If there was one sure way to stop Tal from rambling, it was a kiss from Alys Glasse. He blinked once as their conversation took a much more pleasant shift and then tilted his head to return it, his lips curving into smile as the heavy topics felt a little lighter for having been discussed and cleared up between them. Sure, things would still be difficult when either of them ended up in danger, but they were a team and he recognized her strength and resilience even as she recognized his stubbornness and questionable life choices when it came to everything except her.
"Love you, too, Alys," he murmured back between kisses, and somehow all the words came out clearly as he slowed down to save each one.
Then the stupid kettle went off and Tal started having second thoughts about tea, but it was too late. He let his partner go with a lingering squeeze to her fingers before releasing her so he could watch the way the light shone off her hair and the curve of her cheek in profile. It only took a minute or two and he accepted his tea with a distracted nod until she spoke again. The smile faded from his lips as he took in what she'd said and he bit his lip, worry surging up anew. "Glad I picked th'ginger," he murmured ruefully, at least until her expression warned him that there was worse to come. That sobered him instantly, and he reached out to wrap his fingers around hers again as if to anchor her in the present moment. "D'you want t'talk about it?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to push if it had been too unsettling.
"Love you, too, Alys," he murmured back between kisses, and somehow all the words came out clearly as he slowed down to save each one.
Then the stupid kettle went off and Tal started having second thoughts about tea, but it was too late. He let his partner go with a lingering squeeze to her fingers before releasing her so he could watch the way the light shone off her hair and the curve of her cheek in profile. It only took a minute or two and he accepted his tea with a distracted nod until she spoke again. The smile faded from his lips as he took in what she'd said and he bit his lip, worry surging up anew. "Glad I picked th'ginger," he murmured ruefully, at least until her expression warned him that there was worse to come. That sobered him instantly, and he reached out to wrap his fingers around hers again as if to anchor her in the present moment. "D'you want t'talk about it?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to push if it had been too unsettling.
