Watching them move across the training hall was like magic in its own right.  Even though Soohyun had his own subtle powers to command, without them, he still moved like one possessed and it showed in the way that Jaeseop struggled to keep up with him.  Swords flashed in the brightly lit salle, dull edges small comfort against the force and speed of the duelists.  Enthralled, Kyoungjae stared over the barrier that separated the fighters from the observers, unabashedly gawking, if for his own reasons as much as for the awesome sight.

                The weapons master was a hard teacher in the ring, unforgiving in his onslaught and utterly demanding in his expectations.  Bedecked in well-worn, but quality leathers, he cut a striking figure with the off-white shirt beneath.  Paired with bound, leather shoes that whispered over the ground and a practice sword that whistled through the air at each strike, he looked every inch the master of his domain.  And Jaeseop was spared nothing when he failed to move his feet in time, leaving him open to a low strike that smacked his outer thigh smartly.  With a pained yelp, he hopped back, peddling in reverse to buy time and space.  Dark eyes narrowed and Soohyun followed, his black bangs plastered to his forehead in sweaty strands.

                Both were nearly soaked through from their time in the ring and yet, neither would concede.  Soohyun didn’t give that honor unless it was fairly won and Jaeseop was determined not to lose.  This time.  Despite that determination, he fumbled to get his weapon into place to defend accordingly, a slightly panicked look easy to see on his expressive face.  Dark eyes squinted in concentration and his mouth thinned once before opening slightly, panting his frustration.  He shook his head to clear his vision of the piece of hair that invaded, escaping from the tie that kept it back, and Soohyun took his opportunity.

                Though shorter than his opponent, the weapons master was just as broad, and more than able to compensate for the lack in stature.  A twist of his wrist when their blades met again tore the sword from Jaeseop’s hand, leaving him unarmed but not defenseless.  With a defiant cry, Jaeseop dropped to the ground like deadweight before he rolled off his hip, keeping them separated long enough to find his footing.  He stood upright just in time to meet Soohyun’s side kick.  Unable to get out of the way, his breath rushed out of his body when his attacker’s foot planted into his gut, shoving him back.  Stumbling, Jaeseop fell to one knee.

                Valiantly, he tried to push himself back up again, one hand clutching his stomach and the other braced on the ground.  Soohyun beat him to it.  Slipping close with ease, the practice blade touched down firmly upon Jaeseop’s shoulder, kissing the bare skin of his neck lightly.

                “Yield,” Soohyun whispered with his eyes trained on his opponent.

                Jaeseop’s eyebrow twitched and his mouth twisted in distaste.  He flinched just a touch when Soohyun tapped him hard with the sword again and then sighed.  “Aish.  I yield.”  Shoulders slumped, he raised his hands in hesitant surrender and then smiled ruefully as he stood up, shaking his head all the while.  “Battle God’s fury, Soohyun,” he chuckled with a sidelong look at the weapons master.  “Do you ever lose?”

                Freed from the mantle of opponent, Soohyun grinned, a surprisingly bright expression, and rubbed the back of his head.  “Only when someone is better than me,” he promised, clapping the taller man on the shoulder in a friendly gesture.  “But you did well, Jaeseop.  You’re getting better every time we meet in the ring,” he added in mild congratulations.

                The comment pleased Jaeseop immensely, though he managed to keep his smile from being too bright.  “With as often as you beat me, I would hope so,” he snorted, turning to retrieve his lost sword.

                “Well, the more beatings you take in here, the less you’ll receive out there,” Soohyun gestured towards the world beyond the salle and paused briefly when he noticed Kyoungjae standing at the outskirts of the ring.  His smile widened a touch and he inclined his head once before focusing on Jaeseop again.

                Kyoungjae couldn’t help but grin at the response, practically bouncing on his feet as he waited for them to separate so he could speak with the weapons master.  He didn’t really have much of anything important to discuss, but he did want to at least say hello.  It was getting late in the day and maybe he could go with Soohyun to the evening meal.  After he had a chance to wash up and all.  If nothing else, he wasn’t needed in the healing hall and the weapons master should be done with training after Jaeseop, if he remembered correctly.

