[FRAG] Grieve in Blood

Beep. Beep.

Morning Star slowly opened his eyes, then instantly shut them again. The room he was in was far too bright. Obnoxiously so... it burned through his eyelids. He attempted to reach a hand up and cover his face, but his arm didn't budge. Something plastic was wrapped around his wrist.

"Oh, he's woken up!" a familiar voice echoed in his head. 

Morning Star groaned and stirred, opening his eyes again. The ceiling was a stark white, with strips of fluorescent lights inset. No wonder it'd been so bright. The walls were covered in faded yellowing wallpaper, with vague flower patterns adorning in columns. There was a stain in one corner, but it didn't look particularly concerning.

Magnotris leaned over his head, expression honest in worry and fear. It was the most genuine he'd looked in a while, and the least exhausted. Morning Star blinked a few times as his vision blurred and then came back into focus, the other's tightly-pulled frown never quite leaving his mind.

"Can you talk?" Magnotris asked, voice quiet, hopeful, high-pitched.

Morning Star groaned again, lifting his arm. It obeyed this time, and he draped his hand on his forehead, stirring. Attempting to sit up, however, resulted in Magnotris placing both hands on his chest and pushing him back down. He rubbed his head a few times before glancing at Magnotris again, eyes half-narrowed.

"Can you turn down the lights?" he managed, hoarsely. 

Magnotris scurred towards the doorway, which was still shut. He fiddled with the light switch until they dimmed a considerable amount - not enough to turn the room pitch dark, but enough that it no longer stung. Morning Star glanced around, taking in the sights of beeping machines, a clipboard posted above his head, and a third Fragment, who was sitting in a stool and clicking something on a computer. When they noticed him staring, they rolled the stool around to face Morning Star and smiled.

"Glad you're feeling better!" their grin was a tad too formal to be genuine. "You suffered a nasty injury."

They gestured to his face. Morning Star slid a hand down to his cheek. The only sign of damage was a small, raised scar.

"Shot at point-blank range with a Frag-powered gun. Luckily you got brought in quickly after it went through your skull!" they made a noise and marked something on their tablet. "The scar'll go away in a bit, it's just the result of overhealing so quickly."

Morning Star blinked a few times. "Oh, thank you."

"No need to thank me! Maybe Magnotris, though." they gave a coy wink.

Said Fragment was still staring at Morning Star, and had returned to his seat next to their bedside. 

The doctor scribbled a few more things before standing. "You should be solid and ready to leave whenever you please. Just keep out of the way of gunshots, alright?"

"Thank you, Ixtab," Magnotris whispered, voice reverent in ways that Morning Star had never heard before.

Ixtab calmly teleported out of the room, work done. Morning Star slowly exhaled, sitting up again. He wasn't stopped this time. Neither said anything for a long few minutes, both of their ears turned to listen to the machines beeping.

Morning Star fiddled with his plastic bracelet. Magnotris' hand gently snaked forward and rested on top of his; both stopped moving. He slowly turned his head to Magnotris, and the two stared into each other's eyes for a brief second.

Magnotris' eyes were so pretty. Multicolored and bright.

There was always such care in his gaze when he spoke to Morning Star. It was a rare treat. 

His breath smelled nice.

"You're sure you're okay?" Magnotris spoke, voice so quiet.

Morning Star slowly nodded, "Yeah... I don't like hospitals, ei- eep!"

Magnotris pulled Morning Star closer, having picked up the other Fragment bridal-style. After a series of confused blinks, Morning Star tilted his head up, staring at the other. Magnotris had cuddled close to the injured Frag, eyes closed, head bowed. There was a sense of near-loss that hung in the air around them, and Morning Star didn't resist the gentle hold.

They teleported, to Magnotris' bedroom. It was a comfortable place, barely lived-in. Curtains drawn over the windows blocked any sign of light; the time of day was unclear. They stepped towards the bed, which was neatly made, and slumped onto it as one.

Magnotris held Morning Star close, reaching a hand up to pet his hair slowly, drinking in the other's smell. Fingers curled between soft locks that bounced back into place as soon as they were disturbed, framing his face in the darkness. The only noise they shared was the sound of their breathing, slow and calmed.

Morning Star was pulled into a tight, squeezing hug, and the other buried his face in his neck. Soft, wet tears dripped onto the fur in his shoulder.

"I was so worried," Magnotris spoke, voice hoarse, "when you didn't respond to my calls, and I walked into your office - and there was just blood, and you lying there, and I thought...."

He didn't need to finish his sentence. Morning Star reached to stroke the other's wings.

"...I'm glad you're okay," he settled on, and sniffled into their shoulder.

"I'm always okay if I've got you looking out for me," Morning Star murmured in his ear.

Magnotris nuzzled, choking a tiny laugh. "Not true, you're always there for me!" 

Morning Star stroked his hair. Magnotris' had a different texture; slightly rougher and finer. It stuck up in places where it shouldn't and required more maintenance than it rightly had to ask for. Still, it was beautiful, and it suited the other so well.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight again," Magnotris said, softly.

"I won't get hurt again."

Magnotris' grip on Morning Star tightened. "Maybe you will. That's why I can't afford to let you wander. I ... I don't want to see you hurt."

Silence. Morning Star tucked his chin on the top of the other's head.

"Because I..." Magnotris uncomfortably swallowed, "I- I'm really sorry if this is awkward but I think I have feelings for you!"

He'd blurted it out so innocently and sweetly, and instantly moved his hands to cover his face. Morning Star shifted to rest his head on Magnotris' shoulder instead.

He could hear Magnotris' breathing. "Ah, ha, well... I think I um. Like you too."

Magnotris skipped a breath. "Really?" his tone was far too hopeful.

"Y-yeah."

"Okay," Magnotris squeaked, "what do you wanna do n-now?"

Morning Star shifted his arms to the small of his back. "Can we just - hug if that's okay with you?"

"Oh, that's perfectly fine!" Magnotris instantly snuggled back in, burying his face and dragging Morning Star in close. 

His breathing was so soft, and his heartbeat was so calming.