Chapter Text
October 1890
The wagon thumps against the rocks under the wooden wheels jostling your husband awake. He fixes his slouched posture, catching your glance as he shifts.
“How did you sleep?” you inquire.
“Surprisingly, better than I have been.” A small smile creeps along his lips, pulling at the burnt skin along his cheeks. “How much longer?”
“I shouldn’t be too much.”
Offering him a soft smile, you see his eyes soften, his body lazily slumping over to fall back into slumber.
Twice, he nearly burned alive.
The first time, he nearly died—his body, found blackened from ash and dark blood. He was only thirteen years old when it happened.
The second time was three years later, right after he was deeply affected by coma, a spontaneous fire broke out in the hospital shortly after he roused. He ran; his body aflame in the streets until he reached a river. He returned to his family a disfigured and tortured body and soul.
The fires stopped, but his mind hadn’t. Eight years of darkness plagued his dreams; the fire not only disfiguring him but disabling him as he grew into a young man. Despite being the eldest son of a very wealthy socialite family, he would be difficult to marry off. Easy for you, however, being the youngest of a very poor, very long line of women. You’re lucky to be married at all. Your husband turned out to be much more than you could have even dreamed of.
Touya is usually distant, but clever, nonetheless. He takes notice of you, even the smallest slip of a frown has him at your side to guide you back to a place of warmth. The man knows it well, after all, he’s all too familiar with the heat.
The way his body heats up against yours is different though. It’s passionate, and loving, and rough and hot and desperate—and oh so sinful . Touya Todoroki is a man all too familiar with Hell in all its glorious ways.
That’s why you’re migrating.
Rumors had spread like wildfire about a town further northeast of the city. People chattered on and on about healing waters found in the spring, giving the town its spiritual name. It seemed so absurd—a town with miracle waters? It was against the Lord, not a gift from Him. Yet, as the years went on and your husband’s condition worsened, you knew you had to do something. Quincy wasn’t enough anymore.
Touya’s father was a colleague of Darius Hicks and said he would be able to get you a modest home in the land of the medicinal spring. The man’s father owned most of the land in McDonough County, thus, he inherited much of it when he passed, and a modest home would be a luxury for you and your husband.
Now here you are, the carriage carrying you and your husband to your new home. Nothing but desperation ties you to a faithless dream.
The secluded path on the back county road leads you through the forest. As the path begins to fade, the carriage stops. Stepping out, your eyes fall upon a sign that reads “Vishnu Springs ahead”.
“Why have we stopped?” you ask the Todoroki servant who traveled with.
“We have to walk the rest of the way on foot. It’s about a mile into town.”
“How are we supposed to manage that exactly?”
Touya leans his head out of the carriage. “Is everything alright?”
“The servant says we must walk the rest of the duration by foot,” you relay the news.
“We don’t have many things. I think we could manage.” He steps out of the carriage; the end of his cane digging into the soft Earth beneath his feet.
“But Touya—”
“I’m fine to walk a bit. This is why we brought the servant with us, remember?” he assures.
“Alright." You give a soft sigh and relent. "If you say you’re in a good condition to walk, then we must walk.”
As you and the servant unload your luggage, the coachman also lends a hand as he leads the way across the dirt path. Touya staggers behind, conserving his little energy and taking his time. Every now and again, you peer back at him with concern in your eyes, but he merely smiles softly and continues on without any issue. As the path begins its end, the town becomes visible. A large white hotel stands in front of you. People of the town mill about, most ignoring the newcomers, but a few gawked at Touya’s obvious condition. You know it won’t be long for the whispers to start traveling through the air.
“Would you like for me to fetch the owner of the inn?” the servant offers.
“Yes, that would be lovely, thank you,” you answer, setting down the trunk you’re carrying.
“This place seems lively,” Touya says as he carefully steps behind you. Fallen golden leaves crunch under his feet, but the warmth of his hand on the small of your back brings more comfort than he knows.
“Your father promised that it is a good town, so we should do well to fit in.”
“Shouldn’t be difficult for you then.” A small sigh—barely noticed by you—escapes his lips.
“That’s not what I meant—”
“I understood what you meant; it’s fine, I promise.” He smiles half-heartedly in a vain attempt to reassure you.
Your voice softens, locking your gaze with his. “This is our chance at a new life—a better one. So, let’s be positive about it. There are miracles here.”
The loud voice of a man interrupts as he steps into view with the servant. “You must be the Todorokis! I’m Darius Hicks, Owner of Vishnu Springs.”
