general."

LINA

Goro grinned. He grinned so wide it made his face hurt. "Yeah."

IZZY

Hansel grinned back. "Yeah?" he asked, just 'cause he wanted to hear it.

LINA

Goro nodded. "Marrying you might be the best thing I ever did. Sure made me happier than anything else, so far."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled happily, even though he already knew that. "I know. S'good to be reminded, though," he said, a little embarrassed about it.

LINA

"I'll tell you every day. I'll tell you ten times a day."

IZZY

"Pffff." He kissed Goro's neck. "Ain't any bother?"

LINA

"Never. Telling the man I love how much I love him? You kidding me?"

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "A'right. Good." He gave Goro a squeeze. "Sorry t'be fuckin' weird when you're the one that just had fuckin' battlefield surgery, an' shit."

LINA

Goro frowned. "Ain't fuckin weird."

IZZY

"Ehhh."

LINA

"Hey. Well, how much do you love me? Do I get to ask?"

IZZY

"Aye." He lifted his head to kiss Goro's hair. "Lots." Again. "More'n the sea." Again.

LINA

"That's all?" Goro teased.

IZZY

"Mm." Another kiss. "More'n there's grains of sand on every beach." Another. "How 'bout that?"

LINA

"Eh." Goro pretended to be unimpressed, hoping Hansel would keep going.

IZZY

"Drops of water in the ocean?" he tried.

LINA

"Hm." Goro worked his mouth around to fight off a grin. "I guess that's a lot."

IZZY

"Stars in the sky?"

LINA

"Are we talkin' all these things combined?"

IZZY

"Aye, y'know we are." He nodded solemnly.

LINA

"That's crazy. Ain't possible to love someone that much."

IZZY

"I ain't a liar, ahuv."

LINA

Goro snickered and hid his face behind his hands, shaking his head.

IZZY

Hansel kissed the backs of his hands, each one twice, then the top of his head, and propped his chin there, tucking Goro against his chest.

LINA

"Do I make you happy?" Goro asked.

IZZY

"Real happy," he promised. "Just bein' around you makes things brighter." He rubbed his beard against Goro's hair. "Shemeshi."

LINA

Goro smiled. "'Kay. Just wanna make sure I'm doing the husband thing right so far."

IZZY

"Sure are. Fuckin' acin' it, love."

LINA

"It's weird, 'cause... it ain't hard. Pretty much everything else I was ever good at, I had to work real hard."

IZZY

"Mm. Y'know why it's easy?"

LINA

"Why?"

IZZY

"'Cause you ain't gotta do anything. Ain't gotta try. Just gotta be, 'cause you make me happy just like that."

LINA

"Pssssh."

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd back at him gently.

LINA

Goro tried to twist around to hide his face, but yanked on his stiches in the process. Muttered an ow under his breath and settled for chewing his bracelet.

IZZY

Hansel made a concerned sound and shifted, trying to make sure he was holding Goro in a comfortable position. "You good? Need me to help?"

LINA

"'M fine. Just... y'know. Feelin' shit."

IZZY

"Mm. Yeah." He grumbled. "Be mornin' soon enough. Feel better then."

LINA

"Nah, nah, I mean." Goro snorted softly. "Like... emotions."

IZZY

"Oh. Pffft. Emotions." He kissed Goro's head. "I can handle that. I gotcha."

LINA

"Normally if I just smoosh my face against you, it helps. Dunno why."

IZZY

"Husband powers."

LINA

"Pssh. Ain't a thing."

IZZY

"Is so."

LINA

"How come it worked before we were husbands, then, huh?"

IZZY

"'Cause your face knew a'ready," Hansel told him.

LINA

"Psssh." He grinned.

IZZY

He kissed Goro again, 'cause he always wanted to. Thoughtfully, he said, "Wonder if Luka was like that. Or if Val an' Konstantin an' Vanya are. You oughta ask'em, when we visit."

LINA

"What? Gotta smoosh their face into people?"

IZZY

"Aye."

LINA

Goro snickered. "Imagine Luka smooshing his face into Jasmilia. Fuckin' awful."

IZZY

He snorted. Fuckin' Jasmilia.

LINA

"Vanya had to hide against Konstantin that one time, when she got upset. Might just be a little kid thing, though." Goro frowned. Maybe he was implying he was acting like a little kid.

IZZY

"It ain't if you do it, too," Hansel pointed out. "Seemed like Konstantin knew what t'do about it. Maybe he does it, too." He could picture that, actually -- Konstantin hiding his face against Nikolai, even though he was a lot bigger. It was familiar, honestly.

LINA

"Hmm." Goro frowned deeper, considering.

IZZY

Hansel snuggled him and let him consider, but after a moment, commented, "Y'know, I do it, too. Hide my face. Think it's different, though. Ain't sure how."

LINA

"If you ain't sure how, how can you tell it's different?"

IZZY

"Hmm." He thought it over, trying to pick apart the gut feeling he had and put it into words. "Dunno. I do it when ... I'm scared, y'know? Freaked out over shit." He hesitated. "When I feel like I'm gonna get hurt. You do it when you're happy, though. Or sad. Just when you got a lotta strong emotions. Think it's different, is all."

LINA

"Huh. Yeah." Goro narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Weird."

IZZY

"What's that look about?"

LINA

"Maybe I'm scared of emotions."

IZZY

"Aye, well, they can be a real fuckin' problem," Hansel admitted.

LINA

"I hate 'em. Except love."

IZZY

"Mmm." Hansel tried to think of one to prove him wrong, but love really was the best one. He felt like if there was some other feeling he particularly liked feeling, it traced back to love. "Well, you ain't scared of'em, then. You hate'em. S'different."

LINA

"I hate 'em 'cause they're scary," Goro insisted.

IZZY

"Ehh." Hansel grumbled a bit but didn't argue anymore. He was still pretty sure it was different. "Well. Dunno. Gut feeling, is all."

LINA

Goro nodded, satisfied. "Gotta trust gut feelings."

IZZY

"Aye," he agreed.

LINA

Goro rested his eyes for a bit, then smiled. "Sometimes I wanna hide against you when I feel like I love you too much. And that ain't scary anymore. Just feels nice to... be covered by you."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel nuzzled into his hair. "Feels nice t'cover you, too. Makes you happy. So it's different, aye?"

LINA

"Yeah." Goro snuggled back against him, pulling Hansel's arms tighter around him. "Happy and safe. Never feel as safe as when I'm with you."

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him. "Good."

LINA

"I know I told you that before, lots of times. But I said I'd tell you every day, if you wanna hear it."

IZZY

"Maybe I do wanna hear it." He kissed Goro's head. "Maybe that's what makes me feel happy an' safe, huh?" Just embarrassed him to ask for it. Not so much as it used to, but still a bit. Felt shaky to beg people to tell him if they wanted him around, in case they didn't, really, but it got easier with those rings on their fingers. Goro was already saying it a little just by wearing it.

LINA

Goro hugged Hansel's arm against him. "You make me feel safe 'cause... not just 'cause you can protect me from shit. And I know you want to protect me from shit. But also 'cause I -- I think you're gonna love me forever. That feels safe." It actually made his heart speed up a little, still. Like he was still tempting fate saying it out loud. He trusted it enough to do it anyway, though.

IZZY

"Aye. S'cause I am," Hansel murmured into his hair. "Forever. Long as we're both livin', an' on into the next life, too. Just gonna find you again. Always."

Saying it made him feel better, too. It was calming, he guessed. Stable. Hadn't had a lot to hold onto, in his life, and he liked the idea that now he'd found something, not even dying could take it away. The whole reincarnation thing was supposed to just be some weird idea of Mishka's, but he'd always liked it, and now he supposed they more or less knew it was real. That made him less scared, too.

Had to kill Gruumsh first, was all. Otherwise the one-eyed bastard might get him, instead of Selune. The thunder hadn't come for him in a while, though. Wasn't so scared of that, either. He squeezed Goro again and kissed his head.

LINA

Goro frowned, considering it seriously. "Maybe we gotta make sure we die around the same time, so we're born again around the same time. Or something. Is that planning too much?"

IZZY

"Bit morbid," Hansel said.

LINA

"Maybe you don't want my soul following yours around like a lost puppy," Goro said glumly.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head. "Only 'cause it means I can't follow yours around, ahuv." He considered, then frowned. "I dunno if when you die makes much difference. Don't wanna think about it that much." Thinking about his lifespan as a half-orc had never appealed.

LINA

"Yeah." Goro gnawed his bracelet. "Yeah. Thinking that much 'bout the future ain't like me, anyway. Usually just figure shit out as I go."

IZZY

"Aye. Ain't plannin' types," Hansel said, kinda pleased about that, even though one of them definitely should be the planning type. He supposed it meant that he had to do it, when he was looking out for Goro. Wasn't the worst thing.

