Echos of a fateful meeting

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti wavered for a moment as if unsure how to respond to bastian and then smiled uncertainly.
"Liar" He replied in a gentle tease, he knew that bastian had said it to reassure him but the word slipped out before he could think about it. Perhaps part of him felt slighted knowing that bastian wasn't the protector he had come to see the man as. Or at least not of his kind. Cain had clued him in that likely that mystic had betrayed his own secret through violence, and the fight was an inevitable tragedy of both sides considering their actions self defense.
Even so it was hard to reconcile in his head, maybe some of that was leaking out.

Cain must have heard them wake because he shuffled in with two bowls of soup, bread and mugs of nettle tea on a tray.
He set the tray down and shook his head "At least one of you had better start getting proper rest because I won't nurse the both of you." He replied in a stern tone. It was obviously more directed at Leti but it seemed for the moment that he had no intention of confronting bastian with what he knew. Indeed it seemed he was more preoccupied with seeing that his son didn't harm himself whilst trying to give care.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Bastian chuckled. He was a liar about some things. Certainly he was lying about his state of well-being. But he could breathe and he was awake and that was better than the alternative.

He wasn't a particularly good read of people, especially tired. Something was bothering Leti but he put it down to the guy being exhuasted.

He looked up at Cain, suddenly and ridiculously consciousof the fact that he and Leti had just been sleeping together and he just had a blanket and... And why was he freaking out, Cain had already seen all that, he vaguely remembered. Still, Bastian watched the man deliver the tray not really sure what to think.

"Yes, sir," he said faintly. Directed at Leti or not, he understood an order when he heard one. Bastian glanced at Leti. He also didn't like seeing him so worn out.

He struggled to pull himself and then handed one of the mugs to Leti before taking the other. Knowing what that was now helped, even if he still thought it tasted bad. His gaze kept wanted to drift to the young man but he forced himself look at practically anything else. His eyes found the sketch he had drawn before and he decided to avoid looking at that too. And Cain. The food. That was safe enough to look at. "Thanks."

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti took the mug and didn't seem to come to the same realization until he noticed how awkward bastian was being.
Actually he was sort of surprised cain hadn't said something considering how often he had warned Leti not to get attached. Actually that made him wonder if cain had seen through him all along....

"I'll be more careful." Leti replied knowing full and well the double meaning it would carry. To him it was surprising that cain had not only helped him save bastian but was continuing to treat the man like any other patient.
He knew that cain hadn't been fond of the mystic but from the way he had used wardens as boogiemen Leti's whole life he half expected cain to dump the man off the mountain the second he had found out.
Leti drank the tea slowly, He was a bit sore from lack of sleep and then too much sleep but he drank it more to calm his nerves.
Cain gave Leti a knowing nodd and retreated back to the main room.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

The warden finished the tea quietly. It wasn't as bad hot, but he didn't intend to savor it. As for food...well, he was hungry. And tired of soup. Mostly for lack of anything to do or say, he ate too.

He didn't feel any more tension from Cain than he had initially considering how strongly the man had come off before. Though Leti seemed...different and he still couldn't figure out why. Maybe the man regretted what they had done. Or maybe Cain had said something about it to his son and not to Bastian? Actually, that notion (that he wasn't being told everything) hit hard. Leti's double meaning might have been lost on him, but he knew something was his fault. Just not what.

After he finished the soup and had a few bites of bread, he laid back down. He didn't particularly want to sleep and wasn't really sure he could but he sure as hell felt awkward talking. That and his chest hurt. Maybe he had overstayed his welcome. Which...well, if he could walk, that would be an option.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti ate quietly still processing everything. It was nice to have some head space in which it was quiet and bastian wasn't dying.
He finished his food and though he hadn't exactly forgotten bastian it was now that he truly acknowledged the man's presence. Looking at the man he had now laid with in the true sense of the word twice he was struck once again by how little he knew. Bastian was open enough when asked but also always a bit ...cryptic. Leti had chalked it up to bastian being a man of few words but now he knew there was a possibility that it was to hide parts of himself. But he found it hard to be mad. He himself was hiding the true nature of his healing. Instead he had to wonder, would the arms that had kept him warm last night would be the same arms that harmed him were bastian to discover the truth.

"how are you feeling?" He asked softly for lack of knowing what else to say. He could see that bastian was much improved. Another few soaks and he would be ready to leave here. A notion that now brought very mixed emotions.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

"Fine," he said, attempting a smile. It was a little strange, because while he wasn't fine, he more just didn't want to bother Leti. Before he'd not wanted to bother the man to have his own space. Now...after everything...he was painfully aware that the young man wasn't taking care of himself so much as he was taking care of Bastian. He was trying to be...reassuring. Encouraging maybe.

