"Cas is going to be okay," Halm said gently. "You haven't failed him. And the other God should be just up here." Halm put one arm around Nix, trying to reassure him. Halm stepped up to one of the doors in the hall they were in, knocking before he entered.
"Marcos," he said. "I need your assistance with something." The Moon God looked up at Halm and the two boys.
"I see," he said, assessing the situation.
Nix eyed Marcos warily, holding Cas closer to himself. Cas was still shaking and keeping his face hidden, terrified of literally everything at the moment. Nix stuck close to Halm just in case.
Halm gently put this hand on Nix's head. Marcos motioned for the body, which Halm have over easily. He obviously trusted Marcos. Marcos left the room, motioning for Halm and Nix to follow. Halm put his arm around Nix and Cas, leading them after Marcos. Marcie brought them to… A roman style bath room. Marcos didn't hesitate, stepping into the water with Cas's body.
"Cas," Halm said gently, reaching out to try to gently take him from Nix.
Nix clearly doesn't trust Marcos, but after some coaxing, eventually allowed Halm to take Cas's soul from him. He stuck close to Halm, trembling slightly with anxiety while he waited. Cas himself yelped and froze up at the sight of the water, clearly wanting nothing to do with it.
"Everything is going to be okay," Halm said, to both of them. He wrapped both arms around Cas, wanting to comfort him, but he still started towards the water, stepping in. He put his hand on Cas's head, being gentle. Marcos motioned for Halm to hand Cas over, however.
"Is there no way for me to hold him?" He asked softly.
"Just his head," Marcos said. The other god was being almost cold about this. He saw no rush.
Nix whined worriedly as he watched, not sure what to do. Cas was still terrified, trying to get out of the water to no avail. He was panicking now, and Nix couldn't go in and help him, which was terribly stressful for everyone involved.
"Cas, Cas, please," Halm begged, "this is what we need to do. If you don't stop…" Halm trailed off.
"I'll be knocking you unconscious," Marcos finished. He let Cas's body float in the water, reaching out to grab Cas from Halm. Halm glanced up at Nix. He was so sorry about all of this.
Cas reluctantly stopped struggling, but he was still shaking violently. Nix was pale and shaky himself, but there was nothing he could do but watch in terror.
(I just saw that it's your birthday soon. there will be presents!!!!!)
Halm held Cas close a moment more, then carefully handed him to Marcos. Halm made his way over, gently cupping Cas's head in his hands.
"Just focus on me, okay?" He said softly, bent low to be closer to Cas. Marcos laid Cas down on top of his body, taking Cas's leg in his hand.
"Hold him steady," Marcos instructed. "Don't let him lash out. And keep an eye on the other one." With that, Marcos pushed Cas's one leg back into his body. It would be excruciating, like he was being torn apart and sewn back together slowly.
(Aa thank you!)
Cas screamed in agony, trying to get away but unable to move. Nix wailed in distress, shaking harder. He knew he wasn't allowed in the water, but he felt like such a horrible protector for just watching Cas suffer like this. His eyes stung with tears and he started hyperventilating.
"You're going to be okay, Cas," Halm said, tearing up. He hated seeing Cas in so much pain, and fear. "Everything is going to be okay. It won't be much longer, I promise." Marcos took Cas's other leg in his hands. With no warning, he pushed it back in too, resulting in the same pain. Halm held Cas's head close, trying his best. He glanced up at Nix. Oh God, he needed help too. Halm couldn't be with both of them, though.
"Nix, Nix come here," he said softly. Marcos raised an eyebrow, but didn't object.
Cas was still screaming, but he couldn't get away. Nix hesitated before stepping into the water as well. He raised a shaking hand to run his fingers through Cas's hair, trying to get him to calm down. Cas didn't seem to notice it through the pain. Nix was still panicking, but he knew he couldn't step in or he'd disrupt the process.
This time, Marcos took hold of Cas's arm.
"We're almost halfway done," Halm promised. He was on the verge of tears himself now, of letting the tiny drops of water fall on Cas's face. Halm glanced up at Nix, putting his hand on Nix's arm a moment.
"I'm so sorry," he said, then took his hand away to hold Cas's head again. Marcos watched, not very sympathetic. He pushed Cas's arm in.
Cas was breathing heavily, tears rolling down his cheeks. Nix whimpered shakily, clinging tightly to Halm's arm with one hand. He tried to keep as quiet as possible so he wouldn't stress Cas out any more than he already was.
Halm wiped Cas's tears away, his own spilling over.
"Almost done Cas, see? Both of us are here for you." He said softly. His own head was almost touching Cas's at this point, he was so close. Marcos took Cas's second arm in his hands, not hesitating to force it down too.
(hey I know that guy)
(just wait until Torin goes through this!)
(>:()
Cas sobbed shakily, his breathing harsh and far too fast. Nix was crying as well, trying to tune out Cas's screams. This was all his fault. He should have been watching Cas. He should have warned him about the can. It should have been him in this position, not Cas.
(•w•)
Halm was trying to comfort both Cas and Nix. He put one arm around Nix, pulling him close and covering his ear with one hand and the other way with his chest.
"You can't hold him anymore. I need to put his head in." Halm didn't pull away at first, but he slowly retreated. Marcos took Cas's head in his hands.
"Take a deep breath," he ordered.
Cas obeyed, drawing in a shaky breath and holding it. He was still shaking violently and was now biting back his sobs so he wouldn't breathe on accident. Nix closed his eyes, gritting his teeth and huddling close to Halm. He was sobbing himself, shaking violently as he prepared himself for Cas's screams.
Unfortunately, Marcos wasn't going to let Cas scream. He covered Cas's mouth and nose with one hand tightly to ensure he held his breath. Halm wrapped both arms around Nix, wanting to comfort at least someone. Marcos shoved Cas's head down, holding him under the water. The head was taking longer than the other parts of him had. He seemed to be down there forever.
Nix watched in horror, shaking harder when Cas was under for far longer than he thought he should be. "Y-You're going to kill him again!" He wailed, struggling not to just grab Cas and pull him out of the water. He also knew that Cas couldn't swim, so he didn't even like the idea of Cas being in the water to begin with.
Halm held Nix closer, not letting him go. He would hold Nix back if he had to. Finally, Marcos let Cas up, let him breath. He was completely back in his body now. Halm reached over as soon as he was up, pulling him away from Marcos and tucked securely into his arm.
"I've got you," he said, crying softly, "it's over now."