SELKIE AU FOR SHUTSDOWN

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

oops, I did it again

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[shutsdown]

[Twenty minutes, tops.]

What is it?

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ okay. okay. he can— dig himself in and shift or something if he has to, it'll be awful but it's doable and better than the alternative— ]

I need to get where the sun can't touch me before it comes up.

[ trying to roll out from underneath him, but he's still not really in good enough shape to manage it ]

[shutsdown]

I can take you somewhere the sun won't touch.

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ letting himself flop again ]

...okay.

[shutsdown]

Don't drown.

[Sliding off him, reaching for his pelt, throwing it over his shoulders before pulling Chris into the shallows.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ huffs in a way that might have become a laugh if he weren't pulled under halfway through, so it's a good thing he doesn't actually have to breathe.

(even if leftover habit thinks he should, keeps pushing him to struggle when opposing instinct says to be pliant, let himself be carried into the dark where it's safe. and it's instinct he's used to fighting, not habit—)

he manages, though, holding his breath as he's towed ]

[shutsdown]

[He wants to shift, but this man is in no shape to cling to him, so he ensures the difficulties of swimming with legs, pulling Chris deeper and deeper.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ he's not only in no shape to cling, he's in no shape to help aside from the occasional weak kick and trying not to create too much drag. sorry, Kou. the increasing water pressure is just one more stress, though, and soon he's not even able to contribute that much; he might as well have passed out again.

(he would probably hurt less if he did...) ]

[shutsdown]

[It's about five minutes underwater before they emerge in an underwater cave, large, with a sandy beach, even. Kou hauls Chris out of the water and then flops out, taking deep breaths.

Thus body was not nearly as equipped for this trip as his other would have been, but whatever.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ also flopped, possibly alarmingly still for several of those deep breaths before he coughs a little and starts breathing again himself. slowly... curling up... ]

[shutsdown]

[There's bioluminescence in the water, and clinging to rocks. Kou rolls onto his side, reaching to vaguely pat Chris.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ makes a soft noise in response and shifts slowly to curl up against him, instead. he's cold and tired and hurts, and even if the first only bothers him on a psychological level anymore he still craves warmth.

mumbled sleepily: ]

...thanks...

[shutsdown]

Mm.

[A pleased hum, curling around him, pelt still slung around his shoulders, completely secure in both his body and safety.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ he'll be embarrassed about shamelessly cuddling up to a naked man later; probably be confused by how easily he let himself go with all this, as well. in the moment, though, luxuriating in having a proven stronger predator curl warmly and protectively around him makes absolute sense.

...probably should warn him before passing out entirely, though; don't want him to think he's dead dead when he's gone through all this trouble. letting out a puff of a sigh ]

M'not gonna wake up until sundown, so don't worry about moving.

[shutsdown]

[This time his hum is clearly an affirmative, he heard and listened.

And is burying his face against Chris's hair.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ it's good hair to stick a face against, even wet with cold seawater. soft and silky and faintly spicy smelling because Chris likes his fancy bath products.

meanwhile Chris is sighing again and going completely limp, barely breathing. true to his word, he won't stir at all for anything until at least sunset— and if left to his own devices, not even for another hour or so after that. ]

[shutsdown]

[when he wakes, the stranger is gone.

but, a little ways away lays a leopard seal leisurely eating something that was probably cute before it. well.

it's not cute any more.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ groggy blinking part two. he's no stupid, though, just out of it; it doesn't take more than like half a minute of blank, dead-eyed staring for the equation of seal pelt - stranger + leopard seal to work itself out. ]

...oh. G'morning.

[ not really bothered by the de-cuted dead thing except by the fact that it's a lot of dead thing smell in a space with somewhat limited airflow, and that he's not really in a state where that smell is even slightly appetizing. ]

[shutsdown]

[The seal bobs his head in a nod, then horfs down the rest of the carcass.]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ that's familiar in a comforting sort of way— reminds him enough of evenings spent with the local wolf pack that he huffs the beginning of a laugh before the hole through his chest reminds him why that's a spectactularly bad idea.

wwwincing and seeing if he can push himself up enough to look over the damage. the answer turns out to be yes, already clear progress from the night before; but the ragged hole itself is unchanged, which he'd been afraid of. it's scabbed over, though, so at least he's not bleeding out anymore. ]

[shutsdown]

[hauls himself awkwardly toward Chris, in that way seals do]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ cute. makes sure he won't fall over once he stops propping himself up on his hands before offering one of them in the seal's direction ]

I'm doing a little better... This'll still take forever to go away, though.

[shutsdown]

[nudges his nose against Chris's palm :V]

[bitethehandthatfeeds]

[ applies nose rubs. soft seal fur. ]

[shutsdown]

[oh, excellent, pleased seal noise and rolling onto his side.]