clovers

chapter 32 | Hibi

"Rise and shine princess"

I twisted my body onto my stomach and stretched with a loud groan, making sure to crack all my muscles with a satisfying pop. My eyes fluttered open and I let out another groan as the headache I could feel at the back of my mind hit me with full force.

I rolled back on my back but arched it when I felt a small rock hit a wounded part of my lower spine. Memories of the day came rushing behind my eyes at full force and I winced "Well shit" I grumbled.

"Well shit indeed" I turned my head to see Caspian leaning on a tree, my map in his hands. He didn't seem to be reading it well considering it was upside down. He glanced at me from on top of it before snorting. "No offence Hibi, but you look like shit".

"No shit sherlock, it's not like I've just been through a luxury spa" I spat. He folded the map up and tossed it at me but I made no move to grab it. "You don't look so sparkling either, full offence" Although I'd just insulted him he looked more amused than offended.

I tried to sit up but the pain in my lower back refrained me from going anywhere. I hissed "Fuck Cas did you even stitch it up?" He chuckled.

"Yeah but I doubt I did a good enough job" I sat up slowly this time, constantly blinking back tears.

"And why's that?"

"I've never had to stitch up someone before" My face washed over in feigned panic.

"Are the stitches even in the correct place" I exaggerated, my hand flew to my back to touch the wound and to my surprise, I was met with my skin immediately. I looked down to see my shirt ripped in half, exposing my abdomen and I gasped "Where the fuck is the rest of my shirt?!"

He rubbed a hand sheepishly behind his neck "It got in the way of my stitching and it was already kinda fucked up so I kinda just" He made a ripping gesture with his hands. I narrowed my eyes at him, not buying that bullshit for a second.

"You probably just did it to take a glance at my goodies didn't you?" His face darkened in pink as he stumbled to explain himself but I didn't have it "You pervert!" I shoved him back but his hands instinctively went out to grab mine causing me to lose balance and topple all over him.

I could feel my face heat up at our intimate position, my hair was draped over the both of us like a curtain. Caspian looked equally as shocked until he caught sight of my face and his expression was replaced with a smirk. "I can't believe you're enjoying this, and you called me a pervert".

I yelped and got off of him, wrapping my arms around myself to replace the weird warmth I felt when in his arms. I avoided his smug gaze. "Shut up" I huffed. I decided to look around as I avoided his gaze.

"Cas where are we?"

We were in a dark forest, the only light being a riverbank in front of us that stretched along for miles. The water created a blue hue on our faces, enough so that we could see each other but not anything a few steps in front of us.

"I actually don't know"

My head snapped to him in surprise to see him frowning at the map once more. I quickly snatched it out of his hands and looked over it. "For starters, you're holding this upside-down" I snorted before flipping it around.

I glanced at the Spades map to check where I could see a river. There were not many of those in Spades so it was easy to see where we were. My eyebrows flew to my hairline. "Wow, you covered all of this ground in one day?" He shot me another unsure smile.

"Actually, I got lost a few times, so technically the whole spades drama was yesterday" I felt my body almost immediately flood with exhaustion at his words.

I was out for one day?

More importantly. He survived without me for one day?

The river we were at was one that went from the middle of the Weeping Willows straight through the corner of Spades and into Diamonds. According to the map we were just about Spades east and right besides Spades north.

"Did you go through?-

"Heavens no, and risk you being recognized and me being attacked?" He shook his head "Not a chance" I didn't know whether to be impressed that he thought something through or offended that he thinks I have enemies in every part of Spades.

I mean I do but still.

"And...where's our horse" I looked around for the tall creature we'd managed to get away with.

"Well, actually I met this sweet old traveller on the way-

Oh no

"And he offered me to trade the horse for-

"You traded our horse!"

"Yes!"

I tilted my head at him "Why!?"

"He gave me food, a lot of it" I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"And why would you trade food for fucking transportation" He looked down.

"I didn't want you to be hungry when you woke up" He admitted in a small voice. I felt my heart melt and all anger I had evaporate at his reason.

"Cas...what if you gave you poisonous food" When he noticed my soft tone he got more excited.

"No look I already ate one of the sandwiches" He tossed me a sandwich wrapped in tinfoil. I opened it to see a sandwich with pork and tomato. Bile raised in my throat.

"Cas this is wonderful but I'm a-

"Vegan? I remembered" He handed me a bowl carefully, I opened it's lid and there was mushroom and carrot soup with noodles, kept warm by the metal container. The scent of warm spices and delicious vegetables filled my senses and I breathed it in and nearly moaned.

Caspian continued to stare at me like a dog awaiting praise "Thank you" I gave him a warm smile and a cute blush spread across his face.

Fuck this man is fine.

I could feel his gaze burning into the side of my head as I ate in silence. We could've been eating together but he practically inhaled his sandwich and then proceeded to stare at me as I savoured my meal. I even offered him some but he declined with the notion.

'I prefer not to eat like a rabbit'

"You're beautiful" I snapped out of my thoughts startled as I looked at him.

"Pardon?"

"Uh-what I said w-was where are we going next?" I raised an eyebrow at him but let him off the hook for the sake of his pride and my continuously growing wild thoughts. "Are we headed back to East?" I shook my head as I finished the last of my soup before getting down to business.

"No that would just be walking into Adaora's clutches" My mind ran a thousand scenarios "Going to any sort of Spades civilisation is stupid actually as she'll be waiting for us." I rubbed my chin "Going to Clovers is now definitely out of the question sooooo..." I dragged my finger over to my homeland and tapped it on the map.

"Cas, we're going to Diamonds"

He nodded his head "But doesn't she dislike Hearts people" I nodded.

"Of course, she hates your guts" His face hardened and I pushed him jokingly with a smile "Don't worry I've got a plan" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really and does this plan involve any more sneaking around".

"Well duh, but a little less than last time" I point to a part of Diamond's borders. "There's a hole around there so we can mosey our way through and get in.

"Why can't we go through there" He gestured to the Weeping Willows that covered most of the map and led directly into Diamonds. I swallowed.

"No"

"Why?"

"It's dangerous" His lips lifted into a mocking smile.

"Since when are you afraid of danger?"

Since danger brought back painful memories.

"I don't want to talk about it so I'm not going to" He nodded quietly and soon we got settled into an uncomfortable silence as unanswered questions hung in the air.

"Did your wounds heal?" I questioned softly. He had a cut on his cheekbone for as far as I could see and although it didn't make him less attractive it did look like it hurt like a bitch.

He seemed to be littered in bruises of all shades but from the way he was comfortably sitting, I think they look more severe than they really are. "Nothing deep, the one on my face is the worst I've got" .

I couldn't help but scowl as I thought about how he walked away with barely a scratch and I walked away with a hole in my back. Lucky bitch, I muttered underneath my breath enviously.

"How about I clean it up for you, it's only fair right" He shrugged and I took that as a yes as I grabbed some cloth and alcohol. "Let's hope it's not already infected or else you're in some shit" I muttered as I dipped some liquid on the cloth.

I proceeded to dap the cleaning agent on him, only receiving a few winces here and there but nothing serious. My hands were shakier than usual as he stared at me intently the whole time. I'd noticed Cas did a lot of staring if he couldn't get answers he'd just stare at it. Analyzing whatever he was looking at with his Lapis gaze.

Unlucky for me I was usually on the other side of his diamond eyes.

I attempted to lighten the mood "Let me just tell you now beforehand, you look fucking terrible in blue" I snorted, gesturing to the dark almost purplish marks that littered his pale skin. He just blinked at me and cracked a smile.

"Well, you look ravishing in red".