#tuzi and avery

[duo-alopex]

Ooh but also the [ almost ] one. Bonus points if it's avery finally building up the courage to kiss tuzi and it just doesn't work in their favour lmao

He's been blabbering on, letting his thoughts get away from him as he tells Avery some of the exploits he's pulled off recently, when strong fingers grab his chin. Tuzi trails off, blinking at the sudden change, as he finds Avery's face inches away from his. He half expected to be told to be quiet, which he was sure Avery wouldn't do anyways, and so the change of pace leaves him a little stunned.

Avery's gaze switches between Tuzi's own and flicks down to his lips as he leans in, and Tuzi feels his heart jump to his throat, his stomach twisting in knots as he tilts his head downwards and to the side, pouting slightly. He knows what was coming and oh gods, oh gods, he wants, he wants Avery to kiss him so badly.

Suddenly a loud yell to their left sounds and the space where Avery had just been was empty, his fingers falling from Tuzi's chin. The want that had been circling through him cools, leaving him cold and empty feeling. He doesn't even bother looking towards what had interrupted them, instead doing his best to turn away and pretend like he was busy, wishing above everything in the world that they hadn't been interrupted.

[duo-alopex]

Cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

The gentle tone that Avery uses makes Tuzi's ears twitch towards the sound, wanting more of that gentle lilting tone to help soothe his aches and makes him feel better. He can feel Avery shifting underneath him, and although he knows Avery is much stronger and would always catch him, it doesn't stop a stab of guilt forming in his abdomen at information, and Avery's hushed tone.

"Maybe you're right," he admonishes, feeling that guilt grow. He's not used to others caring for him still, always thinking that there was some kind of ulterior motive from his life living for him self, but he knows down deep in his heart that Avery does truly care. "I'm a lil' more banged up than I planned to be."

He's lucid enough to meet Avery's gaze, although it's a little half lidded, and the frown that meets him on Avery's lips makes him want to lean in and kiss the smaller man and - huh, okay wow, maybe he was more unsteady and unsure of himself than he had previously realized. Avery's honeyed tone of 'Love' help clear his head a little, help him focus on the rest of the sentence and make way for the realization that yeah, they probably should get somewhere quieter, give him something to focus on other than trying to keep his feet under himself.

"If I said no, would you Princess carry me?"

cont. | @duo-alopex ( tuzi )

his pain only serves to fill avery with rage; rage that they hadn't gotten there sooner, rage that someone had dared lay a hand on tuzi to begin with. if they had been there just a moment sooner, perhaps they could've stopped it, they could've done something more than attempting to fix the breaks with magic. though avery had broken their oath years ago, there were still some tricks that they remembered - something that proved to be quite useful with how often they seemed to be caring for tuzi after something had gone wrong.

❝ broken ribs aren't something you can just brush off. stop trying to pretend like you're not hurt. ❞ they shift their own weight without thinking too much of it when they feel tuzi shake, unsteady on his feet and threatening to fall. avery may have been the smaller of the two, but they were stronger - so carrying tuzi's full weight didn't matter much to them.

though, standing out in the open like this could draw unwanted attention. the village the two had found themselves in was by no means unkind to strangers, but if tuzi had already been jumped then it would be best they move along as soon as they could.

avery frowns, their default expression it would seem as they look up slightly to meet tuzi's gaze. it softens ever so slightly, only noticeable to the one that's become a master at reading their expressions. ❝ i'm sure you do. come, love - we need to get you somewhere safer. can you walk okay? ❞

[5hehzada]

commission for @crazyNiney of their ocs avery & tuzi, and an extra doodle of avery just because :) thank you again so much <3

[duo-alopex]

"You're even more beautiful than yesterday." (avery and tuzi 👀👀 they're a romantic at heart probably okay?)

Blue eyes meet Avery's, eyebrows furrowing and mouth pursing into a thoughtful pout before what Avery said processes and Tuzi's expression brightens. Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Tuzi fakes an exasperated sigh and replies, "Smooth talkin' this early in the morning? what's gotten into you, Avery?"

Despite this, Tuzi can't deny the warm feeling in his chest at the compliment, butterflies catching against his rib cage. Tucking some of the longer strands framing his face away from his eyes, he adds a little more quietly, "Thank you though. You're lookin' pretty handsome yourself too."

[duo-alopex]

[ 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦 ] : sender has killed someone who threatened the receiver. (from avery!!)

