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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:03 pm
His body rested peacefully on the hospital bed, the color back in his cheeks, his breathing slow and deep. He really was just sleeping, resting away the trauma of being attacked by a demoness and the trauma of watching his lover being tortured. But, those thoughts were far away from him now, his mind blissfully silent. Only the briefest flicker of his eyelids showed how deeply asleep he was. Yet he was being drawn out of his rest, as if some uninvisible force was tugging insisntently upon him.
His indigo eyes opened slowly, blinking away his rest, rolling up to observe the white ceiling. Strange. This didn't look familiar at all. This wasn't his home, and this wasn't Neil's... Curiously he glanced to his side, to see the blue, thin bed sheets. This was wrong, totally and completely wrong. Quickly his gaze swivelled around the room, taking in his surroundings frantically. No, no, no! Where was he? He couldn't remember coming here, and even then he realized that he knew where 'here' was... a hospital. What was he doing in a hospital. He looked for a person in a white coat, a doctor, someone who could explain to him what was going on.
But then it hit him hard in the chest, and he gasped, a hand flying up to his mouth to cover the scream that was quickly building in his throat. He was trying to sit up, to climb out of the bed and find Neil... Neil, so broken, so hurt, bleeding everywhere, and he unable to do anything about it. Trying desperately to reach his lover, but being held back. And the tears, he remembered crying and screaming for Neil, and even now he was crying, though he was carefully controlling the urge to scream.
He had to find Neil... had to see if he was all right. He was so scared that he had lost his lover. Why couldn't he have stayed awake? If Neil was gone... oh god, he couldn't live if Neil was gone. He needed Neil more than anything!
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:23 pm
And the man would not keep Soah waiting.
He'd been by his side the whole time, refusing treatment despite the protests, angry demands and downright rude insistance of the hospital staff. Neil had been admitted into a hospital room but had not changed, wandering shirtless with a bandage around his side for Soah. He'd scared the emergency women in his aggressive, bloodied and half-dead state, but Brad had found him and directed him to the right area. Once his grey eyes had found the calm visage of his angel, he had fallen to his knees by the bed and cried. He cried so hard that Brad left the room to give him some time, holding the sleeping teen's hand, apologizing in more languages than one spilling from his lips, hot tears smearing the blood streaked on his face.
The man should have slept then, but he refused, and would not eat. A kind nurse took pity on the bedraggled man and brought him a chair, which he had sat in with stoney silence for several hours. He had thought over many things, from what had happened to when they'd first met, and the whirlwind of emotions that had come inbetween. He thought on the night before, the love they shared, the teasing, talk of marriage even, and it was around that time that he remembered something. Neil had left only for a few minutes, to go to 'his' hospital room to retrieve his wallet.
When he returned, he nearly dropped the purpose of his walk as an alert and fearful Soah sat upright in the bed.
"Soyah!" he croaked, rushing over to the bed and dropping his wallet on the portable table. His eyes were still a mess of bloody sclera with dark circles from crying, his brow creased with deepest worry. There was still a line of red by his mouth and ears from earlier; only his hair seemed to be in good shape, having been pulled out of the ponytail that was not keeping it bound from all the fighting to begin with. Coupled with his bandaged side and quickly bruising chest, he looked worse than anything the cat could have dragged in.
Neil leaned down but didn't quite hug Soah, looking over the teen's blanketed body as though he could see any injuries there. "Soyah--" and the rest was a jibbered flow of words decidedly not in English. He fussed only a moment over what the couldn't see before his hands reached out to cup the blonde's face, arching forward to place the most gentle and affectionate kiss he'd ever managed onto Soah's lips. Bleeding, broken or maimed, Neil wanted to touch his angel.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:37 pm
A voice.
Frantic indigo eyes swivelled to see Neil in the doorway to his hospital room, and from the moment he saw his lover, the tears filled his eyes violently, and he began sobbing uncontrollably. "N-neil!" His voice came out in a breathy, panicked whisper, but then Neil was by his side, kissing his lips sweetly. But, it wasn't enough, and he didn't give a second consideration to his actions. He just wrapped his arms around Neil's waist, burying his face into his lover's stomach. His shoulders shook violently, wretched sobs being torn from his throat. He was so distressed that Neil looked so bad, and yet so relieved that Neil was alive! His lover, his precious Neil! Alive!
