Crossroads (Private with Squeezebabe)

[StainedCrimson]

Yuzuki comes in arms overloaded with dishes that he sets down by the sink. He'd seen and read the atmosphere in the kitchen and it irritates him. Once again he's left as the outsider and no place to belong, though a good part of his irritation is also feeling useless and unnecessary. After all, they got along without him before. They surely would be fine without him should he leave finally being fed up not belong here either. The hunter almost seems appealing at this point. He is predictable and understandable in what he wants from Yuuzuki and what value he holds, whereas here all he gets is mixed signals and what appears to be false hope of a place and person to belong to.

 

Setting the dishes down he bites back the greeting he was wanting to give Stephen and instead just rushes right back out not even looking at the other. The same way he's avoided Damon all day and instead throws all his energy into serving the customers and making sure they're happy and taken care of. Although the fae all seem to be in awe and confusion at a Naga truly being at the inn like the rumors starting to spread have claimed. When the crowd finally starts to die down and trickle out, he starts to drop the mask of welcoming politeness and just lets an expressionless expression take over that has become his natural look growing up. One of bored disinterest in everything.

 

Gathering up the last of the dirty dishes he takes them back and then escapes out to the back and goes to where the stream is. If nothing else he'll find a nice quiet spot a little ways away from where the whole fiasco with Damon occurred to take a soothing soak in, but a major difference is that he plans on finally shedding his glamour and letting his true form out to stretch and relax before the dinner rush. He's so eager for it that he's barely out of sight of the kitchen before he lets it drop and makes the rest of the way in his other form.

[SqueezeBabe]

Damon noticed that Stephen had come down and taken up residence in front of the sink and had begun to do some much needed washing up. He noticed that the redhead kept glancing surreptitiously at him, a small enigmatic smile playing about his full lips, so Damon was content to do the same in return. Having Stephen there made him feel slightly calmer, and he began to rationalise the guilt that he felt over Yuzuki. He noticed that Yuzuki's mood had gone out the window since Stephen had arrived in the kitchen; his brow furrowed over the thought of what that might mean, but too busy to give it much thought for the moment. For now he was content to steal glances at Stephen as the two of them worked together in amicable silence.

 

As the lunch rush petered out, the two of them found themselves in moments of idleness, neither one wanting to approach the other just yet. Yuzuki had come in and deposited the last of the dishes next to the sink and had headed out the back door without saying a word to either of them. Stephen began to wash these dishes slowly, the mood in the kitchen changing imperceptibly from a comfortable silence to one of anticipation. Stephen chewed his bottom lip; what exactly was it that he was waiting for?

 

Damon quickly put everything away, walking over to the Stephen and the sink with the last lot of dishes, suddenly struck by the thought that it had felt like a really long time since he had his arms around the redhead. He slowly walked up behind Stephen, arms reaching around either side as he carefully put his dishes in the sink, effectively "trapping" the other between himself and the sink. He felt like time itself was standing still as he brushed his lips along the outside of Stephens ear. When Stephen turned to look at him questioningly he really couldn't help himself. The memories of Stephen and the thoughts of Yuzuki, real and imagined caused the feeling of possessiveness to rise up within him. Despite what had happened over the last two days, Stephen belonged to him.

 

He bent his head and gently kissed Stephen with soft biting lips. A heart-stopping moment later, Stephen tilted his head upwards and met the kiss, the two of them frozen in a moment of time where neither of them moved. Stephen unsure of what to do next, and Damon content with their closed-mouth kiss for the moment. Stephen was the first to pull away, his green eyes looking into Damon's own dark ones as he turned in his makeshift embrace until his back was to the sink, his bottom resting against it. He looked at Damon's lips, somewhat surprised that they had felt so soft, and licked his own subconsciously. It was all the invitation that Damon needed as he bent his head again and pressed his lips back against Stephen's own, this time applying a little more pressure as he flicked his tongue across the lips underneath his, gently coaxing Stephen to open his mouth and accept him.

