#zoros

He sniffs, shaking his head. "I could never truly express how much I mean that. You're the love of my life, the only love I'm interested in having. We'll get through this, one way or another. But we'll always be together... I promise." It is enough to know they both bare the same burden of fear. Of love and loss. Of love. A beautiful commission from the always talented always amphibious @mogmor!!!

Tempest belongs to the lovely @haonqq!!!

Anyway, sometimes I have time to write still, but only at work, got into the Feelings of that last session

Zoros still belongs to @talltiredandafraid

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He drew a ragged breath, gaze casting over at Zoro. At his love. If he didn't… then….

He clenched his fist, wishing they'd never joined this stupid quest of Adalwine's. Another ragged breath and his shaking hand found the pole of his halberd.

“I'm sorry.”

Zoros moved forward, pulling his head into his hands, grip gentle and smile soft. “It will be alright my love, I'm not going to die.” A pause, filled only with Tempest's heartbeat. “But if I do, a death by your hands would be a beautiful one.”

Tempest's grip tightened, knuckles white with the strain. “Stop- stop it.” The words barely slipped through his lips. “You're not going to die. Trust me.” He shook his head slightly as he pulled the halberd from its holster. “I'm so sorry.”

The first swing connected solidly, but he was careful. Minimal damage, enough to harm and tire but not scar or kill. Only one, he couldn't bare a second strike.

Zoro's gave no movement and he grit his teeth, swinging around again. “Please hit me.” Another solid hit, still careful, eyes pleading. He needed it, to hurt and suffer for what he was doing. No amount of ‘its to save him’ could convince him this was alright.

The familiar tingle of Zoros’ magic slipped across his skin and he braced for the hit. Much like the first time, it caught him off-guard as magic always did.

Good.

He wanted it, wanted the sting, wanted to hurt.

And just like that, they were fighting, exchanging blows back and forth in their ring, their prison. Their own personal hell.

Tears blinded his vision as he swung, moving into hitting faster, wanting it to be over. He hated this, hated it to the marrow of his bones, and there was nothing he could do to stop this, not without risking him. Without risking everything.

He tried not to think, but it was difficult when he had to aim so, so carefully. He would be alright, they would be alright. He just had to be careful.

And he was, every blow glancing when it could have sliced and bit deeper- except for one that Zoro moved in a way he hadn't anticipated. He bit the inside of his cheek, the taste of copper in his mouth as he admonished himself and cursed. Careful, Tempest, careful hands.

He could see it, the deep blue of Zoro's blood on his weapon, his hands, spreading across Zoro's chest with each swing, and he felt bile in his throat. You're doing this to him. A chorus of pleas for this to end echoed in his mind as he swung again and again, watching his ring, their promise, burst and crackle with magic before each blow until Zoro couldn't even keep up with the blows.

It's almost over, darling. Almost. I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so-

He swung, blow shifting slightly in his grasp and a burst of light sprung between them, drawing a barrier between them in blood and pain.

It felt like slow motion, unable to stop the swing as the blade and fire swung into Zoro, into his love, his husband. His eyes widened with the realization, breath stuttering with it. He could swear his heart stopped as Zoros stumbled backwards, blood dripping from his mouth and down his shirt, the smell of burning flesh reaching his nose.

He didn't hear himself scream, halberd discarded to the side and his arms wrapped around Zoro before he could hit the ground. His hands shook as he pressed a hand to his chest, trying to find a way to make it stop, whispered pleas echoing under his breath.

Skittering down Tempest's arm, Io sniffed over Zoro's chest, searching for a way to help, to fix him while Tempest uselessly sobbed.

It was his fault.

You did this to him.

He hurt him.

How could you?

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

His chest tightened as he gazed down at him, unable to look away. Choked sobs slipped through his lips. “Darling..?”

His lips trembled, but before he could drop his head, the wall of the hedge dropped, revealing-

“Zoros….?”

He looked frantically between the two, watching a double of himself melt away beyond the wall. Eyes welling further with tears, he clung to the body in his lap, knuckles aching and white and his breath hitched. “Is it…” A ragged breath and he swallowed, “Are you…?”

He couldn't even manage a full sentence, a full question. How could he? All of this could be a lie. He didn't know, he didn't know-

"It's me, it's me, my love, im here," Zoros runs stumbling over to him, falling onto his knees and grabbing him. His hands wander over Tempest, touching, feeling, making sure its real. "Tempest, it's me."

He pulled back a moment, running hands across Tempest's cheeks and brushing his hair back from his face. Looking him over, he let out a shuddering breath, leaning forward to press their foreheads together as Tempest's hands finally touched him.

And then it was desperate, clinging and pulling each other together, tears pooling and trailing down their cheeks. Touching, feeling, knowing. Tempest tries for words and fails, settling for touching, feeling and clinging to him like a lifeline.

Two more hedge walls drop, revealing their travelling companions and the results of their duels clear on the field.