Learning to live again

Alavas watched as the teen’s tensed body slowly began to relax and he seemed to drift into sleep again. For what he felt like the hundredth time, he let his eyes examine the lithe body that nearly seemed to float in the small bed. Long eyelashes fell on hollow cheeks, light brown hair and a thin mouth completing the pale face of the one in front of him. The teen’s slender torso was covered in bandages and his left arm was in a cast. His whole body had been a mess and the doctors had spent hours cleaning and tending all the wounds, some of them been internal. The pale back had been covered in old and new scars revealing the teen’s painful past and Alavas found his hands fisted again and had to concentrate to get them to relax. He couldn’t understand his need to protect the man in front of him but he knew he had to. His father had once told him that he would know when he had found his life partner, but was that really what he meant? He didn’t know anything about the teen lying in that bed, so it couldn’t be it. Perhaps he just couldn’t stand the pain he felt leaking from Tansa in strong waves.

A knock on the door shocked him out of his inspection and he turned to see his Second bowing and waiting for him to acknowledge him so he could speak. He slowly got up and out of the room so as not to disturb the sleeping figure. Once out, he bowed his head slightly, silently giving the other permission to talk. Shusui looked at him thoughtfully before he said: “The head of the base wants to see you sir. He will be waiting in the conference room and he said you should come immediately or… hum… he would beat your sorry ass…”

A small smile graced his lips as Alavas could picture his superior saying just that.

“I think you should hurry up Alavas, he is in a bad mood” Shusui added.

“Okay, lead the way” the green eyed man answered, smile forgotten and face serious again.


Seleno watched as his best friend came through the door and took place in front of him after executing a small bowing for appearances’ sake. Their eyes met and he felt the determination from the other one. Alavas looked tired, his long blond hair were loosely tied, his expression tensed and his clothes were far from the perfection they were used to be.

“So, care to explain what this is about?” Seleno asked. He didn’t have to say what he was talking about; he knew Alavas did not need it. He felt Alavas’ fiery determination revive and asked himself what made him ready to defy the high ups so badly.

“The guy needs help.” Alavas said.

“If that’s all why not let him there where professionals could have taken care of him? Why did you bring him here?”

“If Demodred gets out, I don’t want Tansa to be in danger again.”

Seleno’s mind froze WHAT?! Had he heard right? Tansa?

“Tansa?” Seleno was proud when his voice got out steady, not letting his emotions through.

“He had no name so I just gave him one…”

Seleno struggled to keep his composure. Alavas couldn’t possibly remember, it had to be unconscious. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, pinching his nose to try and keep the incoming headache at bay.

“Alavas, are you sure about this? The High Elves won’t like it; he is just a human after all. You already crossed them by bringing him here. You high lineage won’t help you.”

“I know all that and I’ve already accepted the risks.”

Seleno sighted. “I guess I’ve got no other choice but to help you then.”

Alavas’ form visibly relaxed and he sighted and put his face in his hands, his elbows on the table. “Thank you.” he said.

“The high council is waiting for us. You are supposed to have been severely scolded just now so please pretend you were. Let’s go”

Alavas got to his feet reluctantly and Seleno watched as his childhood friend straightened up and waited for him to take the lead.

________________________________________________________________________

Tansa woke up at a sound he had not heard in a very long time: a dog bark. He shot from under the covers and his whole body tensing, he prepared himself for an attack that didn’t come. He looked around to find a sleeping Alavas sitting in a chair with the upper half of his body lying on the bed. He then noticed the little dog that was licking its master’s leg as if trying to wake him up.

Tansa lied back again and closed his eyes trying to forget about the last time he had seen a dog when he had tried to escape. He suddenly felt a strong hand covering his and his eyes shot open again.

“You okay?” Alavas asked, looking a little sleepy. He petted the little dog and Tansa watched as it leaned in the caress, then abruptly ran out of the bedroom.

“I… I’m fine”

“Do you want something to eat?”

He was about to answer no since he wasn’t sure he could keep something in his stomach when the latter choose that moment to growl pretty loudly. Alavas laughed and said:
“Well, I guess that answers my question. I’m going to ask Nina to bring you something light. What about a hot bath?”

Tansa’s cheeks flushed, he didn’t want the other seeing his abused body even if he had probably already seen it since the only thing he wore were a pair of boxers that were not his. He turned his head and looked at his covers, trying to understand why that mattered when more people than he would like to think about had already seen him naked or worse. He sighted and putting on the fake smile he was used to, he said it would be nice.

Some half-a-second later, he found himself being lifted in strong arms and in 10 more seconds in the middle of a large bathroom where a little pool was being slowly filled with hot water.

“You should take a quick shower while the pool is being filled. The towels are in that little cupboard there and I also put some clean clothes in it. Are you feeling up to it or do you want my help?” Alavas said.

Feeling a little dizzy with all the unexpected movement, Tansa stood there and looked around him for a good 5 minutes before he answered.
“I think I’ll be okay.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting in the bedroom so if you want something just yell.”

“Thank you” he said, blushing again and not quite understanding why.

Once Alavas was gone, he quickly got out of the boxers and in the shower. He stepped under the hot spray and felt the water slide on his face and in his hair, easing the tension in his skull, washing away the horrible smell that seemed to cling to him after to many days spent in a bed. How much time had he slept? He had not been in the white bedroom when he had woken up this time. Where was he?

Tansa slowly got out of his shower and into the little pool. He sighted in bliss as the hot water wrapped around his legs, his body already feeling better. He was thankful for the little privacy the other man had given him. His mind wandered to the said man as he imagined Alavas pacing in the bedroom, green eyes looking at the closed door to the bathroom and asking himself if he was alright. Tansa found himself smiling weakly. That man had definitely a strange effect on him. Tansa had not felt so good in a long time, and he closed his eyes to better memorize the feeling.

He felt tired again, so before he fell asleep, he decided that getting dressed was a good idea. He carefully rose from the little pool and mindful of his wobbling legs and hurting left arm he got out. After two steps out of the pool, he felt drenched from all his energy and his feet gave way under him. That was not good. He reached for the towel with a trembling hand and tried to dry himself as best as he could. He then tried to get to his feet again and was about to fall back down when powerful arms wrapped around his frail form and kept him from falling. His back connected with a rock hard torso and he felt himself automatically leaning into it. It felt good and he felt safe now, his nakedness long forgotten.

“Are you okay? You should have called me” a voice said as the arms lifted him to carry him to the bed. It had been that question again. He should find a way to stop Alavas from worrying so much, he didn’t deserve it. But for the moment his mind was shutting down as he was slowly drifting back to sleep again. He absentmindedly noted something hard pressing against his back but pushed the thought away. He was so tired and he felt so comfortable in these arms… Warm and protected… What a strange thought… He was carefully lowered to the bed and the last thing he felt was his head touching a cool pillow.

Okay how was it? Bad? Good? I know it’s the second time I finish a chapter with Tansa falling asleep, sorry for that….

Pleaaase review! I need review to know if I’m going in the right direction! Review even if it is to say what you don't like, it helps...

Perhaps my first lemon in the next chapter…