It's all over before Tuzi can even blink, the strong scent of iron cloying to his senses and the scarlet spattered around them slowly pooling over the ground towards his feet. Tuzi hadn't even been aware that Avery had been nearby when he had been grabbed by the collar and shoved roughly against once of the large oak trees surrounding him, bark biting into the bare backs of his arms, the basket of flora he had been collecting falling to the ground and the contents tumbling out.

He stands, a little stunned, still pressed against the tree as he stares wide-eyed down at the attackers. The one who had grabbed him, laid their dirty hands on him, had been beheaded and his friends, two of them who clearly had more brawn than brains, had been stabbed cleanly through their chests.

Tearing his gaze from them Tuzi finds Avery, panting, armor and sword covered in blood and viscera. A rush of gratitude goes through him then because of course, of course Avery, his love, his protector, would never let anything happen to him, would never have let the attackers even put their hands on Tuzi if possible.

Keeping quiet, Tuzi steps away from the scarlet pooling against the blades of grass, sinking into the soil, and steps towards Avery. He's not scared of the smaller man, why would he be? There was never even the possibility of Avery hurting him, ever.

"Av," Tuzi whispers as he wraps his arms around him, one branded across Avery's chest and the other across his back, as he dips to press his face into the smaller mans neck. "It's finished. I'm alright now."

[aeternxm]

[ tell my muse what your muse thinks of mine on anon! Anything goes! ]

my muse thinks yours is the sweetest ever, they can be a little quiet and stoic with their interpersonal skills, but the quiet smiles and warm glances they send my muses ways when he's busy rambling on about gods knows what tells all. they carry some very heavy burdens backed on oaths, or lack of, that worry my muse and want to help them, carry them through all the hardships, and will always be at your muses side no matter what tragedy unfolds.

[Have you guessed? :P]

tell my muse what your muse thinks of mine on anon! Anything goes! | accepting

Avery vc: tuzi get out from behind the tree I know it’s you

[aeternxm]

@duo-alopex

it's second nature to avery to shield tuzi from harm. so many times had they done it before, so many times would they stand unmoving, unflinching as blow upon blow connected with their armour. there had been a few times that they had purposefully taken damage, if only to prove that no amount of pain could stop them - not when it came to tuzi. but something had happened - the memory is just barely there, vision a bit hazy as every remembers picking up a weapon. it wasn't uncommon when looting to find weapons, but they had been so drawn to this great axe, so unable to tear their eyes away from it that they hadn't even noticed it was in their grasp until moments later. tuzi would say something to them then, but the words don't really register - avery feels different for some reason, chalks it down to fatigue and nothing more.

their day carries on as normal.

the castle is abandoned for all intents and purposes - avery cares not for whatever lord or lady had once resided here. Whoever they were, they're long dead now. the castle emanates a chill that lets avery know it has been some time since this castle was occupied. best to start a fire and make camp, they think.

the two of them had found a room for themselves - a bed in the center, various rugs and furs atop it, some splayed out upon the floor. decorative pieces adorn the walls - portraits of the former occupants, stood tall and poised for what must have been hours for a simple painting. avery is sure they can't think of anything worse than getting their portrait done. tuzi chatters away as they work, something about the excitement of the day, avery is sure. they don't say much in response, but there's never any need to. small hums and the occasional word of acknowledgement let tuzi know that they're listening. the fireplace roars to life soon enough, warmth flooding the room and yet, tuzi takes to sitting in a lone chair next to the hearth, soaking up every bit of warmth that he can and all the while - avery's mind is focused on the great axe sitting just across the room, an uneasiness at being so far away from it.

the rest of the night is dull. they eat, they talk, and after stoking the fire one last time before the two of them sleep, they climb atop the bed. the furs and rugs are too dusty, so avery takes to sleeping atop the bed instead. now with the fire going it was pleasantly warm, no blankets needed. a nightly ritual of theirs it seemed, tuzi coming up behind avery to undo the clasps of their armour. tuzi knows all too well that avery is more than capable of taking off their own armour, but their love said once that he enjoyed such a simple task - the act of doing something for the oath breaker that showed just how much he cared. avery thinks it isn't necessary, that they can do all this themselves - but each and every night they sit patiently, letting deft fingers work the amour off of their body and placing it gently off to the side. avery can sleep with armour on, but it's not as comfortable - and tuzi had complained one too many times of the noises that it makes as they sleep, so avery takes it off.

