NOAH
He watched her curl inward, watched the tremor in her breath shake down her spine. She seemed to hold herself together by force of will alone. Maea’s healing had closed the wounds, but it hadn’t touched the deeper hurt simmering through the bond, raw and shaking. Noah tried to dampen the wave of it, closing himself inward. He shifted closer, boots sinking into the ruined earth, and crouched until he was level with her. Rain dripped from his hair, trailing cold lines down his neck, but he didn’t move to brush it away.
“I’m not hurt,” he said quietly. His voice carried the weight of everything else he was. He looked her over her again slowly, careful as if confirming every inch truly remained attached to her body. The burns, the mud, the exhaustion carved into her expression. The forced smile that couldn’t hide the tremble beneath it. He felt it all through the bond, a hollow ache answering his own.
His glacial eyes softened, the worry ithat thawed them spreading like a puddle. “I watched you fall. I thought—” I killed you—He tipped his head slightly, searching her silver gaze.
“I’m not hurt,” he said quietly. His voice carried the weight of everything else he was. He looked her over her again slowly, careful as if confirming every inch truly remained attached to her body. The burns, the mud, the exhaustion carved into her expression. The forced smile that couldn’t hide the tremble beneath it. He felt it all through the bond, a hollow ache answering his own.
His glacial eyes softened, the worry ithat thawed them spreading like a puddle. “I watched you fall. I thought—” I killed you—He tipped his head slightly, searching her silver gaze.
I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone
