No distance is too far

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

The fireplace had been in constant use since the Deepfrost chill had started to infiltrate the region. At the first sign of snowfall, Zavien was chopping wood, stacking a pile just inside the door to keep it dry for the long weeks to come. Especially with Soh's condition, he was determined to keep the space comfortable and homey. He was even doing the unthinkable and stocking his kitchen. From the basics to random cravings, he'd been more conscious of keeping sustenance easily available for her, constantly checking in that she had what she needed. 

However, with LongNight fast approaching, Zavien was increasingly aware of the looming deadline and the need to be prepared. He was stocking the house and repairing the shutters and doing everything her could to ignore the impending dread of the coming darkness. It was nice to have distractions, particularly on days like today, when the cold felt like a living creature attempting to claw its way into his chest, pressing the cold deep into his lungs with each breath. 

Zavien let out a huff of breath, the warmth turning white before his eyes. He adjusted the stack of freshly cut wood in his hands as he angled his elbow for the handle and pushed down. The door popped open, heat from the fireplace making the cold feel sharp against his skin. With a low grunt, he paused in the doorway to let Sol through, the golden dragon carrying his contribution to the pile: an impressively large stick that hit the doorframe twice before he managed to maneuver it inside. 

Shaking his head, Zavien chuckled and twisted to press the door closed, then set the new wood onto the pile and turned to find Soh. He dusted his hands on his thick jacket as he reported, "Okay. That should be enough wood to last us through LongNight." More than enough if the towering pile was any indication. "There are plenty of candles in the closet, canned food in the pantry, water, blankets, new shutters, weapons..." he trailed off as he offered her a nervous smile. "Am I missing anything?"

just you and me, dancing in a daydream; just you and me, lost in the clouds

Despite her condition - and the horrific symptoms that had accompanied it - Soh had done her best to contribute in whatever small ways she could. Ironically, perhaps, one of the things she'd taken it upon herself to do was to learn a few basic meals that she could prepare without burning either the food or the house down. Did that mean that she'd spent the past several weeks fighting through food aversions and sudden bouts of nausea to be able to cook a few bowls of spaghetti or a grilled cheese sandwich? Absolutely. Did she regret a moment? Absolutely not.

As the season wore on, her morning sickness had waned and the fatigue had lessened. Though she still struggled with the occasional headache, it was, all in all, an improvement. And with LongNight coming up quickly, Soh knew she would need to be able to function in the two weeks of darkness that would blanket Caido - and put Zavien into what she could only guess would be a protective, anxious mode that she would do her best to soothe.

As it happened, she had one idea that might make LongNight marginally less frightening - but she suspected that Zavien wasn't going to like it one bit.

The door swung open, a burst of cold air invading the otherwise warm house. Soh turned from where she'd been stirring a pot of noodles to smile invitingly at Zavien, her expression softening as his obvious worry bled through his words. Setting down the spoon, she crossed the room to slot herself expertly into his arms, nuzzling against his chest and breathing him in. "You've done plenty," she murmured. "Come get warm. I was just making some pasta -"

Just then, the smell of something burning had Soh yelping, hurrying from Zavien's arms to the oven, from which she hastily retrieved what she'd hoped would be bread to go along with the spaghetti she was attempting to make. As it turned out, making the pasta was one skill, but making bread to go along with it - and trying to do it all at the same time - was another entirely. Her cheeks flamed red as she set the pan of burnt bread down. "I really thought I had the timing down this time!" she explained, not quite sure whether to laugh or to cry at her mistake. At least the pasta would probably be okay.

Sohalia

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

The smell of food was divine, weaving together with the smokey scent of burning wood as he took a deep breath that didn't threaten to slice his lungs open. He smiled at Soh, stripping off his damp jacket just in time to envelope her in his arms. Her warmth was more welcome than any fireplace, the cold in his bones fleeing just to hear her voice, to know that she was near, to sense the reassurance that could cast aside all flickering doubt.

