He had always hoped that Rory slept through his late-night arrivals, not wanting to deprive his lover of much-needed rest. It was better when he could come back to the farm before full dark, share a meal with his friend, and then retire together to the room that Rory had inherited as the master of the farm, but the nights he performed at the Tavern or was caught up in Loreseeker duties kept him away until long after his lover had turned in. He still spent some nights in the Guildhall, falling asleep in his office over a particularly tricky tome, and even more in his den in the Glade, especially in the nicer weather, but more and more often his feet or paws or wings brought him back to the Farmhouse door, even if only for a few hours spent next to the hunter who had earned his heart.
Those nights usually came with a sense of healing contentment, a feeling of peace and belonging that his complex, quiet partner brought him just by his nearness. The fleet-footed wanderer's curiosity still burned bright and coaxed him far afield at times... but more and more often he found himself returning to theplace person who made him feel whole and worthy of being loved.
But never before on Caido had he broken like he had this night, desperate gambits failed and the pressure of too many crises at once sending fractures through his heart and soul along the old lines of weakness and despair, self-loathing and guilt. Amalia had soothed the raw edges of those shattered wounds and brought him back to himself once more, but in spite of her love and care he had not been able to break down the final barrier and let fall the tears that would let him begin to heal again.
Rory's voice might have been rough from sleep, but it was a welcome sound in the darkness as a warm hand slid against his arm, offering comfort in the night as the bard shook his head slightly against his lover's back. It took him a few long minutes before the overwhelming emotions filling his heart subsided enough to let him speak, his tears slowing and the shivering of his muscles loosening as he snuggled closer now that he knew Rory was awake.
"A hard night," he said quietly at last, loosening his grip and willing to shift if the hunter wanted to turn over to face him. "And hard truths I was not strong enough to bear. I'm sorry for waking you." He nuzzled his lover's skin apologetically, but he was selfishly glad that Rory's voice and touch provided more anchors for his wounded psyche, and he wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in the other man's embrace until the last of the emotional storm had passed.
Those nights usually came with a sense of healing contentment, a feeling of peace and belonging that his complex, quiet partner brought him just by his nearness. The fleet-footed wanderer's curiosity still burned bright and coaxed him far afield at times... but more and more often he found himself returning to the
But never before on Caido had he broken like he had this night, desperate gambits failed and the pressure of too many crises at once sending fractures through his heart and soul along the old lines of weakness and despair, self-loathing and guilt. Amalia had soothed the raw edges of those shattered wounds and brought him back to himself once more, but in spite of her love and care he had not been able to break down the final barrier and let fall the tears that would let him begin to heal again.
Rory's voice might have been rough from sleep, but it was a welcome sound in the darkness as a warm hand slid against his arm, offering comfort in the night as the bard shook his head slightly against his lover's back. It took him a few long minutes before the overwhelming emotions filling his heart subsided enough to let him speak, his tears slowing and the shivering of his muscles loosening as he snuggled closer now that he knew Rory was awake.
"A hard night," he said quietly at last, loosening his grip and willing to shift if the hunter wanted to turn over to face him. "And hard truths I was not strong enough to bear. I'm sorry for waking you." He nuzzled his lover's skin apologetically, but he was selfishly glad that Rory's voice and touch provided more anchors for his wounded psyche, and he wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in the other man's embrace until the last of the emotional storm had passed.
