Echos of a fateful meeting

[Feleti Eidothea]

The healer himself had enough education to read but bastian was much more likely to get a handle on the old script than he was. He struggled a bit with reading outside the words documenting herbs enough as it was.
He reflexively smiled at bastian as the man turned back to him but the queasy look on the man's face made leti's expression fall a tad. "o-oh...? Maybe we should go back up and rest?" He replied reassuringly and moved to shine the lantern back on the hall.
He let bastian walk in front of him, following close behind in case the man lost his footing on the stairs. Going back up would be a lot harder than coming down was. THe healer was ready to catch bastian in case a tired misstep cause the man to lose his balance. He wasn't sure why bastian seemed to dislike the cave so much but he chalked it up to the man not having been in them much. He supposed it was a bit dark and spooky to someone not familiar with every crevice.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He supposed maybe it was time to rest. He hadn't put in this much physical activity in weeks now so maybe Leti was right and that was the problem and not whatever else he was feeling. Except that he knew he would never like caves. Maybe that was why his dreams still bothered him here more than on the road or at the castle. Childhood memories were harder to escape than death for the man.

"Yes," he agreed reluctantly. Not because he wasn't tired but because he was. This would be a lot more than fifteen steps up. The soldier mulled over the pieces of text he could recall as a distraction to how many stairs he had to go. Leti's easy presence helped too.

His surefootedness up to this point finally caught up with them. It was in a combination of nearing exhaustion and damp crumbling steps that Bastian lost his footing about halfway back up. His instinct was to catch himself on his bad leg and one of the walls which elicited a yelp of pain.

With Leti's help, he just needed a moment to catch his breath and pull himself together before pressing on. Bastian assumed the healer would want him to rest back in bed but he would quietly take direction anywhere that meant getting off his feet.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti nearly dropped the lantern when bastian stumbled as he instinctively reached out to catch him. Unfortunately bastian had already caught himself, which made leti wince a little along with the yelp.
He watched the man with concern written clear in his face.
"maybe... you should take a minute here?" His eye cast about for a better place to sit than the stairs. If he gave into what his heart wanted he would he just carried bastian back up but it might be a little dangerous to do so while holding a lantern, and the passage was a bit narrow.
He settled for motioning to the nearby storage room so that bastian could at least rest himself on one of the crates. The healer hovered even closer this time, forcing his assistance on bastian to get him to somewhere to sit. He should have known that wandering around down here would be bad. It was a bit dangerous even for completely able bodied people.
"does it hurt terribly? I can bring a sedative..."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

As painful as it was, it was probably better he caught himself than Leti drop the lantern. Not that Bastian had really intended as much. He also sort of wished he hadn't. But he also didn't want to be down here in the dark. He wasn't afraid of the dark. Or even the cave itself. But he wasn't sure how readily he could distinguish reality from his nightmares. So maybe it was simpler to say he was afraid of being in a pitch black cave. Easier than explaining, anyway.

The storage room being closer worked for him. He accepted the help inside and to sit mutely, more focused on his labored breathing and trying to push away the pain than on his surroundings.

Bastian closed his eyes, barrly hearing the words. "I do not...want to stay down here alone," he forced. It wasn't really an answer and he knew it, it was simply hard to focus. It was just like the well...the damp stone smell, the slight echo, walls instead of roots closing in around him.

"...take something upstairs," he mumbled, pressing a hand to his temple to try to massage the memories away. It helped. Not that the pain was going anywhere, but with a slight rest he pulled himself together. He would attempt (Leti willing) to get back on the crutches. He had hung on to those, knowing the alternative way out was being carried and while he didn't doubt Leti could and would, he could make it the rest of the way up.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti bit his lip seeing the very obvious pain on bastian's face even in the dim lighting. He frowned at bastian's instance that they wait until he was settled up stairs but perhaps that was for the best anyway.
He did help bastian unto the crutches but reluctantly.
It was a slow perilous journey back the short steps to the top. Leti helped bastian settle into the bed before he raced off to fix up a remedy for the pain. He left the lantern on the desk in the bedroom so that bastian wouldn't be left in the dark alone. Even without knowing bastian's specific anxieties he knew that it was more comfortable to be able to see.