It settled the pounding of his heart as he let out a sigh, muscles relaxing and thoughts slowing with the contact. Content to keep her wrapped in his arms until LongNight, he was sorely disappointed to release her to deal with the other burning smell. 

Zavien tried not to laugh, managing to contain it to an amused smirk as he followed her towards the kitchen and the log she removed from the stove. Her worry and frenzy were adorable, the sincere attempt flooding his heart with more affection than any perfectly cooked meal could. He wrapped his arms around her from behind as he inspected the charred bread, not an ounce of judgement or concern in his voice as he tapped the exterior. "I'm sure we can scrape off the black parts." Isn't that what she'd said about his toast that first day?

Grinning, he kissed her head to dismiss any worries she might have, his voice lighter as he teased, "This smells so good. Did you make anything for yourself?"

just you and me, dancing in a daydream; just you and me, lost in the clouds

To his credit, Zavien didn't laugh at Soh's predicament, though she wouldn't have blamed him - it was kind of funny. She wasn't the best cook in King's End by a long shot, though certain meals had certainly become more edible with practice. When she wasn't burning bread into a crisp, blackened log, that is.

Discarding the urge to cry and instead smiling ruefully, she leaned into Zavien's hold as he wrapped his arms around her. "Mm, we can try," she agreed - but first, the pasta. Without moving from his hold, she grabbed her spoon and stirred the noodles one last time, just to make sure they didn't stick, before draining off the water. The meat sauce bubbled on the stove nearby, simmering low enough that Soh wasn't worried it would burn.

"I made enough for both of us," she assured him, one hand coming to rest on his arm where it surrounded her middle, tracing against his skin lovingly before she reached for a knife to start attempting to salvage the bread. Fortunately, there were a few sections that she was able to save - enough for each of them to have a piece, anyway. Satisfied by this turn of events, Soh twisted to press a kiss to Zavien's jaw before wiggling out of his hold. "Here, let me fix the bowls -"

It didn't take long before they'd settled at the table, each with a serving of spaghetti and a slice of (slightly burnt) bread. The fire crackled merrily in the hearth, warming the house against the bitter chill of the outdoors. It was such a quiet, picturesque moment that Soh was loathe to ruin it. No matter what the outcome of the conversation was, this was the house where they'd built their relationship, where they'd started their family - and she wanted to take in this peaceful breath for a moment before she potentially shattered it.

It wasn't that she worried about their relationship, not really. She still had days where she wondered if Zavien would wake up one day and regret choosing her, choosing this - but those were growing fewer and farther between. It was more that she didn't want to cause him discomfort, and she knew that suggesting they move to Torchline, of all places, would do that. It was easier to sit in the comfort of the warm home they'd made here.

But things couldn't always be easy, so it didn't take her long to glance at Zavien from beneath her lashes. "So... I was thinking... we never really settled on living arrangements once the baby is here."

Sohalia

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

Zavien loosened his hold only enough to let her work, occasionally reaching forward to assist with holding a lid or ingredient. His smirk widened at her reassurance, squeezing her tight to him as he joked, "Are you sure? I'm pretty hungry." The gleam in his eyes suggested he might share with his pregnant girlfriend, but that he could very much eat it all on his own. 

When Soh finally slipped from his grasp, Zavien let her go as if the kiss was the key to her freedom, wondering if he was imagining the distracted look on her face. With nothing to occupy his hands anymore, he maneuvered around her in an easy, familiar dance as he gathered drinks, butter for the bread, and silverware to meet her at the table. Before long, he settled down next to her, smiling at the pleasant meal and better company. 

The spaghetti was delicious, the marinara sauce was perfectly executed, and the bread had a unique sharpness that he didn't mind. It might not have been a five-star professional dinner, but Zavien would happily eat it for the rest of his life if it meant sitting across from the woman he loved, even if that included whatever conversation they were about to have. He could tell in the flickering of her silver gaze, the cautious way she held her fork, the silence that felt less like quiet contentment and more like cherished moments before the peace was broken. It almost had him asking what was wrong, but she seemed to be searching for the words to start, so he paused to butter a piece of bread until she spoke. 

