Archive of Our Own

Dainix cradled Falst in his arms like Falst weighed nothing, like he was a child and precious and helpless, even though he was none of these things. Traces of fire died around Dainix, embers winking out in his hair, and his carnelian eye was round with concern. His hold was snug and solid, his arms flesh and bone and his scent riddled with spices and campfire smells and a touch of sweat, undeniably human.

Falst was pretty sure Dainix had first grabbed him in soulfire form, yet somehow, it hadn't burned. Falst still clutched the fireseed shard. The thing Caliban had claimed Dainix needed. That, evidently, Dainix didn't need when there was a perfectly good pit of lava bubbling beneath them, which meant Caliban was a liar, because of course they are, stupid trickster god, what're they playing at? But Falst couldn't think straight enough to hypothesize because Dainix looked perfectly fine and okay and was cradling Falst in his arms, and Falst's brain kept leaping back to that, tripping over it.

"What happened to the boat?"

Oh. Fuck.

The worry in Dainix's expression took on a new light. He has no idea what happened. I need to pull together and get him reoriented, fast. "Sea monster broke it," said Falst brusquely. He deliberately didn't mention that Dainix had eaten the deck. That hadn't been what did the boat in, anyway. "Don't think any of us are dead. Tess evacuated Erin to shore somewhere, you burned out, Alinua protected Kendal and me with vines so we washed up on shore. Don't know where Alinua is, but Kendal thinks she'll find us. Kendal's distracting Rakhn. I, uh." Falst weakly raised the shard of fireseed. "Was trying to reignite you."

Dainix's grip tightened. Falst expected the guy to put him down any second--they were on solid ground, he didn't have to hold Falst anymore--but he held on, for some reason. Falst was tucked up against Dainix's chest, Dainix's heartbeat echoing faintly in his ear. "Trying to reignite me," Dainix echoed. "By putting yourself in peril getting... What even is that?"

Falst clutched the fireseed shard tighter. "Blame Caliban for telling us to steal a shard of fireseed from Rakhn, which apparently, you didn't even need. If I'd known better, I would've just dropped you in lava from the start."

"Caliban?" Dainix's brow furrowed. He looked, if anything, even more worried.

"Excuse me," called an unfamiliar voice.

Dainix turned, still holding Falst.

Shit, thought Falst. Right. Those guys.

The volcanic ignans who'd been cleaning the walkway blocked their escape path, wielding shovels like weapons. Falst tensed, curling in on himself slightly. The one with the most elaborate headgear took a step forward. He held one hand out sideways, fingers splayed wide, and Falst couldn't tell if it was meant to be a threat or not. Didn't seem like it. But they had every reason to be unfriendly, given that Falst had basically robbed them. "You're one of the primordial flames?" queried the ignan. "And you mentioned Caliban?"

Dainix hesitated. He was still holding Falst, even though Falst was ready to run and they should probably, like, book it now. Instead of booking it, Dainix shifted his grip and said, "I'm sorry, I'm really confused. Yes? I think? I--I'm from the Rauan desert, and my people call beings like me a demon. Tahraim called me a crucible. I'm still trying to understand what that means and how to control it, and my friends, we, uh, encountered some trouble on our travels, and I--I think I burned out. Who are you?"

"Coryx, leader of the ignans of Rakhn." Coryx glanced around, visibly uneasy. "Please come inside, quickly."

Dainix nodded, his arms still full of Falst, and started following Coryx down the path and away from the caldera's center, toward one of the cave doors. The other ignans flanked them like an honor guard, or like a prisoner's escort; Falst couldn't tell which. His tail flicked with unease. He hooked his claws in the front of Dainix's cloak and tugged to get his attention. When Dainix glanced down, his expression quizzical, Falst looked meaningfully between Dainix and the ground, trying to signal, hey, maybe you should put me down now. Like, if we need to flee or fight. Why are you still holding me?

Dainix did look at the ground, and he did examine Falst's face closely. He also looked at Falst's hand gripping his cloak, and his attention lingered there. Eventually, he mustered a small smile--an obvious attempt to reassure him, despite the guy's own anxieties--and gave Falst a light squeeze, as if to say, Don't worry. I've got you.

