Red Blood High

“Almost killed me? You were defending me. You did what you thought was right, and I don’t blame you. I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.”
He’d attempted to prove his sincerity, arms spread open wide in a move that would be intense pain. He still took her in though, hand raising and running through her hair as she cried, ignoring the tears as he tried to stop his own from the intense pain lighting his back on fire. The moment she’d touched his back, it had set off, burning fresh again, the only experience that would be worse being the actual fire biting joyfully into his flesh.
The moment he heard those words leave Khal’s mouth, though, whatever was forming came to a dry, the distorted and painful expression on his face straightening slowly but surely.
“It’s not that bad, Khal…”
He responded, forcing his teeth apart to keep them from gritting. Shit that hurt like a motherfucker! He refused to even make it seem like he was lying though, knowing that if she really knew his pain she would feel more guilt.
This is why he found a sigh leaving his lips when she stumbled back, though, instead of holding her, he released her and let her free.
“Why can’t I hate you? Because you gave me a speech about how I’m a good person, and you didn’t hate me. Well, you’re a better person than I am, I could never hate you. You looked like you needed a hug, and it’s that simple. Was I wrong?”
The burning set off by her touch wasn’t his only issue, the groaning continued in his legs to the point where they felt a bit weak, though he seemed to maintain a straight posture, faking it until he could make it.

Still crouched, Khal sat down as Amnesia pulled away from James, motioning to the boy to do the same. Even though he’d tried to hide it, Khal saw how much that hug had hurt, and none of his could be good for him. And while the angel appreciated the help (and seeing that she hadn’t made a bad friend after all), he was starting to feel like he was babysitting them both.
“I’m not. I hurt you,” Amnesia insisted without answering him about the hug. She still wanted to hug him and apologize and really make sure he was alright. She didn’t move towards him again though, keeping her distance, and even when a different set of arm drew her into a hug, she was stiff for several moments before she was able to relax. Even then, she didn’t turn and hug Khal back, instead seeming only to accept the offered comfort.
With things seeming to have settled a bit finally, only the traces of tears left in Amnesia’s eyes, Khal silently sighed to himself. “Sol—Amnesia.” He was still trying to get used to the new name she seemed to want to be called by. “I know you’re hurting and angry at yourself and you never want to hurt your friends, but you have to stop hiding from us. We want to help. Come on, how much have we been through together? You have to let me help.”
Amnesia shook her head, curling up in his arms as she avoided looking at James. “It’s different this time. You can’t. Just... go ahead with the plan and make sure James is okay. Take my blood if you think you’ll need it. I... I’m going home. Without me around, Lily will leave you alone... Equinox is probably worried anyway. I’ve never been away for so long. It’ll just be best for everyone.”

He’d thought he could hold out as she hugged him, though, he’d find it much more painful when she’d actually gone and done it.
The look on her face made him sad, deflated the extreme attempts he felt like taking, as he began to shake his head.
“If you think you did, then you could apologize. I’m not going to sit here and judge you for something I don’t think you did. You’re being too hard on yourself.”
Though a part of him still realized that Khal was technically on his side, he felt random rage as he wrapped his arm around her in a stiff hug. The rage was sudden and unexpected…but she had run from him when he’d tried to hug her, and he quickly tried to push it away at the thought of such a thing. Dammit…this is why he didn’t like getting involved with someone…because it made him feel shit like this at every drop of the hat. Or maybe he was just mad because he felt like he failed, and Khal was doing better? Dammit! He wasn’t being rational anymore!
Her words and the way she turned from him, as if she didn’t want to look at him, made the aching in every part of him feel worse, adding on the way his heart dropped. Had he made it worse? He didn’t want to make it worse! Could he not be useful for once in his damn life!? She couldn’t leave! She’d told him she loved him! She’d let him kiss her! He’d just started to sort out how he felt! He didn’t want her to leave!
“I refuse to be a part of anything if you’re going to leave. Screw the plan.”
He said this plain faced, his eyes the only thing that seemed to burn bright with his decision.
“If you think for a moment I’m just going to let you leave now, now that I’ve found someone that doesn’t hate me, you’re wrong. I can’t…handle all of this alone. I don’t want your blood there, Lily can screw off, I need…I need you there, please.”
He paused.
“Call me selfish, but I’m not budging until you say you’ll be there. I’d rather live with a demon in my stomach.”

"Hey, you--" Khal was cut off from trying to reason with her as James suddenly spoke over him, issuing a threat. Immediately he turned to stare at the boy with molten silver eyes, wondering what the hell he thought he was doing, but what stunned the angel into silence was the emotion in the continued words. It wasn't just some threat to try and get her to stay; it was real. And while Khal knew there was a lot that he didn't know about how they'd come to be friends and the sort of things that'd happened between them, this wasn't just him not being in the loop...
Amnesia's head popped up when James began speaking, alarm sparking first in her eyes that softened as he continued speaking, different emotions battling for dominance within her. Though she tried, she couldn't even think of an argument to make. Not one that would make sense or matter. She didn't understand why, but he still wanted her around, said he needed her, and something about that meant more to her than anything else.
And honestly... she didn't even want to leave. She just didn't, even though she hadn't been here long and she knew her home was really La'syrus and it would probably be better, for him and Khal, if she did. She selfishly wanted to stay with James.
Khal could see the indecision that entered Amnesia's eyes in response to what James said, saw that it was on the verge of working, and though he couldn't believe that he was going to just go along with it, when she took too long responding, he added onto it. "You can't leave; you're an important part of the plan. Besides, I like the thought of getting to see you more often than when your brother is willing to let you go or your sister is causing trouble. When was the last time we talked about something other than her?"
At that, Amnesia let out a startled laugh, using the back of her hand to scrub away what was left of her tears. "Never." When her eyes fell on James though, she paused, a somber expression forming. "I'm sorry. I... I'll never let anything like that happen again. You're my friend, and I just want to protect you and make sure you're happy."
She still didn't approach him though, instead seeming to calm enough to lean into Khal's hug. She didn't want to hurt James again with another hug, and even if he wanted her around, he probably didn't want one anyway. So instead, she gave him a smile that felt more like herself than anything she'd done in months.

It was fortunate that Khal hadn’t continued his sentence, for, the look in James’ eyes seemed to be one set for war. A war of words, whatever, he didn’t seem to care at that point. He was going to keep her there and there would be no complaints about it.
His declaration of war softened in his eyes when Khal seemed to take his side again, adding on to his words and confirming that she needed to be there. He had nothing to say until he heard Amnesia again, head turning to stare at her as she spoke.
His eyes weren’t necessarily hard…though, there was a stubborn determination set in them as he gazed at her.
“You should’ve known right from the beginning what would make me happy. If you ever start to think that I hate you or you can’t stay, do me a favor and remember that I’m happiest when you’re happy. You’re not crying anymore, but I need to see you smile more before I get convinced that you’re feeling better.”
Though he regretted not being able to hug, because he knew she liked to hug best, he knew his burns wouldn’t be able to take another round of that, so he instead raised his lips slightly, lifting the hoodie up again and extending it out towards her.
After this, he turned his gaze to Khal, a cocky but not shit-eating grin on his face.
“I’d ask you who you were talking to before, but I’ll call it even this time.”