 

Stephen tentatively opened his mouth at the gentle pressure, his hands gripping the front of Damon's shirt as the hot tongue invaded his mouth. Stephen let out a hint of a moan, Damon's hands shifting from the edges of the wink to around his waist. When Yuzuki had kissed him early it had felt nice, but it had felt nothing like this. Damon's lips and tongue moved against his own and made his face feel hot and his knees feel like trembling and as he inhaled, he swore he could smell the faint smell of cinnamon from the night before. The combination of the smell, and the memory of what he did as a result made him hard once more, and nearly pushed Damon away, not wanting him to feel his arousal... except Stephen could feel Damon growing hard against him through their clothes, and instead of pulling away, Damon just slowly rubbed it against him.

 

It took everything Damon had within him not to push Stephen up against the sink. When the redhead had opened his mouth and accepted him, Damon had to fight down the urge even more. He knew that he was getting hard; normally at that point he'd push Stephen away and go and find something to do so that he could cool off, but this time he was too far gone, he couldn't keep coddling Stephen in this way, sooner or later he'd have to "introduce" Stephen to what he was offering, and that was right now rather than later. He brushed his hips against Stephen's own and nearly lost all semblance of self control when he felt the answering erection. He deepened the kiss, his tongue rubbing against Stephens, and his hands dropping from his waist to cup his arse, pulling him away from the sink and hard up against him.

 

Stephen began to go limp in his arms, so Damon reluctantly pulled back, looking down at him. Stephen's cheeks were flushed and his eyes bright, though slightly glazed, his lips and reddened and swelled from the attention he'd given them, and he was nearly undone by thoughts of other things that would also be red and swollen. He drew a deep shuddering breath, one his hands lifting from Stephens arse to wrap around his back and he pulled Stephen closer, resting his chin on top of his head. Stephen pressed his face against Damon's chest, his mind in a daze, and the two of them stayed in that embrace for a few moments, each of them coming to grips with the new possibilities that one kiss had presented.

[StainedCrimson]

Yuzuki spends a long time swimming in the water in his Naga form. It'd been too long since he'd been in it and the stress of having to hide himself and of the whole Damon and Stephen problem faded away. Even if he's cast out again at least he'll make it a priority to give himself more moments like these. As he enjoys the water before sliding out of the water to sun bathe on a rock to dry off, he's unaware of the eyes on him. Or the growing arousal until he's shifted back to gather up his clothes and he's surrounded.

 

Seeing the men around him he immediately hisses and pulls back prepared to drop his glamour again when he's tackled and given a punch to the head just hard enough to daze him, but not knock him out. As he lies there there is one man holding down each arm and another holds down his head so he can't bite any of them. Laughing the man who'd been hunting him appears. "While I can't pull you away from this place to be a part of my collection I can at least taint it for you and try to make you leave. Unfortunately for you you came close enough the edge of the crossroads for my men to make it over even if I cannot. I'll let you enjoy their company hmm?" Laughing he lounges against a trees, arms crossed in a spot that will allow him an excellent view of the show about to occur.

 

Yuzuki feels his heart skip a beat and starts trying to escape but the man holding his head slams it down just enough to stun him again while a fourth man settles between his legs and spreads them roughly, his cock already out and erect. "Hold still pretty boy. And don't think about passing out on us, we have ways of making sure you stay conscious." Laughing he roughly slams into the unprepared and virgin hole causing Yuzuki to let out a tortured scream at the pain and anger he feels at the violation. As much as he struggles to free himself he's unable to and is used by each man roughly and harshly until his ass and throat are raw and leaking cum and blood.

 

Thinking him too weak and drained from the rape the men let him go and start putting themselves away. Unfortunately for them this is why after the second man raped him he'd stopped struggling, to conserve his energy for when they finished. Moving swiftly and without mercy he shifts and hissing lunges using his teeth to nearly bite off one man's arm even as he injects venom while a hand lashes out, the claws catching an inner thigh of another man and his tail swings out with as much force as he's able to manage. It is still enough to send the other two flying into trees hard enough to crack the bark and hear the snapping of the their spines.

