The movement of Rory's hand was such a small thing, but it might as well have been an earthquake to the fox in that moment, hypersensitive to the place their skin touched and not knowing whether his friend wanted more or less of him. Isuma shifted in her sleep and Jigano let his hand slide down her wing to curl hesitantly over fingers, running the ball of his thumb over pale, work-roughened knuckles.
The little smile was like the first pale fingers of light heralding the dawn, and Jigano found his breath catching in his chest. Foolishly, wonderfully, in spite of the darkness that surrounded them he found himself smiling back as the cheeky grin broke free and for a moment it was autumn again, crisp and bright and filled with the scents of frosted leaves and pumpkin meat. His friend's wince immediately had him leaning forward in concern, his own smile fading to worry before the hunter spoke again, answering one small question - and another, though perhaps he didn't realize it. Rory liked mushrooms? Such a little tidbit, but foxy blue eyes sparkled at the knowledge of something his friend enjoyed.
The humor faded as the hand moved against his and he instinctively wrapped his fingers lightly around it, giving Rory something to hold on to as the conversation slid towards darker topics and memories. Still, he managed a small smile and a little shake of his head as he looked down attheir clasped hands Isuma. "It wasn't as bad as all that," he tried to reassure his friend. The loneliness, the detachment, the guilt and pain that he had embraced in his self-inflicted martyrdom... no, leaving the constant reminders of what he had lost and walked away from behind was no hardship for him.
But... did he really want to spend this new beginning hiding away uncomfortable truths? Rory deserved better from him than that. And maybe he could finally tell someone the secrets he had held festering inside him for four long years.
He sighed softly and looked up, ears flattening back in quiet distress at the question. Still, he met his friend's eyes, searching them for a moment before he answered in a voice that held old pain and unhealed regret. "Yes," he said softly. "Both the ones I couldn't save, and the ones I... couldn't face again. Leaving behind the reminders of them... Coming here has been, in many ways, a new beginning that I am grateful for." All the more now, as his hand tightened slightly around Rory's, knuckles brushing Isuma's soft fur and reminding him of all that he had found.
The little smile was like the first pale fingers of light heralding the dawn, and Jigano found his breath catching in his chest. Foolishly, wonderfully, in spite of the darkness that surrounded them he found himself smiling back as the cheeky grin broke free and for a moment it was autumn again, crisp and bright and filled with the scents of frosted leaves and pumpkin meat. His friend's wince immediately had him leaning forward in concern, his own smile fading to worry before the hunter spoke again, answering one small question - and another, though perhaps he didn't realize it. Rory liked mushrooms? Such a little tidbit, but foxy blue eyes sparkled at the knowledge of something his friend enjoyed.
The humor faded as the hand moved against his and he instinctively wrapped his fingers lightly around it, giving Rory something to hold on to as the conversation slid towards darker topics and memories. Still, he managed a small smile and a little shake of his head as he looked down at
But... did he really want to spend this new beginning hiding away uncomfortable truths? Rory deserved better from him than that. And maybe he could finally tell someone the secrets he had held festering inside him for four long years.
He sighed softly and looked up, ears flattening back in quiet distress at the question. Still, he met his friend's eyes, searching them for a moment before he answered in a voice that held old pain and unhealed regret. "Yes," he said softly. "Both the ones I couldn't save, and the ones I... couldn't face again. Leaving behind the reminders of them... Coming here has been, in many ways, a new beginning that I am grateful for." All the more now, as his hand tightened slightly around Rory's, knuckles brushing Isuma's soft fur and reminding him of all that he had found.
