So it had been more than seven days.
Hero didn't really mind though, he had actually been enjoying himself, and Steve was being so genuinely friendly and sweet that he couldn't bring himself to persuade the smaller miner into anything. They had actually been having a lot of fun. Sitting and talking, having meals together, going mining, and even going exploring and hunting together. Hero was significantly less lonely, but he still craved a relationship that was much deeper than the one they currently had. But it was alright.
He could be patient.
And he was being patient, it was actually a lot easier than he thought it would be. Steve would do adorable little things that would make Hero want to wait even more, simple little gestures like scolding him for doing semi-dangerous things, even though he was a god and he didn't get hurt nearly as easily as Steve assumed he did. He would sit and nod and promise not to do it again, then proceed to do it again anyways.
One such example was when he went to the edge of a ravine when they were exploring, and peeked over, much too close to the edge. Steve had grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him back, eyes wide as he stared down at Hero, who had craned his head back to look up at Steve with a confused expression.
"Are you trying to fall in?!"
He demanded, hands on his hips as he stared down at him expectantly, Hero just looking up at him with that puzzled expression.
"Well?"
Hero just stared up at him, blinking a few times before answering.
"No, I'm not trying to fall in, and I wasn't going to fall in either."
He stated pointedly, frowning slightly.
"You totally would've if I hadn't pulled you back!"
"Steven do you not recall that I can float if I so please?"
He asked softly, Steve blinking a few times, growing quiet.
Hero just couldn't help but smile.
It was a genuine wide smile, making the corners of his eyes crinkle as he laughed. Steve just stood there, pouting now.
"You're a real jerk you know that?! Letting me worry like that!"
And Hero just kept on laughing and smiling and promised not to do it again, going back about ten minutes later and peeking over again. He liked things like that, Steve's genuine concern for him made him happy, genuinely happy, a warm feeling filling his chest at every occurrence. It was different than anything else he had experienced before, and he was thoroughly enjoying it.
Hero blinked a few times as he was snapped out of his stupor by Steve gently touching his shoulder and calling his name. He realized he had probably worried the other, deep in his thinking.
"Sorry, I was thinking."
He explained quietly, Steve seeming relieved. They were walking past that same ravine now, and he supposed that's what triggered his thinking to such an extent. Hero smiled a bit, having fallen into step beside Steve. They were exploring again, and they weren't too sure on where they were headed to this time. Hero was fine with it, as long as Steve didn't get injured. It was starting to get dark though, as they had errands to run before they had went off, having left quite a bit later than usual.
Hero realized this must've been their first mistake.
They continued along, Steve leading slightly. Hero didn't mind, as long as they were together and he was close. Hero paused, something feeling quite a bit off, but he couldn't put his finger on it, frowning a bit.
"Steven, I think we should head back…"
He murmured, trying not to make his worry apparent. He didn't want to worry Steve, especially not when it was dark out, and he wanted Steve to feel safe near him, showing he was worried would probably make him feel a lot less safe.
"But we've barely made any progress!"
He complained, frowning as he stopped, turning to face Hero. Hero stopped right in front of him, a frown on his own face as well.
"I have a bad feeling, I'm worried and I don't want anything bad happening to you."
He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest, not taking no for an answer.
"Fine…"
He muttered, knowing damn well he wouldn't win an argument with the god. They started back, Hero still feeling rather nervous. He paused, glancing around briefly, noticing an enderman in the trees.
"Steven we should probably hurry… the mobs are coming out… Maybe I could just teleport us there?"
Hero offered, Steve waving a hand dismissively.
"We'll be fine, besides I like seeing what it's like at night, it's cool."
"And dangerous…"
Hero added under his breath, scowling slightly. He admired Steve's stubbornness but sometimes it was just downright dangerous. He huffed, just following him closer, making sure to watch their surroundings more closely. He was growing more and more worried, and rightfully so, as more and more mobs were beginning to spawn, the moon steadily rising higher in the sky.
He realized what was happening too late as his worry peaked, his head turning suddenly to notice a skeleton, the clacking of its bones giving it away.
That was until he heard Steve scream.
It was an awful noise, one he hoped to never hear again. He growled lowly, a terrifying noise in its own right, teleporting in front of the skeleton, a sword in his hand, quickly cutting it down, returning to Steve just as quickly as he had flashed away, putting a hand on his shoulder and teleporting them to Steve's house. He quickly realized that the arrow was in his shoulder, and that it would be rather difficult to pull out.
This was going to be awful.
He grumbled, scooping Steve up bridal style, heading up the stairs.
"Steven please do me a favor and stay as still as possible."
That was proving to be a difficult task as the other writhed painfully in his arms, finally getting him to his room, gently laying him on the bed.
"Stay here."
He said softly, not that Steve would be going anywhere anytime soon, but still. He rushed off, digging around in his storage room and managing to find bandages, probably made for an occasion such as this. He dug around some more, angry that he couldn't find anything to disinfect the wound with, pausing as he remembered Steve telling him about how a villager had given him some fermented fruit juice, or whatever he had called it.
Steve had said it tasted terrible and it was strong, and the villager had told him it was good for cleaning wounds too. He rushed to the kitchen, scrambling around until he found it, running back upstairs to
Steve, rushing to his side,
"Steven this is going to hurt, but I need you to stay still so I don't make it any worse."
Steve gave a weak nod, wincing and whimpering in pain as he held his arm, Hero sighing deeply as he gripped the shaft of the arrow, and then pulled it out as swiftly as possible, Steve crying out in agony again.
How Hero hated that sound.
He worked quickly, tearing Steve's shirt open from the hole in the fabric that the arrow made, taking a bit of the bandage and wadding it up, opening the bottle of awful smelling liquid and pouring some onto the bandage, dabbing at the wound with it, wincing as Steve writhed and made pained noises, Hero tearing his shirt off entirely as he worked to wrap the wound, relieved when Steve had finally calmed down.
He was in a lot less pain now that the arrow wasn't in his shoulder anymore. Hero sighed deeply, brushing his hand against Steve's cheek gently, watching the exhausted miner.
"Better?"
Hero offered softly, still extremely worried. Steve nodded weakly, leaning into his touch, oddly comforted by it. Hero sighed in relief, gently undressing him and helping him change into sleep clothes, just snapping his fingers to change his own, carefully moving Steve so that he was laying on his left side, as it had been in his right shoulder, and moved to lay behind him, spooning him carefully. He pressed himself as close as he could, drawing the covers over them carefully.
"Please rest…"
Hero whispered, Steve giving a tired nod, snuggling back against him without any protest. He had been waiting for Hero to do something like this, to hold him intimately or something of the like. It was nice. Especially now when he needed to be comforted. He easily fell asleep, Hero drifting off soon after.
He was just glad he was safe.
