What is life?

Even as he cried and shook, Qiao couldn’t help but call out for the other. “Wait!” He cried, reaching out with one hand as if he could stop the other from leaving. He at least owed the other boy an explanation, he couldn’t just leave things like that! Seeing the other keep walking, he finally shouted out the truth in an attempt to make the other turn around and look at him. “I’m Demisexual!” He admitted, suddenly embarrassed and blushing up a storm. The tears kept coming, and his body kept shaking, but he’d be damned if he didn’t explain himself to Kase.

”You’re wrong! Maybe... maybe I’m the stupid one, for freaking out over a kiss.” Qiao said, looking down again. The self hate was hitting hard, he had only managed to make things worse in his mind. No longer caring about his pristine clothing, he sat down on the forest floor and buried his face in his hands. Why had he done that? Why couldn’t he be “normal” and actually like being kissed by an attractive stranger? Why was he so broken? What was wrong with him, not even being able to handle a kiss without crying his eyes out? All these thoughts kept running through his mind, the only noise he made being tiny, choked off sobs that were barely audible.

Qiao had stayed that way for a while, until he heard pained screams that could only belong to Kase. Hearing those screams, his instincts took over. Mere moments later he was blindly racing through the forest in the direction of those screams, scared and worried for the person who was the source. When he finally found Kase, he crouched beside the other and pulled his body into his arms. “Shhh, you’re alright. Let’s get you to the big house, you’ll probably need some nectar to help you heal.” He said, his tone soothing and calm even though he was anything but.

”I couldn’t help it even if I wanted to.” Qiao informed Kase, sadly,properly picking him up and standing after a few moments of struggling. He was stronger than he appeared, the other boy should be able to feel that much from being securely tucked into his arms. “Now, I’m going to take you somewhere where you can be taken care of. Do you want the Apollo kids, or the big house?” He said, composed and calm as if the previous incident had never happened.

”There’s nothing to be sorry for.” Qiao said softly, mentally deciding on the Apollo kids. There’d probably be gossip, but a broken hand should be simple enough for them to fix. Sighing, the young man just kept carrying Kase with his robin following behind them. If he could comfort the other, he would, but he is prioritizing the physical health of the younger boy first.

Qiao was quiet for their entire journey to the Apollo cabin, wanting only to help the young man in front of him no matter how panicked that kiss had made him. Kase standing up and taking his own weight made Qiao sigh in a relieved manner, the other boy certainly wasn’t light. He couldn’t do anything but watch the other, careful to make sure Kase got safely to the cabin.