I will still be here, stargazing
She didn't shrink away or try to pull free; she didn't admonish him or tease to spare his feelings for her true outrage and disgust. No—she allowed the closeness, accepted it and more, even pressing deeper into the fold he'd created just for the two of them. The coasting wave of her hair upon his exposed skin did not feel foreign, even as stray bits threatened to tangle in his beard and tickle against his neck. Nor was it strange, the way her warmth fused into his, stoking a slow, steady heat where they touched. It felt right. "I won't again either," he promised softly into the wreath of fire she wore like a crown.
At the intrusion of the damn dog and Mel's invitation to future crimes, Iskra couldn't contain his laugh. It swept away his tears, permitting only a pair to slip into her hair. The mirth was light and bright against the edges of him that had begun to turn sharp and chill with old regret. "We could start by giving everyone's companions these noisy ducks—trigger a sleep-deprivation epidemic," he mused, reaching down to wrestle the blue toy from the beast at his feet. Goose gave it up willingly, flipping to his feet as he watched and waited. Iskra pulled his free hand back, unwilling to relinquish the other one on Mel so soon, and chucked it into the woods. Goose tore after it in a flurry of leaf litter and hair.
He would have to let go of her eventually, but not yet, and never fully again. He leaned in to murmur more half-serious, vaguely villainous ideas near her ear, while Goose brought them the duck over and over. This continued until obligation of some kind finally separated them again, but not forever.
Yeah, he could live like this.
[FIN]
At the intrusion of the damn dog and Mel's invitation to future crimes, Iskra couldn't contain his laugh. It swept away his tears, permitting only a pair to slip into her hair. The mirth was light and bright against the edges of him that had begun to turn sharp and chill with old regret. "We could start by giving everyone's companions these noisy ducks—trigger a sleep-deprivation epidemic," he mused, reaching down to wrestle the blue toy from the beast at his feet. Goose gave it up willingly, flipping to his feet as he watched and waited. Iskra pulled his free hand back, unwilling to relinquish the other one on Mel so soon, and chucked it into the woods. Goose tore after it in a flurry of leaf litter and hair.
He would have to let go of her eventually, but not yet, and never fully again. He leaned in to murmur more half-serious, vaguely villainous ideas near her ear, while Goose brought them the duck over and over. This continued until obligation of some kind finally separated them again, but not forever.
Yeah, he could live like this.
[FIN]
Iskra