Dainix did not let go.

This is stupid, Falst told himself. I'm weighing him down. Actually, Dainix might still be carrying him because he thought Falst was badly hurt, or something. Falst knew he looked ragged after all that squirming past jagged rocks and dealing with giant man-eating centipedes, his clothes torn and his skin riddled with half-healed scratches, but he was fine. Dainix was never tactical about Falst's healing factor, for some reason.

But it wouldn't be tactical for Falst to draw attention to himself, either. Not while he still clutched the fireseed shard. So he said nothing and stayed in Dainix's arms--let his hand form a loose fist in silky fabric, let his head rest against Dainix's chest, let his ear fill with the rapid thump-thump-thump of Dainix's heart. Let himself be reassured that yeah, Dainix was alive, and he sure didn't feel like a rock anymore.

They entered a network of caverns where volcanic fumes billowed thick and foggy around them. Even with the scarf, Falst could smell the sulfur, though he was still able to breathe. (At least Tahraim makes good-quality stuff, even if Caliban is a stinking liar.) Dainix didn't have a god's scarf, so Falst watched him with concern, looking for any signs of the fumes getting to him. But Dainix seemed... fine? Dainix squinted through the fog, but his breathing was steady and unimpeded. Falst could hear and feel it: the expanse of his lungs, the nigh-imperceptible whisper of air past his lips. Is this a Crucible thing? He's some kind of super fire-warrior, so the fumes of a fiery pit don't bug him?

Eventually, they arrived in a chamber with a long stone table and columns of glinting obsidian, and Coryx gestured for Dainix to sit down.

Dainix did so. With Falst in his lap.

Huh??!!

Falst was carefully centered on Dainix's thighs. The arm around his shoulder stayed in place, while the arm beneath Falst's knees slipped out to wrap around his upper body. Dainix snuggled Falst, gentle but insistent--enveloping him in warmth and familiar scents, keeping Falst pressed close to the rhythm of his heart. His chin brushed the top of Falst's head.

Falst tried to shove too many fucking feelings in a mental box, but they wouldn't fit in the box, and he flushed red from head to toe.

Coryx took off his helmet, revealing eyes as bright as seething lava and ashy red hair, then signaled to one of his lackeys, who ran off to do... Falst didn't know what. The others took off their helmets too, revealing luminous eyes and hair of varying shades of orange, kind of like Dainix's but with greyer undertones. A few of them eyed Falst and the way Dainix held him. One of them shot Falst an amused grin (fucker, decided Falst immediately; he seized upon that flare of irritation, sharp and prickly and potent enough to overwrite his embarrassment). Then they got to talking.

Dainix first. Coryx wanted to know his story. So Dainix recounted his origins, the incident with the obsidian ghouls, his imprisonment in Zuurith, the storm god fight, the slime dungeon, literally everything. In the middle of all that, the lackey who'd been sent off came back. Her expression was bewildered, and her tone was incredulous as she whispered in Coryx's ear, "Rakhn's not even mad. He thinks this whole situation is hilarious." She spoke too softly for someone like Dainix to hear, but Falst picked it up. Falst tried not to betray the fact that he was listening. "He's sitting and talking with a blonde man and says to send them up when you're done."

Blonde man? Falst thought. Gotta be Kendal. Sounds like he's okay. And not fighting? Okay, uh, that's good.

Coryx blinked. "Interesting," he said simply. "Thank you." He gestured for the lackey to take a chair, which she did, collapsing into it with an exhausted, exasperated air. "Good news," said Coryx aloud, "Rakhn sanctions your continued presence in our caverns, and he wishes to speak with you later. Now, please continue."

Dainix did so, explaining how they'd meant to sail from Argist up to Helm in pursuit of the Treatise of Soulfire and Erin's medical issue. While Dainix explained his own plight in detail, he tactically refrained from explaining Erin's hostile passenger, though he described, in brief terms, who and what Kendal was, and Alinua, and did say that Erin was a powerful six-element mage. The volcanic ignans seemed to take this more or less in stride. Dainix moved on to recounting the bad weather that had afflicted their boat, the "man with some kind of light magic" that had attacked them and had "a grudge against Erin," the diadem attack, and--

"I flamed out of control and have almost no memories after that. Just flashes. I... I burned. Felt... hungry? Struggled with something?" Dainix's brow furrowed, then cleared. "Falst. Falst was there, and I was so, so tired, and--Falst, can you take it from here?"

