"You'll tell it to me... won't you?" The story, the tale of the curse that Jiao had mentioned and then waved off with no further details. No one since had told him any more than that, and it had been part of why he'd been so hesitant to brave the portals. A land of eternal winter. A cursed land. And a Forest filled with Hidden - with Fae - who wanted nothing to do with him on three counts.
That magical number that held such power.
And if Rance stayed to tell him that tale then maybe he'd stay to share others? Maybe he'd stay longer than a night, longer than a dream this time?
He was drawing in the warmth, the feel of his friend, nestled close against him, but the questions that followed caused his throat to close up, eyes squeezing shut as he swallowed hard. Hotaru had offered to help him through the portals, and if he had...
The memory of green-grey eyes and that winsome smile sent a shiver through him and he realized belatedly that he was naked, soaking Rance through with his wetness. Awkward heat washed through him even as cold dread curled in the pit of his stomach as he tried to pull away, blinking away the sting of fresh tears as he realized how close they must have been, only to have missed each other...
"N... no." The stutter was back in his voice as it shook with realization. "I n- never... I was too s-scared of them. I've been here the... the whole time. And at... the festival, yes." His heart hurt and he didn't know what else to do but turn away from the ravenkin, seeking his clothes, some sort of armor to hide his vulnerability and pain behind.
"Were you... did you... were you there, too?" A question he knew he shouldn't have asked, dreading the answer to it even before the last words left his lips.
That magical number that held such power.
And if Rance stayed to tell him that tale then maybe he'd stay to share others? Maybe he'd stay longer than a night, longer than a dream this time?
He was drawing in the warmth, the feel of his friend, nestled close against him, but the questions that followed caused his throat to close up, eyes squeezing shut as he swallowed hard. Hotaru had offered to help him through the portals, and if he had...
The memory of green-grey eyes and that winsome smile sent a shiver through him and he realized belatedly that he was naked, soaking Rance through with his wetness. Awkward heat washed through him even as cold dread curled in the pit of his stomach as he tried to pull away, blinking away the sting of fresh tears as he realized how close they must have been, only to have missed each other...
"N... no." The stutter was back in his voice as it shook with realization. "I n- never... I was too s-scared of them. I've been here the... the whole time. And at... the festival, yes." His heart hurt and he didn't know what else to do but turn away from the ravenkin, seeking his clothes, some sort of armor to hide his vulnerability and pain behind.
"Were you... did you... were you there, too?" A question he knew he shouldn't have asked, dreading the answer to it even before the last words left his lips.
