[ Matt can hear him, the drag of muscles and broken bones, he can practically smell the hurt, the agony that Kieren forces himself through when he comes to him, stubborn as you please even through his injuries.
Matt releases the ringleader after a few moments, not for the sake of his own conscience, but for Kieren's own -- he's pleading with him even when he's suffering like this, and Matt bites his tongue, feeling the blood in his mouth. It should've been him, not Kieren. He should have been here, taking on these brutes. He can take so much more of a beating than Kieren can; his gentle, kind art student whose only sin is associating with Matt.
He's going to Kieren, hands as gentle now as they were brutal before. He's on his knees before him, checking, listening. He will need stitches and his wounds have to be taken care of, cracked bones have to be tended to. He's grimacing, before his arms come around him, quite about to delicately pick him up. ]
Don't move. [ He says quietly. He will spare them, for his sake. His worry overtakes his rage when he senses the laboured breathing, quietly anxious, but forcing his voice to remain steady. He can do this; he can take care of him. ] You're badly hurt. We need to get this looked at.
I SERIOUSLY LOVE THIS IT'S GROSS
Matt releases the ringleader after a few moments, not for the sake of his own conscience, but for Kieren's own -- he's pleading with him even when he's suffering like this, and Matt bites his tongue, feeling the blood in his mouth. It should've been him, not Kieren. He should have been here, taking on these brutes. He can take so much more of a beating than Kieren can; his gentle, kind art student whose only sin is associating with Matt.
He's going to Kieren, hands as gentle now as they were brutal before. He's on his knees before him, checking, listening. He will need stitches and his wounds have to be taken care of, cracked bones have to be tended to. He's grimacing, before his arms come around him, quite about to delicately pick him up. ]
Don't move. [ He says quietly. He will spare them, for his sake. His worry overtakes his rage when he senses the laboured breathing, quietly anxious, but forcing his voice to remain steady. He can do this; he can take care of him. ] You're badly hurt. We need to get this looked at.