 

Letting the two in front of him be, both dead from either blood loss or venom he glares and hisses at the now pale hunter who is both worried and yet intrigued by the behavior. He leaves knowing the Naga won't risk leaving the sanctuary to get him due to his weakened state due to the possible risk of a guard being out there or a trap. Seeing the man vanish into the woods he lets out another angered scream before rushing back to the inn, not bothering to conceal his form when he rushes back and only stops once in the safety of the inn due to the sight greeting him upon entry.

 

The shock being one too many for him to handle after all that had just occurred he lets out another tortured scream. This one though is much softer due to the hoarseness of his earlier screams of pain, rage and the abuse his throat has suffered. His mind no longer able to accept any more shocks sends him into the blissful state of unconsciousness leaving him to fall to the floor, his glamour remaining, for the moment undone and so leaving Stephen to witness Yuzuki in his natural form.

[SqueezeBabe]

The sound of the kitchen door banging open startled the two of them and Stephen pushed Damon back with a guilty look on his face, his cheeks reddening once more, but for an entirely different reason. The guilt was short lived as he watched Yuzuki scream and fall to the floor, and as the Naga lost consciousness, he seemingly shimmered and his legs faded away to be replaced with a long serpent body, the same pale colour as his silver hair. Stephen's mouth opened in shock and the colour drained from his face, and he looked at Damon with wide eyes. Damon wasn't shocked at the shape-shifters appearance, he was horrified at the extent of the injuries that covered the Nagas body. What on earth had happened to him? And more to the point, how ?

 

"Help me carry him upstairs, quickly now!" Damon issued the instruction to Stephen and between the two of them managed to get the cumbersome body up the stairs and back into his room. Stephen was grateful that Damon was able to take charge in these sorts of situations; he didn't think he'd be able to remain calm enough, first the shock of having an oversized snake in front of him, and then realising that something terrible had actually happened to him... he wasn't human, so was Stephen supposed to treat him like one? Stephen but his lip... Damon wasn't human either...

 

Damon sent Stephen back to the kitchen for hot water while he hastily began tearing up one of the sheets to use bandages. When Stephen returned with the hot water, between the two of them they managed to get the Naga cleaned and bandaged up. Damon could only guess what happened; they'd have to wait til the Naga woke up before they'd find out for sure. It worried Damon that Yuzuki was able to have been attacked, the crossroads were supposed to be protecting him... but the magic of the crossroads was old in nature, the exact specifications lost to the mists of time until all that was left was a general knowledge of how it was all supposed to work. Damon looked over at Stephen who was hovering around, his face all white and pinched with worry. "Stay here with him, I'm going to need to get some rather specific medicine for him. The only thing you can do is try and keep him calm until I get back. Don't feed him anything no matter how hungry he gets, only give him water..." Damon gave Stephen a gentle kiss on the forehead as he made his way to the door, "... and I'll be back as soon as I can."

 

Stephen watched Damons broad back as he walked out of the room, his heart alternating between beating wildly and feeling like it would sink into the pit of his stomach, but he knew that Damon would return soon enough, but he couldn't help the worry he felt, nor pinpoint the direct reason for it. With an uneasy sigh, he settled himself down on the floor next to Yuzukis unconscious form to wait... for either the Naga to wake up or for Damon to return... whichever one came first.

[StainedCrimson]

Yuzuki couldn't move but felt hot and like his body was made of lead and couldn't move. He starts to panic as he fails to move before the darkness takes form of shadows and swarm him, falling on him in his more vulnerable human state and unable to change back to his more powerful form. He tries to scream his rage but can't seem to make a sound as his body is torn apart for the sadistic pleasure of the shadows.

 

His body reveals a part of his struggles as Stephen watches over him by twitching and starting to sweat as his breathing becomes labored and his fingers twitch. With a stuttering gasp of pain and rage he jerks awake finally and looks around slightly wide-eyed and as if he's in fight-or-flight mode as he tries to straighten up but falls back down as jolts of pain go through him as a reminder that he wasn't just dreaming his assault. Or at least not all of it.

