Ashrain

8. Hooves in The Kitchen

Seonghwa healed for another three days of the brothers tending to him before he could move again.

Hongjoong was hunched over his boots and cleaned them of the clumps of dirt sticking to them when Seonghwa rustled in his box. At the stable boy's curious glance, the centaur wrapped his fingers over the wooden walls encasing him.

"I want to try walking again today."

In an instant, Hongjoong discarded the boots and dashed to his side. Naturally, his arm came to support Seonghwa's shoulder, even if that barely helped the rest of his body.

"Are you sure? Your wounds haven't been closed for long." Hongjoong glanced at the bandage with apprehension. The leg wasn't shaky as Seonghwa drew himself up. For a moment, his hot breath caressed Hongjoong's forehead.

"I'm sure. It can heal while I stand; the bone has sustained no damage." With that, Seonghwa stood to his full height and towered over Hongjoong. In wonder, Hongjoong looked up at him and then back to the injury. No fresh blood stained the cloth. Seonghwa stood without troubles.

The centaur shifted and tried out the pressure on that limb. He settled not to put too much of his weight on it yet. An easy thing to do, with four legs.

"Any pain?" Hongjoong settled his hand on Seonghwa's horse back, patting it as if he needed to soothe him.

"It's dull. I will be fine."

Hongjoong's face bloomed into a smile. He hugged his body to Seonghwa's side, conveying his pride in the man's progress. Firm muscles pressed against him through a coat of alabaster fur. Seonghwa reached for him in response, his fingers gliding through the short hair at Hongjoong's nape.

"Finally, I can repay the favours you and your brother blessed me with. Allow me to help you around the house since I have no money to repay you with on me," Seonghwa asked. His torso twisted elegantly so he could look at Hongjoong when the boy lifted his head, not letting go of the broad animal body yet.

"You want to help us?"

Seonghwa nodded sincerely.

"With cooking, with laundry, anything you can use me for. Once I am fully healed, I can lug heavy weights for you, too. Until you two find the pathfinder and I can go home, I want to express my utmost gratitude." The crooked smile was back on his full lips. Nervous, his hooves shifted over the wooden floor. Their every step was gentle and deliberate. So refined for a large animal.

Entranced by the determined shine in Seonghwa's eyes and the way his smile made his beauty gleam even brighter, Hongjoong agreed. When he moved backwards out of the bay, Seonghwa followed him. They made sure he didn't collapse into pain a moment after, but the powerful shifts of muscles in his body and his noble grace were as if he had never got injured.

Hongjoong ripped his eyes off him to open the door leading into the kitchen. His heart hammered in his chest as if he had done something inappropriate when all he did was appreciate the raw strength housed by Seonghwa's being. In his fascination with horses, Hongjoong wanted to see him run and fight, to see how his potent body melted with a human's mindset and willpower.

With how tall Seonghwa stood above him, Hongjoong was both awed and flustered by his sudden switch from a hurt creature on the ground to a majestic centaur.

Seonghwa followed behind him as Hongjoong smiled at Mingi, who sat on the bench and munched on his breakfast.

"Seonghwa said he can stand again. He wants to help around the house," Hongjoong informed him. He turned to gesture at Seonghwa, coming in at the same moment Mingi's eyes widened at the news.