Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Days turned to weeks.

Despite that, the village of Gashea offered no new brides.

Fyn couldn't help but both be thankful and worried about it. Everything seemed alright and fine, and Fyn couldn't help but think if it was just the calm before a tremendous storm. That was how it usually turned out for him, after all. Over the next few weeks, he had found solace within the community of Næps inside the forest. As much as he could, he would go to where they were and help them.

He often taught the little Næps about herbs, how to consume them, and just what would work with them. He taught them about the poisonous ones and the healthy ones. That was how he usually spent his days within the forest.

"What about this, Fyn?" One of the Næps asked. "What should I do with this?"

Fyn grabbed the herb from the Næp and carefully sniffed the colorful herb. The aroma immediately hit him and he smiled widely. He returns it back to the outstretched hand of the Næp and says, "This is a passionflower. If you mix this with boiling water, it would become something tasty. We call it tea. It helps you relax."

"Tea," The Næp repeats, tasting the word in its tongue. "That sounds lovely, Fyn."

"It is," Fyn says. The sound of flapping wings and a loud thud echoes behind them. Fyn didn't have to turn around to know that Kavan had arrived. Without looking back, he watched as the Næp stepped to the side to look at the demon who Fyn assumed was already lounging behind them. Clearing his throat, he mumbles softly, "Once you've made tea, could you give some to me? I would really love it."

"Of course," The Næp says. "Anything for you, Fyn."

The Næp then walks past him and Fyn knew it would rush towards Kavan. Turning around, Fyn watched as Kavan retracted his wings back inside his body and leaned against a tree a few steps away. The small little turnip reached towards Kavan, lifting the passionflower up, showing it to him. Fyn chuckled to himself when Kavan crouched down to match the Næp's height. He can't help but see a child showing their parents something that they made.

"Greetings, master!" The Næp said, smiling brightly. Kavan titled his head to the side, looking at the passionflower on the Næp's hands. "This is a passionflower. The mortal Fyn taught us what it is and how to eat it. He told us to make tea. Water with flavor! Would you like some when we make them, master?"

Kavan shook his head, "No. I am fine."

Rolling his eyes, Fyn walked towards the two of them. Immediately, as if his footsteps were as loud as a baby screaming in the middle of the night, Kavan's eyes fell on him.

Something had changed between the two of them.

Something that Fyn couldn't point out just yet.

Once Kavan had started calling him by his name, the demon had become quite attached to him. When Fyn had the urge to visit the Næps all he had to do was tell this to Kavan. And wordlessly, the demon would nod, grab him and fly him to the Næp's settlement. When Kavan had nothing to do, he would watch him from afar. Not saying anything. When it was near nightfall, the demon would approach him, tell him it would be time to go home, and then fly them back towards his cave.

Flying with Kavan was not as bad as Fyn once thought.

If days had been different, it would have spooked him. Except it wasn't. He wasn't the same Fyn that had entered the forest a few weeks ago. And he wasn't the same Kavan who he saw then.

The only problem was that over the course of a few weeks, and with how attached the demon had been, and with how he was doing pleasant things, Fyn found himself stupidly having a little crush on Kavan. He couldn't help it! The demon was kind, gave him food, didn't stop him from doing the things he wanted, and he was good-looking.

Fyn knew it was inevitable.

It had confused him at first. Fyn was a man, and so was Kavan. He didn't think of himself as someone who would like someone of the same gender. Fyn tried to fight it, wondered if it was just because this was the first time in a while that someone had treated him kindly, but it was different. It felt different. Fyn knew who he was, Fyn knew what he was.

He was simply someone who liked someone.

And he knew that there was nothing wrong with that.

And flying with Kavan was fun. Fyn knew the sky was beautiful, but he didn't realize it would be more beautiful now that he was up in the sky whenever Kavan was flying him up. Not to mention, flying was amazing since he didn't have to walk lengths just to reach Kavan's cave. It had been fun, and delightful, and Fyn was happy.

He was happy, and it was all thanks to Kavan.

Which then explains why his brain decided that the demon was someone worth giving affection to.

Fyn felt someone tugging his pants and when he looked down, he saw a Næp lifting another herb towards him. It tilted its head to the side and Fyn stopped walking, crouched down, and smiled encouragingly. The Næp was just about to open its mouth when Fyn heard Kavan's voice behind them, "Fyn."

As soon as the name comes out of the demon's mouth, blood rushes to Fyn's face and he wanted to slap himself for it. Inhaling deeply, he pulled himself together before he turned around, looking up at Kavan who was towering behind him. With a scowl, Fyn muttered, "What?"

"The night is near," Kavan said. "It is time to go home."

"I still have to teach them something," Fyn turned around back to the Næp. "You could leave first if you want to."

All too soon, he heard the familiar clicking of the tongue and the sound of a tail viciously hitting the ground. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Fyn stood up and turned around. He crossed his arms against his chest and looked up at the annoyed expression on Kavan's face. The demon wasn't looking at him. Kavan was looking at the side, his eyebrows furrowed, his tail wagging excessively behind him.

Since they had been together for quite a while, Fyn had learned to read him a bit. Fyn could tell that he was annoyed because of the aggressive way he was wagging his tail. Shaking his head, Fyn turned around, walked towards the Næps. As much as he found it adorable that Kavan was sulking like a child, he didn't like it whenever he acted like a spoiled brat.

Crouching down next to a group of Næp's holding a bunch of herbs, Fyn opened his mouth to start explaining what they were. Before he could even utter a word, he felt a hand land on the top of his head and soon enough everything changed.

His world turned upside down.

Kavan had grabbed him and placed him on his shoulder. He landed on the demon's shoulder with an 'ooof' and his eyes widened. Blood immediately rushes to his face and instead of hitting him and shouting at him like how he would before, Fyn froze and stilled on the demon's shoulder.

He felt Kavan's hand on the middle of his back, "If you had been this quiet since the beginning, instead of trying to kill me, we would have gotten along."

"Shut up," Fyn said, flushing. "Let's just leave."

Once Kavan turned around, Fyn saw the Næp's with their heads tilted, waving at him. Grinning, Fyn chuckled and started waving back to the cute little turnips. Soon enough, Kavan repositions him. He grabs him and carries him in front of his body, one of Kavan's arms supporting his back, the other his legs. Automatically, Fyn's arms circles Kavan's necks and within a few seconds, they were up in the sky.

Up in the sky, Fyn was blessed with the sight of the setting sun.

Before he could stop himself, he squeezed Kavan's neck and pointed towards the sky. Like a child, he beamed, "Wow! Look at that, Kavan!"

"My hut's near the river and I had such a wonderful view of the sunset," Fyn continued when the demon had only watched him, not replying. Fyn was used to conversations like this since Kavan was more or less quiet most of the time. "When it had just been me, I didn't quite appreciate it. The sunset is really beautiful. Especially when we're this high in the sky."

Without a warning, Kavan swoops down, with Fyn shrieking almost immediately.

When they had landed somewhere with solid ground. Fyn throws himself down, holding the ground and keeping himself steady. Gritting his teeth, he turned around to glare at the demon who suddenly flew down, scaring him. Standing up, he walks towards Kavan and slaps him on the chest.

"Hey!" Fyn snapped, slapping the demon on the chest again. "Don't surprise me like that. I almost fell down, Kavan!"

When the demon remained silent, Fyn dropped his head, clutching his beating heart. Softly, he says, "Never do that again."

Fyn raised his head up, fully expecting Kavan to apologize. Except the demon wasn't even looking at him. He was looking sideways, as if distracted. Frustrated, Fyn was just about to open his mouth and tell him off again when Kavan cut him off.

"I won't ever let you fall."

Words died in Fyn's mouth and he knew if only Kavan was looking at him, he could tell that his face was now as red as a tomato. Gulping, Fyn followed Kavan and looked at just what the demon was looking at. Only then did he realize Kavan had landed both of them on something like that of an overlook up in the mountains.

The sunset was much prettier there than it had been up in the sky.

Fyn never knew that was possible.

Grinning, Fyn walked towards the edge of the overlook and carefully sat down on the ledge, his legs hanging off it. Behind him, he hears Kavan's sharp intake of breath. Confused, Fyn turns around only to see Kavan with his arms raised, a worried expression on his face. Chuckling, Fyn tilted his head to the side, "What?"

"Stay away from the ledge," Kavan says through gritted teeth. "Before you fall down, you foolish mortal!"

It would have offended Fyn except for the fact that Kavan had said the insult with a worried expression on his face. Chuckling to himself, Fyn turned around to look back at the sunset. In a teasing manner, he says, "You promised you wouldn't let me fall, were you lying then?"

Kavan doesn't answer.

Once more, Fyn turns around, only to see Kavan staring straight at him. His red eyes were deep and glittering under the sun. Fyn's heart started beating rapidly against his chest, and he was just about to laugh nervously and tease the demon once more when Kavan spoke.

"That's a promise I have no intention of breaking, Fyn."

As he said this, Kavan started walking towards him, kneeling when he was only a few feet away. Never once breaking eye contact. Fyn could feel sweat dripping in the middle of his back. He could feel the hairs at the back of his neck rising. He could feel his heart beating loudly enough that even his ears sounded like they were drumming.

Then Kavan breaks eye contact.

His eyes falling on Fyn's lips.

Kavan inched closer.

Flustered, Fyn sucked in a breath and turned around. Looking back at the sunset. He placed his hands just above his chest and listened to the loud beating of his heart. Chuckling nervously, without turning around, Fyn commented loudly, "The...the sunset's beautiful."

"Yes," Kavan mumbled immediately behind him. "It sure is."