#quickmech

//strong language

“Sean lets out a sigh. “You can’t keep doing this, Rob. It’s not good for you. What are you gonna do if me or Shadow can’t be here one time? You can’t just rot here all day.” Sean tries not to get frustrated, he really does. But it’s so difficult when his lover is being so stubborn, not accepting help from anyone, or anything.

“I’ll be fine, Sean-”

“But you won’t!” Sean stands, hand slipping from Robert’s and gaining the other’s attention. “You’ll say that you will but you won’t. I know it, Shadow knows it and you know it. You’re so fucking stubborn, Robert. We want to help you, we love you, we love you so much and I don’t think you realize it! How can we help you if you can’t even help yourself? If you don’t even try?”

“Robert moves quickly, rushing to the door of their home and struggling with the handle before it finally swings open, allowing Robert to carry Shadow upstairs to the bedroom. His movements are careful but fast, not wanting to jostle the other too much as he lays Shadow atop the blankets coating their bed.

He tries desperately to soothe his shaky hands, to slow down his heartbeat, to calm his breathing, but it’s to no avail. He opens the chest they keep in the bedroom, rummaging through it for the bottle he knew was in there.

“It’s coming, love, hold on. Hold on for me.” He talks aloud to his lover despite knowing Shadow couldn’t hear, but it didn’t stop him from trying. His hand lands on the bottle he was seeking, seeing the pinkish purple liquid slosh around as he pulls it from the chest, tugging the cork out. Robert settles on the bed beside Shadow, bottle in one hand as he moves the other carefully, Shadow’s back pressed against his chest. He does a quick scan for broken bones, not wanting the regeneration potion to screw anything up. Once he’s certain broken bones aren’t on Shadow’s list of injuries, he carefully opens the other’s mouth, pouring the liquid in.

He pours it slow, not wanting to risk Shadow choking on it. Robert sighs in relief when he sees Shadow swallowing it down, letting his tense body relax in the slightest.

“His arm drops to his side and he takes a moment to realize the sun is starting to make an appearance on the horizon, though it's only a small fiery glow at the time. It would still be a while before the seagulls and people alike would stir awake for their breakfast, and their days would officially begin. Until then, the air was calm, quiet, despite the seemingly inescapable tension that floated around them, growing thicker and thicker with no signs of stopping or easing. Robert feels his legs move before his brain can even register it, his body twisting toward the stairs that lead to the upper deck, toward his lover.

Shadow looks as beautiful as ever, Robert thinks to himself as his eyes land on the male. Shadow is laying in the same position that Robert has found him in the past few mornings. He’s laid on the floor, one leg stretched out, the other bent up with his foot resting on the floor. One arm rests behind his head, the upper half of the other on the deck below him before it bends upward, hand resting on his stomach. The soft illumination of the lanterns cast a soft orange glow over Shadow’s body, skin glowing under the warm light.

His eyes are shut, but Robert knows that Shadow is as awake and alert as ever. Robert’s eyes shift over Shadow’s frame, taking in every detail he has studied a thousand times before. He can see the stiffness in his love’s body, no doubt stress and anxiety starting to eat away at him. A soft frown tugs at Robert’s lips, wishing desperately that Shadow would open up to him, that he would stop being so stubborn and worrisome that he's burdening Robert, no matter how many times Robert reassures him that he could ever be a burden.

“Why are you up?” The voice snaps Robert back to the present, eyes drifting up to land on Shadow’s face, seeing familiar purple eyes looking back at him. Robert can’t help but soften, shoulders slumping out of the tensed position he hadn’t realized they had stiffened to, his slight frown curling into a gentle smile.

He moves himself to sit beside Shadow, opting to sit up inside of laying down beside the other. “Good morning to you too.” He hums out, his tone is soft as it always is when speaking to his love, though a gentle tease is ever present in his voice. His throat feels scratchy, voice rough with the little sleep that remained in his body, but his sleepiness is quick to fade as the ocean air waves over him.