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[goodknightdaddy]

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[goodknightdaddy]

...

[Now he does show surprise, widened eyes, a slack expression for a moment. As a swordmaster of his own skill how can he not know what an impossible and amazing thing is being said so casually. He lifts a hand to run through his own bangs, expression composing after a moment.]

Truly it's hard to find words for that. It's a beautiful style you've developed.

[ehnnui]

[there are hints of actual embarrassment, slipping past his stoicism. pleasure, too, at being praised...? harder to say, on that one.]

... Thank you. Such praise means a great deal, from a swordsman so accomplished as yourself.

[goodknightdaddy]

[He nods. Neither humble nor arrogant. He is, indeed, someone who doesn't praise easily or without reason, he won't put down his own comment out of modesty. He's a master himself, he meant it from the heart as a fellow swordsman. He also misses that Kamukura is flustered because he's too emotionally stiff to notice such things.]

I look forward to seeing what you accomplish as a knight, sir Kamukura. I have high expectations.

[ehnnui]

[Kamukura is DYING, but inclines his head modestly.]

I shall do my utmost not to disappoint you, my lord.

[goodknightdaddy]

[Good luck there buddy.

Keirean will make quiet small talk until Kamukura leaves. Turns out he's not an ineloquent speaker but he's also not great at carrying a conversation that isn't work related, or about his daughter. They get on that topic and he goes all soft at the edges, fond and fatherly. It's subtle but really cute.

After Kamukura gets up to go Keirean decides he likes the young man. Even if there's no way he can remotely trust him. So he extends to him the invitation to drop by if he wishes to talk again, if Keirean isn't otherwise busy, not something he often invites others to do. A few days later they're summoned and given their task, and a week after that they travel east, setting up base in an imperial owned villa the knights often use when in this area. It's probably familiar to Kamukura but well, they have scorpions to hunt.

And hunt they shall. It's a lot of work and very dangerous. Days into exterminating various nests Keirean comes to truly admire and be a bit terrified of the younger man's skill and potential. But they work well enough together, until, while dragging a wounded knight out of the way, Keirean is attacked by a scorpion that appears suddenly. Its sting ready to pierce his chest.]

[ehnnui]

[Kamukura also has trouble carrying a conversation, but he leaves without too much awkwardness. He's truly touched by the invitation, especially since it's not like he expects Kierean's trust, either.

As for the hunt... it becomes clear quickly that he is a clever and level-headed leader, and though he's VERY stressed by their current location, he's not allowing it to affect his work.

That all goes out the window when Kierean is in a danger he cannot save himself from. Kamukura doesn't even cry out, there's no time to warn him, all he can do is bodily shove the older man and the knight he's dragging out of the way, knocking the two of them over and taking the stinger himself, right in the side. He lops off its tail fast, slays it before anyone can really react to how very stung he just was, then turns to offer the wounded knight a hand up like he isn't turbofucked.]

I'm sorry, did the fall worsen your injuries--?

[goodknightdaddy]

[Keirean is visibly upset. But he's a hardened commander, he barks orders. Knights still standing make sure there aren't any more monsters, medics, treat the wounded, etc. The other knight is He's taking Kamukura by the arm and hauling him to the side, the other knight handed off to an uninjured comrade, and he's pushing him to sit on a rock while Keiren removes what armor and clothing he can from around where the stinger is still embedded.]

Hold on to me. This will hurt.

[Normally you want to leave an object in a stab wound until the doctors get to it, but with these scorpions the venom will keep pumping in until the sac is drained. Better to pull out the stinger and risk the blood loss than die certainly to the venom. Keirean is confident as a man who has treated many battle wounded before medics could as well, he is determined to make sure this young man who just surely saved his life doesn't die like this.]

[ehnnui]

[He lets Kierean yank him around, seeming almost confused more than anything? He feels pain like any man but his mind is kiiind of buckling under the stress.]

Ah, right, the stinger needs to...

[he trails off, curling his fingers into whatever bits of Kierean's armor he can get purchase on.]

It's okay. I won't die here.

[he says it like he's trying to comfort Kierean.]