LINA

"I'll do it to look out for you, though," Goro added. "'Cause you can be kinda reckless."

IZZY

Hansel snorted before he could stop himself.

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"I'm reckless?"

LINA

"You are."

IZZY

"Aye, and ain't we just the fuckin pot an' the kettle."

LINA

"Hey. That ain't got nothin' to do with it. We're talking about you."

IZZY

"Maybe you're talkin' about me. I'm talkin' about you, y'reckless motherfucker."

LINA

"Psssh. Well... we're both pots and kettles, then."

IZZY

"Love, the whole point of the sayin' is that pots an' kettles're the same," he pointed out.

LINA

Goro paused for a second. "Oh. Yeah."

IZZY

"So I'm the kettle, an' you're the pot," he said, mostly just to see if Goro would argue about which of them was which.

LINA

Goro frowned, suspicious. "How come?"

IZZY

"'Cause."

LINA

"Thought they were the same."

IZZY

"Aye."

LINA

"So how come you get to be the kettle?"

IZZY

"What, you wanna be the kettle?" He grinned.

LINA

Goro slowly sat up and looked over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at Hansel. "You're tricking me."

IZZY

He tried to wipe the grin off his face real quick. "How d'you reckon?"

LINA

Goro's mouth twitched. He couldn't stop himself from snickering. "Dick."

IZZY

Hansel cracked and grinned again. "What? I ain't doin' anything."

LINA

"You are. You're fuckin' with me. Trying to see if I'd argue about getting to be the kettle."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh." Hansel grinned more widely, not even remotely trying to fight it. "Why, d'you want to?"

LINA

"Only if there's really a difference."

IZZY

"Oh, aye? What's the difference, you figure?"

LINA

"Dunno. But I bet I'm the kettle and you're the pot."

IZZY

"Nahh, pretty sure I'm the kettle. 'Cause it's the pot tryin' to call the kettle reckless, when he's about the most reckless pot there," he said sagely.

LINA

Goro stared and blinked. "Wait."

IZZY

Hansel raised his eyebrows and waited.

LINA

"You think I'm more reckless than you."

IZZY

"Aye."

LINA

"I ain't."

IZZY

"Are so."

LINA

"Nuh uh."

IZZY

"Uh-huh."

LINA

"Prove it."

IZZY

"How d'you suppose I can do that, huh?"

LINA

"Well, you seem pretty sure of yourself, so I bet you'll find a way."

IZZY

"Y'do better than you used to," Hansel had to say, kissing Goro's temple. "Stayin' behind me when shit's bad, most the time. Not slappin' goddamn hydras in the face, an' shit."

LINA

"Well, I had to do that. I'd do it again."

IZZY

"Aye, an' there's my proof."

LINA

"That doesn't count! I had to do it. I had to touch her to put the curse on her."

IZZY

"Didn't hafta put a curse on her, did you?"

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes again. "Had to do something."

IZZY

"Coulda stood back an' done stuff."

LINA

"Like what?"

IZZY

"Dunno, ahuv, you're the one with the magic." He kissed Goro's head again. "All clever an' shit. You got stuff."

LINA

"Yeah. Like curses."

IZZY

"And stuff that you ain't gotta slap folk to do."

LINA

Goro shook his head.

IZZY

"No?" Hansel asked, grinning. "Not even one spell?"

LINA

"I mean..." Goro made a wishy-washy gesture.

IZZY

"Mm. M'kay. Guess if you gotta stay on the front, then, I'm just gonna have to keep you right here." He squeezed Goro a little. "Right behind my shield. Safest."

LINA

"Psh." Goro grinned and smooched him.

IZZY

"Nah, I'm serious," Hansel said, seriously. Or at least trying to be. "Gotta keep my hands on you, y'know."

LINA

Goro raised an eyebrow.

IZZY

"Only way t'keep you safe."

LINA

"Uh huh."

IZZY

"S'true. Maybe that's why you wanna run into danger, huh?" he teased. "So I gotta run after."

LINA

"Hmmm." Goro shrugged dramatically with his good shoulder. "Who can say? Mystery."

IZZY

"Nahh. I know it." He winked. "Husband instinct."

LINA

Goro grinned again. He turned back around and leaned against Hansel, snuggling in comfortably. "Always wanna be as close to you as I can. S'true."

IZZY

Hansel wrapped around Goro nice and securely, once he was settled in, and rested his face in the crook of Goro's neck. "Mm. Aye. I know. I can feel it."

LINA

Goro grinned wider and wiggled around, almost giddy. "Good. 'Cause I want you to know it."

IZZY

Hansel grinned against his neck and squeezed him some more, trying to hold him still. "Y'know I always wanna be close t'you, too, right?"

LINA

"I mighta had a sneaking suspicion."

IZZY

"Aye? Just a li'l bit?" He snuggled Goro more fiercely.

LINA

Goro snickered. "Hard to tell sometimes. Ain't like you hug me every single time I ask for it."

IZZY

"Mm. Hm, hm. Yeah, I could maybe hug you some more times," he said solemnly. "Make it sink in."

LINA

"Think it might help. Few more hours of hugging a day, maybe."

IZZY

"Psh, only a few a day? I can do better than a few."

LINA

"Oh yeah? How much you got in you, big guy?"

IZZY

"'Bout this much." He started squeezing Goro and didn't let up -- but went slow, in case it got too hard and hurt him.

LINA

"Mmmm." Goro closed his eyes, smiling contentedly.

IZZY

Hansel kept squeezing, slowly compressing Goro more.

LINA

Goro let out a happy sigh. "You trying to put me to sleep?"

IZZY

"Might be about naptime for precious kitty cats, aye," Hansel teased.

LINA

"Hey. I ain't a kitten."

IZZY

"Chataltuli," Hansel crooned.

LINA

"I'm deadly," Goro insisted.

IZZY

"So're alley cats."

LINA

"Okay. Yeah. I'm a big, mean alley cat."

IZZY

"M'kay. I'm bigger an' meaner, though," Hansel said contentedly.

LINA

"Well... bigger, yeah."

IZZY

"Y'don't think I'm mean, huh."

LINA

"Nah. Not in the slightest."

IZZY

"Psshh."

LINA

"I happen to be an excellent judge of character."

IZZY

"I think you're kinda biased, myself."

LINA

"Ohh, who's the pot now, huh?"

IZZY

"Hey, now."

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel just kissed his head a couple times.

LINA

"S'what I thought."

IZZY

"You can be wrong," Hansel insisted, mostly just to bicker.

LINA

"Sure, sometimes. But not now."

IZZY

"Uh-huh."

LINA

"Prove it."

IZZY

Hansel started stroking Goro's hair and nuzzling against him, kissing his neck.

LINA

"Mean one always wins the argument," Goro agreed.

IZZY

"Mmhm," Hansel said, and kept petting him, the way he liked, and nibbled at his neck a little.

LINA

Goro snickered. "Don't get all frisky, and shit. We're too hurt."

IZZY

"Stop me, then, huh?" He ruffled Goro's hair a bit, then dragged his fingernails along Goro's scalp.

LINA

"Awww," Goro complained, closing his eyes, head lolling back. He was too weak.

IZZY

Hansel stopped immediately.

LINA

"Hey."

IZZY

"You wanted me to prove it."

LINA

"Prove what?" He'd kinda lost track what they were arguing about.

IZZY

He snickered. "That I'm mean."

LINA

Goro snickered back. "Bet if I ask you real nice to keep doing it, you will."

IZZY

"Maybe. Might make you beg, though." He kissed the top of Goro's head, all chaste. "That'd be mean."

LINA

"Okay, well. If we're talking about that kinda shit, then yeah. You're a mean bastard."

IZZY

"Aye, that's right," he said, satisfied, and went back to petting Goro's hair.

LINA

"But that ain't, like, the real you."

IZZY

"S'part of me," Hansel murmured into his hair.

LINA

"Yeah, but, like." Goro gestured vaguely. "You do it to make me happy, don't you?"

IZZY

"Mmhm."

LINA

"And if I really didn't like it, if I said mercy, you'd stop."

IZZY

"Aye," he agreed. He'd try to stop before Goro ever got to mercy, but that wasn't the point.

LINA

"That means you're nice."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh. Means I'm a decent fuckin' person." He kissed Goro's hair. "Average. I'm a'right."

LINA

"More than alright."

IZZY

"Decent," he insisted.

LINA

"Amazing."

IZZY

"So-so."

LINA

Goro twisted around again to frown at him.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his forehead docilely.

LINA

"Don't diss my husband," Goro said, unmoved.

IZZY

"Ain't dissin'. Just bein' reasonable." He kissed Goro's forehead again. "Can't all have them rose-tinted glasses, can we? You an' Mishka both. Fuckin' lovestruck dumbasses," he said fondly. "Gotta balance it out."

