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Elias had been… concerned… about the mission. Not that he hadn't thought that it was a good idea. The 'Wildflowers' as your little troop call yourselves, had needed some actual experience, and selfishly, Elias found himself wanting an excuse to redeem himself after the… incident with the demon.
But now you're all here, and everything has gone to shit in ways he hadn't even considered. It was bad enough that Puk ran off before he could catch them, it's even worse that you ran after him and Puk, arguing that 'since we're already here…'. And Elias is now worried that he's found himself allying with idiots, although he's pretty sure that both you and Puk would agree if he were to ask.
The two of you are hunched over various object, with Elias keeping an eye on the fire worriedly, glancing at you both every now and then to share his thoughts until the fires have reached the edge of the train car.
He's dragging you and Puk out, forcing you into running away from the train, terrified that he left it too late, that he let you linger for a moment too long, that he-
Elias grabs your hand, throwing you down ahead of him in an attempt to shelter you from the blast.
Fire explodes behind you, but all Elias is focused on is you.
And then pain is shooting through his body.
Shit
You're speaking, soft and shocked and it takes all of Elias' strength to focus on you. Keeping his face impassive is far harder than Elias lets on, but he looks you up and down nonetheless, checking you over for any injuries, sighing softly when he determines that you're unharmed.
Elias can feel the blood dripping from where the metal cut into him, one hand pressed to the wound in an attempt to heal it, but when he tries to stand up the pain stabs through him again, the edges tearing his skin further.
Your eyes are suddenly wide in horror, not that he can see, eyes squinted shut with concentration and pain. You're saying something and he hisses out a response, telling you to stop worrying, swearing he's got this.
(He can't let you down, he can't be weak)
You're pulling away and fear sets in, he's gasping, begging you to stay.
(Selfish, even though he's weak, even though-)
Puk's here now too, shocked to see Elias wounded, conferring with you worriedly. Elias growls out a remark, meant to make you both laugh, but instead you both look more upset, even though Puk fires back quickly.
All of a sudden you're on one side and Puk is on the other, lifting Elias despite his arguing, but he doesn't fight when you move him, only commenting occasionally, telling you both that he's fine, that this is only temporary.
(You all know he's lying, and he knows it too)
The others worry as well, but the blood loss is starting to get to Elias, merely grumbling retorts and gruff reassurances, until a person with bright blue hair appears out of nowhere, someone you seem to know, greeting the stranger far too happily for Elias' liking.
The stranger (Rune as you call him) attempts to make a deal with you, one that… logically he knows is reasonable. But…
You make a comment, something about Ragnar, about being warm, to which Rune replies with something far too flirtatious for Elias's liking.
(When did he start caring about who flirts with you?)
Elias snarls out a threat, unwilling to think about you holding Rune's hand. He's somewhat terrified that you'll accept Rune's deal.
Knights are getting closer. Elias knows you all need to get out of here, but you're still talking with that damned bard.
"I accept your deal," You lift Ragnar from your scarf, handing him to Kim and shifting Elias fully onto Puk, "Just make sure my friends get out of here."
Rune looks far too smug at your decision, a bird croons out a song, beautiful and haunting to Rune's command.
"Absolutely not." Elias's heart is pounding too hard, too fast, terror running through his veins, "I'm not letting you do this-"
"This is my choice to make, not yours." You cut him off with a sad smile, "I'm going. I'll see you all back at the Academy."
All of a sudden Elias is fifteen again, cutting ties with Hannah because if he doesn't he'll grow too attached to her, and his mentors have told him this is his last chance. Crying in his bed because Hannah is his only friend but he has to do this.
(Elias, this is not up to you)
He's ten, enrolled in the Menders class even though he wants to stay with his friends, even though Hannah isn't willing to choose anything other than Illusionist.
(You need to learn to channel your magic into healing Elias, Tornkvist brought you here because she saw something in you, don't let her down by fighting to do something like this)
Seven, learning that he has to become a Demon Hunter, something that is both his dream and haunts his nightmares.
(Elias you can't be like them, not when you are the way you are)
Five, hiding under his new bed at the academy, even though he's still a year young. Sleeping away from Tornkvist for the first time since she found him.
(You're a mage Elias, you have to go to the Academy, there's no other option)
Three.
