You came back to me

Hika thought he saw the white fur of Mort’s eye marking flush red, and he felt himself become bashful as well. He’d never said those words before but he meant them with his whole heart. Mortis was everything to him, the only one who truly cared, the only one he wanted to entine his life with. They started as easy friends, which quickly turned to best friends, and Hikaru had been fostering these deeper emotions for a long time.

One of the reasons was because Hika could count on the winged man to catch him, no matter why he was falling. Mort caught him now as he struggled to his paws, and the young koi knew these were the arms he always wanted to help hold him up.

Mortis helped him out of the den and to the tub in Io’s once home. Lia met them there with breakfast and Hika’s stomach growled in protest. He grinned bashfully as she mentioned how good it was to see him up and moving. Even Lia had been convinced he was going to die. "Thank you,” he offered with a shy smile as she grinned and left the pair of them to their meal. Hika looked to Mort before unwrapping the packet of food. He’d happily eat as Mort filled the bath.

"Speech"