LINA

"Stop," Goro said, suddenly serious. "I ain't a dumbass for loving you and thinking you're great."

IZZY

Hansel frowned, opening his eyes more fully, having had them lidded and relaxed. He just looked at Goro for a moment, troubled. "Sorry."

LINA

Goro turned around the rest of the way, straddling Hansel so he could face him without twisting his shoulder. He buried his face properly in Hansel's chest.

IZZY

"I don't really think you're a dumbass," Hansel said, kind of puzzled, but knowing how much he hated it when Goro said he was crazy for thinking Goro was amazing.

LINA

"You don't really think you're great," Goro said, muffled.

IZZY

"I think I'm fine," he said firmly. "S'better than I used to feel. 'Kay?"

LINA

Goro nodded. He scooted up a little, put his arms around Hansel's neck and kissed both his cheeks. "Long as you ain't real down on yourself. I'll love you the rest of the way."

IZZY

Hansel hesitated. "Might have to be a real long way, some days."

LINA

"Oh, I got plenty. Don't you worry."

IZZY

"A'right. Well ... I got plenty, too." He kissed both of Goro's cheeks right back. "For when you ain't feelin' so hot, either."

LINA

Goro smiled. "'Nother reason you make me feel safe. You and Amari. Feels like you got so much love for me, I don't gotta worry if no one else can fill it in."

IZZY

"Mm." He settled his chin on top of Goro's head. "Yeah. I got you."

LINA

Goro rested against Hansel's chest and closed his eyes. His shoulder was bugging him a lot still, but he didn't wanna say so. Just needed a distraction. "You should tell me pirate stories, or some shit."

IZZY

"Yeah? What kind d'you wanna hear? I got lots."

LINA

"Hmm. Something that makes you sound all cool and sexy."

IZZY

"Pffft."

LINA

"Shouldn't be hard."

IZZY

"Y'know I ain't the best judge of all that." He kissed Goro's head, thinking. "Hmm. Me an' Corven an' Hunter killed some wyverns, one time. Maybe that one?"

LINA

"Yeah. Sounds good." Goro snuggled in more comfortably. Truth was, the content of the story didn't matter a bit. He just loved listening to Hansel's voice.

IZZY

"Was on Patch Island, actually. Y'know they got all kindsa weird shit that lives in that jungle? Me an' Raef wandered in when we were drunk an' killed a fuckin' naga. S'when we got that possum. Thought it was a cat stuck in a tree, an' all."

LINA

Goro snorted. "God. Dumbasses."

IZZY

"Was a good time," Hansel commented. "Pretty dumb though, aye."

LINA

Goro grinned and had to scooch up a little to kiss him.

IZZY

Hansel grinned back. "What?"

LINA

"Just love you. You're real cute, is all."

IZZY

"Psshh, I thought I was cool an' sexy."

LINA

"Yeah. You're all three. And some other stuff, too."

IZZY

"Yeah? Like a dumbass?"

LINA

"Nahhh." Goro nuzzled him. "You're smart. Just drunk, sometimes."

IZZY

He snorted. "Sometimes I'm a dumbass when I ain't drunk, but yeah, it don't help."

LINA

"Everyone's got a little dumbass in them. It's normal."

IZZY

Hansel snickered.

LINA

"So what are wyverns like, anyhow? I never seen one." Goro started snickering, and couldn't help adding, "Were you drunk and thought it was a bird?"

IZZY

"Psshh. Nah, nah. So, see, 'round on the other side of Patch Island from Freeport, the island gets real ragged an' cliffy. An' there's shit like wyverns living over 'round there, and rocs, other stuff, too. Some tribes of aarakocra -- they come 'round to Freeport, sometimes, tradin' an' stuff. They're real neat. You see any while we were in Freeport? Like kenku, 'cept they got wings, and there's more of'em than just crow types."

LINA

Goro grimaced. "Like that big seagull guy?"

IZZY

"Ensign? Nah, he didn't have wings. I mean, aarakocra can fuckin' fly and shit."

LINA

"Sounds freaky."

IZZY

"They're neat," Hansel insisted. "Different. I like'em."

LINA

"I'll take your word for it."

IZZY

"Well, anyhow -- they'll fly over the jungle, or maybe around the island, I dunno -- an' come trade stuff with the pirates in port. They like shiny stuff. Not gold, really, just weird, new shit." He poked Goro a little. "See, you'd like that. Get right along with'em."

LINA

"Psssh. Whatever. I don't -- whatever. Psh."

IZZY

He grinned. "Uh-huh. Whatever. Anyhow, we were in port, aye, and me an' Hunter were hangin' out. Guess we were a little drunk," he admitted.

LINA

"Yeah huh. Go on."

IZZY

He scoffed. "Well, we were drinkin', and kinda, uh. Kinda spyin' on Corven. 'Cause it was fun."

LINA

Goro pulled back a little, eyeing Hansel suspiciously. "You spy on people a lot?"

IZZY

"Nah." Hansel ducked his head, sheepish. "Lissen, maybe Hunter was a bad influence, huh? How about that." As excuses went, it wasn't terrible. Him and Hunter had been bad influences on each other.

LINA

Goro was thoughtful for a moment, trying to decide if he was okay with Hansel spying on him. If anyone was allowed to spy on him, he guessed it would be Hansel, but it still felt weird. "Well. Anyway."

IZZY

"Well -- we were spyin' on her on account of her bein' so secretive," Hansel said, fully aware that didn't make it any better. Was just the truth. "We had this bet goin'. Hunter said she figured that when Cori -- Corven, I mean -- when she snuck off on her own, in Freeport, she was creepin' off to see somebody special, aye? Figured she had to have someone, but didn't want all us knowin' about it an' givin' her a hard time for havin' a heart after all. And I said, nah, nah, not Corven. She's just fuckin' off t'get away from our dumb asses a while. And we were already a li'l tipsy, so Hunter said aye, a'right, let's fuckin' follow her, then, and settle it." He paused. "I mean, pretty sure she knew we were there. Weren't real good spies."

LINA

"She was a Maskarran, right? With a couple drunks tailing her?"

IZZY

"Aye."

LINA

"Yeah, she knew." Goro nodded.

IZZY

"Well, anyhow. She let us follow'er, then. Probably couldn't be bothered to tell us to fuck off, or maybe she figured if she just let us do it, we'd drop it an' leave her alone." He shrugged. "Was real borin', honestly. She just fuckin' ... walked around doin' regular shopping, an' shit. I won the bet." He grinned.

LINA

Goro raised an eyebrow. "Where's the wyverns come into it?"

IZZY

"We're gettin' to it." Hansel waved a hand, teasing, "Fuckin' impatient."

LINA

"Psh, well, you can't start a story and then it's just about a person doing normal person things."

IZZY

"It's about spyin'," Hansel insisted.

LINA

"It's about Corven generously letting you believe you were spyin', you mean."

IZZY

"Pffft. It's about me winnin' a bet. Ain't that cool an' sexy?"

LINA

Goro grinned. "Maybe. What'd you spend the money on?"

IZZY

"Prob'ly more booze." He squinted. "Prob'ly bought Hunter a drink." He was like that, sometimes. Not real great with money.

LINA

Goro snickered and pressed his face against Hansel's shoulder.

IZZY

"Psshh. Well. Anyway." Hansel shook his head. "Anyway, Cori -- Corven was talkin' to these aarakocra traders, at this one point, like I was tellin' you about before. Ones from th'other side of the island, aye? An' one of'em had got hurt real bad, had her arm all fucked up. And that made me real curious, so after Corven'd moved on, I went over and chatted her up, y'know, askin' if she was all right, what'd happened, an' she said that this little pack a' wyverns, or pod, or flock, or ..." He squinted. "Y'know, whatever the fuck they're called, they'd moved in on this woman's home. An' she was just the one person, living in a hollow in the cliffs by herself, but even when some friends'd tried to help her out, she'd just got hurt, and one of her friends got his wing fucked up too bad to even fly anymore, and another one of'em hadn't even made it."

LINA

"Goddamn. Fuckers."

IZZY

"Mm," Hansel agreed. "Just animals, I think -- wyverns. Ain't smart like dragons. S'pose they just saw somethin' smaller than them that had somethin' they wanted, so they took it. S'the way it is."

LINA

Goro scoffed. "Hey. This ain't... the point or anything, but how come you always stop yourself when you call her Cori?"

IZZY

"Oh, uhh, pff." Yeah, Goro was bound to notice. "She didn't like me callin' her that. I mean ... she acted like she didn't like it, but -- kinda did, maybe, just not around other folks? I dunno." He hesitated. "She was complicated."

LINA

"Mm." Goro put his good arm around Hansel, getting more comfortable.

