NOAH
The shout from the vendor earned a brief, sidelong glance, narrowed and unimpressed, but Lyra’s quick apology and redirection smoothed the moment before he could bother replying. "Lead on." he said. "I won’t argue with shade." Used to Halo as he was, being in the Climb at this peak of Longheat was near torture. When her hand slipped into the crook of his arm, he stiffened for half a heartbeat on reflex, then relaxed and just let his arm fall to his side gently, her hand slipping from it. he swallowed and he tried to hide the way his jaw feathered, his eyes lifting to look out to see where Marcus had gotten to, something inside of him twisting tightly with fear that his son may have noticed something.
Guilt moved in the quiet spaces between moments, sharper than grief sometimes. Noah noticed every small kindness from Lyra -- the easy smile, the nearness, the casual touch on his arm, and each one warmed him and hurt him in the same breath. It had only been two years. Some days that felt like a lifetime. Others, it felt like yesterday’s echo still hanging in the air. Part of him leaned toward the light of simple connection. The rest held back, stubborn and loyal to memory, to the touch of Cordelia against his side.
Guilt moved in the quiet spaces between moments, sharper than grief sometimes. Noah noticed every small kindness from Lyra -- the easy smile, the nearness, the casual touch on his arm, and each one warmed him and hurt him in the same breath. It had only been two years. Some days that felt like a lifetime. Others, it felt like yesterday’s echo still hanging in the air. Part of him leaned toward the light of simple connection. The rest held back, stubborn and loyal to memory, to the touch of Cordelia against his side.
I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm
