// I tried to scream but my head was underwater //
"I'll look forward to it," she replied with a little grin. Not him being in need of help, of course, but being relied upon. Wanted. It was silly and probably presumptuous and it would absolutely go to her head, but the way he smiled at her made her want to believe he really did trust her.
The sudden arm slung across her shoulders caught Maea off guard. Squished firmly against Liam's side for a second, she swayed on her feet once he let her go, and she was left to stare at his back while he gathered up the gemstones, an arm still raised to - to do what? Brace herself? Hug him back? Why did it always stagger her to be reached for? It was like she'd forgotten what it was like, that it was a possibility, an option still available. It wasn't even that she minded - quite the opposite - she was just... tender, somehow. Hypersensitive. Letting her arm drop, she rubbed it with her other hand, digging her fingers into the muscle as if finding sore spots might keep the echo of connection from overwhelming her. It was just a hug, after all. Nothing to get emotional about.
Liam turned back with emeralds glistening in his hand. The slender woman nodded, let her bag slip from the shoulders and handed it to him. "That's great. Can you take this for a bit? I'll range ahead for a bit, just to make sure nothing is lurking." Melting into the form if the molten tiger, her pale eyes blinked slowly at the soldier with feline affection, and padded off along the tunnel. Droplets of molten steel glowed faintly on the cavern floor where she passed, rippling with heat for a while before cooling down into metallic blobs. It was an easy trail to follow, and she would be back before long, to make sure nothing and no one would impede their way back home.
The sudden arm slung across her shoulders caught Maea off guard. Squished firmly against Liam's side for a second, she swayed on her feet once he let her go, and she was left to stare at his back while he gathered up the gemstones, an arm still raised to - to do what? Brace herself? Hug him back? Why did it always stagger her to be reached for? It was like she'd forgotten what it was like, that it was a possibility, an option still available. It wasn't even that she minded - quite the opposite - she was just... tender, somehow. Hypersensitive. Letting her arm drop, she rubbed it with her other hand, digging her fingers into the muscle as if finding sore spots might keep the echo of connection from overwhelming her. It was just a hug, after all. Nothing to get emotional about.
Liam turned back with emeralds glistening in his hand. The slender woman nodded, let her bag slip from the shoulders and handed it to him. "That's great. Can you take this for a bit? I'll range ahead for a bit, just to make sure nothing is lurking." Melting into the form if the molten tiger, her pale eyes blinked slowly at the soldier with feline affection, and padded off along the tunnel. Droplets of molten steel glowed faintly on the cavern floor where she passed, rippling with heat for a while before cooling down into metallic blobs. It was an easy trail to follow, and she would be back before long, to make sure nothing and no one would impede their way back home.
Maea
// They called me weak, like I'm not just somebody's daughter //
