Noah huffed a quiet breath through his nose, something between amusement and sympathy, as Ronin mentioned nearly losing a finger. That would have been difficult to explain to your husband, he murmured across the bond, he probably wouldn’t let us play anymore.
The scent of the flowers curled around them both, sweet enough to make the air feel thick, like breathing through honey. And yet, the cliffs loomed behind them. No place for lingering now that the task was finished.
He crouched beside Ronin as the other man arranged the buds into the wide curve of the eggshells. Noah rose first, then, feathers rippling. He nodded firmly, agreeing with the plan.
Above them, the sky opened wide. Noah launched, wings beating once, twice, and then he was climbing, riding a thermal upward until the wind held him. The air cooled the higher they ascended, the world spreading beneath them into endless greens and the faint shimmer of distant snowcaps. His eyes scanned the horizon in sweeps—searching for the dark flicker of wings too large, for the shadow that meant fire or pursuit.
But no cry split the sky. No shadow broke their path. Only wind and distance and the faint pulse of the whisper of life carried with them, nestled safe in Ronin’s arms.
FIN
The scent of the flowers curled around them both, sweet enough to make the air feel thick, like breathing through honey. And yet, the cliffs loomed behind them. No place for lingering now that the task was finished.
He crouched beside Ronin as the other man arranged the buds into the wide curve of the eggshells. Noah rose first, then, feathers rippling. He nodded firmly, agreeing with the plan.
Above them, the sky opened wide. Noah launched, wings beating once, twice, and then he was climbing, riding a thermal upward until the wind held him. The air cooled the higher they ascended, the world spreading beneath them into endless greens and the faint shimmer of distant snowcaps. His eyes scanned the horizon in sweeps—searching for the dark flicker of wings too large, for the shadow that meant fire or pursuit.
But no cry split the sky. No shadow broke their path. Only wind and distance and the faint pulse of the whisper of life carried with them, nestled safe in Ronin’s arms.
FIN
noah
you touched my heavy heart and made it light
