Journey for Espers - Chapter 5
#5 of Espers
Author's Note/Disclaimer - Welcome to Chapter 5. Sorry about the small delay, but life gets in the way sometime. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy chapter 5. Still no yiff, but there is some nudity and character building. Let me know what you all think.
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Chapter Five - The Spring
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Kelly had long since discarded his normal clothing for something more relaxing one he made sure his chare was sleeping well. He was now resting on his own bed in a pair of red hakama with a similar slash and X design on each leg, and white haori with very wide arms, and his long hair tied up in a high ponytail giving him a slightly exotic look.
His ears twitched softly as he turned the page through the book he had borrowed from the shelf in the main sitting room. "The Summoning of Fantastical Beasts from Other Realms" turned out to be an interesting book, filled with diagrams and theories of how to call other Espers besides those that resided in Ivalice. As he looked through he, he found the possibility fairly accurate for someone who knew the arts already.
"Kelly," a gentle, deep voice spoke out, causing the fox to look over to him. Phynix slowly worked his way up to a sitting position with just the slightest bit of difficulty. He had a slight blush on his cheeks and was looking down at his hands. "Can you help me up? My body is a little shaky and tense and I ... I need to use the bathroom."
The mage chuckled softly as he moved from his own bed and strode over to the canines beside. He made to grab his staff before walking over to his bedside and offering him an arm. The man grabbed it and used it as leverage to lift himself from the bed. Kelly managed to keep his eyes on the canines face as he handed him his Serpent Rod. "Use this to steady yourself."
"Thank you," Phynix said as he moved slowly to the bathroom, a bit of pain still evident in his steps. He came back a few moments later, looking a little more refreshed but still equally embarrassed. "I'm naked," he stated simply as he sat on the edge of his bed and pulled the sheet into his lap to cover himself.
"You are," Kelly said barely suppressing a giggle. "I had to strip you to check your wounds and clean them. Magic is very effective, but it is still best to clean the wounds if you have the chance. Less debris in your system."
"Oh." The male said looking over at the mage, understand a bit more. He examined the staff he had been handed and slowly formed his next question. "Where are my clothes? And my equipment?"
"Your clothes are hanging near the fireplace in the main room drying. I washed the stains out myself." The fox said watching the male with slight interest. "They need patched before they can be worn. Though you will find a robe procured from the innkeeper on the chest at the foot of your bed to suit you until then."
Phynix reached over and grabbed the black silk from the chest and gratefully slipped it on, sashing it gently. Feeling much more comfortable, he looked over at the fox. "Why?"
"Why what?" Kelly returned gently.
"Why are you being so kind to me?" Phynix continued softly. "I am just a mangy wild dog and a thief on top of that. Why are you going out of your way to help me?"
"Because," the fox said, eyes watching the male unblinkingly, "it is what I do. I don't see a mangy wild dog and a thief. I see a person who injured and needed taking care of. So I acted."
"Thank you," the wild dog said in an almost whisper. "I will take my leave in the morning."
"You will not." Kelly replied curtly. "Not until your wounds are healed."
"You magic took care of my wounds." Phynix said looking surprised.
"There are wounds my magic cannot heal." Kelly stood swiftly, and gathered two large towels in his arms. "Come with me," he said glancing over his shoulder at the canine as he walked to the door in slow strides.
Phynix looked for a moment like he was going to argue, but decided against it, using the staff to push himself up. He strode over to the door and followed the fox into the main, past the deck where he watched the male grab something and over to a door which was then unlocked. Together they descended down a flight of stairs, a rush of warmth coming to greet them.
Before them laid a large spring, steam raising gently from the still water. It seemed to be a natural formation, with large polished boulders raising occasional to for a nice outcropping for sitting. Kelly took advantage of the situation as his charge overlooked the pool, and reached out a hand to undo Phynix's robe. In a fluid motion the robe was discarded, and the male hefted up and dropped unceremoniously into the spring.
Phynix came up for air sputtering, his red bangs blocking his golden eyes. "What was that for?!"
Kelly undid the sash of his pants, letting them fall to the ground as he slid off his haori. He stretched his lithe body, the dim torch lights making the metallic purple crest of fur on his chest glimmer softly like his hair. "Because you called yourself mangy."
Phynix was stunned. He had never had anyone reprimand him for such a thing before in his life. But somehow, he didn't find himself getting angry with the fox. On the other hand, he was a bit touched that he cared. His eyes looked up at the male and a blush quickly spread across his muzzle as he saw him standing there nude. "You're n-naked," he stammered.
Kelly really did laugh this time. "Naturally." He said as he slid down into the water, it's warmth cascading over him as he sunk in to his shoulders. He leaned against the edge and closed his eyes. "You didn't expect me to come in fully dressed did you?"
Phynix thought this made perfect sense really, and was slightly embarrassed it had caught him off guard. He settled in a place not to close to the fox, but not far enough away that it would make conversation hard. He found his own eyes half closing as the warmth relaxed away most of his tension. "How old are you?" He suddenly blurted out.
Kelly seemed nonplused by the question and replied softly, "Twenty-one. How old are you?"
"Oh. I'm only nineteen." The wild dog replied. "What...what wounds were you talking about that can't be healed?"
The fox smiled gently. "Wounds of the heart. You just...seem like you need a friend. Not everyone has to travel alone."
The wild dog's eyes opened and he looked over at the elder male. "Friend?"
"Yes. Friend. I will be you friend." Kelly said softly.
"Friend." Phynix said smiling in spite of himself. "Okay. Friends."