Kind of similar to my first one, but a bit different and longer! Hope you enjoy!
_____________________________________________

The fire to the distant campsite crackles and flickers, lighting up the night in it's brilliant orange glow from within the vast darkness. Chatter perked my ears, my teeth and fists clenched as the fire of rage burned, smothering me from within.
My eyes rested on the flyer gripped within my hand, the paper yellowing with old age and tearing on all wrinkled edges. My fingers lifting for my eyes to settle on the words printed in bold ink. It was different than the usual flyer that tended to catch my eye. No "sword for hire" nor the distasteful "Grayson is wanted". No. This was threatening to my behalf, threat embedded into each disheartening word written with ill intent.

"Enderman hybrid captured. Released for the capture of Grayson."

I knew that the message was put there specifically for myself. The empire knew how to get to me. They knew that I would not let a friend, a lover, lay to waist. I loved him, and surely my velleity had not gone unnoticed by mercenaries; obviously it had not. They knew that I would not make the same mistake twice.
The thing was, the ink was fresh, still wet and gently running ever so slowly.
While I was fully aware that it could have been a ruse either from the empire or someone seeking to get the bounty on my head, I could not stand the thought of my best friend being in the hands of such scum. I can not let anything happen to him. I will not let my love be taken away from me. Not after what happened to them...
What were they doing to him? Torture? Was he feeling the wrath of the leather whip against his skin, feeling it descend upon him to tear through his burning flesh? I shook my head to berid of the horrid thoughts, desperate to not let the illusion of his screams howl against the drums of my ears. It was too late, it etched into my mind, tears threatening to well up.
I growled and wiped my eyes with my long tattered sleeve, crushing the piece of paper in my grip. I hissed, clenching the flyer in my fist for security as if it were the handle of my trusty sword, the Andirun. My chest rose and fell as I forced in deep breaths, the air cool but my breath seething as it flared from my nostrils and brushed against my chapped lips. My blood pressure was at an all time high, my body trembling from my emotions, joined with the cold air around me.
How was I supposed to save him without putting us both in danger? If I go after him, I'll be looking to have the noose tied around my neck. If I do not, Drake will continue to be tortured and likely enslaved. Was he even in the empire to begin with? I did not know, and there was no way to know if I turned tail and ran. I will never turn tail and run ever again. Especially if it means that I would leave my lover for pain and death.
Of course, my choice is obvious. Drake is far more important than a stupid dragon egg, no matter if the thing is the source of all magic. He is far more important than my own life. I will do and sacrifice anything for him.
The quarter moon illuminated the world from above, lighting up the sky with the accompaniment of the thousands of glittering star littering the black void that stretched for eternity. The leaves on the trees and bushes gently swayed in the cold breeze, each plant full and lively with thick green despite the weather. The only thing that calmed me was listening in to the buzzing bugs and chirping crickets hidden in the darkness, but then I could hear their voices and laughter, allowing the rage to be replenished. No more stalling.
I pushed past the shrubs and leaves blocking my path, the flyer falling from my grip and gently falling to the soil below, my hand switching it out for the handle of the sword rested against my side. Armed, yes, with the dragon egg, no. Yes, it was a self sacrifice, but no one will find that egg for long after my death. I will not let them obtain it. That is not what Drake would want me to do, even with his own life on the line.
The flames in the camp reached high, embers rising and fading within the grey smoke, orange and yellow illuminating the camp and its surroundings. Though my blood boiled, my heart felt cold with loathe and disgust. I could hardly believe what I was about to do, but my reason to live is on the line, and I will suffer any consequences and battle any raging storm for him.
My back pressed against a tree as my ears listened in, now only feet away from the atrocious mercenaries out for my blood. There was talking, laughing, and something muffled, like screaming through a gag. My stomach clenched and a sensation of food running up my esophagus was persistent, though I was yet to vomit from my nerves. The rage along with my anxieties continued to rise, thinking about Drake. What if I lose him? What if I am taken to the empire and he is there, then we both get executed? This is my fault...I never should have gone through that portal and left him!
Finally, I peered around the tree bark, seeing into the campsite to gather information as to what I was dealing with. Three horses, five men, two carriages, one for carrying cargo and the other boxed for prisoner transportation. The back of the boxed carriage was wide open, chains laying on the rotting floorboards stained in gore. In addition to the five mercenaries, there was one other person, a person down on his knees as three of the swords for hire loomed over him, mocking him and speaking amongst themselves.

