forum Are You An Angel..? / OxO / closed! Pm if interested!

Started August 06, 2020 by @ElderGodSwimwithGamers group

tune

Matthew rubbed Rowan's back, offering him the water once he had puked.
"Here, rinse your mouth out with this," the avian said softly.

Rowan nodded weakly and drank the water, his eyes still pooling with tears from the burning. "W-What would it have done to me if we didn't get it out…?"

"It's a slow-acting poison," Matthew explained quietly. "It'd… shut down your liver." Matthew helped Rowan clean off, pulling the man close.
"New rule; no more putting anything in your mouth unless I say it's safe to eat, okay..?"

"O-Oh… okay…" Rowan huddled up in Matthew's lap, still trembling lightly. He felt weak and drained, and his hair was a bit disheveled.

Matthew held Rowan close to himself, gently rubbing his back.
"I've got you… things are okay, you're okay now…"

"Mmm…" Rowan buried his face in Matthew's shoulder, weakly gripping the other's shirt. "I-I'm sorry…"

"Shh," Matthew said softly, pulling Rowan close. "Shh, it's okay, Rowan. I'm the one who told you these plants were safe, I should have been more specific. I'm sorry, sweetie…"

Rowan coughed weakly and held tighter to Matthew. "I-It's okay… I should've left the bad one behind… I thought I did…"

"I thought so too," Matthew said softly. "I've got you…" The avian kissed Rowan's head, pulling him right up flush against his chest.

Rowan closed his eyes, huddling up against Matthew's chest with a shaky sigh. He just allowed himself to be held, knowing this was his fault.

Matthew started humming softly, fingers trailing up and down Rowan's back. It wasn't entirely the man's fault, not at all.

Rowan yawned a bit and started going limper in Matthew's arms, already tired from everything the morning had entailed. "Mmm…"

"Go ahead and get some more rest," Matthew said softly, wrapping his wings around them both.

"But I don't wanna sleep so much…" Rowan murmured, his grip on Matthew loosening.

"Rest is good for you, Rowan, after going through so much…" Matthew kissed Rowan's head, holding the man gently to his chest.

"It was just a snake bite, though… it shouldn't be hitting me so hard…" Rowan sighed shakily.

"You probably don't have those kinds of snakes in your world," Matthew said softly. "We have no idea how the venom reacted to your body. Not to mentioned you were just poisoned, too…"

"Mmmm…" Rowan held tighter to Matthew. "I guess, but… it's probably hitting me worse than it should have. My leg has been super bruised for days…"

"We can have my cousin look you over as soon as we get to the village," Matthew promised softly. He tucked Rowan to his chest, patting his back.

"Okay…" Rowan murmured in reply, wrapping his legs around Matthew's waist so he could hold tighter to him. "I'm sorry for all the trouble…"

"It's not trouble," Matthew assured softly. "I want you to be safe, and healthy." The man hugged Rowan close, kissing his head.

"But I keep just causing problems…" Rowan held tighter to Matthew and sighed shakily.

"No," Matthew assured again, "You don't. You're just not used to this world, I should be keeping a better eye on you to make sure you're okay."

"Mm… but you shouldn't have to. I should just not be dumb…"

"Rowan," Matthew said, a bit sternly now. "You're not being dumb. You can't be- you just came to this world, you haven't had the time to learn these things."

"I feel pretty dumb, though… I mean, I got bit by a snake and ate a poisonous plant already…"

"You got bit by a snake while protecting the chicks," Matthew pointed out. "And I'd told you the flowers of that plant were safe, I never told you the leaves weren't."

Rowan sighed softly and shook his head a bit. "I-I dunno… still…"

"Rowan," Matthew said softly, "It takes time to learn things are dangerous. Would you get upset at a child for not knowing a leaf was poisonous? They know just as much as you do on this, Rowan, and even though you're older, it won't be any easier to learn."

Rowan looked away, gripping Matthew more tightly. "I should know better than to stick random things in my mouth, though… I should have those basic skills, but apparently I don't."