3 - "the world can keep knocking me down, but i'll get back up."
7 - "there were nicer ways to ask that, you know."
44 - "it costs nothing to be kind."
"Why, Vern?!" How dare that angel stand before him, after everything?
He didn't respond, simply panting, wings hanging from his back. Feathers were strewn about the ground, some mottled with blood.
And yet, Sophist stood without a scratch.
Vernias took a step forward. Sophist blasted magic at him without hesitation. "Why the hell don't you listen?"
The energy collided, stripping more feathers from his wings. The angel braced himself, but otherwise made no other movement.
The mage grit his teeth. "The world can keep knocking me down, but I'll get back up." He glared at the angel. "I'll do it my damn self, like I've always done it. I don't need you or anyone else!"
Sophist gestured dramatically to the walls of the room they were in, a sanctum hidden deep beneath his castle. The gray bricks glowed dimly in the light of the torches hung against them. Little furniture lined the place, save for a desk filled with torn and crumpled papers. He pinched the bridge of his nose, restraining himself from smacking the torn pages from his desk. "Seriously, what part of this is inviting?"
What part of me is inviting?
Vernias sighed deeply, a faint glow slowly tracing his features. Sophist recognized it, the healing magic he possessed. He'd only seen it up close once before, but magic that powerful was impossible to miss.
It had been this very sanctum where he'd first seen it. Back when the mage began to truly test the limits of his powers, he'd nearly fried his arm entirely when he wondered how much electricity he could truly hold. His arm had gone numb from the ordeal, a jagged scar branching down its entirety. He was prepared to try again with his good arm, but when the angel had found him, he nearly lost his mind.
"What the frick is wrong with you? Are you insane?!" the angel scolded, quickly wrapping bandages around Sophist's damaged arm.
The mage laughed weakly. "There were nicer ways to ask that, you know."
Vernias huffed, focusing on making sure the bandages were properly wrapped before glaring at the mage. "You're so reckless! Your arm's in serious condition. You could've lost it!"
He shrugged. "If I did, I would've figured something out. Maybe a mechanical arm. That would be cool."
The angel's grip on his bad arm tightened, causing Sophist to hold back a wince. "This damage is bad. Hold on, let me try something."
Before Sophist could even ask, he felt the force on his arm loosen before the lightest pressure touched his forearm. As he looked down, he spotted Vernias slowly moving his face from the damaged arm, staring at in concentration. A small white glow seeped into the branching cracks of the burn, quickly spreading up the entire limb.
The mage spotted a hint of frustration on the angel's face as he turned to face him once more before it suddenly vanished, his mouth opening before slowly closing once more. After a moment, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation once more. "Well?" Vernias snapped.
Sophist practically ripped his arm from the angel's grasp before staring at in awe.
Warmth. He felt so much warmth in that moment.
He carefully flexed his fingers, ignoring the warmth as best he could. "Yeah, that worked."
The angel bristled slightly. "You know, Sophist, when people help you, the polite thing is to say 'thank you'."
The warmth bloomed further. The mage turned away. "Yeah, yeah. I didn't ask for your help, so if anything, you're the one who's welcome. Whatever you tried worked, so congrats. You're welcome."
As he watched Vernias's wings ruffle further, Sophist couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. It made the warmth worse, but at least the mockery was familiar enough.
As the glow surrounding the angel faded, Vernias stood up straight, finally making eye contact. He wasn't furious like Sophist expected.
Vernias took another step forward, and Sophist crashed a bolt of lightning down on him, gripping his arm as he felt the familiar feeling of burning jolt through it. He'd tear his damn arm off it meant Vernias would leave him alone.
As the dust cleared, a force collided with his chest, causing him to almost lose footing.
When had his arms been restrained? He jerked, only to find they wouldn't budge.
"I just fixed that arm! You're not hurting it again!"
Vernias was hugging him. "Stop being stupid! You're gonna hurt yourself!"
The mage could only stare down, utterly baffled at the recklessness. "Do you have a death wish or something, Vern?! What the hell?"
Sophist tried wrestling the angel off to no avail. They both knew Vernias was stronger, but damn if he wouldn't at least try to get some distance.
Damn him, and damn this warmth.
Vernias held his grip tight. "I'm not letting go until you promise to stop being stupid and hurting yourself." The angel's face was nearly buried in his chest at his point, his voice slightly muffled.
In a desperate attempt at freedom, Sophist began gathering energy into his body. His hair began to stand on end. Goosebumps began to spread across his skin. The pain of his arm began spreading across his body.
He closed his eyes to concentrate further.
Pushing his limits? An understatement. If he lived this, that'd be a new record.
A pressure against his lips seemed to stop time. His eyes flew open only to be greeted by the sight of Vernias's closed ones.
He wanted to fight it, but he was tired. And so, he closed his eyes and lightly pressed back.
Slowly, the energy the mage had built within himself seemed to dull, as did the pain. The warmth returned in full force, but he didn't fight that either. If he drowned in it, then so be it.
The moment he felt the pressure lighten, Sophist opened his eyes slowly. Above him, Vernias pouted. "Why are you so mean to yourself?"
Sophist smiled back weakly. "Why are you so kind to someone so mean?"
"It costs nothing to be kind, and that includes to yourself."
That's when he saw it. The glow surrounding the angel was different: white light flickered with something dark purple.
Sophist quickly sat up, and Vernias let him. "Vern, you're—"
"Relax, Eevee. It doesn't hurt." The angel smiled at him. "Someone has to keep you from blowing yourself up. I'll get rid of this later."
The mage could only stare at him in awe as the warmth slowly crept up his cheeks. "You're…radiant, Vern."
Vernias in return nearly squawked, his own face slowly turning red. "Shut the frick up, Eevee!"
That earned a laugh from the mage. "You kissed me, so I'm your problem now. Should've thought about that."
The angel simply pushed Sophist back down, promptly making himself comfortable on the other's chest. "You've always been my problem. Stop being your own problem, now."
The mage's familiar grin was in full force. "I'll think about it."
Prompts are from a list you reblogged about a month ago, and those were the numbers you picked. It was a good writing challenge. Hope you enjoyed. - 🧠🔪
OOOOMMMG!! squishy, i just laid down to settle from work and here you are, serving me what you've been cooking in the kitchen!! ohhhh this is so fucking good!! RAAAAAAAHHHH
aaaahhh delicious~!! god, your writing is so good ; A ; !! the jaunty is never immune to the scenarios of vern being such a stubborn son of a bitch and trying to befriend sophist. to care for him AAAAAAAA vernias kissing sophist. vern enduring the pain if only to be with him....ohhhhhhhh. healing him despite the pain ORZ thank you so much, squishy ; A ; i always cheer up whenever i get amazing writing and ideas from ya <333
