Saturday,

May 19, 2012,

9: 00 PM

Valli's arm is numb when he next wakes up. At first, there's no sign of discomfort as his eyes bat open to the forevermore darkness. It takes a second for his senses to recalibrate, leaving him mildly startled as his left side is jostled just barely. Another second to realize Kane is sitting next to his head, on his bed from the soft familiar surface under him. The last second is reserved for taking stock of his body, once his mind provides a highlight reel of what happened. His body feels relatively normal, if more cool, and still, nothing hurts or pitches. Until he focuses his senses on his arm, from the shoulder to his fingertips is a dull numbness.

The only sensation is the faint tingles of a limb falling asleep, yet it collects into a sharp pinch at a center point that throbs and subconsciously twitches around the gaping hole. From the tightness of his forearm and the sensation of the tingles flowing over his nerves, he can discern its swelling up. There's no real pain, merely discomfort and a few short pinches. Which surprises him, recalling the insane creature he received the wound from. Some kind of reptilian monster, with multiple heads and spitting a dimly lit fluid. He's even more surprised he managed to kill it, considering he doesn't recognize it from any Bestiary he got his hands on. He winces, both at an abrupt painful squeeze as the wound leaks, and the knowledge he'll have to face an angry Kane.

The Hunter made it clear before they went into The Void the basic rules of Partnered Hunts apply to the extreme. Communication, backup, and trust. He achieved trust and backup, yet he didn't communicate properly. Not only did he push Kane (the more experienced Hunter, he should've led if not for his lack of sight) to handle the familiar werewolf, but he purposely left out details of what he saw. I'm in for it, aren't I? Remembering back, he thought with his heart instead of his mind. The moment Valli got a glimpse of two or more heads, filled with Hundreds of dangerous teeth: the only thought was Kane could get hurt or die from it. The mere thought pushed his decision, forgoing any logical scenario of him getting hurt and Kane experiencing what he aimed to avoid. I know better than that, guess I'm rusty with head or heart decisions in life-or-death situations. Checks out.

"The fuck were you thinking." Kane's rough voice comes from next to him, above his head. Valli assumes from the context clues the man is resting against the headboard of the bed, watching over him.

Another wince as Valli tilts his head, trying to face his boyfriend as much as he can. He offers a sheepish smile, knowing well he is in trouble. "In all honesty, I wanted to avoid this happening with you. But guess that backfired on me."

Kane snorts, flicking Valli's forehead gently and observing his expression squeeze exaggeratedly in a grimace before fading into a small smile. Quick to get serious, he firms his voice. "Still got here, didn't you." It's not a question, a sarcastic statement. "Why the hell didn't you tell me what was going on? What even did this?"

There's pressure on Valli's injured arm, Kane softly squeezing his wrist to drive his attention back to the wound. Sighing heavily, he shrugs his good shoulder and lowers his eyes. "I don't know. Never saw or heard of it before." He admits, hearing Kane grumble under his breath. "It was like a mutated Reptile Monster. Multiple heads, scaly, spitting a fluid that glowed a little bit. One of the heads bit me when I was fighting it – at least it wasn't the one with a dinosaur-looking head. My arm would've been swallowed."

"It's not funny, Val." His small nervous laugh is scolded and he pouts. Kane snaps his fingers at his ear, Valli's head jerks minutely in shock but settles when the thick callused fingers soothe over his jaw and into his hair. Sternly, Kane is unrelenting in the decisions he makes. "Once you're healed, I'm leading when we go back in. I know you ain't gonna watch the world burn with me, so I'll watch your back. But you are now off leading."

"I'm the one who can see in there though! You'll get hurt!" Valli struggles to wiggle up, wanting to sit properly to protest. However, another heavy hand presses down on his chest, holding him down.

"You got hurt. I'm not letting that happen again. The only reason I let you lead in the first place is because you had an advantage over me. But nah, fuck that shit." The Hunter growls, buried concern and agitation for letting Valli get injured, revealing itself. Laying out rules, commanding. "You tell me what is coming, and I'll fucking decide which one of us ash it. For now, you will stay behind me."

"Kane-"

"You were telling me you were rusty and didn't think you'd make it through more hunts." Valli's words get stuck in his throat as the point is said, Kane's thumb pets his hairline soothingly. "Now you're protesting me taking the lead. You are rusty Valli, and while I'm impressed and happy you were able to get us so far, I'm not gonna let you get overly confident. That shit kills you. So listen to me."

"It's different now." Weakly, the injured man argues. He clutches the broad wrist settled on his chest, and Kane scoots closer carefully.

"How's that?"

Gulping, Valli nibbles on his lip. He keeps his head tilted towards the man, wanting to show he is engaged in the conversation. "You showed me I can fight and be a hunter again, if only for certain creatures or backup. But I can and I didn't think I could before you came here. I wanna be able to accomplish this, with everyone alive."

He hears the deep hum Kane gives and sighs softly at the small kiss placed on his forehead. "I'm proud of you, Valli. I really am." Kane assures a large palm resting at the side of Valli's head to trace lightly at his scars. "But this isn't the Hunt to prove anything. You have nothing to prove, to anyone. You're capable and efficient, that's enough for now. Later, when shit is over, we'll find another hunt for you to do whatever you want. Not right now."

