Nothing left to safe

3

"Do you maybe want a hug?" Zepherus helplessly offers. Immediately you let yourself slide down the side of the bed, guided by Zepherus' hands to land softly in his lap. You wrap your hands around him right away. And only seconds after, he does the same.

You start breathing faster. Trying to regulate it, to stop what's coming, you hold your breath. But the room turns blurry and Zepherus' warmth seems to fade away

<<<>>>

You are in an alleyway.

Tears streaming down your face, trying to aid to Venus' wound.

For six months, since you turned sixteen, you two have tried to arrest a villain.

And the two seemed to be playing. More dancing than fighting.

But tonight, he stabbed Venus.

And didn't even end her fast. Just left her to bleed out.

And you carried her to a nearby alleyway.

Recently you discovered you had healing powers additionally to your beloved wings. Now you are sitting next to body of your mentor, trying to heal the wounds you know you can't heal anymore.

No one can heal the dead.

But you still let your hands glow gold, begging any higher beings there might be to let your mother be alive.

 But she won't breathe.

Her heart won't beat.

And you will never hear her tell you how well you are doing.

You lower your hands, trying to breathe.

But then there it is.

...

"Oh Veles~ Come out and show yourself~"

You hold your breath until your lungs hurt.

At this point your white hero-outfit is covered in blood, the bright red dripping from your hands.

"Veles ", a voice calls, "Veles!", but there is a shift to the voice.

"Veles, for fucks sake, please!"

You start breathing again, way to fast, only increasing your headache.

You start mumbling as everything turns dark for a second.

And suddenly, you feel a cold hand wiping away some tears.

<<<>>>

You grab onto it, finally grounding yourself again. You hear whispers luring you into deep breaths, a slow rhythm of them. Your vision slowly returns. First, everything is blurred by your tears but you quickly blink them away.

Only now you process what is whispered to you, as well as who is whispering. Zepherus soft, deep, gentle voice telling you: "Veles, you are doing great. Breathe out. You are so brave. In.. Hold. Can you hear me? Out."

You nod at his question, hearing him breathe out in relief. "You want to keep breathing together or you feeling a bit better?", he softly asks, closing his hand around yours. "I'm alright again, thank you Zeph.", you answer, shifting closer to the villain holding you.

You hear a chuckle , feel his chest rise and fall, matching the sound as he speaks. "Zeph, heh, that's new, dove", he laughs softly. "Don't blame me, I just-.. Never mind", you stop yourself, not wanting to tell Zepherus your past. "Perhaps you should sleep? Panic attacks are exhausting, dove", he offers, sympathy dripping from his voice.

You look up into his eyes. His warm, brown eyes meeting your gaze. You believe to see some white spots in his eyes, similar to the back of a baby deer. You don't even notice how his hand slips away, only to wrap around you, carefully stroking your wings.

Your heart beats a little faster and you give in to the touch of the villain's hand. And slowly, you are lured to a world of dreams. Baby deer and cold, caring hands around your waist and wings following you with ease.