Queen's note: Recovery from the chaos! Kinda really want to do a silly meme thing next chapter. Also, Behold the confusion

Garnets

Chapter Seventy Three:

Holding on

He could think again, slowly but there were some proper thoughts again as the Slayer blinked and then started to recognize what was around him. It was disorientating as he looked around…his room.

Not the comfortably dark rooms on the Fortress lit by the broken moon, or one of the barracks beds closer to the showers for that matter. He was… on Argent D'nur? What happened?

The Slayer uncurled as a flickering thought popped up to really wake him up. A horrifying thought really, that the last centuries had just been a twisted nightmare as he looked around his room in the vault. He was not sure he could handle that. It would be nice not to lose his Viola but that means he never found humans again. If he never found earth… was never on the planet to find-

There was a soft sound in the bundle of blankets he had been holding and the Slayer looked down in alarm. Half expecting to see Asa as a child but then he caught a familiar scent of oatmeal soap and salt, then the feel of the young soul, before seeing the sleeping human beside him.

Then relief flooded visibly through him as the Slayer recognized his human.

His Flower.

Not Daisy, either Daisy, but Lily was shifting in her sleep without the support of his arm. Or the sudden, partial lack of heat had her moving to tuck her face into the blanket around her. Just peaceful it seemed like, as he reached over to run his hand over her head. Thick fingers sliding through the short but soft hair before settling on over the back of Lily's neck as his thumb carefully pressed against the pulse point.

John gave a soft sign, relieved at just being able to feel the heartbeat as well as seeing the slow, steady breathing. He tried to humm at his daughter, but only a single broken sound came out. John could taste his own blood again and he stopped trying to make any sound, not even the primordial.

For once he did want to use that, to express some form of relief as the not really man stooped. Hunching his back to press his face against Lily's shoulder through the blanket. Then settled back into the bed as if unable to help wrapping his adopted daughter into a protective hug. Trying to block out the world for a little longer with her safely tucked against him. Trying to just settle, as his mind started to soften that last needed bit.

It was and was not like in the gardens, and John almost got up to go back there. To take Lily back to where she would be safe, but his Flower was sleeping, not having nightmares or being restless. Going through a portal unexpectedly would not be kind. To force Lily awake with how she reacts to portals…

How did she get here?

John lifted his head, confirming again that this was his room in the vault.

How did he get here?

….did he come out of hell in a strange time again?

No, they both could not have been through hell, he would have remembered that. John, the Slayer would definitely remember if he had to go into hell after Lily, nor would he even try to bring her there even for a short time. Unshielded mortal lives did not last long in hell. The not quite man frowned, trying to piece together what had happened.

He remembers… he remembered talking with Lily before entering the upper city. The thrill and excitement of fighting with his Sentinels… after getting Sunwalker. John lifted a hand to his chest, then looked down utterly baffled at seeing his armor and under suite were not on his person. He was dressed in a loose, blue and lavender Argenta style shirt.

Alarmed, John lifted the thin blanket on him, having to confirm that, yes, pants were on. Thank gods.

Then the man had an interesting expression as he… did not remember seeing anyone after losing Viola. Only a hazy memory of… souls… of his first Flower whispering. Stopping him from doing something horrible, but he could not remember what. Just choppy images from that truly all consuming rage. That kind of rage where he really just let go of control, he had not been in since… right after Mars.

Before he figured out how to get Vega incorporated into his armor.

Keeping one hand carefully on Lily's side but putting no pressure on her, the new god… the Slayer paused, frowned. Then shook his head. He was okay with still 'just' being a demigod, he did not want the worship the Maykr craved. He did not want his Flower to think differently of him even if he knew he was still the monster in comparison. More so now.

Taking a deep breath, John carefully sat back up in the large bed. He looked around again, one large hand resting lightly on the mortal girl. Still having to be sure she was okay as he took in not just how his bed smelled a bit off. Like his bed, yes, but… aged? It reminded him of how his old room in the Fortress was when first finding it in Hell with Vega. There was a notable layer of dust in the room, but also someone had cleaned up around his bed. The blanket on Lily looked to be one from the Fortress at least.

That at least mostly assured him that he was not somehow in the past with an unaltered human being vulnerable to past Argenta politics. John knew his aids of the past would have a hissy fit at the dust alone. Two would be cleaning right now regardless if he was trying to sleep or not.

John shifted, looking down and moved his hand to press a finger to Lily's pulse point in a wrist. Needing to check it again just to be sure she was alive and healthy. Then he looked around as if trying to decide what to do. He took a deep breath, and sorted through the haze of scents before even trying to stretch out his senses fully again.

A door opened, and the Slayer looked up, a silent snarl turned to who was in the frame. Blue eyes shifted to a harsher green.

Valen paused, startled and it took just a second for him to recover. The man spoke lowly, "How are you?"

The Slayer bared his teeth for a moment more, then finally seemed to recognize Valen a bit belatedly. Muscles that had been coiling stilled and most of that building tension bled away. Unable to fully drop the protective, somewhat possessive guard position he was in, but blinked at finding himself sitting on the edge of the bed. Not quite sure how he got there.

The Slayer checked in Lily again, still asleep, still safe. Still not sure how she was on Argent D'nur.

Valen did not move until the Slayer was blinking back at him. His mouth opened but just a strangle sound came out. He had to stop before lifting a hand, hesitated as he was not sure how to sign what he wanted. It was taking longer to think than normal. What… what happened? Why flower?

Valen carefully walked closer, holding two bottles. One was that blue liquid energy to help heal, or get someone to survive until they could be healed. The other looked like a water flask, and that was offered first once he was close enough. "You fell into your anger too deep. You were in that state for a day, and catatonic for several more."

