#wtncgame

You only briefly glanced at the ‘closed’ sign hanging on the door of the shop, sighing in relief, before hauling yourself inside. You pushed the door shut with your heel and leaned back against the wall - rugged breaths, aching body, and flushed cheeks from the biting wind outside.

“Ezra?” you gasped out, eyes darting from the counter to the shelves of goods. You heard some clattering and a hushed curse, finally looking over to the curtain which parted to reveal your lover. Ezra’s features pulled taut with worry, he rushed over to you to support you, walking you into the living room. You collapsed onto the sofa and your heavy limbs melded into the soft cushions as Ezra knelt in front of you.

He caressed your knee and you flinched. “Are you badly hurt?”

The way he gazed up at you - like he would drop everything he was doing just to take care of you… which he probably just did.

“I’m okay, just… tired. And a little sore.” your eyelids threatened to slip closed the second you stopped talking.

The witch let out a strained chuckle. “More like exhausted.”  He reached up to press a soft kiss on your forehead and tugged at your clothes. “If you want to get healed then you’re going to need to take these off.”

You shifted, grunting painfully but forcing a laugh, and pushed the fabric off your shoulder. “Are you sure this isn’t just a way to get me into bed?”

Ezra scoffed and ignored your comment, getting to work. His fingers emitted a soft glow, swirls of turquoise and flecks of gold reflecting off your skin when he touched you. Now with your tattered shirt slipped off, his hands roamed over the purple-blooming bruises and shallow gashes littering your torso. It wasn't as bad as other times you came stumbling through his door at an ungodly hour of the morning, but it hurt like hell and your body was spent.

Slowly but surely, the burning of your cuts and marks of your battle ceased, sealed, and faded. Sighing with relief, you wrapped a soft woolen blanket around yourself, slouching and tipping your head back as Ezra made work of your trousers.

"Just what were you doing, my Hunter?" You smiled sheepishly and shrugged while Ezra ran his hands over your calves, returning mauve skin to its original colour. He leaned over a final bruise on your knee, staring up at you through dark lashes, emerald gaze twinkling in the candlelight.

"You know that I'll be here to help you whenever I can, but… I'm worried about you. You come home in the middle of the night, injured and exhausted. You're pushing yourself to the limit and it's breaking you - my magic can only do so much." For once, his voice was stern. Guilt weighed on your heart, realising how much sleep he must have lost over this - over you.

"Ezra, I didn't know you felt that way…" You brought his hands up to your face, lightly kissing his knuckles through your words. "I'm sorry. If I'm being honest, I don't like living this way, but crime rates and violence between species are getting worse lately. They’re sending out every Enforcer they can to keep it under control…” A single finger pushes gently on your lips to halt your words, and he smiles sweetly up at you, seeing you grow distressed with the politics of your job. You didn’t notice how tense your shoulders became, but they unravel and slump eventually.

“Alright, enough work talk. I want you to relax tonight.”

Ezra closed his eyes and tilted his head, letting his lips brush your knee, his warmth overpowering. You blink, the bruise has disappeared, and you feel suddenly rejuvenated. “However will I thank you for everything you do for me?” Sighing blissfully, you pet his thick locks, twirling his white strands between your fingers and nails massaging his scalp. Still on his knees, Ezra rests his head on your thigh and revels in the attention, and you can feel his breath fanning your leg.