Slowly, Valli's head nods. While he might not like the truth, it's facts he must accept. The urge to prove himself to himself, and everyone around him cannot determine how he handles this hunt. It will only result in pain and suffering; as evidenced by his wound. Next time, one of them could die if he fucks up again. However, they could return one short if he doesn't fuck up also. Kane's words are nice and reassuring, but he can't guarantee they can fulfill the promise. Leaning into the palm, his words come out whispered, like if they don't make noise they won't have much hold on fate. "One of us might die, so don't go saying shit you can't stick around to do."

Instantly, one of the soft caressing hands lowers to grip his jaw in a tight clasp of hunt-roughened flesh. Kane shifts briefly, Valli can feel the man's nose brush along his temple and his breath, attempting to lean further up into the Hunter. He shivered at the dark demand snarled in his ear, unyielding. The buried smooth French in his voice contrasts heavily with the rough tone. "Don't fucking say that. We are both gonna live, I always finish a case and I always keep my word. No goddamn void bullshit is going to change that."

"Yes, Sir." Valli giggles, unable to help himself. Kane pinches his chin with a snort, and Valli can almost picture the man rolling his eyes.

"Save it for the bedroom, troublemaker." The hand on his head gently slaps over his nose, a laugh escapes Valli as his hand comes up to wave the limb away.

In retort, he's quick to respond, winding his fingers between Kane's to keep the man close. "We already are in the bedroom!"

Kane laughs gruffly, the bed dipping and shifting as he moves his stocky, tall body to lay on his side along Valli, settled on his elbow. "Fine, then. Save it for when you're not injured with a hole in your arm."

Reluctantly, Valli huffs, his smile struggling to stay in the forced pout he took on. "Fine. Good point, I guess." He sighs, hands searching for Kane and fisting the shirt the man wears. Hesitant to ask, he doesn't want to ruin the banter and playfulness of the moment. "How's Addy and Sunny?"

The Hunter grunts, eyeing the blackened flesh around the dark, scabbed over shallow hole in the inside of Valli's forearm. It had been bleeding, the green substance leaking out. Kane noticed it was still dribbling, small spits of green slime from the hole. The skin around it is irritated, swollen blackened, or flushed an angry red. His veins are enlarged and discolored, obvious under the weak skin. Addy had cleaned it well, then used her magic and potions to push the poison out of Valli's system. She wants to repeat the process every hour, as well as make her nephew drink more of the concoction she made when they returned.

"It's been two months in this world. They'd been researching ways to help, any leads and shit. You've been out for a day or so." Kane informs first, lips twitching at the shocked hum the news received and the flinch of Valli's eyebrows upwards. "Right now, Ma went on an alcohol run and Addy is making dinner. She'll be up," he glances over to the end table, reading the green 9: 30 pm in the digital clock. " – thirty minutes, to give you that drink."

"That is not a drink. That is chunky, it tastes like death and –" Valli heaves on a gag, shivering as he remembers the gnarly fluid his Aunt created.

"Anyway," Kane laughs, shaking his head at the dramatics. "Addy called some of her contacts, none of them know what could have similar poison to this so far." He pokes at the blind man's wrist, referring to the wound.

"Great." It's said sarcastically before he pouts again and sullenly speaks. Regret high in his voice, shyly asking forgiveness. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I thought I could handle it."

"You did handle it. You ashed it, yeah?"

"Yeah. I saw it fall before you pulled me."

His wrist is squeezed, Kanes deep resonating words sinking into his mind. "Then you did well and handled it like a Hunter should've. I'm not upset you got hurt Valli, yeah it fucking sucks and I'm worried, but shit happens. I'm angry you didn't tell me what the fuck showed up, and that you chose to take the newer monster alone." To soften the growled words, another small kiss is placed on Valli's cheek. "As long as you heal, you're forgiven."

"Thank you. I'll try not to fuck up again next time. I really wanna find a new hunt with you."

"So do I, Val. It'll be fun to actually get to see you fight, not just train or hear you. I'm going to have you head-roll a vamp for me, bet that's hot as shit." Kane smirks when Valli laughs, slim hands reaching for him again as his lips spread into a bright grin. The gray-white film over his eyes is paler than normal, a side effect of the poison. Skin damp with sweat as his body fights the invading fluid. His hair is tangled and clumped; a thick bird's nest. He's still handsome, still pretty. "Drink the stuff the witch gives you, alright? She's stressing pretty hard."

"I will. I hope she lets me eat dinner though, I really hate that stuff." Valli's eyebrows furrow in sudden worry he won't be allowed Addy's food, he wouldn't put it past her to want the magic to be in his system before he eats real food.

"I'll have Ma convince her. They got close."

At the news, Vallis grins, mischievous. "Oh? Well, now look who's getting teased. Tables are turned now!"

Kane chuckles, and Valli is content to ride out his injury with the man beside him. The men spend the time alone to go over plans to tease their aunts, plans to do things together afterward they finish The Void business. Valli thinks he'll be able to handle the public with Kane by his side, now that he is more confident with his abilities as a Hunter again. My isolation ends when we ash the creatures the Gods want us to, then I can spend the rest of my short life at Kane's side out in the world again. Addy and Sunny can have the house if they want it, we'll need a base point after all.