Chapter 113 A Bloody Bath (2/2)

Aegin released a breath, as if he'd been waiting for Rassa to say something, anything. He didn't even seem affected by Rassa's words.

”I'm being serious”.

”I know you are,” Aegin replied as he slowly let go of Rassa's arms, flinching as the pain of the cuts seemed to hit him, ”But if I took every serious thing you said the same way as everyone else, do you think I'd still be here?”

”You'll get yourself killed,” Rassa insisted.

”That's my choice to make,” Aegin said, ”Just as its yours to decide what you want to do with your life”.

He looked at his arms, as if deciding whether to take care of the wounds now or talk to Rassa first. Rassa sighed, making the decision for him as he grabbed one of Aegin's arms and brought it to his mouth, licking the wounds to close them over.

”Okay...that's gross,” Aegin said awkwardly.

”I caused the problem, least I can do is fix it,” Rassa replied.

”By licking me?” asked Aegin.

Rassa leaned back slightly, and Aegin watched as the wounds Rassa had made on his arms began to knit themselves back together.

”My saliva heals things,” Rassa said.

”No kidding,” Aegin said as he felt the pain drain away, a strange itch forming on his arms as his wounds knitted back together until there was nothing left.

Rassa dropped the first arm, holding his hand out for Aegin's other arm. Aegin frowned, then handed it over reluctantly, ”It's still weird”.

”It could be weirder,” Rassa replied.

”What? Do I taste...”

Rassa's look confirmed Aegin's thoughts and Aegin shivered, ”Ew”.

”Tastes better than what I had earlier,” Rassa admitted.

Aegin sighed as Rassa dropped his other arm, trying to ignore the itching feeling as his skin healed over. Rassa pulled his legs close to his chest as he sat in the bathtub, resting his chin on his knees.

”You gonna tell me, or are we going to go back to silence and brooding?” asked Aegin, ”Cause I really thought we had a connection then, you know, with the licking and all...”

Rassa's lips curled into a smile as he looked over at Aegin.

”You gonna sit there while I'm having a bath then?” asked Rassa.

Aegin sighed, ”Way to ruin the mood, I'll wait outside”.

Rassa listened as Aegin walked to the door, then paused, ”Whatever it is, Rassa. Please don't hurt yourself over it. You've been through enough pain, and you promised to be free of it, so don't go back on your word”.

Rassa remained silent as Aegin left the room, then leaned his head back, looking at the roof above his head before he turned his head slightly to look out of the window at where the moon was rising, the stars shimmering around it.

A few minutes of peace. That was what the moon and stars brought him. A few minutes where he didn't have to worry about being discovered, or losing control and hurting those he cared about. The moon and the stars, if anything, they seemed to be the world he desired to be in more than anything else. But up there, high in the night sky, they weren't alone in their plight. They had others that shared their traits. But him?

Rassa sighed and climbed out of the bath, drying and dressing himself before heading towards the door.