The Father drops him, removing his bracelet, telling him the people coming are evil and want to kill him, telling him that if he doesn't kill the people then they will kill him and The Father, that The Father loves him and he just has to do this one thing and The Father will be back for him.
The Father leaves, a woman appears and he is ready, eyes wide and innocent, fire in his hands. The woman tries to take him, tries to fight him but he fights back, burning her until he's exhausted.
He's lifted up, set on the woman's hip and she bounces him, swaying lightly. His eyes are drifting shut, a warm hand brushing over his curls.
The woman moves, but he doesn't see what she's doing, already falling asleep, all fight leaving his body as he slumps into her.
Tornkvist picks up the scrap of fabric and metal from the ground, reading the name embroidered into it, "Sleep, little Elias, I'll keep you safe."
All too soon the Wildflowers, bar you, are back in Ragnar's lair, though Elias doesn't remember the journey. He's been placed down near Tornkvist, refusing to meet her gaze as she checks over his wound, clearing the shards of metal and pressing warm healing magic into him, closing the wound mostly, with the remainder of the energy she has after the day.
You're still nowhere to be seen, much to the concern of everyone, but especially Elias, fear still pumping through his veins at the thought of you being out there with no one to protect you if the bard decides to hurt you.
Tornkvist's sigh draws Elias's attention back, eyeing her almost nervously. The Demon Hunter stands, a sad smile on her face, hesitating before brushing a hand over his hair gently, "Rest and find me again tomorrow, pup."
Pup.
Tears threaten to spill down Elias's cheeks at the nickname he hasn't heard for years, the quiet affection he hasn't been shown since he was six and truly joined the Academy. From back when Tornkvist would carry him around with her, older kids cooing over him, all so excited and thrilled to talk with him. When he was never alone.
Although… he supposes that… he's never alone now. Hannah in the library, Puk in the workshop, Nina or Hannah in the theatres, Kim and Soren in Ragnar's hideout. You wandering everywhere, always appearing at the most inconvenient moments, distracting him from things he's supposed to be doing, reminding him that, he also needs to take breaks in a shocking turn of events.
You tumble into the room, looking startled and slightly disorientated, before standing up, wobbling a bit, and then nodding to yourself confidently, only to startle again when you notice all of the people in Ragnar's lair.
"Um… Hi?"
Ragnar is immediately crawling up your scarf, curling into the folds of the fabric and nuzzling into the side of your neck, letting out a soft rumble that sounds almost like a purr, although Ragnar would have denied this if anyone made a comment.
"You're back!" Hannah rushes up to you, throwing her arms around you in relief, earning a laugh from you, squeezing the no-longer-prefect tightly.
"I am! Everyone is safe?" You glance around the room again, checking to ensure that everyone is here, gaze lingering on Elias for a moment too long, cheeks flushing ever so faintly, if Elias didn't have his own eyes locked on you he wouldn't have noticed.
He's watching over you, ensuring that you are unharmed once again, that Rune didn't do anything to you.
The Wildflowers agree unanimously to rest and meet up in the morning. Tornkvist helps Elias to walk back, despite his arguments.
He sleeps fitfully, plagued by nightmares of demons and knights, of the people he's grown attached to dying and not being able to save them. In the end it's almost impossible to fight the urge to hide under his bed, feeling like he's six again, wishing that someone would tell him everything will be alright, even if he knows that it won't.
In the morning, everyone gathers back in Ragnar's hideout, with Puk and Ragnar leaving to collect Professor Hofland. Eventually Professor Hofland, Ragnar, and Puk all appear together, in the centre of the room, and Tornkvist moves to explain to the Tinker Professor the situation, with Hofland nodding along, surprisingly understanding about everything that has been going on.
All of you listen closely, piping up when you think of something that hasn't been said, until the conversation of Demon Hunters emerges and Elias is plunged back into memories of choices that weren't his, decisions he couldn't make, but ones that would effect him, ones that would change his life.
"Elias? What's wrong pup?" Boots stop where Elias is hidden under a bed, fingers are visible near them, then the lady lays down, head on her arm, smiling at him.
Tears soak his shirt and the carpet, fingers go to his wrist, but the wristband isn't there anymore. His nails dig into the skin. His face is hidden in his elbow.
