Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
Chapter 38
"I think this is far enough," Arthur said. "And at least we have water."
They managed to find a pond with some trees to serve as cover. Lukas smiled, before he looked over towards Vlad. Vlad was still awake, though he was staring off into space. After the day he'd had, Lukas didn't blame him.
"Can you get off, or do you need help?" Lukas asked, making his voice as gentle as possible so that Vlad didn't get the wrong idea. He was really sensitive at the moment, and the last thing Lukas wanted to do was make him feel worse about himself.
Vlad climbed off, and Lukas turned towards him, maintaining a hold on Vlad, who seemed to have trouble standing. Lukas helped Vlad to sit down on the ground, leaning against a tree.
"Arthur, could you start with the wards?" Lukas asked. "I'll start to heal Vlad's injuries."
"Alright," Arthur said.
Lukas brought his hand up to Vlad's cheek, which had a nasty cut. Vlad shuddered as Lukas's hand touched him, a soft light appearing around the hand, sending out its healing energy.
"Tell me if it hurts," Lukas said.
"It's fine," Vlad said. "Can't hurt worse than what Raj did to me."
"And what did he do to you?"
"He… He summoned this… magical light snake. It… It went into me. I can still feel it slithering down my throat. It made me feel all sorts of… painful things. Raj said the sensation changes at irregular intervals. I felt as though I was burning, and being whipped, then being stabbed, then…" Vlad shuddered. "The thing Raj's spell did to me didn't leave a mark, so everything you see… that's what Henri and Tino did. Something made it impossible for Raj to touch me."
Lukas felt sick as he listened to Vlad's description. He couldn't imagine a spell like that. It sounded like something that only the foulest of sorcerers would be able and willing to do. And he could imagine that Raj was definitely foul enough to do something like that. Raj also seemed to have a vendetta against Vlad, so it would make sense for Raj to do something like that. But still…
"If I ever see Raj again, he's going to wish he was never born," Lukas said. "But, why couldn't he touch you?"
"I think it was some sort of defensive thing," Vlad said. "Raj made it clear that he wanted to… to do with me what many of my master's guests did with slaves."
"Former master," Lukas corrected.
"R-right… A-anyway, after he kissed me…"
"He did what?"
"He couldn't touch me after that. He tried, but… I'm sorry."
"You don't have anything to apologise for, remember that."
"B-but I…"
"You did nothing wrong." Lukas placed a kiss on Vlad's forehead. "And you're not tainted, alright? So, don't feel guilty about what they did to you, or what they tried to do, okay?"
"But… If I had been paying attention, then they wouldn't have…"
"They took you when you were vulnerable. We don't blame you, understand?"
Vlad closed his eyes, and Lukas placed another kiss on his temple. Vlad opened his eyes again.
"You keep doing that," he said. "Why?"
"I guess I just want to show you that I care," Lukas said. "And, now that you know, there's no reason for me to be shy about my affections."
"But… I thought people can only be in love with one person?"
"According to whom? While it might be socially acceptable to only have one lover at a time, no one only loves one person all their lives. And, while I don't have any experience in this department, I know that what I feel towards you and Arthur is love."
Vlad curled in on himself. His face was mostly healed by now, and Lukas knew that soon, he would have to tend to the slave brand.
"If anything, that brand is evidence that Arthur and I failed you," he said. "We weren't there to protect you."
"It's not…" Vlad started.
"If you don't want us to blame ourselves, then you shouldn't blame yourself. That's how this works."
Vlad closed his mouth and closed his eyes. Lukas continued to heal his face, until the last cut was gone.
"How do I even know what love feels like?" Vlad asked. "I don't know."
Lukas cupped Vlad's cheeks and forced him to look towards him. Lukas stared deep into Vlad's eyes, and the warmth built in his chest.
"Do you feel that?" Lukas whispered. Vlad nodded. "That is my love for you. You should know it, because it's not going away. And I also feel this same love for Arthur. It's a nice feeling, isn't it?"
"It… it's warm," Vlad said. "And… A bit painful. It feels… like it's too big for me."
"That is why I want to share it. Because it's too big for me too."
Vlad closed his eyes again. His face was relaxed, as though he was basking in the sensation. Lukas placed another kiss on his forehead. Vlad giggled.
"Isn't Arthur going to feel jealous?" he asked.
Lukas turned around to look at Arthur, who was still working on the wards and ignoring the two of them.
"Don't worry," Lukas said. "I have enough to share with Arthur as well. And I'm going to protect him, just as I'm going to protect you. It's nice, isn't it?"
"…People who want to protect me," Vlad whispered. "Yes… It's nice."
Lukas turned his attention to Vlad's arms. His wrists were raw and bloody, and Lukas suspected that he had struggled against ropes. Lukas healed the wrists, making sure to kiss them when he was done. The rest of his arms also had a few cuts, burns and bruises, and Lukas turned his attention to each of them. Finally, all of the visible wounds were healed. That left everything under the clothes, including Vlad's chest.