All eyes turned to Falst, including Dainix's worried, hopeful one.

Dammit.

Falst took a deep breath. "So, uh. After you transformed, we all fought the attacker. Kendal used starfire to protect us from this huge beam attack and blasted the guy away, but he got hurt. The ship was in bad shape from the fight. Tess grabbed Erin and jumped to land; I'd told her to hold off evacuating us until we could help you de-transform, 'cause you were still in Crucible mode, and you had void inside you 'cause you had transmuted the attacker's light attacks into it. You managed to transmute the void into something else, something prismatic and sparkly, but you burned out, leaving only your core. That's when a giant sea monster wrecked our ship. I was holding your core, so Alinua put me and you in one vine pod and Kendal in another. I dunno what happened to Alinua. Kendal and I washed up on shore, but didn't see her. We were gonna try to use starfire to revive you, but then that asshole god of yours showed up. Caliban?" Falst looked uneasily over at the volcanic ignans.

Coryx looked like he was trying not to smile. "We try not to insult our god when there's a risk they might hear. But yes, they have a reputation for being, ah... not purely helpful."

"Great," Falst growled. "Fantastic. Yeah, I gathered that, from the way they apparently lied and said we'd need this--" Falst waved the fireseed shard--"to revive Dainix. They gave me this scarf so I wouldn't instantly die in this blazing nightmarescape, and Kendal went to distract Rakhn while I got this shard. But if I knew dropping him in lava would work, I would've just freaking done that!"

Coryx leaned forward and folded his arms on the table. "Any sufficiently potent source of primordial flame can revive a... a Crucible, as you call it. A fireseed is the purest, most crystallized form, so if Caliban meant to give your companion a power boost, or wanted the shard for other purposes, that might explain it. They are not always forthcoming about their plans, though they don't ever mean the ignans harm, as a whole. We are their people."

Quiet fell in the room. Falst could feel Dainix tensing around him, his grip rigid. Falst didn't protest, even though Dainix's embrace was starting to feel kinda snug.

At last, Dainix spoke. "Okay, Falst, now I need you to tell me what you're leaving out."

"What?"

"I lost control." His voice was tight, strung with distress. "What did I destroy, and who did I hurt?"

"No one," said Falst fiercely. "Except the guy who was attacking us."

"Please don't lie to spare my feelings."

"I'm not! Dainix, you didn't hurt any of us! You grew huge and hungry, and you lost your focus and started eating the boat deck and tried to eat Kendal's sword, but you, like, delicately tried to pick the weapon out of his grip? You were weirdly considerate for a giant flaming monster who couldn't think straight."

"I ate the what?!"

"Hey," snapped Falst, "the important part is that you didn't attack your friends. You saved me."

"But I--"

"If I may interject," said Coryx, "I'd be extremely surprised if a being of pure emotion, which is what a Crucible is, acted in direct opposition to his most powerful feelings. You clearly care passionately for your friends. That love would be one of your predominant guiding emotions when you take your form of fire."

Dainix said nothing. His arms were locked tight around Falst, and his heartbeat was rapid and stressed in Falst's ear. Falst could still feel the tension coiled in every damn inch of him.

Gods, he's upset, isn't he?

Falst wanted to do something about that tension, ease it away somehow, but he had no idea what to do. He should probably get off of Dainix and stop burdening him, but the guy was clinging, holding Falst in place. Maybe, Falst thought, just maybe, he doesn't want to let go for some reason. Maybe I should just not fight it. So he stayed where he was in Dainix's lap: tucked against the man's chest, head resting just beneath his collarbone, hoping that would somehow help. When he was a little kid and his mom still alive, she'd used to comfort him by snuggling him and stuff. Falst had grown out of needing it (had to grow out of needing it, should have grown out of needing it), but maybe Dainix never had?

