The ribbon came loose easily, despite how tightly it had been tied, and despite Ketran's trembling hands. The corset opened, and with a few tugs, fell away from Thallian.

"Well...?" Ketran asked after a moment, "How does it feel?"

No answer. Ketran stepped around Thallian, intending to look him in the eye. He found that Thallian's eyes were closed, a faint smile upon his pair's face.

"I can breathe," Thallian finally said. A light breeze blew his long, lavender hair. He opened his eyes, blue as the sky above them both, and looked down at Ketran. "Thank you."

Ketran gave a faint smile in return. "Can we get down now?" He glanced down at the street several floors below them both and immediately regretted that decision.

"Not yet," Thallian said quietly. He took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled slowly. "The sun is so warm up here while the breeze is so cool. You could use a bit of sunlight, Ket."

Ketran scoffed, crossing his arms after placing the corset on the ground.

"I'm free!" Thallian said with a laugh. He turned suddenly, picking Ketran up and spinning him around. Ketran cried out in surprise and clung to Thallian out of fear of falling off the roof.

Thallian quickly put Ketran down, closer to the center of the roof than before. He turned his back to him again, gazing off at the rolling hills on the horizon, past the city limits.

Ketran took a few deep breaths of his own to calm himself, then shook his head. "What am I going to do with you. Reckless. You make my job as a tharii difficult, you know. I wasn't much of one to begin with, and then I bond with you of all people, and... ...Thallian?"

He waited for a moment, hoping his kizier would turn back to look at him. But Thallian was utterly still.

"Hey..." Ketran put a hand on Thallian's shoulder, pulling him gently to look at his face. The blue in Thallian's eyes was nearly gone, replaced by the blackness of his huge, dilated pupils.

"Oh no," Ketran said. As if on cue, Thallian began shaking violently, losing his balance and falling.

"No!" Ketran cried, catching his mate as he collapsed, easing him to the ground onto his side. He turned and reached for the corset, but Thallian's arm shot straight up in his absence.

Ketran could feel the immense heat in the air before it happened, and turned away to shield himself as the gout of flame erupted from the palm of Thallian's outstretched hand. His other hand clawed at the stone roof uncontrollably, tiny pieces of glass that had been sand minutes ago flickering under his hand from the heat coming off of it.

Ketran grabbed the corset and turned back to Thallian, raising his arm to cover his face from the heat. Thallian's raised arm wretched in a spasm and the gout of flame shot in Ketran's direction. Luckily the other had peeked past his arm in that moment, and screamed before barely dodging.

His clothes had caught flame, but Ketran did not care. He had to get to Thallian. Smacking at the fire with one hand he held the corset in the other, gritting his teeth as he simply leapt at Thallian, tackling him with the corset. Once the magic was under control, he could worry about the seizure.

The flames slowed and finally stopped. Ketran managed to put out the small fire on himself before he moved into kneeling position beside Thallian, carefully taking his head and laying it on his lap. "Shh, shh..."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the syringe, uncapping it with a finger before injecting it into Thallian's upper arm. After a few seconds the shaking subsided, and Thallian lay still. He was still seizing, but the seizure had been altered from physical to mental. A pool of drool was forming on Ketran's pants.

"Thallian... Thallian..." he whispered, stroking his hair. "Come back to me, Thallian."

Chronic aetheric stimulation, known by the populace simply as "overload". Ketran had always thought himself to be too small, (and frankly too intelligent) to be a tharii. How could he be responsible for the well-being of another? If he were in danger, he could barely save himself. And then he met Thallian, and it all became clear.

Thallian needed protection from himself. From his condition. It was a bond that only a tharii as scientifically gifted as Ketran was could complete. It all made sense.

Slowly, fingers trembling again, Ketran removed the corset. He feared that it would trigger another attack, but Thallian simply lay peacefully on his lap. His pupils narrowed until they were normal again, and eventually Ketran's heart leapt as Thallian blinked and swallowed.

"What..." Thallian began.

"Shh... don't. It's alright. I'm here." Ketran stroked his hair gently, weaving the lavender strands between his fingers.

"Did I hurt anyone?" Thallian asked quietly, "Or anything?"

"No, dear, you were fine. Do you remember any of it?"

"Your clothes! Are you hurt, Ket?" Thallian sat up suddenly, reaching out to touch Ketran's face.

Ketran glanced at the charred hole in his sleeve and shook his head. Thallian's fingers rested against his cheek, and he shivered.

"I should keep wearing this, even if I am bonded." Thallian said, grabbing the discarded corset and pulling it around himself.

"Don't say such things. You needn't be caged. I'm working on a treatment, something that will keep you from having these fits at all. Just give me time, Thalli. Trust me."

Thallian half closed his eyes and looked at the ground. "All right, Ket. If you say so."

Ketran felt a surge of determination well up inside himself. He would do anything for Thallian. Anything. He would push his mind to its limits, bend science to his will until he could help his beloved feel like he belonged in society again.

Ketran attempted a confident smile despite the trickle of doubt that immediately began to counter his determination. "Come on, let's go back inside. I'll make some tea."

"I'd like that," Thallian said, returning Ketran's smile with one of his own. It was tired, and Ketran wanted nothing more than to put him to bed and have him rest.

Getting to their feet, Thallian led the way back inside. Ketran paused in the doorway, turning back to glance at the roof. The scorch marks were evident along the stone, but it was nothing severe.

Not this time.