A little pain shot up his arm.
"OW!" He cried out sharply, but the noise was reduced to a whimper as he noted that the IV needle had been pulled out of his arm by his movements. But it wasn't only that sharp pain, but a dull pain in his shoulder. He was... hurt? He bit back a groan, too determined to hold on to his lover to pay attention to the pain.
"A-are y-you okay? Y-you were bleeding s-so bad, and they wouldn't l-let me come to you! I kept on tr-tryin', and they wouldn't let me come... and you were on the ground and there was so much b-blood. And I couldn't get to you! I'm s-sorry, I t-tried!" He sputtered out continuous apologies, the blame falling heavily upon his shoulders. Soah had tried to come to Neil's rescue, and he had failed miserably. He had gotten himself hurt, and had worried Neil even further. It was unforgivable... what he had put Neil through.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:58 pm
His heart broke at the sight, arms draping protectively around the smaller male's frame, hugging, holding until Soah cried out in pain. Neil looked down immediately, concern rippling over his weary face, which smoothed out only a little as he saw the IV had been ripped from the tape. He leaned down, careful not to disturb the teen wrapped around his torso, kissing the golden crown sweetly. "My love," he murmured softly, "my world, my sweet. Shh, I'm fine. Nay, my angel, shh."
Fingers curled through the loose blonde locks, cradling Soah's head against him. "I did nae want y'there, Soyah. Please, I did nae want y't'try at all! I wanted ye t'run, t'flee th'damn country!" Neil swallowed hard around his grief and the sudden welling of pain at the snapshot memories of what Soah had done. That had hurt him more than any physical pain could have hoped to inflict, something he'd never tell the teen.
Neil sorely wanted to kiss away his loved one's tears, but continued to hold Soah as latched on as he was, stroking the teen's back with his other hand. "Righ' now I want y'te 'eal. T'be better so--" we can go home didn't quite fit in there, not with how they'd left it, "--we can be 'appy again. That's all I want. We're 'ere now, we're okay. I 'ave y'now, my Soyah." His eyes stung with the promise of tears, but he refused to let them fall, wanting to be strong this one time. He wanted to be a better man for Soah, to be the rock he could turn to, even if the man felt little more than a small, bruised and kicked animal at that moment.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:13 pm
He was finally able to pry himself from Neil, but only so he could scoot to the other edge of the bed and impatiently pet the spot on the bed next to him, beckoning for Neil to lay down with him, so they could be at eye-level. He wanted to lay down on his side and curl up against his lover, like they had so often done back at home. Soah longed for that familiarity, longed for some sort of normalcy throughout all of this. "Neil! I was so scared... you looked like you were going to j-just d-die... and I couldn't do anything!" How could he describe how helpless he had felt in those vital moments? How hard had he struggled against Merihem? He had screamed until his throat turned raw, and even now his voice was wavering and gravelly. Yet, no matter what he had done... he could do nothing for Neil in those moments. It was disgraceful.
"I couldn't leave you! You know I couldn't leave you, I promised to be with you for as long as you wanted me, and I couldn't just abandon you when you needed me the most... Don't say it! Don't say that you wanted me to run. I don't want to hear it." His confidence shattered, and he whimpered softly, the tears continually straming down his face. "P-please, I don't ever want to hear that you... w-want me gone. Pl-please..." he held out his arms, begging for an embrace, for some much needed comfort.