IZZY

"Always told me to stop callin' her that," he said thoughtfully. "But she told me to stop doin' a lotta shit, so I kinda knew when she really meant it. Anyhow." He shrugged. "Y'know, I can get kinda stubborn an' stupid about shit, and I got real mad about these wyverns, aye? Went back to Hunter, all pissed off, said we oughta do somethin' about it. S'on the other side of the fuckin' island, she said. How're we gonna get there? And I said, we got a fuckin' ship, Hunter. And she said, naw, bud, Cap'n has a ship. And I couldn't much argue with that, 'cause me an' Mishka weren't, uh, close, yet, and I was pretty, uh. Nervous. I wasn't gonna ask him for shit. Hunter knew that, too. She was makin' fun of me."

LINA

Goro grinned. "You got a good heart. You always had a good heart, even when you were a pirate."

IZZY

"Psshh. I was drunk an' wanted to kill some wyverns," Hansel said, embarrassed.

LINA

"Hm. Yeah. Guess that was all." Goro kept grinning.

IZZY

"It was."

LINA

Goro nuzzled his shoulder.

IZZY

Hansel grumbled a little. "Well, I knew Corven didn't like me much, but she didn't make me feel all fuckin' lovestruck an' dumb t'talk to, so I marched over to her and started talkin' about the aarakocra an' their wyvern problem. And Cori, she would just look at me -- she had these eyes like blue-green sea glass, all hard an' clear an' bright, and she'd stare at you and make you just fuckin' feel like the smallest goddamn person in the world, if she wasn't happy with you." She'd looked at him like that a lot, when he was younger.

"An' after I'd been talkin' for a bit -- fuck knows what the hell I was actually sayin' -- I realized I was bein' irritatin', so I shut myself up and actually paid attention, but she wasn't lookin' at me like that, like I expected her to be. She just kinda looked bored, like. Which, I mean, in all fairness, she looked at me like that a fair bit, too, when I was bein' a dumbass but I wasn't makin' it her problem. And she goes, you fuckin' done, Granger? And I felt pretty fuckin' embarrassed, and I said, aye, ma'am, and I got ready to fuckin' sulk off an' go back to drinkin', and she said, all right, then c'mon. Think I just stared at her, for a sec, 'cause I didn't know what she meant, and she got impatient and told me that if I wanted to try an' help her kill those wyverns, I was gonna need to fuckin' keep up."

LINA

Goro tried not to snicker at the aye, ma'am part. Like how he talked to Amari. "What about the ship?"

IZZY

"Aye, she wasn't gonna use the Blade. Didn't bring it up t'Mishka at all. We were havin' some shore leave for a while, anyhow, an' she'd done decided she was gonna charter a ship, sail 'round the island, and take care a' those wyverns all on her own. I said, that seems kinda reckless, don't it? And she said, you comin' or not?" Hansel shrugged. "S'pose you can guess what I did."

LINA

"Well, gosh. Knowing you, you musta gone back to your cabin and had a quiet night with a cup of tea."

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "Aye, y'got me dead t'rights. Did just that. Story's over."

LINA

"Pretty dull." Goro smiled and smooched him.

IZZY

"Sometimes it's like that, yeah." Hansel kissed him back, on the forehead. "Nah, nah, I went an' grabbed Hunter and we headed off. Had a little skipper, sobered up as we went -- me an' her, anyhow. Corven was stone cold sober. So when I started to realize this was maybe a bit of a dumbass idea, one of the ones I get when I'm wasted, I started lookin' at Cori, and she still seemed to think it was all right, so." He shrugged again. "Figured it couldn't be all bad. Had a good head on her shoulders, that one."

LINA

"Maskarran," Goro said, nodding knowingly.

IZZY

He snorted. "Uh-huh."

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Nothin'. Knew what I was getting into when I married a cleric." He grinned. "Y'know Mask ain't responsible for everything that's good, right? Gotta leave some for other folks."

LINA

"Pssh. Name one person who ain't a Maskarran who's got a good head on their shoulders."

IZZY

"Luci."

LINA

Goro paused for a long time. "Shit."

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "Maybe just him an' Selune got it covered. Eldath, maybe. Ain't sure about everyone else."

LINA

"Maybe it's Maskarrans, and other clerics."

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel tried to think of someone else he knew with some common sense, but if he was being honest, he tended to hang out with other impulsive dumbasses. "Ombre," he offered.

LINA

"Iffy at best."

IZZY

"Prove it. Seems just fine t'me."

LINA

"I'll give you one thing, which is, I have met a Maskarran who's a loose canon."

IZZY

"Oh, aye? Is it you?"

LINA

Goro again paused for a long time. "Hey."

IZZY

"Your girlfriend?" he teased.

LINA

"Yeah, but." Goro blew a raspberry.

IZZY

"And you," Hansel said. "Jonn, now, too. And y'know, my mom's got sense, an' she ain't a Maskarran. I'm jussayin', love. Don't think your idea holds water any which way y'try to make it float."

LINA

"Well, whatever. You're getting way off track and shit."

IZZY

"Fuckin' admit defeat, Voronin," Hansel said, grinning. "Don't whatever me."

LINA

Goro pouted.

IZZY

Hansel kissed his head. "Precious chataltuli."

LINA

Goro blew another raspberry.

IZZY

He snickered again. "Where was I, anyway?"

LINA

"On the skipper, or whatever."

IZZY

"Aye, on the skipper," Hansel said, grinning. "Y'know what a skipper is, love?"

LINA

"It's a boat," Goro said, not even really sure about that much.

IZZY

"Nah, cap'n of a boat. Little one that ferries folk around, mostly, not a real ship -- ain't really a captain like Mishka is. So, aye, we're on the skipper, an' he's swimmin' ..."

LINA

"Hey." Goro felt himself turning red.

IZZY

Hansel snickered and nuzzled his hair. "Sorry. I ain't makin' fun, I know you ain't got any reason t'know. Just a funny fuckin' thing to picture."

LINA

"Psssh. How do you learn all those fuckin' words, anyhow? Every time you tell me a sailing story there's fuckin' twenty new things I gotta know."

IZZY

"Mostly listenin' to older sailors. Trust, I didn't fuckin' know port from starboard when I started sailin'," he said. "Didn't ask questions, neither. Just figured it out as I went. Lot easier when you're surrounded by it. And ain't got a choice."

LINA

"How d'you just... not ask questions," Goro said, bewildered.

IZZY

"Uhh." Hansel squinted. "Just kept my mouth shut. Listened a lot."

LINA

Goro supposed he'd tried to do that a time or two in his life, but he usually couldn't stand it for long. "Do I ask too many questions? Am I annoying?"

IZZY

"Nah, nah, ahuv. I like it when you ask questions." He kissed Goro's head. "Just didn't wanna ask sailors stuff when I was younger 'cause I didn't want'em t'realize I didn't know dick about ships and probably shouldn't've been there. Get kicked ashore, an' all."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Bet they could tell, anyhow."

IZZY

Hansel frowned a bit. "Why d'you say that?"

LINA

"Bet you were a rube. Bet you were real adorable. Coming from the farm, still got hay stuck to your boots."

IZZY

"Y'know I lived a few months alone in the forest, after I left home, aye?" Hansel reminded him. "Wasn't fuckin' useless. Just didn't know how sails worked, an' all." He wasn't adorable. People'd looked away from him when he'd passed them in the street, 'cause he looked about feral.

LINA

"Were you lonely?" Goro asked, suddenly concerned. Knowing what he did about Hansel, he couldn't imagine him being happy all on his own like that.

IZZY

"Well ... yeah. Was better than bein' at home, though." He shrugged a shoulder. "Then I went out t'sea, anyway, an' met Taavit."

LINA

"Mm." Goro kissed his shoulder.

IZZY

"Still wonder, sometimes, how things coulda turned out if we'd met then," Hansel said thoughtfully. "When I was in Skyport, I mean -- if I hadn't left town so quick." He gave Goro a little squeeze. "Could've protected you. An' you could've kept me from bein' lonely. Think it woulda been nice."

LINA

Goro nodded and squeezed him back. "And any version of you would've loved any version of me."

IZZY

"Mmhm." Hansel grinned against his hair, happy that he knew it. "Prob'ly woulda taken me a while to notice, then, too. I was real dumb. Poor fuckin' Taavit." He kissed Goro's head. "You got real lucky t'get to me after I had shit figured out a li'l better."

LINA

Goro snickered. "Like I said. Adorable."

IZZY

"Hey," he protested.

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Wasn't fuckin' adorable," he grumbled.

LINA

"No?"

IZZY

"Nah. After bein' by myself in the forest? Nah." He shook his head. "Was like a scrawny lanky bear comin' outta hibernation." Shit, that sort of did sound adorable. He scowled.

LINA

"Not making a strong case against me," Goro said.

IZZY

"Well, folks sure didn't much think I was adorable," he insisted. "Looked at me like I was a wild animal or some shit. Maybe you woulda seen somethin' different."

LINA

"Probably. I never thought you looked scary."

