Heartbeat (1)

[Blank]

In front of Blank Royal's body stood blocking the frostwave. He wasn't dead? The necklace. Aww Royal had not only kept it but repaired it? Even though it reminded him of Blank? Did this mean their relationship wasn't going to fall apart… did it mean there was hope for them, did it...….

Horror shot through every inch of Blank as he saw Royal stumble slightly and the ice bull snort getting ready for another attack. Then Royal's legs gave out and he started to fall.

Blank pulled at the icechains, half a second longer, his eyes shot back to Royal as Royal caught himself for a second before falling again.

The icechains broke and Blank shot forward wrapping his arms around Royal. That was when he noticed the frostbite spread across his stomach. Every single part of his body clenched up. No this wasn't right? Royal was supposed to be fine and they were suppose to fix their relationship and live happily ever after.

Blank's eyes scanned over Royal as he tried to assess how much damage that last attack had done.

The bull snorted and he glanced up before launching himself into the air with Royal to avoid it's next attack.

Blank noticed Chase and Deck luring the bull away from them while Sly was headed across the field toward them. He quickly flew over the boss zone line to the safety of the forest.

"Don't worry you'll be okay." He whispered to Royal before looking down at him.

Royal's eyes were fluttering and he wasn't sure if he even heard him.

"Royal?"

"Royal!"

"ROYAL!" Blank yelped as Royal's eyes fluttered shut and he felt him go limp in his arms.

Immediately every part of him started to panic. He couldn't die after all of this.....

"Blank!"

Blank glanced up to see Sly.

"I said, carry him gently and lay him on the ground, if you keep moving him around so much it might hurt him more. Honestly focus!" Sly growled.

"R..RRight" Blank immediately moved to ground level.

Then he stomped out with one foot of flames to melt off the surrounding snow, before he carefully laid Royal down.

"You can use your flames without burning others so heat up the surroundings." Sly said as he knelt next to Royal.

Sly's hands glowed with healing power as he removed what was left of Royal's shirt and pushed down his pants. A ring of fire formed around them and the temperature went from cold to 85 degrees in seconds.

Blank crouched down watching anxiously. In the background he could hear Deck chasing off some bystanders. He gulped as a certain phrase popped into his mind. "I can't wait until your body is lying limp and cold in front of me!" a phrase that he had said was coming true, and he wished anything to take it back. His hands started shaking and he clenched them trying to focus instead on what Sly was saying.

Behind him came the dying scream of the bull beast and a loud thud as it collapsed. The ground shook for a few moments from the impact.

Sly spoke in some kind of medical vocabulary that Blank understood none of. But Blank could see quite a bit of the damage fading away under his care. After a few minutes which felt like eternity Sly's glowing hands slowly faded.

"Can't you heal more?" Blank asked, looking at the still large amount of damage.

"I healed the most critical parts, but that's all I can do with a 50% limit. Honestly though those attacks are horrid considering he was also ice." Sly muttered.

"So he'll be okay now right?" Blank asked letting one hand slowly stroke Royal's head.

A slight furrow crossed Sly's face and Blank's hand froze.

"Is it per…permanent?.... Will he live!?" Blank felt his voice quiver.

"First take a breath, nothing will change from panicking. Second, I don't know. On either of those. Let's take him back to our place and keep him warm, that's the best we can do without knowing more yet. He is stable for the moment though." Sly brushed a bit of snow off himself and stood up. "That said there are several complications that could happen, and I can't guarantee he will live."

Blank stiffened for a moment before reaching out and stroking Royal again before carefully picking him up. He tried to move him as little as possible as he spread his wings out drifting upward before flying toward their mall base.

Blank might not admit it but he usually did a running landing because he stunk at landings. But he couldn't do that with Royal! He awkwardly did a float crash while using a spell to hold Royal in the air for a few seconds.

Blank debated his room for a second then instead opted for his living room area. It was warmer than being by the windows of the mall.

He lowered Royal carefully on his couch while adjusting his flame's heat strength to match the optimal temperature Sly had given him. The he wrapped Royal in a blanket like a taco before gently kissing his forehead.

"I love you." He whispered.

The door opened and closed and Blank saw Sly join him with some space heaters that he started setting up. Thank goodness they had gotten the solar panels working.

Blank felt like another hour passed while watching Sly examine Royal further. This time using all sorts of medical thingys that he didn't know the names of.

"Help me with this." Sly muttered as he started removing Royal's clothing.

Blank felt a slight shock run through his body. Sly shouldn't see him naked! Wait no, of course he needed to, he's a healer. Blank slapped his face slightly before leaning forward to help slide Royal's clothing off.

His skin looked beautiful even when pale. Blank paused at his underwear. But the injury spread from the base of his chest all the way to his lower end.

"I've already seen him, if that's what you're worried about." Sly muttered.

Blank twitched, "No it's not that, I'm just worried since he sometimes panics without any clothing on." It totally had nothing to do with seeing a certain part of him.

Wait seen him before! When did….. oh right, Blank remembered his earlier worry about the unknown substance and Sly saying it had been attended to. He had done more than just 'see him' but he's a doctor type and I'm totally not feeling jealous, Blank reminded himself as he removed Royal's underwear with annoyance.

Blank saw Sly take out...were those leg warmers? He watched him curiously as Sly put leg warmers over Royal's shins and biceps. This was a great idea that Blank simply had to remember for later when Royal was better again.

Sly's warning of he might not live fluttered through his head again and he gritted his teeth. If it meant Royal would get better then he would share his beauty with Sly. Sure Sly had Deck for a boyfriend, but Royal was simply too perfect, Blank would always have to keep his eyes on potential competition.

He watched Sly slip a light weight fuzzy bathrobe around Royal before examining him further.

Blank glanced at the clock, it seemed to be taking awhile, more worry filled his mind, extra exam time usually meant more problems. He clamped his jaw together before finally speaking.

"Anything?" Blank asked.

Sly sat back a little redoing the tie on the bathrobe.

"Remember before when I said there were a number of complications? Well he has some ice crystals forming inside him, which will do some damage if they aren't healed properly.

"How do we fix or get rid of the ice crystals then?" Blank asked.

Sly bit his lip. "There is a potion type that is easy enough to make, but one of its ingredients comes from the Temple of Fire, and that's a bit longer of a side quest. I'm worried about the amount of time it will take to make. I'll have to consult my twin."

"I'll get him then." Blank stated immediately leaving and flying through the hall, totally breaking his own no indoor flying rule.

He snatched up Sly's twin Winter before flying back gaining himself a yelp of protest. Winter looked nearly the same as Sly except since his avatar had white hair the merge had turned his blond hair into more of a silver.

"Blank what are you doing?" Yelped Winter as Blank dropped him in front of Sly.

"Sorry Win" said Sly "But I kind of need your help your one of the only alchemists I know."

Winter frowned "What is it? I'm assuming it has to do with the traitor non-traitor?"

"His name is Royal." Blank growled.

"Right sorry." Winter replied sheepishly.

Sly started explaining things before pleading with Winter who obviously still hadn't completely seen Royal as innocent yet.

"Please I'll do anything for your help." Blank said.

Winter sighed, "Fine, I'll help. Let's get going then, you said we were short on time right?"

"Yeah, I just need to grab Deck since a shield will work well with an archer for this challenge." Sly replied.

"You're going too?" Blank asked looking worried, "what about Royal?"

"Blank, I need to identify the right ingredients for Winter. The only thing we can do for Royal in the meantime is to keep him warm and comfortable." Lines of worry appeared on Sly's face as he glanced again at Royal. "You have to keep him alive until we get back with the FireFruit Juice."