 

Looking around he slowly calms down as he realizes he's no longer in the woods or the kitchen. When he spots Stephen he stills and looks like a snake that's waiting to see if the creature in sight poses a threat to his safety, or if he's just another being passing by and means no harm to him. The scene in the kitchen is replaying in his mind and on top of the recent trauma he's experienced has him distrustful of the other and his intentions. Was Stephen just playing with him after all and now laughing at him all this time for thinking he stood a chance of belong? Not just the inn itself, but possibly to Stephen himself and potentially Damon as well. Which would also mean he'd have someone or others to call his own.

[SqueezeBabe]

As the Naga twitched and thrashed, Stephen chewed his lip in a state of agitation. He hadn't expected anything like this to happen, not now and certainly not ever. The inn was supposed to be a quiet place, but the amount of drama that had occured in the last few days was not something he'd ever experienced previously. He had no clue how to procees the new wave of information and it was leaving him feeling vulnerable; another emotion he hadn't experienced in a long time. He hugged his knees against his chest, resting his chin against them. The position brought a small degree of comfort, but he still felt somewhat... exposed.

 

He was startled out of his thoughts as Yuzuki gave a cry of pain; the Naga fixing him with a distrustful stare as he struggled to sit upright. Stephen swallowed hard, taken aback by the glare, "Damon has gone to g-get medicine, stuff he said would help... uh, he said you c-could drink water, but not eat anything..." Stephen's voice trailed off and he could feel his eyes getting hot and prickly under the scrutiny and his voice cracked slightly, "Wh-what happened to you?" Stephen couldn't help the fat tear escaping, it already halfway down his face before he reached up to wipe it away. He scrambled from the floor, getting to his knees and pouring a cup of water and holding it out for the Naga to take, "here, do you think you can hold it, or do you need me to?"

[StainedCrimson]

Yuzuki just continues to stare at Stephen, hearing the words but no longer trusting the human like he had when he'd first arrived. Or even just as early as this morning. His eyes narrow at the mention of the other fae, the one who seems determined to taunt him with false hope and then crush it when it forms. Of course it only makes him even more furious with the other with the scene he'd interrupted earlier which has him feeling like an even bigger fool for thinking the fae prince was ever remotely interested in him seriously.

 

Seeing Stephen shed a tear causes his glare to ease but not fully dissipate. Just as he's about to relax slightly, or at least not be as on guard, Stephen comes close with the water and startles him causing him to jolt back as the hand comes near him. With a startled and pained hiss he crashes onto the floor and lays there a minute before speaking in an angry hissing tone, that does nothing to change the magical quality of his voice for being in his true form. "I don't want to talk about it and I don't want water. I want a bath." He bites out as he slowly, almost as if it pains him to, changes back to his human form as it's lighter and easier to move around the room in even as it shows off the full extent of his wounds due to being naked.

[SqueezeBabe]

The cup being slapped away startled him as much as its presentation seemed to startle the Naga. Stephen supressed the fear welling up inside him; it wasn't going to help the situation if Yuzuki thought he was terrified of him. The tumble onto the floor, the angry but liquid hissing, Stephen sat through it all, not saying a word. A thought suddenly occured to him; despite the superior and magical nature of the being, he still behaved in much the same way as a wounded animal did, all growling and hissing and refusing assistance, instead preferring to go off alone to see to itself. With that thought in mind, the fear dissipated, leaving him feeling lighter and better prepared for what would surely be an ordeal in looking after the proud and temperamental Naga.

