Not smoke, but flesh.
Not illusion, but reality.
Kel felt himself pulled and moved with the sudden tug, stepping forward to half-collapse into Rance's embrace and returning it with his own free arm. A sob threatened and he buried his face against his old friend's neck, inhaling a scent he had already begun to forget until it was all around him again, wrapping around his heart like a well-worn blanket. "Fuck," he agreed, shaking voice muffled by the raven's hair.
He didn't care that he was naked, or that he was getting Rance wet. All that mattered was the strong body supporting him, leaner than he remembered but also more toned. The voice was the same though, and so was the swearing. He felt laughter - more than a little hysterical, but mostly relieved - bubbling up in his throat at the unexpected question as he held his friend more tightly, determined not to lose him again. "Didn't want to. A prank got out of hand and the sap wouldn't come out so..." Hardly the first time he'd been bullied by other Hidden, or even some of the crueler dryads in the Grove. It had been a particularly painful one this time, though, striking straight at his vanity and confidence even before he'd stumbled through the portal.
Kel drew a shuddering breath, then a second as his laughter faded and he let himself start to believe that maybe things would be okay. "You haven't been eating well enough." A gentle chiding, not the first time he'd made the accusation against his wandering friend, usually right before buying him a large meal at the local tavern. It was almost a rote part of their greeting by now, and the familiarity of it steadied him as he let his friend's hug warm the fear from his heart.
Not illusion, but reality.
Kel felt himself pulled and moved with the sudden tug, stepping forward to half-collapse into Rance's embrace and returning it with his own free arm. A sob threatened and he buried his face against his old friend's neck, inhaling a scent he had already begun to forget until it was all around him again, wrapping around his heart like a well-worn blanket. "Fuck," he agreed, shaking voice muffled by the raven's hair.
He didn't care that he was naked, or that he was getting Rance wet. All that mattered was the strong body supporting him, leaner than he remembered but also more toned. The voice was the same though, and so was the swearing. He felt laughter - more than a little hysterical, but mostly relieved - bubbling up in his throat at the unexpected question as he held his friend more tightly, determined not to lose him again. "Didn't want to. A prank got out of hand and the sap wouldn't come out so..." Hardly the first time he'd been bullied by other Hidden, or even some of the crueler dryads in the Grove. It had been a particularly painful one this time, though, striking straight at his vanity and confidence even before he'd stumbled through the portal.
Kel drew a shuddering breath, then a second as his laughter faded and he let himself start to believe that maybe things would be okay. "You haven't been eating well enough." A gentle chiding, not the first time he'd made the accusation against his wandering friend, usually right before buying him a large meal at the local tavern. It was almost a rote part of their greeting by now, and the familiarity of it steadied him as he let his friend's hug warm the fear from his heart.
