There's a weight on his chest.
Warm. Breathing. Dead weight.
Acrius's eyes open and he lifts his arm, his hand settling over the form in confusion before he pieces together that it's the Guardian.
A quick glance reveals she's still sound asleep but sprawled over his chest.
Acrius groans, straining to see the clock beside him.
It's nearly time he has to be up anyway but he doesn't want to move her. She's usually up by now so this has never been an issue before. He could get up and get ready in peace while she's already on the bridge with Saladin.
The Valus starts to lift his hand only for the Guardian to voice her disapproval with a soft groan. His hand settles firmly on her back and she relaxes, shifting her arm up his chest. Her hand settles just beneath the start of his mask and Acrius goes rigid beneath her.
He gingerly draws her hand away, cradling it in the palm of his hand. She's so…small. Delicate in so many ways yet the strongest force humanity has.
Well, as close to his as she can get when she resents him and this entire arrangement.
He hadn't wanted this anymore than she did. To spend his life with someone…like him. A solider. A bastard loyal to a fault. She's just like him in that respect. He'd watched her diffuse the conflict between Caiatl and Zavala the day they met. How she stood proudly at her Commander's side and although she tried to veil her apprehension and regret, he'd seen it as clearly as he could see himself in that blasted visor of hers.
And the day they were bonded? She looked physically ill at the sight of him. He's fairly certain she'd blacked out most of the ceremony. Because she didn't meet his eye, she looked almost mechanical when the Empress beckoned.
The Young Wolf's gaze forward had been nothing more than a numb stare.
Vacant. Dreadful. Anguished.
"We really aren't all that different, are we, Little One?" Acrius murmurs.