                Even as he was scratching his blonde hair trying to recall if he was right, he perked up and grinned when he noticed Soohyun heading towards him.  His practice sword was in one hand and the other was busy undoing the ties to his leather armor.  “Evening, Kyoungjae,” he nodded, trying to flick a sweaty strand of hair off his forehead with a toss of his head.  It was impossible with neither hand free and he frowned at the irritation.

                “Here,” the slightly shorter man smiled, leaning over the waist high wall that separated them so he could start picking at the ties of the armor instead.

                “I can handle my armor,” Soohyun pretended to chide, a smile still playing on his lips.

                “I know,” Kyoungjae agreed, steadfastly working at the thin ties of well worn leather with a determined air; he was quite determined not to stare, if nothing else.

                “How are things in the healing hall?” he asked, breathing a small sigh of relief when he was able to brush his damp bangs away.  The sigh was followed by an appreciative hum as his armor was finally loosened, the hard leather expanding to give him breathing room in the new space.

                “Quiet,” Kyoungjae grinned, standing upright to survey his handiwork.  “No new cases recently.  Looks like you’ve prepared them well,” he encouraged with his hands on his waist.  He meant for the words to be encouraging but by the way he saw Soohyun’s smile falter just a touch, he knew it wasn’t as good as he wanted it to be.

                Soohyun shrugged and reached over to clap the other man on the shoulder, the moment gone almost before Kyoungjae could be sure he noticed it.  “I do what I can.  Nothing more and nothing less,” he smiled, turning a curious glance up and down his companion.  “It’s almost supper time and you’re still wearing your healer’s garb?”

                Kyoungjae ducked his head in mild embarrassment and gestured with his hands.  “I came straight from the hall.  I wasn’t sure I’d catch you if I didn’t,” he admitted, bracing his palms on the edge of the fence to lean forward with a bright grin.

                “Checking up on me are you?” the weapons master chuckled with a wry smile.

                “Always,” Kyoungjae winked, casually bouncing on the balls of his feet.

                “At least someone does,” was the unexpected but low response.  At the tone of his voice, the healer looked closer to see a flicker of deep thought cross the other man’s face.  “Anyway!” he announced, brushing off the shift in mood with a quick wave of his hand.  “I best get cleaned up before I miss the evening meal.”  He shucked his armor off the rest of the way and turned a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure the well maintained space was otherwise empty.  “See you there, right?” he asked, carefully climbing over the low wall with a glance at Kyoungjae.

                “I was gonna say I could wait for you, if you’d like,” he offered in return, hovering close with his hands lightly clasped together in front of him.

                “You go ahead,” the weapons master gestured with his head.  “I wouldn’t want to hold you up.”  Without another word, he waved around his encumbrance and headed off to his room located near the salle.  Just like Kyoungjae’s was situated near the healing hall, the residents of the castle tended to live where they were most needed.

                Despite Soohyun’s assurance, Kyoungjae didn’t want to go ahead.  He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, noting the few dispersing trainees who also appeared to be leaving for supper or other pursuits.  With a glance down at his drab healer’s clothes – dark gray fabric that was too hot in the summer and not warm enough in the winter – he sighed and simply decided to be grateful he didn’t have to change.  There had been no new patients recently, but fighting on the borders of their kingdom was minimal.  He was more worried about those few spies who continued to infiltrate the other kingdoms to make sure they knew what was going on before it happened.

                “That’s neither here nor there,” he chided himself after a moment, waving his hand in annoyance and in a breath through his teeth.  “Soohyun it is,” he murmured with a decisive nod when he ran his options over in his head.  The weapons master was better company than the entire dining hall most days and even though he was hungry, it could wait.

                When a clean and newly dressed Soohyun stepped out of his room and rounded the corner, a surprised but pleased smile lit his face as Kyoungjae waved at him from his vantage on the floor.  There were no chairs in this hallway but it wasn’t as if he’d been waiting long.  “Foolish healer,” Soohyun chuckled, stepping close to offer a hand up.

                Kyoungjae took it gladly and jumped to his feet with a little help from the stronger man.  “Sometimes,” he winked, bowing theatrically with a bright grin.

                It at least encouraged a laugh from his companion and Soohyun shoved his shoulder playfully.  “Well.  Since you’re here, we might as well go together,” he gestured for the other to lead the way, offering a much more reserved bow in response.

