Caught in Zenith's grip, Theo couldn't escape. It didn't hurt, but he could feel the knight's resolve in the firm press of his fingers.
"Theo," Zenith said again, quieter. "You don't have to forgive yourself for anything. You did nothing wrong."
"No, I – "
Zenith spoke over him. "I will admit, I do not fully understand...the bonds of family. I can't say whether your desire to save your brother is selfish or not. But I do understand what it means to fight for a righteous cause. And I can say without any hesitation that you are right to want to stop him. If not for his sake, for everyone else's. Don't forget that as an Infernal Legion soldier, he has already hurt innocent people. So...in order to protect others, we must keep fighting. That, I believe, cannot be called selfishness."
He lowered his gaze as if embarrassed, but Theo's heart pounded like it wanted to tear out of his chest. This might be the most he had ever heard Zenith say in one go, and each word resounded inside Theo's soul with the same crystal clarity as his Levia. Compared to them, the illusions' accusations from last night crumbled into dust.
'There's nobody,' Theo thought in awe, 'like Zenith in the world. Nobody as brave or pure.'
"Theo...?" The next time he spoke, Zenith sounded hesitant, even a little nervous. "Forgive me...did I speak out of turn?"
"No!" Theo burst out. "No, not at all. Thank you so much, Zenith. You're right, you're a hundred percent right."
He breathed out, and the tension gripping his chest unknotted. "You're right. He's hurt people. I have to stop him. That...that matters a lot more than whether he plays cello again or not."
He'd lost sight of that last night, caught up in his own childish little world. But with his ever-righteous knight here to remind him, he wouldn't again.
"Ah." Zenith looked relieved. "I'm glad I could help."
"You were more than a help." When Theo squirmed, Zenith quickly let go of his wrists – only for Theo to grab Zenith's hands and link their fingers together. "Please let me do something for you. If there's a spell I can cast, anything I can do to make you heal quicker – "
"Theo, that's not – "
"Necessary? It is," Theo said fiercely. "So tell me."
Zenith's fingers twitched, but thankfully he didn't let go. Not meeting Theo's eyes, he said, "You don't know the spell yet, and it takes a large amount of Levia...."
"Well, I'm willing to do it." Theo squeezed Zenith's hands. "Meg is here, right? I'll go talk to her."
"Wait. There is...another way. That doesn't involve a spell. Something only you can do as my wizard."
Theo's heart slammed. "What is it?"
"A way to directly transfer Levia through the contract. If you give me enough, it should accelerate my natural repairing mechanisms."
"Okay, let's do it." Theo nodded vigorously.
"By your will." A small smile lifted Zenith's lips, then to Theo's surprise he got off the chair and climbed onto the bed on his knees. The whole time, he didn't let go of Theo's hands.
As he leaned toward Theo, closing the distance between them, a spark of alarm leaped down Theo's spine. Wasn't this a little too close? Like this, Zenith's clear, clean scent overpowered even the sickly incense, and if Theo dropped his gaze just a little he got an eyeful of Zenith's bare chest, all hard lines and sculpted contours like a classical statue.
'What the hell am I doing?' Heart pounding, Theo tore his eyes away – but it didn't help because Zenith's face had filled his vision. Staring into his azure eyes, Theo made out tiny shards that flashed iridescent gold in the late afternoon light. It took his breath away.
Their noses bumped. "Uh – w-wait – " Theo stammered.
"It's all right." With each murmured word, Zenith's breath brushed his lips. Every nerve tingled, exquisitely, painfully wide awake.
Their hands were still clasped, some dim part of Theo noticed. Zenith was squeezing so tightly Theo almost couldn't feel his own fingers. But sensation came rushing back the instant Zenith drew their clasped hands to his chest. Beneath Theo's knuckles, his skin felt shockingly warm.
Theo needed to speak. To pull away. To do something, anything. But he couldn't move – he didn't want to move.
When Zenith's mouth pressed against his, it felt as inevitable as shocking. His lips were soft, molding to Theo's with an expertise that turned Theo's entire brain into mush.
Fine by him. It was better not to think. So he tilted his head into the kiss, letting raw instinct take over.
Zenith brushed against his lip ring, sending a dull spark through his nerves. Before he could stop himself, he parted his lips in a soft gasp, and Zenith took the opportunity to gently slide his tongue inside.
A heat unlike any Theo had ever felt blazed in the pit of his stomach. He'd had no idea kissing could feel this good. Zenith's tongue was so hot, so wet, and when it rubbed his own stars flashed in his vision.
It took a moment to realize that muffled moan filling the room came from himself. He felt embarrassed, but only in some very small, distant part of his being. It didn't matter nearly as much as Zenith's lips moving against his, making his blood burn like lava.
Wait. This heat felt strangely familiar. It spread through his veins in tendrils of pink light, almost as bright as when he cast spells in battle. And it was flowing through their connected mouths, pulsing in waves through Zenith's body and sparking to life the crystal core of his own power.
They were bound together completely, not just their bodies but their souls. Theo didn't want it to ever end.
Yet he was getting dizzy from lack of air, and the movements of Zenith's lips against his were starting to slow. Zenith flicked his tongue between his lips one last time, driving forth another little moan, before slowly pulling away.
Theo let out a choked protest. But he still tasted Zenith on his tongue, his clean, pure flavor. And the Levia still burned within him, carrying echoes of Zenith's stark light.
Dazed, he stared into Zenith's eyes. Zenith was still leaning close, still holding his hands. A soft flush had risen in his cheeks, reminding Theo of his own Levia. Huh, so even if he didn't have blood he could still blush. It suited him perfectly.
For a moment, their panting breaths filled the room, though Theo barely heard them over his throbbing heartbeat. Then Zenith sat back on his heels, sliding his fingers away from Theo's.
'Wait,' Theo thought, but the protest died on his lips when Zenith lifted his right arm and curled and uncurled his hand into a fist. The movement was perfectly smooth and natural, not a hint of the stiffness from before.
Relief surged through Theo, sweeping away the last sparks of Levia in his veins. "You're all better!" His voice came out breathless.
"Hm." Zenith glanced at his hand, then back at Theo. "Not quite. It might take a day or two before full function returns. But yes, it's well on its way to repairing itself. Thank you, Theo."
His voice held a little hitch as well, which made delight bubble in Theo's chest. He had no idea what had just happened, or what to think about it, but one thing was clear. He'd finally helped Zenith.