Zavien
The smile on her face was brighter than any light in the restaurant, brighter than the miniature sun burning in his chest. She didn't even need to say anything before he knew, before the flicker of doubt fell away to a blinding excitement. Something he hadn't even considered questioning clicked easily, solidifying like a puzzle piece fusing seamlessly into its rightful place, revealing more of the picture of what 'their relationship' looked like.
He held her hand, his thumb tracing her knuckles as he listened to her talk. Whatever past she carried was rooted deep, tangled into her confidence in a way he wouldn't have expected, phrased to cast blame on herself and no one else. It didn't show in the easy way they interacted or her open honesty, and Zavien wondered if it was something she'd share with him some day, if he was patient. "Of course," he reassured. Encouragement and compassion colored his smile, the expression warm enough to push aside any hints of chilly insecurities. "I wouldn't want to do this if you were being anything but yourself. It'd mess things up if you weren't you - and even then, I wouldn't let you go that easily." A teasing note returned, chiming through the conversation with an easy confidence that he pressed into their joined hands.
Tilting his head, he quirked a playful smile. "Was that one or two questions?"
He held her hand, his thumb tracing her knuckles as he listened to her talk. Whatever past she carried was rooted deep, tangled into her confidence in a way he wouldn't have expected, phrased to cast blame on herself and no one else. It didn't show in the easy way they interacted or her open honesty, and Zavien wondered if it was something she'd share with him some day, if he was patient. "Of course," he reassured. Encouragement and compassion colored his smile, the expression warm enough to push aside any hints of chilly insecurities. "I wouldn't want to do this if you were being anything but yourself. It'd mess things up if you weren't you - and even then, I wouldn't let you go that easily." A teasing note returned, chiming through the conversation with an easy confidence that he pressed into their joined hands.
Tilting his head, he quirked a playful smile. "Was that one or two questions?"
That’s How We’re Gonna Win.
Not Fighting What We Hate,
Saving What We Love.
Not Fighting What We Hate,
Saving What We Love.
