Hotaru
She doesn’t have the same reasons to fear he’s intangible, so she has no excuse for the way her own eyes linger, the reluctance to blink or avert her gaze. The picture he makes as he emerged into the sun puts the lakeside mirage she’d been admiring to shame, even with the stark bandages that distract her. “I remember,” she says softly, falling short of the feigned exasperation she’d been aiming for and ending up far too tender. Catching herself staring, she drops her hair from her hands and settles it against her back, trying to busy herself for a moment.
Not that it helps, because he approaches her, and so instead Hotaru rises to meet him, damp hair across her shoulders and sunkissed skin bare. His teasing falls flat as she instinctively lifts a hand to trail her fingertips against the bandages, frowning. “You need to take better care of yourself, though I doubt you magically did this to your own ribs.” Which means someone else had, and the only reason her hackles don’t rise fully is because he’s distracting her. Dropping her hand she gestures loosely to her damp clothes with a wry grin. “Got dumped in the mud in the Feverlands. Couldn’t stand the feeling long enough to get home.” Whatever home is now.
Not that it helps, because he approaches her, and so instead Hotaru rises to meet him, damp hair across her shoulders and sunkissed skin bare. His teasing falls flat as she instinctively lifts a hand to trail her fingertips against the bandages, frowning. “You need to take better care of yourself, though I doubt you magically did this to your own ribs.” Which means someone else had, and the only reason her hackles don’t rise fully is because he’s distracting her. Dropping her hand she gestures loosely to her damp clothes with a wry grin. “Got dumped in the mud in the Feverlands. Couldn’t stand the feeling long enough to get home.” Whatever home is now.
Now you can quit, you can cave in
but just know you're not beyond saving
but just know you're not beyond saving
