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She nodded silently. She could bring him to the church but there was no way of knowing if they would actually help. The barbs at his shoulders and hips were carefully removed and the chains slowly but surely were worked free. She was far too quiet. Sulking really. His back..brought back a load of memories.

Quiet..except for his short grunts and cries when things came free from parts of his body that were messed up too much. Fresh blood flowed, filling in the holes the chains left, spilling..streaking his already dirtied skin. His teeth clenched, he breathed shallowly through them.

She wanted to apologize but what would be the point? It..needed to be done. It was obvious by now she didn't like hurting him. Painfully she looked at his back and flinched. "I..need to roll you over.."

?R-..? He huffed, whimpering..waiting for that wave of pain to pass. ?Mmph.. Roll.. C-can't I..j-just..sit up.. I can..I can do..th-that..? He drew his arms in slowly, pushing his palms into the roof of wherever they were. It was so much easier to move..now. He lifted..one inch..two..five..before his body convulsed. He coughed, spitting angrily. Blood.. And he had to drink some later.. ?Th-there's..things..in my ch-chest..too..?

"Sit.." Could he do it? She blinked and reached out to steady him but didn't urge him to lay back down or sit up more. Only to help make sure he didn't go face first splat. Eyes closed and she swallowed. He was spitting up blood. That..wasn't good. They batted back open and she attempted to look at his chest. Things.."Inside..?"

?Knives..? He spat out another wad of gore, sighing a long breath..kept pushing. He had to save energy..to flip over.. Slowly but surely..he got to his hands and knees, his left leg still bent in ways that it shouldn't be, straining. His face was tight. He pitched around, dropping onto the roof on his rear..holding onto whatever he could to keep from falling back. ?Ow..? He sniffed. ?Kn-knives.. At l-least..three.. There c-could..be more.. At..least..they didn't b-break my b-back..right..??

Fingers struggled with wanting to clench him. Hold him. Now wasn't the time. Looking at his chest she attempted to figure out how to even start to take them out. For now she worked at finishing the removal of those stupid chains. "Yeah.." There was that at least. But it left her concerned how much Tylor did break. Not just..physically.

?How.. How long ago..?? His hands clenched together for a moment..but he started forcing them to move..pulling at the little bladed chain links like she was, his fingers ghosting over the several lacerations across his chest..searching.. How had he survived all of this.. Maybe he hadn't, and he'd just.. ?We're..not.. We're not..d-dead, are we..??


She blinked a little. Dead.. She shook her head slowly and tilted her head enough so that her eyes could find him. There was no doubt she had been crying but there were multiple reasons and all good ones. "A-About..10 days?" Her eyes lowered away again as she tossed away the last of the chains then reached forward. Fingers skimmed his chest for abnormal rises that would help her find the daggers. Removing them was going to be interesting.

"Ok-kay good.. 'C-cause..if.." He found one, right under his left collarbone. His teeth grit..he took a deep breath and held it, fingers spreading the cut so he could dig in..pinch the very hilt of the knife and draw it out of himself enough to get a better hold. Then he tore it free with a pained grunt. It clattered out of his shaking hand. "I-i-if..we we-were..and it hurts like th-this.. That'd..just..s-suck.." His hand dropped to a cut that was too close to the left side of his chest. Really.. How..had he not died..? "Ten.. Sh*t.."

"But at least I am here?" Alternative and an attempt to rise his spirits even if her own dropped upon seeing him draw out the dagger. She shuddered and drew her hand back. She..remembered those. "Thank you .." It was meekly said and her eyes started to water again.

"Thank.." Maybe his head was messed up.. His hand left his chest, he pawed gently at his hair, finding bumps..on unnatural crater.. "What..are you thanking me for.. I didn't..do anything.. R-really.. I didn't..this time.."

