Ailwin tilted his head slightly, studying her in the pale light. Her words carried weight—not just the kind that settled into the air around them, but the kind that lodged deep, wrapped in truth and a vulnerability she rarely offered. She wasn’t wrong about their shared nature, the conviction that drove them both forward, even at the expense of their own peace. But the idea of slipping away, of having a future that wasn’t constantly dictated by the demands of the present? That was a thought he rarely let himself entertain.
Her kiss to his thumb sent a faint shiver up his spine, a subtle but undeniable reminder that she had managed to worm her way past his defenses in a way no one else had. The realization was both comforting and unsettling, like stepping onto untested ground and finding it unexpectedly steady beneath his feet.
He tugged lightly at their joined hands, a silent invitation for her to lead the way. The idea of sleeping under the stars felt foreign and familiar all at once—he hadn’t done it in years, but the thought of doing so with her by his side made it seem less like a vulnerability and more like a luxury.
And though he wouldn’t say it, he knew the peace he sought wasn’t in the stars or the stillness of the night—it was in the way her hand fit into his, and the way her words made the future feel like something worth fighting for.
@Little Flea
You make it sound simple,he murmured, his tone caught between wry and thoughtful. His free hand came to rest lightly on top of hers, fingers brushing against the scarred knuckles with a gentleness that seemed at odds with his sharp edges.
Do what needs to be done, and then walk away. I’d like to believe it’s that easy, Flea. But I’ve learned the world doesn’t let go so easily.
Her kiss to his thumb sent a faint shiver up his spine, a subtle but undeniable reminder that she had managed to worm her way past his defenses in a way no one else had. The realization was both comforting and unsettling, like stepping onto untested ground and finding it unexpectedly steady beneath his feet.
Still, maybe you’re right. Maybe one day, we’ll have that corner to ourselves, far from the messes we can’t seem to stop cleaning up.He allowed himself the smallest smile, one that softened the lines of his face, though the glint in his eyes remained sharp.
Until then, though, I’ll settle for the hammock.
He tugged lightly at their joined hands, a silent invitation for her to lead the way. The idea of sleeping under the stars felt foreign and familiar all at once—he hadn’t done it in years, but the thought of doing so with her by his side made it seem less like a vulnerability and more like a luxury.
Show me this hammock of yours,he said, his voice quieter now, as though the night itself demanded reverence.
Let’s see if the stars are kind enough to give us a little peace tonight.
And though he wouldn’t say it, he knew the peace he sought wasn’t in the stars or the stillness of the night—it was in the way her hand fit into his, and the way her words made the future feel like something worth fighting for.
@Little Flea
01-04-2025, 08:13 AM
