@daughtercfash โIโve missed you,โ he admitted, the confession barely louder than a whisper. โMore than I ever allowed myself to say.โ
His chin rested lightly against the crown of her head, a small smile pulling at his lips despite the sting behind his eye.
โIโd forgotten what home feltโ
โregret leaving you behind. I regret every moment I wondered if you were still alive and had no way of knowing. But I couldโฆneverโ regret that youโre here now.โ
Her words struck harder than any blade could. His throat tightened, guilt washing over him. For a long moment, he couldnโt speak.
โYou donโt get to carry that regret alone,โ he said at last, his voice scarcely above a whisper. โIf anyone should be apologizingโฆ itโs me. Iโ
A faint blush tinted her cheeks, blue eyes gazing towards the ground.
โ itโs because at the time.. we /didnโt/ have anything else to cling to.
And when under the mountain hit.. those words really seemed to be the only thing that ever kept me goin.
But I found new things, -
โtold myself it was better if I left. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was coward. Maybe I couldnt watch another person suffer because of me. But you survived. You left. And you found me too.โ
He squeezes her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, his voice cracking.
Iโ
โdidnโt have anything else to cling to.โ
His thumb brushed absently across the back of her hand.
โI suppose Iโll keep hoping. If you promise to do the same.โ
โTomorrowโs a new day,โ he echoed, the old phrase settling somewhere deep in his chest. He hadnโt heard it spoken aloud in far too long.
A faint genuine smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, despite the exhaustion behind it.
โI used to think we only repeated it because weโ
Taking Lucienโs hand, knowing exactly how he felt.
โ you remember our old saying? The one we used to keep ourselves hopeful during the darker times?
Tomorrowโs a new day.. donโt give up, keep hoping. โ
Bonfire Barbie? Thatโs a new one.
I wasnโt planning on telling Tamlin anything. These days, silence tends to keep the peace better than honesty ever did.
Preferential treatment from Bonfire Barbie. Hmm, a female could get used to this.
Just don't tell Tamlin, he'll have a hissy fit and I'm not sure who he'd be most jealous of, you or I.
How ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ๐ต๐ง๐ถ๐ญ of you to worry.
Though if the centuries are settling scores, Iโd think theyโd come knocking at your door long before mine.
Hes hearing things, ignore him.
Heโll buy his own. And if she doesnโt mind, heโll buy her a drink as well. As a thank you for the distraction. And emotional support.
The fox shouldn't have heard anything to begin with.
But I'm also not your bartender so you can either mix your own or buy your own at the local tavern.
Heck, I'll even throw a song in.
I'm there for emotional support, not manual labor.
He barked out a laugh.
Whiny? Iโll have you know Iโm an emissary. We prefer the term ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ญ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ.
โGood. Thatโsโthatโs good. The farther you are from there the better.โ
His smile wavered when she asked how he was. Should he answer honestly?
โIโve been well. Depending on the day. But overall surviving.โ
...
...
OH you mean like โ me? HAHA (isecretlyenjoyederisnipplesshhhh)
Let's buy you a drink, Inferno Ken. Before you set fire to Prince of the Leaf Pile's hair, or something.
Giving him a playful look upon hearing his old nickname. Nudging him gently before shifting to stand, offering her hand to aid him up.
โ as well as I can be, โ
meaning, the same as if can, and most likely always will be..