Desolation //Imp Tweek x Pastor Craig //

Efflorescence.

On the nightstand, from a pristine white ceramic bowl; trails of steam danced upwards as they evaporated into the air. Those vapour trails left a distinctively strong smell of sterile cleansing chemicals as they lifted from the bowl.

Bandaged fingers worked carefully to lightly submerge a cotton rag into the surface of the solution - tentatively avoiding overly soaking their own dressings in the process.

After each time the cloth was lifted and attentively rung of excess fluid, a seething breath cut through the silence in the small room.

And each time the chemical concoction began to run cold, it was swiftly removed from the room and replaced with a fresh batch of warm sterile water.

This process repeated over and over again.

Craig Tucker had his work cut out cleansing each of the Imps wounds.

A single lamp lit the room in a warm but dull tone. A freshly showered Tweek Tweak sat on the edge of the guest bedrooms bed, arms down at his sides while his long fingers gripped the edge of the mattress. His head was lowered, eyes hidden under locks of partially wet blond hair - the odd bead of water would fall from his ends and momentarily stain a fresh pair of jogging pants he donned.

His top half remained shirtless, pasty white skin contrasted the numerous purple and red bruises that littered his torso. Deep holes on his chest were still weeping, while his back and shoulder blades barred deep slashes and more colourful bruising.

From sitting, Tweek's upper body lightly swayed back and forth but his muscles refused to relax - he was tensing more frequently, struggling to keep himself still for the pastor tending to the damage inflicted upon him.

They both refrained from conversation, sitting mostly in silence - until the Imp finally broke it.

Slowly, Tweek managed to weakly lift his head. Blue eyes stared forwards, fixating on the wall in front of them while his lips quivered - struggling to find the words to leave his lips. Soon, he plucked up the courage to suck in a shaky breath -

'I nearly got us killed.' His tone just above a whisper but as the words slipped out, he coughed with a wince - screwing up his features in disappointment before dropping his head once again. His fingertips pressed to his mouth briefly, as in disbelief he managed to speak up, before dropping back to his sides again and grasping the covers tightly.

Craig, attention now caught, glanced up from his cleansing and locked his stare on the back of the imps head. Momentarily, he watched silently as the other resumed swaying back and forth once more - then spoke up too.

'Hey...' The word was drawn out over a breath, his tone also meeting the volume of Tweek's. It had a sense of reassurance about it - at least as much as nasally and monotone could sound reassuring. 'It's okay, Tweek...' Craig continued, his gaze momentarily leaving the back of the blonds head - dropping the deeply crimson stained cloth back into the bowl. Wiping his hands on his pants, he contemplated his next gesture - the Imp was in need of reassurance and they'd both just crawled out of that woodland by the skin of their teeth.

Shuffling forwards ever so slightly and hesitating at first, Craig lifted his right arm up and around the front of Tweek's torso - his right hand meeting Tweek's right shoulder. The left followed suit, draping across the Imps left shoulder and resting lightly across Tweek's chest. He wanted to pull the other in but refused for now in fear of further adding pain to his already sore injuries.

The imp jumped at the first touch, a weak whimper escaping his lips as he felt Craig's hand rest lightly against his chest - but he bit back the pain. His rocking came to a halt as he allowed himself to be held, his muscles relaxing too - this protectiveness was something Tweek had never experienced before. Allowing the feeling of safeness to consume him, his own left hand shakily released his grip on the edge of the bed and rose upwards - his fingers grasping around Craig's left wrist. His body resting into Craig's.

Almost surprised with the reception he received, Craig's body relaxed. Naturally, his head carriage dropped towards Tweek's right shoulder - his cheek pressing against the imps skin first and lightly rested there.

Moments of silence passed, the two sat in their embrace letting their emotions dance around their heads. It was a comfortable feeling. Tweek's lips parted once more, taking in a deep breath this time before speaking.

'I don't wanna lose you, Craig...'

The words made both their stomachs drop. Realisation hitting that both parties really needed each other more than this soul bond ever meant. Of course, not being able to exist with one without the other but that their feelings perhaps ran deeper than either of them even imagined.

Craig's cheek lifted from the imps shoulder and swapped to resting his chin their instead, his arms increasing their hold on the others torso.

'Good...' His tone a whisper. Glancing forward, Craig's mind ticked over these feelings being brought to the surface. And against everything he had been taught and preached about - this just felt right. Dropping his head once again, Craig nestled his face into the crook of the Imps neck and closed his eyes. A relived sigh escaped his nostrils.

'Will you stay with me tonight?'

Craig felt the words reverb from within the Imps frame.

'Right here?' The Pastor fired back, tone still low and his grasp on the other unmoving.

'Yeah...' The word blew between Tweek's lips, his thumb that grasped Craig's wrist lightly brushed against his skin over and over again.

'Mhmm...' A mumble responded from Craig, lifting his head from his neck to pressing his cheek towards the back of Tweek's skull. 'But not here...' He continued, whispering into the Imps ear. There was no way either of their frames would be comfortable cramped up in this single bed. 'My room.'

'Okay.' Not putting up any retaliation, the Imp was pleased he wouldn't be spending the night alone and stuck with his thoughts.

The Pastor broke their connection, his arms releasing the imp and clambering off the bed hastily. Tweek went to follow suit, his hands dropping once more to his sides ready to try and push himself up with the least pain possible but he was met with an outstretched hand instead.

Taking the pastors hand, he allowed Craig to lead the way.

...

Both laid either side of the bed in silence.

Tweek struggled to drift off for the majority of the night, the pain was at least dulling as he healed but continued to contemplate the events of the previous evening.

At least he had the pastor to watch while they managed to sneak some sleep, it kept him occupied from his thoughts occasionally.

The Pastor stirred once, rolling over to meet with the wide awake Imp. Exhausted, he mumbled out something to the other.

'I don't want to lose you, either...'

Tweek felt the corner of his lip twitch, an arm slipping under the half asleep pastor and pulling him closer.

'Good.' The Imp whispered back.