#shar.writes

[xellzios]

Solace [headcanon]

Pairing: Touken

Rating: Fluff, Comfort

Disclaimer: A small HC I just brain farted while thinking about touken, as well as my rendition of Touka’s thoughts. This is unedited but I hope you get to appreciate it. Also, to anon, I included your small HC as well. :)

::::

Their lives had been anything but normal.

Touka knew that - had accepted it since the day her father had left her and Ayato to fend for themselves.

It was then when she had lost her innocence, it was then that she tried to cling onto her brother in hopes that she could keep him alive and keep him with her. Ayato was the only family she had left, for the world took and took everything away from people like them.

For what Touka was most afraid of was losing a person she loved. But it was also what a life of a ghoul entailed.

It was the warmth she missed the most - the warmth of someone's hug, the feeling of someone's heartbeat and the solace that she could find in someone's arms.

She found it in her mother when she used to cradle Touka in her arms when she wanted Touka to sleep. She also found it in her father when he would sleep next to them and envelop them in his warmth. Touka would remember the sound of their hearts beating, and the way they smiled as they held their children inside the warmth of their hugs. Even Ayato would give her the biggest hug and grin when they were younger.

"Toukaaaaaa," he'd giggle, eyes as wide as his grin while his pudgy hands grabbed her into a cuddle. It was in his innocent face where Touka drew strength from, once they were left to fend for themselves. At the end of the day, however hard it was and however shitty the world treated them, Ayato would lean to her and give a small, albeit sad smile - as if to show that he was still here with her. And for Touka, it was enough.

But as she grew older and her family members vanished one by one, she was given the comfort she needed by Yoshimura's arms as she cried on the day Ayato walked away, gave the same comfort to Hinami when Ryokou died and lastly, found the same warmth as Kaneki Ken held her in his arms.

It provided her the solace that she needed - a haven from the world's wrath. But of course, the world always had a way of finding those who hid from its grasp.

So when she finally got married, rediscovering this feeling of calm had been a welcome change in her life.

She never thought that a small cell in the depths of the 24th ward would be her home and give her some sort of happiness that the world had taken away from her. She had just lost the home she had built when Anteiku was taken away from them - burned into the ground as they faced another chapter that was more dangerous than the rest. But with the smiles of the people she cherished back with her again, she drew strength in the notion that her loved ones are finally with her.

And yet, in the small, dimly lit room where the cool breeze of the evening air lay dominant - she found contentment in his arms as Ken held her away from the world and its chaos.

Their cot hadn't been grand, hell it was a rack that a prisoner would sleep on while he was in jail - but the small, crowded space provided her with comfort, knowing that Ken was back in her arms and knowing that he was there with her.

"Are you sure you really want to sleep here with me? It's pretty crowded." His eyes would always be laced with worry that Touka couldn't help but smile. He was always a worrywart, especially now that he knew she was pregnant with their child.

"Do you want me to be somewhere else?" She'd ask cheekily as he pulled her closer, one hand resting on her flat stomach.

"I'm happier when you are here, I can't help but worry you're uncomfortable though."

Warmth traveled to her cheeks as she buried her face in his chest. "Just go to sleep, idiot. You had a long day."

Ken kissed the crown of her head and enveloped her tightly in his arms - the kind of warmth Touka had longed for since she was left alone to deal with the world, the kind that provided her safety from the arms of the world that had been hunting them for slaughter. "Good night, Touka-chan."

She'd always listen to his heartbeat as Ken slept, his expressions tranquil and serene - a huge contrast to how stressed and tired he looked when he was awake. Sometimes, she'd brush his stay hair out of his face, marveling at the notion that he was finally here with her after all these years - that he chose to live his life with her - however short it would be, however hard it was.

So she wanted to make sure to savor all of his time with her - all of these moments, his warmth.

It was difficult to lose this again, heart racing and lungs aching for air while she tried her hardest to reach him after he turned into a huge monster. Her eyes were laced with horror when kagune ate through the 24th ward, knowing full well that the reason it came alive was probably through desperation and an attempt to save everyone.

"Please let him live. Please." She'd mutter this through her breath as she held onto his hand, which was cold and clammy in her touch. She couldn't believe that the one who held her and gave her warmth now lay cold in a steel bed, eyes closed and body scarred and ragged. Both of her hands would clasp his and put them near her lips, in an attempt to warm them up, as she watched over him in prayer.

Looking back, all of the pain was worth it, she thought. For the moment he opened his eyes and left her to face the world, Ken had made sure to come back - all of them she held dear who remained, came back to her.

At times, the fear would always make itself known - would gnaw her insides and make her antsy, sometimes would keep her up at night. But it was when Ken would kiss her goodbye that she would realize, he would do his best to return to her - to them.

And now, here she was, standing near the door of their small haven as she anticipated his arrival late that night. Said door creaked open to reveal a small smile from her husband, his eyes tired but bright as soon as he saw her.

"Welcome back," she'd mutter softly, eyes never leaving him as he removed his shoes and dropped his baggage unceremoniously in the floor. Then he'd pull her into his arms as his head rested where her heart beat - finding comfort in her presence like she always did with him after a long day.

"I'm home," Ken whispered, eyes closed as he held her in his arms.

And it was during these times that she'd realize, as her eyes closed while she leaned into the crook of his neck, that she finally found the solace that she sought for after all this time.

And that she was also finally back home - to her family, where she belonged.

[xellzios]

Cacoethes [headcanon]

Pairing: Reapertouken

Disclaimer: And in one moment of vulnerability, he caught himself going back to her - back to :re.

::::

The night had a lot of secrets.

The thrum of it - which gave a purr, the rhythmic beat of raindrops falling on the rooftops while soft voices spoke. It spoke of many feelings, of things left unsaid and of whispers that were never heard.

He sat on the chair, his elbow propped against the counter while his eyes hung low. One hand held a mug of warm coffee while the other was clenched as he waited for her to speak.

But she didn't.

Instead, she continued what she was doing - fixing cups and wiping dishes before she put them back into place. Her mind was preoccupied, but it was also waiting for him to answer all of the questions that hung in the air upon his return to :re.

With a sigh, he stood up and walked towards her - his courage threatening what little sanity he had left.

And then he kissed her.

It was fiery as it was gentle, it spoke of his needs and how much he had missed her by the way he bit her lower lip and by the way his tongue hungrily asked to dance with hers.

There was something in how their foreheads brushed, or on how his fingers curled around her waist to pull her close. There was no resistance when he had expected her to slap him senseless, no sign of her wanting to stop.

And for a moment of sanity, he thought he should, yet she leaned onto him and he knew he was done for.

Under the gaze of the night, they had bared their souls through a dance of bodies. Fingers curling through scalp, skin touching skin, hands fumbling through clothes.

Ken knew it was a mistake, yet it was something he couldn't stop - too lost in her touch and in her warmth. He would spend his eternity locked up in hell, but all he would remember was this piece of heaven that she had given. For once, he let his tears fall as he succumbed to the rhythm of their dance - lips locked, hands clawing through bodies. Dazed and drunk with her presence, he peppered her with affection he could never put into words. Maybe it was a wrong, maybe she was caught off-guard at the moment and forgot how to hate someone like him - but he would take it, because he at least wanted to come home once.

Back to her, back to the person who gave him a small smile and saved him.

And then, later that night, as his fingers played with her hair while she lay on the crook of his neck, he gave in. "I would have, you know?" He whispered, throwing all caution to the wind.

"You would have what?" She lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes mesmerizing and warm. She had never imagined to be together with him again - not when he was Haise, nor when he had been called the reaper.

"If you ask me, I would have chosen this again." He told her, closing his eyes as he revealed what he truly desired. He had never been so vulnerable as he was right mow. "To be with you."

He had met a lot of people, experienced a lot of things, but this? This was his sanctuary, his refuge. Home.

"How could I love someone else after loving you?" He opened his eyes and asked as a small sad smile adorned his face. He would have spent a century alone, yet he was sure that Touka's name would be etched forever in his mind. He surprised himself with his own confession, and yet he knew there was nothing else he wanted more right now.

That's the thing about love, it never would disappear - even if Ken would, because would one never truly forget . From the moment her eyes showed him warmth and compassion, he knew he was done for - lost in the depth of an abyss that could only shine. Touka on the otherhand, had so much to live for, and he was convinced she would have a better life without him.

"You know, if you choose someone else, you'd have a better life." He told her, his heart breaking quietly inside his chest. "If you choose another, he could provide more, give you more. So why?" his voice quivered.

"Because he's not you," she answered unabashedly, looking at him in the eye.

And maybe that's all he needed to hear - all that he wanted, all that he wished for.

For once, the night had whispered something he needed, the one thing that made his heart beat again.

He closed his eyes and leaned in to her touch, surrendering himself to a goddess who had given her heart to a mere mortal like him.

[xellzios]

The Blessing of Prometheus [headcanon]

Pairing: Touken

Disclaimer: Thanks @thiccthighshaise for this wonderful treat. I'm very happy to write you something for it. :)

Also, Touka is Persephone and Ken is Hades.

::::

He had known warmth all his life - in the years he had lived in this Earth.

It came from the hellfire and the river Styx - a fire that was rough and calloused, dangerous and destructive. It wasn't something that one should grow accustomed to, but starved by the warmth of someone else's touch - he endured it.

He was bathed in the warmth devoid of life and living.

It was this kind of fire that taunted him, cloaked him, embraced him. And yet, in a spur of an instant, all of his burning feeling of loneliness was staved by the way her hand stroked his face - removing the lone tear in his cheek.

"Thank you for bringing me here." She said to him, eyes sincere as they lay upon the vast garden of colors. "God of the Underworld, he who guards souls... yet also strangely gave life to this place."

"Why do you do this?" he asked, voice hoarse as his throat chucked up words. He wanted to ask why she was here, or why she even bothered with someone like him.

They were in a garden he had nurtured with his hands - calloused and battered with the dirt and soil that took residence in his nails. For a world so eerily dark and gloomy, the garden shined with the variety of flowers he had planted - the only source of life.

Was it out of pity? Was she feeling sad for him? She didn't need to be - no one needed to be.

"Because your eyes showed me what your heart had denied inside your darkness," she said, eyes gentle as she smiled at him.

Touka smiled at a god called Ken and once again, his heart was stabbed with a kind of light that he never thought he would see, being the god of the underworld. His mouth hung open, unable to utter a word, the brevity of her warmth filling up his soul.

Detested. Frowned upon. Looked down. Feared.

Such was the life of a god of the underworld - he who guarded the gates of Tartarus, he who guided the souls of the departed.

How long had he wanted for someone to reach out to him - as he lay asunder to the darkness. How long had he held out his hand but no one would take it, so instead he just looked at the other gods in a distance - longing and craving the affection of a touch that could heal his battered soul.

So he closed his eyes, a thin line of what looked like a smile erupting in his lips as he put his hand over hers - drinking the sensation he has never dared to have.

"Thank you."

::::

The title was a reference from when Prometheus has stolen fire from the gods to give to humans. :)

[xellzios]

Preview:

“A girl,” a voice announced, holding up a small, crying baby wrapped in a bundle of pink blankets. The vision felt like a blur to him, as his grip on his wife’s hand tightened. It had been the roughest hours of his life, knowing he couldn’t do anything but act as support. He couldn’t register anything else except the soft cries that permeated through the room, everything else blurring in the background through his haze.

He heard it again. And his heart started to beat rapidly against his chest and butterflies pooled inside his stomach. It was like the softest music he could fathom, a lullaby that graced his ear and left him speechless and unable to comprehend anything else.

All he could hear was her voice, and all he could see was his wife as she was finally handed down the small bundle of blankets, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as the small semblance of a smile finally adorned her face.

It felt like a dream, really.

[xellzios]

Cicatrize [headcanon]

Cicatrize | Halcyon | Catharsis

Pairing: Touken

Disclaimer: post-163 HC I cooked up after Ken returned from exploring the ruins of Tokyo. 

::::

Anything, everything unnerved him.

He felt like he was in a dream, too good to be true but also too cruel to be lived.

Ken was overwhelmed by the fact that he woke up surrounded by the people he loved, albeit incomplete. He was surprised by the news that the CCG and GOAT formed a temporary alliance, was shocked to find out they were in the same camp. His heart felt full at the notion that his wife was there with him, his lungs constricted at the thought that his best friend was alive.

It felt like it was too much.

But what surprised him more was what remained of the city he once lived in - the ruins of the once peaceful and bustling streets where he would take a walk, where he took his first mission, where he spent his life - everything was gone, replaced by debris, empty broken down buildings and blood.

And the presence of monsters created by his folly.

His heart fell at the notion that he helped create this, his stomach full of heavy, molten lead of guilt. As he stumbled upon a small room the base had given after he said goodbye to Urie and Saiko, his eyes were downcast as quiet, as unrelenting thoughts plagued his being.

He destroyed his home.

He took small, careful but hesitant steps inside the room, his hand tracing the painted walls that withstood the onslaught of this nightmare. He could remember the meetings that were held inside these rooms once upon a time.

“Why are you just standing there?” A voice asked, still groggy and raspy but made his heart skip a beat nonetheless. She sat down and patted the space next to her, inviting him.

Ken looked at her and smiled slightly as he went towards the bed and sat right beside her. Even with all the plague that was in his thoughts, seeing her alive and well was enough to make him breathe at least. He carefully removed the hair that blocked her eyes and gave her a small smile - he had missed her so much, had been so scared that he wouldn’t see her again - seeing her in front of him was enough to make him feel that something was right at least.

“Did you get some rest?” he asked, his voice husky and warm, something that was always present when he spoke to her.

“Y-yeah.” Touka looked away as a faint blush crept on her cheeks, the feeling of relief washing through her at the thought that he was real, that he was in front of her.

Warmth crept on the hand that was beside him, and before she knew it, he had already taken it between his and squeezed it tight - as if reassuring her, himself or both.

“How was your trip?” she asked nervously, trying to form a conversation as her mind reeled from his touch and the feelings that threatened to burst out of her chest. Her eyes scanned his form as guilt and sadness danced in the somber gray orbs.

She knew it must have been too much for him to take all of this in, just like it had been for her.

“I-I,” he started, trying to find the words as his eyes looked at the floor, unable to look at her in the eyes.

He was so scared he had ruined everything for them.

Briefly, he swallowed as Touka patiently waited for him to speak, finally breathing out as he squeezed her hand again. “I didn’t want this,” he blurted.

He didn’t know how he could make amends with what he had done, didn’t even know how to take responsibility for what he had caused. As time passed, he felt that the world had given him an overwhelming burden he couldn’t bear. Touka could feel the way his voice broke at the words. She could feel him tense as he struggled to come to terms with his thoughts.

Guilt was eating him alive.

She sighed, closing her eyes briefly before producing a small smile. “Look at me,” she said tenderly, using her free hand to touch the side of his jaw and make him look to her eyes when he refused.

He was hesitant, but he gave in and finally rested his eyes on the dark blue that only held relief and joy that he was back.

It made his heart melt.

“Whatever happens, I want you to remember that we will find a way together. You’re not alone in this, Ken.”

Ken. She had accepted him - the whole him, a man who had his share of faults and failures. She had accepted him as Ken, the boy who loved books, who was a good cook. She did not see him as the one-eyed king nor as the monster who ravaged Tokyo.

She leaned on his shoulders and closed her eyes - just like what she used to do, her form lighter and at ease. It felt like his burden became more bearable to know she was here with him, that she would be supporting him. “We will always be with you, holding your hand.”

To her, he was simply Ken - her husband, her friend, a person she loves.

“Hold me,” she asked as they lied down, her head resting on the crook of his arm. He took her in his arms and feasted upon her scent, her warmth, her presence.

“Get some rest,” he whispered wistfully, holding her tightly as he rested his cheek on the crown of her head. Briefly, he kissed her forehead tenderly, letting his lips linger just long enough to feel her warmth as she closed her eyes.

He had her at least, just like he had his small family - his loved ones. Maybe someday he would be able to see this town rebuilt and bustling again, would be able to enjoy the small walk to a nearby park or the coffee’s rich aroma inside a shop. He would do anything to atone for his shortcomings, to set things right so that his child would be able to enjoy a peaceful future - so that he could be together with his family.

But for now, this was his home.

:::

Cicatrize | Halcyon | Catharsis

[xellzios]

Latibule [headcanon]

Pairing: Touken

Disclaimer: Post-162 hc I thought while talking to @ladywongs. Thank you for listening to my ramblings Mel!

::::

There was a certain comfort drawn from the presence of someone you love - a certain reassurance to know their heart beats; a certain light when you could look into their eyes.

When she saw him suddenly sit up from the small bed he was in - warm, thoughtful grey eyes contemplating until they looked unto hers - her world ceased.

She felt her heart stop at the notion, her body suddenly losing whatever energy it has left - her legs turned to jelly, her hands shook, her heart beating as fast as it could as her lungs constricted from the effort.

"Tou...ka-chan?" he said in disbelief, eyes never leaving hers as he drank on her form. His voice was music to her ears - always so soft, always so gentle that you could never mistake him for a monster that had rampaged Tokyo just a few days ago.

This. This was the Ken she knew. This was her husband.

He then turned to look around, eyes widening as he realized where he was. His eyes looked astonished as he stared and took the sight before him, as he felt the warmth of Saiko's sleeping form.

"E-everyone," he whispered softly, still in denial. She could feel the sobs threatening to take over him as he closed his mouth and clenched his fists, could feel how much he wanted to hold back with every small whimper, with every breath.

Slowly, she reached out.

Her hands were still shaking as Touka slowly took his face unto them, rubbing small circles, feeling his warmth. His eyes widened as he pulled her closer and put his hands on top of them - basking unto her presence as his forehead rested against hers. His eyes captivated hers so much that she did not want to look away, afraid that if she did, this dream would come to an end.

But not until Ken finally enveloped her into his arms.

Her heart felt so much pain and comfort and heartbreak and happiness with each touch and she found herself letting go. There was no sound heard as she cried, only the sound of his heart beating - pretty much alive under her touch. She prayed she wasn't dreaming, prayed that this wasn't a cruel joke her mind made just to cope with what had happened.

She found comfort with every touch - as her hands roamed around his face, his shoulders, his chest - to feel his heart and be captivated by his warmth. She wanted to take everything into her memory, wanted to make sure he was real.

It might have been eternity after, might have only been a few minutes, but Touka finally found herself lulled as her head rested in his lap. The way he played with her hair was soothing, his warmth comforting, his touch divine.

His presence was her home.

A few hours from now everyone will wake up to see him. But for now she would sleep, oh she would rest - because she knew he would be there with her when she opened her eyes, greeting her with a smile.

[xellzios]

Catharsis [headcanon]

Cicatrize | Halcyon | Catharsis

Pairing: Touken

Disclaimer: @mamasaiko and @coromoor, this is for you. Third and last HC of the post-163 HC series.

::::

It was surreal really, as he looked into her eyes only to see gentle orbs staring at the depth of his soul - reading through him, wrapping him around her presence, giving him a kind of light he could never live without.

‘Don’t push yourself, okay?’ she said.

And yet between the two of them, she was the one who always risked her life - the one who was always willing to go one step ahead, the one who never held back and gave up hope.

For him. For them.

He took her into his arms, reveling in her warmth and her presence. He traced her back with his hands to hold her tightly, exploring every nook and cranny, making sure she was here, that she was real.

Ken missed this, he missed her so much.

Slowly, his lips traveled to the crook of her neck, eliciting a small purr from her. He continued his ministrations, the skin contacting skin - the warmth of his lips basking in the warmth of her being.

He traveled upwards - kissing her neck, her chin, her eyes and then her lips. The kiss was slow and reassuring - a kind of warmth that eased him, the kind that made him feel like he could take on the world. It was the kind of love he wished to make her see - that he would always be here with her, the kind that did not need words. It was a gesture that told her she was beautiful, the kind that worshipped her even when she couldn’t see it herself.

He wanted to tell her that he was alive - and would live because of her.

Touka responded in kind, her lips hungrily taking his, not wanting to let go. It felt as if all the somber melancholy, hopelessness and worries lay forgotten as her shoulders eased, as her body melded against his.

He might have tried to sacrifice his life to save her, he might have gone to an extreme to see her - but between the both of them, it was her who was right.

It was her who guided him back, her who gave him the kind of love that did not need sacrifices nor any form of grandeur. It was the kind of love that wanted you to realize you want to live - the one that wanted to spend time with you, laugh with you and cry with you. It was the kind of love that was willing to endure all the pain as long as it has you by its side.

And he could feel that, all of it.

He could feel her need as one of her hands pulled him closer, wrapping tightly around his waist as the other one pulled the strands of his hair. He could feel how much she missed him as her kisses grew heated and impatient, and yet with each contact, there was an unparalleled warmth that seeped through his being - enveloping him, cradling him, making him feel alive.

He looked at her and chuckled at her dazed and impatient face, panting heavily from their ministrations. He stared directly into deep seas of violets that only wanted him, needed him - loved him. How could she accept someone despicable and monstrous as him? He wondered.

And yet, without even asking, he found his answer.

Each kiss was hungry, but it was gentle; it was filled with longing, but it was passionate. It was heated and burned through their veins, and yet it was soft that it filled their soul with warmth.

