Shivers continued to run through the body nestled against his, in spite of his best efforts to warm his friend, and Jigano's quiet contentment shifted back towards open concern. Whatever he had been about to suggest fell by the wayside, and he sent a small suggestion of a thought towards Isuma, who was happy to stretch and then curl herself up again in Rory's lap, a quiet purr thrumming through her small, warm body and coaxing him to relax.
"We can, if you think you'd be more comfortable somewhere else..." Jigano offered hesitantly, then found a quiet laugh escaping, a sound so light and full of peace he didn't recognize it at first as his own. "But I'm happy, here with you. Like this." And he was happy, no edge of sadness or guilt underlying the surface emotions he showed the world. It was almost confusing in its simplicity, because it had been so long since he'd let himself feel that way...
In spite of the other emotions that stirred, warm and deep and dangerous and frighteningly full of hope that he had no defense against. Things that he was trying very hard not to think about, with Rory pressed so trustingly against him in a way that made his heart skip far too many beats anytime they shifted. "Rest," he coaxed gently. "Please?" He didn't notice how soft his smile had become, with his cheek still resting on Rory's head, or that Isuma had one eye half-open, peeking up at him with a smug twinkle as her purring deepened. For his part, Jigano found himself humming quietly, an old ballad he hadn't thought of in years, a light and sweet little song that seemed a good match for the gentle spring sunlight that filtered through the windows of Rory's house and striped the wooden floor with gold.
It was a time that, in future days, he would hold most dear. Sometimes he sang softly, and sometimes he hummed, and for awhile he just sat in silence, drinking in the unexpected joy of being two instead of one - three, he corrected fondly as Isuma's purring paused. But it could not last forever, and eventually the warmth of the fire had filled the kitchen and carried the savory smell of the soup with it. Jigano turned his head to nuzzle at messy blond tresses, rubbing his thumb in gentle circles over his companion's shoulder. "Rory," he murmured. "The soup is ready, if you want to wake up now..." Though if the hunter wanted to stay where he was a little while longer, the fox wouldn't mind at all.
"We can, if you think you'd be more comfortable somewhere else..." Jigano offered hesitantly, then found a quiet laugh escaping, a sound so light and full of peace he didn't recognize it at first as his own. "But I'm happy, here with you. Like this." And he was happy, no edge of sadness or guilt underlying the surface emotions he showed the world. It was almost confusing in its simplicity, because it had been so long since he'd let himself feel that way...
In spite of the other emotions that stirred, warm and deep and dangerous and frighteningly full of hope that he had no defense against. Things that he was trying very hard not to think about, with Rory pressed so trustingly against him in a way that made his heart skip far too many beats anytime they shifted. "Rest," he coaxed gently. "Please?" He didn't notice how soft his smile had become, with his cheek still resting on Rory's head, or that Isuma had one eye half-open, peeking up at him with a smug twinkle as her purring deepened. For his part, Jigano found himself humming quietly, an old ballad he hadn't thought of in years, a light and sweet little song that seemed a good match for the gentle spring sunlight that filtered through the windows of Rory's house and striped the wooden floor with gold.
It was a time that, in future days, he would hold most dear. Sometimes he sang softly, and sometimes he hummed, and for awhile he just sat in silence, drinking in the unexpected joy of being two instead of one - three, he corrected fondly as Isuma's purring paused. But it could not last forever, and eventually the warmth of the fire had filled the kitchen and carried the savory smell of the soup with it. Jigano turned his head to nuzzle at messy blond tresses, rubbing his thumb in gentle circles over his companion's shoulder. "Rory," he murmured. "The soup is ready, if you want to wake up now..." Though if the hunter wanted to stay where he was a little while longer, the fox wouldn't mind at all.
