Halo was choking a little, sobbing as he bleeds, his eyes opening. He was so scared, so so scared. He whimpers as he's taken into John's grasp. "John…" He whispers, over and over again, his wings fluttering weakly. It hurt. Oh it hurt. Fire seemed to be coursing through his veins, as he shakes and cries. He cries out loudly when John places pressure on the wound. He knew he was going to live. It didn't mean that it hurt like hell. He sobs and shakes his head, "John it hurts. It hurts!" He sobs, shaking his head.
“I know, I know, you’re okay, you’re going to be okay,” John breathed, pressing his forehead against Halo’s, “I’m stopping the bleeding, you’ll be okay, you’ll be okay. I’m sorry, gosh I’m so sorry… Halo, you were so brave.” John felt like his hands weren’t his own, they worked only on instinct to help Halo.
Halo cries softly, shaking a little in John's grasps. He felt so weak. He was in pain. It hurt so much. He let's John work, slowly calming down. He whimpers softly, silent tears running down his face, shivering and shaking in pain, not wanting to move.
It broke John bit by bit every second Halo was in so much pain. This was his fault, if he would’ve done something more- “Halo, gosh, can I do anything? Is there some kind of herb?” John wished he had his clothes, at least to wrap up Halo’s wound, but here he was, stuck in his boxers. His shaking hands pressed a little bit more, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. Even if Halo couldn’t die… John didn’t want the other to bleed like this.
"T-there's a herb…" He gasps, shivering in pain, shaking his head as a choked sob leaves his lips. "Its a days hike though…" He mutters, shaking his head. They were only in their boxers, the healing pool was in the caves with the monster. "I'll be okay, John." He whispers breathlessly, "I'll survive. It's my job to protect you." He whispers, choking back sobs of pain.
“Well someone needs to protect you, Halo, and I failed,” John told him, taking one bloody hand to hold Halo’s face, “Gosh, I so failed,” Tears we’re streaming down John’s eyes, and he tried to focus on stopping the blood, tried to focus at anything at all instead of crying about this. If I could just get to the herb… Halo wasn’t in good enough condition for John to leave him alone.
Halo gasps and shudders, shaking his head and crying out in pain. He had tried to move, but the cuts burned angrily at him, refusing him to stand. He whimpers and shakes his head, holding onto John. He takes a trembling breath.
No, gosh no… John held Halo to him, still pressed on the wound. The blood was coagulating around the edges, which was good if it helped the blood slow. And gosh there’s so much blood… If he at least had his lighter to try and cauterize the edges… “Halo, Halo, I promise I’ll be back in a few seconds,” John took the other’s hands and pressed them against Halo’s wound, “Push on it, it’ll slow the bleeding.”
Halo whimpers, sobbing softly as the wound burns. He didn't like it. It hurt a lot. But he was glad he had gotten clawed and not John. John might be dead if he did. He shakes his head as John left, off to find something. He didn't want to be alone. Not now, not next to the cave with the dreaded monster alone. He presses his hands to the wound as ordered and bites his lip, trying his hardest not to cry anymore.
John ran frantically, trying to find what his needed. It felt like too long when he finally found all of it. He came back to Halo’s side carrying wood and tinder -a pile of dried grass. John set it up, scraping the wood back and forth near the tinder while his spoke, “This will help. I’ve done it a few times before to my comrades. You’re going to be alright.”
Halo was still there, breathing and alive. He was still silently crying, shaking his head as he holds his stomach. He sees John come back and he releases a relived sigh. He smiles weakly when he sees the other. He nods as John settles next to him.
John furiously scared the woods together. Just gotta get the right angle… Smoke started to rise up, and John scraped faster. Just… a little… more… The tinder caught a little, and suddenly a small flame was born. He quickly gathered the tinder, setting sticks on it to catch. John looked at Halo with agony in his eyes about what he was about to do, “You need to brace yourself. This will hurt, love.” It’s better than if Halo bled out to unconsciousness… if the other was too weak… John doubted the beast would hesitate to come out at night.