IZZY

"Psshh. Bet you did when we first met," Hansel said, kinda hoping it wasn't true.

LINA

Goro snorted. "Hell naw. I thought, that guy looks like he wants people to think he's scary, 'cause that's what bouncers do. That's about it."

IZZY

Somehow, Hansel was vaguely insulted anyway. "Hey. Folks were scared of me. All scarred an' shit." Granted, it'd made him feel bad, but -- it was just about all he'd still been good for, after the storm.

LINA

"Yep. Big scary bear." Goro smooched him.

IZZY

He grumbled toothlessly. "Don't fuckin' patronize me."

LINA

"I can and will. It's my right as your husband who knows how cute and sweet you are."

IZZY

He grumbled some more. Maybe.

LINA

"I bet some part of me sensed it early on. That's how we ended up on the track to gettin' married."

IZZY

"Think so?"

LINA

"And all those fools who were scared of you, well, they weren't smart enough to marry you."

IZZY

"Hmmm."

Hansel liked the idea that he might have something in him that Goro'd been clever enough to spot. Maybe he just wished it wasn't so hard to see. It was nicer to think of it that way, though, than thinking of everyone else as being right about him, and Goro being wrong 'cause he'd gotten fucked up by so much in his life, and Hansel having to fight and struggle to be better for Goro's sake.

Yeah. He liked it better if there was something good in him that Goro'd been able to suss out, even early on. Gut feeling.

"Aye," he said after a second, satisfied. "Aye, maybe."

LINA

Goro smiled and kissed him again. "Ain't never been wrong about someone I thought I could trust."

IZZY

"Mmm." Hansel tried to think of some example to the contrary, he guessed just because he was used to arguing, but nothing came right to mind, and what he did think of was that it wasn't like he actually had any particular want to prove Goro wrong. So he just said, "Aye," and nodded, and kissed Goro's temple. "S'good. Trust you t'be right about folk. S'pose you could be right about me, too."

LINA

"Damn straight. Amari, too. Y'know, she always thought you were good for her only son. That's something."

IZZY

Hansel grinned, 'cause he liked hearing Goro call himself Amari's son, after all his hissing and spitting about it, back when they'd barely known each other. "Aye. Amari Flatflower's only son. God, she was so fuckin' happy when we got hitched. Don't think she ever did stop cryin', that day."

LINA

"God. Right? I was getting worried."

IZZY

"Psshh. She was just happy-cryin'."

LINA

"'S'what she told me. You know the funny thing, though? When I asked her what her deal was, she didn't tell me she was real happy. She kept saying she'd never seen me so happy. Pfff."

IZZY

Hansel softened and kissed Goro's hair. "Yeah. 'Cause she loves you, dumbass," he said. "'Cause you bein' happy makes her happy. 'Cause that's how love is."

LINA

"I guess."

IZZY

"Well, I know."

LINA

"Yeah. Well. Yeah." Goro frowned deeply. "I mean, I get it. When I see people I love being happy, that's one of the best feelings. Maybe the best." He thought about how Hansel had picked him up and spun him around when Goro gave him the sun ring. Yeah.

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel nodded. "Aye. Sure is." The problem with that, he guessed, was that the flipside came in seeing people he loved suffer, and suffering with them. Like just before, when Goro had been hurting. But it was worth it, for the good parts they got to share. "Wouldn't trade it for nothin'."

LINA

Goro cuddled against him happily for a minute, just smiling and almost forgetting anything was wrong. His shoulder still hurt, but it was getting easier to ignore. "Hey. How's your ankle?"

IZZY

"S'fine."

LINA

"Does it hurt?"

IZZY

He shrugged. It did, a bit, but not enough to matter. "Nah."

LINA

Goro scoffed. "You oughta put some ice on it, if you can make more ice. It'll help with the swelling. Numb it some."

IZZY

"Y'gonna heal it in the morning anyhow. Don't matter."

LINA

"Does so matter. You being comfortable matters."

IZZY

"I'm comfortable." He squeezed Goro. "Got all I need."

LINA

Goro scoffed again. "'Course you'd say that."

IZZY

"Aye, well, I ain't a liar," Hansel said, even though he'd just lied about his ankle not hurting. Wasn't like it hurt much.

LINA

Goro pulled back to give him a look.

IZZY

"What?"

LINA

"You know what."

IZZY

"Do fuckin' not."

LINA

"Your ankle hurts, and you're just too stoic to say nothing about it."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh."

LINA

"Thought you weren't a liar."

IZZY

"That's a real serious accusation you're implyin', there, Voronin-Bell," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

Goro snorted and shoved Hansel's shoulder playfully. "Quit steering away from the point."

IZZY

He laughed. "I'm fine, is the point. It ain't a big deal."

LINA

"Bet if I said my shoulder was still hurting and I wanted some ice for it, you'd fall all over yourself to make me some."

IZZY

"Aye, and?"

LINA

"You deserve that much fussing too, you know."

IZZY

He tsked and kissed the top of Goro's head. "Well, lissen. If I said, ah, shoot, Goro, I stubbed my toe -- you'd still fuss over me, aye? Even over a li'l thing?"

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes, suspicious he was walking into a trap. "Maybe."

IZZY

"Psshh, maybe. Well, then, if I wanna make sure you always got enough energy to take care of yourself, then I can't be botherin' you about every little bump an' scratch I get, now can I?"

LINA

"You broke your ankle, asshole."

IZZY

"Quit steerin' away from the point."

LINA

"I'm steering us back."

IZZY

"Oh, aye?" Hansel grinned a bit. "'Kay, remind me what your point was, then."

LINA

"You oughta take better care of yourself," Goro said sulkily.

IZZY

"Can say th'same to you, ahuv."

LINA

"Pfffff."

IZZY

"Pfffft," Hansel said right back.

LINA

"Nuh."

IZZY

"Yuh."

LINA

"Jerk."

IZZY

"Jackass."

LINA

"Talking to a mirror?"

IZZY

"Talkin' to a real chatich half-elf, so nah."

LINA

"Psssh."

IZZY

"That all you got left in you?"

LINA

"Maybe, but I ain't never gonna run out of it."

IZZY

"Mm. Reliable, like that. Love it."

LINA

"I know you do." Goro poked him in the belly. "Like it when I talk back."

IZZY

"Aye. Like it when you're all mouthy," he agreed.

LINA

"Natural consequence of you being a bossy jackass."

IZZY

"Guess I'll keep doin' it, then."

LINA

"Psssh."

IZZY

Hansel snickered.

LINA

Goro snuggled him, satisfied. "Hey, weren't you telling me a story? About killing wyverns?"

IZZY

"Oh, fuck. Yeah. That was the point, huh."

LINA

"I think so."

IZZY

"I think you're right. Just about that, though," he said. "Not about other stuff. 'Less you start goin' an' gettin' ideas about who's in charge, here."

LINA

"I think we both know it's me, ishi."

IZZY

"Hey. Hey, now." He was weak to being called ishi. Wasn't playing fair.

LINA

"What?" Goro said innocently.

IZZY

Hansel grumbled.

LINA

Goro snickered and kissed his cheek. "You want everyone to think you're the big scary boss man, huh?"

IZZY

"I am," he insisted.

LINA

"Big softie."

IZZY

"Nuh uh."

LINA

"Yeah huh."

IZZY

"You're fuckin' biased 'cause I like you. Ain't everybody can say the same thing."

LINA

"Yeah, well. I ain't worried about everyone else. Just know you treat me real good. Real soft."

IZZY

"Don't mean I'm a softie. S'just 'cause of you," Hansel said. "'Cause you're special."

LINA

Goro rested against Hansel's shoulder again, grinning. "I'll take it. I like being special."

IZZY

Hansel made a pleased sound and stroked his hair. "Good. 'Cause you are."

LINA

"Now, some would say I'm special enough to bring out your true nature..."

IZZY

"Hey."

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Tryin' to get sneaky."

LINA

"Yeah, 'course. I'm a Maskarran."

IZZY

"Mm, well, I do like it," Hansel said, like he got any say in whether Goro was sneaky.

LINA

"I worship the god of thieves, and I stole your heart." That was so cheesy Goro had to bury his face against Hansel, snickering.

IZZY

Hansel snorted. "You fuckin' ... pfff. Dork."

LINA

"Yeah. Don't tell anyone. Morgan already thinks I'm a nerd."

IZZY

"Y'want me to fight her for your honor?"

LINA

"Maybe."

IZZY

"I'll do it."

LINA

"You think I'm cool, right?"

IZZY

Hansel had to think about that one.

LINA

"Aw."

IZZY

"I think you're good," he said. "An' sweet, an' clever, an' stubborn. That all add up to cool?"

LINA

"No. God."

IZZY

"Nah?" he asked, amused. "What's cool, then, huh?"

LINA

"Just being like... you know, cool. Not giving a shit, not taking any."

