escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ i'll be the light to lead you home

Quite well, judging from past experiences.

[But she is hardly annoyed by it, and when his fingers start to work at her shoulders, she breathes out a soft sigh, her head relaxing and dipping forward. She lets the silence fall between them for a few beats, just savouring the way he so easily works the tension away, before she speaks again, her voice quiet.]

... Is it as bad as it feels?

[He has a feeling he knows what she's asking, but—]

What is?

[As he speaks, his hands move closer to those stony patches.]

[Her shoulders roll back in response when his hands move.]

I cannot tell how far or how much it has spread, but it hurts... [She takes in a breath, drawing on whatever courage she has to ask.] Could you show me?

[A quite hum as his thumbs run a soothing circle over her skin before he traces the path.]

It'll always hurt worse than it is in the beginning, which I know gives little comfort. But here is where it was before...

[He'll gently press his thumb over the older flecks of stone.]

And these are the new ones.

[With a little more careful, he'll gently brush his fingertips over the skin that edges the new flecks, letting her feel where it's started to spread.]

[Somehow, even with the stone there, his touch raises trails of goosebumps over her skin. She pays close attention to where his fingers wander, her eyes closing as she tries to memorize their path. Her stomach knots when she feels them travel closer to her neck and the tops of her shoulders, tries to interpret just how small the stone really is. They are mere freckles, but they feel so much bigger in the moment... like they have overtaken the entire span of her back.

With a steadying breath and a long stretch of heavy silence, she asks the question that has been weighing on her mind since she wrapped that towel around herself. Or perhaps long before that, as she fell asleep in his arms earlier.]

Do you think I will ever find my wings?

I do.

[There is no hesitation in his answer as his arms go around her shoulders to hug her.]

And you will be able to make them without relying on Garuda.

[The Eikon's name stirs her aether, but she relaxes into his embrace, her chin dipping to rest on his arms at her shoulders. She presses a kiss to his wrist in thanks.]

I... want to try it again soon.

[There's a faint smile as he presses his lips against the back of her neck.]

We can, perhaps in a few days if the weather is good. Can go to our little island if you wish.

[Her eyes close, and her chin tips forward again, exposing more of her neck to him.]

Mm, that would be nice, but... maybe a little longer...?

[Here she goes, trying to put it off again, but she really does want to do it. It will just take a bit before she feels fully ready to try again.]

[........Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhm.]

And how much is a "little" longer, hm?

[A small nip to her skin, knowing very well that while she should have proper time, she has a nasty habit of avoiding things.]

[She had been so lost in thought that his little nip startles her, making her jolt a bit, the water splashing gently when she looks at him over her shoulder.]

I don't know.

[She pouts because she knows why he's saying that.]

We did just help vanquish a god today...

And I already suggested "a few days."

[Of course, he wouldn't want to rush her. She does need to recover and he would definitely not want to push her, especially if she will need to mix in her aether.]

Perhaps in a week or so? See how you're faring by then.

[She does have a very bad habit of trying to run in the face of fear or failure, or destroy that thing completely, and she wants to do neither of these things. She wants to try... she just needs to find the courage to do so.]

A week seems a good amount. [A beat of silence as the water trickles when she moves to face forward again.] I... could attempt on my own, too.

[His hands will slowly move to rub her arms, giving them a reassuring squeeze along with a press of his lips to her temple.]

If you feel sure about it. I have to do my own practice still, too.

[There's a small glance of surprise over her shoulder at him.]

You still wish to fly?

[Just a small look of surprise.]

Why wouldn't I? I may not be a flyer like you can be, but I enjoyed my time up there.

Lord and Lady of the skies, I should hope that you did...

[A fond smile as she turns to face forward again, more of that tension easing out of her shoulders.]

But we could practice together. That field behind our house ought to be a fine enough place for that...

[It's private, and not far. For practice, she thinks it would work.]

[There's a small look of revelation at that.]

That would work, aye. Plenty of space even beyond it.

[They really do have a rather large "backyard" in that sense.

But even though she's turned away, he still smiles and hugs her, his lips once again near her ear as he speaks in a quieter, softer voice.]

Whatever you want to do. I'll support you either way.

[Her hands come up out of the water, scooping some along with it so that she can bring it over his arms, letting the warmth trickle over them before she chases it with the brush of her lips. She breathes out, sighing in her appreciation.]

Good... because I do not think I could do it alone...

[She might have tried to once, to hide her shame when she could not do it, but not anymore, and more importantly...]

And I want to be sure you are there when I do succeed.

[She wants to share that joy with him.]

And I would want to be there when you do.

[Even if she did manage on her own first, as long as he's the first person she shows it to he would be happy.

But he does chuckle a little as he reminisces for a moment.]

It does remind me of when you were first learning things and would rush to find me when you mastered a skill to show off.

[With a small hum of her own laughter, she reaches over for the bottle of soap and squeezes some into her hands so that she can lather it over his arms as they're wrapped around her.]

I wished to impress you. The approval of the man you admire is a powerful thing.

[Of course, that is no secret now. Nor does she need to try so hard to impress him as she once did.]

Though, would you be able to catch me if I did so now?

It was certainly powerful enough to sway me.

[Knowing what he does now, it does make everything she did even cuter. Well, he always thought it cute, and perhaps it was that eagerness in her wanting to impress that helped plant the seeds that would develop into deeper feelings later. All before he even realized it.]

But catch you...what, if you flew off?

[A questioning look as he lets her take her turn to start washing him. He could move his arms, but he feels quite comfortable hugging her like this.]

No, silly.

[She'd rather he didn't move his arms as she continues to inch up further past his elbows, hugging them closer around her as a result.]

If I flew to you. Why in the world would I fly off?

[There's just a moment before he snorts and laughs.]

Seems I'm so used to chasing after you, I misunderstood completely.

Mm, it would seem so.

[She shifts again, moving so that she is more sideways than with her back completely to him and she can work the soap into his shoulders now, her smile going soft.]

I don't mind a little chasing once in a while...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject