His heart stopped the moment he saw Khan. Jasper forgot about Castillon, forgot about the mare he didn’t know, forgot everything except scrambling to quickly close any physical distance left between he and Khan. “Shhh, shhh,” Jasper felt himself shushing softly, not to tell Khan to stop speaking, but to hush away the apologies and the confession already pouring from his closest companion as soon as they were near again. Jasper felt himself shake all over, the concern for Khan so great that it ached the entire way through clear from the tips of his ears and down into his hooves. He opened his mouth to try and talk, but found his throat was so tight with emotion he couldn’t get a word out.
“You’ve never had to give me anything,” he said, voice choked still, tears already burning in his blue eyes and immediately spilling over his cheeks. “Khan…” He whispered the boy’s name against his skin as he tucked in close and sucked in the scent of ocean, of injury, but most importantly… of the first love Jasper had ever known. “You never have to give me anything,” he whispered through clenched teeth, trying to keep himself from sobbing with relief over having Khan close again.
How many times had he awoken in the night after dreaming of the golden boy only to the emptiness of the Prairie and felt his heart sink low?
“I will always welcome you,” he promised, tucking his pink chin back so he could search for Khan’s eyes with his, wanting to make sure he was looking at him when he said, “No matter what happens, Khan, I will always be home for you.” The love he held for Khan was unlike any kind of care he’d known. It went deeper than anything else, some understanding of their souls that had become entwined together when they were young and had just met in the Prairie all those long years ago.
He wanted to ask what happened to him, he wanted to drag Khan to their little area by the river to lay him down on the soft grasses and curl up around him, promising him he wouldn’t need to move an inch until he felt well enough. “I’ve been keeping our spot warm,” he promised with a wistful smile, hoping it might make Khan smile too, despite all the pain he was in and how exhausted he was, “I can take you there now,” he offered, “lean on me.”
Always.
|
