bsumone | ❝ Earth is strung with lovers’ pearls ❞

Su-jin winced at that shriek. "It's okay. You're alright. I won't hurt you." He wasn't certain Silvio understood the words, so he hoped his soft tone would indicate he wasn't a threat. While the wolf was on the ground, Su-jin moved in closer, holding out his hand.

"I know you remember my scent."

Silvio shrank away a little from the hand, terrified in his feral state. But then...then the closer the scent got the easier it was to recognize. Whimpering softly, the wolf lifted his head to sniff the air.

Familiar. Comforting.

Mate.

That was the scent of his mate.

"That's right," he murmured, a ghost of a smile curling his lips. "You know me. It's your mate, Su-jin." He drew closer, dropping down onto a knee so he was closer to Silvio's level. He left his hand extended even as he shuffled forward so Silvio could keep sniffing. He hoped his scent was reassuring.

"I'm going to stay here with you, alright? So we don't need these chains."

Mate. Definitely mate.

Slowly, he limped closer before licking the hand and finally slumping to the ground. He was in a lot of pain but suddenly felt safe. Balanced. Trembling a little from the pain, Silvio whined quietly, ears twitching a lot to listen to his mate now that his instincts had settled on who this person was.

Edited 2023-02-05 08:09 (UTC)

Su-jin watched Silvio, all the pain he witnessed making his heart ache. He remembered all too clearly the wounds these chains have left on his lover for the last ninety years. He hoped that now they wouldn't be necessary. Once Silvio collapsed on the ground, Su-jin moved to unfasten the chains around him. He moved with urgency but still made sure to telegraph his moves so as not to startle Silvio.

The things hurting him were gone. Right away, he went to lick at one of the burns by his paws, trying to soothe the injury. It wasn't healing right away but it also wasn't blackened the way that Su-jin usually saw due to the chains not having been on that long this time.

But he at least stayed put and didn't try to attack. As he'd mentioned to Su-jin in the past, having someone recognized as pack helped a lot.

He didn't dare try to take Silvio upstairs. Not until he could be sure it would be safe for them both. Instead, once the chains were gone, he sat down beside the wolf, making sure his body was touching Silvio's. And if Silvio responded well to that? He'd lay on the floor beside him.

The warm body got him to stop licking his leg. Lifting his head, he sniffed to assess how his mate was sitting and then shifted so he could plop his head down onto his lap. Though he was hurting, he was more interested in the comfort than tending to his injuries.

Letting out a long sigh, he closed his eyes, finally able to find some peace like this.

"That's right," Su-jin cooed. "Just relax. I'm right here." He lifted a hand to stroke the fur on Silvio's head and then one of his ears. He expected it to feel more coarse than it did, but he couldn't stop brushing his fingers over it. It was a sort of reminder for Silvio that Su-jin was there, would be there as long as he needed him.

Softly, he licked at his leg before letting out a long breath. He was exhausted, and now that he wasn't constantly being burned and in recovery mode, he could actually rest. So he allowed himself to sleep with his mate all the way until morning when he'd be in his human form again.

Whatever position that Su-jin had decided to be in to be with him, Silvio would still be pressed to him regardless, still with red marks from the chains but it was clear that he'd heal much faster this time.

Once Silvio's breathing indicated that he was sleeping, Su-jin shifted to lay on the floor beside him. He snuggled up to the wolf's side and draped one arm over him to keep that steady, supportive weight against Silvio's body. His fingers moved through Silvio's fur until he, too, dozed off beside his mate.

When morning came, Su-jin groaned softly, his shoulder aching slightly from sleeping on the floor. It's not even the worst place he's slept, but he's become a bit spoiled in these modern times. Blinking the sleep from his dark eyes, Su-jin pushed himself upright and looked over Silvio to examine the damage from the silver chains. It looked much better than he's seen over the years. Angry red, but not those horrible black burns.

Reaching down, he combed his fingers gently through Silvio's hair. "Are you awake," he murmured softly.

It was Su-jin moving that made him stir. His body hurt but it wasn't...in agony. The sensation was confusing. As was the scent of Su-jin. Disoriented, Silvio tried to piece things together but was quickly distracted by that beautiful voice that he loved so much.

Groaning softly, his eyes opened to show how red they were. Something that happened every fully moon but that Silvio was unaware of. He only knew how badly they were hurting right now.

"...Su-jin? What? What's going on?" He was having a little trouble gathering his thoughts together.