Carefully, Coryx said, "It sounds like your home settlement didn't understand Crucibles at all. We have... a little more information, I think. They are part of our history. The origin stories we pass to our children."

Falst felt the way Dainix's heart stuttered with hope.

"But Rakhn lived through that history, so he's the best person to tell you." Coryx stood. "Come. I think we should reunite with your Kendal and talk to him now."

As Coryx stood up, Dainix hesitated. His arms loosened around Falst, but they didn't unwind, and he met Falst's gaze--and gods, Falst wished he was half as good as Dainix at reading people's emotions. Dainix's eye was wide and sad, but what was he sad over? Did he still feel bad about the shipwreck that abso-fucking-lutely wasn't his fault? That was probably it. Maybe. Well, Falst was gonna assume that.

Falst frowned up at him. He hooked his claws more firmly in the front of Dainix's cloak, tugged, and growled, "Stop blaming yourself."

Dainix's mouth twisted. It wasn't a smile, exactly, but it didn't look as sad.

Once again, Falst felt hyperconscious of their proximity. Of Dainix's face. Of the breadth of his chest. The security of his arms. Falst's face grew hot, and his brain went into overdrive, and okay I need to stop being carried like an invalid right--

Dainix's arm slipped beneath Falst's knees. He bore Falst aloft, bundling him up close to his heart. His breath ghosted Falst's cheek, and a shiver ran down Falst's spine, some weird, overwhelming emotion that he refused to name. Dainix's voice was like velvet in Falst's ear as he said, "I think I owe you for carrying me into the volcano. You brought me in, I'll bring you out. Sound fair?"

It was stupid. Falst should say no, Dainix didn't owe him shit, Falst didn't need to be carried around. Dainix could put him down now.

A glimmer of fire danced in Dainix's eye, and his head tilted ever so slightly, inquiring. 

Falst folded like wet paper and said, "Sure."

Dainix did smile at that, and the fire in his eye burned brighter. "Good." 

Before Falst could say another word, Dainix took off after Coryx, with Falst cradled in his arms.

Coryx brought them as far as the tunnel exits, then pointed them in the right direction. They found Kendal and Rakhn seated at Rakhn's temple, conversing. Kendal looked more battered than before. Stupid volcano god had obviously banged up Kendal when the guy was already banged up. Falst wanted to claw Rakhn for it. Wanted to tear him, bite him, maul his face. His tail bristled and lashed, and he glared up at the volcano god. Attack my friend again and I'll fucking fight you.

But Dainix gave Falst a squeeze as if to say hey, calm down, and Kendal gave them both a smile of relief and Falst a hand signal that meant hold it, please, do not attack. And Falst knew, logically, that it wouldn't be tactical to attack Rakhn. Stupid god would probably destroy him. Rakhn wasn't attacking them right this second, anyway, even though Falst clutched a shard of his fireseed. So Falst went still and settled for staring at Rakhn warningly.

Rakhn's laugh rumbled like thunder. "So these are your co-conspirators, demigod? I see the smallest one shares my temper!"

"He doesn't," said Dainix firmly. A blatant lie.

Falst gave Dainix an incredulous look.

Dainix changed tack. "Well, regardless, right now we just want to talk. We talked with the people who live in your mountain, and they directed us to you."

This was, surely, the moment for Dainix to put Falst down. They were out of the mountain. Dainix had carried Falst for long enough; it was time for Falst to pull his own weight again. Falst looked up at him expectantly and braced himself, ready to be set on his feet.

Dainix did no such thing. Without even looking at Falst, Dainix gave him another squeeze and readjusted his grip, holding him extra snug. It didn't feel aggressive, but the intention was clear: Falst would not be going anywhere. Not unless he insisted.

Falst did not insist. His tail flicked, but he relaxed ever so slightly and allowed Dainix to keep holding him. (It was sort of nice.) (Falst mentally strangled the part of himself that admitted that.)

Dainix and Rakhn got to talking. Trading backstory for backstory, tales for Crucible secrets. Kendal was still as a stone in Falst's periphery, his lambent blue eyes fixed upon them all, while Dainix kept shifting, readjusting his stance or his grip on Falst.

More talking.

So much talking.

But good for Dainix, Falst thought. Dainix needed to hear the stuff Rakhn was saying, needed to be told he wasn't some horrible, out-of-control creature of pure destruction. Rakhn laughed hard enough to shake the mountain when Dainix explained what his people feared about the "demons." Then Rakhn opined that a Crucible had nothing on Rakhn himself in terms of sheer destructive might, and that if Dainix was anything like the Crucibles Rakhn had fought with back in the day, Coryx had the right of it.

When asked about the fireseed shard, Rakhn waved it off and said, "Keep it. Consider it your boon for entertaining me with a novel experience."

Just then, Alinua showed up with Erin and Tess, her eyes glowing green and flora springing up in her wake. The second she caught sight of Kendal, she rushed over to him, healing magic at her fingertips. Good. Erin looked pale and tired, like he'd just weathered some illness. But he was on his feet and not bleeding and torn up, so that was an improvement. Tess looked more or less fine. Upon sighting Falst in Dainix's arms, she grinned and waggled her eyebrows.

Falst's face burned. He flipped her off.

Tess grinned wider and looked away.

"Falst! Dainix!" Alinua popped up in Falst's periphery, green eyes wide. "Are you--is he okay?"

"Fine," said Falst quickly, before Dainix could get a word in edgewise. "Surface stuff is all healed up."

Alinua touched his shoulder and gave him a once-over anyway, vibrant green tendrils of life energy winding around him. Falst let her do it, not even bothering to grumble. She'd saved him from the sea monster. She could get a pass for worrying un-tactically. (Falst tried to tell himself that he hadn't been worried un-tactically about her, that obviously Kendal had been right and she could handle herself. But she's alive, she's okay, thank fuck ran on repeat in his head, and as she checked him over, some deep-buried knot of fear untied itself and withered away.)

Everyone talked more after that. They all needed to get up to speed on how Alinua had survived, what had happened with Tess and Erin, and what the deal was with the volcano heist and how Dainix had been restored. Falst helped recount the heist, since Dainix wasn't conscious for most of it. His words came out curt, his voice rough. He sagged in Dainix's arms when he was done, his tail drooping and swaying, and left the rest of the talking to the others once he'd said his piece. He felt kinda fuzzy. How long's it been? When did I last sleep?

By the time the talk finished, night had fallen, and rivers of stars streamed overhead. The group left Rakhn's peak behind in favor of finding a comfortable place to bed down. Rakhn's peak and the volcanic ignans' tunnels were uncomfortably hot and fume-ridden, so they sought the forest farther down the mountain.

Once they reached a campsite that seemed satisfactory, Falst braced himself. Okay, now he's done carrying me. Right?

Dainix stopped, but he didn't make any move to drop Falst.

Falst stared up at him, confused. "You, uh." He cleared his throat. His tail flicked uneasily, and his ears flattened. "You can put me down. You've gotta be getting sick and tired of carrying me."

Dainix cocked his head. "Not in the slightest. Do you want me to put you down?"

Falst opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The answer he should give was yes. This was getting ridiculous. Dainix had been carrying him for literal hours. Falst needed to help set up camp, hunt or gather firewood or something. But Dainix's hands were steady and his shoulders like a shield from the world, the carnelian warmth in his eye like a hearth's, and fine, fine, he liked this, craved it, and Falst couldn't make himself say the damn word that would end it. A different answer slipped out instead, barely above a whisper and far too raw and honest: "No."

"Then I won't." 

The warm confidence in Dainix's assurance. That smile. Gods.

Dainix raised his voice to address the group: "My hands are full, but if you need me to start a fire, I can."

Tess had the stupidest grin on her face, Erin had the second stupidest grin on his face, and Alinua had a hand over her mouth as if to stifle a giggle. Kendal just looked surprised. Then his expression shifted, his blue eyes brightening, his mouth curling up at the corners. "Got it," said Kendal evenly. "I can gather firewood."

"I'll construct a shelter," said Erin briskly. "Now that I've been healed--"

Tess cut him off. "Oh no you don't. You've overextended yourself more than enough!"