the next morning when the two of them wake, avery finds themself looking over to where their great axe is - a sigh of relief as they see the weapon right where they'd left it, as if it would have gone anywhere else. the sun is just starting to rise, their fire long burned out - avery figures now is a good time as any to keep moving forward. they never did like staying in one place for too long. a calloused hand placed upon tuzi's chest, gently shaking him awake. of course, it's not easy to wake him - he mumbles something, tries to pull avery back down into the comfort that a real bed provides. it's almost too tempting, a thought that avery considers for longer than they'd care to admit. the life they lead does not allow for soft moments such as this, pillow talk is nothing more than a far away dream that they could only hope to attain. avery holds their ground firm, hand braced upon the mattress to avoid getting tugged back down. it's only all too amusing when tuzi realizes that he won't be winning this round, the hint of a pout tugging at his lips as avery runs their fingers through pale white hair. ❝ there will be time enough to sleep in another day, love. for now, we move forward. ❞

a half hour later has the two of them ready, avery reaching for their weapon and sliding it into the strap upon their back for safe-keeping. it's oddly comforting now, having the great axe so close once again - almost as if they had been anxious at the mere thought of not having it on their person. the winding corridors of the abandoned castle are none too familiar even after their exploration yesterday, but soon enough the exit is in sight, daybreak just barely peaking behind the wooden doors. avery pushes one open with a slight shove, the hinges old and rusted and in desperate need of replacing. they stand to the side allowing tuzi to walk past, though not before they'd scanned the area first.

❝ do you hear that? ❞ barely a moment has gone by since they've exited the confines of the castle, the chances of an ambush are unlikely, especially at this time. but they pause regardless, keen ears listening for something off in the distance though aside from the gentle breeze they hear nothing. a look of confusion to their love, a small shake of the head - though that doesn't mean they discount what tuzi had presumably heard. ❝ which direction? ❞ they look over to their right where tuzi had directed them, a frown as though such an expression will help them focus. it's hard to see even now, the sun is well on it's way to rising, but it's still hard to see from a distance, not quite light enough, avery thinks. ❝ we'll go around then. i can't tell if there's someone there, but best not to dawdle. ❞

it's an arrow that flies past their head that has them whipping back around, hand already reaching behind them to grab their great axe, bringing it forward and bracing themselves as they bark at tuzi to be ready. there's a glimmer atop the cobbled wall, the glint of sun hitting a metal arrowhead at just the right angle, it gives avery the advantage they need to dodge a second arrow, feet pushing forward into a sprint towards their attackers. the wall isn't as sturdy as it appears at first glance, and it's with renewed effort that avery pushes forward, putting their whole body behind the movement as they throw their great axe at the wall, barely pausing for a moment as it crumbles, sending the few strays that had been atop the structure to crash down under a pile of rubble. it's almost instinctual the way that avery knows where their weapon is; like it's calling to them, telling them to come closer and reclaim what was theirs. the paladin makes quick work of any of those that survived the fall, mindful of where tuzi is the entire time. he seems to be holding his own well enough for now - and avery has faith in his ability to not get himself killed, so they leave him to it.

it's the pain that registers first, a sharp stabbing thing in their arm the catches them off guard. breathing turns heavy as they attempt to grasp at the arrow that, with some unknown precision, had lodged itself into their arm, through one of the small gaps of their armour. avery's mind becomes clouded with a rage that they'd never felt before, the more rational part of them fights it, tries to push it back down deep into the back of their mind - but with each passing second it's harder and harder to fight back. avery shudders as they yank the arrow free, vision going red as the projectile drops to the ground. that anger that had seemingly surged out of nowhere grows stronger to the point where even their greatest efforts to keep calm do nothing.

the last thing avery remembers is spotting one of their assailants of to the right, headed straight for tuzi and then?

nothing.

when they come to, it's eerily quiet. the stench of dirt and blood mixed together so thick that they almost choke on it. bodies lay strewn about in the courtyard where they'd been ambushed ; upon first glance one may have thought they were simply sleeping, but upon closer inspection avery notices not just limbs torn from bodies - they see innards and flesh and bone and skulls pulverized to a point where whoever the corpse had once been, they were nigh unrecognizable now. a corpse off to the side had been so ferociously attacked that the metal plates of their armour and helmet had caved in dramatically - body and armor had become one with no hope of seperation. avery doesn't realize just how badly they're shaking, how fast their heart is beating until a moment later - confusion and devestation taking center stage. who could have possibly done this? what had come in and massarced the entire entourage that had ambushed the two of them?