"Yo..You didn't.." Her lips pressed together tightly then relaxed. "You didn't die. You waited..heh..l..like you said..S-So ..thank you." She nodded a few times and glanced to his leg. He needed her blood..right? Reaching behind her she pulled the familiar dagger from it's place. She hadn't remembered tucking it away but there it was. Some part of her must of remembered. It was tucked at her side for now. Biding time to when the last of the daggers he was working at were out.

"Oh.." He grinned, the first real smile he'd made in..apparently ten days. It split his lips, but the rest of him was hurting a lot worse.. He could deal with that.. "Y-yeah.. You.." His fingers dug into a long cut on the left side of his stomach..next to a gorey, fist sized wound that was half healed, half bruise. His fingers dug in, searched..his head dropping to his collarbones. He could..do it.. "Y-you..b-believe..m-me.. Guh.." He shuddered, drawing the knife from him..dropping it..started searching for another.

"Of course..You.. You wouldn't leave me. You said so yourself. So of course I believe you." She glanced at the knife, covered in his vital. Her brows began to knit something fierce. Homecoming gift. She scoffed quietly and lowered her eyes. "I would of came sooner but it was hard to find you.." Her head dipped low as if shamed by it.

"You believe me.." His hands paused. He had only found two more..the one near his heart, another in his right ribs. They were busted, that was going to be interesting.. He lifted his head, peering at her..just finally realzing she had a hood on. He forgot about himself for a moment, reaching for her instead..pushing softly at the hood to get it to move back enough..so he could see.

She almost flinched. She wasn't quite sure what she was expecting. She felt the deep hood fall back, following her hair until it massed between her shoulderblades. Slightly confused she drew her eyes up to his face. This meant, of course, she couldn't hide the fact that she had been crying. "Wh-Why..do you sound surprised?"

"Because I am.." He knew he looked like he'd seen several better days, and suddenly felt like..he wanted to hide.. That was different.. He usually..didn't care how he looked, no matter who saw him. He frowned sadly, tracing the outline of her face without touching her. "You trusted me that..m-much.. Even though you knew..and.. Maybe..even before..th-that..? 'Cause..I didn't..l-leave you anything.."

She didn't like that sad look. It made her feel like she did something wrong! She smiled oh so meekly. "I didn't think you left. I..sorta thought you just forgot or was really excited or was playing a game..I ..know you wouldn't just leave me forever. Y-You said so. I just..like the notes because they are cute and make it easier to find you. B-But yeah.." She glanced down from him. "I believe you..I trust you. I've always..trusted you."

His brow knitted until it ached. He'd already cried enough..for all those days, he didn't want to start doing it again. He pursed his trembling mouth, shook his head softly. "The..n-notes.. That's how I let you know..where I am.. You..heh.." He smiled, lowered his head..drawing his hand back. He had two knives to pull out still.. He started with the one in his ribs..or tried to.. "...you believe me.. I'm glad.."

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Her brows furrowed and she looked up to his face. She couldn't comfort him. If she tried to touch him then..She moved away and slipped up along his side, pulling the dagger up from it's place. It....would help ease the pain. She bit her lip and tilted the blade a bit and stopped. After a moment she pressed the dagger to her neck and pierced the very tip of the blade into her skin. There was a reason for picking her neck. Her nose wrinkled as she dragged the dagger to make the wound a bit wider.

He didn't know how he kept forgetting.. He tried to move his leg, and while it did, it sent a new wave of pain lancing throughout him. It was a different sort..he didn't know why.. Maybe..it was because of why it was done.. It wasn't something he'd gotten just from being beaten..it was deliberate in a different way.. His eyes closed, he hid his face in his hands.

Lowering the dagger she reached over, knuckles brushing his temple gently. Fingers pressed, attempting to work between his hand and face. "Toby.."

"Ngh.." He shuddered..he heard the chains under him. No wonder he felt itchy.. "Wh-what.." He sniffed, said it through grit teeth. His hands tensed for a moment, another flinch, before he let her draw them away.

"You promised. And it will help with the pain. Please.." Her fingers slipped across his hands, attempting to draw his attention to her. She could feel the vital spilling down the side of her neck. That was okay..

