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Hyde groaned, which seemed louder than it really was due to the dark and quiet house. There was only the soft sound of rain pelting at his window. Although, it felt more like pounding at his window instead.
He rested his chin on the palm of his hand and used his free hand to rub at his temple. He had been staring at his ceiling at what felt like hours, sleep simply refusing to come to him.
He figured it was because of the Hollow Night, and the fact that Linne and Wald told him to stay back again. He was going to go after them like he did last time, but he really rather not anger those two again.
Hyde shivered at the mere thought of an angry Linne, he didn’t want to go through that again. She was like a chihuahua, but one who had two swords and who could definitely kill you.
Hyde sighed again and sat up straighter. Despite the terrifying memories of an upset Linne, his mind couldn't help but remember that night. That was when he first met and fought Seth.
Regardless of their first meeting being a fight they, much to Hyde’s surprise, became somewhat partners and, to some degree, a ‘friendly’ rivalry.
However, it was obvious that he wasn’t used to working with others and tried to keep his distance as best as he could. It worried Hyde that if something ever happened, he would try to solve it by himself instead of asking for help.
He wouldn't admit it to Seth of course, but Hyde deeply values and cares for his friends; and that included him too, even if his feelings for him were a bit stronger than for everyone else. Even if the other boy didn’t feel the same, that wouldn’t stop Hyde from caring about him.
A few minutes ticked by and Hyde just decided to accept his fate; he would not be getting any sleep tonight. With one last annoyed moan Hyde fully stood up and stretched.
He could wait for Linne and Wald to come back, but that may take awhile. He could also study since being an In-Birth does not exempt you from school unfortunately.
Before Hyde could settle on something he heard a very small knock at his door. If it wasn’t so quiet he probably would have missed it due to just how small the knock sounded. Hell, the rain was louder than whoever was knocking.
Hyde guessed it was probably Linne and Wald back from whatever they were doing. The thought of their safe return was reassuring.
Hyde made his way downstairs and shouted, “Coming!” Hyde opened the door and whatever relief he felt was immediately gone, as if the cold rain focused on drenching him only. “S-Seth?! What happened?” he stared wide eyed at his friend who was holding his left side and favoring his right leg.
“M'sorry, I-I didn’t know where else to go,” Seth’s voice was strained and he looked like he was about to fall apart at any given moment.
Hyde stood there, mouth agape, he…wasn’t expecting this at all. Just when he was worrying that Seth wouldn’t come to him if something ever occurred, and he actually came.
Apparently Hyde took a second too long to respond because Seth spoke up again, much quicker than before, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t bother you-”
Hyde snapped out of his shock and gently, but quickly grabbed Seth’s arm, “Wha- are you crazy?! You’re hurt!” Hyde nearly yelled, his face twisted in worry and concern.
Despite Hyde’s efforts not to yell he was still too loud, because Seth flinched away at the sudden volume change. He felt awful about causing him to flinch like that, but it at least gave him an idea of what was wrong with his injured friend.
He gave an apologetic look and hushed his tone, ”You’re not a bother at all and honestly, I’m glad you came to me.” Hyde smiled, albeit a small one, but it was enough for the tension in Seth’s shoulder to ease a little. “Come on inside, It’s raining and I have stuff here to treat you.”
That was enough to coax Seth as he just nodded weakly in response. Seth took a step forward but that seemed to be his breaking point as he stumbled forward.
Hyde’s eyes widened, but he reacted quickly and caught the other before he could face plant onto his doorstep. Seth grimaced and moaned in pain from his spot in between Hyde’s neck and shoulder.
“You’re ok Seth. You’re going to be fine. I got you,” Hyde repeated those three sentences like a mantra. He adjusted his position and put one hand on Seth’s back and his other hand under Seth’s legs. Hyde lifted him up, too easily in his opinion, and carried him inside kicking the door closed behind him.
Fortunately, Seth wasn’t drenched from the rain and was only mildly wet, mainly his coat being the victim. He must have stuck to the shadows and used cover whenever he could. Hyde wasn’t that surprised due to the fact that Seth is an assassin, he has to be used to working in the shadows.