"I think you're happiest when I do silly things," Amnesia countered with a little smile, though it didn't entirely reach her eyes. It had taken months after Lily for her to even feel like she was beginning to act like herself, and just when that happened, this happened. It was going to take more than a few smiles for her to convince herself that was even okay, never mind feeling better. She didn't share that with either him or Khal though.
When James held up the hoodie, Amnesia remembered the conversation she'd had with him and his mention earlier of not wanting to be flashed. Sitting up, she moved out of the circle of her friend's arms and approached James with an apologetic look as she accepted the article of clothing. It took a moment for her to remember how to put it on, but when she did, she slipped it over her head and arms, pushing the hood back when it caught on the top of her head and then tugging the bottom down as much as she could so that it covered her.
"Thank you," she said, getting up on her knees to kiss his forehead before she settled back, cheeks flushed. Part of her had wanted to reach for his hand or kiss his mouth, but that was a part of her memories that had returned... a full conversation, as Solstice, about human relationships. Her mind had known family, friends, enemies, and mates until she'd learned about the concepts of courting and marriage, concepts that still felt strange. Boyfriends and girlfriends were still new, but even so, she knew enough to have figured out it was a sort of courting... and knowing that, she felt this nugget of shame at her past behavior and gratefulness towards James for handling it as well as he had.
"Glad to see you're in a better mood," Khal commented with a raised eyebrow in response to James, who actually did seem to be in a much better mood, judging by that smile.
Having watched how he and Amnesia acted and reacted to each other for the past several minutes though, Khal couldn't help but ask the question that had been plaguing his mind now that Amnesia wasn't crying or attempting to leave. "What happened with you two?" He asked as he looked between them, though when he tried to meet Amnesia's eyes, they slid away.
"Nothing, we're just friends, Khal That's like asking what's happened between the two of us." Even having a good portion of her memories back hadn't changed how she felt. At best, it'd helped her realize what she wanted--and that James didn't. It still sat like a knot in her stomach, but at the moment, she was simply grateful to both of her friends for coming to find her and trying to help. And even for James not hating her, as much as she'd thought and even wished he would.

“Well, I don’t see why I’d be sad.”
Her smile was refreshing, at least, made his body feel somewhat more manageable, though he still knew it wasn’t the brightest he’d ever seen from her…but it was an improvement, and he was fine with that.
He handed the hoodie over easily, not forcing her to wear it, but happy when she chose to slip it on. It was meant for his body, so, it covered enough of hers to count for something.
“Hey, it’s your hoodie.”
He responded, though he nodded his head as she kissed him on the forehead, a part of him disappointed she hadn’t kissed him on the lips again. It was a lot to ask her for something like that now, so, he didn’t intend on it, and…for some reason, he had a feeling that Khal’s head might blow up if he tried it. Shit…now he wanted to try it.
It was almost on que that Khal spoke up again, and James mimicked his facial expression, raising his eyebrow in return.
“I’ve felt worse. Hey man, I’m calling it even here, not even trying to crude comment you. Do you have to poop on my parade?”
It was obvious he wasn’t fighting, though, now that the worst was over, he’d be gently poking the bear with a stick until it got annoyed.
The annoying and playful attitude faded slightly as Khal asked the big red flag, waving it in the air waiting for an answer. He started to open his mouth, though, Amnesia beat him to it.
Huh, that was a different answer than he’d expected from her, and it kind of made him feel bad this time. He…honestly didn’t know what to expect from her, but, he did remember her saying she loved him…and he hoped that was still the case.
“Really? Just friends. Wow, you changed that quick. Not what I’d expect from someone that I was teaching how to kiss.”
He’d address the issue later, but, for now, he had laughing to do…Khal was making it easy.

Khal chose not to respond to James, and not entirely because he only halfway understood what was he was talking about, instead letting the conversation move forward onto other things as he shifted into a more comfortable position without Amnesia there, in need of comfort. Though at one point, he'd been forced to get used to her habit of not wearing clothes, that had been years ago, and he was grateful that she'd decided to put on the hoodie that James had held out to her.
When James spoke, Amnesia turned to look at him with wide eyes. "You were the one who said that we were friends, and it was one kiss! You could've told me you aren't supposed to kiss your friends!" She knew better now, of course, but she hadn't when it had happened.
"You kissed him?!" Khal's voice was incredulous.
"Busted." Amaryllis, who'd been unnaturally quiet since what happened with Lily, popped up unhelpfully.
"What the hell were you thinking?" This was aimed towards James, who Khal turned to face. "Do you realize how she feels, how you could mislead her?" Khal couldn't believe this had happened. One thing he'd thought James at least understood was how innocent Amnesia was and to be careful.
As Khal talked about her as if she were a child, Amnesia felt her face growing hot, both parts of her in agreement. Solstice was just as old, if not older, than him, and Amnesia, for all her naiveté, could take care of herself and make her own decisions. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here! He knew exactly how I felt, because I told him, and I was the one who kissed him too. He's never done anything but act like my friend! He usually doesn't even like it when I hug him, so you leave him alone. It was all me."
When Khal's gaze swung around to her, the angel appeared shocked stupid, she simply fixed him with a stubborn stare.

He’d started to think up something to respond to Amnesia, but, he’d realized enough had been said When Khal nearly exploded.
Hiding the urge to laugh, he found himself instantly confronted, raising both hands in the air like an innocent victim as he stared at Khal with those tricky blue eyes of his.
“Hey man, you can say what you like about me…but I’ve never misled someone in that way or made them do something they didn’t want to do. The fact that you’d think that offends me more than the claim.”
He said this with a surprisingly lack of anger, as if he didn’t feel like faking it.
It was when Amnesia backed him, pretty much admitting that it was all her idea, that he found himself laughing at the way he’d set himself on her, his reaction instantly one of his favorite things.
“She was interested in kisses, and she wanted to kiss me. So, she did. I don’t see a problem with that, she’s her own person, you know. I didn’t do anything I shouldn’t have, so get your mind out of the gutter.”
He’d left out his return kiss, and the fact that she’d also slept in the same bed with him…because that was a bit harder to deflect and made it seem like he’d done something he shouldn’t.
For some reason, whether it be out of a small bit of jealousy or a need to discuss it in private, he was adamant to not reveal how she’d felt about him…also worried a part of that might have changed.
Of course, he’d continue pushing certain buttons, stepping closer to Amnesia, one of his raised hands placing itself on her hoodie covered shoulder, simply resting it there, like a subtle taunt to Khal.
“Speaking of…did you ever learn anything else about kisses?”

James suddenly laughing after she defended him startled Amnesia out of her staredown with Khal, and she turned to give him a strange look even as he began to speak to the angel, and though his words sounded like a defense, she couldn't help but frown at him. What was so funny about what was going on? Didn't he see how--
She figured it out then. He was trying to upset Khal on purpose.
"You just said you were teaching her how to kiss. That's a problem right there," Khal countered, his ability to speak apparently returned despite it having failed him under Amnesia's revelations.
"Was this before or after your memories returned?"
Knowing her answer would undoubtedly only make things worse, Amnesia gave him a flat look as she said, "It doesn't matter. Khal, he's just trying to make you mad." She still didn't know what had caused the two of them to get along as poorly as they did, but she'd never quite seen it come out like this.
With her arms crossed over her chest, Amnesia gave James a reproachful look that didn't soften even when he put his hand on her shoulder. It did transform into a look of honest confusion though, at his question. Afraid it was simply another way to try and upset Khal though, she pressed her lips and refused to answer, even to ask what he meant.

“She wanted to know! She kissed me first anyways.”
Though he hadn’t truly expected Amnesia to figure it out (And rat on him so quick) He didn’t seem bothered, shrugging his shoulders almost nonchalantly.
“Guilty. He started it though.”
He said this with a smirk, raising his hands up once more.
“I didn’t lie, though. I told you the truth.”
He had been honest…enough, at least.
By the time he’d moved to put his hands on her shoulder, he’d found her lips pressed together and set on not answering. He rubbed lightly the back of his head, feeling the short cut of his hair.
“Alright, I’m sorry. I was playing. I wasn’t going to use it against Khal, I promise.”
Now that he’d said that, he wasn’t going to use it against Khal. He wouldn’t just say that.
When she continued to press her lips together, he began to lightly poke her cheek, somewhat pushing into her cheek and squishing it, pooting noises coming from his lips as he did so, playfully attempting to take her mind off it.
“Why do you have to be so fun to pick at, Khal!?”

"Is that what she said?" Despite what Amnesia said and James confirmed, something Khal had already partially known at the back of his mind, he couldn't help it. He didn't like this, and the only reason he'd yet to try to say anything to Amnesia was because he knew how she'd react to it. She'd tell him that he didn't know James and to basically go to hell with his opinions.
Amnesia gave James a look of blatant disbelief. Despite believing him on pretty much everything, she thought she knew better this time, and she still refused to answer his question and make things worse. It wasn't until he started poking gently at her cheek that she found herself struggling not to smile, and the noises he made didn't help matters.
"I'm just lucky like that, I suppose," Khal replied as he watched them. He hated to admit it, even if only to himself, but this was probably one of the happiest moments he'd witnessed with Solstice, especially considering the mood she'd been in several minutes ago, fighting to get away from them and crying. Whatever it was, there was something about James that made her genuinely happy. And maybe that's what worried him so much about them being so close. Knowing how she'd react if James hurt her.
Soon she'd started laughing in a sound close to a giggle as she leaned away, trying to escape his poking finger. "Stop!" she laughed and grabbed his finger, giving him a triumphant look.

He’d found success in making her smile quickly after he started, the pooting noises from his lips only getting louder.
When she began to giggle, he once more seemed genuinely happy, gasping as she grabbed his finger
It was almost as if he’d forgotten about Khal for a moment, using the time in which he thought she wasn’t prepared to lean forward, quickly pressing his lips to hers’, jumping back and using the time he had to push into her other cheek with his other hand, releasing a pooting noise as if his actions were the most common course he should’ve taken.
“Ha ha! Got you unprepared!”
He announced, and, though he could’ve done more, he realized he was still injured, so, he forgot doing anything he shouldn’t. Maybe it had been an unusual comfort or something he hadn’t thought of, but, it’d been so long since he’d seen her that he’d just done it like it was normal.
Oh…shit, did he accidently screw up?

One moment, Amnesia was practically grinning at James as she held his finger hostage, and he shocked her the next when he suddenly kissed her. It wasn't anything like last time, but the act itself, of him kissing her, stunned her. The playful grin slipped as she stared at him, no longer reacting to the fact that he'd started poking her other cheek.
Khal's thoughts were suddenly cut into as he saw James lean in and kiss Amnesia. Without giving it a second thought, the angel jumped in, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder and roughly pulling him away from her. "Hey! I don't care if you want to take shots at me, but don't use her to do it!" he said, anger evident in his eyes.
"Stop it!" Amnesia snapped when Khal suddenly pulled James away, pushing her way in between them. She went paused at her friend's accusation though, her shoulders tense as she fought the urge to look back and James and confirm if this was the truth for herself.
"If that's true, I get to yell at him, not you," Amnesia told Khal, fighting to keep her stupid emotions at bay as she stared at him.
"Of course it's true. He was just trying--"
"Then I get to yell at him," she repeated.

He instantly gave up poking her cheek when the playful grin slipped from her lips, stepping back as if he’d stabbed her. He’d thought she would have laughed, but, instead he just felt genuine cheek blushing embarrassment when she seemed stunned. She was making him stop thinking clearly.
And then his hand grabbed him and pulled him away, and he felt the embarrassment dissolve and replace itself with anger. This bitch…this fucker…he couldn’t just stroll the fuck in and do shit like that! The fuck was getting on his nerves, today especially, with the way he stuck words in her ear. It pissed him off the most that he’d make Amnesia think he’d use her for something so stupid. Instead of reacting angrily though, the sound of cracking wood and groaning trees could be heard, as if something were applying intense force to them.
“Khal, would you please move your hand, you might lose it.”
No anger on his face, no red eyes to signify a demon, no, simply a thin smile as he turned to stare at Khal, the blue of his eyes doing barely anything to hide the subtle anger.
He would kill him. He’d do it and be happy. But of course, a voice sounded nearby, the same voice he’d grown to care for, that caused the trees to cease their cries as the pressure pushing them was released, that caused the blade slipping from his sleeve to crack and disappear. She still cared for Khal too, and this made him reconsider.
“Why would I use Amnesia for something so stupid? You don’t know me that well. I don’t just use people in such a sick way. I’ll be the first to tell you I don’t care who you think you are, and what she was to you, she’s not the same person. It pisses me off that you come in here talking to her like that, making me out to be the bad guy when I’ve only been trying to make her laugh.”
The smile had disappeared, the anger in his voice more visible, along with the guilt.
“Sure, I pecked her on the lips, but that’s because she did it to me, and it made her happy. I don’t care that much about you to think of something like that, play with someone like that, just to get a rile.”
He turned his head away, pushing his hand crudely free from his shoulder, stepping forward.
“Here I am, yell at me.”

