Draiks and Angels: Survivor

19 - Bruises

It was dinner time when Ava and Tadeas finally returned to the Aerie. They decided to eat instead of healing the various bruises they received that afternoon. After dinner they would be heading back to the Oracle's chamber, so the healing would have to wait until after that. Viana found them in the dining area and offered to guide them so they wouldn't get lost.

Back in the Oracle's chamber, Ava and Tadeas sat along the wall with the ubiquitous groove for their wings and Viana took her leave. The male Oracle put his hands out over the dish of water and stared intently at it.

After a few minutes, Ava's mind began to wander. Had all the terrorists woken up yet? Would she be able to heal her own shoulder? She'd never healed herself before. Tadeas had another flashback and it was pretty bad. Could she help him somehow?

Tadeas watched the ripples of the water and could feel his eyes get heavy. The feeling of his magic reserves felt... small, but not gone. He hurt all over, especially his side where Jason had hit him twice and his face where Jason had landed the blow that dropped him. He hoped Ava could heal bruises. He may have too many for her to handle with her magic after that fight, so he would ask her to focus on those two.

After another ten minutes, the male Angel finally dropped his hands and let out a breath, "I'm sorry, I cannot contact Salav."

"Thank you for trying," Ava bowed.

Viana led them to some guest rooms where they could stay until tomorrow like the policeman asked. Ava didn't tell the Archangel why they wanted to wait until tomorrow, because she didn't feel like explaining the whole thing again, and Viana didn't ask. The pair hung out in Ava's room while she healed the worst of Tadeas' bruises.

"Do you have enough magic to heal your shoulder?" Tadeas asked after she finished the ones he was most concerned about.

"I probably have enough for that, but I have never healed myself before..." Ava said, worried. She reached out to touch Tadeas' neck which was starting to sport a lovely bruise on the back, "We should-"

Tadeas grabbed her hand and pulled it away, "My neck will be fine. You should try your shoulder and see if you can, at least."

Ava pouted, but Tadeas held firm.

"Fine," Ava gave in.

Tadeas let go and Ava reached around until she could lay her hand on her bruised shoulder. She could barely reach far enough. She spoke the spell, "haltra," and concentrated on the healing. It was somehow slower than healing Tadeas, but it was working. She could tell she was getting low on magic, though. She wanted to at least get rid of the very visible bruise on Tadeas' neck. She cut her healing off early hoping it looked good enough to fool Tadeas into letting her heal him.

"There," Ava pulled her hand away. "Now can we do your neck?"

Tadeas nodded, resigned. Ava got up and stood behind him to one side as he held his wings out of the way. She laid a hand on the back of his neck, and he shivered. She spoke the healing spell again and her hand began to glow. It wasn't as bad a bruise as it seemed and didn't take long to heal. When she was done, she trailed her hand down his shoulder and arm to pick up his hand and look at his knuckles. She had noticed that his dominant hand was bruised and split, probably from punching the terrorists in bony places. She held his hand between both of hers, closed her eyes, and spoke the spell.

Tadeas felt his cheeks warm as Ava ran her hand down his arm to his hand. She didn't seem to notice, but closed her eyes and began healing his knuckles. He felt like his brain had short-circuited because he couldn't think of anything except the sensation of Ava's fingers around his. Her hands were warm and soft.