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Choi Han shifts Cale in his arms, just in case he starts coughing blood again. Can't let him choke on it. Holding him so his head is resting on his shoulder, face tucked under Choi Han's chin so he can feel his breath on his throat to be sure he's still breathing okay.
His skin is cool to the touch, too cool. Choi Han shifts his grip briefly to catch up the edge of his cloak, and wraps it up and around Cale-nim and Raon, tucked into his belly, to keep Cale warm. The invisible child hasn’t let go of Cale since he collapsed unconscious. He understands the feeling.
This time is so much worse than at the Plaza terrorist attack. The blood had just kept coming and Cale had lost consciousness this time. Choi Han’s fingers clench in his cloak wrapped around Cale.
Back then, seeing Cale-nim drop to the ground and spit up blood had been terrifying. Choi Han had nearly lost his mind. He’d flashed back to seeing his family and friends from Harris Village, covered in blood, and the madness of that day had welled up. But Cale-nim had been awake and present, able to pull him back to himself with just a look. He hadn’t fully understood that feeling until later.
Cale-nim was the first, the heart of Choi Han’s new family. He’s the center that everyone knows they can return to, and be welcomed home. He reached out his hand to Choi Han, who had lost everything for a second time. Even knowing his monstrous strength, and seeing the violent instincts he’d developed in the Forest of Darkness to survive, Cale welcomed him by his side. Cale-nim had given him everything. And Choi Han had used that gift to fill up the empty spaces within him.
And now, he knows. And it hurts even worse now. Watching Cale bleed and collapse, because he stepped forward again to deal with the most dangerous part, shielding them from the dead mana. And Choi Han could do nothing to help him. All he could do was clean up the last of the enemies with Ron and Lock, and hurry back to Cale’s side.
At least he’s holding Cale safely, now that Pendrick had made sure the bleeding had stopped. He’d had to argue with Ron that he’s the best suited to carry Cale-nim. Choi Han is the strongest, and they aren’t about to let these elves drag Cale around without enough care.
While the elves are grateful, the Chief, and the one from the inn a few days back, are acting oddly. They keep staring intensely at Cale-nim and the invisible Raon in his arms. He doesn’t trust them not to do something strange. Cale is too vulnerable for Choi Han to put him down and leave him out of his reach.
Ron is negotiating for a bed for Cale-nim to recover in. But the Chief keeps talking about a field of flowers. It sounds iffy to him, but the healer elf who helped Cale, Pendrick, is assuring Ron it’s the best place for recovery from injury. Being out in the open with Cale-nim injured sounds like a bad idea to Choi Han. His back is itching just standing around with Cale exposed to all the staring elves. But Lock is hovering close at his back with the kittens, peeking over his shoulder at Cale. And Beacrox’s back is in front of him, blocking them from most of the stares, and that calms his nerves.
In his arms, Choi Han can feel his shallow breathing, and the heartbeat fluttering under Cale's skin. The weakness is worrying, but it's steady and shows no signs of stopping. It's comforting to Choi Han to hold him close enough to feel his breathing and heart beating.
It's been a while since the casual affection he used to receive in Harris Village from his second family. He can barely remember mere impressions of affection and warmth from his first family. Now, his third family is warm and steadying, but not as free with touch.
The children climb on him with no fear, wanting to be held. But touch with the adults, especially Cale, is far rarer.
Holding Cale-nim now, is warm. His weight, slight though it is, in his arms and against his chest, is solid and satisfies the hollow feeling deep in his chest.
But it's been a while since he held anyone this close. The soft feeling of Cale's cheek and nose against the bare skin of his throat sends shivers through him. His skin tingles in a way that's both pleasant, yet makes him want to squirm and move. It’s almost too much gentle sensation when the last time he was held so close was before he left Harris Village to find medicine for granny.
But he welcomed the sensation. He doesn't want to ever again forget the feeling of holding someone close, like he'd forgotten in the Forest. His body had forgotten about gentle touches and it had been too much for him when he'd first been taken in by Harris Village. He welcomed the chance to remind his body of the warmth and softness of holding his family close.
A breeze brings the scent of smoke stronger, ruffling Cale-nim's soft hair against his jaw. It tickles and sends a shiver of warmth through him again. Choi Han doesn't stop the reflexive urge to turn his head and nuzzle his jaw and cheek over Cale-nim's hair. It soothes something in Choi Han and reassures him that Cale-nim is safe in his arms.
There’s a shift in the elves moving around them. Choi Han shifts his grip to tuck Cale-nim closer. Raon’s wings flutter against his chest, and he can hear the baby dragon sniffling. The elves are staring again and his fingers twitch, wanting to clench around the reassuring weight of his sword hilt. Beacrox shifts in front of him, moving to block the approaching elf. The tension in Choi Han’s shoulders eases a bit. It’s Pendrick.
“Ah, please. Follow me. We can’t possibly thank you enough.” Pendrick bows his head slightly toward Beacrox and Choi Han. His gaze drops to Cale tucked against Choi Han’s chest. “Chief Canaria has given special permission for young master Cale-nim to recover in the Flower Garden.”
“A garden?” Lock’s voice is hesitant, skeptical about the location.