Soh's words had his head tilting, eyes meeting hers with an openness that invited her to speak whatever worried her. He offered an encouraging smile as he said, "No, I guess we didn't." It faded as the uncomfortable thoughts arose, something that had been on his mind for the last few weeks, a decision he'd been grappling with. His lips pressed together. "I've actually been thinking about that." Not wanting to interrupt or derail whatever Soh had to say on the matter, he looked to her. "But what are your thoughts?"

just you and me, dancing in a daydream; just you and me, lost in the clouds

Their movements in the kitchen that Soh had rapidly come to consider theirs were as fluid as as dance, with Soh preparing two bowls as Zavien gathered the other things they would need. "I'm sure I could convince you to share," Soh teased as she worked, glancing flirtatiously over at him as she sat the bowls on the table. Straightening, she brushed her hair out of her eyes. With everything settled and ready to eat, Soh sat and happily began to share the meal with her boyfriend.

She wouldn't necessarily have considered the meal to be perfect, but she was pretty proud of how far she'd come in such a short time. Perhaps the old adage that practice made perfect really was true, even for something like cooking. After all, if she was going to be the girlfriend and mother she wanted to be, she'd need to have a couple of meals in her back pocket. Some of the best moments in life involved sharing food, after all.

But the peace and quiet of the meal was interrupted when Soh finally gathered the courage to speak. Their road together thus far had been fairly smooth, and Soh was hesitant to be the cause of any bumps that would inevitably arise. But this was no longer a vague notion of 'someday' - they needed to make a decision now, so that they were ready for when the baby came. And their decision was no longer just about what they wanted, but about what was best for the little life growing inside her.

Soh paused, pushing her spaghetti around in her bowl. "Before we found out I was pregnant, I had every intention of moving here," she started. "But... now I'm wondering if we shouldn't move to Torchline instead." Anticipating a strong reaction, she rushed on: "And I don't want to force you into anything you don't want to do, but... Torchline is the strongest, and arguably the safest, region. I know how you feel about Flora, but there's no denying that she's a powerful friend to have. Aside from that, there are Remi and Ronin, and there's a cannon now to protect the region, and the healthcare is arguably better there, and we'll have more people to help us if we need it, and... I just think it might be what's best for the baby."

Sohalia

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

Zavien slowed the buttering of his bread, setting aside the knife as he listened to her start, already hearing the 'but' in her words before she said it aloud, even less surprised to hear the thoughts that had been plaguing her. 

His gaze lowered, obviously displeased with the idea as he let her list the many reasons moving to Torchline was a good idea - the same ones he'd been telling himself for weeks now. He didn't bother to take a bite of the bread, setting it on his plate as he reached for his fork without lifting it. There was no anger or fight in the curve of his shoulders, like a strong tree that had bent for the benefit of those around it. 

"I agree."

Sighing, he looked at Soh, finally releasing his fork to run a hand through his hair before propping it on the table. "I don't like Flora's methods, but I can't argue that she's built an incredible region, and the fact that she cares so much for you..." Zavien shrugged his shoulders, looking to the food with less enthusiasm than moments earlier. "The people here are great, but your network is bigger in Torchline than mine is here. There will be more support in case..." He didn't dare speak it: the possibility of something going wrong with her or the baby. And if he wasn't available for some reason... Zavien couldn't even let his mind wander there. 

The smile he offered was strained, attempting to be supportive despite his own conflicting thoughts on the region. "Do you already have an idea of where in Torchline? Or how soon we should move?" LongNight was ever at the front of his mind, a constant reminder of the threats it posed. If that wasn't a reason to rush the move, he wasn't sure what else would.

just you and me, dancing in a daydream; just you and me, lost in the clouds

I agree.

Given that those were not the first words Soh expected to hear from Zavien's mouth, a flicker of surprise crossed her features briefly. She hadn't thought he would fight her too hard on the move - not when the wellbeing of their child was at stake - but she'd thought he might give some resistance. To hear that they were aligned on this, as they had been on so many other things in life thus far, warmed her to no end.

