empathicfault | IC Inbox

[ Will works on the tentacles, and they get increasingly easier to pull off over time. Once he's gotten them all, he flings the carcass as far away from them as he can. Then he gets to gently rubbing over Malcolm's ears. ]

I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn't have dozed off. I didn't have anything else on me.

[ He rubs Malcolm's back, only not hugging him because Malcolm's currently too wrapped around him to allow it. ]

Thank god the gun went off, at least. I couldn't remember if it only worked when there was danger or when I was in danger.

[ He rubs the ears again, and will go back and forth until they both feel a little more calm. ]

[After a few moments, Malcolm shuffles back a little bit and changes, still a little wide-eyed and flush from the adrenaline, but as soon as he’s bipedal again, he throws his arms around Will’s neck and breathes him in from human height, gasping a little when he speaks.]

Are you okay?

[ Will wants to keep his hands on him while Malcolm changes, but it's not really a doable with everything shifting so much. Will waits impatiently, fingers tapping his own thight, and he hugs Malcolm tightly as soon as he's human again. ]

I'm okay, I'm fine. Can't believe one of those things thought it could eat a wolf... Are your ears still ringing? Did it bite you?

[ His eyes are worried as he pulls back just enough to try and make an assessment of Malcolm's current state from his face. ]

[Malcolm touches his ear gingerly, but it doesn’t hurt.]

It hurt and they rang for a couple of minutes but the healing must be kicking in.

[He looks at Will.]

Can I have one of your shirts?

[And maybe some pants, but second. He doesn’t have fur to keep him warm now.]

Of course...

[ Right, clothes. They're not far from his backpack- he'd hand over the one he's wearing, but it's splattered with blue blood and octopus goo, which is probably not the best for Malcolm's nose. So he pulls out another of his own shirts from his bag, and also the remaining clothes that Malcolm had in his office.

He knows Malcolm, though, and hands the shirt over first. ]

Here you go.

[He pulls the shirt on hastily, glancing up at the tree branches around them, in case anything else is lurking up there.]

It wasn't your fault you know. [He reaches for his underwear and pants and starts pulling them on.] Falling asleep. I could have smelled it or heard it. I wasn't paying attention. I liked being comfortable for a minute, too.

[ There isn't anything in the branches right now. Not after that gunshot. It's a smart idea on behalf of the wildlife, too, as Will would probably shoot anything that looked like it was coming near. ]

Yeah. It was nice.

[ He gives Malcolm an extremely tired smile. ]

I should've remembered that neither of us can stay hurt, but- [ He shakes his head. ] I guess it didn't matter when it comes to you.

[Doing up his pants, Malcolm pauses and looks up at him.]

It wouldn't matter if it happened to you, either. It cures hurt but not dead. That thing could have snapped my neck or choked me to death before it let go and the healing wouldn't have saved me then. [He leans up to press a tender kiss to Will's mouth.] You saved me.

Edited 2023-09-19 19:57 (UTC)

[ Will takes the kiss as his eyes flutter shut. His breathing starts to even out. ]

I'm glad I could.

[ He looks around at the beautiful scenery and pulls Malcolm into another hug. ]

We're gonna have to start remembering that we tend to find the dangerous places. Even if we feel safe together.

Maybe we should go to the... shopping part for a bit. Get a cup of coffee or something.

[Speaking into Will's shoulder; fingers fidgeting at a button on his shirt.]

That sounds good. Think I saw an elevator tube not too far from here.

[ They were the only things that stood out as obviously not alive. ]

Let's head to the guest ring. We can find someplace a little quieter, maybe.

[ That being said, he's not going to move Malcolm from being attached to him. He'll let Malcolm decide when he's ready for that. ]

[When Malcolm does let go, he grabs his boots and pulls them on, then grabs Will’s hand. He still wants to be close.]

Maybe they have some sort of sorbet.

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