cinders take shelter in the pit of his lungs, awaiting flames’ reignition. but the gentle waterfalls of a heart’s tears meant it had wept enough to flood, moisten coals burnt to the touch. coincidentally, there may be no more fires ablaze in his chest, those birthed by the voice in his head that so desperately sought to deter his affections. well, at least until the falls ran bone dry. for now, he’s access to the reservoir, able to tap into it.
it was the least he could do, though, given that he’d already put his own heart through so much suffering —- appease it, for the time being. until tomorrow comes and he’s faced with another villain, another slaughter. and he could feel his own body recoil in response to such thoughts, his stomach twists in pain, a feeling he’s so accustomed to he’s desensitized to the ache. in favor of his resolve, he often ignored the gut - wrenching feelings in his stomach. just as he did now. even so, there is space between them again. his own hands dangling at his sides until deciding to rise, settling themselves ‘pon either sides of him, on the very tops of his hips. raven’s voice cutting through morbid thoughts, making him focus on just that : the rough timbre that held enough melodic strength to calm him. though, it was not always like that.
❝ i didn’t break your jaw when you kissed me the first time, right? i’d say that’s repayment enough. ❞ in all honesty, however, there was a need of repayment for allowing him to exhume feelings from graves long since buried —— and he intended to pay raven back for it. just not now. maybe in the future when he was able to fully commit himself to these feelings of adoration; when he could truly say without a doubt that this was love. doubt would always find its way here, beckoning him back to the darkness where he’d belonged —– back into isolation. he would just simply have to fight it. like he fought off everything else.
❝ yeah, yeah. pick a place, and i’ll take you there, alright? as long as you’re still alive and kicking, i’ll keep my word. ❞ a quiet promise to echo within even his own conscious, to enforce this newfound feeling of togetherness. it acts as a small, very minor admission : he would be here, by raven’s side. such confessions did not come so easily and as plainly as one would have liked, but it is what he could offer for now —— simple acts of kindness that voiced his emotions.
❝ i think that’s proper enough. ❞ single brow quirks, though lips betray him with a gentle upward curve. new feelings were rather difficult to deal with, but he would make do, even if they make him slightly unnerved. legs shifting unconsciously, forcing his weight to waver from side to side. ❝ i have some time now if you want to —– ❞ he gestures behind him. accompanying it, a shrug, hoping to add some nonchalance to his words while an index finger points towards the direction of bustling townsfolk still so unaware of the tragic love unfolding with each careful sole pressed upon the pavement.
Teeth bare in insignificant grimace--broken jaw may be what he had deserved, silly man with silly thoughts, but it would have come with so many inconveniences. Can’t kiss anybody like that, and present company included, there were many people he enjoyed kissing. Though, he wasn’t particularly put off at the prospect of sticking to kissing just one person for a while--tear and wear was catching up, and getting around was just getting to be plain too much work. Might tarnish his reputation some, but eh, he could live with it.
“Long as I’m alive an’ kicking, huh? Ya’ve got th’ more dangerous life, better not kick th’ bucket on me yerself.” It was as close to plain concern as he’d get--there was always a pit of worry at his stomach that grew the longer between visits they went. He knew the sorts of business the wolf got up to, and had even sent some his way from time to time. The guilds mostly sorted themselves out sure, made sure to nip their own problems in the bud, and he oft the blade to do so, but resources could get thin. They were getting better, the Union and Altosk built back up enough to handle matters without resorting to extremes, but there were still plenty of ne’er-do-wells that remembered how easy they fell before, ready to knock them back down again.
Brows rose--to... what? Catch a drink? Get a meal? Head to his place? Gotta admit, he was a little hesitant to rush into anything more than heavy petting. Wasn’t quite sure what to do, which was a strange thing to say, having thought himself quite the adept lover before this moment. Supposed there was only one way to find out--and besides, it’d been some time since they’d had a proper meet up. Had to get his fill of company to make sure the young pup was alright. Make sure he got some food in him and took a breather and all. Boy took things way too seriously on his own.
So he pulls his hands back to himself and shoves them in his pockets, hoping to pull off his own standard nonchalance, goofy grin a bit more lopsided and off-kilter than normal, albeit with a buzz, a waver of excitement. “Lead th’ way. Not like I had pressin’ business. I’m all yours fer th’ afternoon. Maybe even th’ night.” A playful nudge is given as he moves to take his place beside the wolf, elbow catching to signal continued interest, and that, yes, he will be walking too close to be properly comfortable, and that maybe, if Yuri asks nice enough, he’ll even hold hands, watching eyes be damned. He’d bet his gald someone had already seen that kiss and he’d catch a good heckle later, so he might as well make it something of a proper show, if his partner didn’t mind playing a role.
Strange day this, but he’s thinking it a good day. Yuri’s back at his side and they’ve time to spend together, and that’s all that really matters. Why, it’s so good a day, he almost feels like whistling.
