Puzzle stormed away, fists clenched so tightly that he was beginning to draw blood. Karlus remained in the same spot, fuming silently to himself as he watched Puzzle leave, disappearing into the trees. Karlus stood there, lost in his own angry thoughts before he slowly calmed down and realised what he had done. His breath hitched in throat, all his anger being replaced with horror and fear as his head snapped up to where Puzzle had disappeared into the forest.

Knowing of the mistake he had made, he broke out into a sprint, running after Puzzle. Hopefully he hadn't gotten too far. Sure enough, Puzzle eventually came into view after a few minutes of running. Karlus looked around as he slowed down, taking in their surroundings. They were still about 15 minutes from the village and since no one else had come out with them, he knew no one would interrupt them - or that he had been manipulated. It had been his own emotions that caused him to blow up at Puzzle.

"Puzzle, wait!" Karlus gasped, a few steps behind him. Puzzle ignored him and kept walking, refusing to acknowledge him. Gritting his teeth and knowing that Puzzle wouldn't listen to him, Karlus lunged forward and grabbed Puzzle's wrist and forcing him to a stop.

"I-" Karlus barely even got to start when Puzzle roughly yanked his wrist away, still refusing to look at him.

"Don't touch me!" Puzzle screamed, the anger clear in his voice as he turned back around, keeping his back to him, though he didn't start walking away again, which Karlus took as a good sign. Karlus frowned, there was something else in Puzzle's voice. He decided to ignore it for now, knowing that Puzzle was surely going to be mad at him and probably a few other things, so he decided to shake off the weird feeling.

"Puzzle, I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I swear! I just... I got out of hand and-and I just...lost it. I'm sorry. That was wrong of me. I shouldn't have blown up at you like that. I'm sorry," Karlus kept his voice low, as well as his head bowed as he apologised. He felt like shit. Normally he could blame his eruptions on Eldwyn, but Eldwyn was nowhere near them right now. It had been his fault and his alone.

"But you still blew up," Puzzle mumbled, voice quiet. Karlus' frown deepened. He lifted his head up, staring at Puzzle in confusion. He expected Puzzle to still be mad, so why was he...

Puzzle's shoulder shook and Karlus' eyes widened in realisation, his heart slowly shattering as he realised what he had done.

"Puzzle, I'm sorry. I really am! I didn't mean any of the things I said, I swear. I just..." Karlus trailed off, not really sure what to say anymore. He hadn't been thinking when he had said all those mean and hurtful things to Puzzle. His mind was clouded with anger and frustration because Puzzle, damn Puzzle, wouldn't listen to him. Wouldn't just let him take control. But Puzzle was right. It wasn't Karlus' job to control him. Or anybody's.

Puzzle shook his head, shoulders shaking more rapidly. He sniffed, then used the sleeve of his shirt to what Karlus presumed was wipe his nose or eyes. Either was gross in his opinion, but he ignored it.

"I'm sorry. I get mad at you all the time for such pointless things and today was no exception. I went too far and hurt your feelings and I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you, I swear," Karlus continued. He reached a hand out for Puzzle but quickly put it back down again, not sure if Puzzle would allow him in his personal space at the moment. Probably not.

"But th-that's the th-thin-thing," Puzzle whispered, his voice cracking and Karlus winced. "Yo-you always blo-blow up at m-me. No one el-else. Ju-just me. Do y-you really hat-hate me th-that mu-uu-uch?" Puzzle sniffed again and Karlus' eyes widened. Karlus felt a stab in his heart, knowing that he had been the one to make Puzzle cry like that.

"No! Of course not! I don't hate you, Puzzle! I would never!" Karlus moved from behind Puzzle, stepping in front of him so he could see his face. He flinched back at the tears streaming down his face, but steeled himself regardless. This was his fault. It was his fault that Puzzle was crying. It wasn't Eldwyn's, or the Virus', or some kind of memory...It was him. He had done this. Just him.

"Th-then wh-why are you alwa-always s-so mad at-at me?" Puzzle sniffed, face tilted downwards. Karlus lifted his hands towards Puzzle's face and Puzzle flinched backward. Karlus froze mid air, feeling even more guilty. Was Puzzle...scared of him? Puzzle sniffed again and after a few seconds, moved his head back to where it had been a seconds prior. Karlus took a deep breath, as if to steady himself and then continued to move. His hands cupped Puzzle's face, lifting his face up so they were at eye level and he gently wiped away Puzzle's tears with his thumbs.

Removing one of his hands from Puzzle's cheek, Karlus gently lifted the sunglasses from Puzzle's eyes, revealing brightly glowing green eyes. Karlus' breath hitched once more, just at the beautiful light before him. He had always loved Puzzle's eyes, even more so when they were glowing that vibrant colour, a brilliant glow that he rarely got to see. That anyone got to see. It just made Puzzle even more amazing in Karlus' eyes. He was so brilliant but so little people saw that - or could see that. Karlus lowered the glasses, before just carelessly tossing them to the ground. Puzzle didn't need them anyway. He looked better without them, with his eyes on show for Karlus to see. He was never a fan of Puzzle having to hide behind glasses anyway.

