29. Sleep (post-WotR; Etain/Vikkari) borrowing @haledamage's girl again <3
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Etain was, as usual, awake before the sun. Unlike usual, however, she didn't immediately hop out of her bedroll to start the day. Instead, this morning she opted to lay where she was and watch Vikkari sleep in the predawn light. He looked so peaceful; slow, deep breath of true sleep, one arm flung over his eyes, silky purple hair pooling around his face.
Angelic even when you're dreaming, she mused, familiar ache of fondness in her chest. At this angle, with his arm across his face, she could see the scars usually hidden by his shirt, snaking from his elbow up to his shoulder. "Never tangle with a wolverine" had been the only explanation he ever offered, and Etain had barked a laugh of agreement and not pressed. It didn't matter.
She reached out and, feather-light, traced her fingers along the track of one. All the way from his elbow to the crown of his shoulder before letting her hand drop, smiling when his fingers twitched.
Movement caught her eye, and Etain shifted her gaze to the tent entrance. It was probably Pippin, tired of waiting for breakfast. But there was no brown bear snout poking through the tent flaps. Nothing to consider a threat, either. A small blue butterfly fluttered in through a gap and alighted on her hip.
Etain forced herself to swallow the chuckle in her throat. You won't find food there, little one. The butterfly took flight even as she had the thought. It relocated to Vikkari's elbow, which apparently took a longer examination to dismiss as a food source, because it sat there a full minute, wings beating almost lazily.
She watched it, praying Vikkari wouldn't wake or move in his sleep. I knew you were sweet, but didn't think it was enough to confuse butterflies. She'd have to tease a little.
The butterfly lifted off again, winged a couple slow loops of the tent before finding its way out.
Vikkari's breathing had shifted when she turned her attention back to him. "Were you watching me sleep again?"
"Mm," Etain hummed. His arm was still over his eyes, he couldn't see her bite her lip. "I like seeing you so... content. Relaxed." Knowing you trust me with that. "You're very pretty when you sleep."
Apparently she wasn't awake enough to censor her words. She clapped a hand over her mouth, face hot, the second the thought slipped out. You don't say that part out loud, Etain.
Vikkari shifted, moving his arm and rolling on his side to look at her. "Thank you." His eyes were warm with mirth and... something else. "So are you, though I don't get nearly as many chances to see it." He smiled and reached over to trace light, random patterns between her freckles. "Lucky for me you're just as pretty woken up."
Etain let out a nervous giggle, even though they'd been together long enough she knew this was sleepy unfiltered Vikkari, not charming insincerity. He was always sincere. "You..." She wasn't sure what, precisely to protest, and let it trail off as his gentle touch moved from her freckles to her scar, whisper-soft down the length of it.
Her lips pursed slightly as his fingers brushed over them, and Vikkari chuckled as he leaned in at the unspoken invitation. "May I?" he murmured, breath warm on her cheek.
Rather than answer, Etain closed the narrow gap and kissed him, her fingers sliding into his hair. (She always forgot how soft it was.)
His chuckle turned into a laugh as he kissed her back, his fingers cool as he cradled her cheek. "I suppose we should get up...."
She laughed at how his reluctance mirrored her own. "S'ppose we should. Pippin's prob'ly hungry."
"Good point. And we have a lot of ground to cover yet." Vikkari tipped his chin to kiss her forehead before rolling away to sit up and stretch.
Etain followed suit, checking the state of her braid and trying not to let her wings flare too wide in the tent confines. It was so peaceful in here, despite the hints of temperate weather--and the bear who needed feeding--outside, she was tempted to tug Vikkari back and insist it was fine to linger, get a late start just this once.