"P-promised.." He blinked moisture out of his eyes, staring up..his breathing already hitched and shaky. "Why..wh-why your neck.." He shifted, grimacing..keeping as much of his back off of the chains as he could. He wasn't sure if he could sit back up. Leaning over was a really bad idea..

She shifted and pushed the cloak around. "So I can hold you." She wanted to offer that bit of safety while he did what he promised. She had thought about laying down and making him do the same so it would be less pressure. She scooted closer to him and gently lowered her hands. "After you've healed some. It's a closeness type thing.." And he needed it.

"Oh.." He nodded groggily, shifting his hand..pushing it into the roof. His arm shook..the other swiping out angrily at the pile of chains, not caring that he'd sliced the back of his hand wide open. He grunted with the effort..his eyes flicking up to her neck. "Right.."

She watched and realized he was sitting on chains. Silly! Reaching out she nudged them with the knife, pulling and sliding them away. "I was going to say we could lay down..Because I don't think either of us are going to be going anywhere for a bit..That way you didn't have to move so much. And you can lay against me on your stomach..I can be your pillow.."

"Yeah.. It's..it's okay.. I need to g-get..used to..m-moving.. On my own.. We can..afterw-ward.. When.." He snorted softly, sniffed..pushed his hand up against his eyes even though it didn't help to clean them whatsoever. "After I do..'cause th-then..I know I d-did it..before I passed out.."

"Stop stalling." She grinned a little at him and then squinted. "Oh wait..you don't like how I taste right?" Her hand moved up to cover the wound. Yeah she was teasing him if only a little. It..was okay to ..right? She wanted to cheer him up..if only..a tiny bit.

He smiled, shook his head softly..motioning for her to get closer, move her hand. "Yeah.. That ex-xactly why.." He knew..she wanted to help.. Teasing was one of the simple things she could do.. He could let it go.

"Uh huh! See you are studdering." She moved her hand as if to give motion to him 'ah ha!'. Her hand slacked a bit and she reached out softly to his cheek as she inched closer. If anything it was apologetic.

His face tightened, he tried his best not to flinch a third time. She didn't want to hurt him, he knew that.. He was just..weird.. The last time he did this..he didn't even know who or what the guts came from. He had to do it though..he promised.. "Thanks.." His hand lifted, resting heavily on her shoulder and neck. He just sat, his face hovering over the wound. He could smell it..he wasn't sure if the scent of blood would ever get out of his nose.. He gulped, before opening his mouth to the wound, latching onto her skin. He remembered this.. Except this time, there was actually blood.. He suckled sharply, hating the taste that filled his mouth..but stayed there anyway.

Yeah seeing his features tighten up she didn't dare touch him. Instead she leaned forward, head tilted to offer her neck. For now she didn't touch him. It was ..strange..feeling his lips there again. Even if there was a pleasing little tingle, she stomped that down before it grew any. But to have him actually drawing blood. It was a new sensation all together.

The more he sat there, the more a new smell was entering his nose. Flowers.. It was different, a little jarring. Her hair..? He gulped the mouthful he had taken, started taking another long, deep pull. It was real.. They weren't dead, it was..actually over.. And he'd lived.. He was still surprised. His body just wouldn't let him give up.

It really was odd to feel someone draining her. There was a minor shiver and she tilted her eyes to the sky. It was morning. He was safe..Was home..safe? Was things safe? Her hands moved up then fell back down when she realized she couldn't touch him. It was an ache she didn't enjoy.

It had taken four pulls last time..to just close a surface wound. But he was on his third deep one.. He hated that he was getting energy from this, but he could feel the slightest of cuts closing up. The ones on the back of his hand, some that were sustained when he'd smashed into the ground. Some of the little ones left by the chains began to close. His ear felt better.. He drained one last mouthful, gulping it down..pressing the flat of his tongue to the slice in her neck. Then he started drawing away.

