Zavien
The words rang through his head, crystal and clear and so sure: 'I love you.'
Zavien smiled, giddy with a thousand emotions rushing through him, most of all an echoing sense of right that he'd never felt before. Light and joy and everything bright and good flooded him, making him lightheaded with the force of it all, his heart immediately answering her in kind, answering the call without hesitation. "I - "
But his voice cut off, his throat constricting as another voice echoed in the back of his mind. It was his - the last time he'd said the words, devastated and pained as his heart lay dead in his arms. Lena's face flashed, cold and expressionless, overlaid on Soh's like a prophecy, stealing the moment in a cruel ripping of peace. He felt a chill run down his spine, fear and panic spreading like quicksilver in his veins. It flashed in his eyes, terror gripping him as he tried to breathe. What if he lost Soh too? What if he couldn't protect her? Would saying the words curse her too? What else would he call this feeling?
Instinct had him wrapping Soh securely in his arms, wishing he could shut out the thoughts as he buried his face in her neck, blocking her from the rest of the world. But Zavien was seized by the sudden crashing of past and present, terrified that he would repeat history, that he would be forced to endure the loss of someone else he loved. He didn't think he could survive it. He'd managed to revive his heart once, but surely he would become nothing more than a hollow shell when it died for a second time. If Soh died...
His grip tightened, a shaking breath wreaking through his chest, forcing the words into her skin. "Gods, I love you so much it hurts." There was a strain in his whispered voice, unable to keep the truth from her, but trembling from the impact it had on him, the realization and the fear and all that came with loving her.
Zavien smiled, giddy with a thousand emotions rushing through him, most of all an echoing sense of right that he'd never felt before. Light and joy and everything bright and good flooded him, making him lightheaded with the force of it all, his heart immediately answering her in kind, answering the call without hesitation. "I - "
But his voice cut off, his throat constricting as another voice echoed in the back of his mind. It was his - the last time he'd said the words, devastated and pained as his heart lay dead in his arms. Lena's face flashed, cold and expressionless, overlaid on Soh's like a prophecy, stealing the moment in a cruel ripping of peace. He felt a chill run down his spine, fear and panic spreading like quicksilver in his veins. It flashed in his eyes, terror gripping him as he tried to breathe. What if he lost Soh too? What if he couldn't protect her? Would saying the words curse her too? What else would he call this feeling?
Instinct had him wrapping Soh securely in his arms, wishing he could shut out the thoughts as he buried his face in her neck, blocking her from the rest of the world. But Zavien was seized by the sudden crashing of past and present, terrified that he would repeat history, that he would be forced to endure the loss of someone else he loved. He didn't think he could survive it. He'd managed to revive his heart once, but surely he would become nothing more than a hollow shell when it died for a second time. If Soh died...
His grip tightened, a shaking breath wreaking through his chest, forcing the words into her skin. "Gods, I love you so much it hurts." There was a strain in his whispered voice, unable to keep the truth from her, but trembling from the impact it had on him, the realization and the fear and all that came with loving her.
If you don't like the road you're walking,
start paving another.
start paving another.