As soon as the trees began their chorus of groans, Khal took Amnesia’s hand with his free one and subtly pulled her away from James, who may not have looked particularly angry but was obviously the source of the forest’s distress. Even when it stopped, the angel appeared as if he were on alert and expecting something to happen at any moment.
When James spoke, Khal met his eyes evenly, listening to what he had to say, which, surprisingly, seemed to have just as much to do with Amnesia as it did himself. Khal had never seen James get angry over something like this either, most insults generally revived with nonchalance, but when he opened his mouth to reply, a sharp elbow found its way into his side. When he looked down, Amnesia simply put a finger to her lips, an almost solemnly serious expression in her eyes as she pulled away from him and turned to face James.
“I’m not going to yell at you... you don’t deserve it,” she said to James.
After listening to him, Amnesia knew—and was relieved—that he was telling the truth. The problem was, she couldn’t really think of anything to say, and though a hug seemed the natural course of action, she’d hurt him last time. Finally, she motioned for him to crouch a little, since he was impossibly tall, and though she acted as if she would kiss his forehead like she usually did, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips, and when she pulled back, she poked his cheek with her finger and with a gentle smile, struggled to make the same pooting noise with her mouth that he had.

It had been pressure hitting the trees, as if some force was pressing against them following his anger. They only seemed to stop after Amnesia had spoken, James’ eyes remaining on Khal with a set gaze. He dared him to speak up, dared him to say something in response…he’d have more than just an earful to give him if he did. As a precaution, he rolled up both of the sleeves on his hoodie, revealing the black and white bracelets on both of his wrists, most likely where the blade had come from a moment earlier.
In fact, he’d been so set on watching Khal, that he’d only noticed Amnesia when she was right beside him. The anger switched to surprise and relief at her words.
“You’re not…?”
He seemed confused by that, though, with a quick glance towards Khal, as if to confirm he hadn’t moved, he came to crouch when she motioned, seeming generally confused.
She poked his lips as he had her, and, despite his anger, he’d found a smile raising on his lips, past the general surprise, starting to chuckle when she attempted to push at his cheek.
“You gotta do it like this.”
He said, pushing her cheek in return and letting the sound of pooting leave his lips again. The fair amount of animosity had left the air, seemingly draining as she began to poke at his cheek in return.

Khal started in surprise when Amnesia silenced him only to turn around and kiss James back and poke at his face, almost as if she were trying to cheer him up. And it worked quickly, the two of them soon poking each other's cheeks and making noises as they did so, looking perfectly happy with it.
Amnesia was relieved when her idea worked, and she even managed to get a small laugh out of James from it too, though he'd seemed utterly confused by her lack of anger at the start. She knew him though, and despite what Khal had thought, what James had said made more sense. Plus the way he'd gotten worked up... She didn't blame Khal, but she also wanted her friend to see that James wasn't half as bad as he seemed to think, and she wasn't going to let them fight with each other just because they didn't understand each other.
As James tried to correct her, poking her cheeks and making the pooting sound again, she tried to mimic it, watching his mouth and trying to twist hers up in the same way to make the sound right, but it was like only little hard puffs of air wanted to leave hers.
"I can't do it," she laughed and stopped poking his cheeks, admitting defeat as he continued to do it to her.
Feeling a hand touch her arm, she turned to look at Khal, the happy smile still twisting at her lips. "I'm sorry," he said, looking between her and James. It appeared almost as if the words were a little difficult for him. "I was wrong, and whatever is going on between you two, you both seem happy." His silver eyes fell on Amnesia. "I'd like to protect you, but whatever happens isn't up to me. You can--and always have--made your own decisions." Then his eyes moved to James. "That doesn't mean I won't come for you if I find out you've hurt her though. This is one of the best people I've ever met, and she's put her trust in you."
All of that said, the angel took a breath and stepped back. "It seems like I'm not needed anymore, and rather than make myself sick watching this the rest of the night," he offered up a little, joking smile, "I think I'm going to continue searching for Kadrin. If I'm lucky, I might actually find her before everything hits the fan."
Amnesia gave her friend a proud smile as she nodded, pulling away from James to give him a hug. "Everything will be okay," she promised. "Thank you for coming to find me."
"We'll see," Khal chuckled as she pulled back. "Thank James. He's the one who actually found you." He motioned to the hoodie she wore. "Using that."