"Why did you go through all of that trouble hanging up flyers? Grayson probably is not even around here." One sitting by the fire commented.

One standing in front of the man bound by his hands and knees spoke, wearing a devilish grin with long ash brown hair falling over his eyes. "Better sooner than later. The quicker we get that b***ard, the quicker we get paid."

A growl of utter loath vibrated within my throats upon hearing my own name and the insult that cursed it. I watched him kneel down to the prisoner, who was blocked from my field of vision from another mercenary standing in the way. All I could hear was a muffled yelp as the brunette lifted his arm and yanked at what I assumed was the prisoner's hair.

"Besides, we have this freak. One way or another, no matter how long it takes, Grayson will show. Right?" He hissed to the prisoner. "Grayson would never let his little buddy rot, right?"

I flinched as he swung his fists, a muffled scream followed by coughing erupting. They all gave their unsavory laughter, all but one who sat next to the fire with a canteen in hand, who shouted for them all to lay off before they killed him, adding that it was better to keep him alive until he was delivered to the imperial castle.
Finally, as the mercenaries all moved away and my vision saw past my welling tears, the fantods inside of me grew ballistic, my mouth falling open and eyes unable to shut. I would never be able to mistake that pointed ear with black hair cascading down the right side of his head with brunette to the left, that tattered blue clothing and skin corroded with black from the right side of his face growing down his neck, the right side of his chest and shoulders then down his right bicep. Though, he was heaving as if the wind was knocked out of him from the blow. His body was blanked in bruises, blood, and open wound oozing a ruby hued liquid with a tint of purple visible from the light of the flame. Drake...
Parts of the hybrid's face was bedaub in blood as he panted and gasped, but a rag stained in blood was stuffed and wrapped his mouth, along with an old rag wrapped around his eyes to blindfold him. It was as if my heart had froze for a few seconds before racing painfully. No... No! How did this happen? Did he run out of mana? How?! His body finally fell over onto his side, the men laughing over him as he bled on the ground. This had to be stopped.
I released my breath and tried to still my shaking limbs, finding it hard to breathe with my head feeling light. I pulled my sword from its sheath with a hiss of the metal, the purple gleaming in the flame glow and moonlight. I tried to calm myself, knowing that I could not fight in blind rage. I kept thinking of Drake, my love beaten, laying bloody on the ground. My rage refused to dwindle.
Never before has I felt so anxious as when I stepped out the camouflage of darkness and fauna, heads turning with gasps as I walked out from the rustling bushes. Almost immediately I was greeted by the shouting of imperial mercenaries, along with the sagittal heads of arrows inserted into wooden crossbows and pinpoint ends of iron bladed swords poised to attack.
Drake's head lifted, his voice muffled as he called out, but I was able to recognize the howl of my name. He could sense my life force, and surely my weeping sorrow, guilt, and especially my gnawing fury.
Arrows flew and enemies charged, my body trying to dodge but luck was not with me at the genesis of our brawl. An arrow grazed my shoulder, slicing my sleeve and skin. Blinded by the image of Drake in pain, I had done what I had told myself not to do; fight in blind rage.
The tips of Iron blades and stone arrowhead cut at my skin, as we all clashed. I was able to take down two in little time, but my body was becoming covered in stinging slashes bleeding red. I had grown out of the familiarity with battling multiple enemies on my own, since I had gone into hiding instead of fighting alone. I could not do it without Drake, not often. For some reason, it made me feel alone.
Finally, a blow landed on my knees, cutting the skin above my kneecaps and sending a segre of pain up and down my legs. I collapsed, my sword still held tightly in my grasp. I gasped as I looked up, eyes growing wide at the flickering of red light around the hand of the ash brown haired man. He's a Mage. That's how he took out Drake. I growled and tried to attack once more, letting out a shout, but as I expected, I was struck by a magic bolt of red electric.
As I screamed once more, I once again collapsed. Come on Grayson! Just two more! Drake needs you! My eyes opened, vision blurred but I could see as a blade lifted to swing down on my neck. I tried to stand up once again , I tried with all my might, the jolt continuing to cause through my body with a quivering vibration that brought pain. The red light grew, inching closer.
Then in the darkness, I saw a bright, beautiful purple and blue light, growing until it was near blinding. In a flash of light blue and purple light, the mercenaries around me were shot down one by one, falling to the ground with screams of burning agony as the magic energy turned into flame, burning them to their demise.
My eyes looked up to see Drake on his knees and his right arm extended with his palm facing me, the purple and blue aura dimming until it was no more. Tears were slipping from underneath the blindfold, slipping into his open wounds upon his face. The rope around his wrists was mostly burned away, some still double wrapped around, digging into his skin and drawing blood. The dangling tether was continuing to burn, charring and slowly rising up to his skin, thankfully fading before it grazed his already injured flesh. His chest was rising and falling rapidly and heavily, obviously in pain and having little mana to no left to use.