“Yes! It is the place in our village with the strongest nature power and life force. That power will help the young master-nim recover quickly. It is truly the best place for him to rest.”
“We’re staying with him.” Choi Han leaves no room for arguing. They’re not leaving Cale-nim alone for even a moment. Even the thought of letting go of him right now has bitter denial clogging his throat.
“Ah, there really is nothing to worry about. The Garden is the most protected place in our village.”
“Pendrick is correct.” Chief Canaria speaks as she arrives with Ron. “It is the safest place, and secluded. It is an honor to provide such a resting place for one who has received such a great and mighty being’s protection.” The elder elf bows her head respectfully, her gaze drifting from Cale to the spot where invisible Raon is curled up between Cale’s and Choi Han’s stomachs.
Choi Han tightens his grip on his cloak, barely resisting the urge to protectively hide them both from her sight. But he will not acknowledge Raon’s presence around the elves. Cale-nim wanted to keep him secret from them. He feels Raon’s head shifting, pressing into Cale’s chest again, the little kid ignoring the elves.
“Ho, is that so?” Ron smiles at the Chief with his old man practiced mask. Choi Han senses the teeth in it, but isn’t sure the elves can. The old man isn’t happy either.
“This way,” Pendrick beckons. “I’ll show you the way.”
Ron inclines his head slightly toward the rest. Beacrox nods firmly before stepping forward to take point. Choi Han adjusts Cale-nim in his arms as an excuse to tuck his cloak to further hide Raon and Cale from prying eyes. Lock shifts at his back, his hand touching Choi Han’s shoulder before reaching to help him tuck in the cloak. Lock pets Cale’s hair before retreating to pat Choi Han’s back.
Lock’s warm touch is pleasantly grounding, shivering through him. Soft warmth curls in his chest as he follows Beacrox. Ron slides in beside him as Lock covers their backs with the kittens. A different, more solid feeling, but no less warm, spreads across his shoulders as they move together to guard Cale.
The flower garden is more of a meadow than an orderly garden. The flowers are a riot of color and rich scent, growing wild all around. It feels exposed.
Ron, Beacrox and the kittens spread out, stalking the edges. Lock stays close to Choi Han and Cale. Pendrick urges Choi Han to set him down in an open area of soft looking clover and flowers. Instead, he tightens his hold on Cale-nim.
He’s not ready to let go. The slender frame curled against his chest, the soft breaths against his throat, the faint sound of his heartbeat. He needs to hold onto it a little longer, to hold himself together, to know Cale is still here, that his family is safe.
Ron circles back around after checking the perimeter. “You can go now. I’m sure the village is busy.”
“Oh, of course! I’ll come check on young master Cale-nim later.”
They watch as Pendrick leaves before Ron speaks up. “Set him down. He doesn’t need to be bounced around any more by you.”
“Not until we’re sure it’s safe.”
Ron narrows his eyes at Choi Han, then smiles emptily as he looks around the meadow again, his back to Choi Han and Cale. “Ho? Does the guard dog scent a rat about?”
Choi Han huffs softly. “There are a lot of elementals in this place. It’s out in the open.”
“Hyung… sit and rest for a bit with On and Hong.” Lock comes up behind him, feet deliberately rustling in the grass. The kittens in their disguised black fur hurry to twine around Choi Han’s feet with worried meows. Hong starts climbing his pants-leg. He looks down at the kittens, then back at Lock. “We won’t let anyone come near.”
He smiles and leans just slightly to bump shoulders with Lock. The warm steadiness of family and trust fills him. Choi Han is their strongest fighter, and he’ll be in arm’s reach of Cale-nim and the children. And the others will make sure no one disturbs Cale’s rest by intruding on the meadow.
“Over here, nyah!” On urges, and Choi Han follows. Hong has made it up to climb in beside Raon. Choi Han settles into a shallow, mossy dip at the base of a tree covered in flower vines. It feels less exposed to have even the small tree at his back.
He adjusts Cale-nim in his lap, still not willing to put him down. Cale’s head lolls against his shoulder and he reaches up to steady him. Red hair tickles against Choi Han’s bare fingers, sending warm shivers up his arm. He’d taken his gloves off earlier to avoid getting enemy blood on Cale. He cards his fingers through Cale’s hair as On joins her brothers in Cale’s lap. Raon still hasn’t said anything, but his little body isn’t shuddering with muffled sobs right now.
His other arm moves to wrap his cloak securely around the four in his lap, shielding the heart of his family from unwelcome eyes. Choi Han lays his hand on Raon’s back, rubbing gently over smooth scales. The little body hitches in a breathy sniffle, and a round head presses into Choi Han’s chest beside Cale. Two small purring bodies press in between the two humans as well, cuddling against their little brother.
Choi Han tilts his head to lean his cheek against soft red hair. A bittersweet feeling of relief swells up in his chest. He’ll do better next time, be stronger next time. Strong enough, that Cale-nim won’t have to step forward to protect them. But for now, he’ll hold them close and let their warm weight reassure him. The tension eases out of him as warmth fills the empty spaces inside. His body doesn’t feel the urge any more to move away from too much. Instead, he curls closer around them. Small breathing bodies and heartbeats against his chest, and soft breaths against his neck, tell him that his family is alive and safe.