Kaein's POV
I shoved past the last body and out into the night before the others could start running their mouths. My side was on fire, blood sticking hot under my uniform, and the only thing I wanted was to get away from their faces. Away from the noise.
"Kaein!"
Takechi's voice. Always the loudest. I didn't stop walking.
"Where the hell are you going?"
"Anywhere you're not," I shot back, spitting dirt.
Daichi muttered behind him, "Dramatic much."
Shion snapped, "Shut up and let him go."
But none of them knew how loud it was in my head. They hadn't seen what I'd seen in that cage. Renjiro's throat under a blade, the flash of terror in his eyes, the way my chest had clenched like I'd swallowed a blade myself. I was still hearing it. Still seeing it. And if I stayed near them, one of them was going to say something smart and I was going to break their jaw.
So I kept walking. Deeper into the trees.
And then boots. I didn't need to look.
"Don't follow me," I barked.
But of course, Ren didn't listen.
"Kaein…" the way he always said my voice and it sounded better than anyone had ever.. it had a way of calming me down.
I stopped so hard he nearly slammed into my back. I turned and glared at him, my voice sharp enough to cut. "What part of 'don't follow me' sounds confusing to you? Do you need it spelled out in blood?"
His eyes were wide, his hands trembling. "You saved me. It's my fault. If I hadn't been caught…"
"Oh, for fuck's sake." I threw my arms out, immediately regretting the pull in my shoulder. "You're alive. That's the point. Stop making it about you."
His mouth opened and closed, and then his eyes went shiny. I groaned. "Don't. Don't you dare cry. You're not even the one bleeding out here."
"I want to save you," he said, his voice breaking. "I want to do something..anything. because you keep saving me and I…"
Behind us, Daichi groaned loud enough to wake the dead. "Unbelievable. We risk our asses killing demons, and now we're stuck in some romance play in the woods."
Shion crossed his arms. "Let him cry if he wants. Better than Kaein snapping his neck for hovering."
Takechi glared at Ren. "You're not helping. He said he wanted space. Ever heard of listening?"
Ren flinched, but didn't move. His eyes locked on me, like I was the only thing keeping him upright. And damn it, I felt that look.
I hissed through my teeth, turning away. "You three, piss off. I don't need an audience."
Shion's jaw flexed. "Fine. But don't say we didn't warn you when he drowns you in tears."
Daichi gave me a fake salute, muttering about wasted time, and Takechi shot Ren a look sharp enough to peel skin. Then they left. Finally!
Silence, except for Ren's shaking breath.
He dropped to his knees in front of me before I could stop him, fumbling with his pack. Bandages spilled out. His hands shook as he pressed cloth against my shoulder, soaking it in blood. He was sniffling like a kid.
"Ren." I grabbed his wrist. "You're getting tears on the wound. That's disgusting."
"I can't help it!" His voice cracked. "You almost died. I can't stand it. I just. " He bent his head, his forehead brushing my arm, like he was trying to anchor himself.
Apart from my new parents, my new siblings and the corps. This was the first time someone felt so concerned for me.
I stared at him, my chest tight with something I didn't want to name. "What are you, a baby? Crying when you're not even the one hurt?"
"I don't care." His voice was muffled. "I thought I was going to lose you. And I can't.." His shoulders shook harder. "I can't stand that."
My first instinct was to laugh in his face. And I did. Sharp, dry, ugly. "You're pathetic, you know that? Sitting here bawling like a toddler. You look ridiculous, you don't even know me like that."
But the laugh came out softer at the end, because… hell, he was ridiculous. Red eyes, messy hair, tears streaming, hands trembling so bad the bandage was barely sticking. A mess. But a cute mess.
I reached up without thinking and wiped his face with my fingers, dragging my thumb across his cheek. His skin was hot. Wet. "You're a big baby," I muttered, shaking my head. "Did you know that?"
He froze. And then…muah.
His lips found it's way to my jaw. "Thank you for saving me." Then he stepped back.
I blinked, more surprised than amused. "Did you just kiss me?"
He sat back on his heels, breathing hard, eyes furious through the tears. "Shut up. Don't laugh at me."
Those damn pretty long lashes.
For a second, I just stared. My cheek throbbed. My jaw ached. And for some insane reason, I wanted to laugh again or maybe yell at him. Or maybe both. Because my chest was on fire, not from the wound but from him.
But I did worst. I couldn't stop myself. My hand shot out, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him in. Our mouths crashed together and all the air I'd been choking on finally spilled out. It was just a light kiss ^^ but I was already red.
He gasped against me, and I muttered against his lips, "Ouch. Careful. I'm still bleeding here, idiot."
But I didn't let him go. And this courageous pretty boy. He pulled me closer and kept sucking my lips fill I responded, and for some reason his tongue found his way into my mouth, it was so soft, his lips were so soft and plumpy too and I sucked everything I could from his tongue while he sucked my lips out. Then he pulled out "it's my first kiss yo
u know, I don't want it to end with just a kiss." And that was the sign I needed.