 

As Yuzuki changed into his human form, his injuries became more apparent and it slowly dawned on Stephen as to what might have happened. "Bath we can do, I can drag the tub in here and we can go from there, but for now, you need to get back into bed and stop misbehaving." With the lack of fear, Stephen felt he was able to take control of the situation and see it for what it was; an angry and frightened man who had lost some sense of himself. "Despite what might be going on inside your head, I would at least like to think that we are friends... and friends look after each other." His cheeks coloured slightly, "Damon knows how to deal with this sort of thing better than I, and he'll be back soon. In the meantime, I'll get your bath ready. "

 

Stephen picked himself up off the floor, making sure the Naga got back into the bed, no matter how belligerent he seemed, Stephen knew how to deal with angry and injured animals, the onky difference being that Yuzuki could talk back. Once settled, he went down the hallway, returning with the empty wooden tub - it was light enough when there was no water in it, and set about filling it with hot water from the kitchen, returning each time with a fresh bucket until the tub was filled with steaming water. He laid out some soap and a wash cloth, "Would you like me to help you?" He asked the Naga gently.

[StainedCrimson]

Yuzuki's gaze snaps back to Stephen and the eyes once again narrow at the word 'misbehaving' and then sneers and scoffs at the word 'friend'. "I'm misbehaving? And friends are we? Funny, I don't feel like much of anything here. Especially not anyone's friend." He spits out as his hands clench and dig into the sheets. While the logical side of him knows he's over-reacting and lashing out unfairly, he finds he can't stop himself. Having been repeatedly thrown around by Damon due to his mood swings, seeing the shift between Damon and Stephen, being attacked and then walking in on the sight confirming his sense of dread just has him emotionally shredded and unstable making logic useless.

 

Despite appreciating the work and effort Stephen has put into getting him a warm bath, at this moment he'd have been much happier with just a bucket and cloth than the kindness and compassion he's suddenly receiving from the human. It's only rubbing more salt into the wounds making him feel even more raw and cornered.

 

Deciding to not go near the bath until Stephen has left he studiously refuses to look at the other male. "No. You've done more than enough." He bites out in a short tone. Even if he could stand to have someone touch him right now, it wouldn't be the one he'd held some hope of possibly belonging to. Once, far back before humans had turned on them, Nagas used to choose humans to give themselves to. Not just as protectors, but as friends and even lovers. That is what he's been hoping to find while on his journey, and just when he thought he might have found it he was proven long. "In fact I plan on leaving as soon as my injuries are healed enough for me to do so. So there is no more need of you acting hospitable towards me." He states easing himself preparing to go to the bath as soon as the other steps out.

[SqueezeBabe]

Stephen's cheeks reddened at the Nagas words. He knew that Yuzuki was just lashing out, but the words stung nonetheless, and he walked stiffly to the door. "By your leave," he inclined his head respectfully, retreating into formal manners to hide just how much the words had hurt him. He closed the door behind him with a soft click and made his way back down to the kitchen to wait for Damons return, making a pot of tea should anyone else feel the need for a hot calming drink. As he sat at the kitchen bench, staring into the middle-distance and losing himself in his thoughts, the house brownies scuttled softly around him, for whilst Stephen may not have been paying attention, kitchen work still needed to be done, their own mood somber to reflect that of their masters.

 

There was a thump and a clatter, startling Stephen from his introspection. The door swung open and Damon came inside, shaking the sweat from his brow. He smiled when he saw Stephen, but that faltered when he read the mood. "Are you ok?" He asked gently. Stephen gave a sigh and nodded slowly, suddenly feeling very tired and drained. He had never dealt well with negative emotions; he remembered his mother stroking his hair and telling him that he was just "sensitive". Damon came over and gathered Stephen into his arms, "I tracked down the herbalist, so I have some things that should help everybody right now" he said quietly into Stephens soft red hair, "Don't let his words affect you too much, for all his bluster, he's rather insecure; more so at the moment." Stephen nodded mutely into Damons chest, drawing comfort from the warmth.

 

After a few moments, they broke apart. Damon gave Stephen a soft kiss on the cheek, before taking a pot of hot water and the herbs he'd procured and headed up the stairs to see how the Naga was faring.

[StainedCrimson]

"My words wouldn't bother you if they weren't true, isn't that so?" He tosses out as the door closes. Sighing he shakes his head while finally sliding into the bath. He wishes that he could put up a bit of magic to keep Stephen and Damon out of the room until he's ready to leave, but knows the crossroads won't let him use it.

