I shouldn't laugh, but I know I'm a failure in your eyes
Ronin doesn't know what he's waiting for as the lantern starts to flare - but he's got an inkling, given the symbolism of Remi lighting it and his husband's patron deity. Whatever sweet and emotional visit he's expecting, though, jaw set and throat already tight, in its place comes the woman, the myth, the penis legend, and it's Edrei fucking Launceleyn. "Edy?" Ronin blurts, her name rough in his throat but his expression quickly becoming hijacked by delight. "Edrei, we're all welcome and you know it."
Quickly stepping forward to clasp her shoulders with a warm squeeze, he pointedly does not take the bait of whatever Frey has blessed her with south of her waistline, too busy grinning besides. "You're a sight for sore eyes," he tells her earnestly, and now the emotion is starting to creep in despite himself. He thinks this is it, of course, and his lips part to say something else when a voice, heartbreakingly familiar, calls for him.
Seren.
Turning towards it like a compass needle towards north, Ronin gazes disbelievingly towards his daughter, then helplessly at Remi for a second as if he might have answers, before he huffs out an unsteady breath. "I - sorry, Edy, I'll... I'll be back in just a sec..."
His feet take him across the sand toSeren quite without his permission, and his arms are around her in a bear hug tight enough to lift her from the ground. "It's so good to see you," Ronin whispers, pressing kiss after kiss to her raven hair as he sets her back down, cupping her cheeks to check if what he's seeing is real. "I'm so sorry," he blurts before he can help himself, smiling and shaking his head. "And I know. I know what you'll say, but I'm sorry all the same."
But more are arriving still - Remi embracingRexanna, Deimos and Evie and Melita on the sand, Enzo appearing among his siblings, and gods only now does Ronin realise the scale of his husband's gift. "I'll find you later?" He smiles to Seren. "Go - enjoy yourself. Your brothers and sister would love to see you too."
He steps back just in time forTheea to appear, and though his eyes are already lined with silver and his composure is more like a tightrope, he offers her a warm nod in return. "You haven't seen us first thing in the morning," he points out with a quiet laugh, before his gaze is drawn towards Sunjata, the Flood's voice ringing out across the proceedings. He doesn't have a drink to hold up in a toast yet (but he's really starting to wish he'd gotten one), so he instead waves in return with a broad grin and retreats back towards Remi.
Unsure whether there's chastisement or gratitude locked and loaded on his tongue, the Bastion is saved - not for the first time, and in so many more ways than one - by the sound of Aoife's delighted laughter. Ronin's breath catches in his throat as he glances up, expecting to see her with Vai, but no. Not Vai -Vanya.
The feathers that brush their shoulders are soft and warm and familiar in a way that makes Ronin want to crush them to his chest, and by the time Aoife is in Remi's arms and they, in turn, are folded into Vanya's embrace, the Knight is no longer able to keep his tears at bay. "I missed you too," he whispers, leaning into her touch - both familiar and not, by now - and reaching instinctively for Remi's free hand, clutching it tight.
Scoffing out a laugh at the comment about their boat, Ronin shrugs sheepishly. "It's our second one, if you believe it," he says. "She's called The Northaven. We named the first one after a sandwich." Cue no one being surprised.
Parting from Vanya in time to see Maea, Ronin's smile of greeting is short-lived as he glances - all too fleetingly, unfortunately - towards Liam. He stiffens, though it's the flash of too many eyes and teeth where they shouldn't be that does it, and his fingers flinch around Remi's hand. "Once, yeah," he says quickly. "Thank you. Enjoy yourselves."
Turning to his husband once they finally have a breath to themselves - with Aoife, of course - he draws the Bastion close enough to murmur into his ear. "You are wicked," he tells him softly, "and I love you, and you will pay dearly for this. Thank you." Smiling a purposefully chaste kiss against Remi's lips, then dropping another (or three) against their daughter's hair until she's giggling and swatting at him, Ronin steps back.
Quickly stepping forward to clasp her shoulders with a warm squeeze, he pointedly does not take the bait of whatever Frey has blessed her with south of her waistline, too busy grinning besides. "You're a sight for sore eyes," he tells her earnestly, and now the emotion is starting to creep in despite himself. He thinks this is it, of course, and his lips part to say something else when a voice, heartbreakingly familiar, calls for him.
Turning towards it like a compass needle towards north, Ronin gazes disbelievingly towards his daughter, then helplessly at Remi for a second as if he might have answers, before he huffs out an unsteady breath. "I - sorry, Edy, I'll... I'll be back in just a sec..."
His feet take him across the sand to
But more are arriving still - Remi embracing
He steps back just in time for
Unsure whether there's chastisement or gratitude locked and loaded on his tongue, the Bastion is saved - not for the first time, and in so many more ways than one - by the sound of Aoife's delighted laughter. Ronin's breath catches in his throat as he glances up, expecting to see her with Vai, but no. Not Vai -
The feathers that brush their shoulders are soft and warm and familiar in a way that makes Ronin want to crush them to his chest, and by the time Aoife is in Remi's arms and they, in turn, are folded into Vanya's embrace, the Knight is no longer able to keep his tears at bay. "I missed you too," he whispers, leaning into her touch - both familiar and not, by now - and reaching instinctively for Remi's free hand, clutching it tight.
Scoffing out a laugh at the comment about their boat, Ronin shrugs sheepishly. "It's our second one, if you believe it," he says. "She's called The Northaven. We named the first one after a sandwich." Cue no one being surprised.
Parting from Vanya in time to see Maea, Ronin's smile of greeting is short-lived as he glances - all too fleetingly, unfortunately - towards Liam. He stiffens, though it's the flash of too many eyes and teeth where they shouldn't be that does it, and his fingers flinch around Remi's hand. "Once, yeah," he says quickly. "Thank you. Enjoy yourselves."
Turning to his husband once they finally have a breath to themselves - with Aoife, of course - he draws the Bastion close enough to murmur into his ear. "You are wicked," he tells him softly, "and I love you, and you will pay dearly for this. Thank you." Smiling a purposefully chaste kiss against Remi's lips, then dropping another (or three) against their daughter's hair until she's giggling and swatting at him, Ronin steps back.
RONIN
