Dulce Periculum

10. Secret Aquaintance

Warning: character death

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Yunho drifted in and out of consciousness. The pain was so overwhelming he got numb to it and the next time he blinked against the red fog around them, the cargo pants crouched by his side. A gun and a knife were strapped to a firm thigh and a narrow waist shaped into broad shoulders under a skin-tight shirt.

As if from far away, Yunho heard the mumble of the man's voice, but he didn't understand.

More blackness.

Pale, large hands reached for him. Adorned by black tattoos winding up his arms. Yunho recoiled.

"Don't touch me... You will get hurt..." He babbled, not even sure anymore what was going on. He hurt Bora.

Bora.

"Bora- Is Bora-" His tongue weighed like a brick in his mouth.

More darkness. Black fingernails touched his arm, his leg. Yunho couldn't feel them, but his heart thumped less erratically. As if the pain finally washed away to nothingness.

The dark voice spoke again. Yunho never heard it before.

"The guide is dead."

His shock made Yunho pass out again. In his mind, he cried out for her, but he forgot right away what for.

When he woke, the realisation crashed back into him.

"Bora!" He rasped, trying to push himself up and her way. He had fresh energy, but a weight on his chest held him back.

Bora was so motionless. Surrounded by blood with her chest ripped open.

Yunho had to help her, or she would die.

When he babbled unintelligibly, the boots by his side shifted. This person was still with him.

"Shh, stay down. I'm not done with you yet."

What was he doing?

Yunho whimpered at a tug on his skin. Something tight wound around his leg, putting pressure on the wound. Everywhere those fingers came into contact with him, his aches lifted as if they had never been there.

Guiding. This was guiding.

With a person Yunho didn't even know.

"Stop-" He stuttered, swiping lethargic hands to swat at the fingers on him like getting rid of some bothersome bug.

He was slapped back. Stunned, he let his flailing hand sink.

"Let me do my thing," the voice above him grumbled. Yunho felt better at a scary rate. He no longer wanted and his head stopped throbbing as if his brain were bouncing against the inner walls of his skull. His back still ached, but he felt as if he were already a week down to healing those wounds.

What was going on?

Strong arms stabilised him. When Lux finished his guiding, all of his wounds had disappeared. He hadn't been at full strength since the guide was only a level A, but draining the boy completely had improved his condition so much.

With Bora, it had never been like that based on simple touches. Merely a cosy breeze, but barely of any help.

Was this how it was supposed to be?

So befuddled by how quickly he healed, Yunho leaned in his arm when the man patted over his ruined uniform.

"Why are you out here without a proper guide? What is your rank? A? B?" He asked, finally finding the badge that categorised Yunho.