Ken pulled away and gazed into her eyes, her face, her body like he would worship a goddess. He kissed her forehead to tell her he was sorry, kissed her eyes to thank her for accepting him, saving him and once again captured her lips to tell her he would forever be in love with her.

How many times had he been lost, how many times had he been saved by her? He already lost count and it was not because of the number, but because of the feelings that had always lingered when he looked into her eyes - mesmerized, ensnared, loved.

The union of their bodies, the dance of their souls - it was like a love that was lost but waited patiently until it was found. It was like a star that shined radiantly during the night but you couldn’t see throughout the day, never lost and always there. Every gaze was melded into their memory, every touch searing their skin. Their heart beating in unison - life against life, passion met with a fire in their souls.

It was the kind of love that was always kind, the love that was never boastful or conceited. It was the kind of love that did not take offense - a kind that was always patient, always kind. A love that was always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever came.

And so, Ken told himself, ‘so this was what it felt to be truly, deeply and utterly loved.’

'Don’t push yourself, okay?’ but for him, she would do so anyway.

::::

Second to the last paragraph was based from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Cicatrize | Halcyon | Catharsis

[xellzios]

Halcyon [headcanon]

Cicatrize | Halcyon | Catharsis

Pairing: Touken

Disclaimer: Continuation of Cicatrize, a post-163 HC. Dedicated to @fangirlingforeverz, thank you. :)

::::

He brushed the stray hair away from her solemn face, his heart skipping a beat as her face lightly scrunched up at the notion.

It had always been a guilty pleasure to watch her sleep.

In dreams, her face wasn’t tired nor worried - there was no trace of dark bags under her eyes, no hint of worry in her eyes. Her face had a faint glow, as if the world she was seeing was warm and peaceful. In dreams, she wasn’t surrounded by hate or anger, by grief or sadness.

Slowly, her hand reached out towards him as she lay in the crook of his arm, resting it on his waist as if to pull him closer. It made Ken smile lightly at the thought that she would unconsciously reach out to him.

His hand traced the small scabs and scars, the wounds that littered her hand. This was the mark of a fighter - someone who always had faith even when the world looked dim, someone who always trudged forward no matter what the cost. She had endured and continued hoping even if it had been painful, even when she felt lost. He had wanted her to tell him what she had to endure, wanted the stories of their struggle and triumph; as well as their grief. It may have been painful, but it was all he could do to honor them, to thank them for all they have done.

His heart clenched at the thought of how harrowing the journey must have been for her to get this far - for all of them, really. He had heard stories about how GOAT had struggled upon the loss of its king, had seen their fallen with his very eyes. It was difficult, but he couldn’t help but admire his wife’s tenacity as well as his loved ones.

If only they could see how much they mean, how far they had come.

Slowly, gently, he removed himself from her hold, careful not to wake her up. Thankfully, she didn’t wake and he let out a breath he had been holding as she continued her peaceful slumber.

The last thing he wanted was for her to open her eyes - not when she had been through so much, not when her body looked like it was about to give up the last time she was awake. He then went to get the small kit and sat on the edge of the bed, gently getting Touka’s arm.

His lungs constricted at the numerous scars, cuts, and bruises that littered all around, throat parched, heart aching. He could even see a broken fingernail, slightly swollen with dark purplish skin all around it. She didn’t have to tell him how much she had been through for him to know that he could never hope to repay her for all she had done, especially when Saiko told him that it was Touka who found him.

He ached for her - his heart silently crying as he memorized every nook and cranny of her skin, her face, her life.

He couldn’t imagine how much pain Touka went through, how much heartbreak she had to endure for him. Hell, he couldn’t even imagine what he would feel if it was her who had suffered through a comatose state, almost dead and lifeless - he would have gone insane.

Ken kissed the knuckles of her hand, the warmth of her skin seeping through his - an indication she was alive in front of him. Slowly, he began working on her wounds, putting on disinfectants and wrapping them up if needed, his hands gentle and careful so that she wouldn’t be roused.

How he wished he could give her a world where she could be happy, how he wished he could see her smile genuinely without any impending tragedy looming around the corner.

Smiling at his handy work, he gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead only to have opened his eyes to warm, welcoming orbs. She looked dazed, looked as if she was torn between a dream and reality.

“I love you," he said, kissing her on the lips. He might have changed, might have become an abomination, might have lost himself because of the world.

Still though, he knew those words had never been truer.

::::

Cicatrize | Halcyon | Catharsis