"I feel better already, I promise. You look... not so good, though, did the doctors really see you?" Even though he was crying helplessly, he had enough presence of mind to be aware that Neil looked like s**t, and that it couldn't be right with how much time he had judged to pass. A tired, weak smile flitted onto his face. "Yeah, you have me, and you're never going to lose me. I won't let anyone or anything steal me from you. I want to be with you forever, so I can't just let any simple beating and bruising get in the way of that. We'll get to go home soon, and then we can recover in comfort... and everything will be okay again." He sounded so confident of that, just because he couldn't let himself doubt it for a second, not now, not ever.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:28 pm
Neil watched Soah pull away and scoot over, slowly lowering himself to the bed as instructed; it was truly as though they hadn't just fought for their lives mere hours ago. His expression softened as the teen recounted what he saw, and downright broke into something miserable and grief stricken as the other held his arms out, sounding so lost. The man reached forward and hugged his loved one, hugged him dearly, filled with grief at having caused Soah so much pain. "I just...I wanted...t'protect ye, an'...I failed. Again." His voice was a whisper, easily missed if not being listened for.
He hadn't been able to do anything. Couldn't struggle, couldn't reach out, couldn't even scream a warning. He had been so helpless, hopelessly afraid, even entertaining the idea of death if it would spare Soah the pain. Neil had even gone so far as to strike a deal with another demon for the teen's protection...not that it had worked, and he wasn't really all that surprised, but...he'd do anything. Anything to keep his angel well and happy.
Doctors? See him? He would have snorted if it wouldn't have cost him the use of his lungs, so instead he kept quiet, relaxing a little as the conversation moved on. The talk of forever and being together stirred a memory, making him lift his head and glance over to the table. Neil was not willing to release Soah, and so he compromised, carefully laying on his back and drawing the teen on top of him as he did so. Definitely not the smartest move - his vision spotted, but he made no outward sign of the ache - moving one hand to grab the wallet and sit upright again.
"A chuisle mo chroí." Neil rested his brow against Soah's, attempting to capture those indigo eyes he had grown to adore. "It means 'pulse of my heart.' I know it's a bit strong," he smiled faintly, a quiet apology upon his face as his fingers dug through the wallet, pausing as they wrapped around what he sought, "but I wanted t'give ye something, for th'time we're apart...when I cannae be with ye." He withdrew his arms then to take Soah's hand, pressing a small ring engraved with the Gaelic words into the teen's palm. "I always thought th'saying was more about one's self...but I was wrong. I think, now, I understand th'true meaning. A chuisle. My pulse." His smile quirked in a ghost of his normal teasing self. "A promise ring, if ye will, 'til ye're able t'accept something more formal...?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:47 am
"You didn't fail. I'm alive and I'm well, rather I think that I failed to keep you safe. I was dozing off in bed while Astaroth was attacking you, heh, how about that for being a good lover? Sleeping while the very person you love is struggling to breathe." And he felt the dissapointment in himself strengthen, the guilt leaving a sickly taste in his mouth. But, his body melted in the hug, Soah returned the embrace warmly and gingerly, genuinely afraid of holding Neil so tightly that the other would inadvertantly become even more hurt. So, for now he was tender and doting. He pressed loving kisses to Neil's cheek and lips, truly unafraid of anyone seeing him. He just wanted Neil to know that he loved him.
He sighed softly as Neil laid on his back and drew him to his warmth. The boy laid gingerly on top of his lover, not wanting to hurt Neil too badly (he suspected that Neil was already hurting from their position, but he wouldn't say anything unless Neil mentioned it himself). But, his concern got the better of him, and pressing his good arm gingerly on Neil's shoulder, he sat himself up, rising onto his knees so that only a small, precious amont of his weight rested on Neil.
His curiosity was undoubtedly roused as Neil reached for his wallet and sat up, but it died away when Neil pressed their brows together and caught his eyes. Soah couldn't bring himself to look away from his lover's eyes, and a little sadness struck his heart when he saw how red and tired they were. Neil needed to rest... not spend his hours sitting awake just so he could comfort Soah. He opened his mouth to tenderly scold Neil, to tell the other to lie down and get some rest. Instead, Neil filled the empty space with loving words, and Soah was caught up in them.