it's only when avery dares to look down upon themselves, their bare hands caked in blood and dirt and bits of flesh that they begin to piece it all together. it's only when avery feels the pain finally set in - not pain from taking a fall, no. the sort of pain that only comes about when someone tries their best to fend a person off but... avery hadn't been the one on the defensive, had they? the arrows and dagger that still found themselves lodged into the barbarian's flesh were proof of that.

avery had done this - and that knowledge alone was enough to drive someone mad.

their greataxe sings, a quiet hum only meant for their ears - it sings for bloodshed, destruction, pain and suffering. had the weapon made them do this? it's true, they hadn't felt quite right since looting the axe - a pull that could only ever be described as magical had led them to it, and a need someone could only describe as obsessive to keep the blade close. causation or otherwise, even then they could not stand to be rid of the blade - a wave of nausea overtaking them at the mere thought of throwing it to the side. no - they needed it, the greataxe made them stronger, it made them powerful and dangerous and they were nothing without it. those that avery saw before them were nothing more than ants beneath their feet. they deserved their fate the moment they dared try to hurt tuzi.

tuzi...?

tuzi. tuzi. tuzi. tuzi. where was tuzi?

emerald green eyes dart across the expanse of the courtyard, the barbarian using their weapon to aid their ascent to a standing position to try and get a better look. avery tries to call out but finds their voice to be too weak, throat raw and aching for reasons that they cannot remember. a familiar set of ears catch the red head's attention, draw back against the figure's head in fear almost once avery spots them. tuzi is a few feet away at most, avery can't understand why they hadn't seen him before but they use what little strength they have left to rush over - concern clear as day. avery supposes they should be thankful, at least, that their assailants hadn't finished the job, had spared tuzi the pain of dying. he was by no means in good shape, gashes in his chest from where he'd been struck by what looked like a--

❝ t-tuzi, please i didn't... ❞ it wasn't their attackers that had done this to him, not at all. almost all of them had been wielding crossbows or a bow and arrow, the occasional spear. but not a single one had been wielding something big enough to cause these injuries. the only one that had been, was avery alone.

it breaks their heart to reach out for the other, only to be met with fear - the hybrid trying his best to shuffle back out of avery's reach. it hurts more than they could ever put into words, but it does not surprise them. what right did avery have to his trust now? what right could avery possibly have to comfort tuzi, to try to look after him when it had been AVERY who had done this in the first place? they were unworthy of calling themselves tuzi's protector, they were unworthy of sharing his bed, hearing his laughter and--

❝ --love, please. ❞ avery takes their helmet off, tosses it to the ground as though it will help tuzi see ( because they need him to see ) that it's not some monster underneath the mask. it's avery.

it's me, love. please please, it's me.

❝ l-let me help. ❞ tears pool in the corners of their eyes for the first time since their banishment. avery had long since accepted their fate of loneliness, a life of isolation - but tuzi had changed everything, had given avery hope and now, without even truly knowing what it is they'd done, with all control stripped from them, there's every possibility in the world that tuzi would vanish, slip right out of their grasp and banish them back to their fate ; destined to be alone, destined to ruin everything. ❝ i don't know what came over me, tuzi -- love, please don't shy away from me i would never hurt you-- ❞

but you did. that's exactly what you did. the only person in this world who has had any sort of faith in you since you were named a traitor and banished from the walls of the warhammer himself, and you've ruined it. are you capable of anything other than destruction, avery? or are you destined to bring this world to its knees and watch on as it burns?

stray tears fall as avery manages to close the distance between the two of them - it's not because tuzi wants them close, he still cowers away as best he can, but his strength is dwindling with each passing second and by the time avery approaches, he can't fight the barbarian off any longer. a choked sob as avery manages to pull tuzi close to their chest, a single word uttered on repeat.

