Notes: For the free day, I used two prompts I hadn't used in the main body of the prompts.

Day 8: Free Day! - Hanahaki/Treating Injuries

Radley looked up with a start when Kalin walked into the living room that night, his hair wild, his expression scowling, and his body cut and bruised in various spots.

"Kalin, what on Earth?!" Radley leaped off the couch and went over to him. "What happened?!"

Kalin swept his bangs out of his eyes in utter frustration. "I got into a scrape with some punks who just rode into town," he said. "I came out on top and they're in jail."

"I should have been there," Radley fretted in distress.

"You're still recovering from the last mess you got into," Kalin grunted. "I'm fine."

Radley sighed. He hated when he couldn't be there by Kalin's side, where he belonged. "Come into the bathroom and I'll fix you up," he said, gently tugging on Kalin's arm.

Kalin didn't protest. The injuries needed treating and Radley needed to feel useful. Years ago, Kalin wouldn't have had such insights, so he was grateful for any wisdom and maturity he had gained since then. He slipped out of his coat and left it on the back of a chair before they started down the hall.

In the bathroom, Radley washed his hands and got the first aid kit out of the cupboard. Kalin held still as Radley cleaned all the wounds he could see and carefully bandaged them.

"I feel like a mummy," Kalin grumbled.

"Now, it's not as bad as all that," Radley said. "Unless there's any others?"

"That should be it." Kalin moved to pull his sleeve back down. Several petals fell out from it onto the floor.

Radley quirked an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Flower petals," Kalin said flatly. "We were fighting near the rose bushes. Don't worry, the petals are ones that had already hit the ground naturally. The bushes weren't damaged."

"Well, I'm glad of that, of course, but I'm far gladder that you weren't damaged worse than you are," Radley said. He bent to pick them up. "And wecan both be glad hanahaki disease isn't real."

"What is that?" Kalin grunted.

Radley chuckled. "It's some sort of fictional nonsense where someone suffering unrequited love starts coughing up flower petals due to a plant growing inside them. Eventually it's fatal, unless the person they love comes to love them back. Or unless they have surgery to get the plant out, but that can result in developing loss of love or memory for their special person."

Kalin gave him a blank stare. "Who came up with that?!"

"I have no idea." Radley deposited the petals in the garbage and washed his hands again before putting the first aid kit away. "Of course, even if it was real, we wouldn't have to worry about that." He rested his hands on Kalin's shoulders.

Kalin finally smiled. "No. We wouldn't." But he wavered as something occurred to him. ". . . We already went through a real version of that myth," he realized.

Radley blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You died in the mines because of feeling abandoned and alone and without hope. You've always told me that it was realizing I really care about you that inspired you to fight for your life," Kalin explained.

"Yes," Radley said without hesitation. "That's the truth."

Kalin curled his arms around Radley's back and hugged him close. "That's how it's like that myth," he said.

Radley hugged back with a smile. "And we came through it, just like the fairytale endings when the myth turns out right." He paused, pondering. "Hmm, I like our version better. It's hard to have dignity with a plant growing inside you."

"What we went through isn't something to joke about," Kalin growled.

Radley sobered. "No, it's not. And I didn't mean it that way."

Kalin sighed. "I know. I just hate remembering how I almost lost you."

"It doesn't make me very happy either," Radley said. "I also almost lost you more than once." He pulled back and took Kalin's hand to lead him out of the bathroom. "So let's just focus on how we're together now."

Kalin gripped Radley's hand. "Let's."

"I'll make a nice dinner and we'll relax before it's time to join the Bunch for karaoke," Radley said with a smile. "Do you think you'll join in this time?"

"Maybe. I've been practicing a new song on my harmonica," Kalin said.

"I've heard you," Radley grinned. "It sounds great!"

That brought a smile. "What about you?" Kalin asked. "Will you perform tonight?"

"Well, actually, I wondered if we could do a duet," Radley said. "Remember I played you that song by The Monkees that was written to celebrate the friendship between two of them and how they're still together after others have left?"

"You and I," Kalin said. He smiled. "I'd like to sing that."

"Good." Radley smiled too. "Maybe we can practice while I make dinner."

They did so, and both were pleased with the results. When they sang it later that evening for the Bunch and the whole town, the enthusiastic applause signaled that everyone else was too.