The urge to correct her was too strong. He knew he should reassure and encourage her to do something about the feelings, but he couldn't stand the way she minimized herself, the way she thought no one would believe she'd earned her place in leadership. His head shook, lips pursing with disapproval. "You have never just been 'Flora's best friend,' Soh. I didn't even know you were friends until months after we'd met." Their meeting felt like forever ago, crouched next to a river talking about ways to repair relationships. He should have seen it then.
"You've always been your own person, fighting for your home and what you believe in." As the Heart, the Luminary, the warrior, the Advisor. She'd stood her ground, tall and proud in the face of danger. Zavien smiled at her, running a hand through her hair like they were rays of sunshine he could catch. "Even now you shine bright, despite all you've lost." He could practically see her heart, pulsing with so much love and light even after the bruising that had brought her running here. "No one else compares. And no one else can ever overshadow you unless you let them." Not Flora. Not Colt. Not him. No one. For as long as she kept the pureness of her heart, he believed she would find a way to be a light for others - him most of all.
Her tone felt so small and lost, drifting without a place to land, searching for safety and securing that wasn't claimed by someone else. It was an echo to his own heart, how he'd felt before Soh was grounding him. He ached to help her find freedom, to embrace the current and let it guide her to someplace new.
Running his hand down her arm, he encouraged, "If it's what you want, I'm sure we can find you someplace all your own - even if I have to build it." He tilted his head, trying to keep his own opinions at bay, not to be another influence stripping away the independence she desired. "It could be in Torchline or King's End or the Greatwood or wherever your heart desires." But he couldn't leave the words unspoken, to let her think he wanted her anywhere but here with him every second of every day. His voice softened, more subdued as he suggested, "Or... there's always be space for you here." He paused, resisting the urge to fidget as the nerves rose, a soft redness forming along his ears. "Short or long term."
"You've always been your own person, fighting for your home and what you believe in." As the Heart, the Luminary, the warrior, the Advisor. She'd stood her ground, tall and proud in the face of danger. Zavien smiled at her, running a hand through her hair like they were rays of sunshine he could catch. "Even now you shine bright, despite all you've lost." He could practically see her heart, pulsing with so much love and light even after the bruising that had brought her running here. "No one else compares. And no one else can ever overshadow you unless you let them." Not Flora. Not Colt. Not him. No one. For as long as she kept the pureness of her heart, he believed she would find a way to be a light for others - him most of all.
Her tone felt so small and lost, drifting without a place to land, searching for safety and securing that wasn't claimed by someone else. It was an echo to his own heart, how he'd felt before Soh was grounding him. He ached to help her find freedom, to embrace the current and let it guide her to someplace new.
Running his hand down her arm, he encouraged, "If it's what you want, I'm sure we can find you someplace all your own - even if I have to build it." He tilted his head, trying to keep his own opinions at bay, not to be another influence stripping away the independence she desired. "It could be in Torchline or King's End or the Greatwood or wherever your heart desires." But he couldn't leave the words unspoken, to let her think he wanted her anywhere but here with him every second of every day. His voice softened, more subdued as he suggested, "Or... there's always be space for you here." He paused, resisting the urge to fidget as the nerves rose, a soft redness forming along his ears. "Short or long term."
Zavien