 

Sinking into the heat of the water, feeling it starting to ease the aches and pains from his attack earlier. "I really should just leave. I'm not wanted here and clearly I'm not as safe as I'd thought I would be. This is far more serious than I thought. Or should I say he's much more determined than I had anticipated." He mutters to himself while worrying a lip, nearly drawing blood. Hands clench into fists as his eyes closed. "This place holds nothing for me anymore, if it ever had to begin with. Tomorrow I shall leave then since there's nothing to hold me here." That settled He reopens his eyes and starts to carefully and meticulously wash himself.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

"My words wouldn't bother you if they weren't true, isn't that so?" He tosses out as the door closes. Sighing he shakes his head while finally sliding into the bath. He wishes that he could put up a bit of magic to keep Stephen and Damon out of the room until he's ready to leave, but knows the crossroads won't let him use it.

 

Sinking into the heat of the water, feeling it starting to ease the aches and pains from his attack earlier. "I really should just leave. I'm not wanted here and clearly I'm not as safe as I'd thought I would be. This is far more serious than I thought. Or should I say he's much more determined than I had anticipated." He mutters to himself while worrying a lip, nearly drawing blood. Hands clench into fists as his eyes closed. "This place holds nothing for me anymore, if it ever had to begin with. Tomorrow I shall leave then since there's nothing to hold me here." That settled He reopens his eyes and starts to carefully and meticulously wash himself.

[SqueezeBabe]

Damon didn't even bother knocking on the door, he was feeling a tad churlish over the Naga's treatment of Stephen whilst he was gone. He cast a indifferent glance over the Naga's naked form as Yuzuki washed himself, ignoring the twitches of remembered desire that he experienced. "Now, if you've finished bullying Stephen, who has only tried to help you, I have some herbs here that you may find useful," Damon pulled out on of the chairs and placed it near the tub, crossing one lean leg over the other as he continued to watch the Naga. "Now, granted that I didn't have to go running out into the forest to look for a fae herbalist, and granted I didn't have to go and reveal my true identity to all and sundry. Hell, I also didn't have to go and beg my mother, who I needn't remind you is the queen of our people, and promise all sorts of things that I really don't want be promising, just to get some of this stuff." He leaned forward, his eyes beginning to swirl and change into their more natural gold colour, the timbre of his voice changing into the liquid quality of the fae, "But I did. For you."

 

He let the words hang in the air between them, the room silent except for the occasional drip of water, before leaning back into the chair, his eyes returning to the dark hue he adopted for Stephen and his voice returning to normal. "So I don't want to hear anymore about this belonging crap that seems to be written into every fibre of your being. If Nagas wanted to belong so much, they should never have left the fold in the first place, but who am I to argue with ancient history. I deal with the here and now, and before you open your mouth and sprout some self-serving petulant bullshit, take your fucking medicine and clean yourself up, it's the end of the working week and I need help in the kitchen." Damon indicated to the pouches of herbs and steaming hot water he'd left on the table when he'd walked in.

 

He unfolded himself from the chair and walked towards the door, pausing briefly with his hand resting against it. "I will find who did this..." he said softly, the menace behind his words was unmistakable. He was, after all, Crown Prince of the fae, and he had just promised his mother that he would come back to do his duties... which meant leaving Stephen behind. He left the room and the Naga, walking slowly back to the kitchen. The Naga would probably never realise the sacrifices he'd just made for him.

[StainedCrimson]

Yuzuki's head snaps up, his eyes glowing with his own swirling storms of emotions, predominantly anger, pain and loneliness. "Pointing out the truth, no matter how unwanted, is not bullying. You two do not truly want me here. Not in the way I need to be wanted. It is not a "Naga thing" as you put it, just me as a being that has needs and wants just like any other. You have no idea how painful it is to feel shut out and uncertain of your place after thinking you'd been brought in." He falters towards the end as the sink scene flashes in his mind again.

