Hotaru
My head's a burial ground of your memory
”Loren?” Confusion and concern alike peek through as she speaks. She hasn’t seen the man in some time, is unaware of the history and tension the man plays not just between Nate and Sunjata, but her own addition as well. But for all she may worry about those left behind, she worries more for the two at her side. Sunjata’s hand is warm and calloused around her ankle, a physical tether so she doesn’t float away into the nothingness once more. That’s what she focuses on instead. Their forgiveness washes over her like a wave, summer-warm and cleansing. It eases the path of her tears, unclenches a twist in her chest that helps the next breath finally fill her lungs. There will be a time to cry later, to dig her fingers into this temporary crack in her demeanor and open herself to the rawness inside. This is just a temporary setback, a moment of weakness. One she knows won’t leave this room. She’s safe here. She’s finally home.
Their arms collective hold her in their grasp, and she clings back as much as she can now that her own hands are free. Not nearly long enough. Hotaru doubts she’ll stop aching for their closeness any time soon. Still, food is a powerful tool when it comes to convincing her to relinquish her grip on them, the heat of the bowl warming her hands as it’s placed within them. ”I don’t think you’ll be able to get me out of this house for a whole season,” she admits with a tired grin, receding into silence only to tuck into the soup gratefully. It barely lasts at all, empty in what seems to be a blink, but her stomach has shrunken too far living on what Atlas and her own hazy mind could scrounge up to keep her alive. Seconds - thirds, fourths, whatever more delightful food she can beg off Nate - will have to wait.
Standing, she runs her hand over the soft fur of the kitten on Nate’s shoulder before she slides off the counter with a slight wince. ”Stay with me? While I wash up?” One of them, at least. She can’t bear to be alone right now. ”Because I intend to keep you both in bed for the rest of the day.” Her smile feels steadier now, body warmer, bones more solid. As if every moment in their presence draws her back down to earth, embracing her own consciousness once more as the missing pieces slowly fall into place.