❝ sorry. sorry - i'm so sorry-- ❞ avery's body is in a state of exhaustion, but that doesn't stop them from raising their hand to tuzi's chest, a soft glow eminating as they try and at least stave off the worst of the injuries. the gashes stop bleeding, they seem to heal over enough to ensure tuzi's survival, but he'd need proper tending to, a healer or a cleric would have to do. there was a town nearby, avery thinks. they'd go there, tuzi would be okay. they'd make sure of it. avery would do anything, commit their whole self to ensure tuzi's survival. after all, what good was a protector that could not protect?

avery scoops tuzi up into their arms like they'd done many times before. but the other feels heavier somehow, as if the weight of what avery had done ; of what they were capable of was truly setting in. they steel themselves, will their tears to stop falling as they begin the long walk back to town. what right did they have to cry when it was their fault that all this had happened? avery knew that whatever weapon they'd stumbled across was cursed, they'd felt the cursed magic before even picking it up but foolishly, had thought themselves above it. even now, they couldn't bring themselves to get rid of the weapon. no - they could control it, they could control themselves ; it may take time and sheer force of will, but they'd do it. if not for themselves, then for tuzi.

tuzi, who deserved far more than what avery could ever possibly offer him.

their gaze flickers to the hybrid, a solemn expression on their face when they spot the other looking right back at them. what could avery possibly say that they hadn't already? if tuzi chose to leave, if he couldn't forgive avery for what had transpired well... that was avery's price to pay, their pennance. ❝ i swear to you-- ❞ avery is not blind to the flinch when they speak up, a soft sigh because what words could they possibly say to make things right? ❝ i'll get you the help that you need, get you back on your feet. if you wish to leave... i won't stop you. i won't blame you. ❞ but there's no denying that the thought of tuzi leaving was one that struck fear into their heart.

❝ but if you decide to stay i will do everything in my power to protect you. i won't let anything happen to you - whether it be by my blade or another's... ❞ their voice trails off as they look off into the distance, avery's grip on tuzi tightening ever so slightly. ❝ i would sooner throw myself on my own blade than ever hurt you again. you are single handedly the most important thing in my life. if i cannot protect you, if i cannot keep you safe then i am no longer worthy of your love. i’ll swear on any gods you wish ; the heavens and the hells, nature itself could not withstand the fury I would unleash if something were to happen to you. ❞

[aeternxm]

💕 (For Avery from Tuzi)

prompted | @duo-alopex

it was a pointless tradition, of this much, avery was sure. they're not even sure where tuzi had gotten the idea from to begin with, some bar keep or town gossip had no doubt given him the idea and oh, by the excitement on his face when he tells avery of his little plan, they can tell that tuzi had been mulling this over for a while.

the smaller of the two rolls their eyes, continues walking without so much as a word. it's not that they're ignoring the other, they just need some time to process, to figure out how to respond without coming across as... harsh. if it had been anyone else they likely wouldn't have cared, but when it came to tuzi, avery tried to at least make an effort.

they have full intention on turning their partner down, green eyes looking over to the man with a small frown that almost cracks when they see the look on tuzi's face.

how the hell are they supposed to say no when he looks so excited about the prospect?

❝ fine. i still don't see how this kiss is meant to be more special than any others that we've shared. ❞ they huff, but carry on with the rest of their night - drinks and good music were rare for the two of them, but tonight it seemed that everyone was in good spirits, and avery found themself relaxing a little bit as the night went on, a small smile tugging at the corner of their lips as they watch tuzi celebrate. there's a look of confusion when the music stops, the whole tavern begins counting down. avery shoots tuzi a look, only to find him right at their side.

five!

❝ is this the part where we kiss? ❞

four!

tuzi laughs softly, and cradles their face in his hands, something that a person like avery shouldn't be subjected to and yet, here they are.

three!

❝ laughing doesn't answer my question. ❞

two!

❝ if you're not going to answer me then i'll leave. ❞ they frown, clearly annoyed that the other isn't even answering them.

one!

❝ tuzi i-- ❞ eyes widen as tuzi pulls them up into a kiss, hands flailing at their side before they figure out what to do, fingers curling around tuzi's wrists and pushing up on the balls of their feet as they finally gather their bearings enough to actually return the kiss. perhaps the ale had really gotten to them tonight because avery finds themself really getting into the kiss, even going so far as to move their hands to tug tuzi closer to them.

when they finally break apart avery looks flushed in the cheeks, chest heaving a little as the meet the other's gaze with the hint of a smile on their face. ❝ --happy new year, love. ❞

[aeternxm]

( duo- alopex | Tuzi) [ 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 ] : sender takes a hold of receiver's both hands. (For Avery)

They're lounging together in a quiet spot down by the river, the sunlight creeping towards the horizon and the warm afternoon sun beating against their skin. Tuzi feels the breeze sigh over his skin from his spot on the grass beside Avery, his head on the smaller man's lap. The warrior had been explaining something to him, his tone rising and falling and curling around in Tuzi's head, lulling him into a state of complete relaxation - but then Avery had began articulating with his hands, and Tuzi had no longer been able to focus on whatever it was Avery was telling him.

