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It took two days after their separation for Arthur to ask.
"What if I tried to look at you again?"
John didn't answer right away, and Arthur wished, not for the first time, that he could read John's body language. "Even after what happened when you saw me?"
"It must have been the shock. I recovered rather quickly once we had some distance."
"You were so disoriented."
"Well, now I know what to expect. I think I can handle it."
John considered for a long moment. "Alright. We can try."
"Thank you." Arthur felt for the chair and sat down. "There, now I can't fall."
"Mhm."
"John, I promise, if I feel even a little bit strange I'll put the blindfold right back on. I'll be fine."
"I hope you're right." John gently touched Arthur's arm and stepped back.
"I know I am." Arthur lifted his blindfold and smiled. "Well, aren't you something!"
Arthur focused on John's chest and arms. John was a bright shade of green, and his arms were covered in an intricate pattern that seemed to glow. Were the markings shifting?
As Arthur tried to follow the patterns, he noticed that something felt loud about them, as if they were rattling around in his head.
His vision blurred and he started to feel fuzzy. Was there something he was supposed to do?
"Arthur? Are you alright?"
Oh, that was John's voice! Maybe he would know. Arthur tried to ask, but the words wouldn't come out. He wasn't sure he could think of the right ones anyway.
"I'll put your blindfold back on," John said. "You're going to be okay."
Something touched Arthur's face. He flinched, but then there was something soft over his eyes and the noise in his head was quieter.
"Are you alright?" John asked again.
His head wasn't as loud, but he still felt fuzzy. He tried to smile.
"Stay here," John said. "I'll be right back."
Arthur heard movement and a door opening. Whatever was on his face felt nice. He brought his hand to his face to touch it.
"I'm back, and I brought this."
John put something soft in Arthur's lap- his bear! Arthur brightened and hugged Watson.
"Good, it's still you in there. You're my little prince, aren't you?"
Of course! Who else would he be? Arthur reached for the fabric covering his face, but John stopped him.
"Don't touch your blindfold. You need to leave that on, okay?"
Oh, that was what he needed to remember! He covered Watson's eye too.
"That's right, it's not safe to look right now."
John softly petted Arthur's hair, and Arthur leaned into him, embracing him with his free arm. John was big and warm and safe.
"Oh, my little work of Art. You're so brave." John picked Arthur up and held him close. "Would you like to hear a story?"
Arthur nodded. John always had the best stories.
"Once upon a time, there was a brave little boy named Arthur who lived in a magical castle..."
.
John cradled Arthur in many interlocking arms as the human fell asleep.
Arthur was such a resilient human, and unbelievably reckless. The first time Arthur had seen John when they’d split, he’d passed out because his mind couldn’t process John’s form. Arthur had been lucky to have his mind intact after that, but he’d still wanted to look at John again.
This time, when Arthur had gone quiet and distant, John had worried again that he would lose his human entirely. Arthur had merely been pushed into his childlike headspace, a gift John was not taking for granted.
Arthur was so small. It wasn’t until John had gotten his own body back that he realized just how small and vulnerable humans are. Arthur had only one heart, pacing bravely to keep Arthur alive in times of stress and calm alike. John dwarfed Arthur in size, and rather than being scared Arthur said he found it comforting.
John took solace in this. Arthur thought John was safe to be around. That wasn’t true when Arthur took off the blindfold, but they could still have this. No matter how monstrous John was, he would take care of Arthur however he could.
.
When Arthur awoke, he felt like his normal self again. "Hi, John," Arthur said, stretching. "I hope I didn't scare you too much."
"How are you feeling?" John said, his voice still low and careful.
"I'm alright. I must have gotten overstimulated."
"Must have." John’s embrace around Arthur tightened, and Arthur squirmed to face him.
"John, don't blame yourself for this."
"Why not? It was my body that was too much for your mind."
"I was probably due for this anyway. I hadn't fully slipped in awhile – it wasn't safe when we were still on the run out there. A little overstimulation is much less dangerous, especially when I have you to hold me." Arthur placed his hand on John's chest.
John stroked Arthur’s hair. "I'm just glad you're okay.”
"And I'm glad you're here with me.” Arthur relaxed into John’s touch.
“Here.” John pressed a strip of fabric into Arthur’s hand. “I made a blindfold for Watson. When you’re feeling small and confused, I hope this helps you remember that you’re safe. That I want you to be safe.”
Arthur wasn’t sure if John could cry, but his voice cracked all the same.
“Oh, John. Thank you.” Arthur accepted the blindfold and kissed the tentacle that had given it to him. He’d never forgotten that John wanted him to be safe, but he knew what this really meant. His mind couldn’t handle the sight of John – at least not yet – and he’d have to remember that even when his thoughts were clouded. Arthur tied the blindfold around the bear’s eyes. “We match! How cute is this?”
“Very.” John ruffled Arthur’s hair. “Alright, time to get up. It’s my turn to make dinner.”
“In a minute? I’m not done cuddling you yet.” Arthur embraced a tentacle in the tactile equivalent of puppy eyes.
“Sure, Arthur.” Fond amusement was clear in John’s voice. “In a minute.”