He was soon back with a tea of a thick green color. Or well...it was almost soup. The healer held it out to bastian with worry and regret plastered on his face. "Here, careful not to burn yourself. It's mostly nettle but this is like a much lighter form of the theriac.....much lighter, but still don't drink it too quickly. you'll get dizzy."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Bastian very nearly collapsed into the pillows and bedding. The familiar setting of Leti's bedroom, cave or not, carried a much more cozy darkness rather than an oppressive one. By the time Leti returned with what he assumed was more tea, the soldier had his expression and breathing managed, though internally it still hurt. Stepping like that on his leg wasn't something he wanted to repeat. Even without the misstep, it was likely he would be tired for a while anyway. He could already feel his limbs ache and refusing to function even just to accept the cup.

It wasn't quite tea, apparently. He could smell the strength even before he broight it to his lips and he winced. Green. He hated the taste of green. It tasted as pasty and grass-like and disgusting as the name of the color sounded.

It was clear from his expression he wasn't happy with the beverage choices but he didn't complain. It was his fault, after all and Leti was right that it would help. Drink finished, he tried to get confortable again with a groan.

"Thanks," he said quietly, closing his eyes again. "I have bad memories of...dark damp places. Seemed...moot for the most part, this being your home." He wasn't sure how mich lighter the drink was but he really was looking forward to not feeling anything for a bit. Perhaps not to the degree where Leti could poke around in his wounds but if it meant he could sit and not feel very much he was all for it.

"Any funny ideas yet?" He teased, surprising even hinself a little. But he did want Leti to know he was okay.

[Feleti Eidothea]

The healer watched bastian take up the drink with his concerned expression easing. He could see bastian starting to get more comfortable again.
Leti wondered what those memories could be...it was oddly specific. He settled down next to the man and nearly thought to ask as much but bastian instead surprised him with a more suggestive question.
Letti fumbled for an answer with a flustered chuckle. "Someone's adventurous" He eyed bastian up and let his mind wander to some very mischievous thoughts. "hmmmm~" He leaned in slightly as if to meet their lips "I'm sure I could think of some" He replied playfully. He was mostly happy to know that bastian was feeling more comfortable.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

As much work as the spelunking had been, he was almost impressed he wasn't asleep already. Bastian wished he could have handled more time examining the text on the wall or exploring further with Leti but even had he been perfectly fit, he had a feeling he would not have wanted to stay down there any longer. Much like his fear of needles, this fear frustrated him. Unlike his fear of needles, however, he knew exactly where it came from.

Leti's fumbled reply earned a smile, as it was exactly what the soldier had hoped for. He still wasn't entirely certain why he enjoyed seeing the other man flustered, but clearly he liked it. He also liked having the healer snuggled up against him. Bastian fought the tiredness to drape a heavy arm around Leti's shoulder.

"Spelunking is adventurous," he observed, not understanding what the other man meant. Yes, they had both been adventurous, traversing deeper into the caves.

Bastian had an involuntary reaction to meet his lips to Leti's when he didn't follow through, caught himself for a heartbeat and then closed the distance anyway. He offered a curious hum through their kiss as to what that something might be. But no really, Bastian was curious. Seriously. And romantically but if this was going to end up like that chair thing...

Ah.

Now he understood what the devious young man meant about him being adventurous.

[Feleti Eidothea]

He could see bastian too instinctively lean forward and his heart caught in his throat for a moment as the man hesitated and then their lips met. No matter how many times it happened it still felt new and electric.
He sighed a contented sound as he parted and caught the now somewhat reluctant look on bastian's face. Had he said something wrong? Had the kiss been wrong? No, it couldn't have been it was the same as before...or maybe that was the problem?
He offered a slightly confused expression "is...everything alright? does it hurt somewhere?"
concern was lingering over the horizon. He had only meant to flirt back but it seemed he wasn't quite as good at it as he had hoped. maybe he could ask for pointers the next time he was in town...

[Sebastian Arcturis]

No matter how many times it happened, Bastian still wasn't sure what to make of his feelings. He didn't want to stop kissing the other man. And yet he wasn't sure he should kiss him at all. He couldn't help it.

The soldier dragged his look of concern back up to the surface into the realm of simple uncertainty. "No. I think the tea is working" he clarified. But that was only half an answer, and while he was excellent at those, despite his mess of feelings, Bastian did know he didn't want to ruin the mood he had called attention to. "Last time..." they were adventurous, "You tied me to a chair. I do not want to do that again." It wasn't really flirting so much as it was open communication.

