You will not like how this ends.

[ help ] for your muse to lean on mine for support  [ sacrifice ] for your muse to get hurt protecting mine 

     It was a feeling that Taako didn’t want to ever get used to; fighting back to back with Angus McDonald was not on his top list of things he ever wanted to do.  It wasn’t so much that he was merely a child he wasn’t but the fact that Taako cared too much for him that really made his knees buckle.  

     Constantly, Taako checked over his shoulder when he felt Angus shift against him, glad to see him still standing.  He could only spare a fraction of a second to check before aiming the umbrustaff to take out any inky black figure that swayed in their general direction.  The things made horrible noises when they were slain, yet deep down, Taako was filled with a deep sense of contentment in them.

     He burned with rage, with sorrow, with everything that came from, in Magnus’ own words, ‘losing your sister again.’  Lup was gone because of this thing.  Angus had indirectly been ripped from him because of this fucking thing. And right now, Taako only had it in him for the revenge that his blood called for.

     As his mind slid back to his sister’s matching face, Taako faltered, hearing a small noise that definitely didn’t come from the Hunger.  A weight against his legs and lower torso alarmed him, flipping himself around so quickly that his hat almost flew off with the force.

     ❝ Shit. ❞ Instantly taking a knee, Taako pulled Angus to him, dropping the umbrustaff in favor of keeping him upright.  Looking down at Angus, it was thankfully nothing life threatening, but the moment of weakness definitely had an impact on their rebuttal against the Hunger’s advances.  ❝ Keep with me, Ango.  If you beef it, I’m gonna have an entire Bureau of people coming for me. ❞  While he wasn’t the best with words, the elf did his best to bite out a reassuring smile to the boy who had weasled his way into heart, the kid who spent more of his life by Taako’s side than his own shadow.

      His eyes were pulled upwards at a slithering mass of black, quickly making its way towards them.  Angus would be reached first, that much was obvious, and Taako had to act fast.  The umbrustaff was out of his grasp, but he managed to awkwardly shove Angus behind him.  Taako let himself crumple over Angus, one arm caging him to his back while the other crackled with lightning magic.  He shot off the spell from shaking fingertips, watching as the mass seized up with the electricity, only to charge on forward.  Taako grabbed at the umbrustaff, taking its handle into his palm and turned to pick up Angus to just run...

     And then there was white hot pain across his back.  The thing must have gotten him, the warmth of fresh blood seeping through his top.  Taako let out a yelp of surprise, the jagged edges of the wound stinging in a deep, throbbing hurt.  His grip on the umbrustaff was so tight, his knuckles went white, trying his best just to stay over Angus to keep whatever was behind him away.

for your muse to rest their head in mine’s lap 

     A lot of the time was spent in comfortable silence after the normal magic-related spiel from Taako early on in the lessons.  He appreciated this time since it was one of the rare opportunities to just stop and take a few moments to breathe in an otherwise nonstop life.  Angus sat next to him, reading up on the spells Taako had just taught him, the methodical turning of pages lulling Taako into a warm bit of comfort.  His head rested in his palm, breathing evening out before he felt a pressure on his legs--probably just one of the many many cats in the house.

     Despite that, Taako cracked an eye open, followed by the other as he looked down at Angus’ face smiling up at him.