#sure mark

Mark leans down and kisses his fevered brow. “ Shhh. Let’s get you inside then, darling. ” He requests Yancy’s help with moving him, just to make it the least stressful experience possible for Asterius. And because moving the Minotaur as dead weight versus a conscious one was a very different task.

He takes Asterius to a guest room just because he isn’t ready to answer any of the questions that might come from taking him to the master. Plus, Star was less likely to disturb him as often in his own room. And he needed plenty of rest.

The jugs of water go to the room with him, for as he needs them. Asterius is soon tucked in with a cool compress on his forehead, and gently encouraged to doze; with Mark by his side, holding one four-fingered hand and stroking it gently.

Asterius tries to help as they move, but his steps are uneven, gait staggering as he tries to walk. His legs aren't obeying him and it's extraordinarily frustrating. Both his sunlight and his nightingale are taller than him, so he almost hangs onto them as they make their way inside, and he lets himself collapse onto a bed the moment he's allowed.

So tired.

Finally left to rest, truly rest, he can't help the sudden wave of emotion that threatens to overwhelm him. "I didn't think they'd ever go that far," he laments, holding onto the Actor's hand, fighting against sleep for just a bit longer.

"I know I... what I did was..." Asterius lets the sentence hang in the air, because recognizing blame was still a work in progress between them, but he leans back against the pillow, fur wet with sweat and tears and water. "I didn't think..."