Work Text:
Laios had a newfound appreciation for healing magic, even if the technicalities were still a bit confusing to him.
Within a teaching environment, things had started off awkward but slow. However, the possibility of healing a party member in the future in a moment’s notice, kept Laios motivated to learn more healing spells over time.
But none of that would prepare him for the emotional turmoil of watching someone getting hurt.
Laios instincts, to fight and protect, clashed with the empathy needed to defend and heal.
“I’m capable of washing myself-” Toshiro attempted to protest, both hands holding onto the small towel that covered his privates.
“I don’t mind! I’m looking for any cuts we might’ve missed.” Laios reassured, taking Toshiro by the shoulders, pushing him towards the small stools near a large, steaming bath tub.
Toshiro was unable to refute, memory still foggy, although he’d been injured and saved only a few hours before. Judging by Laios' new-found interest for Toshiro’s waist and chest, he felt it would be best to ask questions about the incident after their bath, in order to ease Laios’ worries.
Meanwhile, Laios hands traced down Toshiro’s spine, sending goosebumps through his fair skin. Triggering Toshiro to sip up straight, shoulders tense, even as Toshiro grabbed a bucket of warm water and began to scrub his chest and arms. Focusing on getting rid of any dirt and blood, even as Laios rough fingers gently brushed down and around Toshiro’s waist.
A sudden splash of water made Laios back off in slight surprise, white foam landing on his lap rather, reminding him what they were originally doing. It eased some of his anxiety to watch Toshiro sigh in relief when the hot water rinsed out the worst of that day’s residue. Looks like Toshiro’s senses were fine, with no signs of hypersensitivity or anything of the like.
Laios could hear Marcille’s teachings in the back of his mind, hammering him to never leave a single scar unattended in the case of a large wound. There were a few wishers of Failin’s advice that, Laios felt it more relevant now that he’d understood the basics of chanting a spell. But being taught by a couple of good teachers did not prepare him for the stress of worrying this hard for a single person.
Laios may have avoided leaving a giant scar on Toshiro, but that just made the hunt for any other wounds more tedious. Toshiro first died by being turned into stone then destroyed, it felt like a big puzzle to find all the small pieces, and drag them to the surface. No blood or cold, stiff limbs were involved, which Laios had come to learn made quite the difference.
“Looks good… Let me get you back!” Laios spoke up, pleased with seeing Toshiro’s back was clear of scratches or bruises.
“Ah— no, it’s okay–” Toshiro’s attempt to stop Laios was barely acknowledged, cutting himself off at the feeling of a washcloth running between his shoulder blades. Causing him to tense up once more.
“Just promise you’ll get my back too, okay?” Laios added, humming a slow tune as he scrubbed circles on Toshiro’s back. Leaning closer, still looking for any abnormalities that might need magical attention.
Toshiro didn’t register what he said, just nodding along to the question in hopes of ending it. Not even Maizuru helped him bathe past the age of 10, even so, the last time he ever bathed with someone was around his teenage years while his brothers were still young.
“Oh no— I messed up…!” Laios suddenly exclaimed, his head leaning over Toshiro’s shoulder, making Toshiro’s ears ring for a moment.
“I’m fine, seriously—” Toshiro was quickly cut off, not by Laios' voice, but by his large hand grasping at the base of Toshiro’s flaccid cock.
“This doesn’t make sense, your legs were mostly intact!” Laios mumbled to himself, scared and worried to see just how much he’d cost Toshiro thanks to a rookie mistake.
“How could this happen!? I did everything right as far as Marcille’s explanation goes… Ack! I’m sorry, this doesn’t hurt, right? I’ll fix it right away!” Laios rambled on, bringing his second hand down to grasp Toshiro’s privates, gentle yet firm, trying to concentrate on fixing the wound.
But before Laios could begin chanting, Toshiro’s hands finally grasped at his wrists, slightly shaking from the shock of being grabbed in such a sensitive area.
“I-I said I’m fine…!” Toshiro managed to make a shaky reply, but even so, Laios hands didn’t move. Golden eyes snapping open, settling into a glare at Toshiro’s insistence.
“Quit trying to be tough, you’re nowhere near okay while missing that much skin!” Laios rebutted, which shocked Toshiro for a short moment.
“I’ve… Never had any skin there.” Toshiro clarified, but Laios remained unconvinced.
With one hand still on Toshiro, Laios shifted his stool to the side, bringing that free hand to his own groin. Toshiro instantly regretted letting his eyes shift downwards, not just because it was rude, but the sight of Laios’ cock brought strange feelings to pool in his stomach.
Meanwhile, Laios stared down in disbelief and confusion. His eyes quickly shifted between his groin and Toshiro’s, attempting to find out where he went wrong, until Toshiro spoke up again.
“It’s quite normal in the East for that… ‘Skin’, to be removed a few months after a baby boy is born. If I’m not mistaken, it’s not as common in the west outside the royal families. Point being, I’m not hurt.” Toshiro tried to explain, forcing his eyes to look at the nearby bathtub, wishing he was in it. He missed the way Laios' face switched from confused worry, to surprised relief. Even letting out a small sigh, his grip relaxing.
“… Which means you can let go of me.” Toshiro added in a timid tone, Laios quickly moved his hand away, both hands in the air in a comical manner while his gaze also moved to anything else in the room.
“R-right…! I’m glad you’re all in one piece.” Laios almost chuckled, trying to lighten the awkward mood he’d created.
“So… Sorry about that. It’s my first time healing someone who was broken in more than two parts. I just wanted to make sure everything was back where it was supposed to.” Laios turned towards the direction of the sound of bare feet walking on tile, watching Toshiro’s back as he made his way towards the large bathtub.
“It’s fine…” Toshiro replied, but Laios remained unconvinced that Toshiro didn’t feel some resentment towards such abrupt actions. Then Laios noticed Toshiro’s shoulders drop, and the blush that had taken over his ears slowly creeping down his pale neck. Laios instantly peeled up at what Toshiro said next.
“Finish washing yourself, we can talk more in the bath.” Toshiro added, interested in learning how he’d died earlier, far more than allowing the awkward silence in the room to win.
Laios, on the other hand, saw the chance to redeem himself, even if it meant pushing off the strange emotion that bloomed in his chest from both looking and touching Toshiro. Suddenly far more aware of Toshiro’s broad back and long legs than he had before.
“Right! Just a second…!” Laios scrambled to grab the washcloth and soap, while Toshiro took that moment to fan his heated face with one hand.
While neither of them could face each other with how the ordeal made them feet at the moment, one thing was for sure…
It would take weeks for them to be able to look at each other without their eyes eventually wandering downwards.