IZZY

"Goro, my love, I dunno how to tell you this, but you give a shit a lot."

LINA

Goro scoffed heartily.

IZZY

"Well, so do I. We can be fuckin' uncool together."

LINA

"Nah, nah. I gotta be cool. I gotta get a grip on it. No more giving a shit."

IZZY

"Aw ..."

LINA

Goro shrugged. "Won't work on me. Don't care."

IZZY

Hansel made another sad sound.

LINA

"I'm cool now."

IZZY

"S'a shame. I liked it when you cared 'bout shit."

LINA

"That was lame."

IZZY

Hansel huffed out a big sigh. "Guess I gotta care enough for the both of us, now, then. Dunno if I can make it, though. S'a lotta carin' for one man to do."

LINA

"Yeah. Wish I could help, but, you know." Goro shrugged.

IZZY

"Aye, s'pose y'don't care," he said morosely.

LINA

"Sure don't. Too cool to care."

IZZY

Hansel was quiet for a second, then admitted, "This ain't fun, actually. I don't wanna pretend like y'don't care about me." He winced a bit, feeling like a buzzkill.

LINA

Goro gave a strangled cry and kissed Hansel's cheek a bunch of times, rearranging his limbs to hug Hansel as tight as possible with everything but his injured arm. "Sorry, love. 'Course I care about you. So much it hurts."

IZZY

"I know!" Hansel said, real fast, squeezing him back. "I know, ahuv, I know. S'okay."

LINA

"Gave up being cool for you, even. That's serious."

IZZY

He psshh'd a little. "Aye, aye. Appreciate your sacrifice, love."

LINA

Goro kissed his cheek again. "Secretly, I don't even mind. Worth it. Don't tell anyone, though."

IZZY

"Secret's safe with me." He mimed sealing his mouth closed.

LINA

Goro grinned and nuzzled his face. "In return, I won't tell people you're a big softie. 'Least not the ones who don't already know."

IZZY

"Nobody else knows," Hansel said, lying through his teeth. "Just you."

LINA

"Hah. Got bad news for you, love."

IZZY

"Nahh. Maybe Mishka," he allowed. "Maybe."

LINA

"And Raef. And Larkin. And both our moms."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh."

LINA

Goro gave him a look.

IZZY

"No way."

LINA

"Amari called you a sweet boy."

IZZY

"Mari'd say that 'bout anybody that didn't full-on stab her." He considered. "Maybe them, too."

LINA

"Yeah, but when she says it about you, she means it."

IZZY

"Yeah? How d'you know?"

LINA

"I'm real good at reading people, is how."

IZZY

"Psh, I'm gonna need a li'l more than that," Hansel said, fishing.

LINA

"Pff, alright, listen. I known Amari for a long-ass time, right? And she always treats people real decent. Warm and kind. But people don't always react the same when she does. Some people, like my sorry ass, get suspicious. Some people try and take advantage of her. And some people, they're dicks in a way that goes so goddamn deep, they just can't be nice back to her. She says you've always been polite, though, and sweet. And not in a fakey way, neither. I know that last part 'cause I know you can't lie."

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel grinned. "Just bein' polite ain't a big deal. That don't mean nothin'. What, just 'cause I say thanks an' ma'am?"

LINA

"No, 'cause you mean it. You ain't trying to get something out of her. Just being decent back."

IZZY

"Maybe I was tryin' to get her son out of her," he teased. "Long game, aye?"

LINA

Goro snickered and pressed his face against Hansel's neck. "I mean. I probably wouldn't be as polite to Marion if she weren't your mom, so."

IZZY

"Yeah, 'cause you're a fuckin' punk. Too cool."

LINA

Goro snickered again. "Think you married a cool guy after all, huh?"

IZZY

"Mmhm." Hansel kissed his hair. "Coolest."

LINA

"Dunno how you'd know. Softie."

IZZY

"Hey. Tryin'a pay you a compliment, here, dumbass."

LINA

Goro grinned so hard his face hurt. "Guess I'd rather have you think I'm cool than anyone else, anyway. I been trying to win you over, see."

IZZY

He gasped. "Nah. Really?"

LINA

"Thinking of asking you on a date."

IZZY

"Aye? I reckon you oughta go for it. Like your odds."

LINA

"Ehh. Thing is, I'm scared of rejection. Real scared. Don't know if it's worth the risk."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I gotcha. How 'bout this, though -- I got a guy on the inside."

LINA

"Oh yeah?"

IZZY

"Yeah. He figures there ain't any chance of it goin' bad."

LINA

"How d'you know you can trust his intel?"

IZZY

"He ain't a liar."

LINA

"Hmm." Goro took a deep breath in and out. "Alright. Here goes nothin'. You wanna go on a date with me?"

IZZY

Hansel acted surprised. "Me? You're kiddin', aye? No way you wanna go out with me."

He could keep the act up, though, and broke into a grin.

LINA

"Ain't kidding. You're my dream guy. Had my eye on you for a while."

IZZY

"No shit. Been eyein' you myself," he confided.

LINA

"Psssh. That a yes, or what?"

IZZY

"A hell yes." Hansel kissed his head again. "Any time, anywhere. Where you wanna go?"

LINA

Goro couldn't answer, since he was giggling too much. He curled tighter against Hansel.

IZZY

"Someplace high up?" he suggested. "With a good view?"

LINA

Goro nodded. "How'd you know?"

IZZY

"Had a feelin'."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Hey. When's that gonna happen, anyway? We went and got married and had a honeymoon, the works. Still no high place date. Airship don't count."

IZZY

"Aw, why not?"

LINA

"'Cause the whole family was there. That ain't a date, it's just an outing."

IZZY

"So it'll count some other time, if it's just th'two of us?"

LINA

"Maybe. If you make it real special. Pack a picnic, and stuff. You gotta woo me."

IZZY

"Hey." He pulled back to take Goro's face in his hand seriously. "You sayin' you doubt my ability to woo?"

LINA

"Nah, nah. I'm pretty sure you can woo. Just, you know, you might be thinking -- eh, we're already married. I can slack off."

IZZY

"Never. Wanna get married every day, remember? Always gotta woo you."

LINA

Goro smiled and squeezed him. "Don't take much, is the truth. I'm too goddamn smitten."

IZZY

"Still ain't no excuse for me to slack off."

LINA

"You sure?" Goro said hopefully. "Sure I'm worth the trouble?"

IZZY

"Psh, what trouble?"

LINA

Goro grinned even harder and wiggled against Hansel, trying to get closer. Was already as close as he could get, though. Well, almost. Close as he could get with his clothes on.

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him closer.

LINA

"But if it was trouble. I'd be worth it, right?"

IZZY

"Aye." Hansel kissed his head. "Worth every bit."

LINA

"You too, you know. I'd do anything for you."

IZZY

"Yeah?"

LINA

"Always. Promise."

IZZY

Hansel made a contented sound and snuggled him.

LINA

Goro relaxed and closed his eyes. He felt about as safe and happy as he could get with the both of them badly injured.

Couldn't stand the silence for too long, though. "Hey, weren't you telling me a goddamn story? What happened?"

IZZY

"Mm, aye, that's right. Wyverns. Aarakocra. Charterin' a ship." He nodded. "Y'think this story might put you t'sleep? Gotta get some rest, y'know."

LINA

Goro grumbled.

IZZY

Hansel grumbled back.

LINA

"Maybe you oughta get some rest."

IZZY

"Maybe we both oughta."

LINA

"Psssh. Fine. Finish the story then, or I'll stay awake wondering what happened."

IZZY

"Aye, love." He kissed Goro's head.

"Lemme think. So we sailed 'round t'the other side of Patch Island, where all the cliffs're at -- pretty short trip, ain't that big an island. Ship Cori'd got didn't have any cannons, or nothin'. Skipper didn't want any part in ... ah, what'd he call it." He squinted. "Heroics, or antics, one. Don't remember what it was. Old man was real annoyed, though, when he found out just what it was we wanted him t'do. He didn't know 'bout the wyverns'd moved in, see. S'pose maybe he thought Corven just wanted t'take me an' Hunter for a little ride, or something." He snorted. "Shit, y'know -- now I'm thinkin' about it, he did keep sayin' he could give us some privacy. Didn't get where his head was, at the time."

LINA

Goro snickered.

IZZY

"He got real pissy when he found out the deal, though, so Corven had t'go all pirate on'im -- told him real calm-like how she'd take the ship an' use his guts for wyvern bait up on the mast, if he didn't keep his shit together," Hansel went on fondly. Corven. So fucking vicious. She would've done it, too.

LINA

"Sounds like she knew how to get shit done."

IZZY

"Aye. You'd've liked her. Maskarran," he added, supposing that made it a given. "Anyhow, we get 'round t'these high gold cliffs, aye, an' we can see the hollows way up overhead, an' the trees and such that the wyverns tore up outta the jungle t'make their nests. Could see one of'em flying big circles, up there, lookin' for somethin' to chow down on.