 

Taking a deep breath he shudders while straightening up. "I did not ask you to do that for me nor is there any need. I was raped and suffered minor abrasions. The true wounds are not physical nor can be tended to by herbs, not that I don't appreciate the gesture. I can't imagine what you must have went through to get them, but I don't want someone who isn't mine to make such sacrifices for me. I wouldn't even want the one I belong to do such... And knowing your status and what you might have had to promise to get these only worsen my guilt. Please, if you can find a way to undo your promises." He says softly slumping down, no longer looking proud or upset... Merely lost and worn down by everything.

 

"There is no need for you to seek them out Damon. I plan on leaving in the morning and finishing this myself. So I'm afraid that you'll need to have someone else take up the garden and my other duties." He gives a weak and hollow smile as his pathetic attempt at humor before standing up to get out, his skin showing signs of him having scrubbed himself raw. Though the worse area he went after isn't readily seen, but some fresh blood slides down his pale thigh from the wounds having been partially reopened.

[SqueezeBabe]

Stephen met Damon at the bottom of the kitchen stairs. He felt odd and out of place throughout this whole ordeal and pacing the kitchen wasn't helping him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right; apart from the obvious there was something else niggling in the back of his mind. He looked up into Damon's face, searching for something in his expression. "Is he ok?" he asked. Damon gave a sour look as he leaned against the wall of the stairs. "He's feeling a bit self absorbed at the moment and understandably so; there's a lot going on in his mind, but hopefully the herbs that I brought should help with that..." Stephen pressed Damon further, "Did he take them? I mean, they're supposed to help him right? So did he take them?" Damon shook his head at Stephen, "He probably didn't, like I said, right now he's not thinking about helping himself, he's just... wallowing in some special Naga brand of self-pity..." Stephen smacked Damon in the chest with the back of his hand, "Don't be mean! I'll go up and make sure that he takes them, seeing as you've already done a brilliant job of taking care of the patient" he retorted, sarcasm tinging his voice.

 

Stephen filled the kettle with more hot water and hurried up the stairs back to the room Yuzuki was in, knocking quietly before cracking the door open, "Yuzuki?" he called out softly as he poked his head through the door, the rest of his body following a short moment later. He eyed the unopened bag of herbs, "I brought some more hot water..." he said as he placed the kettle on the short table where everything was laid out. He looked over at the Naga, his green eyes bright with worry, "You should really take the medicine y'know... I mean, I know there's not much that can be done for the... outside, but a hot drink and some tea should help you feel better.. on the inside... if that makes... sense..." his soft voice trailed off softly as he took the packet of herbs and gently tipped them into the cup, pouring the steaming hot water over the top.

 

A pleasant aroma filled the air, and Stephen took the few steps to where Yuzuki was and held the cup out to him, "Here, look, I've made it for you, so now all you have to do is drink it..." Stephen looked at the Naga expectantly and waited for him to make his mind up about the tea.

[StainedCrimson]

By the time Stephen comes up to the room Yuzuki has bundled himself up in multiple layers of clothes and then cocooned himself in the blankets of the bed on the window seat as if cold and trying to keep as much heat around him as he can. When Stephen calls out his [Yuzuki's] name and enters the room it startles him out of the light half-awake state he'd fallen into. Jolting upright he turns towards Stephen and watches him as if expecting the other to rush in and attack him.

 

When the glass is held out to him he just stares at it. It's almost like he doesn't understand what the other is doing or what he's expected to do. After a long few moments a hand slowly emerges to lightly take the cup, his fingers barely holding the cup enough to keep it from falling to the floor. "...What is it? You said medicine but what kind?" He asks finally, not bringing it any closer.

 

While he knows it's medicine, the foremost part of him is still more just mindless reaction and lashing out due to still being more in a fog so he's more or less acting as though everything is intended to hurt him in some way. Still, he's starting to slowly return to himself and the part of him that is attracted to Stephen is pushing through past the desire to lash out and keep everything away.