Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)

Sleepover

The door burst open and Secondo strode in, just as Quinn was pulling his hoodie over his head. Fire, who was on guard duty, flanked him, along with Water and Itzal. Earth, who'd been there when Quinn returned from whichever hell realm Flauros had dragged him to, insisted he should get dressed. He'd had a point, though. Quinn was freezing, teeth chattering, so it made sense.

Secondo went straight to him and took his cheeks between his palms, eyes roaming his face.

"You are alright?" he said briskly, concerned features tight.

Quinn nodded sharply, and Secondo threw his arms around him. His relief felt like the warmth from the hearth and he soaked it up. Quinn slid his eyes to Earth, who shrugged his wide shoulders.

"Flauros took his payment. We are level now," Quinn said, and the words sounded emotionless.

Secondo pulled back and took hold of Quinn's biceps, as if he didn't want to let him go.

"I felt our bond severed. I was not on the Abbey's grounds, so it took me a while to get back here." Air draped one of the fur blankets from their bed around Quinn's shoulders and wrapped his arm around his waist, nuzzling his face into his neck. Quinn shuddered and leaned on his mate, still feeling the last remnants of adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Tell me what happened."

Secondo let go of him, and Air pushed Quinn down, so he sat on the end of the bed, looking up at the human. He took a moment to compose himself, as he didn't trust that his voice wouldn't crack when he spoke. Air noticed.

"It's okay. We're here with you now." He met Quinn's eyes and frowned, reaching out to touch his cheek. "Your eyes. They look...normal?"

Quinn blinked and smirked.

"They fixed them. I think. My headache has gone, too. My eyes feel..." He huffed. "They feel normal again."

Air grinned.

"I missed them. They're pretty again. Who's they, though? Where did you go?"

"We all panicked," Earth said. He hadn't taken his eyes off Quinn the whole time, he'd realised. "It felt like you'd died. It felt like the night when..." He scowled and Quinn sent him soothing magic. "When we lost Quintessence," he added quietly.

The others all nodded their agreement.

"Oh," Quinn said. He sighed and met Secondo's gaze. "The ring didn't work."

Secondo cursed under his breath.

"The trials we did were all successful."

"Demon dukes," he said by way of an explanation.

Secondo's eyes widened, and Quinn shrugged. Secondo sat down heavily in the armchair that overlooked the bed; the one that wasn't covered in discarded clothes.

"You had best fill us in, si?"

Quinn told him everything, and when he was done, the others were staring at him in shock.

"I mean, I guess when you look past the ghoul-napping and them drugging me, it could have been worse. The magic protecting their meeting place was powerful. The spell couldn't break through it."

Secondo sighed wearily and Air echoed it. Quinn could feel how angry and worried he'd been, the same as the others, and he supposed it was justified.

Quinn, though? As much as he didn't agree with their methods, he knew this was probably the best outcome he could have had from owing Flauros.

"They took you from our bed, Quinn. Against your will," Air said.

Quinn offered him a half smile.

"Well, I don't owe him anymore, and the damage the ether did to my brain and my eyes is fixed. Temporarily. I think. So, yeah..."