"An' it only just occurs to me then, an' I ask, hang on, Corven, how the fuck are we gonna fight these goddamn things? We can't fuckin' get up there to'em. Need cannons to shoot at'em, or grapplin' hooks, or somethin'.

"And she don't bat an eye, an' says, nah, it's fine. They're gonna come to us." He paused. "Think the skipper about jumped ship, then, figuring we were gonna use him as bait after all."

LINA

"Use his guts to lure 'em down," Goro agreed.

IZZY

Hansel clicked his tongue. "Aye, you got it. Nah, though -- Cori wasn't gonna do that 'less he gave her a reason, and he'd managed not to, so he was all good. She had a li'l magic, just some shit she'd picked up someplace, and she reached down into the water, and let off some little --" he made a zapping sound and snapped his fingers -- "fried some fish, aye? I'd seen her do that before. Mostly was a party trick, s'pose, much as Corven cared for bein' in parties, but worked well enough on some little fish. Y'know how folks hunt for sharks?"

LINA

"Fall off the boat and then wrestle 'em?"

IZZY

He snorted. "Aye, but that's only if you're a badass. Most folks, they do this thing called chumming -- see, sharks got real good senses." He grinned. "Same as a shyshark I happen t'know who's real observant."

LINA

"Psh. Psssh." Took everything Goro had in him not to cover his face right then. He bit his knuckle instead.

IZZY

Hansel snickered. "S'the matter? You got a problem?"

LINA

"Nuh. 'M normal."

IZZY

"Aye. I know you are." Hansel kissed his head. "Well, anyway, sharks can taste blood in th'water from real for off, so folks dump cut apart fish into the sea as bait -- they'll smell it from wherever they are an' come for it. And Cori figured, these wyverns're prob'ly eatin' fish, 'cause gettin' prey outta the jungle would be real hard for'em. Thick canopy, an' all.

"So we net up these fish she zapped, and set about splittin'em open. Gory work." He shrugged. "S'pose you've seen it before, livin' in a port city. We ain't even makin' these things good for folks to eat, though, just splayin' them open so as much blood an' guts is out there as possible. Skipper looked 'bout ready to puke."

LINA

"How's a sea captain get such a weak stomach, huh?"

IZZY

"Psshh, ain't a real sea cap'n, is how. Just ferried folk 'round little islands, an' shit. Weakling."

LINA

Goro clucked his tongue, like he knew any better.

IZZY

Hansel made an agreeable sound. "We spread out these fish carcasses, aye, an' then we wait. Skipper says, how d'you they ain't gonna just attack the boat? Corven looks at him -- had a real good flat, unimpressed face, that one -- an' says, fucksake, man, I hope they attack the boat.

"Sure enough -- give it a little bit, an' the one that's been circling come 'round to circle us. Lets out a scream for the other one -- mated pair, supposed -- and then they're both circlin', like they're sizin' us up. And us just in the middle of the sea, aye, out in the open. Hunter had her crossbow ready, but Corven'd told her to hold steady, and me an' her were all set up with trident an' rapier. Just watchin'. Watchin' these wyverns watch us.

"Next thing you know, one of'em dives -- just like that, swoopin' down. Figured I knew, in that little moment there, how a rabbit must feel when a hawk comes for it. Corven says blades up, Granger, get ready, and I was smart enough to do like I was told -- I point my trident right up at the bastard, an' she grabs onto me."

LINA

Goro's eyes widened. "Yeah?"

IZZY

"You ever really looked at the tines on my trident?" He shrugged a bit and glanced over his shoulder at Taavit's, on his back. "Got them same barbs, like the arrows I pulled outta you. Real good for fishin'. Real good for diggin' into a wyvern, too, and holdin' on when it swoops off."

LINA

"'Course I've looked." Goro raised an eyebrow. "It flew off with you?"

IZZY

"Uh-huh." He nodded. "Didn't have much choice. Wasn't too happy 'bout it, though -- me an' Corven, danglin' off this fucking point stick all dug into its chest. I'm holdin' onto my trident with both hands, and Corven just climbs right the fuck up me, up onto the goddamn wyvern, locks her legs 'round its neck just as it starts to thrash around. Wyverns ain't got arms, like dragons do -- just the back legs, and the wings -- so it starts chompin' towards me, trying to get me off it, but she's up there wrangling its head away from me.

"Y'know, I ain't ever been scared of heights, or nothin', but that thing thrashing around in the air, droppin' and then beatin' its way back up into the sky, risin' and fallin' over and over again, lurching around ..." He shook his head. "Worse'n any seasickness I ever had."

LINA

Goro stared for a while. "This don't sound real. If it was anyone else telling me the story, I'd think they were lying."

IZZY

He snorted. "Hey. Maybe I am. Y'don't know. Maybe I got hidden depths."

LINA

"Spinnin' tall tales, huh?"

IZZY

"Yeah, maybe."

LINA

Goro grinned. "Well, go on then. Dazzle me with 'em."

IZZY

"Aye, your holiness." He kissed Goro's head, grinning back. "Well, this wyvern, I s'pose, knew it wasn't gonna get us off it by itself, so it screeched for its mate, an' the other one comes flyin' over, too. They're both circlin' over the boat down below, next to each other, close enough for the one to try snappin' at the other. So I kinda brace my trident against my side, aye, so I can keep hold an' also whip out an axe to swing at this other one that's botherin' me.

"An' Cori, she yells out, you got this?

"I said, the fuck? You can tell I fuckin' don't, the hell are you talkin' about.

"Didn't matter, though. I could tell what she was gonna do, an' I started yellin' at her, just knowin' she was gonna get herself fuckin' killed, but nah -- real goddamn agile. Let go of the one, shoved off, leapt right over onto the other one's back. Fuckin' lunatic," he said fondly.

LINA

"Fake," Goro said, not really thinking so.

IZZY

"Nuh uh. Everyone back on the Blade said the same thing, though," he admitted. "Wildest goddamn thing I think I've ever seen."

LINA

Goro snickered. "Well? Then what?"

IZZY

"The second one peels off, havin' its own troubles, now, so I was freed up a bit. My trident's still stuck in this one's chest, pretty secure, so I try to shimmy up a bit, like how Cori did, but I ain't as good at it as her. Still, though, pretty fuckin' motivated by the fact that I gotta handle this shit on my own, apparently, seein' as Corven fucked off." He snorted.

"I get up close enough to this thing's neck that I can get at it with my axe, and glanced 'round, tryin' to catch sight of her, see how she's doin'. Whole world's spinnin' around, mind you, and me movin' my head around don't help none with the dizziness -- I remember I could see the wyvern flying up, an' then I realized, nah, it's divin', 'cause there's the ocean, down below. Was the only way I could orient myself at all.

"And Corven's there clingin' to the damn thing's neck, same as she'd been before -- edgin' along, holdin' on tight with her legs. Woman had some strong legs," he commented. "I knew, seein' as how she kicked the shit outta me more'n once when I was bein' difficult."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Was gonna ask if you knew that some other way."

IZZY

"You think of some other way?"

LINA

"Me? Nah. Nah. I got a clean mind."

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel felt himself get warm. "Hey, now."

LINA

Goro snickered again.

IZZY

"Well. Anyhow." He cleared his throat. "Between the spinnin' and thrashin' around, I could see Cori keel back and stab that wyvern through the head -- must've gone through the eye, 'cause even I could see her rapier go clean through t'the other side, all shiny-slick with blood. If the thing hadn't've been plummeting before, it sure as hell was then. An' that made me feel all stupid an' competitive, so I go to kill mine off -- slam my axe into its neck. Took me a couple tries, though," he admitted. "Thick scales. Thing starts bleedin' out, though, starts fallin' outta the fuckin' sky. And I'm wonderin' how the fuck exactly this was actually a good idea, to be honest, as I'm goin' down with it."

LINA

Goro snorted and hid his grin against Hansel's neck. "Sounds about right."

IZZY

"Dick," Hansel remarked.

LINA

"Am I wrong?"

IZZY

"Well ..." He didn't have much of an argument.

LINA

Goro kissed his neck.

IZZY

He grumbled good-naturedly. "Corven probably did it smarter than me, an' waited 'til the wyverns was closer t'the sea first -- judgin' by how she started yellin' at me for bein' a dumbass when I made it back to the surface, anyway. I fuckin' ached all over, but it wasn't so bad. I was more mad 'cause my trident was still stuck in the goddamn thing, an' it was sinkin', but Hunter dove in with me, no questions, to help me get it back. Cori was all irritated at me, though. Told me I had to fuckin' think ahead, an' shit."

LINA

"'S'true," Goro said sagely.

IZZY

"You're just takin' her side 'cause she liked Mask."