"Don't..." She managed to warn, both hands rising to touch his knees. There was no way that little could heal those masses. "Y..You..let me..to that point. You can take more. You.." He could take it all. She didn't care! Her hands pushed from his knees, seeking to find his arms. "Please...."

He smiled softly..hesitating, but pressed a kiss to her throat..catching a drop of blood on his bottom lip. He could ignore the stinging everywhere she touched him.. "Alright.. But..not until that point.. If I do, and you're tired..we'll both be usel-less.."

That made her eyes water and she stared more up at the sky. She was already useless..If in doing this..she could help that was all that mattered. "To that point. I want you..to be better..."

"Katt.. Blood doesn't help me..that much.." He licked his lips slowly, his fingers softly curving around her neck. It had been ten days..since he'd felt this.. Was that really it..? "You still want me to try, don't you.."

She forbid the tears to fall. To sniff. "Yes. It's the only way I can help you. Even if it doesn't help as much as I want it to at least..I..I tried..." Her voice quivered with her struggle.

"How am I supposed to know..when to stop.." He shook his head a little. He couldn't really hug her.. He was surprised that he wanted to. The thought didn't last long. "What if..until I can start to do it myself.."

"I'll tell you.." She murmured and after that fell into a very weird silence. That one word bounced in her head so many times. In the end..she wasn't even the one who really saved him..

He sighed softly, his fingers rubbing small circles against her neck. He was surprised, too, that he could do it..as soft as he was.. For the longest time, he felt that if he had to touch something, it had to be hard..and it had to hurt.. "I.." He was supposed to trust her.. Why did he feel like this was the last time he'd ever see her alive. He sniffed, gulping..leaned his head to rest on her shoulder. He couldn't think things..like that.. He'd panic..like he was now.. He'd lost count of how many times..

She swallowed feeling the circles. Her eyes clenched closed so hard and fast that tears shot down her cheeks with force. She made her face relax. "(vsw) It's okay. Really. I want to.." I'm not..worthless. I'm not.. It was a silent chant. She could help him! She could..do something.

"I know you do.." The words came out tightly, in a rush..his mouth closing afterward. His brow pressed into her shoulder, he held his breath. She was here..she was fine..sort of.. Don't think about her wounds.. "I know.."

"Please.." That single word squeezed out as if it was a strain to do so. If her blood didn't help then she at least..tried. That was what mattered? "I..." Her lips sealed almost as tight as her eyes. She just..went silent. He didn't want to. She wasn't going to force him.

"Yeah.." He huffed a single, slow sigh. He felt tired..that was only to be expected. He didn't know what she was going to say next..but he didn't want to have that be the last thing *he* said.. He lifted his head, dragging the tip of his tongue across a half dried red river of red. "...I love you, too.." He latched onto her skin for the second time, pressing hard against her neck. His jaw hurt when he took his fifth pull..

She shuddered lightly, trying not to focus on how that felt. Her features relaxed swiftly when she felt his lips once again at the wound. He would.. She smiled sadly to the sky. She could do..something..Maybe.. He..loved her too. Her eyes fell closed, shutting the world away in darkness.

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She landed roughly but landed none the less. Scratching the back of her head she grumbled. Her legs hurt now. She hadn't meant to do that. Tilting her head up she started to call up to him only to find. SPLAT! "Umph!" Well ..Toby got a squishy landing. She was flat on her stomach now. Blink. What just hit her? "Hhh..?"

"Ngh.. O-ow.." He'd landed on something that hadn't hurt too much.. He had to get off of it..it didn't feel right.. He kept muttering that same word, inching sloppily off of her, then tipping onto his side. He figured he had only seemed fine because he wasn't moving. His hands curled into tight fists, he fought to straighten his leg again. "I'm s-s-sorry.."

Her back rang in pain. It screamed and vibrated throughout her. She laughed. Quietly. "Heheheh..Softened landing?" Her head tilted to peek up at him and despite the pain she managed to sit up and smile to him. "You shouldn't of did that. You are hurt enough." And this came with some very light scolding.