[goodknightdaddy]

I know. I won't let you.

[Because he intends to make sure Kamukura lives. He places a hand behind Kamukura's back, to hold him still, and pulls the stinger out with swift surety.

Quickly he drops it and presses torn cloth to the seeping wound, the pressure firm and steady until a medic can come dress it properly.]

Hold on a little while longer.

[ehnnui]

[okay yeah that hurts like hell, but he just makes a soft, wounded noise, like a kicked puppy, and grips kierean tighter.]

I will, I will... However long you need me to wait, I will.

[goodknightdaddy]

[Odd but Keirean pays it no mind.]

It'll be all right, I promise you'll be well taken care of. It may take some time to recover, but I will see that you do.

... You're holding on well.

[ehnnui]

[his body is getting feverish now, the poison kicking in.]

I won't let you down. I promised.

[goodknightdaddy]

[He holds onto the compress, stemming the blood. A medic arrives before he can respond and he hovers a moment before seeing to the aftermath. But he's the one to personally carry Kamukura with him on his horse back to the villa, even if the young man isn't conscious for it.

There everyone wounded gets proper thorough treatment, and Keirean carries Kamukura to a familiar room, settles him in bed and watches the doctors give him medicine.

The poison will make him feverish for a few days and weak for a while longer, on top of the wound, but he'll make a full recovery.

Keirean deals with his job as commander than comes back, watches over him, troubled, until he accidentally falls asleep in the chair by the bed.

The very same way he did once before when Kamukura was an injured little boy in this very room.]

[ehnnui]

[Kamukura passes out pretty much the moment Kierean steps away, and stays out cold for a WHILE. Which, in combination with the fever and change of scenery back into his childhood... it's a lot to take in.

He watches him, silently, for several minutes, before he gets too antsy about what is clearly a hallucination and tries to get out of bed.

He mostly hits the floor like a rock when he tries to put actual weight on his legs though? Fucked up.]

[goodknightdaddy]

[The thud definitely wakes Keirean, and, surprised, he gets up, kneeling to lift the younger man up, wide awake instantly.]

Don't move around. You're still in bad shape. You might tear your stitches.

[ehnnui]

[??????????

curls his fingers into Kierean's shirt.]

You're... really here...?

[goodknightdaddy]

[That's certainly confusing but he's trying to steer Kamukura back to bed.]

Yes. I apologize, I must have fallen asleep. Did you need something? Water?

[That is why Kamukura got up right.]

[ehnnui]

I wanted...

[to climb in your lap, but he's just lucid enough not to say that.]

...Sorry for waking you.

[goodknightdaddy]

[He shakes his head, obkivious, gently pressing Kamukura back onto the mattress.]

Don't apologize. You saved my life today. I've yet to thank you.

[He touches the young man's forehead with the back of his hand, tsking.]

One moment.

[He goes across the room, pours a glass of water and wets a cloth, coming to set the glass by Kamukura's bed and fold the cloth, pressing it, cool and damp, to his head.]

Focus on resting right now.

[ehnnui]

[Being pressed to the mattress sets his blood (more) aflame, but he's at a loss. At least, briefly.

He's snagging Kierean's wrist when he touches his forehead the second time, breathlessly intent on him, but forgetting to. Speak.]

[goodknightdaddy]

Sir Kamukura? Are you in pain?

[His brows draw together, worried, and he lifts his other hand, touching Kamukura's neck to test his pulse.]

Should I call for a doctor?

[ehnnui]

[his pulse is thundering, of course, between the fever and his emotions, but he shakes his head slightly.]

No, I...

Don't go?

[goodknightdaddy]

...Of course. But are you sure you don't need a doctor?

[ehnnui]

[the "of course" lets him at least start to relax into the pillows again, letting his hand loosen around Kierean's wrist.]

...My condition will not suddenly worsen at this stage.

[goodknightdaddy]

[He lifts his hand from Kamukura's neck but doesn't pull from the grip on the other hand just yet.]

It shouldn't. But if you feel strange then say so. Stubbornness isn't a good quality in the injured.