"It isn't," he murmured softly, reassuring Neil that he thought the words were perfect, and he was sure that they were going to make him cry again. He felt a small, cool object pressed against the palm of his hand, and it drew his gaze away from Neil so he could observe it. A ring. It made his heart quicken, his cheeks flush with pleasure at receiving such a loving gift. Gingerly he stroked the small ring, feeling over the smooth engravings, a tender smile on his face as he slipped it onto his right hand, the finger next to the pinky, because that seemed to be where it fit best. "Neil..." his voice carried his lover's name breathlessly, and happy, tearful indigo eyes sought out Neil's own eyes, and after finding them he pressed a loving kiss to the older man's lips.
"Thank you, it means so much... I'm so happy. I'd get beat up any day if it meant I'd receive such a precious gift from you." His lips drew up into that teasing smile, and he giggled at Neil's own teasing. "I think this is formal enough. Let's get married." He stuck his tongue playfully out at his lover.
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Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:36 pm
There was a small fear in him that Soah would reject the gift and his words, maybe realizing they were too serious and not wanting him. Soah was a teenager, after all, and to want to tie one's self to an older and moderately down-trodden man might have been too large of a step. It was really the only reason Neil didn't outright ask the question, using it teasingly again to express his thoughts without making the other uncomfortable.
So when those gorgeous indigo eyes swelled with tears and joy, when his loved one pressed sweet lips to his own, Neil was beside himself with relief and a tremendous outpouring of love, continuing to hold the blonde gingerly but with great affection. "Nay! I promise t'lavish ye with gifts if y'promise t'nae get 'beat up' again!" he partially laughed, partially gasped in mock horror at the implications. He'd considered the ring after their discussion the night before what had landed them in the hospital to begin with. It had occured to him that it might have been a good time to give it to Soah, as they had certainly suffered much in their time together and he never wanted the blonde to think that his intentions would change.
A quiet smile tugged at his slightly bloodied lips, raising his eyebrows playfully. "Oh? Did ye just propose t'me, Soyah?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:12 pm
He refused to let his good mood get ruined, especially when Neil tried to make him promise to never get beat up again. That simply wasn't something that Soah could guarantee. Oh, he would love to be able to say to Neil that he would never get hurt again, but that would be a lie. Soah would just have to make some sort of compromise, so that Neil didn't feel like Soah was out to kill himself, and so that Soah was comfortable with not telling the person he loved a lie. "I'll do my best," he murmured pleasantly, and though by far it was no guarantee that he wouldn't get hurt, it was a guarantee that he would try to keep himself safe. That was likely the best that Neil was ever going to get out of him, and realizing this, Soah kissed the older man's lips to try and make up for it somewhat.
Laughing softly, he nuzzled against the older man, pressing his head underneath Neil's chin. "Well, it depends on what your answer would be. Yes, or no?" If he could propose, he might have done just that, but his youth and current accomodations with an Incubus prevented him from doing that. Oh, but it was fun to joke around about it, to play with the idea a little, at least until he was old enough to consider it seriously. For now, though, he was just too relieved to see the both of them alive and well, and happy at that, to think seriously about anything.
It was almost like a delirious high, and Soah couldn't imagine himself coming down from it any time soon.
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Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:31 pm
"An' that's all I can ask for," he replied fondly, returning the kiss with the utmost gentleness. Being as careful of the teen as he was, he was starting to feel just how tired he really was, emotionally and physically. When Soah rested against him, he took the opportunity to relax, arms twined protectively around the other male's slender back, jaw pressed upon the golden crown of curls.
He made a soft 'hmm'ing sound in his chest, which was becoming increasingly sore as the pain killers administered at the site of his injuries was wearing off. The hole in his side wasn't large, but having a tube jammed in there to reinflate one's lungs wasn't exactly a pleasant process. "Mm, y'may jes 'ave t'ask one day. Or I will, an' beat y'to it." Neil's accent was telling him that rest, food, and pain killers - any order, really - would become necessary soon. Not yet, though...he didn't want to worry Soah, nor did he want to release his loved one so warm and safe against him.
The man kissed the blonde hair, eyes throbbing with all the tears spent and the desire to spend more, even though he was unwilling to do so at that time. "I should...go find th'nurse, let 'er know ye're awake, get ye some food t'eat..."
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