tsf archer 1

it’s quiet aside from the rustling of their feet. at archer’s urging, he and general mato have decided to continue on with their mission in order to meet the deadline. lately, with archer’s condition becoming increasingly more precarious, general mato had secretly been considering abandoning it altogether. maybe archer could tell. he was good at noticing things like that when he applied himself.

general mato can’t help but look back to steal glances at archer now and then, checking in. it usually results in grumbling from archer, knowing there’s no way to hide his flushed, red face and heaving chest. travel had become more difficult, but he was determined not to slow them down. general mato had a difficult time biting his tongue on the matter, but archer was simply too stubborn to fight with at this point. hearing archer begin to suck in air makes his lungs ache in sympathy, and he can only imagine that archer’s feet and back are way past simply throbbing.

it’s been nearly two months since archer was cursed by a water dwelling monster in the forest. two months since his body was changed and forced full of the monster’s brood. he’s so heavy with eggs that general mato can’t help but be impressed that archer still has the strength to keep going, especially now that his form is considerably smaller and weaker. it’s hard not to fuss over him when he’s struggling like this. archer’s refusals are nothing personal of course, just his own fiery determination to not be a hindrance. once they finish for the day and are tucked away safely in a room, archer allows himself to be spoiled lavishly by general mato in the form of physical care and affection.

general mato notices archer’s footsteps slow behind him, so he cautiously looks back before fumbling to turn around entirely. archer has slowed to an uneven wobble, puffing in short breaths with his brow knit in concern. tentatively, he wraps one of his arms around his middle and looks as if he’s waiting for something.

“hey — “ general mato starts, voice thick with concern. archer frowns, but doesn’t answer. rather he continues to wait, pensively, and takes slow steps forward. a moment later he winces as pain appears to roll through his body. he makes a restrained sound and general mato is beside him in a second.

“are you alright? we can take a break.” general mato insists more than he offers. he honestly can’t imagine carrying around that much extra weight. taking a handkerchief from his back pocket, he reaches up to dab at the sweat collected on archer’s forehead. it almost looks like his pained expression is about to soften when he doubles over again, whining behind clenched teeth.

archer looks up again, somewhat comforted by general mato’s hands holding him steady. when he speaks his voice is strained like it’s stuck in his throat.

“h-hurts... “

general mato holds archer closer, looking him over and brushing archer’s hair from his face just in time to see the wetness collecting in the corners of his eyes. between the fear written on his face and the hunched over position of his body, general mato begins to fear for the worst.

“Do... you think that you’re...”

a flash of despair covers archer, like general mato’s acknowledgement has made it real. it isn’t as if general mato wanted to jinx them, but this really doesn’t look good. he almost swallows the follow up.

“they’re coming?”

archer answers only with a low hiss, closing his eyes and shying away from him. it was just like him to be avoidant about problems he considered to be his own, but general mato would be remiss not to remind him that they’re a team. whether archer likes it or not.

general mato strokes the side of archer’s face as he rides out another wave of pain, his internal frantic monologue full of logistics and probabilities.

“we can get you to the next village, it’s —“

archer cuts him off with a sharp shake of his head, teeth gritted. his voice comes out uncharacteristically high and stilted. “I don’t think there’s enough time.” he breathes, the thought of moving much further sounding completely agonizing. nodding in understanding, general mato gently leads him to underneath a tree and helps him settle down on the ground.

archer squeezes his hand every time he breathes in. general mato wants to be angry that it’s likely archer kept quiet about being in pain until it became unbearable, but that’s exactly par for the course with him. he can’t be surprised by it. he watches with concern as archer squirms and shifts uncomfortably, chest heaving as his hands tentatively feel around his stomach as if he’s trying to gauge what’s going on.

all signs pointed to the eggs wanting to come out now, much to the horror of them both. as much as general mato had wanted to do this with fresh water and clean towels in the safety of a private room, it looks like, as usual, they’ve been given no choice. he tries to be soothing, stroking archer’s back as he stops restraining his pained noises. up close like this, general mato is reminded of how small archer feels beside him and how afraid he is that something could go very wrong.

archer’s hands clench the fabric clinging to his stomach and he lurches forward, a sharp cry ripping through his throat. it’s unlike any sound general mato has ever heard him make and it reverberates at his core. this is really happening. he really hopes his hands aren’t shaking.

“tell me what you need me to do and i’ll do it” he insists, trying his best to sound strong. he can’t tell if it’s sweat or tears dripping down archer’s face when he firmly takes general mato’s hand and tells him “just stay right here.”