                “Of course!” Kyoungjae chirped, hopping to the fore with both feet before he started walking backwards so he could still see Soohyun.  “Oh yeah!  I did want to ask,” he started to speak with a playful smile.  Soohyun’s brow rose in silent inquiry and Kyoungjae went on.  “Do you enjoy beating Jaeseop in the training ring?”

                A low chuckle emerged from the weapons master while his hand automatically went to rest on the dagger at his waist.  He never went anywhere completely unarmed after all.  “He is a worthy opponent.  If somewhat cocky,” he conceded with a nod.

                “Hah!  I knew it,” Kyoungjae pointed, delighted with his perceptiveness.  Soohyun hadn’t answered outright but his response was easy enough to infer all the same.

                “At least he comes to the training ring,” Soohyun smirked in bemusement, a pointed look leveled at his companion who nearly tripped while still walking backwards.  The weapons master lurched forward quickly to try and help him but Kyoungjae backpedaled out of reach and caught himself on the wall instead.

                “I’m okay!” he announced, posing against the unmoving surface as if he’d meant to end up there.  His ears warmed and he was sure his face was flushed, but he forced a smile and stood upright.  “Damn… cracks in the ground,” he shrugged, rubbing the back of his head with his hand as he ducked his head in abashment.

                “They’ll get you,” Soohyun shook his finger before laughing outright, a response which made Kyoungjae frown slightly before he laughed too.  If nothing else, it had made the other man amused, if not happy.

                “Sneaky little buggers,” he added, falling into step beside Soohyun as they continued to the dining hall.

                “Maybe if someone took their survival fighting lessons more seriously, they wouldn’t be a problem,” the weapons master added with a sidelong look.

                Kyoungjae groaned and his shoulders slumped.  “But they’re so hard.  And it’s not like I ever get into fights anyway,” he grumbled, annoyed at the many bruises and welts he’d had to treat on himself after combat training sessions.  Maybe he wasn’t a full healer – nor did he wish to be one of those people who directly tried to bring the wounded back from the brink of death – but he could certainly take care of himself just fine.  Usually.

                He could feel Soohyun’s mild disapproval and he shirked away from it with one shoulder raised.  “Stubborn,” was the only thing he said as he shook his head.

                “Good at avoiding fights,” he shot back, pointing his finger in Soohyun’s face with a cheesy grin.

                It was not the expected response and Soohyun blinked in surprise before he laughed out loud.  “Aye.  That you are, Kyoungjae.”

                Finally!  A positive response to that topic!  Pleased with himself, Kyoungjae nodded and pointed ahead theatrically.  “To supper!”  And while Soohyun didn’t respond verbally, the light pat on his back that turned into an arm slung over his shoulder was confirmation enough.  Unfortunately, the close feel of Soohyun pressed against him also made it damnably difficult not to flush again.

                At least by the time they reached the dining hall, he’d managed to get it reasonably under control and the pair had to separate to take their seats.  The area was a din of noise and manageable revelry.  Torch lit chandeliers and braziers around the room illuminated the area wonderfully and warmed the space up more than enough to chase away the slight chill in the evening air.  Savory and succulent aromas from the food filled the air, making Kyoungjae’s stomach grumble in complaint.  The sound was nearly lost in the general noise of the room and both men grinned as they found seats at one of the tables across from each other.

                Familiar faces filled the area and they noticed King Hoonmin sitting with his aides and advisors on the raised dais where they could overlook the rest of the diners.  The food was already starting to fill the tables with huge platters of roasted meats and trays of baked breads with massive bowls of all manner of vegetables, sauces, and gravies.  It was a feast that showed the prosperity of their kingdom and both Kyoungjae and Soohyun were more than ready to dig in.

                They laughed and joked with the other people nearby, swapping stories and challenging each other to ridiculous games.  Kyoungjae could fit the most rolls in his mouth but Jaeseop, who was nearby as well, beat him at drinking faster.  Soohyun partook as well, but it was obvious he enjoyed watching more than the competition itself.

                Dinner was nearly over and the diners were pleasantly sated when Kyoungjae noticed a pale Kiseop rush into the hall, heading straight for Kevin, the current head healer in the castle.  Immediately, Kyoungjae stiffened with a knot forming in his gut.  There were precious few reasons for a healer in training to interrupt dinner like that.  The hall fell silent as a bell mournfully sang in the distance, echoing through the castle, and every person there lost a trace of the mirth they’d felt before.

                The death toll.  One of their own had perished.  If not more.

                Even before the song tapered off, Kevin stood up and headed out, leaving Kiseop to follow in his wake and whispers at his passing.  “Damn,” Kyoungjae frowned, knowing he should follow them.  “I’m gonna go see if I can help,” he explained, turning to look at Soohyun and pausing when he saw the expression on the weapons master’s face: pain.

                As soon as he noticed he was being scrutinized, his expression changed, becoming more unreadable.  “Of course,” Soohyun nodded tightly, his voice low and his body language subdued.

                “Are you alright?” Kyoungjae asked, wanting to reach across the table to rest his hand atop the other man’s, but Soohyun simply forced a half-smile and nodded again.

                “I’m fine, Kyoungjae.  Go ahead,” he gestured towards the door.  “They’ll probably need you.”

                The healer knew they likely would but he didn’t want to leave Soohyun now.  Not with what he’d seen on his face just then.  But the weapons master stood up to head out instead, taking a different path from Kyoungjae’s.  With conflicting emotions, the healer finally stood up and resolved to go find Soohyun later; after he’d helped deal with whatever was going on.

                Two dead and one severely injured.  Not the best of nights for the healers.  One man had been dead when he’d arrived, and Kevin had done everything he could to keep the other two in the living.  But even with the help of his entire staff, what minor healing magic he had at his disposal, and all of Kyoungjae’s wishes and hopes, it was apparently the woman’s time.  The only bright light for them was that they were able to save the second man.  They had to amputate the foot which had gone gangrenous, and stitch up other hastily patched wounds, but he was breathing steady in his sleep.

                Weary and heartsick, a blood covered Kyoungjae and Kiseop looked over the survivor while Kevin brushed his fingertips against honey hair to get it out of his face.  He looked tired, but he opted to stay even after sending the rest of the helpers off to get their rest.  Only the three of them yet remained in the hall of life and death.  The almost delicate looking man sighed and shook his head.  “I don’t know why we keep sending spies out when they keep coming back like this.”

                Neither Kiseop nor Kyoungjae spoke for a moment, the weight of their inability to save everyone pressing down on them.  Kiseop remained silent, his head bowed and hands clasped before him, but Kyoungjae was inclined to say something, anything, to ease the depression hovering over their heads.  “We do it to keep more from coming back like this,” he murmured, glancing at Kiseop out of the corner of his eye.

                The other sharply attractive man glanced over gratefully with a smile pulling at his mouth and in his eyes.  He nodded in quiet agreement as both turned to see Kevin’s reaction.  For a moment, the main healer was quiet and then his shoulders dropped as he nodded too.  “I suppose there is that,” he sighed.  “Such a waste,” he couldn’t help but add as he gently touched their charge’s shoulder.

                “At least he’s still alive,” Kiseop reminded him, his tired face wearing the sliver of a smile.

                Kevin laughed once softly and nodded.  “You should both get some rest,” he spoke over his shoulder.  “I’ll watch him for a bit.”

                “But you need sleep too,” Kyoungjae objected, taking a half step before Kevin looked up.

                “I’m fine,” he stated firmly, his expression determined, if nothing else.

                Reluctantly, both healers agreed and wandered off with slow but steady steps.  “What a night,” Kyoungjae exhaled, running both hands through his hair before he looked down at his clothes and wrinkled his nose.  He really needed to change.

                “Yeah,” Kiseop agreed, shuffling along with a thoughtful look on his face.  “I think I’m going to bed,” he added as he looked over at his companion.  “You should get some sleep too.”

                “I will,” Kyoungjae waved with a smile that managed to draw another one from Kiseop.

                “Good night,” the slender man waved, brushing his black locks back as he smiled.  Without another word, he continued forward, leaving Kyoungjae to his thoughts.

                Inevitably, now that he didn’t have to worry about doing his job, they went to Soohyun.  He couldn’t forget the look of pain on his face just after he heard the bell.  Kyoungjae had to wonder if he had ever seen that look on the weapons master.  It bothered him.  Though the hour was getting late, he knew he couldn’t just go to bed without at least checking on the other man.  Resolutely, he went to his own bedroom first to change into clean clothes and then sought out Soohyun’s room.  But after knocking on the door to no avail, he frowned with his arms crossed over his chest.