"Did they hurt your legs?" Lukas asked.
"They kicked them a few times," Vlad said. "I think there's just some bruising."
"Still, even some bruising is too much bruising. May I?"
"…It's fine. I really just want… that thing removed."
Lukas stared at Vlad for a moment before he sighed and nodded.
"Then please, remove your shirt," Lukas said. "It'll be easier if I can see more, and I can also check if there are other wounds."
"Are you sure you won't feel embarrassed about seeing me partially naked?" Vlad asked, a small, teasing smile on his face. It was so small that Lukas almost didn't notice it, but it was enough to tell him that there was still a small trace of the previous Vlad still there. That he wasn't lost.
"You know, I actually think I figured it out," Lukas said. "The reason why I was so embarrassed. It was because I'm attracted to you and Arthur. The thought of seeing you, and you seeing me, was a bit too much for me when I was still trying to figure out what I'm feeling. But… I guess, now that I realise what I feel, I want to see more of you."
Vlad's cheeks gained a pinkish tint, but he dutifully started to remove his shirt. A footstep behind him made Lukas turn around. Arthur stopped and crouched down next to him.
"Wards are ready," Arthur said. "Is it…?"
"I'm going to heal the brand now," Lukas said. "Maybe you should help me?"
Arthur's cheeks grew red. He must have realised what Lukas had in mind. To heal, they had to place their hands on top of the wound. And since the slave brand wasn't that big, it would mean placing their hands over each other. Still, Arthur didn't protest or deny.
"Let's do this," Lukas whispered as soon as the offensive image was revealed.
Vlad whimpered when Lukas placed his hand on top of it. The brand was warm, in stark contrast with the surrounding skin. Lukas started to let the healing magic flow, and after a few seconds, Arthur's hand joined his. Lukas smiled as their magic combined, growing stronger as the light washed over Vlad. Their magic felt really compatible, and Lukas took that as another sign that they were destined to be together in some capacity.
Vlad continued to whimper, something he hadn't done with any of the other wounds. It could be because this wound had a psychological scar as well. Lukas used his free hand to stroke Vlad's hair, noticing the sweat that had started to soak it.
"We're almost finished," Lukas said.
"And then I'll take over," Arthur said. "You've healed a lot, haven't you? You'll need your rest."
"I want to see this through."
"…Alright."
After a few more seconds, the skin underneath Lukas's hand grew cool. He waited a little longer before he removed his hand. Only white skin greeted them, not a single mark in sight.
"There," Lukas said. "All gone."
Vlad sniffed and curled into a ball. Tears had started flowing down his cheeks.
"Thank you," he whimpered. "Thank you."
Lukas moved closer and wrapped his arms around Vlad. Vlad clung to Lukas's shirt as he cried, a mixture of pain and relief and fear and acceptance. Lukas stroked Vlad's hair, trying to soothe him while also allowing him to get all of the negativity out of his system. Arthur moved closer and positioned himself behind Vlad's back. They were turned slightly, so Arthur had easier access. Arthur started work on whatever wounds were on Vlad's back.
The three of them remained that way for several long minutes. Lukas's feet were starting to fall asleep, though he didn't care at the moment, as long as Vlad could recover. Eventually, he felt a heavier weight resting against his chest, and he smiled softly when he realised what happened.
"Vlad cried himself to sleep," Lukas whispered. He placed another kiss on Vlad's head, and the younger boy moved closer to his chest. "I wish there is a way to imbue a kiss with sweet dreams."
"I wouldn't know," Arthur said. "Never tried magic like that before. His back is almost healed. There's just this one bruise…"
"I really wish I could make the three of them pay for what they did to Vlad."
"I know. I managed to hear some of your conversation. The parts that weren't… too personal."
"I wouldn't mind it, if you listened to those parts."
"…You'll have to forgive me. This is… all a bit too new and sudden, and I have no idea how I should feel about the whole thing."
"Then stop worrying about how you think you should feel, and focus on how you actually feel."
"…That would still take time. I'm just… I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to return your feelings. What it might do to our friendship."
Lukas closed his yes and took a deep breath.
"I'm fully prepared for rejection," he said. "Or, at least, I told myself that I am. I understand how sudden it is and how unexpected it is. I'm not particularly impatient. If you need some time to sort your feelings out, I'll give you space. Just… Promise me that you won't hate me."
"No matter what," Arthur said, "that is something that I do not think I'll be able to do."
"Then that's enough, for now."
Lukas moved Vlad so that he was lying on his back. The bruises on his front became clear, and Lukas and Arthur silently set to work on healing all of these wounds. Finally, there was no trace of Vlad's abduction, other than the possible bruising on his legs, but neither of them was going to take off his trousers to check, and then there was also the emotional wounds that would take a lot longer to heal. Arthur took Vlad's torn shirt, and Lukas had to repress his grin when he saw that Arthur knew a sewing spell. Arthur shot him a knowing glare, but otherwise didn't pull his attention away from the spell.