Erin looked indignant. "Hey, I--"

"Tess is right," said Alinua sternly. "I repaired the worst of it, but your channels still need to heal more. I'll construct the shelter, and I can grow us some food."

The hardness in Tess's expression dropped."Thanks, boss lady. I can help Kendal, and I'll set up beddings and stuff when we're ready. Erin, you can come with me. Just don't overdo it, and don't use magic."

Erin groaned. "Ugh. Fine."

"Okay," said Kendal. "I'll take first watch once we're done."

And just like that, all of Falst's friends were off and bustling about, setting up--except for Dainix, who found a lush patch of ferns and sat cross-legged, snuggling Falst in his lap. Falst was tired enough and acclimated enough to being held at this point that he stopped feeling embarrassed and just let it happen. Let Dainix hold him close. Let himself sink into the warmth and comfort. Let the thump-thump-thump of Dainix's heart lull him. At some point, Dainix quietly asked if he could take the fireseed shard and store it. Falst murmured assent, because it'd been meant for Dainix anyway, and Dainix eased it out of Falst's grip. Falst let his fingers slacken, let his eyes drift shut...

Alinua's voice cut through Falst's haze of sleepiness. "I grew some berries. Do you two want some?"

Falst blinked, forcing himself to focus on Alinua's face. "Thanks," he muttered.

Alinua smiled and tipped a heap of berries into Falst's outstretched hands.

Falst ate a few, then held up the rest for Dainix. Dainix slipped his arm out from under Falst's knees to accept some of the berries, but he only ate, like, a third of them. Bewilderingly, he left the remainder for Falst, politely refusing Falst's suggestion to take more and promising he'd have more later. Falst shrugged it off and scarfed down the rest, then settled back into being held and snuggled. Neither of them said much. No one else in the group seemed inclined to disturb them either, even though Falst could hear their bustle slowing down, their murmurs about how the vine tent was set up, and the bedding, and something about more berries...

Falst felt fuzzy again. Fuzzy and warm. His fingers absentmindedly hooked into Dainix's cloak. His eyes drifted shut. He tucked his face against Dainix's chest, breathing in the scents of cooking spices and campfires and human and something that was indescribably Dainix. He let the man's whispered "goodnight" wash over him, gentle as a breeze.

At last, Falst drifted off to sleep.

Dainix was stuck.

His arms were full of Falst. Adorable, slumbering Falst. Falst, who was so obviously exhausted, who clearly needed this. Who deserved this--deserved to be held and cared for, soothed and reassured. And alright, perhaps Dainix needed this too--needed a physical connection after being a senseless rock; needed to physically reassure himself that Falst was okay and well. Just for a while. Until they'd both had a chance to destress, rest, and recover from what they'd just been through. Either way, Dainix was loath to disturb him, even if his arms ached and his legs prickled with pins and needles.

Falst shifted and mumbled incoherently.

"We're okay," Dainix promised softly. "I've got you."

Falst settled and slept on, unaware.

Most of the others had already retreated to the vine shelter Alinua had constructed. It was the size of a small cottage, decked with flowers that carried a soothing scent. A leafy curtain obscured the entrance, offering a sense of privacy without making it completely closed off. It looked lovely. Dainix should relocate and take advantage of the shelter. He'd need to sleep at some point. But he kept putting it off. He stayed with Falst in his arms and the stars flowing overhead, fighting the heaviness in his eyelids.

Dainix knew he was being ridiculous. He was being clingy. But gods, he wanted. Wanted to keep Falst close. He craved this comfort so badly right now.

Just a little longer is fine, right?

Kendal sat by the remains of the campfire, still as stone. His gaze alighted on Dainix and Falst, and Dainix offered him a sheepish smile.

Kendal smiled back. He got to his feet and meandered over, his every movement quiet and inhumanly efficient. "Want help?" he offered. "I can hold him and give you a break."

Dainix hesitated. "I really don't want to disturb him."

Kendal sat down next to Dainix. Together, they observed Falst as he slumbered.

