95.- Shadows That Heal

The morning sun crawled over the Veridian forest, spilling a soft golden glow across the cliff that seeped between the jagged gray rocks. The wind whistled through the stones, tugging at the frayed blanket draped over Kaili's shoulders as it whipped her black hair into a wild mess. Down below, the treetops swayed like a green sea, and the lake shimmered in the distance like a silver coin tossed into the woods. She sat on the flat rock, her wings folded and humming low, cradling an unconscious Sebastián in her arms. His head lolled against her chest, his faint breaths tickling her neck, while the Lunar Chameleon brooch in her hair flickered between silver and a pulsing red under the sunlight. Her purple hands gripped him tight, shifting him with rough jerks as she grumbled loud enough for the rocks to hear.

—"Damn stubborn ass," —she snapped, her voice slicing through the quiet as she shoved him against the rock to prop him up—. "Wake up already, idiot, or I swear I'll bury you right here. I'm not lugging your sorry corpse around all damn day." —Her wings buzzed louder, a sharp hum bouncing off the cliff—. "What do you think this is, gardener? You think I'm gonna sit here playing nursemaid to your dumb self?"

The wind kicked up again, tossing her hair across her face, and she swatted it back with an annoyed flick, glaring down at Sebastián like he'd personally offended her.

—"Look at this crap you're making me do," —she growled, yanking the blanket up over his chest with a tug that nearly pulled it off her own shoulders—. "Stuck here like some fool, babysitting a human who doesn't know when to quit. Wake up, you pain in the ass, or I'll kick you off this cliff myself!" —She leaned closer, squinting at his still face, her wings buzzing like a swarm ready to bolt—. "Come on, move already! You're not dying on me up here, got it?"

A weak gasp rasped out of Sebastián's throat, and his warm brown eyes fluttered open, a crooked grin spreading across his bruised face as he blinked up at her.

—"Did you take care of me, Kaili?" —he croaked, his voice scratchy as he tried to sit up, wincing when a sharp pain stabbed his shoulder—. "Knew you liked me a little bit."

She froze, her wings buzzing like an angry hive, and shot him a glare that could've cracked stone, crossing her arms with a loud creak of her armor.

—"Shut your trap or I'll stitch your lips shut, you stubborn ass," —she barked, leaning in so close her nose almost bumped his—. "I didn't take care of you, got it? Just didn't want you stinking up my cliff dead." —She snatched the blanket and scrubbed the sweat off his forehead with a rough swipe, nearly smacking him in the process—. "And wipe that stupid grin off your face, idiot. You smell like a wet dog."

Sebastián laughed, a weak, raspy sound that slipped through his teeth as he propped himself up against the rock, still grinning despite the ache in his side.

—"Thanks for not ditching me, Kaili," —he said, reaching out with shaky fingers to grab her hand—. "You're a mess at this whole caring thing, but damn, I like it."

She yanked her hand back like he'd burned her, huffing loud enough to scare off the birds chattering below.

—"Don't thank me, you dumbass," —she snapped, digging into her pack for an makeshift canteen sloshing with lake water—. "Drink this and zip it already." —She shoved it at his mouth, water splashing over his chin as she tilted it too fast—. "I'm sick of hearing your voice, gardener."

He gulped down a mouthful, coughing as the water dribbled down his shirt, and laughed again, louder this time.

—"What's that, Kaili? You worried about me?" —he said, winking as he wiped his chin with the back of his hand—. "Come on, admit it—you wouldn't have kicked me into the woods. You'd miss me too much."

Kaili growled, her wings buzzing so hard the air vibrated, and she grabbed the blanket to yank it tighter around him, nearly choking him in the process.

—"Keep flapping your gums and I'll kick you right now, you pain in the ass," —she shot back, tugging the fabric until he yelped—. "You're a walking headache I never signed up for, you hear me?"

—"A headache you can't get rid of, Kaili," —he said, chuckling as he squirmed under the blanket—. "If you really hated me, you'd have tossed me off the edge already. Face it, I'm growing on you."

She stared at him, her runes flickering like sparks along her hands, and let out a long, loud sigh that echoed across the cliff, rolling her eyes so hard it looked like they'd pop out.

—"This is friggin' ridiculous," —she said, smacking a purple hand onto his chest with a thud that made him flinch—. "I'm done watching you flop around like a half-dead fish." —She grunted, digging her fingers in a little—. "Hold still, idiot, or I'll make it worse." —Dark energy poured from her fingertips, cold and shimmering like liquid night, buzzing loud as it sank into his skin and stitched him back together. His wounds vanished in a flash—cuts, bruises, the black lines—all gone, and Sebastián jolted upright, patting his shoulder, his side, his chest with wide-eyed shock.

—"Kaili, I'm fine!" —he said, twisting around to check himself, flexing his arms like he couldn't believe it—. "No pain, nothing! What the hell was that? I thought you'd pull out those creepy bugs again!"

She leaned back, crossing her arms with a smirk that flashed a sharp fang, kicking one leg over the other like she owned the damn cliff.

—"Don't be stupid, gardener," —she shot back, flicking a strand of hair out of her face with a toss of her head—. "This is faster. Didn't need bugs for a stubborn ass like you."

Sebastián blinked, scratching his neck with a clumsy laugh, still poking at his now-healed shoulder.

—"Faster?" —he said, grinning as he stretched his arms wide—. "You mean you could've done this the whole time? Why not zap me sooner, Kaili? I was hurting like hell down there!"