He wasn't fine. Things still hurt and he couldn't walk but...the nettle would help with some of that and only time could help with the later.

Bastian felt compelled to say more into the awkward silence of the room. But it was different, knowing Cain was there. Knowing someone else very likely knew what they had done together and, while he hadn't said anything, Bastian was still...embarrassed? Was that how he felt? He didn't feel like he should be embarrassed of his feelings for Leti or for enjoying his company. He took a slow breath. Okay. Maybe he was a little embarrassed. He could accept that. Moving forward, he would like to not be. At least...in the right company.

"How are you?" He settled on lamely, glancing over at the white haired healer and eyeing him up and down. His turn to make sure the guy was eating. It wasn't the conversation he expected to be having with someone after laying with them.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti wasn't surprised to receive the same vague answer from before. But while his gaze lingered on the man for a moment he could tell that there wasn't a trace of serious pain on the man's face.
Perhaps he too should have felt embarrassment but he was still drifting through a bit of shock. There were so many new angles to this situation that he wasn't sure what to do with them all.
Well that and having lived with cain his whole life probably helped. In his mind if cain truly objected he would have been very direct about that. He was usually pretty impartial but he had seen the man put his foot down before and that wasn't pretty.
He seemed very unsure indeed of how to answer bastian's question. It should have been simple. Looking at the strangers face he still felt the same pull as when he had first found him. "I'm...fine" He replied a playful smile returning as he added "well, If you were bored before, now you really will be." He teased as he leaned back in the bed, he fully intended to make sure that bastian took it easy today. well, for the past few days he himself was the greatest danger in a way.
Maybe that was just what he told himself to be able to relax himself beside the man.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Had Bastian know that they knew what he was...he wouldn't have been so relaxed. Well, relaxed for him, anyway. The Wardens were a myth on purpose. A secret that died with a lot of people. Oh, of course people knew, mystics vanished, soldiers never came home, the King hated magic, everyone knew. But no one knew who or what or why. Bastian might only be a warden praetorian, a foot soldier, but knowing his identity as a boogeyman in the night wasn't something to take lightly.

Exactly what measure he would take...well, that would depend. Denial worked pretty well. Vanishing worked too. Both were better together. Ideally, however, the man didn't flub a mission and leave witnesses. Silencing innocent bystanders wasn't off the table however. He'd been ordered to once before. But on his own discretion...the less bodies the better. Suffice to say that the moment he was aware that Cain and Leti were aware...Bastian knew his course of action without having to think about it. And if he couldn't walk...he only had one other option. One that was easy to say and much, much harder to do.

Leti wasn't fine any more than Bastian was. But since the healer was being accepting, so would the soldier. The playful smile was reassuring. So was the teasing. "Oh, I do not know about 'bored,'" he mused. "You are quite enjoyable company," he said suggestively, shifting a little so he could wrap the other man in a his arms and pull him gently closer, leaning his cheek against Leti's hair and breathing in his scent. He wasn't trying to encourage them to anything outside the realm of 'taking it easy' but he still wanted to be affectionate and not be embarrassed about it.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti found it all too easy to melt into the arms wrapped around him. Even now that he had a real reason to distance himself he found it impossible not to relax against the affectionate gestures.
"well that's good to know." He replied with a chuckle.
The healer rested his hand on bastian's arms where they had embraced him and mused "You never did say if you were able to meet that friend of yours....I really do have trouble believing no one would be worried..." He mused knowing now that the whole thing was ruse. He knew that he had willfully let bastian give him no answers because bastian being a handsome stranger was easier than bastian being an actual threat. Even now he had no intention to pry into the truth but he couldn't help questions slipping out.
"There's no one waiting for you back in the capital?" Perhaps a tinge of melancholy had already set in with this new hard evidence that they would have to part ways all too soon.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Willfully holding the man close was different than only while they slept or during more grand intimate gestures. It was...a lot more gentle and while he'd certainly done enough sleeping for a while (or at least he thought so), Leti relaxing against him eased his more restless intentions.

"Riza?" Bastian didn't entirely remember everything he had and hadn't said days ago. A week ago. However long he'd been asleep this time, he still wasn't sure and didn't want to ask. "No..." He did in fact know someone in the village. He knew she went by that name. Whether she would admit to knowing him was different. She'd given him information, but he hadn't planned to check in with her after his mission ended, one way or the other. He shrugged and then immediately regretted the movement, opting for a thoughtful and non-committal hum instead. "Some of the other soldiers might?" This genuine uncertainty. Bastian wasn't exactly close with many people and while there were definitely people who would care, the man didn't know as much. He sort of just assumed no one would notice because...well, why would they?

