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Matthew wrapped his arms around Rowan again, pulling the man close to his side.
"I'm so sorry that this makes you feel that way," the avian said gently. "We're going to do or best to help you get better, Rowan."
"Mm…" Rowan closed his eyes and huddled closer to Matthew, obviously still tired and frustrated. "Thanks…"
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Matthew took a moment to think, lifting Rowan up into his lap.
"Please let me take care of you…" The avian said, begging softly.
Rowan looked up at Matthew weakly. "I don't like needing to be taken care of."
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"Then don't think of it as you needing it.Think of it as someone who cares for you wanting to make your life that much easier for you." Matthew hugged Rowan close, kissing the top of his head.
"Please, Rowan…"
Rowan sighed softly and closed his eyes, allowing Matthew to hold onto him. "I… I-I dunno… maybe…" He mumbled.
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Matthew fell quiet, his fingers running through Rowan's hair.
"Think… think of me as your protected. That I'm making sure that even if you don't need the help, I want to keep you safe."
"Mm…" Rowan leaned into Matthew's hand a bit, keeping his eyes closed. He was quiet for a bit while he considered. "…Okay…"
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"Thank you," Matthew murmured, bringing Rowan a bit closer to himself. He tucked the man away in his arms, the human's head going under the avian's chin.
Rowan wrapped his arms around Matthew's neck and held tightly to him, still pretty tense and unsure. "Mhmm…"
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Matthew pressed another gentle kiss to Rowan's head, holding him tightly in turn.
"I've got you…"
Rowan nodded weakly, not really wanting to speak. "We should probably go to sleep soon." His mother said after a few minutes. "It's getting dark."
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"Right." Matthew looked up, Rowan still held close. He looked down at Rowan again, his wings coming to wrap around the two.
Rowan relaxed in Matthew's arms for a while, limp and weak. Although he'd slept all day, he didn't seem to have much trouble falling asleep again.
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Matthew laid down, Rowan close to his chest.
"Good night…" he said softly, kissing Rowan's head. He closed his own eyes, falling asleep slowly.
When Matthew awoke, Rowan was nowhere to be found. Some of the grass leading to the forest had been squashed down, but he otherwise hadn't left anything to say where he was.
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"Rowan..?" Matthew sat up when he found Rowan wasn't in his arms, confused in his sleepiness. Had he gone to relieve himself..? No, he would have let Matthew know he'd be back.
"R-Rowan?"
Rowan looked up from where he was sitting in the forest when he heard a vague call. He was looking for the plants that Matthew had said he might be able to make into drinks, wanting to be helpful, but had grown tired pretty quickly into his searching.
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"Rowan?" Matthew called again, louder. He scrambled to his feet, looking around as he held the nest close.
"Rowan, where are you?"
"Matthew?" Rowan called back softly, barely loud enough for Matthew to hear him. He was sitting on the forest floor, a few various plants scattered around him.
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"Rowan, where are you?" Matthew called in turn. It was faint, but he thought he had heard Rowan reply. He started walking, hoping it was the right direction.
"I'm okay…" He called back. "Just in the forest…" He leaned back against a tree and sighed. Great, you worried him…
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Matthew followed Rowan's voice as best he could, finally finding the man.
"You okay?" The avian asked, kneeling down by Rowan's side.
"Yeah, I'm fine… just went looking for some of those plants you mentioned and got tired… are any of these poisonous?" He asked weakly.
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Matthew let out a breath, moving to sit with Rowan. He wasn't going to baby the man, he knew it would just upset him more. Instead, he slipped his hand into Rowan's, looking over the plants that had been gathered.
"Hm… you did really good," the avian started with. "Only this one is dangerous." Matthew moved the plant away, giving Rowan a sweet smile.
Rowan held tightly to Matthew's hand when it was offered to him, watching as Matthew sorted through the plants. He nodded upon being told that one of them was poisonous. "Okay… so the other ones might make nice drinks?"
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"Hmm…" Matthew thought, looking at the remaining plants. "This one has a bitter taste unless it's cooked, most people fry them but it could do well when boiled… not to mention, the flowers of this plant are very sweet, and when pressed, they produce a syrup. That could work in a drink, right?"
"Yeah, syrups and stuff would work. And coffee is pretty bitter on its own without creams and such in it, so the bitter one might still work."
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"Okay, then." Matthew offered a smile, turning back to the remaining plants.
"This one gives a lot of energy when chewed," he said, pointing. "And this one messes with your head some, placates you, and makes you feel good." And got you high as a kite.
Rowan nodded a bit as he listened. "That sounds like a drug… I probably shouldn't use it in drinks." He laughed weakly.
