The Last of Us ~ Sindri/Oberon
Was he fine? Or was that what he thought Oberon wanted to hear? The fae didn’t press, but he promised himself he’d do his best to keep a more watchful eye on his new charge.
Oberon’s heart ached at the bitterness he heard in Sindri’s voice. “It is the only place right now. However, there are other safe houses that could be properly warded, given time. We have quite an intricate network all over the world. My home was chosen because…” and here he hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. “Your former Master and I… have a long history.” The Fae felt his fists clenching and tried to relax. His anger and pain would do Sindri no good. “My house has been warded specifically against him and his ilk for many decades now.” A quick beat as Oberon let out a calming breath. “However, I do not want you to ever feel trapped here. We will do all we can to help you feel free again. No matter how long it takes.”
He grinned with encouragement when the younger man agreed to being teleported (albeit with obvious hesitation.) “Then allow me to be the first to help you experience it,” Oberon replied, his voice gentle. “There will be a bit of a tingly feeling as we shift through the æther - rather pleasant, I’ve always thought - a bit like warm sun on cool skin.” He held both hands out to Sindri, palms up. “Take my hands and before you can blink, we will be in my forests.” Then, he added, “Your forests, now, too… for as long as you like.” Technically, they were the Queen’s forests. But she had graciously allowed Oberon dominion over them for as long as he wished to carry the responsibility, and nothing made him happier than the notion of allowing Sindri to claim ownership of them, as well.
While the need to guard himself against further soul-crushing disappointment clung desperately to the back of Sindri’s mind, he could feel himself starting to believe Oberon’s words.
The thought of leaving here was overwhelming, the fact that he was here to begin with was plenty to try and grasp on its own, but hearing Oberon had a history with Gwyn made Sindri’s arrival make much more sense. The question, what exactly Gwyn had done, danced on the tip of Sindri’s tongue, but he quickly swallowed it. Were the question asked of him, Sindri would not want to answer. Seeing Oberon’s fists clench only cemented the instinct to remain quiet, and he nodded to acknowledge he understood. He might not believe it entirely, but he heard what had been said.
“Thank you...” he replied quietly instead, and something stirred in his chest when Oberon grinned at him. He couldn’t place the odd feeling, so he chalked up the quickening of his heartbeat to those kind eyes and gentle voice.
[I’m not used to such kindness, so of course I’m drawn to it...] he told himself as Oberon offered his hands.
“My forests?” he asked as he stared intensely at the lines of Oberon’s palms. Another unbelievable statement, but Sindri decided not to think too hard about it. Oberon was going to take him to see trees, and he could focus on that.
Sindri took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and took Oberon’s hands in his own. Not a second later, he felt a warm tingling sensation- just as Oberon had described- and his heart leapt to his throat when a stillness settled around them.
The hippogriff’s eyes snapped open, and he was greeted with sights and sounds he hadn't heard in years. Beams of sunlight streaked through the whispering canopy overhead, birds chirped in the distance, and as soft breeze swirled around them, Sindri turned so only one hand still remained in Oberon’s. He stood in awe of the surrounding lush, green forest, and a sudden swell of emotion caught in his throat. He had no more doubts, this was real.
Sindri’s eyes fluttered closed to hide the tears threatening to fall. He inhaled, and a familiar buzz hummed beneath his skin as fresh air filled his lungs. Something wild stirred, waking slowly with each deep, deliberate breath. For the first time in a very, very long time- a genuine smile eased over Sindri’s lips. He suddenly felt reconnected to life, returned to energies of the earth and sky too ancient and feral to describe. He was a child born of both, and he had returned to himself.
When Sindri finally released Oberon’s hand and extended his arms out beside him, a short burst of air sliced two vertical slits in the back of his shirt, and large, gray wings unfolded effortlessly from them. It took only two mighty beats of his wings to remember how to use them. It was as natural as breathing.
When Sindri's golden eyes opened again, their once dulled hue now sparkled with something wild, an excitement he could no longer contain. Without a word he took off running. His wings tucked towards his body, enveloping him in feathers and swirling gusts of wind. When they spread back to their full length, he no longer ran on two legs. In full Hippogriff form, Sindri galloped through the grass, claws and hooves pounding against the earth in time with the steady beat of his wings. With one final push, Sindri’s feet finally left the ground, and his wings propelled up up towards the canopy. He made no attempt to stop or slow, he was too eager to reach the open air to care about a few scrapes and bruises from branches along the way.
When he broke the last layer of the canopy, the first thing Sindri noticed was the sun. Warmth accompanied the familiar prickle of wind against his fur, and his heart lurched at how desperately he'd missed something so simple. The sight of endless trees swaying in the distance beneath a clear, gorgeous sky, brought tears to Sindri’s eyes. He’d spent so many years trying to survive that he'd forgotten what it felt like to truly be alive.
Long, gray speckled wings spread to their full length, catching himself before he could start to freefall, and Sindri let out an elated cry that echoed through the forest.
He had no idea how long he spent flying, and he had no mind to care. He kept close to Oberon, he didn’t want to get lost in this unfamiliar forest, but he didn’t care what kind of impression his his behavior gave the fae king. He dipped in and out of the canopy, and soared above so only a shadow beguiled his presence. He swerved, dipped, looped, and caught himself again and again in a free fall until the tears in his eyes finally dried, and he was left with nothing but pure joy coursing through his veins.
It was why he thought very little about his return, once his wings had finally grown tired. With another cry Sindri finally descended, but the speed of his approach was a little too fast. It’ had been a long, long time since he’d flown, let alone land.
His feet hit the ground, shifting back to two legs in his human form, but his attempts to stop were overpowered by his momentum. Sindri tumbled into Oberon, giggling and laughing as they fell over one another. Once the dust finally settled, Sindri found himself tucked against Oberon’s chest, shielded from most of the fall by Oberon's well placed arm and his own wing. As Oberon had attempted to shield him, Sindri had instinctively done the same to him.
Breathless, cheeks flushed, and still laughing, Sindri pushed himself up so he could lean over Oberon. Half draped over the other with legs tangled together, Sindri thought little of their position. He was swept up in the moment, elated in a way he could barely process, and surprised by the lack of ill-intent in Oberon’s touch. Carefully, Sindri freed his wings and stretched them behind him, wreathing the hippogriff in feathers and sunlight.
“Thank you!” Sindri laughed, and a few happy tears lined his golden eyes. “T-thank you- I can’t- I can’t...” he was at a loss for words, so he shook his head instead leaned down to bury his face into Oberon's chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around Oberon's neck, and a sudden well of emotion rose up, turning the rush of flight, of relief, into something else entirely.
He was free, he truly believed that now, but his mind and body were not so quick to forget all he had endured. Before Sindri realized, his joy turned bittersweet, and his laughter quickly faded as sadness overwhelmed him. All he had lost, all of the pain and abuse he had to face and process, came crashing down, and he clung to Oberon as a sob wracked his shoulders.
“S-sorry-” Sindri whispered as he started to cry, and a pang of guilt tightened in his chest. He'd ruined the first truly beautiful moment he'd had since his capture, and he hated the realization that this alone wasn't enough to heal all of the wounds he'd been dealt. Instead of pulling away, as he'd done when Oberon had caught him earlier, he clung tighter and prayed the king would not ask him to let go. Not yet.
The touch of someone who didn't wish to harm him was so unfamiliar that Sindri feared he would never feel it again. His heart and his body waged war, and conflicting emotions overwhelmed him. He let himself cry, embraced the emotions he hated and what they meant for his future, and finally considered the idea that he could hope for a different life. A future he chose.
Even then, a part of him was skeptical, only this time Sindri resisted the easy pull of that voice. He knew the journey ahead would be rough, but now... now he was actually free, and that meant more than anything that voice could ever say ever again.
After some time the tears slowed and Sindri relaxed. He despised it, but he felt himself withdrawing back into his previous state- where his body disliked the touch he'd so desperately craved. He pulled back and wiped at his eyes, red and swollen from his tears.
“I... I apologize...” he said quietly, his gaze turned downward with embarrassment.
