Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time

"Open." He murmurs, blowing on a spoon and holding it up to your mouth. You drink the soup, humming at the really good taste.

"Did you make this?" You ask after swallowing, somehow already feeling better. He nods, and just now do you notice the dark circles under his eyes.

"It's a family recipe. I called my mother for it." He feeds you another spoonful, and you see the small squares of orange in it, raising a brow at him. He huffs and, as if demonstrating, scoops a portion of soup without any of the carrots.

When the bowl is drained, he helps you drink some water, then runs a cool damp cloth over your forehead.

"You take such good care of me." You mumble, already starting to feel drowsiness settle into you. He hums, pressing a kiss to your burning forehead as he tucks you in.

"I'll always take care of you. I promise."

Sylus

"It doesn't hurt that bad."

You say it for what's probably the fourth time, but the knit in Sylus's brows doesn't budge. He studies the cut on your cheek carefully, checking it's depth and frowning when you wince.

"You're lucky you don't need stitches." He pulls away to set up some supplies and you find yourself immediately missing the warmth of his hands on your face.

"Do you think it'll leave a cool scar?" You try to catch his gaze, but he stays focused on what he's doing, returning to gently clean the wound.

"Hopefully not." He murmurs quietly, whispering an apology when you wince from the sting.

"It's just a small cut, Sylus. I'll be fine." The soft tone of voice is necessary given the worry on his face, the slight fear in his eyes at the sight of your spilled blood. A reminder that you could be taken from him far too soon.

"I know. Perhaps you should be more careful next time, sweetie." He finishes bandaging it, kissing you gently as a sign he's done.

"I will be. Plus, I have my own personal nurse to take care of me if I do, so I'll be fine!" Your teasing smile makes him shake his head, pulling you into his lap with a grin.

"I don't believe a nurse would treat you the way I do." As if to prove his point, he bites your bare shoulder, making you help.

"Ow! What are you doing, trying to suck my blood or something?" You smack his arm, making him grin for the first time tonight.

"I should be allowed a taste as payment, don't you agree?"

Valko

"Are you cold?"

Valko holds you closer, though you have no idea why he could be asking that, since he'd already bundled you in your hoodie, then his hoodie, and then a heavy blanket from his car.

"Not at all. Are you sure you aren't?" You gesture to his bare arms, courtesy of the sleeveless shirt he'd donned for tonight. He shoots you a toothy grin, leaning in to kiss your nose.

"Of course not. I run hot. Plus, we're in my natural habitat. I'm used to it."

Indeed, when Valko had suggested camping, you'd been excited for a multitude of reasons. One of which was seeing him so relaxed out in nature, something you rarely get to see.

"Do you want a smore?" He's already getting it ready, roasting the marshmallow to perfection and carefully assembling. Of course, the square of chocolate is massive, but you can't complain when he presents it to you with a proud grin.

You move to unwrap your arm from all the layers so you can take it from him, but he doesn't let you, instead holding it up to your mouth so he can feed it to you.

"Mmm! It's good!" You mumble around warm marshmallow and chocolate. He shoots you a toothy grin, one that still makes your heart stutter.

He makes a few more, mostly feeding them to you and eating them when you protest that you've had too many.

The warmth of the fire and fullness of your stomach has your eyelids feeling heavy. Despite the dark forest, you feel perfectly safe with Valko. When you rest against his solid form, you know he isn't going anywhere.