He gently placed the injured assassin on the couch, “Can you sit up?” Hyde kept a steady hand on Seth’s shoulder just in case he did fall over again.
Seth looked at him as if he was about to speak, but decided against it and just nodded instead. His gray eyes seemed dull and they threatened to close.
“Ok, I’m going to turn the light on and get the supplies,” Hyde left to turn on the nearby lamp which was pretty bright. Hyde noticed how Seth shut his eyes and pressed the palm of his hand to his head, massaging it.
“ He most likely has a concussion,” he thought to himself as he made his way to where their medical supplies were. He first washed his hands and filled a small bowl with warm water to clean his cuts.
Supplies in hand he made his back to the front of the couch. Even with the light on it was still a little difficult to see the full extent of his wounds due to his darker clothing.
“Can I take your coat off? It’s hard for me to see the wound.”
Seth didn’t answer but he began the process of unbuttoning his coat. He winced when he had to take his left arm out of the sleeve, mainly due to his side.
“Do you need any help?” Hyde asked, arms extended to help if the other so wished it.
Seth shrugged off his coat onto the floor and was now left in a black tank top, which was miraculously dry, “I’m fine, I don’t need any help.”
Hyde moved forward and slightly lifted the tank top to treat the wound. Both the coat and tank top had been cut through and were both covered in blood, but it at least seemed to soften the blow a little.
Hyde began to clean the wound, but he couldn’t help but notice the scars that littered the paler boy’s body. Some were old, but he had some fairly recent ones as well.
He sometimes forgot that Seth was at this whole ‘Assassin of the Night Blade’ thing since he was young, but the scars were physical evidence of that; a reminder of his stolen youth.
“Then why did you come to me?” Hyde asked absentmindedly before he could stop himself. He mentally cursed at himself. Seth came to him for help when he was injured and now Hyde may have very well just ruined any trust they had. He really hoped he didn’t sound condescending.
Hyde was about to apologize, but Seth spoke up first, “I-You..” Seth frowned slightly, trying to find the right words, “You…make me feel safe?”
He said it in a puzzled tone, but the way his eyes slightly widened, as if he realized something, before he looked away was enough to tell that he was embarrassed. Hyde was used to reading Seth’s body language since he rarely spoke his true emotions.
After Seth had said that, Hyde was internally screaming. Knowing that Seth at least felt comfortable around him made his heart melt.
“Is that so? Well, the feeling is mutual,” Hyde tried to hide the glee on his face by focusing on wrapping the wound on Seth’s abdomen. “Alright, that's taken care of for now. Can I see your leg?”
Seth rolled up his jeans to reveal the wound on his left leg. He grimaced and winced as he did so and he wasn’t able to hide his expression due to the lack of his high collar.
Hyde knelt down and got to work on his injured leg quickly. He had never seen Seth this exhausted before and it honestly killed Hyde a little seeing him like this. It was a miracle he was able to get here without passing out.
Although, with how long Seth was at this for, he must have been well used to it by now. The thought of getting used to this ‘lifestyle’ made his stomach churn.
He snapped out of it and noticed that the cuts on Seth’s abdomen and leg were similar, which brought Hyde to a question he had asked earlier. “You didn’t answer me earlier, but what exactly happened?” Hyde looked up expectantly at the other.
Seth looked like he was about to doze off by the way his head kept bobbing forward, but he was able to keep his bearings, “It was an In-Birth, they were stronger than I had anticipated,” Seth looked away, “If I was stronger then…maybe this wouldn’t have happened…”
Hyde almost didn’t hear him due to how quiet he said it, but he did hear him, “Hey, you’re one of the strongest people I know!” Hyde made sure not to speak too loudly, “You’re teaching me how to control the Insulator better and how to properly fight, not anyone can do that y’know.” Hyde spoke from the heart, everything he said was simply the truth.