Avery had such nice hands, his skin well calloused from all the years of wielding a blade, his fingers strong and his grip tight. Before Tuzi realizes what he's doing he reaches up with both of his own, and clasps both of Avery's hands in his own, effectively stopping Avery in his tracks of whatever he was saying at this point.

Tuzi raises his gaze to meet Avery's, and feels himself get a little hot around the collar as he says, "I uh - I didn't mean to do that."

prompted | @duo-alopex ( tuzi )

avery is by no means a conversationalist - their ability to keep a conversation going was comparable to talking to a brick wall; you could do it, but you wouldn't get much in response. it was rare that avery ever attempted starting conversations when they were out in public, much preferring to let tuzi take the lead when it came to things like that. tuzi had a way with words when he wanted to, could charm the breaches off of anybody if he really put his mind to it. so it only made sense that out of the two of them, it was avery that usually kept silent.

but there were times between the two of them, moments where there was no one else to disturb them where avery appeared to come out of their shell a bit more. there were few things that they would consider themselves passionate about in this life, but fighting - battles that they've won in the past were something that, if given the chance, they would go on and on. such is the way they were raised, such is the life they were brought up in.

avery describes their most recent battle with such excitement that there even appears to be a smile on their face as they bring their hands down as though mimicking the swing in which they used to deliver the finishing blow to their enemy. avery was fearless in the face of battle, a true force of nature when their rage took over--

but as soon as tuzi grabs their hands it's impossible to continue their train of thought, hazel eyes widening as they stare down at their joined hands. avery doesn't know what to say, doesn't know if they should say anything. it wasn't unreasonable to assume that tuzi took great comfort in physical touch in any shape or form, but they just weren't accustomed to such gentle touches - didn't know how to react when they were presented with such a thing.

avery looks down to meet tuzi's gaze, the panic must surely be evident considering the stutter that comes with tuzi's ( rather poor ) excuse. ❝ it's... fine. ❞ they say softly, moving their hands to rest upon tuzi's chest despite every fiber of their being screaming at them to move away.

❝ a-anyway, as i was saying-- ❞

[duo-alopex]

Cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

barely suppressing a giggle, he downright squeals as Avery oh so gently lifts him into his arms, all of his movements carefully thought through so that he wouldn't aggravate Tuzi's wounds any further. a pleased hum leaves his lips as he wraps his arms around Avery's neck and buries his face into the smaller males collarbones, making himself as comfortable as possible.

at the accusation, tuzi pulls his face free so their gazes can lock and mock pouts, "I thought protectors were always supposed to carry their damsel in distress." he teases, carding his fingers through the hair the back of Avery's neck as he listens, nodding his assent.

"Lucky me, gettin' to be under your careful care, dear. for now, I agree, rest with you by my side sounds perfect." he settles back in, ignoring the stares they were getting from some of the townspeople as he rests his cheek against Avery's chest to listen to his strong heartbeat. there was nowhere else in the world that he could feel safer, thinks tuzi, wrapped up in the smaller males arms, and the care that he had shown makes tuzi's insides feel all gooey and warm. it wasn't a long trip back to their quiet camp, set in a small glade, but the fight and his wounds were beginning to take their toll on him, his eyelids becoming heavy as he's lulled by the gentle shifting of avery's stride.

Cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

The gentle tone that Avery uses makes Tuzi's ears twitch towards the sound, wanting more of that gentle lilting tone to help soothe his aches and makes him feel better. He can feel Avery shifting underneath him, and although he knows Avery is much stronger and would always catch him, it doesn't stop a stab of guilt forming in his abdomen at information, and Avery's hushed tone.

"Maybe you're right," he admonishes, feeling that guilt grow. He's not used to others caring for him still, always thinking that there was some kind of ulterior motive from his life living for him self, but he knows down deep in his heart that Avery does truly care. "I'm a lil' more banged up than I planned to be."