Oh, he'd need to get a cool cloth for Silvio to put over his eyes. But the burns from his chains didn't look nearly as bad as when Su-jin usually saw them. He continued stroking his fingers through Silvio's hair and, though his mate couldn't see it, he smiled down at him.

"Just rest a while. I'm here to look after you. Are you hungry?"

The hand in his hair felt so nice that he gave up on trying to understand what was happening, settling for relaxing and letting Su-jin being there soothe him. Closing his aching eyes, he sighed softly. His body didn't hurt as bad as before and it took him a second to realize he wasn't in the chains. When...?

But he was being asked something. "...yeah. I am."

“Will you be alright if I go upstairs to get you breakfast?” And a cloth for his eyes. And some ointment for the burns the chains did leave. “Maybe a blanket, too? Then we can rest a while. I can read to you if you like.”

"Yeah." All of that sounded amazing. So much better than being trapped all day in pain from the chains, waiting for night to fall. Disoriented and alone. This was much nicer. It was almost like a hundred years ago when he had a pack.

Because...Su-jin was his pack now. Even if he wasn't a wolf.

"I won't be long. Just rest," he murmured softly. He's typically soft-spoken, but there's more warmth in his voice now. He got up and vanished up the stairs just long enough to cook some oatmeal and cut some fruit. He also grabbed the small shopping bag he had prepped with bandages and ointment and a blanket from the bed was draped over his arm. In addition to all that, he wet a cloth for Silvio's eyes after he prepared breakfast. Blanket secure, the handles of the bag were around his wrist, ha carried the bowl of food in one hand and the damp cloth with a tall glass of water in the other. He was impressed with himself for managing it all in one trip.

He waited for Silvio to get up, setting things said to help him if needed, before the pressed the warm bowl into his hands. "I don't know what your stomach can handle right now, so I brought some fruit, too." He paused, looking around and frowning slightly. "Maybe we can get a bed down here for you so you don't have to sleep on the floor."

Silvio had managed to make his way over to a wall, resting against it with his eyes closed. He smiled a little at the mention of a bed. "I never put one down here because I knew I'd just tear it up."

Taking the bowl, he sniffed it. Oatmeal. He took a bite of it before lifting his head. "Were you...with me all night?"

"I was," he said with a silent nod. "And you were perfectly well-behaved. I think a bed would be safe with me here." Which, going forward, he planned to be here for Silvio's changes. One of the many perks of living within driving distance.

"Oh, I brought some cinnamon and sugar if you want that for your oatmeal." They were in the bag along with the bandages (which might not be needed) and some ointment he'd apply after Silvio ate.

"Could I have some of the fruit actually?" He held out his bowl to allow the fruit to be put into it, figuring that would go nicely with it. Sweeten it up a bit but also give him some of the nutrients that he needed right now.

And while he did that, thought about what Su-jin had said. He'd been with him all night, had managed to unchain him, and he'd been...safe? Silvio hadn't hurt him and had been well-behaved? That hadn't been true for him since...

Some tears formed in his aching eyes and spilled down his cheeks. "...you're my pack," he murmured softly.

Su-jin, who hasn't really eaten food in centuries, had a bowl of mixed fruit: some slices of apple, strawberries, actual berries. He spooned out a little of everything so Silvio could have a variety flavors in his bowl.

When he looked back up from the task he saw the tears and alarm lanced through him. But the words his lover uttered gave them context. He scooted a little closer to him and cupped Silvio's face in both hands. He thumbed the tears away and leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips.

"Of course I am," he replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "We're mates, remember?"

"I never thought I'd have one again." But he'd bonded himself to Su-jin without even realizing it. This man was his pack now and it didn't matter if he was a wolf or not. Laughing softly, Silvio gave him a little kiss back then smiled at him. He loved him so damn much.

"I'm really glad you're here."

"I'm really glad you agreed to come here with me." His thumbs brushed over Silvio's cheeks a couple of times before he pulled back to let the wolf finish his breakfast. "Eat up, now. You need your strength."

Nodding, he finished up the meal that he'd been giving, making sure to eat every single bite. Once the bowl was taken away, he rested against the wall again. For a moment, he was quiet. Then he rolled his head to face Su-jin.

"I love you. You're my light in these shadows."

It's still a little startling how open Silvio is with those affectionate words to him. It's not something Su-jin's accustomed to, but he definitely liked the way it made him feel warm inside and left little birds fluttering in his stomach.

He reached over to take one of Silvio's hands in his, threading their fingers together. "I plan to be for a very, very long time."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject