Archive of Our Own ^beta

Leaning back again, Ikaruga grimaced slightly as the rush of battle wore off and his injuries started to throb. Cuts from claws, slashes from swords, and deep bruising from where he'd been flung against the unforgiving ground. Oh, and he'd rolled his ankle on one of the many uneven cobblestones too.

"Ikaruga?" Subaru called. "Where are you?"

Ikaruga checked the oni one last time before returning to the group. "Over here."

Subaru's eyes lit up when he came back into view, relieved that he was relatively unscathed yes, but also, it seemed, simply pleased to see him. Subaru was odd like that.

Kai and Kurama were standing nearby, bickering quietly as they were wont to do. Kurama's hair was slightly singed but he looked largely unharmed; Kai on the other hand was considerably worse for wear, battered and bruised with blood dripping from his nose. Given his core strategy was 'hit first think later' this wasn't especially surprising, although it was somewhat reassuring to know that even a god was far from invulnerable.

Subaru himself barely seemed injured at all. He'd been favouring his bow, sniping at enemies with the power of the sacred sword on his back, returning them to the Forest by way of burning arrow before they could even reach him. Reach any of them, if he could help it. Still, he looked over his companions and retrieved the sacred drum with a flourish.

Healing magic swept over them with the warmth of a spring breeze, soothing aches and banishing injuries, allowing Ikaruga's tense shoulders to relax. Why Subaru wasted precious runes rather than simply pouring recovery potions down their throats was unfathomable to Ikaruga, but he couldn't deny how pleasant the effects of the drum were.

"You worry too much," he said, although it was more out of habit by that point. Subaru stared at him with an assessing gaze that made Ikaruga want to duck his head and kick the ground like a misbehaving school boy, but he stayed straight backed and calm as Subaru struck the drum again.

How he had known Ikaruga wasn't fully recovered was a mystery for the ages. Hiding weakness was a skill Ikaruga had long since honed, and yet Subaru seemed to stare straight through his walls. It was as concerning as it was compelling.

"All right!" Kai punched the air and began marching ahead. "Come on slow pokes, I want my castle back!"

Kurama heaved a long suffering sigh and followed after him. Ikaruga took a step, only to be halted by Subaru's hand on his arm.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked gently, with another of those searching looks

Ikaruga met his gaze steadily. "Of course."

"Just making sure." Then Subaru smiled. "Let's catch up before Kai gets himself killed." Indistinct shouting reverberated down the road. "Or before Kurama kills him first."

With that, Subaru took off, running down the darkened streets and towards the next battle, Ikaruga following a moment later.

'He's like this with everyone,' he reminded himself, watching Subaru's ponytail sway. From monsters to children to the gods themselves, Subaru's hands and heart were open. It didn't mean anything that he would spend an extra moment with Ikaruga, and it wasn't as if Ikaruga cared anyway.

(But what if he did?)