He didn't consciously shift as Ru settled against him; some things were instinctive, as natural as breathing to adjust his arms and his balance, half-turned on the couch as he already was. And when they were both as comfortable as the awkward positioning would allow he chased his reasons for leaving his homeland, picking up their tracks and following where they led while Ru waited patiently for the courier to discover for himself just where his heart was leading him.
He nodded at her murmured observation, true in a way he'd never considered before but the words felt right. Halo would always be his, and he would always be Halo's, no matter how far he roamed. He would always come home to it again someday, even if for now he needed to stretch his wings.
His frustrations had once almost caused a rift between them that would have cost him the deepest and most meaningful friendship of his young life, but though he rarely mentioned the Warden even in passing these days, the hurt had not healed. It had scabbed and scarred, but the Sword was not the only one who could hold a grudge, even if it was held silently over the seasons.
But it hadn't made Tal happy.
He took the hit on the chin, lips quirking wryly as Ru continued, but the crooked smile softened into something sincere and genuine as her unspoken meaning - and her very clearly spoken support - wrapped around his heart, lumpy scars and all. "Yeah... I mean. Every time I come home, it's like puttin' on a porcupine-quill coat with the spines facin' the inside, y'know? I'm not... I'm shovin' it down, but I'm not healin'. So maybe some time away'll finally let things close up proper. An' maybe Noah'll come back t'be Warden some day," he added wistfully. "But til then... hail, could do a lot worse'n makin' a place for m'self in King's End. 'Specially if I'll already have some family there, like y'say." And if he didn't mention the way her eyes shone with something they would never call tears, or the softness in her smile, well, he knew she'd never comment on the emotions that sent a faint tremor through his hands, or how he blinked away something caught in his eye as he leaned forward to press his lips fondly to her brow.
He nodded at her murmured observation, true in a way he'd never considered before but the words felt right. Halo would always be his, and he would always be Halo's, no matter how far he roamed. He would always come home to it again someday, even if for now he needed to stretch his wings.
His frustrations had once almost caused a rift between them that would have cost him the deepest and most meaningful friendship of his young life, but though he rarely mentioned the Warden even in passing these days, the hurt had not healed. It had scabbed and scarred, but the Sword was not the only one who could hold a grudge, even if it was held silently over the seasons.
But it hadn't made Tal happy.
He took the hit on the chin, lips quirking wryly as Ru continued, but the crooked smile softened into something sincere and genuine as her unspoken meaning - and her very clearly spoken support - wrapped around his heart, lumpy scars and all. "Yeah... I mean. Every time I come home, it's like puttin' on a porcupine-quill coat with the spines facin' the inside, y'know? I'm not... I'm shovin' it down, but I'm not healin'. So maybe some time away'll finally let things close up proper. An' maybe Noah'll come back t'be Warden some day," he added wistfully. "But til then... hail, could do a lot worse'n makin' a place for m'self in King's End. 'Specially if I'll already have some family there, like y'say." And if he didn't mention the way her eyes shone with something they would never call tears, or the softness in her smile, well, he knew she'd never comment on the emotions that sent a faint tremor through his hands, or how he blinked away something caught in his eye as he leaned forward to press his lips fondly to her brow.