He was such a tightly packed bundle of strength and cleverness, breathtakingly powerful and usually so guarded and sharp when he was awake. But here, in this moment, he seemed achingly small. Vulnerable. Dainix was still staggered that Falst had let himself be carried this long, had stayed in Dainix's arms for hours without hissing or running off. That's by far the most physical affection he's accepted--more than that, admitted to wanting--and the least skittish he's been with me while fully aware...

"He was really worried about you," said Kendal quietly.

...and he's being like this because I put him through something frightening and stressful, and he was afraid I'd die. Guilt gnawed at him, even though he knew, logically, that guilt wasn't a healthy emotion to cling to. "I want to tell him sorry. For scaring him and putting so much on him." I'll try to do better, he thought firmly. I'll try not to let this happen again.

"It wasn't your fault. We're all just glad you're okay now."

Dainix took a long, slow breath, gathering his thoughts. Kendal waited, listening intently, until Dainix spoke. "The last thing I remember before I burned out is this impression of Falst--that, and feeling tired, like I was fading. Wanting to drop into his arms. So in a way, I think I was? Putting this on him, I mean, by putting myself in his hands. Even if I couldn't coherently ask. Then... The first thing I remember after that is fire everywhere and this searing conviction that I had to catch Falst, with no context or understanding or anything beyond pure instinct. It wasn't until after I caught him that I started to realize what happened: that I'd hit the lava and he'd gone plummeting after me and almost died. And it wasn't until after that that I learned he'd carried me into the depths of a volcano that was hostile to his existence in every way, just to reignite me. And after that, I learned that you were up at the temple, risking your life to distract a god while Falst braved the caldera."

Kendal's response was simple and matter-of-fact. "It was worth it."

Dainix opened his mouth, then closed it. He wanted to doubt those words. But if he voiced such a doubt, Kendal would surely argue with him--and if Falst caught Dainix saying that, Dainix just knew Falst would shout him down. Besides, if Dainix was in their position and trying to save one of them, could he really claim he wouldn't have taken the same risks? That he wouldn't have stuck by them as they had for him? He didn't think so. The same applied to his Ravvan comrades, back in the desert. He couldn't argue Kendal's point without being a hypocrite.

Friends are worth it, Dainix thought. Always.

Kendal rested his hand on Dainix's shoulder and squeezed. "It's good to have you back."

"Thank you," murmured Dainix. "For saving me, I mean. I don't think I ever said that. I think I should say it to Falst too, once he wakes up."

"You're welcome. And yeah, it probably wouldn't hurt to tell him. He might take it better than 'sorry'."

"Mm. Maybe." Dainix yawned, his jaw cracking.

A hint of amusement entered Kendal's voice. "Do you think you can make it to the shelter?"

"Standing up might be tricky. My foot's falling asleep."

"I can bring you both inside, if you want. Neither of you are heavy."

Dainix begged to differ. But he supposed, from Kendal's perspective, they really weren't. "Sure," he said. Cautiously, he lifted Falst off his thighs and unfolded his legs, so his feet stuck out in front of him.

Kendal slipped an arm around Dainix's shoulders and another beneath his knees, and he lifted Dainix like it was nothing. Dainix kept as still as humanly possible, cradling Falst against his chest, while Kendal carried them both into the shelter. Leaves brushed Dainix's face on the way in; he angled Falst to protect his face and ears, so the leaves would disturb him as little as possible. It was dark inside the shelter, tough to see more than silhouettes, but Kendal located an empty bed of plant growth and blankets and set Dainix down on it. With a small wave, Kendal stepped back outside.

Carefully, Dainix shifted Falst off his lap and onto the blanket next to him.

Falst stirred. He clutched Dainix's cloak, and Dainix's breath caught. Did I wake him? But after a few seconds, Falst stilled again, his expression relaxing.

Dainix breathed out. He lay beside Falst and looped an arm around him. "Thanks," he whispered. "I mean it, and I'll tell you again when you can hear me. I hope you don't mind this." He scooted a smidge closer. "I don't think you do, though. I think, maybe, you like snuggling as much as I do?"

No response. Naturally. But Falst still gripped Dainix's cloak, however tenuously.

Dainix yawned again. I'll try to talk to him tomorrow. Thank him, at least, for saving my life. Again.

With that resolution made, Dainix finally fell asleep.