He's lucid enough to meet Avery's gaze, although it's a little half lidded, and the frown that meets him on Avery's lips makes him want to lean in and kiss the smaller man and - huh, okay wow, maybe he was more unsteady and unsure of himself than he had previously realized. Avery's honeyed tone of 'Love' help clear his head a little, help him focus on the rest of the sentence and make way for the realization that yeah, they probably should get somewhere quieter, give him something to focus on other than trying to keep his feet under himself.

"If I said no, would you Princess carry me?"

[aeternxm]

cont. | @duo-alopex ( tuzi )

his pain only serves to fill avery with rage; rage that they hadn't gotten there sooner, rage that someone had dared lay a hand on tuzi to begin with. if they had been there just a moment sooner, perhaps they could've stopped it, they could've done something more than attempting to fix the breaks with magic. though avery had broken their oath years ago, there were still some tricks that they remembered - something that proved to be quite useful with how often they seemed to be caring for tuzi after something had gone wrong.

❝ broken ribs aren't something you can just brush off. stop trying to pretend like you're not hurt. ❞ they shift their own weight without thinking too much of it when they feel tuzi shake, unsteady on his feet and threatening to fall. avery may have been the smaller of the two, but they were stronger - so carrying tuzi's full weight didn't matter much to them.

though, standing out in the open like this could draw unwanted attention. the village the two had found themselves in was by no means unkind to strangers, but if tuzi had already been jumped then it would be best they move along as soon as they could.

avery frowns, their default expression it would seem as they look up slightly to meet tuzi's gaze. it softens ever so slightly, only noticeable to the one that's become a master at reading their expressions. ❝ i'm sure you do. come, love - we need to get you somewhere safer. can you walk okay? ❞

[aeternxm]

the question is met with an exasperated sigh, though it's unlikely that avery would ever say anything other than yes to tuzi. perhaps they'd become softer over time, only all too willing to meet the other's requests in an attempt to keep him happy, keep him here where avery could protect him. maybe they had spoiled tuzi too much since they'd become content in each other's company - there was no denying that the rogue had taken it upon himself to exploit that fact every time he got the chance.

but despite this, despite knowing that agreeing to carrying the other in such a way would only encourage him further, avery does just that. they shift so that one arm rests across the width of tuzi's back, the other hooking behind his knees and, with extreme care, they lift him up into their arms, giving the other time to wrap his arms around avery's shoulders before they start walking back to their camp just outside of town.

❝ i'm starting to think that you'll use any excuse to have me carry you. ❞ hazel eyes turning to meet the other's gaze for just a moment before looking ahead once again. avery was by no means weak, that much was clear with how easily they carry tuzi, despite the other being bigger than they were. ❝ i'll have another look at your wounds once we get back to camp, see if there's nothing more that can be done. if it's a matter of a healer, i'm sure there's one in town should we need it. for now, princess - it may be best if you simply rest. ❞

Cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

The gentle tone that Avery uses makes Tuzi's ears twitch towards the sound, wanting more of that gentle lilting tone to help soothe his aches and makes him feel better. He can feel Avery shifting underneath him, and although he knows Avery is much stronger and would always catch him, it doesn't stop a stab of guilt forming in his abdomen at information, and Avery's hushed tone.

"Maybe you're right," he admonishes, feeling that guilt grow. He's not used to others caring for him still, always thinking that there was some kind of ulterior motive from his life living for him self, but he knows down deep in his heart that Avery does truly care. "I'm a lil' more banged up than I planned to be."

He's lucid enough to meet Avery's gaze, although it's a little half lidded, and the frown that meets him on Avery's lips makes him want to lean in and kiss the smaller man and - huh, okay wow, maybe he was more unsteady and unsure of himself than he had previously realized. Avery's honeyed tone of 'Love' help clear his head a little, help him focus on the rest of the sentence and make way for the realization that yeah, they probably should get somewhere quieter, give him something to focus on other than trying to keep his feet under himself.

"If I said no, would you Princess carry me?"

[duo-alopex]

cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

He's just nearly asleep when he feels the gentle rocking of Avery's stride falter. The sounds that rush to meet him are familiar, the gentle call of birdsong, the burbling stream nearby, the scent of a fire put out just long enough ago that the embers were loosing their smokey scent.

