He cannot know that his appearance would inspire memories, cannot know the familiarity she would find in the angles of his face and speckled blue of his skin. Instead he finds the recognition in her stare vaguely discomfiting beneath the curiosity it stirs. He has not spoken to any of his family in so long that he is unaware of just how distinctive their appearance is. He had been a lanky yearling the last time he had seen them, not yet grown into himself. Not yet able to discern the familial resemblance.
In truth, he would never have approached her if he had known. It is a reminder he does not want. Even now, years later, it is a wound festering deep inside him. One that he had chosen to bury instead of allowing to heal. He knew he had broken his parents' hearts when he left, but it had been easier than the pain of knowing he would never be complete. Seeing their grief had been a constant reminder, but out in the wilds, it had been so much easier to pretend forgetfulness.
The years had hardened him, but there are some things that one never truly forgets.
He watches her cautiously as she repeats his name, wondering why she tested it so carefully. Her name holds as few answers to him as his does to her. But then, he had never bothered to introduce himself despite the distant glimpses he had caught of her.
“No,” he offers bluntly in response to her hesitant declaration before reiterating, “but I’ve seen you.” It occurs to him then, belatedly, just how sinister that might sound. He should clarify, he knows, yet he does not. It hardly seems worth the bother.
Ion is a bit taken aback when she mentions he reminds her of someone. There is no disguising his confusion before he manages to smooth it from his features. He stares at her unblinkingly for a long moment before demanding, “Who?”
ion
in the empty of the grave, only distant dreams remain
@Ryatah