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As G’raha’s footsteps faded away and the door fell closed behind him, Sizhu found herself staring up at the moon again. This time there was no pain, no flashes of memories not her own, no grave portents of blood-soaked possibilities. All she felt was determined, and not a little restless as well. G’raha’s words still rang in her ears--let me share your burden--and all of a sudden, the room seemed far too empty, the space itself somehow lonely despite the very lived-in feel that the surrounding jumble of various goods and matériel generally provided. But at the moment, all of that was just things, nothing but someone else’s clutter.
Sleep well, my friend, G’raha had said as he’d left, but as she stared listlessly over at the room’s bed, with its promised clean sheets and warm blankets, Sizhu knew that inviting as it looked and weary as she was, sleep would not be forthcoming, at least not yet.
...Not until she’d spent more time with G’raha, she realized suddenly. Yes, of course...she hadn’t been finished talking with him--in fact, she hadn’t really had much of a chance to get a word in edgewise. After everything that had happened lately, particularly that horribly traumatic experience in Garlemald, followed by that moment of weakness and tenderness they’d shared in that storehouse, there was certainly enough fuel for discussion. Then again, considering the late hour, perhaps now wasn’t the best time, since he undoubtedly needed his rest also. And yet...knowing G’raha Tia as well as she did, Sizhu didn’t doubt that he hadn’t retired to his own chambers. No...rather, he would be in the Noumenon, poring through tomes on whatever subject he thought might be even marginally related or important to their current troubles. Perhaps he’d even be attempting to sneak into the restricted section. (Again.)
If she went after him now, right now, she could probably catch him before he was too deeply buried in a book to even notice that she was there.
With a determined nod, Sizhu got moving--though first of all, she went to shut the window, as if closing out the sight of the moon could temporarily banish all her thoughts and memories about what had happened there. That done, she turned on her heel and headed out to hunt down a certain red-haired Scion, utterly unconcerned about her bare feet or the atypical style of her attire.
Sure enough, she caught up with G’raha as he was making his way purposefully along the winding path leading up to the Noumenon.
“Raha!” she called out to him as she darted up the path after him, but in this case, her feet proved quicker than her words. The man in question had only just started to turn his head to look back when she was there beside him, catching at his sleeve, pulling him around and to a stop before hurriedly releasing her grip. Much as part of her did want to cling to him, stronger still was the part that didn’t want to overstep or cross any boundaries…and she would have been lying to herself if she didn’t admit to another reason for the hasty removal of her hands. Ever since he’d tracked her down with that tea and comforted her in a time of dire need, she’d been a bit skittish about touching him. That exchange in Garlemald had been entirely innocent, without even so much as a chaste kiss being exchanged between them; the most “scandalous” thing he’d done was hold her hand and let her cry all over him. But innocent or no, she’d still been feeling decidedly heated towards the end of that warm, wholesome, and supportive embrace they’d shared there among the stacks of crates in the abandoned grainery...and that had been neither the time nor the place for such things.
...But now, perhaps...? No, the timing still wasn’t right, not really, and yet-
“Sizhu?” She was pulled out of her thoughts as G’raha blinked over at her, his face awash with curiosity and confusion, but she brushed that aside with an uncharacteristic impatience, a woman intent on her mission once more.
“Did you mean it?” she demanded, pale violet eyes sharp as she looked up at him, her expression so intense that it approached challenging.
“Wh-”
“What you said just now, about sharing my burden,” she went on, cutting off his startled question before he could finish it, instead repeating her own: “Did you mean it?”
G’raha took a half-step backwards in surprise, but then his mien shifted into something more relaxed, red eyes going gentle as he angled a soft but somehow playful smile down at her that made Sizhu’s heart give a thrilling little flutter. “Of course, my friend. Limited as my assistance might be, I have meant few things more than the offer I made to you not a quarter of a bell ago.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Sizhu squared her shoulders, then thrust out her hand, palm up, as she blurted out, “Then come back to my room with me. I...” The fingers of her outstretched hand started to curl inwards on themselves, her arm wavering and pulling back towards her body self-consciously; but then she raised her chin and held that hand out again more insistently. “I do need your help with something. I just...I need someone to talk with, and...I want you.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Sizhu’s eyes went wide as she recognized that mortifying slip of the tongue, what she’d meant to say muddled by her innermost thoughts, resulting in an overly bold sort of honesty that she scrambled to hastily amend: “I-I mean...! I want to talk to you!”
Had she not flustered and flailed so obviously, her potentially suggestive phrasing might have passed unremarked; as it was, there was a hint of color high on his cheeks, but he simply gave her a brief smirk and a rather impish flick of his ears, a fleeting glimpse of the G’raha Tia she’d first met in Mor Dhona what felt like ages ago now. He didn’t seem at all concerned or put off by her verbal misstep--and had she known why, Sizhu might’ve repeated herself, for G’raha was still largely of the opinion that his more ardent feelings for his hero were unrequited. That she cared for him deeply, he had no doubts; but surely her hurried correction was to clarify her stance, done as a kindness to him, to prevent him from harboring any false hope. Surely whatever embers still remained from the brief flames of the mutual flirtation and the steadily increasing would-be passionate tension that had been sparked during their initial exploration of the Crystal Tower had long since grown cold and dark...
