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"I… I don't know." Halm was gripped with fear a moment. When would Cas wake up? Would he? Or would the strain of going back into his body be too much? Would Cas die again? He carefully brought the blankets up around Cas. Maybe… Maybe he was just too cold. He put this arm back around Nix.
"When… When will you want to go back to your normal body?" He asked.
"I-I don't know… I might stay like this for a while. It's easier to protect him when I'm larger and he can understand me." Nix pet Cas gently, sighing softly.
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Halm nodded. That made sense.
"Alright then. Anything to keep him safe." Halm looked down at Cas. Please wake up, he pleaded silently. Halm lightly put his hand on Cas's forehead.
Cas stirred a bit, whining. He stayed unconscious for now, but he was clearly still alive. Nix whimpered, keeping his eyes on Cas.
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Halm sighed a little. Cas was still alive, and slightly responsive.
"He'll be okay," he said softly again. "He just needs to rest."
Nix nodded, sighing softly. "I'm not gonna feel better until he's awake, honestly… and even then, probably not."
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"I know what you need," Halm said. ""I'm terrified to even look away from him." He gently ran his fingers through Cas's hair.
Cas hummed weakly in his sleep, leaning into Halm's hand. Nix gently ran his thumb along Cas's cheek with a soft sigh.
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Halm left his hand in Cas's hair. Now, he could happily say Cas was asleep, and not just unconscious.
"We're never going to leave him alone ever again, are we?" He asked. He knew he wouldn't, for sure. Cas was just too clumsy sometimes. It literally got him killed.
Nix shook his head. "Absolutely not. He's a dumbass." He sighed, ruffling Cas's hair. "He'd get himself killed. Er… again."
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"And that won't happen again for a long ass time." Halm sighed as well. This was to never happen again. He lightly rested his hand on Cas's forehead.
"I'm gonna do everything in my powers to keep him alive." He'd offer to take these memories away, but they were too big. They have had too much of an impact on Cas.
Nix nodded. "How much of this will he remember? He didn't seem to be super present during the whole process…"
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"I don't know. That's something I won't be able to figure out until he wakes up. Hopefully, not too much… With what he went through, the less he remembers the better." Halm tucked Cas in a bit better, not wanting him to get too cold as he slept.
"And he could be out for a while."
Nix nodded again. "As much as I hate it, there's only so much I can do to help him… technically speaking, I'm just a cat."
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"You're also one of the few who have cared for Cas in his life. That counts for something." Halm put his hand lightly on Nix's shoulder.
"You're his first protector, Nix. He cares for you more than he does himself."
Nix sighed and nodded. "I just wish he'd care more about himself, honestly… all the attention is nice, of course, but I want him to take care of himself."
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"And we'll help him with that." Halm looked down at Cas again. "We have the rest of eternity to help him, after all."
"Right…" Nix rested his head against Halm, humming weakly. "I hope he'll be okay…"
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"He will be," Halm said, "we'll make sure of it." He lightly put this second had on Nix's head. Now, he had a have on each of the mortals' heads. He'd keep them both safe. He had to.
Nix closed his eyes, nuzzling against Halm's hand. He seemed exhausted, and understandably so. Today had been very emotionally and physically draining.
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"Why don't you get to sleep too," Halm suggested quietly. "You've been through a lot too." He gently ran his fingers through Nix's hair, petting him.
"But I can't leave him… what if he wakes up and needs me while I'm sleeping…?" Nix asked, purring weakly as Halm pet him.
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"I'll stay awake. If he needs you, I'll wake you up. Okay?" Halm wanted Nix to get some rest too. Besides, he was used to sitting up.
"Mmmmmm…" Nix closed his eyes, nuzzling against Halm again. "B-But I… can't… he needs me…" He murmured, steadily fading.
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"You'll still be here for him," Halm said gently, having Nix slowly lay down a bit more. "You need to care for yourself too."
"He… needs me…" Nix mumbled, soon drifting off in Halm's arms. He purred weakly in his sleep, finally relaxing.
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Halm smiled softly. Nic was asleep. He gently continued to pet Nix, just keeping an eye on the two mortals to make sure they were alright as they slept.
Nix was finally relaxed and sleeping. Cas was still unconscious as well, but he kept stirring occasionally.
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Halm just sat there until someone woke up. He sure as hell wasn't going to leave a sleeping Cas alone without anyone conscious in the room, and he wanted Nix to get some rest. So, he sat there, waiting.
Cas eventually opened his eyes and looked up at Halm weakly. "H-Hullo…?" He said weakly, his voice hoarse from screaming.
