and I've only got my brittle bones to break the fall
And of course Aamu is there. He hadn't wanted to intrude after the destruction, swung by at some point to notice it was fucked and then left it up to Mabel to take at her own pace. He was fine with sleeping rough or hiding out in King's End: it was she that tied him to this place anyway, so if she went away, he'd go away, too.But actually coming back here again .. hurt. He thought of the first time, of coming with Mabel like some stray, collapsing in the hallway with her, and everything that came after that—he'd tried to not leave his mark on the house but had, anyway. It was in the strong teas in the cupboard, the sharpened knives, the leather oils and fats, the cleaned bathroom—
It was in all the memories he had of the place with her, all the little moments they'd shared.
What wasn't this like for her, then? His heart aches for her.
Aamu comes from around the side of the house, having spared the collapsed barn little more than a cursory glance, and notices the stranger. They don't seem Ascended, but they do seem a bit nervous. Aamu's head tilts and he intentionally positions himself so that they form a triangle, rather than standing by Mabel's side. "Hello Cameron," he says, gentle as always. "I am Aamu."
Then he looks to Mabel. He might live here too, but it is her house.
Aamu