"Are you hungry?" Lukas asked. "I'll see if there are any fish in the pond."
"What about Vlad?" Arthur asked.
"Let him sleep, for now. He's had a long day."
"…You know, your entire demeanour has changed."
"I've had trouble expressing my emotions for a long time. Since you know what I feel… I feel light, somehow, but there's still the fear of rejection."
"…I see."
Lukas turned his back to Arthur and allowed him to work. He wouldn't expect his friends to accept his feelings, but he would give them time to get used to the idea. And if they wanted him to give them space, or if they informed him that he was being too clingy, then he would give them the space that they needed.
He realised that he was willing to give them anything.
…
Nemthys looked over Tino and Henri. Raj had been taken to his room to recover. Whatever Nemthys had to say to him, Raj was already in enough pain, and could barely pay attention to whatever it was that Nemthys had to say. Nemthys decided that Raj had already been punished.
"So, is there a reason why you told them so much about what you were doing?" Nemthys asked.
"Master, forgive me," Tino said. "In the moment… a desire not to end up like Raj won out."
"Still, I can't be too angry at you. You forced them to use up a lot of luck, after all. What are the odds of Vlad reverting to the jewel's primal magic?"
"Master?" Henri asked. His uncertainty was visible for all to see.
"Vlad might have been broken a little too well," Nemthys continued. "And the other two will have to endure his emotional turmoil for the foreseeable future. I think we should add to the turmoil. The last jewel is in the water. They would require a boat. Do you think that they can go to any town to hire a boat?"
"Not likely," Tino said. "They would need to…" He cut himself off as he realised exactly what his master was implying. He bowed low. "I will not fail you this time."
"Make sure you do not. Henri, call your siblings. They would enjoy this as well. And remember, don't play around. Finish as quickly as you can."
"Understood," Tino and Henri said simultaneously.
…
"So, how are we going to sleep tonight?" Arthur asked.
Lukas lied down next to Vlad, and Arthur sighed.
"He's going to need to know that we're here to support him," Lukas said. "And if he wakes up in the middle of the night, it's to see that we're next to him. That what happened did not push us away."
"And this is not just about you wanting to be close?" Arthur asked.
"Well, there's that too. Come on. Lie down on his other side."
Arthur sighed again, but did as Lukas suggested. He jumped when Lukas wrapped his arm around Vlad and grabbed hold of Arthur's hand.
"So, is it safe to assume that you are the one that causes us to wake up like this?" Arthur asked.
"This is the first time I do it on my own," Lukas said. "I have no idea why we tend to wake up like this. But I think it's a good way to show Vlad that we're there for him, don't you think?"
Arthur looked down at their interlaced fingers.
"You're taking this a little too far," Arthur said. "You realise that, right?"
"…When I was a kid, a lot of the other kids I used to play with decided that I didn't want to play with them anymore, simply because I didn't look as though I was enjoying it," Lukas said. "They pushed me away because they didn't think that I wanted to be around them. I don't want you to mistake my feelings about you. I want to show you, as much as possible, that I care for you and appreciate you."
"Alright, that's understandable. But I still think you're taking things a bit too far."
"Then, tomorrow, I'll try to rein it in."
Arthur sighed, but before he could comment on it any further, Vlad turned in his sleep. He turned around to face Arthur, and he snuggled as close as possible. Lukas chuckled before he snuggled closer to Vlad's back, and Arthur huffed.
"Honestly," he said. "You two…"
"I think Vlad considers you to be very comforting," Lukas said.
Arthur had pulled Vlad's shirt back on him without waking him, so at least he wasn't feeling too much of Vlad's skin. Under these circumstances, it would not be appropriate or acceptable. He felt a little nauseous, but he assumed it was because the Forest Mind was very close to him.
"You know, I can't help but wonder about something," Arthur said. "They had the opportunity. Why didn't they take the jewel?"
"They were focused on breaking us, remember?" Lukas said. "They weren't thinking of anything else."
"But, it doesn't make sense."
"We can worry about it tomorrow. For now, we need to get some sleep."
"…Alright."
Still, the question nagged at Arthur. There was something that they were missing, and he didn't like it.
…
Lukas was on a small island in the middle of the sea. The island was barely large enough to even be considered, and it was barely large enough for him, Arthur and Vlad.
"Where are we?" Vlad asked, looking around.
"…I think it's one of those dreams again," Lukas said. He heard singing, and he followed the call. As a sailor, he knew that it was dangerous to follow the sound of singing in the ocean, but he knew that this was significant.
He followed the singing to a deepish, though small, pool. The water was a dark blue, but clear enough that he could see the jewel in the heart of the pool.
"There it is," Lukas said. "The Ocean Soul. Our last target."
