Rakan carried her inside the tent without stumbling, even when he'd carried her for hours already. Detachedly, Xayah heard voices discussing where to put it. She thought she recognized Yuu but she could not be sure. Rakan's voice rang deep next to her ear as he said "no, I'm staying."
She was put down on a bed —horizontally at last!— and examined by one of the healers. Xayah felt hands on her stomach, moving her clothes and bandages to check the seriousness of her wounds, followed by a deep sigh.
"This won't be pretty," a different voice said.
Rakan didn't hesitate. "I'm staying."
"Then make yourself useful and hold her still as I change her bandages." The first voice came back with a cold cloth on her wounds. "These are terrible."
"It's the best I could do while on the run," Rakan said, sounding defensive.
The second voice made a sound that couldn't be described as anything but tired. "I understand what you are doing. I'm on your side. I just wish I didn't have to patch you up so often."
Silence fell around the room and Xayah drifted in and out of consciousness as they cleaned up her stomach, however, the moment someone poured something liquid on the wounds, her skin lit on fire and she howled. The hands on her shoulders tensed and held her down, but she thrashed against them, attempting to escape the heat. It lasted a minute, an hour, a day... she would never know. In the background, two voices chanted as a soaked cloth was pressed on her stomach. This cloth was refreshingly cold, it seemed to absorb the pain out of her skin inch by inch until she was completely drained.
Xayah's body sagged against the bed, shivering. Her head was pounding and her ears were ringing still, but the pain was dissolving into a memory.
"Miella?" Rakan's voice broke through the haze.
She dared to open her eyes, turning in the direction of his voice and tried to smile at him when she noticed his deep frown. "Hey."
His face looked out of focus and mildly hopeful. "Welcome back, my love."
Xayah lifted her hand to touch his face. Or intended to, since thought didn't translate very well into movement at that moment. Rakan noticed though and took her hand in his, bringing it to his face. He leaned into the touch easily, closing his eyes, then kissed her palm before slowly bring her hand back to her side.
"She needs to rest," the healer said.
"I'm not leaving," Rakan said.
"You need to rest," pressed the woman. "You haven't left this tent in hours, you ran for who knows how long carrying her, and I'm not convinced you aren't hiding any injuries."
"I'll rest here. With her," he said, not taking his eyes from Xayah. "Someone needs to be here anyway. I'll keep her safe."
Xayah's heart beat faster at that, knowing that no matter what Rakan would find a way to keep her safe. The women left the tent, mumbling amongst themselves, but leaving Xayah to Rakan's care.
"Thank you," Xayah said when they were alone.
Rakan gave her with a tight smile. "What for?"
"For running. For staying. For keeping me safe."
A heavy silence fell between them at that.
"I'm sorry... for not being fast enough." The words rushed out of his mouth like a dam breaking. "They got you before I could shield you... I'm sorry"
Xayah shook her head and immediately found it wasn't a good idea when the world spinned around her.
"Rakan." She waited until he looked at her eyes again. "You saved me. You don't need to apologize for that."
Her partner looked down at her injuries and gave her a sad smile. "You got pretty banged up along the way."
"It's not like it's the first time," Xayah said, shrugging. She tried to sit up, but Rakan put a hand on her shoulder. "Rakan."
"You gotta rest, honey," he said, serious.
"Everyone is depending on me," Xayah insisted.
"Everyone can wait."
They held each other's gaze for a moment, but Xayah broke first and lied back down with a grimace. After Rakan was satisfied that she wouldn't start moving again, he took off his cape and sat next to the bed with a tired sigh.
Xayah moved to the side, making space for Rakan to lie down. She didn't say anything, just patted the bed and watched as Rakan's indecision crumbled and he climbed next to her. Xayah immediately put her head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of dark chocolate and undiluted wilderness that seemed to follow Rakan everywhere. There wasn't any place that felt as safe as Rakan's arms.
She closed her eyes when she asked "do you remember the Aphae waterfall?"
"Yeah."
"I'd like to go there again."
Rakan hummed, content. "Are you implying there's a holiday in our future?"
"Maybe..." She snuggled closer, placing her hand over Rakan's heart. His steady heartbeat put butterflies in her stomach. "How are your injuries?"
"I just got a little beaten up here and there. I must admit that when I saw you fall all I thought about was getting you out of there."
Xayah's pulse quickened. Rakan would abandon everything if it meant keeping Xayah safe. She wanted to chew Rakan's skin and sink under it, to stop the entire world to keep Rakan safe and next to her forever, to kill anyone who dared put a finger on him. Did Rakan know what a lovesick fool he made of her?
"I love you," she blurted out.
She heard Rakan's smile when he said "does this mean you gonna marry me today?"
Xayah didn't miss a beat. "Ask me again tomorrow."
"I always do."