Draven walks into the chambers only to find Aurelian on their bed crying. The sight broke something in Draven that he can't explain. He sits on the bed beside Aurelian. "Beloved…I do not like seeing you this way", he pauses before adding, "do you wish to talk about it?" When Aurelian doesn't reply, Draven takes off his boots and settles beside him, he then wraps his arms around his husband after planting a kiss to his head, silently comforting him.
Draven holds Aurelian in that position for hours before finally insisting Aurelian have something to eat, "you need your strength, even to cry", he had said. After Aurelian had eaten, Draven took him to the garden, his comfort zone. "Aurelian, please talk to me, I'm not asking you to relive what happened but I won't know what to do if you don't tell me anything", Draven pleaded and Aurelian replied, "you've already done more than enough" "Don't…don't push me away like this, I'm your husband Aurelian". Aurelian looks at Draven, shifting on his foot, the garden rustles around them but neither pays attention. "I would've died if you hadn't showed up", Aurelian admits softly. Draven cups his jaw and kissed him, when he pulls back he rests his forehead against Aurelian's, "that's the first sentence you say to me after weeks of being scared I lost you" "scared?" "Yes scared Aurelian,I admit it so please let me in…let me comfort you, I know I can't take the pain away but I can try for you". He pulls back and hugs Aurelian properly. After a while, they both pull back and Draven leads Aurelian to a bench where they sat and Aurelian finally tells him everything that happened to him when he was kidnapped.
Draven felt a mix of emotions by the time Aurelian finished. He couldn't believe his husband had gone through that amount of torture. He swore internally that he would make the grand duke pay dearly. "Let's go back to our chambers so the physician can change your wounds dressing", Draven suggested, Aurelian raised an eyebrow, "doesn't he have to check on you too?" "Oh that why the imperial physician said my condition has improved noticeably when you got kidnapped, although I'm not fully cured", Draven clarifies rising to his feet. Aurelian doesn't stand, a small smile tugging at his lips. Draven glances at him, raising his eyebrows, "what are you doing? Let's go" "we'll I don't feel like walking", Aurelian replied. Draven chuckles, amused by his husband's display, "you know if you want me to lift you, all you have to do is ask" "you? Lift me? I'm afraid you don't have enough strength for that beloved", Aurelian teases, a smile spreading across his lips. "Are you challenging me your highness?" Draven doesn't wait for answer before lifting Aurelian into his arms, flexing his physique. Aurelian wraps his legs around his husband's waist to stay in place and wraps his arms loosely around his shoulders. Draven carries him all the way to their chambers where the physician was already waiting outside. "Your highnesses", the imperial physician greets trying to hide a smile at the lover's play. Once inside, Draven moves to put Aurelian down on the bed but Aurelian doesn't budge. "Beloved,you have to let the physician tend to you now" Draven tries to coerce, "I'm comfortable this way dear husband". The physician stands off to the side watching the drama unfold without trying to hide his smile. Draven sighs but the way his eyes softens betray him. "How about I hold again once the man has done his duty and leave,hm?" "Alright then that's a promise". Aurelian disentangles himself from Draven and settles on the bed, he takes off his shirt once the physician set his medicine box down. Draven watches as the physician redresses his husband's wounds. His jaw clenching in silent fury. "Nothing…nothing at all can stop me from getting you Valerius", Draven thought but he already had plans for the grand duke, one that won't be merciful.