                The other man was a heavy sleeper, but it was nearly impossible that he hadn’t heard Kyoungjae knocking.  And he highly doubted the weapons master was ignoring him.  Which meant he wasn’t in his room.  So… where would he be?  Quietly, Kyoungjae thought about the places the other man might go and ticked them off on his fingers: kitchen, library, observatory, training hall…  He smacked himself in the forehead when he thought about the last one.

                “Of course, you fool,” he chided with a roll of his eyes.  Hurrying back along the path he’d taken earlier, Kyoungjae found himself outside the training hall in short order.  He didn’t hear anything but that didn’t keep him from pushing open the main door quietly and stepping inside.  The interior was mostly dark, but past the antechamber where the repair and mending of armor took place, he could see a small light flickering inside.  It drew Kyoungjae like a moth to a flame and he walked on quiet feet to peer into the wood covered space.

                His heart clenched and his brows furrowed when he saw Soohyun kneeling on the ground with a practice sword resting in both hands.  A single torch lit the room and kept the weapons master mostly hidden in shadow.  Kyoungjae could not see his face, for his back was to the door, but the pain he felt coming from the other man was almost palpable.  Steeling himself, he stepped in and politely cleared his throat so as not to surprise him.

                Soohyun’s shoulders tensed and then fell at the sound.  His head bowed further and he took a breath before he whispered, “Hello Kyoungjae.”

                “Are you alright?” the healer asked, forcing a smile so Soohyun would hear it in his voice.

                “Yeah,” he responded, the word a well meaning lie.  It was more than obvious to Kyoungjae that he was not.

                Taking a breath, he his lips and moved to kneel beside the weapons master.  With his bottom lip caught between his teeth and both hands gripping to the fabric of his robes, he leaned forward to see Soohyun’s face better.  Shadows flickered over it, hiding and then revealing the weary and sad expression.  Narrow, brown eyes blinked slowly as they continued to stare at the sword in his hands.  Dried tear marks stained his cheeks while he swallowed once, the sound loud in the silence.

                Kyoungjae picked up one hand, letting it hang in the space between them.  He wanted to touch, to comfort, but he didn’t know if it would be accepted here.  “We were able to save one of them,” he offered with a smile, though the expression felt forced and stiff.

                Soohyun’s eyes closed at the words and he knew it hadn’t been the best thing to say.  “I failed them,” he whispered, his voice so low Kyoungjae nearly missed it.

                He almost didn’t understand them anyway since they were not at all what he expected to hear.  “Who?” he asked with a slight frown, confused by the statement.

                The other man didn’t answer for a long moment.  His knuckles were white around the sword and he simply took shallow, slow breaths.  Kyoungjae was about to ask again but then he spoke.  “My students.”

                It took a second for Kyoungjae to understand the connection, but when he did, he hurt for the other man.  Whether Soohyun wanted it or not, he reached over and wrapped his fingers around the closest wrist attached to the hand clinging so tightly to the sword.  “Of course you didn’t,” he stated in a soft but firm voice.

                Soohyun turned his head and looked at the connection between them through slits for eyes.  “I should have done more to prepare them,” he sighed, taking a deep breath as a pair of tears leaked out and trickled down his cheeks again.

                Kyoungjae didn’t know what to say.  Every defense he had he knew the other would not believe, but he couldn’t just say nothing.  Taking a chance, he forged ahead, “Everyone dies eventually.”  It was an awkward statement and he wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to say but it did make Soohyun look up to finally meet his eyes.  Haunted shadows danced in the depths and Kyoungjae’s face crumpled just a touch at the sight.

                “Some are hardly more than children,” he murmured, at last relaxing his grip on the sword.

                “Death decides when it is our time,” the healer spoke, his voice heavy with memories and experiences.  That very evening was still fresh in his mind.

                Though meant to be reassuring, to alleviate the blame, it only seemed to spark Soohyun’s anger.  “I do not beat them near to death in here only to send them straight into his arms out there!”  With a guttural cry, he yanked away from Kyoungjae’s hand and threw the sword across the training hall.  It hit the wall and bounced off, skittering over the hardwood floor noisily until only the flickering flame could be heard.