Kaili locked eyes with him, her black gaze narrowing as the brooch glowed a deeper red, pulsing like it was laughing at him.

—"Because that was the point, moron," —she said, her voice sharp but dripping with a playful edge—. "Wanted you to hurt a little for being such a reckless jackass. Call it punishment for not staying put like I told you."

He burst out laughing, the sound bouncing off the rocks as he leaned back, slapping his knee like she'd just told the best joke.

—"Punish me, Kaili?" —he said, stretching out with a big, goofy grin—. "You're cruel as hell, and I'm here for it. But you're gonna have to try harder if you think pain's gonna teach me anything."

She snorted, smacking his arm with the back of her hand, hard enough to make him yelp.

—"Shut your trap or I'll hurt you again, you stubborn ass," —she said, plopping down beside him on the rock, her wings buzzing softer now—. "You don't learn a damn thing, even when you're half-dead."

—"Not with you around, Kaili," —he shot back, winking as he rubbed his arm where she'd hit him—. "You're too good for me to figure out how to sit still." —He reached into his pack, pulling out the pot of veggie pasta with a little clang—. "Hey, you didn't eat enough earlier. Come on, eat with me. I'm not taking no for an answer."

She squinted at the pot like it might bite her, wrinkling her nose as he shoved it closer.

—"What's this crap now, gardener?" —she said, sniffing it and pulling back—. "More of your dumb ideas?"

—"It's not crap, Kaili," —he replied, grabbing a messy handful and spilling half of it down his shirt with a curse—. "Damn it—look, it's food, okay? Try it. If it sucks, blame me and my shaky hands."

Kaili grunted, snatching a handful of the pasta and chewing it slow, her face twisting like she'd bitten into a rock.

—"Tastes like dirt," —she said, swallowing with a grimace—. "But it won't kill me, I guess. You're a shitty cook, you know that?"

—"That's a compliment coming from you, Kaili," —he said, laughing as he scooped up more, dropping chunks on the rock this time—. "Look at this mess—now I'm screwed 'cause of you."

She laughed, a short, dry bark that echoed across the cliff, wiping her hands on the blanket with a quick swipe.

—"You've always been screwed, gardener," —she shot back, kicking at the spilled pasta with her boot—. "Don't pin this on me, you clumsy ass."

—"Sure, Kaili, sure," —he said, leaning in with a grin—. "Speaking of messes… how about that kiss earlier? Better than this dirt-tasting pasta, huh?"

She froze mid-bite, her wings buzzing loud enough to shake the air, and shot him a sideways glare.

—"Keep running your mouth and I'll kick you into the lake, you stubborn ass," —she snapped, shoving more pasta in her mouth to dodge the question—. "I don't know what you're yapping about."

—"Oh, come on, Kaili," —he said, chuckling as he wiped his hands on his pants, leaving greasy streaks—. "I don't regret it one bit. Knocked me out cold, sure, but worth it. You sorry about it?"

She huffed, spitting a chunk of pasta back into the pot and glaring at him like he'd grown a second head.

—"You're an idiot who talks too damn much," —she said, grabbing another handful and chewing hard—. "Shut up and eat before I shove this whole pot down your throat."

—"That's a yes, then," —he said, laughing as he leaned back on his elbows, kicking his legs out—. "Love that you don't deny it, Kaili. Makes my day."

She growled, smacking his arm again, this time hard enough to make him wince and rub the spot.

—"Shut it or I'll stitch your tongue to the roof of your mouth, gardener," —she said, turning her head away—. "You're a walking problem, you know that?"

—"And you're a problem I wouldn't trade for anything, Kaili," —he replied, grinning as he grabbed the last bit of pasta, popping it in his mouth—. "Worth every ache climbing up here."

They finished off the pasta between jabs and spills, the empty pot sitting between them like a trophy of their messy meal. Sebastián stretched out on the rock, groaning as he flopped back, staring up at the sky with a lazy grin.

—"Stay with me, Kaili," —he said, his voice warm and teasing—. "I don't bite… much. And now that I'm not dying, I'm pretty good company."

She snorted, crossing her arms tight and kicking his leg lightly with her boot.

—"I'm not your damn pillow, you stubborn ass," —she shot back, but didn't budge, letting their shoulders brush under the blanket—. "Get comfy and I'll shove you off this rock."

—"Go ahead and try," —he said, laughing as he propped his head on his hands—. "But tell me you don't like me hanging around here, Kaili. Go on, say it."

Kaili grunted, rolling her eyes again and elbowing him in the ribs just hard enough to make him yelp.

—"You're a pain in the ass, that's what you are," —she said, her voice gruff but quieter now—. "Keep talking and I'll make you regret it."

—"Sure you will, Kaili," —he said, chuckling as he shifted closer, nudging her shoulder with his—. "You're amazing, you know that? Thanks for fixing me up, even if it was to punish me."

She glanced at him sideways, her runes flickering faintly as the brooch pulsed red.

—"Shut up and rest, you idiot," —she said, her voice softening just a hair—. "Or I'll mess you up again just for kicks."

—"Deal, Kaili," —he replied, laughing low as he closed his eyes, the sun warming his face—. "But don't take off, huh? I like you right here."

She didn't say a word, but she didn't move either, letting their shoulders stay pressed together under the blanket as the wind died down. The cliff went quiet, the forest humming softly below, and for a stretch, they just sat there, caught in a silence that felt like its own kind of truce.