She sighed, reaching out and rummaging through her nightstand, finding her potions. Uncorking a healing potion, she knocks it back quickly. The bitterness of it lingered, but at least it would numb some of the lingering aches. She leaned back against the bed, letting the warmth from the potion spread through her body. Her eyes closed for a moment, the exhaustion catching up with her. But the peace was short-lived.
“Talisse.”
Footsteps, familiar and steady, approached her bed, and she didn’t need to look up to know who it was: Niruin. He had a way of moving that always seemed to fill the space around her—small but confident. Without a word, he stepped into view, his gaze flicking over her bruises, his usual nonchalant expression replaced with something more watchful. His eyes narrowed slightly, and Talisse could already tell what he was thinking.
“You… don’t look great,” he said, his voice carrying that mixture of irritation and concern she’d come to recognize over the course of their arrangement.
She offered him a dry smile. “It’s nothing.”
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer before he leaned down to take the small mirror from her hand. He tilted her chin gently to get a better look, his fingers soft but firm as they touched her skin. Niruin was silent for a moment, then his fingers moved gently across her jawline, tracing the bruising with an almost absent touch. She didn’t flinch; she didn’t need to. His hands were skilled in more ways than one, and she was used to his presence, even in moments like these.
“It doesn’t look like nothing,” he muttered, his brow furrowed. “That cut, it’ll leave a scar if you’re not careful.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her voice a little more clipped than she intended. She wasn’t in the mood to be fussed over. It wasn’t his concern, not really. And it raised an disgruntled feeling in her, him seemingly fussing over her looks more than her.
Niruin didn’t seem to take the hint. Instead, he lowered the mirror and leaned in, brushing his lips lightly over the bruise on her cheek. The kiss was soft, more of a reassurance than anything else. A fleeting touch, though Talisse could sense the hesitation in him.
Then he kissed her on the lips. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t deepen it either. When they parted, Niruin slid onto the bed next to her, the warmth of his body settling close. For a brief moment, he was still, but the tension in his posture said everything. He was waiting. Waiting for her to acknowledge his presence, or to respond. But she just laid and curled up in the blankets, pulling them tight around herself as if she could shut everything out.
After a few moments, Niruin shifted next to her, nudging her gently with his shoulder. His voice was low, almost irritated now. “You’re not even going to try?”
Talisse didn’t open her eyes as she answered. “Not in the mood.”
He didn’t seem to like that answer, but his tone softened when he spoke again. “I’m not here for that, Talisse.”
Good.
Her lips curled slightly, though she didn’t respond. She didn’t need to explain herself to him, or anyone else. They both knew what this was, and they both knew what it wasn’t. No promises, no commitments, just a flexible arrangement.
For a long while, Niruin stayed beside her, not pushing further, but not leaving either. She could feel his presence—warm, familiar—and for once, she let herself enjoy the quiet. She wasn’t looking for affection, and she wasn’t looking for answers. She felt him take a lock of her hair around his fingers, idly toying with it.
“Get lost, rake.”
Vex’s voice was sharp and to the point, her eyes never leaving the Bosmer as she spoke. Talisse couldn’t help but admire the woman’s economy with words; there was no need for pleasantries or pretension.