And if she hoped that the proximity to her friends would eventually soften Zavien towards them - and endear him to them - then she quietly kept that thought to herself.

She was quiet for a moment, lifting a hand to place it atop his where it rested on the table. "Thank you," she said quietly, meaning it with every fiber of her being. "I know that this won't be easy for you, but I really do think it'll be the best thing, at least for now." It would be worth it for the support of her friends, and the network she had access to by association, as well as for the safety of the region.

As for where and when, Soh tilted her head. "Well, before the baby is born, so soon. Do we have time to move before LongNight? Or at least get moved enough that we're comfortable during?" By her calculations, they would have a few weeks at best, and that wasn't very much time when it came to deciding on a place and moving into it. "I was thinking in Haulani, for easier access to healthcare and such - and I think it'd be safer than elsewhere in Torchline." That and living in the city would afford them some separation from Flora, if that was something that was important to Zavien. If he didn't want to see the queen, she reasoned, then he shouldn't have to.

Sohalia

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

Her hand landed lightly on his, a reminder of why he was willing to move from the place he'd planned to make a home in. Zavien rotated his hand to grasp hers, squeezing it gently as he looked into her eyes. "This is the least I could do." He tried to say it jokingly, but the smile caught like sunlight in a dirty window, speckles of serious weight pulling at the corners as he pulled in a breath. 

He leaned forward, green eyes steady as he said, "I hope you know there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you and the baby." He swallowed. "If anything ever threatened you..." - threatened to take them from him. Zavien shook his head. He hadn't even met their child and he was already feeling the barbs of protectiveness digging deep into his chest. It was terrifying to think of the lengths he'd go. 

When it had come to his city, he'd been ready to die for the people there. He'd spent every waking day and hour working to help them, to better the community, to give them what they deserved. He'd swallowed his pride and practically begged for help and forgiveness when he'd rather make distance. He'd fought monsters and helped against the Family. 

All of that was for hundreds of people, and yet Zavien would be willing to do the same for the two people sitting next to him. 

Moving to a region he didn't necessarily like was nothing in comparison. 

Zavien shrugged his shoulders, glancing down at their connected hands. "We could move within the week if needed. There's not much tying us here." Other than clothes and weapons, there wasn't anything he could think that he'd need to bring from the donated house furnished by the charitable community. All he needed for something to feel like a home was for Soh to be there. 

Lifting his eyes to her again, he pursed his lips. "But I think moving before LongNight would be best. It'll only get harder after." His strategic mind took into consideration the advancing pregnancy and cold weather just as he agreed Haulani would be ideal. The cityscape might even remind them of Stormbreak, so he nodded his head, letting the plans take form.

just you and me, dancing in a daydream; just you and me, lost in the clouds

The poor attempt at humor pulled a small smile to Soh's lips, some of the creases of worry smoothing from her brow. It wasn't perfect - he wasn't jumping for joy - but it was a far better outcome than she'd been anticipating, given that she hadn't realized he'd been thinking the same thing about their living situation. While she hadn't expected a fight, she also hadn't expected such ready agreement, and there was no small amount of relief in the fact that he was even going so far as to try and make light of the situation.

But talk quickly turned serious, and Soh's breath caught at the weight in Zavien's gaze. "I know," she said softly, her words matching his intensity. "I know you'd do anything for us." Just as she would. Because this was her family, and nothing outside of keeping them all safe and together mattered. Zavien, she was positive, felt the same.

"Well, the good news is that I've spent enough time in Torchline to know where to look," she mused, eyes focusing on some point in the distance that only she could see. "The higher areas tend to be nicer and safer; anything close to the water is more lively, but there's more crime." Shaking her head as though to clear her thoughts, she turned her silver gaze back to Zavien. "If we go tomorrow, we can start looking for a house. I guess I never officially moved in, so I don't have much to pack here." And neither did Zavien, from what she knew of his situation. The house and furnishings had been charitable donations from the citizens of King's End, so it would mostly be his personal effects. "We can always come back after LongNight for anything we have to leave behind."

