John nodded, then ducked around for an injured guy on the ground. The was so much blood… It took him a second to realize it was Brennan, with a knife wound in his back. John paled, quickly putting his hands over the wound. Brennan groaned into the ground as the wound began knitting itself back together, “The man… Ojag…”
“It’s alright Brennan. I want you to get out of here, okay?” Brennan looked up blearily at John, mumbling something about being dead, but John was already heaving the man upwards and guiding him out of the battle. Then John went back to help another, and another…
Halo's feathers elongated into a huge scythe. He chuckles darkly as he walks towards the prisoners. His crimson eyes hypnotized many, making it easier to strike down the attacking force. He was doused in blood but he didn't care. Nothing was going to stop him. Nothing. He had John and no one was going to separate them again. He was done with people trying to hurt the people he cared about. He attacks with no mercy, only hunger for blood.
Cries sounded, blood splattered, and many, many people died. Ojag frowned, killing a few more of the enemy and blood splattered on his face. He had been counting on Halo being restrained, but it was only a minor set back. Although, he needed the second wave early. Ojag blew his whistle, and another wave of his people came running out of the trees to cause more chaos. Catching the camp unprepared had been a good idea. They had no one to lead them, and the bulk of them didn’t attack at once. Ojag cut down a few more men, grinning at how disorganized they were. He saw one man just leaning over an injured, and decided to charge.
John worked on healing more of his friends, trying his best to avoid a fighting encounter. A man charged him as he hovered over one of his comrades, slicing his arm open with maniac laughter. The pain took him by surprise, and he fell back. The man swung at his face, but stopped just short, as if realizing who he was fighting. John took to moment to swing his own dagger, but the man parred it easily, then started attacking more aggressively. John yelped when one slash cut grazed his cheek, a sudden fear taking hold of him despite how he couldn’t die.
Halo heard John cry out, killing another victim. His bloodlust was high and he smelled the blood of the man responsible for this chaos. His huge wings spread, flying over the crowd, killing the enemy left and right, letting out a blood curdling scream before attacking the man attacking John. He throws the man a fair distance, hefting his scythe. "Shouldn't have messed with them, Ojag." He growls. "Especially not the love of my life. You'll die for that and burn in the depths of hell." He growls, "Fight."
Ojag’s eyes bulged with anger, but he was not idiotic. Rather, he was more of a coward, and he got up, turned, and ran shouting, “Rtaret, Rtaret!” Retreat, Retreat. John’s eyes widened as the prisoners of war made their last kills, then started to flea. Ojag became tactically lost within the crowd, and John focused is attention back to Halo, his breath catching in his throat. So much blood on him…
Halo straightens, his eyes dark as he watches them his scythe disappearing. He was bloodied and he hungered for more blood. He was angry. They had hurt his lover, and they had hurt so many. "Cowards." He growls under his breath. He turns towards John. His eyes turned concerned and he looks at the other. "Are you okay? Nothing major?" He asks gently, taking Johns face into his hands, his eyes filled with concern.
“Yes, I’m fine,” John fibbed -his arm hurt extremly- but that wasn’t important. Worry filled his eyes as he examined Halo’s bloodied form, “Are you alright? Halo…” John was worried -borderline afraid- for Halo. He looked so different from before John’s death…
Halo looks down at his bloodied self. "I'm fine." He replies, shrugging a little. He takes John's arm into his hand, "That looks deep." He says softly, kissing above the wound gently. "Let's get you taken care of." He says gently, kissing the other gently. He was ashamed of his new appearance, but it was his new look.
John leaned into the kiss, savoring the feeling that he’d always taken for granted. “Alright…” John mumbled, yet a hint of worry still held in his eyes. He started to take a step off the bloodied area, but then a shout of surprise came from someone behind. Just like that, people were swarming near him, all of them talking at once and questioning how on earth he was alive and- John shrunk slightly where he was, trying to stay near Halo. He felt too shy -these were his friends- but… If they found out what happened…
Halo kisses back, holding the others cheek gently. He smiles softly, holding the other in a gentle grip. Halo watches them crowd around him. He spreads his wings, making a lot of them back up. "Enough." He growls. "Enough." His crimson gaze makes many fidget and back away. His eyes are dark, feeling a protective of John. "I know you're all happy to see him, but you need to calm down." He growls.
(Sorry that took so long, internet keeps crashing)
The crowd calmed down, but it still seemed like they were all holding their breath. John was so grateful for Halo being there, right now he just wanted to take a bath and curl up somewhere quiet. But then Brennan made his way through the crowd, eyes meeting John but he didn’t get to close as he asked, “John? Is that really you?”
John slowly took a breath, then answered, “Yes. I’m alive,” He took a pause, trying to gather words to say to the crowd, “We fought well today. But we have many to mourn. But the enemy has dissipated, and we can finally rest,” John’s eyes found Brennan’s, and he asked more quieter, “Can you handle this for now?” Brennan, though with wide, still-shocked eyes, nodded reluctantly, then started directing the crowd away to help clean up the blood stained field. John looked back to Halo, whispering quietly, “Thank you…”
Halo watches the interaction, his eyes dark. He just stood there, but he lowered his wings. He was still blood covered and battle worn, but he stood there still. As John conversed with his men Halo looked around, his eyes wandering the people. He takes a breath as they start to leave and smiles softly at John, hugging him. "Whatever for?" He asks gently.
“For being here,” John murmured quietly, closing his eyes for a second and leaning closer to Halo, blood and all. He glanced at his own arm and asked, “Can I heal myself?” John needed to get it cleaned up. A bath sounded nice, or maybe just some sleep.
