"Don't give up Raya, it only has been two days." Malis tried to reason, her eyes watching her friend holding his head in his hands with dread.

Raya just couldn't sit still. Lixian's skin was so pale, paler then normal and his lips turned all dry as if he already died. But his heart was still beating, a very slow rhythm, but it was there. It just had been two days already and nothing was happening. It felt different from the first time they met. Maybe because they are actually lovers now that he worried more or maybe because his wounds are more serious, he didn't know. It was just so scary.

"He has a steady heartbeat." Malis mumbled from the other side of the room inspecting the demon. "That's something positive, Raya."

"I know, I know." He breathed, glancing up.

"So stop moping and help me clean him up a little then."

Raya rolled his eyes, but did what she asked and set his feelings aside, slowly shuffling closer to help her wipe him clean for when he woke up. If he woke up...

No, Raya thought, don't think like that.

•

"I'll be back in a few, ok?"

Raya nodded, his head leaning on the palm of his hand as he laid next to Lixian on the animal rug by the fire. "Don't forget the salt, you're almost out."

"You and your spices." She mumbled with a roll of an eye before closing the door behind her, something what left the room in a eerie silence.

Raya's eyes flickered back towards his demon, the unconscious body still unresponsive. "It has been five days." He softly mumbled, fingers stroking Lixian's hand. "You need to wake up, love." He whispered sadly.

The older sighed after watching the demon for a while, slowly letting his eyelids fall close so he could take a small nap. His nightmares held him up at night, so hopefully during the day they didn't show up. He was exhausted. They had started a few days back and hadn't stopped since. Raya couldn't forget his face, Torin. Just his dead eyes staring back up at him. What he did to him...

He dozed off rather quickly, his hand still grasping Lixian's for some kind of comfort. Not being able to leave his side for long.

An hour or so went by like that, but it was then the demon decided to slowly flutter open his eyes, his eyelids sticky and heavy like he hadn't slept in days. His body felt weak, a little stiff too he noticed with a small groan. He frowned slightly when he felt a soft, tingling sensation on the skin of his hand. It was faint, but it was there. He slowly tilted his head to the side and found a mop of brown hair invading his vision.

Lixian couldn't help tearing up as he remembered everything that had happened to them. And Raya looked so peaceful while sleeping, but the slight frown between his eyebrows showed you he was everything but that. Lixian slowly lifted his other arm, his limbs felt heavy, so it took him a while before his thumb carefully smoothed away the frown. The soft touch immediately woke up the older as he sat up in shock, his hand grasping the demon's wrist in a panic.

Raya's eyes flickered between his for the longest time. As if his brain couldn't comprehend at what they were looking at. But then slowly, but surely, his expression morphed into a sad smile. He flung himself forward and laid there crying on the demon's chest. His arms wrapped around Lixian's neck, holding his head close against him as his fingers combed through the thick, long locks.

"You're awake." He croaked out, muffled by his skin from Lixian's neck. "You're actually awake."

"I won't be for long if you keep this up." The demon mumbled.

Raya quickly let go of him and leaned back, his tearstained cheeks red and his eyes puffy, but it was an adorable sight to Lixian.

"I missed you." Raya sobbed, hiding his face into the hand from Lixian he was holding again. "So m-much."

Lixian smiled, the hand the older was holding slowly cupping his cheek to wipe away some tears. "I've missed you too."

Raya smiled weakly, the corners of his mouth trembling from crying so much. He eventually leaned into the younger's touch and closed his eyes, feeling complete again.

"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?" Raya rambled out of nowhere, eyes back open and alert. "Do I need to get you some medicine? Maybe some water?"

"Some water would be great, thank you." Lixian smiled. He couldn't help it, he was so happy to see him alive and healthy. "How long have I been out for?"

Raya came back with a cup of water and sat down beside him again, carefully helping him sit up a little. "Um, around five days."

Lixian spat out the water he had been drinking and looked up in shock. "That long?!"

"I thought you would be dead for sure." Raya nodded, a frown taking over his face again as he let his gaze fall down to his lap. "Malis had hope but I just felt... hopeless, I suppose."

"I'm glad you didn't give up, though..."

Raya smiled.

Lixian laid back down with a small groan. "Who is... Malis?"

"A friend of mine, she's taught me everything I know about making medicine and stitching someone up." Raya explained with a small smile. "We are at her house right now, actually."

"That explains the odd scent I didn't recognise." Lixian mumbled. "And... how are you?"

"My wounds are fine, it will leave a scar for sure, but that's ok." Raya tried to convince Lixian. And maybe himself too.

The demon pursed his lips and carefully grabbed one hand from the human. "And mentally?"

"I'm fine." Raya lied with a forced smile. "The better question is if you are ok? Do your wounds feel bad? Do I need to grab some—"

"Raya."

The human fell silent at the sudden cut-off, his eyes finding Lixian's.

"I just want to hold you for a bit." The demon whispered. "That's all I need right now."

Raya nodded, quickly laying down to crawl into the awaiting arms of his lover. He had missed this so much, it felt like weight fell off his shoulders the moment his face was buried in Lixian's neck. Goddess, how much he missed this...

"I know when you are lying by the way." The demon mumbled, causing the older to frown in question. "You scrunch your nose as if your body doesn't like it."

Raya groaned, but secretly loved that he could tell such things.