The man is around Touya’s height and is of average build. He sports a mustache across his upper lip matching the dark, sandy color on his head. Wisps of hair peek out from under his hat that matches his dark jacket and dark trousers. His white shirt under his tan vest looks immaculately clean. The opulence that drips off of him could rival the Todoroki family’s.
“Pleasure to meet you, sir, this is my wife,” Touya introduces you.
Smiling with grace, you greet the man warmly. “Lovely to meet you, sir. We’re really in your debt.”
“It’s really no trouble at all. The house has been vacant since Vishnu Springs became a town, but uh…” his eyes scan your husband, “there may be a minor problem. The house sits above the hill; the only way to get there is on foot.”
“I can walk a fair distance,” Touya assures the man.
“You’ve already walked quite a fair distance,” you interject, whispering harshly to him.
“And I can still walk a fair distance more.”
His voice is a bit sterner this time, no longer reassuring you of your worry.
Hicks eyes the wooden cane supporting Touya’s weight before wandering to the cerulean blue and relenting. “Then I’ll lead the way.”
You and Hicks grab some luggage while the servant takes the rest. Touya stays behind to pay the coachman who graciously pats the side of his shoulder to wish him well. Hicks leads you up a small hill around the resort where a long wooden staircase climbs through the forest.
“Eighty-eight steps up to the residency above. Forgive me that I couldn’t manage to get you a home closer to the resort,” Hicks explains. “Many people have been migrating to town, you see.”
“We understand wholeheartedly, Mr. Hicks. We’re more than in debt to you anyway for finding us lodging so quickly,” you tell him.
He drops his voice to a whisper. “Will your husband—uh—be able to make it up there? You must’ve had to walk enough already?”
You look back to him as he stands against all odds, climbing each stair one by one with determination. “Touya can walk just fine. A short hike might be exhausting, but I’m sure he will be alright.”
“Your husband is sure to make it through the winter?”
“As long as we have a warm home, my husband can survive anything.” You look back once more, eyes roaming over the deep purple burns that cover his exposed hands and face.
You count each step until you reach the top, and Hicks didn’t lie, there’s exactly eighty-eight steps. Touya is visibly fatigued from the short journey, but he tries to hide it. A small smile forms on your lips when you see him play it off when Hicks addresses him.
“Well, this is it, Mr. Todoroki,” he says, gesturing to a small, two-story farmhouse. The clapboard was all white, as were the pillars on the veranda.
It was nowhere near as nice as the Queen Anne or colonial style houses in Quincy, but you’re sure you can turn it into a home.
“Thank you, Mr. Hicks, my family’s servant will take it from here,” Touya says.
“I know it’s a bit of a walk but come by the resort later. I’ll have my wife fix you something nice. She’s ill as well, so she spends much of her time inside.”
“We greatly appreciate the gesture, thank you.”
Hicks shakes Touya’s hand before he descends down the long staircase.
“Shall we get settled in then?” you ask.
Life in Vishnu Springs is quiet compared to Quincy. The sun sets through the trees every day, and the purple sky is filled with soft clouds. You have a garden here, and despite its small size, you plant a decent number of seeds into the fertile soil. As the autumn days wane and the days get colder, you do your best to prepare for the winter ahead. Garden crops aren’t the only seeds you wish to plant, however.
You watch your husband as he drinks the cool spring water.
“How do you feel?” you inquire.
“It’s only been a week,” he says.
“Can seven days not bring change? Did the Lord not create everything in less?”
Touya notices the frantic way your eyes search for his. “It’s alright,” he assures. “I am almost certain I will notice it soon.”
“Touya, I—”
“I know. I do as well. There’s nothing that says we can’t try right now.”
“Your body…”
“I can still love you as I am, can’t I?”
His light eyes sparkle with the image of the dancing flame from the candle in the lamp. He looks up at you from where he sits on the bed. Your hand combs through his all-black hair, trailing down to cup his face. He sighs at the cool touch of your flesh against his warm cheek. The water from the spring was soothing, but your touch was a comfort he could never tire of.
“Yes.” The ghost of a whisper slips past your lips.
He tilts his head for you to press your lips against his. His lips are plush, and he moves them with yours as his tongue slips into your mouth. His hand snakes along your waist, pulling your weight down onto him with a groan.
“You’re absolutely certain this is what you want?” you ask.
“I promise, by Midsummer my body will be healed, and we will finally have a family of our own.”
He pulls you back in with another kiss, gently stroking your soft cheek with his calloused thumb. Your home feels warm with the love he gives you, and soon you know life will be better. As long as he’s there.
Illinois Adventure #1208 "Vishnu Springs" - YouTube