Halo nods, "Of course, John." He whispers softly. He holds the other, never willing to let him go. He kisses his cheek before looking at the wound. "Yes. It takes a lot of energy though." He says, shrugging a little as he holds John. He loved the other so much, and he was beyond relief that his lover was alive and with him. "We'll relax and try to heal. I know you must be exhausted."
“I am…” John affirmed tiredly, putting half his weight into Halo and closing his eyes again, “We should get to my tent… If it’s still up, there might be a barrel of water in there.” John rested his head on the other’s shoulder, sapping off Halo’s heat. He was just so tired now that it was all over and the adrenaline rush was gone.
He smiles as he gently holds the other. He runs a hand through John's hair lovingly before walking them towards his tent, humming softly as he does so. He takes a deep breath, humming softly as he does so. He was ready for a nice long nap and some water. He looks down at John. "Let's get you to bed so you can rest, baby." He says gently.
“Alright, are you sure my arm will be okay enough?” John mumbled, opening the flap to his tent once they got there. Nothing had been touched, thankfully, and there was even still a container of clean water in the corner. His bed, which was still unmade from the last time he occupied it, looked more enticing to longer he stared at it.
Halo nods, "You'll be fine." Halo helped him into the tent, looking around. He looks at the spot where John had died in his arms, there was still a little red. He takes a breath before helping him to the bed and helping him get comfortable. "Here you go babe." He walks towards the water, grabbing it before returning to John's side. "I'm so sorry." He whispers to the other.
John was so relieved to get into the bed, just to lay down after today, “Why are you sorry?” John asked softly, lifting up his good arm to cup Halo’s cheek. He loved him. John loved Halo being there, he loved being together with him. John had been so lucky to stumble into the woods that day. It felt so long ago.
Halo sighs, running a hand along John's knuckles, holding his hand to his cheek. "I didn't do my jog, John. You died…" He whispers, looking at the other with complete guilt in his crimson eyes. He smiles weakly as he sat beside the other. "I love you, John. I'm so sorry I failed you…" He whispers.
John sat up and looked Halo directly in his crimson eyes, “Halo, you never failed me. Never.” He took Halo’s face within his hands, then pulling him closer to kiss his angel. Because Halo would always be his angel, not a demon. Next thing John knew, he was tugging Halo’s face down, pulling the angel to lay down next to him.
Halo smiles a little, feeling a light tug in his chest, shaking his head. "I'm still sorry." He whispers, shutting his eyes. He squeaks in surprise when John kissed him, kissing back softly. He was so sad, and felt so guilty. He had failed John. He holds the other and sobs softly. "I'm so sorry John…" He curls up next to him and sighs softly.
“Don’t be sorry, Halo. You didn’t fail me. Now I can be with you forever, right? We’ll always be together,” John promised, wrapping his arms around Halo and tucking him into his chest, “I love you, Halo. You’re my angel, and I claim you to whatever end.” John kissed the corners of Halo’s eyes, then his cheeks, then the corner of his mouth, and finally his lips. Each kiss had been soft and loving, and John tried to convey every feeling he had to Halo.
Halo holds onto the other. "I don't deserve you, John." He whispers, smiling a little as he nuzzles into the other. "You're my angel as well, I love you. I will never leave you." Halo sighs and smiles at the kisses. He felt how much John loved him, he felt assurance, he felt love. He kisses John back when the other had finally reached his lips. "You mean everything to me, John. I don'y want that to ever change." He holds John and sighs happily, glad to be next to John, resting in this bed, just having the other there to comfort and love.
John snuggled under Halo’s arm, digging his face into the angel’s neck, “I… love… you…” He murmured, ending with a yawn. It was just so warm, cuddling with Halo like this… John’s eyes had dropped closed, and he was falling into a deep exhaustion induced sleep, his arms still wrapped around Halo.
"I love you too babe." He mutters, holding the other happily. He lets out a tired sigh and shuts his eyes, holding John close. He started to doze, happy to have John in his arms. He sighs and nuzzles into the other, wrapping his wings around them as they slept.
John had never slept so long and so peaceful in his life. The only thing that awoke him was a familiar voice, who was basically shouting, “John! John, we need to talk. I know you’re in there, and I’ve given you enough time to rest.”
John blinked blearily, then curled in on himself, murmuring, “Too early…” Gosh, never in his life as a soldier did John think he’d ever say someone was waking him too early.
Halo still slept peacefully in John's arms when his friend came calling. He shifts a little as he rests, letting out an indignant noise before falling asleep again, his crimson eyes still hidden from the world.
“John, I’m coming in, I don’t even care anymore-“ Brennan stopped mid sentence when he saw the two cuddled together in bed, “Oh.”
John rolled over, lazily blinking at Brennan, “What do you want? I’m tired…”
Brennan frowned, “It’s going to be noon anytime now, I’ll have you know. But I guess you’d be tired because you’re supposed to be dead.”
John stared at his comrade for a few seconds. The man couldn’t have said it better. “I am. I don’t see what you’re getting at,” John rolled back over, snuggling closer next to Halo and yawning.
“You’re supposed to be dead!” Brennan shouted, and John let out a tiny groan at the noise, “I saw your body, John. You were dead! Don’t think that we don’t have questions!”
Halo slowly wakes up at the yelling and sits up. He looks down at John before looking at Brennan. "Any questions, I can answer. He's new to his body. He doesn't exactly understand what's he's become." He says softly, running a hand through John's hair. "He's supposed to be tired. I would be surprised if he wasn't."
