That Rory trusted him enough to sleep beside him was a gift Jigano didn't know how he could repay, but it slid through him with gentle fingers that stroked the tension from him and filled him with a golden light that sang through his soul with pure, chiming tones. He tried, in his imperfect, human way, to share an echo of that feeling in the songs he hummed and sang while the hunter dozed. It was tempting to let Rory sleep, but the fox had heard his friend's rumbling stomach, and if they stayed sitting on the hard floor for too long they'd both have aches the next day.
Reluctantly but gently he coaxed the blond towards wakefulness, feeling the slight tightening of muscles as consciousness returned...
More or less.
He hid a silent laugh at the eloquent comment, but his humor was cut short at the touch to his leg, so simple and companionable and close that he couldn't draw a breath for a several seconds, heart thumping with surprising force against his ribs. He stayed frozen a few moments longer, while Rory stood and stretched and went about the homey tasks of gathering dishes and spoons and filling their bowls. By the time he was sitting down at the table, Isuma clinging to his shoulder and peeping quiet commentary at how the soup smelled, Jigano had finally begun to move. He took his time rising, rolling his neck and shoulders and rising fluidly because of how slow he moved, making sure nothing had fallen asleep or stiffened up too much. He found his own chair and spoon and, though he did obediently blow on his soup and take small bites of it, he spent much more time stealing glances at Rory and Isuma, relieved to see his friend eating and - hopefully - healing a little more with each bite. The light from outside seemed to catch in his hair, yellow and gold, and limned the bones of his face, more hollow than they had been before Long Night. He was beautiful and strong, stubborn and fighting through the shadows that lingered in his eloquent blue eyes, and Jigano occasionally found himself forgetting to breathe until Isuma chortled or peeped and brought him back to himself.
Eventually the soup reminded him that he was also hungry, and he put a little more effort into cleaning his bowl, but he made no effort to break the comfortable silence of good food and companionship. When Rory was awake and fed and ready to talk again... he would. Until then, Jigano could wait and let his friend take things at his own pace.
Reluctantly but gently he coaxed the blond towards wakefulness, feeling the slight tightening of muscles as consciousness returned...
More or less.
He hid a silent laugh at the eloquent comment, but his humor was cut short at the touch to his leg, so simple and companionable and close that he couldn't draw a breath for a several seconds, heart thumping with surprising force against his ribs. He stayed frozen a few moments longer, while Rory stood and stretched and went about the homey tasks of gathering dishes and spoons and filling their bowls. By the time he was sitting down at the table, Isuma clinging to his shoulder and peeping quiet commentary at how the soup smelled, Jigano had finally begun to move. He took his time rising, rolling his neck and shoulders and rising fluidly because of how slow he moved, making sure nothing had fallen asleep or stiffened up too much. He found his own chair and spoon and, though he did obediently blow on his soup and take small bites of it, he spent much more time stealing glances at Rory and Isuma, relieved to see his friend eating and - hopefully - healing a little more with each bite. The light from outside seemed to catch in his hair, yellow and gold, and limned the bones of his face, more hollow than they had been before Long Night. He was beautiful and strong, stubborn and fighting through the shadows that lingered in his eloquent blue eyes, and Jigano occasionally found himself forgetting to breathe until Isuma chortled or peeped and brought him back to himself.
Eventually the soup reminded him that he was also hungry, and he put a little more effort into cleaning his bowl, but he made no effort to break the comfortable silence of good food and companionship. When Rory was awake and fed and ready to talk again... he would. Until then, Jigano could wait and let his friend take things at his own pace.
