--Cultivate--

[eyesofaproxy]

[When Wise was very young, or at least younger than he is now, he'd gotten lost in the forest outside Helios. He was only saved by a passing wandering cultivator, and to this day he's wanted to meet the man again to thank him. It doesn't matter that Helios fell and he and Belle moved to Yunkui Summit, he wants to find that man and thank him for what he did that day. He changed the trajectory of Wise's life, he's pretty sure, and he deserves to know that.

Granted, a wandering cultivator isn't why Wise (and Belle) is now the heir to Yunkui Summit, that is entirely because of Yixuan-shifu and their own unique abilities, but all the same. That man inspired Wise to get with Belle to create Phatheon, a nameless somebody who is able to hire people to handle things the larger temples and sects can't or won't.

Right now, though, Wise is not acting in the guise of Phaetheon. Wise is acting in the guise of a very annoyed older brother being strongarmed into going down the mountain for an annual check up, since apparently the doctors are all afraid of coming up the mountain after last year's run-in with Eous the spiritual monster rabbit. Cowards.]

I don't need to go right now, Belle, really.

Yes you do! And because there's bandits on the road, I even hired you a bodyguard!

Belle...

Comments

[eyesofaproxy]

[RIFP Wise.]

If you're sure...

[Wait why is he agreeing to this??

Wise shifts a little before standing, very carefully not looking at Lighter as he does. He ducks behind some other rocks to strip and set his robes aside.]

[fuegor]

Positive. It'd feel like a crime if I didn't share the space. These are the nicest springs I've gotten to bathe in at all.

[Lighter at least had the decency to look away while Wise stripped. Just in case!]

[eyesofaproxy]

We try to keep them clean and warm.

[And he's in! He is skinny and clearly lacking in almost all muscle. He's nothing like Lighter...

But there is an odd mark on the left shoulder. A crescent moon birthmark.

(The last time anyone saw that was when Wise was being saved by his hero. His shirt had gotten torn)]

[fuegor]

[Lighter caught that right away. Even double checked, moving his hair away from his eyes.

Is he remembering where he saw that last correctly? God knows his memory was terrible but. That's definitely a thing that sticks out.]

Huh. That mark on your shoulder...

[eyesofaproxy]

Hm? Oh, my birthmark?

[He reaches up to touch it.]

Belle has a sun one on the other shoulder.

[fuegor]

Really...

[He's leaning in a bit for a closer look.]

It's weird. I swear I've seen it before... a long while ago.

[eyesofaproxy]

I'm not sure how. You've never seen me shirtless, right?

[Unless...?]

How long ago?

[fuegor]

[Ah, fuck he has to remember. Think, Lighter... it was around the time the Sun Capital fell... Helios, or whatever it was called locally. And that was...]

I wanna say... ten years ago?

[eyesofaproxy]

Ten years ago...outside Helios?

[fuegor]

Yeah! That's exactly it. I was there in the midst of it falling. I remembered seeing a kid with a moon on his shoulder...

[Was that Wise?]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise turns around, smiling.]

Did you save the kid, by any chance?

[fuegor]

... Yeah, I did. Just in time.

[The only time he did manage to save someone.]

[eyesofaproxy]

I'm only here because of you, then. That was me--I was lost in the forest, and those fierce corpses were closing in, remember?

[fuegor]

Yeah, it's all coming back to me now. There were two of them and one came real close to you. But they must not've been that smart in life let alone in death. The way they were moving it was easy to get between you and them. And that was before I learned to cleanse with fire.

[A laugh.]

Well, I did end up using some fire anyway. [Just from external sources.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Yeah, because I handed you a fire talisman, right? And then they were gone and you were literally hauling me back to the city.

[fuegor]

Well, I wasn't gonna let a kid run around in the forest alone.

[Said while laying a hand on Wise's back.]

What a small world we live in, huh...

[eyesofaproxy]

[His hand is warm. Wise smiles a little, blushing.]

Yeah. You saved my life, Lighter. Thank you.

[fuegor]

... I'm glad you're still alive, Wise.

[He was smiling, but it was weak. His feelings were genuine, but there was a pain in his heart and behind his eyes he held back. And the way they were standing by each other, Wise had a much clearer view of how Lighter's eyes looked.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[He does get a better look, and--]

Your eyes. What happened to them?

[fuegor]

... An old injury. I used to be part of a sect that was coming up in the ranks. Huo Dan. But it fell apart because of a huge mistake I made. A few years later I ended up in much more life threatening work, fighting day and night. And one day I fought so hard I nearly qi deviated.

["I should have qi deviated. I should have died with everyone else before that."]

Since then my eyes have been pretty sensitive to light.

[And that's the full truth of why he kept the blindfold on and his fringe long.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Oh. Wise starts to reach up and brush Lighter's bangs away but remembers himself and doesn't.]

...you know, I think I might be able to make or get you some shaded eyeglasses?

[fuegor]

[Oh. But Lighter notices every little movement.

And now he's blushing slightly.]

Really? It'd sure be helpful... make things easier to see and all.

[eyesofaproxy]

Belle and I made Yinhu-xiong's, so we can probably make some for you. Then you wouldn't have to wear the blindfold.

[He likes Lighter's eyes...]

[fuegor]

Well, if you're making the offer it'd be pretty messed up to refuse. I'd appreciate it. ... Thank you.

[Lighter liked Wise's eyes too.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Of course.

[He should move and start washing up. But he doesn't. He just stays there, smiling a little up at Lighter.]