Sohalia

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

Her gaze met his, their hearts seeming to align in the moment, understanding passing between them, beyond the shallow connections or simplicity of having a child together. It was stronger than that, a dedication that went deeper, a love that would stand against the world. Zavien felt that she knew that, and when she said as much, he gave her a soft, certain smile. "Then you know I'll do everything I can to protect you both." Leaning in, he added, "And all you ever need to do is ask." It was hard to tell if there was anything she could ask for that he wouldn't do, knowing that Soh wasn't the kind of person who would ask him to compromise his morals - even if Zavien struggled to believe he could uphold them if she or the baby were at risk. Only time would tell where that line truly laid. 

As she spoke on plans and where in Torchline they would move and how, Zavien nodded along, letting her take the lead. He was grateful for her familiarity, relieved she already had an idea of how the process would work best. He squeezed her hand, refusing to let his own reluctance stop him from saying, "Then let's go tomorrow. We can find a place and start settling in before LongNight." The smile he gave her wasn't excited, but there was a resolution in it, a determination and a compassion that portrayed his willingness to make this work.

just you and me, dancing in a daydream; just you and me, lost in the clouds

All she had to do was ask, and she was certain that Zavien would find a way to bring her the moon and the stars and even the very sun he was named for. She would do her best to be worth of that kind of love and devotion, to never ask too much of him. But this - moving to Torchline - wasn't an option in her mind. It was necessary for the care and protection of their child.

So she squeezed his hand where she held it, a soft, affectionate smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Thank you," she said again, meaning more than just the move - it was gratitude for Zavien himself, for who he was, for what he would do for them. And beneath that gratitude was a love far deeper than Soh had the words to describe - but she knew that he understood all the same.

The resolution in his gaze as they spoke of plans and next steps bolstered her confidence in the plan. She already had a few places in mind - areas that she had been considering for herself back before all of this had begun, when being in Torchline had been a given rather than a blessing. "Tomorrow it is, then." And surely, out of the entire city, they could find somewhere that he would be happy - if not immediately, then somewhere he could grow to love if only because it held their hearts and kept their child safe.

Sohalia

Zavien

- The Risen Sun -

The gratitude and squeeze of his hand should have ended the line of thinking there, but his worries lingered. He knew Soh, knew that she would never ask anything of him that would compromise his nature, knew that she would never suggest he become something he wasn't, but... what if she didn't ask? What if the only way to save her was to kill someone in cold blood? To kill an unarmed man? To kill a child? Would he have the strength? Would he be able to live with himself knowing that his hands were stained with their blood? Would he be able to live with himself if he let Soh die instead?

It worried Zavien that he didn't have immediate answers to the questions, that he teetered precariously between whether Soh's life was worth that of someone else. 

But they were people too, loved ones to others who cared for them as much as he did Soh. 

Perhaps if they were evil, cruel individuals that would better the world with their deaths, Zavien could sleep peacefully at night. But if he killed an innocent man to save his family... could he really look them in the eyes without constantly remembering the cost he paid? Could he be a good father or significant other if he crossed that line?

He didn't think he could.

And yet, the fact that he struggled to come to that conclusion scared him all the more. He already loved them so fiercely - so fully - that he would consider breaking his morals. They had quickly become the center of his world, and short of murder or sacrificing Caido itself, Zavien could see himself toeing the lines of his heart, skimming the ethics he's always held so close. Would he lie, cheat, or steal despite believing it wrong? They were not victimless crimes - but for his family, Zavien knew he would sully his reputation to keep them safe, knew he would be willing to harm others in a way that wasn't death. 

Swallowing against the bitter truth on his tongue, Zavien found himself relieved that moving to Torchline was all he had to worry about right now, praying that he'd never have to act on the boundaries of his ethics to save the people he loved. 

He squeezed Soh's hand, doing his best not to let her know of the thoughts he grappled with when he smiled and gave a slow nod. "Tomorrow," he confirmed.

[FIN]