"If I d-didn't..I'd still be up th-there..scared to j-jump.. I h-had to.. And it's n-not.. ::He eased onto his stomach. He didn't want to move anymore.. The stupid collapsed roof was just fine. "...it's not like..you're *not*..hu-hurt.."

"I would of came back up for you silly.." Her arm stretched out but she stopped herself. It flopped as she laid onto her back next to him and she just watched him. He was alive. Her eyes started to water and she quickly looked up.

"Yeah, well.. I'm already in the h-hole..so.." He snorted, slowly blinking his still golden eyes. He hated yoki..what it gave people, what they thought they could do with it.. He hated that he needed it.. He hated that he was being poked with a piece of the roof in a place that wasn't too comfortable.. "Where..is all the stuff he g-gave you.."

She wondered if that was suppose to be a joke. She snorted quietly too. "I have them with me..I cl-cleaned it all. But..the vial he gave me. It's ..empty.."

"I miss them.. The ring..mostly.. We can..fix my earring at some..p-point.." He smiled, welcoming the nice numbness that came with his arms starting to fall asleep. "That's okay.. I would've..wanted you to use it inst-stead..anyway.."

"I'm fine...Just..tired.." Still bleeding but that would stop eventually. Her eyes closed then slowly opened. The ring.. Moving her hands she slowly worked his ring from her own finger and she rolled onto her side. Reaching for his hand she softly slipped it onto his forefinger. He could move it when he was ready. "H..Here.."

He grinned a little more at the faint, but familiar, feeling. His thumb touched the ring, scratching at it. "Yes.." His eyes shifted to watch her over his bloody arm. "Thanks..

"Y-yeah.." She flopped back onto her back and closed her eyes. She could finally rest. He was safe. "Hhh..You..n..need..to get b-better.."

"I will.. Don't..don't worry about me.. I'm apparently..a lot tougher than I look.." He snorted, relaxing..resting his head against the roof pieces underneath him. "I'll be okay.."

He was..really too far away. Her hand shifted, attempting to blindly find his hand. "You..can lay on my s-shoulder if it would make you comfortable.." She just..wanted his hand really.

"I know.. Moving right n-now..though.." He leaned a little to the side, grunting a couple times..his arm sliding awkwardly over hers..his fingers touching her palm. "I'm still..h-here.."

Still here..She sniffed softly and her fingers curled to her palm and around his fingers. "Still..here.." It was okay to cry..just a little..

"Yeah.. I'm still here.. It's okay.." He smiled sadly, shoving his other arm around, trying to reach her hair. His curled fingers rested near the top of her head..his other hand tightening around hers, but not by much. He would probably cry too..if she said that.. He *had*.

She sobbed quietly and tilted her head up as if to press into his touch. She missed it. She didn't bother attempting to hide the tears or the fact she was crying. It was okay? "Really.."

"Yeah.." It was sad.. He was irritated last time when she told him not to worry.. And he'd already said that enough.. His thumb brushed back and forth over her hair, the most movement he could get out of himself. "I promise, r-right..? I told you..I'd f-find a way to wait.."

She sniffed quietly, slowly settling down. She didn't want to be sleepy. She needed to be alart. What if.. "Hhh..Y-Yeah..you..promised.." Tears continued to spill though silently. It felt suddenly like she was falling and her body jerked in respond.

He hadn't even known how he'd done it.. He wasn't sure questioning it was a good idea. Something could come along and just..kill him..because he wasn't thankful to still be here.. He jumped, flinching at her sudden movements, gulping as adrenaline started coursing through him. "It's alright.. I'll be fine.. You haven't slept at all ever since, have you.."

"A little..I tried. I really did..I was just..so..worried.." She sniffed a bit more. If she went to sleep then she couldn't be there with him. She..didn't want to now.

He nodded softly. If he wasn't hurt..he could do this better. His hand slowly drew hers over..he pressed a kiss between her knuckles. "I know.." He whispered against her hand..he didn't have to move her away just yet.. "I would've done the same thing.."

