Corrupted Dreams

Dreams of Darkness and Fire

Something was there in the darkness, beckoning me like a dirty temptation. It was easy to deny, but I could still feel it there, bloodless hands skimming my skin, chilling me. A sharp pain came, stabbing at something. The pain hit me, but I felt like I was caught in the crossfire more than anything, as if I was not the intended target. After planting it's roots and blooming with fire, the pain just vanished, taking the eerie presence with it.

I could feel reality coming through, my body entering the twilight of asleep and awake. The cold touch was gone, replaced by one solid and warm cupping my cheek. A sting in one shoulder, there was a pressure on the other, as if a head was resting there. I know that touch. My foggy brain reached out for the presence. "Cu?" The pressure from my shoulder was instantly lifted, and the hold on my cheek firmed. I opened my eyes, his hanging blue hair a blur in my vision.

"It's me... Cas." My sight pieced itself together, his features becoming clear. Yes, it's Cas, not Setanta.

I leaned into his hand, as the memories of the fight made their way back to me. "See what happens when you don't pay attention?" I tapped my wounded shoulder, though it wasn't so much "wounded" any more, simply sore.

Cas gave a small chuckle. "Yeah, I made a dumb mistake, and I'm sorry about what happen."

"Hmph, you're openly admitting to your mistakes? Wow, you really are smarter as a caster." The laugh he gave this time was a little more genuine.

"I guess that's just what growing up does to you."

"Are you saying Setanta hasn't grown up?"

"In some cases, absolutely not." I grunted in amusement. He isn't wrong.

Something caught my eye, once my vision was completely focused in. Reaching up, I brushed my thumb underneath Cas' eye. "Have you been crying?"

"Hm? No." He moved the hand on my cheek to grip my wrist instead, pulling it away.

"Cas—"

"I'm fine, Shirou. I haven't been crying." Cas laid back down, resting his head on my chest, and getting his face out of my view. It seems Cas hasn't completely grown up either.

With a sigh, I let my hand fall on his hair, stroking it. "Why were you crying, Cas?"

"I'm fine, Shirou."

"Maybe now, but you weren't a moment ago, otherwise you wouldn't have been crying."

"I wasn't crying!" His voice rang into the silence, neither of us speaking for a moment, then he continued. "...That black stuff...it just brought back bad memories.

"Mm..." I massaged my fingers into his scalp. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"...Okay." I continued to let my hand give him comfort rather than trying to drill anything out of him. We remained in silence for as long as Cas wished, him laying on my chest as I stroked his hair. An alarm rang distantly in the back of my head, but I ignored it for now. I wasn't just going to push Cas away when he needed comfort, and that's something I think Setanta would agree with.

"How are you feeling?" Cas broke the silence, sitting up.

"Fine, just a little sore really."

"Do you feel the same as you typically do? Not just physically, do you feel... odd at all."

"No, I'm fine."

Cas released a puffed breath. "Good, that means it worked."

"What worked?" I sat up, my head spinning with a sharp pang that followed. My head pulsed and I rubbed my temple to soothe the beating. I guess a headache is to be expected after you smash your head into a cement wall.