"Drake!" I dashed to him as he fell over, catching him just in time.

I pulled him down to his knees, which were showing past his badly torn jeans overrun by crimson, his knees themselves covered in bruises and opened wounds. My arm reached up and until tied the gag around his head, relieved to hear that deep gasp.

"It's alright! It's alright!" I assured him, on the verge of tears. "I'm here buddy! You're safe!"

I untied the blindfold from the back of his head, ripping off the vile rag and tossing it to the ground covering in scarlet droplets and streaks. His eyes opened up, greeting me with his white, purple and greenish magenta hues. He did not smile, disheartening tears immediately falling from his orbs. His cut, bleeding lip quivered, his entire face bruised and battered with minor inflammation on his right cheek.

I cherished that deep, soothing voice of his. "G-Grayson... I-I..."

I knew that from his stuttering and glint in his eyes that he was in pain, likely on the verge of unconsciousness. I hissed as I tried to stay strong and not break down into tears. I had only ever wept when I had lost my family, and Drake had always seen me as strong. I did not want to crumble and show him my true mindset. I needed to stay strong for him. My shaking hands reached down and undid his bindings, horror striking me to see the deep lacerations cutting into his flesh.

"G-Grayson! You're h-hur-" He shut his eyes tight, clenching his teeth together from pain.

I tried to smile through the pain. "I-I'm okay! Right now, my well being done not mater! All that matters is you!"

I could not hold up my facade for long.
Tears threatened to slip from beneath my eyelids, accumulating until they finally spilled over, warm, wet streaks cascading down my burning hot cheeks. My messy golden blonde hair fell before my eyes as I bit my bottom lip until skin was torn and blood slithered down my chin to join the rest of the crimson dripping from my body.

"Drake...I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I left you at the portal! I never should have-!"

His weak laughter cut me off, a bright but weak smile showing his bloody teeth. "It's not your fault. I was the stupid one for getting caught." He chuckled before proceeding to cough, blood already in his mouth flying out to stain the ground and his fist as it covered his lips.

I grabbed his body as he fell over, gasping over my shoulder that his chin rested over. My arms wrapped around him and pulled him close, feeling the warm and cold, thick liquid soaking into my attire. My fingers dug into his bag, hearing him whimper as they dug into his open scars, bringing me to ease the pressure I was applying. While he continued to breathe against me, warm breath rushing in repetition along my back and shoulder blade, his body fell nearly limp aside from violent trembling. I heard once last breath, long and faded.

"Drake?" I shook him. "Drake!"
...