Her brows knitted with the effort and she forced her eyes open. He would of done the same thing. He probably had on one occasion or two. She wanted to hug him. Hold him. She needed something..anything to protect him better. She didn't like feeling so worthless. "Mrmm.."

He smiled sideways, his eyes tired, soft even though they were gold. He didn't know what they looked like beyond that.. "It's funny.. It was..sort of okay..when he was there with me.. 'Cause..that just meant he wasn't there with you..or May.. You were worried about m-me..I was worried about you.. Heh..weird peas.."

"Of course..I was worried ..about you..I knew he was hurting you. He brought..evidence.." Her head tilted, cheek resting against her shoulder. The heavy feeling turned into thudding that hurt her head. "You ..were worried about us.." She didn't say just her. Mayu. She would search her out once they were both better. She was with her new friend doing fun stuff. She had to be. She had to be safe. She had to believe that. "You..were worried..even though he was hurting you.."

"Yes.. If I just kept him focused on me.." He tried to shrug, but only managed a twitch that pained him..made his face tense up. "He started taking everything away.. I couldn't really let myself think too much about it.. I don't know why I'm talking about this, I guess..I just want you to know.."

"What.....i...if...he .." She didn't want to think about it. What ifs..sucked. "...killed you.." She whimpered weakly.

"Heh.." He smiled, not entirely sure how he was supposed to answer that.. "I.. I don't know.. He could have..several times.. He could've when he first took me.. He had..different plans..I guess.. Even then..I didn't let him.."

"Good.." She wasn't sure what she was saying good to. Her fingers squeezed at his weakly then relaxed, almost as if her hand had spazzed. "You..wa...waited.."

"Yeah.. I waited.." He figured she knew it was tough..and he didn't really want to admit to what amount. He blinked at her hand, touching his mouth to her knuckles again. "And you believed me.."

There was something warm against her knuckles. Breath..lips. They felt almost foreign. "You..seemed surprised..that it was ten days.."

"It seemed longer.. Seconds were years.. But on another hand..I didn't spend that much time awake either.. I don't think.." He frowned softly, trying to recall. A lot of it..seemed like it was gone from his head. "*Then*, things got worse.."

She didn't want to point out that is how it was like...when she was under the slaver's whip. It would of been valid but now was hardly the time. "I took..too long.." She frowned a bit.

"No..you didn't.. I'm not blaming you for any of it.. He said..he was pissed at me, that he was doing it for other reasons.." He grunted, watching a spot on his forearm fill in..and sew shut, leaving a slightly raised scar underneath the blood. He was..going to look weird.. "Tylor's a dick, though.."

She already knew why Tylor was doing it. "Because of me.." She sighed and slowly her body resumed it's slacking. "We..ne..need..to find a way..soon.."

"It doesn't matter why he was doing it.. The fact is that he *did* it, and he didn't get what he wanted.. And if you keep blaming yourself even though he's not here, it's like he's still winning.. So quit it.." He shifted his thumb, bumping it against the top of her head in soft pokes.

"But..it's true..He was hurting you..because of me. It was suppose to be some homecoming gift he said.." She whined at being poked. Her body was too heavy to move to stop it.

"Katt..what exactly are you wanting me to say when you tell me this..?" He kept poking..if only because the sound was..kind of cute.. His mouth twitched.

She whined a bit more. It was her fault. Her eyes clenched closed and eventually she sighed as if she had given in. She didn't say a word.

He sighed too, his hand dropping to the floor with a soft thud. "I don't blame you.. If you want to blame yourself for it.. I don't know.. The important thing is he didn't get what he wanted.. Any of it..he didn't get you, he didn't get what he wanted out of me.. And we're fine.."

"How..did he get you in the first place..?"

"Uh.." He blinked, peered at her. She was..asking questions..? She actually wanted to know.. He had a feeling it was only going to make the guilt thing worse. "He..came to the door.. And said he had a delivery or something.. He was..covered up.. I didn't know who it was until it was too late..to do anything about it.."