More Lith & Faeryn from the ever delightful @rupeewallet!! <3 I CANNOT get over Faeryn's tail/ears, and his expressions are just SO perfect T_T and and and then there's Lith who just looks so sad! Faeryn wants to wrap them in a warm blanket and keep the bad things away. The tail over the wrist absolutely slayed me about as much as the nose pat <3
Anyway, here's another small writing piece based off of this!
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“Hey, hey…”
Faeryn’s voice was soft as he approached, snow crunching underfoot. Enough time had passed between Faeryn and Lith to where Faeryn’s (admittedly often) rapid advances no longer resulted in Lith taking a step back reflexively. The taller of the two swept in close, uncaring about propriety or potential awkwardness, interrupting Lith’s downturned gaze. The pretty yellow was slightly unfocused and unseeing.
Faeryn didn’t like it; it reminded him of himself.
He reached down and took one of Lith’s hands in his own, twining their fingers and clasping with gentle firmness. Simultaneously his other hand gently pressed against the top of Lith’s nose and forehead. Lith normally ran colder than Faeryn (who didn’t run hot by any means, but preferred heat over cold), but it also didn’t usually take long for them to warm under Faeryn’s touch.
The man rubbed gently and his ears swiveled attentively toward Lith when they slowly—so slowly—lifted their head the slightest bit. Their gaze rose as well, and the despondency in that lovely yellow gaze wrenched Faeryn’s heart and choked his throat.
(was this how Gareth felt when he’d laid eyes on Faeryn for the first time on the side of the street, deep blues empty and dull? this desperation to help fix heal—)
The faint trembling in his own hands faded as ironclad determination to do something rushed through his veins. A lifetime ago, Faeryn had spent far too long feeling hollowed out and empty. He’d been fortunate enough to have people by his side when simply existing became overwhelming. If he could extend that same courtesy—in any amount, especially to someone as caring and genuine as Lith—then Faeryn would do it without question.
Faeryn gave Lith’s hand another gentle squeeze, and his tail came up to drape over his friend’s wrist, warm and soft.
A bit of clarity returned to Lith’s eyes, but their ears were still slanted down and back. An ache throbbed in Faeryn’s chest but he forced himself to smile as he gently rubbed the bridge of Lith’s nose.
“It’s…” he sighed, “It’s not okay; none’a this’s okay. It’s all bloody awful. But—” the forced smile became something easier as the seconds passed and as Faeryn spoke, until it was something genuine—even if melancholic, “—but at least we’ve got each other, right?”
Faeryn slid the hand on Lith’s nose to their shoulder, gave it a firm squeeze, then pulled them into a hug. He never released Lith’s other hand just as his tail never unwound from his friend’s wrist. Lith went easily, and Faeryn’s heart warmed (even as all-too-familiar butterflies in his stomach fluttered) when they further leaned into the embrace. Faeryn pulled them closer, eyes scrunching shut now that he was out of view.
“I don’t think I could’ve survived out here alone; ‘m happy yer here, Lith, even if everythin’ else is awful. I’ll be right here for you, whatever you need. Yer not alone."