"Hey, hey, pup," The tears are falling harder now, his breaths are sobs, "Oh Elias. This is a lot, isn't it. Alright, I'm going to sit up on the bed, and when you're ready, come on out. We've got toys and books, or I'm happy to talk. Whatever you need pup."
Elias sniffs, wiping his arm across his face angrily.
And then he crawls out, staring up at the lady, reaching up shyly, and the lady picks him up, holding him close as he sobs into her.
"Why- why'd you hurt Fa'ver?" Elias's voice is small, quieter than he will let himself be again.
"I- I will tell you, pup, properly, when you're older, but for now?" She sighs, "For now, let's just say that he wasn't a good man, Pup. Did he ever hurt you?"
Elias shrugs, "Yeah."
"Well he shouldn't have, no one should hurt you intentionally, if anyone ever does, you tell me, okay Pup?"
"Mkay." There's a long pause before Elias speaks up again, "Stay?"
"I'll stay with you as long as you want, Elias."
"Join their forces and help the Academy from the outside." Everyone seems to be deep in a conversation Elias has found himself drifting in and out of, until Tornkvist's words snap him out of his thoughts.
He fights it, fights her.
(She can't make this decision for him again. She can't send him away, not now.)
(Please)
Logically he knows that this is the right decision, that leaving will help more than staying, will keep all of you safe, and allow you to get the Academy proper help. But despite all the warnings, the reminders not to get attached, he finds himself devastated at the idea of losing Tornkvist, at leaving the Academy. He almost wishes he could hide with Ragnar and never leave.
Elias finds himself hovering in a corner of the Academy grounds, a spot overgrown with trees and few patches of grass, just another thing he's gotten far too attached to, even when he did everything he could to avoid the attachment.
And then you appear, as always, in the moments he least expects it, but, he supposes, when he most needs it.
You make a teasing remark about his commentary, something about poetry, and it reminds him of the ideas of joining Hannah when he was younger. He's happy with his path now, but sometimes he wonders what it would be like if he'd been an illusionist instead.
He winces, leaning against the wall as he feels the stitches pull, and you level him with an unimpressed look that he decides to ignore, skipping over that topic completely.
"Listen…" Elias sighs softly, admitting that he was wrong will never be something he enjoys, Hannah was right, he is stubborn, not that he'll ever admit that to her face, "What you did in the forest…"
"I know, I was being stupid and reckless, and you'll never trust me to do anything again, but on that topic," You pause, and Elias had been going to interrupt you, but now he's curious, "I'm sorry, I didn't think. You'd just told me about how you don't get a choice in these things that are so important to you, and I went ahead and didn't think about what I was saying. I'm not saying that I was wrong to go with Rune, I learned things and I stand by my choice, but I shouldn't have put it that way. I'm sorry."
Elias is frozen, eyes wide because you see him, "Oh. I-I was going to say that you were very brave, and even though I didn't like it, you did the right thing."
Your brow is furrowed, you suddenly look far more concerned than you did before, "Are you really okay, Elias? Is your wound infected? Are you delirious?"
"Maybe a little." He sighs, smirking softly, feeling far too vulnerable in this conversation, "Some part of me was convinced that, when danger arrived, real danger… You would turn and run. But you didn't…"
You look almost sad, and Elias hates that it's his fault, but he knows that he has to explain, to tell you that he was wrong, that you're far better than he thought was possible, especially for someone who wasn't a hunter, that he knows that he's latched onto the view of the world he built as a child, and refused to let it go.
And you're always so understanding it just makes him feel that much worse for not believing in you. But he lets it go, because you said that it is okay, and if he holds onto this, he knows that he will just make it worse.
"It's rather maddening that you're being so reasonable about this, you know that?" He takes a step closer to you, grinning when you flush, but you don't step away, instead standing your ground, looking up at him determinedly, "You are clearly the one driving me mad. After all this time, I still don't understand you. At all. You talk too much. You get into way too much trouble, collecting strays wherever you go, even those who bite your hand."