He blinked at the question of someone 'waiting' for him and what that implied, glancing over at the man in his arms. "Not 'waiting' for me, no." That Leti had asked him this again though...maybe he wanted more than that. "My father only cares about...his reputation." Bastian paused and held his breath for a moment and then let it out slowly. "Work. Work is waiting for me." It was an entirely honest answer. Depressingly so.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti blinked at the newly named friend. He too had a hazy memory of Bastian only skirting around why he had come to town. It would at least be useful knowing who NOT to use his gift on.
He listened to bastian rack his brain for people that might notice him gone with a slight pity. It was sad to think he might have died in that field and no one would mourn. Actually even in spite of the man confessing such Leti found it hard to believe. Was there really no one that had fallen for his dark piercing eyes or his brash open way of speaking?
He had no doubt that bastian was very good at his work. It was a shame if his father couldn't see more in him than that. But that hadn't really been why he had asked the question. Maybe Bastian was the type not to notice....
After all it had taken a kiss to get the man to notice the burning crush he'd grown.

With a deep frown he replied "Then he's a fool...." but when he turned to look at bastian more squarely he added more playfully "But I didn't mean family! You're telling me that you live in that huge city and there hasn't been a single girl that batted her lashes at you?" He teased knowing it was a bit of an unfair line of questioning. He knew that even if he had asked bastian not to go, that there was no way he could stay. What point was there in being jealous of some imaginary woman that he would hold afterward?

[Sebastian Arcturis]

It was sad. Bastian partially recognized that. But there wasn't any point in worrying about that. His job and his life wasn't about friends or socializing. It made this...connection with Leti feel all the more strange. And also all the less so. Because admit it or not, he needed to feel close to someone too.

Another thoughtful hum as Leti called his father a fool. He wasn't wrong. He wasn't right either. Bastian smiled slightly. Leti being able to say what he wanted to say helped. But he still couldn't say it hinself. The shift in tone kept the smile from slipping away. He had understood the question and tried to slip around it. But Leti wanted an answer.

"A few. I never really...connected with anyone. I have never been good at that," he admitted. Bastian probably missed a lot of batting eyelashes. He had an important job and that job didn't have room for...well...connecting with people. Especially not romantically. Admitting as much wasn't something he had ever done before. And he did so in the most anti-climatic way possible.

"What about you? With hair like that?" He teased and then whistled softly, ruffling Leti's hair in the most affectionate and playful gesture he had ever shown the other man. Or maybe anyone.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Having his hair ruffled felt nice. He certainly couldn't say he had been on the receiving end of this sort of affection before. He shook his head and scoffed "You think these lock do me any justice in this tiny superstitious village?"
Especially considering that some of the more in the know villagers had an inkling that his hair and living in a cage weren't the only strange things about him. Actually if he ever stopped to think about it he would be crushed under the weight of how out of place he was here. He loved living up the mountain and he liked looking after the villagers but deep down he knew that he wasn't really one of them.

"If anything I get told I have hair like an old man." He replied glumly. Leti had been bullied just a bit by some of the village boys when he was younger. Cain had taught him the art of laying a man flat from his own momentum and that had sorted itself out. No one was going to throw a bunch at him if they were going to end up face first in the mud. He had even beaten some of the older boys at arm wrestling in the pub once. It never made any of them his friends though...just a bit respected.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

His smile faded into a smirk and then vanished again. "Fair point. Just means they are missing out." He meant that. Bastian imagined living apart was both a blessing and a curse. He...could almost identify with that. In a lot of ways, actually.

The warden shook his head. "Silver fox. I think your hair is sexy," he said, pulling him closer. Not his best flirting. Not his worst either. He wanted to be a lot more active in his cuddling but he didn't want to strain himself, for Leti's sake.

Bastian closed his eyes for a moment and shifted faintly, trying to get more comfortable. The nettle helped enough that it was less pain and more that he hadn't moved in a while. Even with Leti's comfort, the man couldn't help it. Eventually he settled again, but his eyes remained closed. He wasn't sleeping just...more tired than he thought. Bastian continued to run his fingers through Leti's hair.

"No one batting eyelashes at you then?"

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti had to chuckle, it wasn't perhaps the most artful compliment but it touched him all the same. It also made his heart flutter a bit to have the man of few words making an effort to flirt in the first place.
He could see bastian sinking into the comfort of their embrace and the sedative. It was nice to see the man in less pain. By this point he was more used to bastian being asleep than not. He smiled faintly as he reveled in the warm comfort of simply lying together.

"nope." He replied without a second thought. He knew for sure that no one had those sorts of feelings for him, certainly not in the village. He felt strangely reassured by their little flirt. It was nice to think he had a special connection with the man considering he knew they would have to part ways. He hoped that some of it would remain when bastian went back to being a soldier.
"Even if they had, it wouldn't be like this."He added a little wistfully.