"It" Can't Be Helped (Revised) | ✔️ | Blue Exorcist

26

"Ow, Kuro!" I blurted out by instinct. My familiar immediately retracted his claws and rolled over onto his feet. We'd been relaxing on my bed for the last half an hour. At some point we'd moved on to playing, with me using my had as "prey" and Kuro being the small hunter he was. I couldn't blame him, he was just doing what he was supposed to. But damn his claws hurt when they snagged the tender flesh of my wrist. I pulled my injured forearm closer to inspect it. Unsurprisingly, my skin healed before I had a chance to gauge how deep it was. My gaze flickered back to my tiny friend, who had the decency to look apologetic. With his ears drawn back and pupils the size of saucers, I couldn't stay mad at him long.

"I'm sorry!" He said in a rushed whisper. A small smile pulled at the corner of my lips and I simply shrugged.

"It's alright, it's fine now, see-" I offered up my arm to show him the unharmed flesh, and he glanced down briefly before meeting my eyes once more.

"Doesn't..." he stopped himself, green eyes narrowing slightly as he pondered his next words. "Doesn't it... affect you?" His ears pinned back again as he flinched, but it took me a few moments to understand why he was so hesitant.

I hummed before bringing a hand up to scratch the back of my neck. Affect me? "No, not really." I finally answered, but I wasn't certain as to why. Was it because I hadn't inflicted it? Or maybe because I wasn't in the right headspace? I felt a wrinkle form between my brows as my mind began mulling the possibilities. However, I was interrupted from my thoughts when the bedroom door swung open. Yukio shuffled in, looking uncharacteristically exhausted. "What's up with you?" I shifted on my mattress to face him better and he sighed before shrugging off his exorcist jacket.

"To put it mildly; someone fucked up bad. You don't know him, but he's a superior of mine. Two people got hurt at the mission and it was completely avoidable." He shook his heads and his messy brown hair shifted with the movement. I clicked my tongue and mirrored his mannerisms, shaking me head and donning a disapproving expression. Even though I was very aware that I was just an exwire and was in no position to judge this person, I would be lying if I said I didn't like playing into the drama that Yukio brought home. Said brother untucked his shirt from his pants and flopped onto his bed, motioning in the air above him as he spoke. "We had more than enough Arias to defend, but nooooo — let's use attacking incantations to strengthen our already strong offense to, and I quote 'get the job done quicker.'" A grunt sounded from him and he shoved himself back into a seated position, his fingers moving through his hair.

"Are you okay?" It was my first priority, and while he looked physically fine, I had to make sure. He nodded and I breathed a small sigh of relief. "What about the others?"

Yukio hummed, a dark look crossing his features. "They'll survive, and I don't think their injuries were life altering. But to be blunt, our leadership might be rearranged after today. A complete lack of foresight like that is not something we need, and it's not his first offense, either." My nose scrunched up with that last statement. Oh boy, someone fucked up bad if there's a possible demotion involved. There was a brief moment of silence before Yukio pushed himself off his bed and walked into the bathroom.

I glanced down at my familiar, he was cleaning his paws. I'm sure he was idly listening to our conversation, and I wondered what kind of drama he'd heard dad bring home on occasion. Nostalgia warmed my heart as I moved to scratch his favorite spot between his horns. Almost immediately he began purring, his motions halting as he leaned into my hand.

Just as quickly as he'd disappeared, my twin reemerged from the bathroom. He held a familiar box in his hands as he neared and sat on my bed. I sighed and shifted my body, remembering the last time we'd done this exact routine. I turned to give him better access to my left arm and I watched as he gingerly touched the ragged marks on my bicep. I myriad of emotions flickered in his eyes before he finally sat back with an inquisitive look. "That is so interesting," he muttered. I simply hummed in response, knowing he'd explain himself. I was correct. "Technically, you should've healed by now. If anything, you would've healed that night. Yet..." he reached out once more and prodded at my inflamed skin. "Huh. Your genetic code is fascinating. You'd think your human side would benefit from the pharmaceuticals we used, but it seems as though they hindered you."