❛ nothing is stopping us from being together except you. ❜ (addy @ raydan)
Being caught off guard was something Raydan wasn’t used to, for the most part, he spent his time trying to be prepared for anything and everything. After all, when you were suddenly summoned at random times, it was often a good idea to be ready for whatever dangers and tests that might follow such a thing. It was no mistake that things were different with Addison, from the very begininning, Raydan felt a difference in his summoning than any of the others he had experienced.
It had thrown him off, disturbed his normal persona, reminding him of the way things used to be when he wasn’t to forever be a slave to the same kind that had cursed him. She had’t cursed, Addison gave him a choice, more than anyone ever had and it was difficult for Raydan to trust, let alone allow himself to feel anything for anyone. He had limited himself to only violence and sufferage, accepting his curse with the full weight it presented itself.
She wasn’t wrong, of course, he was the only one being a total idiot, all the hints he thought were nothing but a test, one designed to challenge him on things he had been tested on by others. But Addison WASN’T anyone he’d been with before, she was greater than that and it was as if a light bulb had gone off just above his head. Features dropping into a soft and careful expression, moving much against his better opinion. This wasn’t a good idea, but she was good to him. Something strange made his chest ache and before Raydan realized it he had closed the distance between them, his dark gaze searching hers for a moment longer than he likely needed.
For a moment he wasn’t sure this was real, as if the beast that had changed him had placed this curse on him had come back to seek more revenge on the foolish and haughty man who had taken her life. There was a fleeting thought, that perhaps this was a trap, her expressing that he was the only one from keeping them together but he shoved it down, deep inside where he kept all his other insecurities and instead he placed his hand on Addison’s cheek.
Raydan shook his head, unsure of what to say exactly, he should have said he was an idiot, a fool for even thinking this wasn’t more than just a bond formed by accidental magic, he cared about her; had learned her mannerisms in some form and more than just like a dog would its owner. Perhaps he could take a chance, it didn’t mean that things would end in disaster, he was prone to that anyway.
Where words failed him, Raydan made up with actions, he wasn’t good at expressing how he felt or what he wanted, he’d never been too good at communication. With his hand that was placed gently on her cheek the tall man moved forward slowly, much against his knowledge at first before his lips pressed against hers. This was his own sort of test, one he now knew he should have tried sooner.
