Drabble - Draco + Baliraj [01]

Light shone through the jagged tears and neat slashes in Draco’s cloak. The metal of his blade gleamed in the light. In the places where it was not dripping with blood that is. Holding it out at an angle away from him his arm was half-hidden under the cloak as he stood with his back to Baliraj. 

When Baliraj gasped Draco’s head twitched to the side, he almost looked over his shoulder but paused for a moment. Then seemed to think better of it and turned his face forward once more. 

Slashing his sword through the air blood flew from the blade to splatter on the ground. Draco wiped down the blade with a scrap of paper before using an oiled cloth. 

The scrape of the metal sliding back into it’s sheath was the only noise. The silence stretched on for a few more moments. 

Baliraj didn’t realize he had been holding his breath until he exhaled as Draco reached up to start undoing the clasp of his cloak. The tinkling of the gold beads seemed to bring Baliraj back to the present. He took a step forward before pausing again.

Draco carefully removed his cloak and draped it over one arm, his hair tumbled down as he removed the hooded cloak.

Baliraj was studying the various gems and metal beads strung into Draco’s hair, and marvelled at the multitude of braids. It had been so long since he had seen Draco without the hood pulled up that he had not seen more than the two fringes of hair that always fell across his forehead.

He forgot how long Draco’s hair was. Seeing it fall across his back down to his waist even while braided was… well he didn’t know what to describe it as.

Memories of Draco mentioning how he had to trim his hair regularly because it grew abnormally quickly rose to mind. He also remembered being told there were magical properties to some of the gems and metals affixed to his braids.

It was the whisper quite hiss and slight hunching forward that caught Bali’s attention.

It was seeing Draco seeming to hold his chest that he remembered the cloak.

If his cloak had been torn up then…

Yes, Draco took his hand away and when he studied it there was blood coating it. There was more hissing as he was carefully puling at his clothing to peel the material away from his wounds. All the while still holding his cloak draped over one arm.

Bali noted bloody slashes across Draco’s back before he quickly stepped forward and made his way around Draco’s front to get a better look at him.

“This proves that these clothes are ill-suited for sword combat. But I would hate to waste magic when it is so very unnecessary, your Majesty.” Draco spoke while Baliraj was reaching to grasp Draco’s shoulders.

Instead Draco dropped to one knee and took hold of one of Baliraj’s hands as he bent forward into a bow lightly pressing his lips to the back of Bali’s hand, “You are unharmed I hope, your Highness.”

Baliraj’s fingers tensed momentarily and his body trembled, he was frowning and his free hand clenched into a tight fist. His voice was strained when he addressed Draco, “Of course, I am fine. You made sure of that. At some unpleasant expense of your own.”

Draco kept his lips lightly pressed to the back of Bali’s hand as he shrugged. Baliraj could feel the stickiness of the blood on his hand from Draco’s own hand, but also from his lips. He noticed he has some cuts on his face as well.

It was unpleasant to see his best friend kneeling before him, obviously wounded and bleeding from only the Gods knew how many cuts. And yet there he remained. In the kneeling and bowed position. His lips pressed against Bali’s hand as he held it gently in his own hand.

A hand that had ended more lives than Bali dared to consider. And the majority of them in the name of his kingdom.

Baliraj was losing his patience,  “Draco, I know how much you stand on ceremony, but please. We should get you to a healer-“

“And might I remind you that healers can do little for me that my body is not already taking care of. A small perk of being-“

Baliraj’s hand flinched but he tore it from Draco’s grasp as he cupped the underside of Draco’s jaw and forced him to look up at him, “Do not dare say it! Do not refer to yourself in such a way in my presence!”

Draco let his hand drop away and he gazed up at Baliraj, “If you insist, your Highness.”

Bali’s jaw clenched and he bit back his reply, it would do no good to try and argue with Draco while he was in one of his “moods”.

“At least let us get you to the healers tent to clean you up. You look dreadful.” Baliraj snorted as he gave Draco another look over and his expression turned to one of distaste, “You know I am not fond of the stench of blood.”

Draco reached up to shift Bali’s hand so that he could nuzzle his cheek into Bali’s palm, and then closed his eyes while whispering, “If my appearance is such an eyesore then I will dutifully obey your orders to get cleaned up so that being in my presence no longer pains you, your Majesty.”

Bali flexed his fingers to get a better grip on Draco’s face and causing him to open his eyes and look up at him once more.

“Then you should stop being a pest and go do so, Draco.” Bali snapped before tugging his hand away from Draco and whirling away.

After Baliraj had begun making his way to the healers tent Draco took in a breath before painfully pushing himself back up into a standing position. The corner of his mouth twitched and he couldn’t disagree with how his state was one that brought displeasure. He did not fancy the idea of being covered in blood and grime much himself.

Doing his best to hide his limp Draco slowly made his way after Baliraj.