It was too close of a call. Drake survived, for that time being. With this knowledge, I raided the camp for anything that could save my partners life, a tent for shelter, medical supplies, even a horse that I mounted his out cold body onto and rode us both somewhere safe; as safe as the treacherous badlands could get. All through that night and into morning when the rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, he remained in his vegetative state.
I had cleaned and dressed his wounds, some from magical attack, obvious from multiple burns on his body, mainly his hands that were scorched to near infection. They were already wrapped in old, crusty bandages that I had replaced. Other wounds were from weapons, slashes from blades while the rest of his injuries were from manual beatings. It was difficult for me to focus of tending to him when I was filled with anger each time I gazed at a contusion or bloody gash. Then the guilt took hold, dragging me back into the memories of my old family.
I had lost them thanks to me rash actions. My beautiful wife and handsome son hanged for a crime that they had no association with; that they could not have foreseen. Limp bodies hanging, bones snapping, eyes nearly popping out from their sockets...a brutal demise to the people I held most dear, all because of my deplorable decisions.
For two years I grieved, numb, depressed, emptiness occasionally filled up with sorrow. Then he came. Drake reminded me what it was like to laugh, to be happy, joyful, grateful to be alive! He reminded me what it was like to love without hurting. For that, I am forever grateful.
Now, just when my wounds left behind from losing my family were beginning to close, new wounds were beginning to form, stinging worse than before. I can not lose another beloved! I can not let another person I love die!
I sat there in the tent, watching over him like a hawk. Tears stained my face, my body unable to stay shook. I shook so much that my body ached and I could hardly breath from my lungs clenching and nose stuffing up. I did not want Drake to see me like that.
I stood to leave, wiping away tears as I began to hiccup and choke on air, until I heard a deep coo from behind.

"Uhg...Grayson? Are you alright?"

How could I bring myself to turn around and face him while I was a wreck? I gazed down with fists tightly clenched. Breathe was difficult to take in as I tried to keep myself from sniffing, attempting to keep up my mask of strength that had shattered.

"I...I'm fine. You?"

Of course he knew better to fall for it. He is smart and observant, after all; always able to see behind my masks. Slowly, I turned to face him, watching his mouth hang slightly open with his eyes becoming enlarged. He said my name again, asking what happened before I rushed in and hugged him tight, not saying a word. He simply pat my back and tried to comfort me, saying that he was okay, though I could tell by his voice that he was still in pain.
I enjoyed his warmth, the feeling of his body against me, comforting in my time of mental anguish. Having him in my arms helped me relax after a few minutes of sobbing into his bruised neck.

"I'm never leaving you again. Rather you like it or not."

Of course, Drake being Drake, he replied, "well, thanks for the warning."

I huffed at his sarcastic joke, holding him tighter before he hissed from pain. Finally, he pushed me away, both of us gazing into each other's eyes. He had patches of his Enderman cheeks, a small bandage strip beneath his right eye, and bandages on his head from being smacked and hit in the head from the mercenaries. He spoke gently like he usually did, his voice soothing me and bringing me a small feeling of serenity.

"Grayson, I'm not leaving you again either. Thank you for saving me... I'll never be able to repay you... Thank you."

My heart thumped wildly, my emotions riled and swarming, painfully brawling in my chest. As my eyes moved down to look at his lips, my mask had come undone once more. The barricades of my emotions had fallen.
I leaned in, pressing my lips against his, feeling them stiffen from the pressure that I applied. Having kissed more intimately before, it was a natural reaction to let my tongue poke out and push against his lips, acquiring entry for a split moment. I pulled away, a smile on my face and a blank stare in his eyes, though I could tell that he was in shock. Was that the right thing to do? Will he reject me?
I stood up once more, turning around and walking to the entrance of the tent, leaving him wide eyed and speechless. He looked so cute when he was baffled! My smile dropped, knowing that he would not feel the same. Of course not.
I stepped out from the tent and sat there in front of it with my sword in hand, watching the clouds above. My cheeks were warm, growing hotter when I turned my head to see Drake stepping out from the tent. I tried to ask what he was doing, stuttering as he laid down and placed his head on my lap.

"I'm not leaving you alone." His eyes closed with a soft breath leaving from behind his lips, his head slowly falling to the side as he greeted slumber.

My emerald eyes stared at him, wide and teary. A smile slowly spread on my face as I continued to choke, but now not from sorrow, nor guilt, but from utter joy. My hand reached down and combined through his messy locks, careful not to pull strands held down by dried blood. I adored his expression of peace. That was all I wanted him to have. I wanted to be there for him and devote myself to him. He gave me back everything good I had lost. Given me my happiness and hope and love. The least I can do is the same.
I left him once, and I will never leave him again.