Title: shelter from the storm
Rating: G
Fandom: Lamento
Relationship: Asato/Konoe
Wordcount: 845
Short summary: Asato and Konoe get caught out in a storm but luckily find a shelter before the rains come in.
“This way!”
“Konoe?”
Konoe pulls on Asato’s cloak to direct Asato’s gaze, feeling confident that he’s just found a shelter in the midst of this forest. Yes, it’s difficult to discern the wood that makes a shelter from the wood of trees in the dim light, and the strong winds don’t help with being able to see. But the shelter is not swaying side to side in this terribly windy weather, so it should work well before the rains come in, provided that it is…
“Ah! Let me look.” And before Konoe can react, Asato sprints past him towards the wooden shelter. Konoe immediately loses track of Asato visually (his black cloak unfortunately makes him blend more easily into the shadows), but a few minutes later Asato returns.
“Looks okay!" Asato exclaims, taking Konoe’s hand. “We can stay there, Konoe.”
“It’s open?” Konoe is relieved. If this place had been occupied or unsafe, then they would have to look for the sturdiest tree and hope it would be safe enough…
“Um… I opened it!”
“You went through the window?” Konoe can’t help but shake his head. Well, if Asato could enter through the window, then the place must be unoccupied. Konoe is going to walk through the door, though, that Asato has opened.
It takes more like 10 minutes to reach the shelter with Asato guiding Konoe carefully, avoiding as many sharp roots or rocks as possible. It’s irritating to be treated like he’s fragile, but when it’s hard to see... It’s fine for this moment.
“Konoe.” Asato pulls Konoe inside the shelter with his left arm, bringing Konoe’s body flush against his side, and shuts the door. “Sorry. You’re cold.”
Konoe shakes his head once more. He doesn’t understand why Asato is apologizing as his body warmth is greatly appreciated. Except if he is apologizing for the fact that they were out later than planned and thus got caught up in the stormy weather.
“I wandered too far,” Asato continues as he guides them further inside. The shelter is just one large room. This corner has some blankets, while the other side has some pots and other things for cooking? It’s hard to see in here with the only light coming weakly through the open window.
“Stay.”
“I can…”
“Konoe warms himself up with blankets. I… I close window.”
Konoe frowns but Asato is too quick on his feet. When Asato closes the window, the shelter plunges completely into darkness and Konoe can’t help but gasp.
“Konoe!” Asato shouts, reopening the window a bit. Konoe can see Asato’s apologetic expression despite the dim lighting, can read it in his body language. “I’ll… Leaf.”
Asato places a guiding leaf in the holder near the door. The green glow wavers due to the storm winds that leak into the shelter from the opening in the window. With an exhale, Asato firmly closes the window shut. He leans back against it.
“I’m sorry.”
Konoe grumbles. Asato keeps apologizing but that’s not what Konoe wants. Everyone can make a mistake when they are flustered or frustrated or stressed. Yes, Asato led them too far off the path. But he wanted to find a certain flower, and Konoe wanted to see it too. In addition, Konoe has never had the best sense of direction…
“Come here.” What Konoe wants instead is Asato to join him in the blankets. When Asato hesitates, Konoe starts trying to remove his prosthetic.
“Konoe…” Asato has never been good at just watching Konoe remove the prosthetic, especially since it is difficult to do on his own. It’s a surefire way to get Asato to come to his side, but also… They are safe inside a shelter. They would be warmer if they shared the blankets and their body heat.
When Asato finally sits down next to Konoe, Konoe presses a light kiss against his jaw. “Let’s just sleep.”
Frankly, Konoe rather just be warm and asleep instead of trying to assign blame or ponder over what-ifs. It’s not like either of them can control the weather.
Asato gently undoes the straps holding the prosthetic arm in place. He gently sets the piece aside. He lays Konoe down, head in his lap.
“Asato?” In this position, Asato would be sleeping in a sitting position? And what about his blanket?
Asato’s fingers brush through Konoe’s hair. “More comfortable than the floor.”
Yes, but…
“Konoe.” There’s a deeper, harsher timbre to the way Asato says Konoe’s name this time. That means Asato has made a decision and won’t change his mind. It’s probably a way Asato can punish himself while still fulfilling Konoe’s wish, and well… With the way Asato’s fingers feel in his hair, Konoe is finding it hard to stay awake enough to put up an argument. He wants to… He still dislikes how Asato treats himself sometimes, but he knows that right now, the sooner he goes to sleep, the sooner Asato can go to sleep. Hopefully the storm passes through tonight. And when they wake tomorrow, refreshed, they can still find that flower…