𝓧𝒽𝓊𝓇𝒶 𝓥𝒶𝓃𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝑒

ㅤ 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 ㅤ 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝘩𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡—— ㅤ ∙ 𝗉𝗈𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗂𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗈𝗋 ∙ 𝗍𝗐𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖼 ∙ ㅤ

⠀⠀ “We can keep each other from making such awful mistakes.” Xhura agrees, his voice cracking slightly. “… Right?” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ Their foreheads rest together and for a moment, in the quiet of the hallway alcove, they just 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦. “I know. I’ve just… always been told that I 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 hurt others, so I spent my whole life trying not to. And then…” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ How can he 𝘯𝘰𝘵 worry about the lives he took when he was overblotted? “Mal… I 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯.” He murmurs, voice wavering. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ He’s shivering a little, still damp from having Malleus help him get from the dorm to campus while blinded by the morning rain. But Mal’s touch helps. “I still wonder… how many people I hurt without remembering it.” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ “But hey… if it hadn’t rained when I—𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘮—y’know, who knows what more damage I could have done.” He’s been trying of late to make jokes about his own overblotting incident. To try and move on from it. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ “It’s the stupidest thing, sometimes, you know?” And here he is at a school to hone 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤… yet he’s still prey to the weather’s whims. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ “Well maybe not, but there’s nothing wrong with a little vulnerability every now and then.” He kisses the tip of his nose in apology. “I mean look at me. I’m a slave to the weather.” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ With a little huff he tweaks the end of Mal’s nose. “Did you want to take a sick day?” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ “You know I hate to see you hurting.” He murmurs, and tilts his head up slightly to kiss Malleus’ forehead. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ “Still, if it’s paining you…” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ He can see it a little better now that Mal is closer and Xhura is starting to dry off from the rain. Gentle fingertips gently stroke the cracked section of the horn, almost trembling. “We’ll fix it. I’ll fix it. I’ll find a way.” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ He immediately wraps his arms around Malleus, one hand cupping the back of his head. “H-Hey, it’s okay… Mal… it’s gonna be okay.” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ Eyebrow raising. What is he missing? Sure it’s been raining all day so his sight isn’t the greatest at the moment. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ “And what would that be, Mal? Everything okay?” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ He’s not having the best mental health day. Time to stay in bed. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ He smiles and slides back into bed, taking a piece of fruit and holding it up to his mouth. “You deserve whatever you want today.” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀ He grins and kisses Malleus’ forehead. “Come on. I’m sure Lilia-ji and Silver and Sebek have something planned. But first you’re all mine.” ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