                Surprised by the outburst from the normally composed weapons master, Kyoungjae trembled, but he did not move away.  He watched Soohyun shudder under the weight of his demons and finally listened to the urge inside.  “I know,” was all he said as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the other man, pulling him into a tight embrace.

                Soohyun continued to shudder, otherwise unresponsive.  But eventually, he stopped and took a shaky breath before he wrapped his arms around Kyoungjae and hugged him back.  Callused fingers gripped the fabric of the thick robes and he buried his face in the other man’s shoulder and neck, trembling every so often.

                “I’ve got you,” Kyoungjae whispered as tears threatened.  He nosed against Soohyun’s head and cupped the back of his head with one hand.  The healer had to close his eyes as he realized the weapons master probably came here every time the death toll sang.  He probably spent the night in the training hall, blaming himself for every death of the spies he personally trained to send out there.  And it was probably a knife in his heart every time another did not come home alive.  Or at all.

                Kyoungjae held him close for as long as the other man didn’t pull away.  He held on when his feet started to go numb from sitting on them.  Even when his back ached from the weird angle.  And even after Soohyun finally stopped trembling, he continued to hold him in his embrace, feeling the tension bleed out with each breath he took.  Eventually, the tight grip on his clothes relaxed and those strong hands opened to rest easily against Kyoungjae’s lower back.

                “I’m sorry,” Soohyun whispered as he picked his mouth away from the shoulder to rest his chin there instead.

                “Don’t be,” the healer urged instantly, sliding his hand down to rest it at the back of Soohyun’s neck instead.

                “You’d think I would be more used to this by now,” he murmured flatly, the sound dejected.

                “No,” Kyoungjae shook his head, pressing his lips to Soohyun’s hair as he fought the tears that continued to threaten.  “This never gets easier,” he murmured.  Working in the healing hall had taught him that.  Whether they were trying to save people from the injuries they’d sustained or keep them from being injured by training them to the best of their ability, the feeling was the same.  “But you don’t have to do this by yourself,” he chided in gentle chastisement, holding tighter despite the lighter tone.

                Soohyun sniffed in response and pressed his mouth against Kyoungjae’s shoulder again as he nodded in silence, apparently content in his arms.  The right words were hard to come up with and he didn’t exactly know what else to say.  It was usually easier to show someone, so he decided to take a risk.  He lowered his head to press his lips against Soohyun’s neck in a gentle kiss.  And waited.

                The weapons master stiffened with a quick intake of breath and Kyoungjae’s stomach knotted with nervousness.  But the other man didn’t pull away and he didn’t say anything either.  He simply held very still before the tension smoothed out once again.  Encouraged, Kyoungjae kissed his neck again and moved his lips a little higher.  Slowly, he made his way up Soohyun’s neck and brushed his lips along the sharp jawline.

                At last, Soohyun finally moved but it was only to pick his head up away from Kyoungjae’s shoulder.  He did not pull away otherwise and his hands remained flat against the other man’s lower back, fingers digging in just a touch.  When Kyoungjae eventually made it to his lips, he paused and met the other man’s eyes, searching the deep brown depths.  Haunted shadows still danced in his gaze, but they were lessened, and the pain was not as sharp.  He swallowed when he realized Soohyun was looking at him just as hard.

                “Thank you,” the weapons master whispered softly, his warm breath washing over Kyoungjae’s face.  He was about to ask ‘What for?’ but then Soohyun pressed their lips together in a warm and tentative kiss.

                It wasn’t earth shaking and his head didn’t swim, but Kyoungjae was filled with happiness all the same.  “You’re welcome,” he whispered in response when they pulled away just enough to speak.  A part of him wanted to know what he was being thanked for, but in the end, it didn’t matter.  Soohyun was better for whatever he’d done and that was the important thing for him.  Maybe he wasn’t completely better, but it was a start and it was enough for now.

                “Thank you,” he murmured again, kissing Kyoungjae on the cheek before hugging him tight, holding on as if he might fall apart if he let go.

                So Kyoungjae hugged him back; he held Soohyun together for as long as he needed.  And though neither said anything out loud, Kyoungjae knew that Soohyun knew that he would never spend another night like this alone.  Not if the healer had anything to say about it.