[private] and I never saw you coming

[Altissima]

For a while, there are no words and then finally, blissfully, her thoughts begin to ease. Altissima no longer trembles against him like she’s been splashed with the cold water that she hates so much. Each touch that they share smooths away the harsh edges of all her fears. The desire to run fades, every point of contact between them giving her more reasons to stay. Confirming what she’s discovered tonight. Her heart rate does not ease, but as his touch becomes a little more real and hers becomes more heated in response - it thunders for an entirely different reason. Altissima draws him a little into the cave, her eyes clear now and settled into that shade of blue-violet only he has ever inspired. In between peace and happiness (and now she knows it’s something else too). Can he tell, as he brushes away what remains of those tears on her cheeks, what it is shining there? They don’t speak of it, not yet. No words pass between them for a while longer, and she dims the lights of the flowers, the moon, and what they’ve brought with them until it is just them together in the shadows. --- Afterwards, back at the mouth of the cave and in the light, her wings are gone and she presses herself into his side. Altissima is content for the moment to be nestled under Tarian’s wing, where the rise and fall of his breathing pressing his sides against her is enough. And then she finally finds her voice. None of the thoughts that had been choking her just moments ago are what comes out, though. Instead she falls into an old pattern that will be easy for them both (she hopes). “You know you’re going to have to keep these flowers alive forever now.” She turns her head so she can brush a kiss against his jaw “I hope you have a green thumb, dear knight.”

image by yoricade

@Tarian