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It was a lovely day.
Birds chirping, gentle sunbeams making the day warm, but not too hot, the breeze just perfect to cool an exhausted traveller’s skin.
And there was Bennett.
Bennett was always been… well, quite unlucky. Every promising day for an adventure magically turning worse, the rain picking and the monsters suddenly appearing on Bennett’s road.
It’s no surprise the same situation arose this day.
It all started well. Bennett left the city gates at 9AM. He was wandering all over Mondstadt for a few hours, picking up the most lovely flowers for Klee, defeating some slimes that got in his way, then admiring some wild animals and finally setting down to eat his lunch.
He was in a fantastic mood. He sat down by a small river, the gentle sound of the water calming his senses. He reached into his bag to take out the lunch box and his hand… met the air. His eyebrows raised up and he leaned in to look in the bag. There was no sight of his lunch, which supposedly got lost after falling through the massive hole that Bennett just now discovered in his bag. Bennett gasped for air when seeing it. His whole equipment was missing. All of his money, food, the artifacts he had found and everything else got lost. A loud sigh escaped his mouth as he got up. He was going to go and search for his things of course.
Maybe he really was unlucky.
He tripped on his feet again and fell to the ground, the rough path of rocks and sand meeting his already scratched face. His stomach growled. He was so, so, so exhausted. His blonde hair and clothes were damp from the rain that picked half an hour before, his legs and arms scratched from the thorny bushes he had to walk through, his face painfully wounded from the few falls to the ground.
He laid down like that for a few minutes, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. He was going to just… stand up and keep walking, as if the fall didn not even happen.
„In and out, Benny.” He encouraged himself. He raised his upper body on his left hand and then his right one… and he slipped. A loud cry of pain left his mouth when some sharp rock slit his inner palm, digging deep into it. He sobbed and fell back to the ground, more of those incredibly sharp stones digging into his body, injuring him further. He curled up into himself pathetically, pressing his healthy hand onto the injured one to stop the disturbingly big bleeding. He sobbed again at the sharp pain appearing in the center of his palm. He struggled to take another breath, the cold air not really reaching his lungs. He couldn’t breathe. He felt-
„Benny…?” A quiet, familar voice spoke up. „Bennett… Alright?”
Strong but gentle arms raised his sore body up, moving it into a semi-sitting position. Razor’s brow was furrowed, the serious yet soft expression on his face making him look much older than he really was.
„Ah… Hi, Razor.” Bennett said weakily. He could feel his energy running out fast. Razor’s focused eyes studied Bennett’s injuries and the state he is in. He reached out and grabbed the injured hand, frowning at the sight of the nasty wound.
„Bennett hurt.” He said and reached into his bag, looking for something.
„I am fine, Razor. Please, don’t worry.” Bennett whispered quietly. He stared, his body immobile, as Razor took out a bottle of water and some clean bandages. The Wolfboy poured some of the water onto the wound, causing Bennett great pain. He winced.
„Sorry.” Razor’s expression showed deep guilt. He did not like the thought of causing his friend pain. He slowly and gently started bandaging the palm, making sure the dressing is secure and not too loose or too tight. His movements were still a bit slow and not precise.
„Where did you learn how to dress wounds?” The question was light in comparison to the atmosphere.
„Teacher taught Razor.” Razor tied the end of the bandage and smiled weakily. „Bennett go home.” He said.
„Right.” Bennett didn’t even think of going home, if he is being honest. He never liked the disappointed looks on his mentors’ faces when he came back after an adventure like… this one.
He was just planning to stand up and start walking when Razor stopped him, gently pushing him to the ground again.
„Bennett hurt. No walking. Razor carry Benny.” The sentence was… ridiculous. Bennett had to bite his lower lip to not chuckle at the fierce expression on the latter’s face.
„Razor, I can walk well. My hand is injured, not my leg.” He said softly, a small smile appearing on his lips. Razor’s response to that was not one of words, but that of acts. He shook his head and scooped Bennett up into his arms, then raising him with an astonishing strength, carrying him as if he was a kid.
„Benny weak. Must protect family.” Bennett’s expression softened even more at the mention of ‘family’. He chuckled quietly.
„You see me as your family?”
„Yes.”
Bennett couldn’t oppose but lean closer and place his chin on Razor’s shoulder, his arms wrapped around the latter’s back.
Razor was warm. And safe. Razor was warm and safe, both those things making Bennett want to close his eyes and snuggle closer.
„Bennett silly. Should take better care of himself.” Razor just said quietly and kept walking.