He hadn’t expected his attitude to turn as quick as it had, though, next he knew he was chuckling and smiling at her attempts to copy him.
“Aww, come on! You gotta keep trying.”
He replied, pooting out of his mouth once again as he gave her one last, long poke.
His eyes cast to the side, happy air dying slightly at the sight of Khal.
What was next was mostly surprise and a confused look, staring at Khal as if he’d gone insane
Had he gotten through that thick angel skull? Shit, he should preach.
When words were turned his way, he raised an eyebrow.
As Khal continued though, he found his thoughts changing, mouth opening slightly. Wait…he was talking like- Did he think- Oh, shit! He thought they were a thing! Uh…uhhh.
“My own guilt would get me first, trust me.”
Don’t make it seem liked he’d gotten you…don’t make it seem like it. But shit, he had actually…motherfucker’d embarrassed him.
“Wasn’t that hard…I knew you kept it somewhere.”
After mentioning the hoodie, James found himself chuckling and rubbing lightly the back of his head in an attempting to wave off the feeling that his cheeks might be somewhat hot. It would be beyond easy to see against pale skin, so he truly hoped they didn’t think it was because he’d had other things on the brain.
When Khal had flown away, he found himself alone again with Amnesia, the subtle moments where neither spoke making pressure weigh him down.
“So…how are you feeling?”
He couldn’t help but realize they were alone now……they were in the privacy he’d wanted since the beginning, and yet now he found himself…nervous.

We'll see about that, was Khal's first thought, though he didn't voice it, partially because he was still working on coming off as less antagonistic when it came to James. They both just reacted badly at the littlest thing when it came to the other, and though it may not seem like it sometimes, Khal really didn't want to constantly be at war with James, especially when he knew half of his problem wasn't even the boys' fault but probably the demon in him. So rather than replying, he simply nodded, and after saying his goodbyes to Amnesia, he took off.
"Really? Does it smell really strongly?" Amnesia asked James, pulling back the fabric and dipping her head to press her nose into it, sniffing it. It had a strong earthy smell to her, basically like dirt, which was pleasant but not something she would expect someone to be able to follow, considering dirt was everywhere.
The confusion in her expression expanded into concern when she looked up at James though, finding his face pink. "Are you okay?" she asked, reaching up a hand to press against his cheek, which was cooler to the touch than she would have expected. "You should sit down. Come on, the moss is soft, I promise." Gently, she took his arm and pulled him closer to the tree, where the moss grew up around the roots, and helped him sit before settling down beside him. While she remembered the burns on his back, she wasn't really sure how those would affect him or what to do to help, but sitting down couldn't hurt.
What worried her more was how quiet he'd suddenly gotten, even though he'd been smiling and laughing just a few minutes ago. She wasn't quite sure what it meant, but it didn't seem like it could be anything good, but just when she started to ask what was wrong, he spoke again, the question coming out... well, awkward.
"Better than before... What's wrong, James? Do you need to go back to the Strange Wood?" She might not be able to place it, but she knew he was acting weird.