He shifted slightly, the tea in fact, really starting to hit him. He didn't feel so mentally out of it, but the general ache melted away. His fingers once again found their way to Leti's hair, stroking it in an attempt to be reassuring. For both of them. He knew he wasn't very good with words, so maybe that would help.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti was relieved that bastian was still feeling... 'better'. But the new confession was a bit of a turn. He knew it had been a bit of a risky move when he did it. Even so thinking back he hadn't noticed bastian's distaste for it, well aside from the obvious frustration of not being able to use his hands. Was that all there was too it? He quickly seem to spiral back into thinking too much about it.
Luckily gently fingers intertwining with his hair stopped him from being too consumed with guilt. "I just...I just hadn't wanted you to over do it is all.." It had sort of been fun to tease the man but if he didn't like it he didn't like it.
"..well that and..."
He did feel a bit guilty knowing that part of his motivation to tie bastian up had been to test out a new maneuver.
"sorry....I promise not to do it again..." He closed his eyes in thought for a moment "....maybe just the hands then?" He seem to conclude to himself.
"I bet you could use something to loosen up your muscles after sleeping so often." He added before puttering off shortly to find a jar. He returned and sat next to bastian again with a mischievous smile "Alright, open your robe!" He commanded in a rather chipper tone.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He had been quite distracted by other events surrounding being tied to the chair that he had buried his distress over it. Not to mention Leti's unnecessary explanation made sense. "I understand," he said simply. Bastian wasn't sure where the 'and...' was going but he didn't press for that, though he was left a tad curious. Not that tying him up had alleviated anything, as far as the soldier could tell, but he wasn't worried about it.

"Maybe just my hands," he echoed with a hint of reservation, providing the white haired man a thoughtful expression. Tying up just his hands seemed to serve even less purpose, but Leti seemed quite interested in tying him up in some fashion. It was a strange kink, but Bastian did feel safe with the man. The only reason he wasn't entirely easy going about it was because it took his control away.

Bastian hummed in tired agreement at the notion of relaxing more. He had filled his quota of 'doing' apparently. Climbing up and down stone stairs had taken most of the restless itch out of him. Tired dark eyes watched Leti slip away only to return with a jar. He eyed both the jar and Leti, confused. Before he could ask, however, Leti's grin disarmed him. And then so did his command.

Mouth half open, Bastian's expression was torn between a hesitant smile and furrowed brows. He closed his mouth and slowly fumbled with the tie on his robes uncertainly. He wasn't about to say no to the healer but he had no idea what was going on.

[Feleti Eidothea]

Leti actually didn't have much intention of tying bastian up this time. He had other ideas in mind. His eyes caught bastian's glance at the jar and he offered a small chuckle "ah, this is just normal lotion." Well...normal for healers it gave off a vague herbal sent but it wasn't heavy like the ointments that leti used on bastian's wounds.

He waited long enough for bastian to disrobe, a sight he never got tired of, before taking some of the lotion into his hands. Leti moved to bastian's legs and took his good leg into his hands. He began massaging bastian's calf from ankle up and smiled "If it's just my hands you can relax better right?" He sounded a bit proud as if he had figured something out but there was still a hint of mischief in his tone.
"just lay back and take it easy~"

[Sebastian Arcturis]

It took a minute, tired as his limbs were, the get his arms out of the sleeves.

Lotion seemed innocent enough. Enough that he relaxed instead of continuing to be concerned about it. He transferred his curiosity of the past to this new moment. A massage maybe? Had that been what Leti meant? He had never really had a massage before, at least not beyond working out pulled muscles. This seemed like a similar thing however, injured and exhausted as he was. Not to mention he greatly enjoyed the idea of any excuse for Leti's hands on him.

The soldier twitched involuntarily at the tough at first. The lotion wasn't too cold at least. And he was more than used to the gentle pressure of Leti's hands from all the cleaning and bandaging and ointments there. "Just your hands?" he asked, confused, though clearly Leti's touch had the desired effect. Bastian felt himself melt into the pillows and the mattress. This time, unlike the time with the chair, he found he actually could relax and take it easy at the man's word.

He watched Leti work for a moment and then closed his eyes, enjoying the repeated motions. "Harder," he mumbled.

[Feleti Eidothea]

The faired haired man felt a strange sense of pride wash over him as bastian relaxed under the pressure of his nimble fingers. He was happy to oblige the request for firmer movements as he worked out the kinks in the well defined muscles of the soldier's leg. He let his movements grow longer and travel further up to the man's thigh.
It was indeed a massage, it was somewhat of a foreign concept to leti too but he had every intention of making the experience a thoroughly enjoyable one for both of them. He hadn't ever given a full body massage but he didn't intend to leave any part, well any un-injured part, of bastian un attended to.

His hands made stroked bastian's thigh, his fingers coming just shy of touching anywhere suggestive before running down the length of the leg. He repeated the motion several times, each a slow and purposeful action.