Chapter Text
There was no time to think- nor even react. Instinct kicked in, adrenaline surging through him.
The attacker turned just in time to see Saparata swing the poker with all his strength. The iron collided with the side of their head, sending them stumbling backward.
Fluixon looked up, his vision blurry.
He clutched his side, moaning in pain.
A beautiful face of pale skin came into view.
Saps.
Of course it was Saps.
“Saps…” His voice was barely audible.
Saparata didn’t look at him. His focus was entirely on the attacker. His eyes were blazing: not with worry, but with something else.
Rage.
“You’ve got guts,” the intruder sneered, their blade gleaming as they twirled it in their hand. “But you should’ve stayed out of it.” Saparata tightened his grip on the poker, his heart pounding in his chest. “Get out,” he said through clenched teeth, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. “Now.”
The attacker laughed. A cruel, mocking sound. “Or what? You’ll hit me again with your little stick?”
They lunged, their blade aimed straight for Saparata’s chest. But Saparata was faster this time. He sidestepped the attack, swinging the poker in a wide arc that forced the intruder to retreat a few steps.
“Saps-” Fluixon tried to call out, but his voice was weak, and his body refused to move. Blood dripped from a deep gash in his side, pooling on the floor beneath him.
The intruder glanced at Fluixon. “He’s as good as dead anyway. You’re wasting your time.”
Saparta’s grip on the poker tightened. “Not while I’m here.”
The fight was brutal. The attacker was skilled—far more skilled than Saparata—but he fought with everything he had. Every time they came close to landing a blow, Saparata found a way to deflect or dodge. Just like the Lumarian fight.
But he couldn’t keep it up forever. The intruder’s blade grazed his arm, drawing blood, and the pain nearly made him drop the poker.
“Give it up,” the attacker said, their voice dripping with disdain. “You’re outmatched.”
Saparata didn’t respond. He glanced at Fluixon, who was still slumped on the ground, barely conscious. The sight of him, so vulnerable, so broken, lit a fire in Saparata’s chest.
With a burst of energy, he lunged forward, feinting to the left before striking the attacker’s wrist with the poker. The blade clattered to the ground, and before the intruder could recover, Saparata swung the poker again, this time aiming for their knee.
The intruder crumpled to the ground with a shout of pain, clutching their leg.
Saparata didn’t wait. He grabbed the blade from the floor, pointing it at the intruder’s throat. His chest heaved as he glared down at them, his hands trembling from the adrenaline.
“Leave,” he growled. “And don’t come back.”
Saparata wanted to gut the guy.
But he couldn’t.
He couldn’t give away their position, nor could he bear to kill another life.
The intruder’s eyes flicked to Fluixon, then back to Saparata. They sneered, but there was a flicker of something else in their eyes. Fear.
“This isn’t over,” they spat. They scrambled to their feet and limped toward the door.
Yeah, keep running; Saparata thought.
Saparata didn’t lower the blade until the intruder was gone. As soon as the danger had passed, Saparata dropped the blade and rushed to Fluixon’s side. “Flux,” he said with urgency, kneeling beside him. “Hey, stay with me. Stay with me. Look at me.” He took Fluixon in his arms, shaking him, willing him to awake.
Fluixon’s eyes fluttered open. Even while injured, a faint smile showed on his face when he saw his saviour. Sap’s face was bruised and cut- but Fluixon decided he was better looking this way.
He could not stop staring into those silver grey eyes… so cold yet so soft. Sap’s hair was messed up, with stray strands flowing over his perfect features.
“Saps…” he murmured. “Took you… long enough.” His voice was barely above a murmur.
Saparata let out a shaky laugh, somewhat relieved. “You fucking idiot,” he muttered, his hands moving to press against the wound on Fluixon’s side. “Can’t leave you alone for a minute, can’t I?”
Fluixon winced, his smile fading. “It was a good thing.. you… left” he said, his voice strained. “They were looking… for you.”
Saparata’s breath caught.
“For me?”
Fluixon nodded weakly. “Said… you knew something. Something important.”
Saparata’s mind raced.
They almost killed Flux.
Because of me.
“Everywhere you go, people die.”
He knew it wasn’t true, but the words did sting. Was it a curse on him to destroy peace? Should he have jumped when he had the chance?
He forced himself to push the thoughts aside. “We’ll figure it out later,” he said. Right now, nothing mattered more than Fluixon being okay.
Saps grabbed the supplies he’d brought back from the market. He handed Flux a potion, and force-fed him a golden apple. He looked so small, so fragile as he held his head. As he worked to stop the bleeding, Fluixon buried himself into Sap’s chest.
As much as Saps loved the vulnerable side of Fluixon, it hurt in every way to see him in this state.
“Saps…” Flux began to murmur. His gaze was soft despite the pain. Saparata looked at him, his heart aching. He looked into those glowing purple eyes, tired but terrifying. “What?”
“Thanks,” Fluixon said, a faint smile tugging at his lips again. “For… saving me.” Saparata’s chest tightened, and he shook his head. “You almost died because of me,” he said quietly. “I’m so sorry, Flux.”
“Don’t..be. You’re the reason I’m… alive.” Fluixon muttered.
“Twice, actually. You owe me a kiss when you wake up.”
Fluixon chuckled weakly before his eyes drifted shut, exhaustion finally overtaking him.