Happy Holidays star_yams (twitter)! I’m your @runefactorysecretsanta this year :D
Here’s Raguna making a Kross snowman XD I took some liberties in making him a bit warmer (hence a scarf + earmuffs made from wooly fur). I hope you like it :D
Raguna watched Kross out of the corner of his eye. It had been months since the final confrontation with Brodik, since Kross’ truth had been revealed. The road to where they were at had been difficult, but now as he watched Kross brushing his monsters, feeding them treats with the most peace he had ever seen in his eyes, Raguna knew every step was worth it. It still wasn’t easy. Kross still woke with nightmares about his former life, and Raguna still worried about his lost past, but their broken pieces fit together. Raguna had once heard of a country where broken pottery was repaired with gold, and he often thought that that was what they were doing here; not hiding their cracks and chips, but piecing them together with something much more precious.
Kross caught his gaze, and Raguna moved to join him, patting Lyla on the snout as he came near.
“She’s really warmed up to you,” Raguna said, and Kross nearly beamed.
“You think so?” he asked. Raguna took his hand.
“I know so.” Kross leaned down, kissing him softly, and Raguna sighed into it.
“You wanna take an early day?” he asked. Kross raised an eyebrow.
“What do you have in mind?” Raguna simply smiled, and led him down the dirt path out of his farm.
They arrived at the lake and plopped down on the shore, Raguna laying his head in Kross’ lap. He laughed quietly, running his finger’s through his love’s hair. He smiled much more often now, and Raguna thought his heart would never get used to the joy it filled him with.
They stayed there, chatting quietly until the sun set behind the horizon. As the conversation ebbed, Raguna felt himself being lulled to sleep by the hand in his hair, and the soft sound of the lake lapping at the edge of the shore. At the edge of sleep, he heard Kross chuckle.
“You’re falling asleep,” he said. Raguna shook his head.
“No, I’m awake,” he argued. Kross leaned down, his hair brushing Raguna’s face, and kissed him on the forehead.
“You,” he murmured, “are bad at lying.”
“Only when I’m falling asleep,” he conceded. “A good time to ask me things, I guess.” Kross hummed.
“You don’t really like my cooking do you?” he asked.
“I really do,” Raguna lied, and he heard Kross laugh.
“My snoring doesn’t bother you at all?”
“Not at all,” Raguna lied again. Kross brushed a hand across his cheek.
“Mist coming over at odd hours doesn’t irritate you?”
“Never,” Raguna continued, choking back a laugh. Kross was silent for a moment, stroking Raguna’s face. He was nearly sleeping when he heard Kross, in the quietest voice say:
“Will you marry me?”
Raguna opened his eyes slowly, seeing himself reflected by Kross’ icy blue eyes.
“Yes,” he said, so softly he almost didn’t hear himself. Kross watched him for a long time, saying nothing.
“Am I lying Kross?” he asked, reaching up to cup his face.
“No,” he breathed. Raguna sat up, looking deep into his eyes.
“You can ask me again, if you don’t believe me,” he said. Kross took his hand.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Raguna said, this time with much more firmness. “And you can ask again and it’ll still be yes. I love you Kross. More than anything.” Kross swallowed hard and nodded.
“I love you too,” he said. “I always want to be with you, if you’ll have me.”
“I already said, it’s a yes. Just kiss me already,” Raguna said, with false exasperation. Kross smiled, and pulled him in for a slow, sweet kiss. The world around them melted away, and for a moment, there was nothing but the two of them. Raguna sighed as they pulled apart.
“Forever,” he whispered.
“Forever,” Kross promised. Raguna wasn’t sure about most things. The world still seemed so full of questions he couldn’t answer, but he hoped his whole world would start and end on that promise.
With the moon just low enough in the sky that it felt near enough to touch, they made their way into their future, hand in hand. Love couldn’t heal all their wounds, but it was a damn good start.
