♤SPRING SHIELD (MxM) ~fantasy~♤

Learning to love

Elijah

I can't use my powers. At all.
I woke up and realised that my body was intact. Well,at least most of it. But I couldn't summon any aether. I thought to myself while laying on that hospital bed like a vegetable,what if that was the last straw? What if I've really gone to far,given too much at once and now there's nothing but this human body of mine to give?
But the doctors said it was fine. That I'd be able to do all these things after a month or two. I never thought the word month could sound so similar to century in my life.
I've only ever been in a hospital to save people. Not because I was the one in need of helping. I've never been sick but now I can barely walk,"Stop making such a face."my mother mutters,while holding my arm to keep me stable as we walk through the hall,
"I feel like a husk of a human right now,"I say,dreading the weakness of my body. I can only imagine what I look like. Pale,eye bags and the smell of depression probably.
"You'll be fine,"she says for the fourth time since I woke up a couple of hours ago,
"Where are my children?"I ask,holding the stand that's carrying my drip. A small string,connected to my body by a thin needle. And I need it to be comfortable,
"They're in school,like I said when you asked me before."
"I just wanted to confirm that you haven't hidden them somewhere in London."I say dismissively and she scoffs. The more we walk the more out of breath I feel. But I don't want to stay in my confinement any longer. I want to see the sunset.
I want to watch it pour through these windows like a flood until the sun has been buried by the night. To make me feel a little better. "You know they say you'll be awarded for keeping that building up for as long as you did."
The mention of it makes my mind fill with the memories of that day. Like sparks of a fizzling fire. The collapse. Noid. Kristian.
...Kristian.
"Mother- where is he?"I ask,turning to her with urgency,
"...whoever do you mean?"
"Him. Kristian,where is he?"I ask,no answer. The memory of him lying on the ground in a pool of blood,dripping from his neck,"He's alive,right?"no answer as she turns away from me and looks to the sunset. Her face illuminated by the fleeting rays,her eyes unmoving,
Not after everything. Not after all those hours of fighting can someone tell me all that energy,all that aether was for a lifeless body. It just can't be possible.
He can't be gone after how much I chased after him. I couldn't have killed Noid and held up tons forth of concrete and metal for hours just for him to be- "Mother,tell me he's here."the panic in my voice is almost palpable,
"I'm here."A voice behind me answers,quiet but familiar,"I'm right here."I turn around and we stare at each other. My eyes searching his brow ones. For the first time since I woke up,I finally feel like I'm breathing.
I take one step foward and he rushes towards me. He throws his arms around me and his presence is just so... calming. It feels like it's been years when it's only been a month and a half.
Years of dreading how I might never hold you like this again. Years of thinking I'd lost you. Gently,I sway from one foot to another,caressing him slowly,
"Stop crying,you clearly need the water,"he teases,pulling away ever so slightly from me and ticking my drip,
"It's not water it's- you're one to talk,water works."I snap back at him as he swipes at his own tears,
"I'm not crying it's my allergy."He says sniffling,pulling one hand up to his hair,I play with it in between two fingers. The texture making me happy,the contrast of my skin and the colour of his locs,
"You cut it,"I whisper,when it doesn't twist all the way down,
"Sorry,I know you liked it long."He says,shrugging a little,
"I like it like this too."I like him anyhow. Short hair or long hair. "It suits you as well,"It reminds me of when we met. My hand drifts down to the side of his face but hesitates when I feel the dip in his jaw. I look down and see the wrap around his neck,the stitches on his ear,
"Kristian-"I start only for him to put his finger on my lips,silencing me. He shakes his head disapprovingly,
"You don't get to say a speech more than once."he says,
"I was only going to tell you that I'll heal you when I get my powers back."
"That can wait,Elijah. Thank you for doing everything to save me-"
"I-"
"Let me finish! Thank you for always saving me,for rooting for me,for learning about what I like and what I don't like. Thank you for letting me into your home and letting me know you. Over all the other gifts,I love that one the most."A pause,"I understand if you don't think we can come back out of me lying to you. I know I didn't do the right thing by not just outright saying it. But I was afraid,afraid you would be so angry that you wouldn't listen to my explanation. My reason. That in the end I'd lose everything you gave me. All the joy,all the love,the smiles. The home. I was terrified of losing you,Elijah. It made me make mistakes I can't take back."
I purse my lips into a line tyring not to interrupt at every turn,
"For that I'm sorry,Elijah. It's my fault. But I have to be a selfish bastard and make sure- is it over?"I can't help the laugh that bubbles out of me. It's small at first but then it turns into full blown cackling,
"You think- that I went through all that trouble,almost died,broke multiple protocols just to say I don't want to be together anymore?"
"Well- I- just wanted to make sure we were on the same page."he argues,and I kiss his forehead before resting my face on his,
"Silly as ever,Red."I whisper,
"Shut up."he says back before leaning in to kiss me. I promptly cover his lips,
"We can't kiss in front of my mother."no matter how badly I want to.
"Good to know that you remember I'm here. Still feel like a husk?"
"I suppose I feel better."I say,squeezing him into my chest and stroking his hair. The closer he is the,happier I feel. Risking it all was worth it.
"Look at what he's wearing,you might feel even better."I pull him away slightly before looking him up and down. Where? I wonder before seeing the string of gold on his neck,dipping below his shirt. I gesture for his permission and he nods,his cheeks turning a cute shade of pink. But now is not the time to be getting distracted. I pull it free and I stop breathing.
I literally stop breathing as I stare at the pendant,"Do you know what this means?"I say,looking into his eyes. My heart racing. He shakes his head,"It means your mine,Red."