You laugh quietly, there have been far too many strays biting your hands up until recently; with Catherine, Julian and Elias all settling down; Puk calming after the destruction; Hannah no longer forcing herself into endless work and snapping when you try to break her out of it; Kim more confident, even though he's still grieving Hyben's death, he isn't shutting you out anymore, instead he's coming to you for help when he needs it; Ragnar is starting to understand that he's your friend, that you all love him no matter what, and if that means he wishes to stay forever, that's fine by you, but you're all so excited to see him grow and overcome his fears. Mercury also occasionally bites your hands, but you figure that's somewhat unrelated, you've formed a playful relationship with the cat, so little tussles are not unusual for you.
"I've given you no good reason to include me in your circle. Yet here I am, utterly entangled in your madness. Why?"
Grinning, confident now, you look up at him, "You should know by now that I'm not a fan of being told how I should feel about other people."
Elias gives you a slightly puzzled look, but you smirk back at him, telling him that even though the time people have together might be limited, it should be made the most of, no matter what.
"Utterly stubborn…" Elias doesn't say it with any malice though, the words from that night you asked him to the dance, I've been told my stubbornness is one of my greatest qualities! Back then he'd laughed, rolled his eyes even though you fascinated him, so determined to get yourself wound up in this mess, even when he told you time and time again to get out while you still could. His laugh sounds resigned, even to his own ears, "Regret is a bitter and useless sentiment, isn't it?"
"Perhaps," Your smile is softer now, understanding and kind, "But you know it's never too late to make those memories."
"Oh?" He's found his footing again, flirting has always come naturally to him, taking another step closer to you, not quite crowding your space yet, "And will you be the one to make those sweet new memories with me?"
"That was my plan." You're flushing again, heart pounding in your chest, eyes flitting over Elias, refusing to meet his gaze, "I'm gonna make sure no matter what happens, you'll never forget me."
"I think you already succeeded." Elias smirks at you, one eyebrow raised, "But what kind of memories do you propose we make, then?"
Courage spikes through you and you look up, meeting Elias's gaze in a way that should have told him what was coming next, your words determined, "You could kiss me. I feel like I've waited long enough."
Elias laughs, caught off guard, you truly do always know how to blindside him, even when he thinks he's got you all worked out, suddenly you'll do something and everything he thought he knew topples to the ground, "How very bold of you… You will surely be the death of me."
But then he's stepping closer, pulling you into him, one hand burning on your waist, the heat of his skin shares an uncanny resemblance to the molten gold of his eyes. His other hand cups your jaw, tilting your head up as he leans in to whisper into your ear, "To sweet memories."
And he's kissing you, soft and warm and everything he never knew how to be. Heat thrums through his body in a way that seems so familiar, but not. Almost like the feeling of magic, yet so much stronger, so much better, like a high he'll never be able to recreate.
Your hands are on him now too, thrown over his shoulders, holding him against you as though you're stopping him from pulling away, as if he could ever willingly pull away.
Eventually though, you have to breathe, and the two of you part just enough to inhale, with Elias murmuring, lips brushing against yours as he speaks, "Adorable."
Pain spikes through him and he gasps, pulling away further to grip at his side, breaths suddenly shallow from the sensation.
You're hovering over him, eyes worried despite your unimpressed tone, "You went and hurt yourself again, didn't you."
Elias huffs, but doesn't respond, well aware that he will be thoroughly reprimanded if he does.
"You really are an awful patient, you know that?" You groan, earning a laugh from Elias, even though it makes the pain just that much worse.
"If you want to tend to me later, that can be arranged," He smirks as the shock of pain subsides, straightening once more, "But right now I'm fine. I'm better than fine, really. Who would have thought that making memories could be this delightful?"
You raise an eyebrow at him, well and truly exasperated even as he continues, "Now that I've gotten a taste for it, I have no mind to stop."
Burning fingers light a trail of fire down your cheek, following the line of your jaw to settle under your chin, tilting your face up once more, words breathed over your lips, "Might I be greedy and ask for another?"
"If you bleed out while you kiss me, I will hit you." You're impressed that you manage to get that many words out with the hunter so close, heart beating wildly in your chest.
A breathy laugh escapes Elias, "I accept that condition."
His lips are pressed to yours once more, the feeling of molten lava pumping through his veins returns, just another thing he never wants to forget. When you gasp softly, Elias does everything he can to memorise that sound.
If everything truly is temporary like he thought, Elias is most certainly going to make the most of the time he has with you.