Seth looked at Hyde with wide gray colored eyes, like a deer in headlights. Hyde just smirked at his astonished expression.
“And I know you beat that guy you were fighting,” Hyde continued, “The Seth I know doesn’t run from a fight.”
“Well, I-yes I did defeat him but-”
“No more negative self-talk. You got some scrapes and bruises in the process, so what? You still came out triumphant.”
Seth huffed lightly, but a small smile tinted his lips, “Perhaps I’m spending too much time with you, I’ve gotten more reckless.”
Hyde sputtered, almost making him drop the roll of bandages, “I’m not that bad!”
Seth gave him a dead-panned look, “Hyde, just the other month you ran off into the Hollow Night alone, and didn’t even tell us.”
“Well, maybe I’m spending too much time with you , because I know for a fact you would go in alone ‘Mr, assassin of the Night Blade’,” Hyde retorted back as he finished wrapping Seth’s leg.
Hyde got up and sat next to Seth on the couch; absentmindedly grabbing his chin to tilt his head towards him. Seth flinched at the sudden touch but relaxed and let Hyde examine his head. He felt a bit of bump which Hyde gave a sigh of relief, he was afraid he got slashed there too; although it would have been obvious especially if the blood got on the white part of the other’s hair.
Seth rolled his eyes, but didn’t counter his retort, “touché.” Slowly his expression turned into a frown.
Hyde noticed the change of mood almost instantly, “Are you ok? What’s wrong, did I graze something by accident?” Hyde frantically worried that he did something wrong, but Seth grabbed his hands to help ground him.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, if anything it's the complete opposite,” Seth released Hyde’s hands and sighed. “I should be treating my own injuries, you shouldn’t have to put up with this-with me. Especially so late, I probably woke you.”
“Actually I wasn’t able to sleep at all and maybe now I know why,” Hyde smiled sadly.
He looked a little less guilty now, but that wasn’t enough, “Still, this is my problem and I should have handled it myself rather than bothering you.”
“Seth, look at me please,” Seth slowly turned to face Hyde, like a child who was expecting to get scolded by their parents. “You’ve been alone for so long and have gotten this far by yourself, but whether you like it or not there are people who are here for you; I’m here for you.”
For the third time that night Seth’s eyes went wide again then shifted into a puzzled look, “Doesn’t that bother you? Am I not a burden to you?”
This time Hyde held Seth’s hand, “It doesn’t bother me at all. What does bother me is when you’re bleeding out or need help and don’t tell any of us.”
Seth looked a little surprised at that last sentence, but didn’t interrupt.
“And you aren’t a burden at all. I’ll always be there for you, if you ever need someone to lean on or if you ever lose your footing. I will be there,” Hyde smiled warmly, a comforting and determined look in his eyes.
Seth focused on the table in front of them, deciding to avoid eye contact again, “Thank you, Hyde. I truly mean that.”
Hyde was going to respond, but was caught off by a sudden weight on his right shoulder, “Seth?! Are you ok-”
The boy in question cut him off, sounding tired, “I’m sorry, but I think the fatigue is catching up to me.”
Ah, that made sense, he did notice how the other almost dozed off several times. “Oh. Yeah, it is pretty late already huh?” Hyde had completely lost track of time.
He grabbed the nearby blanket and gently placed it over Seth and him, “You should go to sleep, it should help with the concussion.”
Seth hummed a noise of acknowledgement from his place on Hyde's shoulder. His eyes were already closed and Hyde could hear the soft pattern of his breaths.
A small smile played on Hyde’s lips as he saw Seth sleeping soundly on his shoulder, he finally looked at peace; even if it was only for a moment.
He had a feeling that he wouldn’t be able to move at all tonight if it meant accidentally waking up Seth.
Hyde wrapped his arm around Seth and brought him a little closer. He laid his head back onto the couch and closed his eyes.
And if Linne saw Hyde and Seth sleeping soundly together, Seth’s head on Hyde’s shoulder and Hyde’s head resting on Seth’s, she didn’t utter a word about it.