John took the flask, and lifted his other hand. Pointing down at Lily beside him as he frowned at Valen. Then lifted and dropped his right hand a few inches several times while still pointing down in a demanding way.

That did not explain why his Flower was here.

"Bi'Jay, John… you were not the only one unresponsive." Valen said, the gentle tone odd enough to catch attention. Valen settled on his knees beside the Demigod. "Bringing Lily to you was the only way we could safely get you out of that state without risking the survivors. And you were the only thing to get Lily out of the coma."

C-o-m-a? John frowned, paused before taking a drink and looking down at his daughter. Worried as he reflexively tried to check her over. A large hand spread over her back and bled a little bit of his energy over before pausing as if unsure if he might do more harm than good. What happened, Valen?

"Lily is tied to us, to you Slayer. You did not hurt her, but she is mortal." Valen explained from where he sat. "The other humans, mortal lives you had a thread connection to were also affected. Going unconscious in your time of rage to survive it i think. The Sentinels were even knocked off balance but recovered first."

John looked back and forth between Valen and where Lily was in her bundle of blankets… and his lips twitched in an echo of a smile. Realizing that the girl managed to somehow nest in most of the pillows on the bed now that he was paying attention. He reached up to run his hand over her head, watching his Flower's calm features and then looked back to Valen. Confusion was not hidden. Did I hurt her?

Valen shook his head, "No, I don't think you did. With the difference in time here and back on the Fortress. Vega said she was asleep with Heather by the time you got the Sunwalker. She just did not wake up the next day and was in Asa's care until I brought her here."

Vega will be mad at us. John realized.

"Oh I have no doubt he's planned my downfall several times over, for taking the girl from him." Valen snorted from where he sat. "Drink the tea John, you lost a decent amount of blood. Now that you're up and awake, I'm sure Lily will wake up soon. So you need to take care of yourself before then."

I can survive. John snorted at that, but his left knee was smacked.

"You know as well as I that the girl will worry about you once she has her senses back." Valen said, "Take care of yourself now so she can focus on getting better when. Lily will likely want to see the systems of the vault before going back to the Fortress. And knowing you, you will want her to see your wintherin while the big creature is being healed."

John looked away, at the last part, not sure at first how to tell Valen the wintherin his wife gave the Slayer was gone. Then the rest of what was said slowly sank in. John looked up with a confused expression as no sound came out.

Being healed? The not quite man slowly signed, what was left of his emotions felt wrung out. If Valen was pulling on his emotions, John was going to hit him again and this time not hold back.

Valen smiled, gave a real smile, "Your mount is still alive, very hurt, but alive. Viola's mate saved her, they are both under the building we're in. You raised her as stubborn as you about dying it seems."

Viola is alive? John asked in slow sign, looking as if he wanted to be hopeful but not quite sure if he could trust believing what was said.

"Her left wing is severely dislocated, and the membrane in both wings are torn." Valen reported, and smiled with a snort, she's very grouchy but her mate has started letting the healer come closer this morning."

John shifted as if about to get up as he wanted to go see for himself. Only to stop mid motion and turn, staring at the living bundle in the bed still. He looked between the sleeping Lily and where Valen was with clear conflict.

Valen chuckled as he got up stretching before offering his left, metallic hand. After a moment he pulled John up, "Go clean up. Check your armor, get yourself taken care of and get your bearings. Lily should wake up soon now that you're up."

The not quite man grunted as he had a glowing wine bottle pushed into his chest next. The scent of the liquid energy had the Slayer feeling his mouth water. John took a moment to down both that and the tea. He felt much better after that, looking around to see if his armor was in the same room with no windows or other doors then what Valen came through. Short of something taking out the floor or caving in the ceiling, it should be safe.

The Slayer shook himself, making a face as he realized he was not as clean as he thought he was. The itches started to rear up and there was still staining of demonic blood on his skin. Lily would be safe here, he could clean up John realized now that he was upright.

Valen reached over to scratch at the broad back that was offered to him, "Malum is alive by the way. He's taken over my old position with the Sentinels still loyal to you."

I liked him. The Slayer signed as they finally headed to the door.

"He has changed though, you might want to be careful not to throw something at him." Valen explained, warned before the door opened.

The Slayer stopped short in the doorway after him. For a moment debating on just going back to the bed, staring around at those Sentinels still there. Then he saw what happened to Malum and wondered if he had to fight that- at least until Malum knelt first.

What the fuck happened. The Slayer finally signed in a demanding way at Valen, following after him after a moment.

The room settled into a sleepy, truly calm way again. The light dimmed but brightened to mimic the light outside despite the storm still dropping rain and snow outside. It took about a half an hour and some change before a very big wolf wedged itself into the room. The very wide and round wolf yawned in the quieter room before padding over to the big bed. A large paw rested on the side of the bed before the pregnant wolf slowly stood up on the edge of the bed, and then carefully pulled herself up all the way.

The wolf seemed surprised at catching another scent under the petrichor, pausing to give the… small form a careful sniffing inspection. Nosing and grumbling happily at finding someone very young seeming. The wolf made a face at the air as she felt muscles ripple and started to nest on the bed.

It was a good two hours or so when a really, really confused Lily sat up in the bed. Looking around at first, not recognizing anything around her, then looked extremely alarmed at seeing a giant wolf bigger than Rula in labor beside her. "What the fuck?"

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XFireStoneX:
ALL the post-demon culling sleepy cuddles for Doomdad. Glad you like the chapter!