Halo watches as John creates a fire and his eyes widen in fear. Oh no… nonononono! Not fire! He whimpers, shaking his head, "J-john! No!" He manages, choking on fear. He didn't want that. He wasn't going to deal with this. He shifts and shakes his head, "No! Please John! Please no!" He sobs. He was terrified of fire. Especially… He blinks back the memory, whimpering nervously. He didn't want it.
John cried, he cried so hard. He couldn’t look Halo in the eyes. He would never be able to look the other is the eyes again. John promised it to himself, that he’d never marvel at those glass eyes again after doing this to the guardian. I’m a monster- John took the flaming sticks and pressed them against Halo’s wound, using his other arm to hold the angel down. His vision was blurred by tears now, but he made sure to put the fire in the right spot.
Halo bit his lip, watching John cry. He didn't want this, he didn't want it at all. But he needed to do it for John. He cries out, his eyes going wide as his skin burned. He holds onto the ground, shaking his head and sobbing loudly. It hurt. It hurt so much. When everything was said and done, he slowly sits up, wincing in pain before gently kissing John. Tears slowly slip down his face as he doesn't dare let go of the other.
John was caught off guard by the kiss, pulling away after a moment in surprise, “I-I-“ He was too shameful to look Halo in the eye, so he looked at the ground, at the tiny fire that was burning itself out. He stood up, turning away from Halo with shaking shoulders of silent tears. John took a shaky breath, “I hurt you.”
Halo starts when John pulls away, watching as he looks down. He raised a hand to gently caress Johns cheek but pulled back when John stood. Halo looks at him in concern, a fear grabbing at his chest. He looks at John in concern. "J-john?" He calls softly. He knew what John had to do what was necessary, but he was acting strange. "You had to do what was necessary." He whispers.
“But I hurt you,” John bit out, looking at his hands. They were literally covered in Halo’s blood from when he had put pressure on the wound, “I couldn’t protect you, then I hurt you.” He sniffled, then choked on a sob. Something was broken inside him, something that couldn’t be pieced together again this time.
Halo slowly and weakly stands, stumbling, but hugs John as he does so. He rests his head in the crook of John's neck. "For a good reason. You had to heal me didn't you?" He replies softly. He didn't want to see John like this. It hurt him more than any physical pain. "And my job as a guardian is to make sure you live." He whispers.
John held on tightly to Halo, trying to keep him steady yet not touch the other’s still recovering wound, “I-I won’t forgive myself, no matter what reason I had, I hurt you,” John stifled another sob onto his hand, clamping his eyes shut.
Halo just holds the other, his eyes closing. He didn't dare let John go. "I love you." He whispers softly, just sitting there with the other in his arms.
“Why would you love a monster like me?” John bit out, as if in remembrance of their moments in the cave. As if in mourning. As if trying to scramble to pick up broken pieces, but just cutting your hands.
Halo tilts his head up at John. He cracks a smile before chuckling softly. "Oh John." He whispers faintly. "You, a man I admire, adore, and love a monster? You're a soldier. A fighter. I am a guardian. If it means getting injured I'll do what it takes. I love you. I want to help you. I want to love you. Keep you safe. Just as you have done for me. You healed me. In more ways than one."
“But-But-“ John tensed up, tears spilling out of his eyes, “I can’t stand to see you in pain, how could I possibly look you in the eyes after I forced pain upon you?” He stared at the remnants of the fire, little ashes floating over the ground. John should’ve never done that, he had underestimated the pain it would bring Halo.
Halo's eyes grow concerned as he gently lifts up John's chin, "Easy. John, you did it to help me." He wipes away John's tears, his eyes soft and loving. He holds the other close, just standing there. He loved John very much, and seeing him like this brought Halo pain. He smiles softly, kissing the other gently, shutting his eyes. He was John's guardian. But he was more than that. John was someone he wanted to love and protect.
