Lovestruck

take me with you

Eventually, everything settled down and it became somewhat quiet. Leaves, small rocks, embers and Howls dark feathers fell down gently and hit the ground and as the dust became thinner, you could see Howl's silhouette along with the bomb he was holding. You had never seen his wings this big before and you were very impressed by them. He raised his head and the small smile he usually had on his face came to sight. You gasped in relief when you saw him and ran over to him before you managed to think. "Howl!" you exclaimed and hugged his feathery body tighly. He wrapped one arm around your waist as he hugged you back.

"I'm sorry Y/n," he said through a breath, "I should have gotten here sooner." You looked him in his loving, blue eyes and your heart felt ten pounds lighter. "You're alive! Thank goodness!" you answered, hugging him again. You buried your face in his chest and you felt his other arm wrapping around you while his head came close to yours. You closed your eyes and took in every second of this loving moment.

Although you wished it could last longer, the hug was cut off by this weird gurgling noise and rocks falling over. You turned around to see what it was, though you already knew. It was Suliman's henchmen who were trying to squeeze into the backyard through another entrance that wasn't protected by Howl's magic. Howl still held you close as he started to walk towards the entrance to the house confidently. It was like he didn't even notice that the henchmen got into the backyard. They followed right behind you as the door opened and Howl escorted you both inside. He left the door open and once again, the henchmen were forced out by Howl's powerful spells. The door slammed after them.

The inside of the house wasn't all that bad. There were small stones and pieces of wood on the floor, some broken things and Calcifers ashes were spread around his fireplace. Nothing Howl couldn't fix. The witch sat in the green couch with Markl next to her and Heen under it. Her eyes were huges as she spectated Howl. Markl looked shocked at him as if he had never seen Howl like this before. The pink smoke from the witch's cigar was still in the room, but it wasn't that thick anymore.

"Master Howl! Y/n! You're safe!" Markl exclaimed and ran over to hug you as Howl put you down and hovered over Calcifer's fireplace to get a look at him. Markl hugged you tightly around your legs and you held his shoulders as a hug back. There was lots of smoke shooting up from Calcifer. Yet, Howl seemed to notice his presence because he held his feathery hand over the ashes and a dark red flame appeared from under his hand as he said; "Calcifer, you hang in there now!" Calcifer appeared and let out a gag as Howl pulled out a dark cloud from his mouth and turned it into a red spark that disappeared with the same noise the stars had made. Calcifer soon turned back into his normal color, but was still a little groggy.

Howl turned away from the fireplace and leaned over the witch. "Tell me. Was that cigar a gift from madame Suliman, by any chance?" he asked her kindly. "Howl, she fed me something gross, i feel sick." Calcifer complained from the fireplace. The witch let out a huge cloud of smoke right onto Howl as she answered; "Why, if it isn't Howl." She rested her head on her hand and looked at him with a smile. Howl leaned closer. "I think you and I need to have a nice, long heart to heart chat." she said as she took a final hit on her cigar. "There is nothing I would like more than that," Howl answered and reached out his hand for her to place her joint on. "But right now there is a war going on."

"How unlike you Howl. Not running away anymore." she said, falsely impressed, as she put out her joint on his palm. "Until later then." he said and turned to you. He put both his hands on your shoulders and locked eyes with you. "Stay here. Calcifer will protect you from the henchmen." he said. "I'll stand guard out front." he finished and made his way over to the door. "No Howl, wait!" you yelled and followed him. As he started walking down the stairs, you hugged him from behind and dug your face into his back. "Don't go out there! It's too dangerous!" you begged as he turned half way around so he could get a glance at you from the corner of his eye.

"Another wave is coming and Calcifer is too weak to stop the bombs." he replied calmly. "Don't fight them Howl, let's run!" you begged as you tightened your grip around his waist. "Sorry Y/n, I've had enough of running away." he said and your eyes widened slightly. "I've finally found something I want to protect." he continued. "It's you." You gasped at his gentle words and loosened you grip around him as butterflies emerged in you stomach. "Then take me with you!" you exclaimed and now he turned fully around. "I've got feathers too!" you continued and he let out a small chuckle. "Stay here." he said and pecked your forehead before rushing out of the door that led out to your backyard, leaving more of his dark feathers. The door slammed behind him and you ran to open it up. "Come back!" you yelled as you opened the door.

You ran outside and your eyes met his feathery body in the red sky as he flew away.