Karlus managed a shaky smile, only now becoming aware of the tears that had gathered in his eyes. "It's not that I'm mad at you... I just...Don't want to see you getting hurt. I just want to protect you but you're so stubborn. You won't let me protect you," Karlus whispered, face right in front of Puzzle's. His vision blurred with tears, but instead of keeping them in, he let his guard down and allowed the tears to spill, clearing his vision. Puzzle was the only one he could properly let his guard down around.

"I can protect myself," Puzzle mumbled, attempting and failing at trying to give him a defiant glare, but with the tears in his eyes and the emotions that had morphed his face into a look of sadness of pain, it looked more like he was going to cry even more.

Karlus shook his head, before resting his own forehead against Puzzle's. "But I want to protect you. I know that you're strong, but you can't do everything alone. Let me help you." Karlus looked into Puzzle's brightly glowing eyes sadly, hoping that for once, Puzzle wouldn't be as stubborn as him and just give into him. Weirdly enough, Puzzle did look tired. He was wearing down, Karlus could tell that much. From what, Karlus wasn't all too sure, but he was sure that he was the cause of Puzzle losing a lot of energy right about now. He was sure he was a part of the reason that Puzzle just looked so done with everything right now. Why Puzzle looked ready to just curl up into a ball and hide from the world.

Karlus lowered his hands, gently taking both of Puzzle's hands in his own. Just as expected, Puzzle's hands were bloody, his nails having dug far too deep into the palms. Karlus closed his eyes, concentrating as he activated his Trait. There was a small glow as he easily healed Puzzle's hands. Karlus opened his eyes once more, the glowing in his own eyes beginning to dim. He smiled at Puzzle, though he wasn't sure if it was visible when they were both so close together that Puzzle's face was blurry in front of his. Despite having healed Puzzle's hands, Karlus kept his grip on them, before slowing intertwining one hand, the other hanging onto Puzzle's other hand weakly.

"Let me protect you," Karlus repeated, voice firm. By now, it had appeared that both of them had calmed down, but were now filled with different emotions.

"I can protect myself," Puzzle replied stubbornly. Karlus' lips twitched further upwards.

"I know you can. You're strong. But..." Karlus' smile fell. "There are so many things you don't know, even with your Trait. People will hurt you for it. People will come after you for it. People will do whatever it takes to get their hands on it. You can't fight them all off yourself," At this point, Karlus was aware that he had begun to shake. "I want to protect you. Please...Let me stand beside you."

Puzzle stared at him silently for a few seconds, before finally giving in. He gave a small nod, but quickly turned insecure. "But won't you get sick of protecting me? You'll...leave eventually." Karlus could hear the insecurity and fear in Puzzle's voice and he immediately felt the urge to protect him, to wash away his doubts and heal whatever emotional wounds he had.

"I'll stand by you."

"How will I know for sure?" Puzzle asked, eyes bright but uncharacteristically filled with fear and doubt but also, hope. Karlus lifted his free hand from his weak grasp on Puzzle's right hand and placed it on his cheek instead. Closing his eyes, he leaned in and placed his lips against Puzzle's. It only took a few seconds at most before Puzzle was kissing him back, their lips moving in sync with each other.

Neither was sure how long they stayed in that spot, with their lips working with each other and their bodies pressed flush against each other, but neither really minded either. When the two finally pulled away, both breathless and faces equally red, both held a smile on their face.

"Is that enough reassurance?" Karlus asked, breathless. Puzzle gave him a cheeky grin.

"I don't know, I might need another kiss to make sure," Puzzle snickered. Karlus mirrored his grin and once more placed his lips on top of Puzzle's, this time Puzzle not hesitating in the slightest to return the kiss. Puzzle pulled away after a few seconds, much to Karlus' disappointment.

"I think I believe you now," Puzzle laughed, eyes lighting up with hope and trust, sending a shiver down Karlus' spine. He wanted to hear Puzzle laugh like that more, he wanted to see that smile more and he was sure, from now on, he would. He would make sure of it.

"Oh, you think? So you're not sure?" Karlus asked with narrowed eyes. Puzzle pulled away, though he kept his left hand intertwined with Karlus', and gave him an innocent smile.

"Yeah, I think so. I think I can believe you," Puzzle said innocently, obviously teasing Karlus, who narrowed his eyes playfully at him before his eyes lit up, an idea coming to mind. Puzzle swung their hands as he began to move backwards, in a random direction.

"How about I make you sure?" Karlus asked, grinning. Puzzle tilted his eyes at him, green eyes staring at him in curiosity.

"Hm? What do you mea-?" Puzzle didn't get to finish his sentence when Karlus lunged at him, tackling him in a hug and immediately pressing his lips to Puzzle's once more. He'd kiss him all night if that was what it took to make him sure. But of course, Puzzle was more than happy with that.