A gentle sigh released from Avery makes Tuzi's ears twitch, and he feel the strong cords of muscles holding him flex as he's put down gently on the ground. He's tempted, almost, to allow sleep to fully take him over, but then Avery is speaking to him in a low tone, and Tuzi's eyes can't help but flutter open as he processes what was said to him.

Reaching upwards, through the haze of near- sleep in his mind and wincing slightly at the pain that twinges through his chest at the movement, Tuzi slowly traces his fingers along the strong line of Avery's jaw, a gentle smile on his lips as he softly murmurs back, gratitude swelling in his own chest.

"Just my ribs," he replies, shaking his head at Avery's worried stare as a small smile pulls at the corner of his own lips. "I fear most of the bruising also happens to be on my torso, so you wrapping it will be more than enough." To have his chest, and abdomen wrapped, however, requires him taking off the clothing he was already wearing. A brief look at his clothing from earlier confirmed that his shirt was ruined, covered in dust, mud, and his own blood, and he silently morns the loss of another one of his favorite cropped shirts.

Dropping his arm from Avery's warmth, he reaches for the hem of his own shirt, having to try a couple of times to wrap his fingers underneath it before he could tug at it, only to find that it was neigh impossible to do on his own. Tuzi looks up helplessly at Avery, his eyebrows furrowing and his lips forming into a small pout. "Help me take my shirt off, please?"

Cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

barely suppressing a giggle, he downright squeals as Avery oh so gently lifts him into his arms, all of his movements carefully thought through so that he wouldn't aggravate Tuzi's wounds any further. a pleased hum leaves his lips as he wraps his arms around Avery's neck and buries his face into the smaller males collarbones, making himself as comfortable as possible.

at the accusation, tuzi pulls his face free so their gazes can lock and mock pouts, "I thought protectors were always supposed to carry their damsel in distress." he teases, carding his fingers through the hair the back of Avery's neck as he listens, nodding his assent.

"Lucky me, gettin' to be under your careful care, dear. for now, I agree, rest with you by my side sounds perfect." he settles back in, ignoring the stares they were getting from some of the townspeople as he rests his cheek against Avery's chest to listen to his strong heartbeat. there was nowhere else in the world that he could feel safer, thinks tuzi, wrapped up in the smaller males arms, and the care that he had shown makes tuzi's insides feel all gooey and warm. it wasn't a long trip back to their quiet camp, set in a small glade, but the fight and his wounds were beginning to take their toll on him, his eyelids becoming heavy as he's lulled by the gentle shifting of avery's stride.

[aeternxm]

a roll of the eyes is all tuzi will get in response at first - ever the dramatic, ever the only person that avery would let touch them like this. if avery notices the stares, they don't pay attention - their main focus is getting tuzi somewhere more comfortable, somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of the town.

green eyes shift to tuzi as they finally make it back to camp, the oath breaker not at all surprised to see tuzi struggling to keep his eyes open. there's a sigh as the set tuzi down for just a moment, stepping away to find some fresh water and a cloth - there's an old shirt of avery's in their spare hand that will make for a good bandage. their supplies are running a bit low after all, coin was scarce and sometimes they just had to make do.

❝ are you sore anywhere else? i'll wrap your ribs, but if there's anywhere else that needs tending to, tell me now. ❞

Cont | @aeternxm ( Avery )

barely suppressing a giggle, he downright squeals as Avery oh so gently lifts him into his arms, all of his movements carefully thought through so that he wouldn't aggravate Tuzi's wounds any further. a pleased hum leaves his lips as he wraps his arms around Avery's neck and buries his face into the smaller males collarbones, making himself as comfortable as possible.

at the accusation, tuzi pulls his face free so their gazes can lock and mock pouts, "I thought protectors were always supposed to carry their damsel in distress." he teases, carding his fingers through the hair the back of Avery's neck as he listens, nodding his assent.

"Lucky me, gettin' to be under your careful care, dear. for now, I agree, rest with you by my side sounds perfect." he settles back in, ignoring the stares they were getting from some of the townspeople as he rests his cheek against Avery's chest to listen to his strong heartbeat. there was nowhere else in the world that he could feel safer, thinks tuzi, wrapped up in the smaller males arms, and the care that he had shown makes tuzi's insides feel all gooey and warm. it wasn't a long trip back to their quiet camp, set in a small glade, but the fight and his wounds were beginning to take their toll on him, his eyelids becoming heavy as he's lulled by the gentle shifting of avery's stride.