Ender was on his stomach, which made sense as the blast had hit him from behind. He, however, was not so sure it was a good thing to have all those blankets putting pressure on his wounds. Even with the sterile air barrier the burn pack would create, it would still hurt. But Killian hadn’t gotten a chance to see the man’s injuries, so what did he know?
Gorgons…were a bit of a mystery. Mainly as there weren’t many left. Maybe a hundred, possibly two? There was no consensus or database—thank fuck for that. But like Sirens, he knew Gorgons had fertility issues, he just wasn’t exactly sure of the specific details.
The Gorgon Massacre…happened only a few years after the Great Cryptid-Human War started, and well, it was not like there were many left to study, and those that lived tended to keep hidden. There were various reasons for that…trafficking, governments trying to overstep and intervene to help forcefully ‘grow’ the population. There were plenty of reasons for them to stay out of sight. Ender may have been the loudest, most hidden yet known, Gorgon alive.
While he didn’t know too much about their physiology, he knew they were a fast-healing Cryptid, but that their health heavily depended on their temperature. So Killian could only assume that him being able to see the man trembling probably wasn’t a good thing, nor was the fact that Ender looked as pale as snow. The Gorgon’s button nose wrinkled slightly, as Ender’s mouth twisted into a grimace, even in sleep.
Killian moved closer along the right side of the bed, frowning as he felt Ender’s forehead and was greeted with the experienceof touching ice. Tugging off his coat, he quickly tucked it around the Gorgon.
Having done that, Killian went to feel the man’s head again, but gasped when his wrist was caught in a rough, callused grasp. His gaze widened slightly as he found himself staring into eyes that were all snake. Killian’s first instinct was to lash out and protect himself, but he squashed that, as he didn’t want to hurt the man.
“Ender,” he rasped smoothly, pushing calm into his voice. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
His brow rose when a legit snake tongue flicked out of Ender’s mouth, the Gorgon blinking.
Well, at least Killian clearly had the Cryptid’s attention…
Slowly, he began to sing a song his mother used to sing to him growing up. One he’d sung along with her, before he realized the true extent of the horrors that were meant for his future. There was no intent to control in his voice, only to calm.
“Look around you, little Siren. The waters you swim in are filled with fear. Ignore at your risk that our once greatest freedom is now our demise.
“Swim, little Siren, the shadows are calling. Do you hear them whispering your name? Close your ears to the lies they offer, for even now they try to drag you down.
“Swim, little Siren, swim, little Siren, for only?—”
He was abruptly cut off as an accented voice softly rasped, “Trying to enchant me, Siren?”
Blinking, Killian smiled hesitantly, meeting the Gorgon’s pain-filled smiling face, dropping his hand to his side when Ender let go. “No, more trying to stop your snake from biting me.”
Ender chuckled, the sound cutting off when the Cryptid winced. “Ah, blast it all. I feel like horseshit.”
“I’d say that’s an apt description for how you look currently as well.”
The Gorgon smirked. “No doubt.” The man’s teeth actually started to chatter. “Fuck, it’s cold. Did the blast damage the climate controls?”
“One of them, at least. I’d offer to share my warmth with you, but…”
The man’s smirk widened. “Sirens are not known for their body heat, are they?”
“No…” He gave him an apologetic smile, before hesitantly saying, “Ender… Thank you.”
“Don’t suppose you are talking about Riker? Figured it out, did you?” Ender mused as he stared into the Siren’s now frowning and overly grim face, while doing his best to ignore the somehow freezing pain in his back. As that was how his body registered pain most of the time…as unbearable fucking cold, even when it was a damn burn.
Killian shrugged. “Wasn’t hard. Cyrus sucks at hiding his guilt, but then, it’s something he rarely feels.”
Ender held back his laugh, as it would have hurt. “No doubt the bastard is usually sure of himself. Made him feel guilty, did I? Good! It’s as it should be then.”
Killian sighed, the Siren shivering slightly as he wrapped his arms around himself. “You aren’t wrong. He has every reasonto feel guilty. He too often tries to make all of the decisions himself.”
“It’s their way. The Fates, that is. I have to say, you not defending him is new.”
The man raised a perfectly manicured brow, as one corner of his lips tilted upward just slightly. “And how would you know? I do believe this is the first time we’ve officially met.”
He grinned. “I have my ways.”
Killian snorted. “Would your ways happen to have anything to do with Severo’s loose lips?”
Ender snickered, which instantly had him wincing again. Sighing, he tried to control the shivering as he snuggled underneath the covers more, before saying, “Yeah, Severo is a great source of information at times…when he is willing to talk. Though, him complaining about you always taking that Grimms side mostly occurred back when you all were tots. Now, he just mentions how scary you are.”
