sunburn and fever dreams

Chip squeezed Cara's hands, I forgive you. I forgive these hands for their mistakes, He pulled one of the other's hands into his, twining his fingers through them. Pressing a kiss to each fingertip, I forgive your magic, for the wrongs it was used for. He pressed another kiss to the center of Cara's hand.

And carefully, slowly, he released the others hand and reached to find his face. And I forgive this voice, and this mouth, for the things they were forced to say. His thumb brushed over Cara's lower lip, and he paused.

Tilting Cara's face, so that they could look one another in the eyes, he shook his head slowly. No replacement needed. You're my First. His thumb lingered, hand cupping Carasson's chin. When you take an apprentice, and you train them to replace you, only then will I consider it. And even then, it'd mean Cara was transitioning to Keeper which likely meant Chip was gone.

He leaned to kiss the other man, hesitant. Gentle. Chaste, for them. You and I will find our girls. Bring them home. We'll weather our memories, together, too. He paused, exhaling softly, And when we bring Inala home... we'll revisit her feelings on us. Like we should have, in the beginning. And he'd walk away, if he had to.

But that was neither here, nor there.