LINA

"Nuh uh."

IZZY

"Are so."

LINA

"Am not. Just sayin' it 'cause I know how you are, and want you to be safe." Goro poked him in the chest.

IZZY

"Psshh," Hansel said. "Psh."

LINA

"My job as your husband," Goro reminded him.

IZZY

"Aye, s'pose."

LINA

Goro kissed his cheek. "So who got the trident back?"

IZZY

"Me an' Hunter. She looped some rope 'round the head to try an' yank it free, but I managed to plant my boots on the thing and get it out. Fuckin' ... dense meat on a wyvern. Would've liked to try eatin' one, but we didn't have any way of gettin'em back to port -- ship was too fuckin' small. Shame."

LINA

"Did the skipper actually wait around for you to do all this shit?"

IZZY

"Oh, aye. While me an' Corven were in the air, Hunter was down below whisperin' sweet nothin's in his ear." Hansel grinned.

LINA

"Psssh. Uh huh."

IZZY

"Y'know, all about what she'd do to him if he tried t'sail off. Poor fuckin' idiot didn't know what he was signin' up for with pirates."

LINA

"Probably learned his lesson, though."

IZZY

"Aye, prob'ly fuckin' sold his ship off an' found some other line a' work." Hansel snorted. "Trip back 'round the island was real quiet, though. No more askin' about givin' us privacy."

LINA

Goro snorted. "I bet. Was that the end of it? Or has this story got a twist?"

IZZY

"Nahh, no twist. Well, maybe kinda. We got back all safe an' sound, and we were in port for a good few days, aye, so there was time for the aarakocra we helped out t'get back home. 'Fore we left port, the one who hadn't got their wings fucked up found us -- me an' Hunter were hangin' out again, an' we were pretty easy to spot, I s'pose." He shrugged.

"Anyway, she comes up to us an' thanks us for doin' what we did, asks us to pass it on along to Corven, too -- 'cause Cori ain't said shit about it, just did it an' left again. I think her an' Mishka were up to some shit, then," he said, squinting. Cheating at cards, most likely. "But this aarakocra, she says there was an egg left in the wyvern nest. She said, d'you got any idea what we oughta do with it? Never come across one before. Wyvern nests're usually real well-protected. Me an' Hunter didn't have any fuckin' clue -- we just showed up to kill shit. She said maybe she'd take care of it, though. Raise herself up a wyvern, see if she could tame it."

Thoughtfully, he finished, "Never followed up on that. Never happened t'see her again. Dunno what happened."

LINA

"Maybe Anwyll ate it."

IZZY

"Aw. I like thinkin' it worked out. Lady just had a pet wyvern."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Think she coulda raised it to be tame, and shit?"

IZZY

"Dunno. Maybe so."

LINA

"Well, then. We can hope."

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel nodded, content, then narrowed his eyes and said, "That's the kinda shit that makes you call me a softie, ain't it."

LINA

Goro grinned and shrugged innocently.

IZZY

He grumbled.

LINA

"'Course you are real tough and scary, too, though."

IZZY

He grumbled some more. "You're just sayin' that."

LINA

"You want me to be scared of you?"

IZZY

"Nah. Just other folks."

LINA

"How come?"

IZZY

"Better to scare folk off than have to fight'em, most the time." He shrugged. "An' I'm good at it."

LINA

"Huh. Well." Goro squeezed him. "If you know you're good at it, probably don't need me to tell you. Right?"

IZZY

"Ehh." Hansel frowned. He probably shouldn't, yeah.

LINA

Goro frowned and squeezed tighter. "I ain't gonna lie. I think you're good at intimidating people. That ain't in question. But you never scared me. 'Cept one time. But never again."

IZZY

"Mm." He kept frowning. Yeah. That one time.

LINA

"Happened 'cause I didn't know you well enough yet."

IZZY

"Happened 'cause I got scared an' stupid," he muttered.

LINA

Goro grumbled. "Whatever. I know you wouldn't hurt me."

IZZY

Hansel cuddled him fiercely. "Aye."

LINA

"'Less I asked you to." He grinned.

IZZY

"Psshh."

LINA

He sighed. "You get what I'm saying though? It's... weird, for me to tell my husband he's scary, and mean it, when he doesn't scare me. Doesn't feel right."

IZZY

Hansel nodded. "Don't wanna lie t'me. I get it."

LINA

"Ain't just that." Goro hesitated.

IZZY

"Eh?"

LINA

"Well." Goro kissed him, giving himself a second to think. "I just... wanna make sure you know... that you ain't worth something just 'cause you're good at scaring things." He winced. "I guess that's what got you by in life a lot. But you know, you don't gotta do that with me. I love you for other stuff."

IZZY

"Oh." Hansel was quiet for a moment, thinking that through. He ... guessed. But. "I mean, I still gotta, y'know -- be able t'take care of you, though, an' shit. And sometimes that means scarin' folks off. If I'd've been better at it, those fuckin' bandits never would've had a chance to fuckin' shoot you."

LINA

"Mm." Goro rested his head on Hansel's shoulder and ran his good hand up and down his arm. "S'just one way you take care of me, though. Doesn't gotta be the only thing. You got me fixed up and all, even though I did get shot."

IZZY

Hansel nodded doubtfully. As long as he could do something, he guessed. As long as he could make himself useful.

LINA

Goro frowned. "You love me so good. That's the main thing. That's the best thing. All I even need."

IZZY

Hansel made an uncertain sound, thinking about it. "S'pose," he said slowly. "But -- I gotta show you. How I love you, I mean. I gotta prove it. And," he added, real quick, "that ain't 'cause I think you won't believe me, otherwise. 'Cause it ain't just you. It's everybody. I gotta do stuff for folks I love. So ... so they'll know."

It sounded stupid when he said it out loud. Like his words and his feelings couldn't be enough, and he had to go over the top to make people realize. Like he thought they were stupid, and they wouldn't know otherwise. But it wasn't that. He guessed he wasn't really sure what it was. Just felt like if he didn't go out of his way to show he cared, folks would think he hated them instead. He had things about himself that he had to work against, before people could see what he was trying to say.

LINA

"Amari says the greatest form of love is helping people," Goro said. "Dunno what I think of that. A lot of the people I help, being a healer and shit, I don't love. I don't even know 'em. And sometimes the people I love don't got anything I can help 'em with."

IZZY

Hansel hmm'd and stroked Goro's hair, thinking. Did seem like something Mari would say. "Yeah," he said slowly. "I dunno. I feel like ... I always wanna help folks I care about, aye. An' yeah, sometimes there ain't anything I can do t'help'em. And." He hesitated. "That always makes me feel real fuckin' bad, like I just ain't tryin' hard enough. Marion says, y'know, that I oughta just sit down an' visit, ain't gotta be lookin' for stuff to fix an' help with. But it don't feel like I'm doin' enough, to just sit down an' visit."

He rested his lips against Goro hair, frowning. Never felt like he was doing enough. Mari'd always have something he could do for her, even if sometimes he felt like she was just kinda humoring him. Marion told him, in that firm, mom-voice way, that he didn't have to do anything for her, but he guessed it just didn't stick.

LINA

"Mm. You are, though." Goro squeezed him again, knowing it wouldn't sink in, but hoping it might help a little. "Speaking for myself. Just being with you's all I need. And your mom... y'know, she went all those years missing you. Bet all she wants is to see your face and hear your voice."

IZZY

Hansel grumbled uncertainly.

LINA

"You don't need people you love to be doing helpful shit all the time, do you?"

IZZY

"Nah. 'Course not." He grumbled some more and reluctantly said, "Lissen, I wanna say it's different, but I fuckin' know you're just gonna ask me how it's different, an' I don't fuckin' know."

LINA

Goro grinned and planted his face against Hansel's shoulder.

IZZY

"Psshh."

LINA

"You help me just by loving me. So there."

IZZY

He kept on grumbling. "S'pose."

LINA

"No. No s'pose. You just do. I said so there."

IZZY

"But it ain't enough," Hansel protested, not really sure where that feeling had come from, just knowing it was settled deep and sturdy in his gut, now. He cuddled Goro fiercely.

LINA

Goro made a little sad sound. "S'okay, ishi."

IZZY

Hansel mmph'd and was quiet for a moment. "Dunno what'd feel like enough," he admitted, muttering. "Don't matter. Don't wanna think about it."

LINA

Goro nodded slowly. He kissed Hansel's shoulder. "Wish you felt more... y'know, secure. Easy. Not fretting, and shit. But it's okay you don't. You can hold me tight as you need. I got you."

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him. "Aye. I know. That helps."

LINA

Goro resisted the urge to point out that he was doing just what Hansel did for him -- just loving him, and letting it be enough. Didn't matter. Didn't have nothing to prove, long as they were together. He ran his hand up and down Hansel's back and sighed, relaxed.

[end]