...And yet, the more time he spent with her, the more tightly he clutched those feelings to himself, and the more hopelessly he fell for her. The underlying tenderness in each look she gave him, the way he sometimes (though only rarely) caught her staring at his mouth as he spoke, not to mention the way her every touch lingered just a fraction of a moment longer than necessary before she pulled away hurriedly, indicated that she was hyper-aware of his presence…and he had never seen her behave thus with any of the other Scions, or indeed anyone else at all.
Perhaps he had reason to hope after all. Ahhh, but even should his feelings prove to be unrequited, he knew that he would always reach out and grasp that hand any and every time it was offered.
Now wasn’t any different: without the slightest hesitation, he took her proffered hand--though rather than simply placing his own in hers, he caught hold of it, his fingers wrapping around her hand as he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. For a brief moment he just stood there, very nearly clasping her hand to his chest, his expression pleased, faintly bashful, and almost reverent as he looked down at their loosely-joined hands; then he moved to come alongside her, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm as he gazed at her with cheerful expectance.
“I’m all yours. Lead the way, my friend.”
Sizhu’s breath caught, both at his words and the way they’d been spoken so affectionately, and for what felt like a small eternity, she could only stand there, visibly searching his face, her own expression flooded with mingled hope, longing, and shyness. That phrasing though...surely he didn’t mean...
She suddenly caught herself staring at his mouth, her own lips parted slightly, and gave a quick shake of her head to clear away the daze she’d found herself in. Flashing a bright smile back at the other Miqo’te, Sizhu took a step forward, tugging G’raha back down the path she’d just come dashing up, light words of thanks on her tongue even though her mind was truly elsewhere, still turning those three simple words over and over.
I’m all yours.
He’d said it so casually...and yet, paired with the way he’d held her hand with such tenderness, what else could he mean? Perhaps he only meant that he was there to listen to her wholeheartedly...and yet...
What a way to say such a thing... It’ll be no wonder if I get the wrong idea entirely! And just my luck as well...
It was a quiet walk, the late hour and lack of people out and about contributing to the peace and near-silence, and though she wasn’t quite rushing them along, they weren’t exactly meandering either. Sizhu wanted to take her time, to enjoy having G’raha near, to relish the feel of his solid figure pressed against her side and arm as they drank in the night air and moonlight together; and yet, she was also in dire need of the heart-to-heart talk for which she’d sought him out in the first place, and in the end, need won out over want. By the time they reached the Baldesion Annex, she had them both striding along at a purposeful clip, tossing a quick greeting to a startled-looking Ojika Tsunjika--and she couldn’t help but register what this must look like to the administration officer. She’d come bolting out of her room in little more than her smallclothes, and had quickly returned arm in arm with one of her companions--a male companion, no less.
But is he wrong? The sly thought slid across her mind as she continued onwards, pushing through the intervening doors and heading back to her room, the unresisting G’raha still firmly in tow. You don’t truly intend for things to go that way, but if they did...you’d welcome it. More than welcome it, wouldn’t you? His hands grasping at you hungrily, his fingertips digging in with bruising force, his mouth hot and wet against your skin-
True as such things were, Sizhu shoved all of that firmly aside. She knew quite well what her body wanted, perhaps had even begun to need; but just as she’d forgone the opportunity of a lovely midnight stroll throughout Sharlayan, such desires were not what needed addressing most right now.
What she truly needed was comfort. A hand to hold, a shoulder to lean on, and a friendly ear to bend about her current concerns. Until she’d unburdened herself somewhat, nothing else would be truly satisfying, regardless of how otherwise enjoyable it might be.
But afterwards...well, who could say?
For his part, G’raha was largely calm as Sizhu led him along. He had no doubts as to her intentions, for she was never the type to lie to get what she wanted, and he had seen the pleading glisten in her eyes as she’d said that she needed his help--that she wanted him.
That had been quite pleasant to hear, even if he was all but certain that she hadn’t meant it the way that he wished she had. Regardless of that minor disappointment, he was content--nay, truly and deeply happy--simply to be with her, to fill whatever role she needed from him not just on the battlefield, but in her everyday life.
Thus, he paid no mind to the rather wide-eyed look Ojika Tsunjika had given him, his attention decidedly elsewhere as Sizhu half-towed him back to her room. Once those double-doors had closed behind them, he (rather reluctantly, to be honest) released her hand, turning an oblique smile on her as he stepped further into her room.
“So! What did you want to talk...about...?”
His question came out sounding even more inquisitive than he’d intended, for as he’d moved to settle himself into (what he’d hoped would become) his usual seat at the table, Sizhu had lightly caught hold of his arm again, pulling him further into the room.
...And although he was certain that it had been unintentional, the way she pulled his arm close to her chest caused it to press unmistakably against the side of one soft, full breast.
It was in that moment that G’raha Tia became abruptly aware of the reality of his present situation: he was alone with Sizhu, in her room, well past nightfall, with her clad in naught but what was doubtless her nightclothes--perhaps even her smallclothes.
The odd expression on Ojika’s face as they’d passed by the front desk suddenly made much more sense, and the red-haired Miqo’te found his footsteps faltering as his body tried to freeze in place; but Sizhu was still tugging at him, gentle but persistent, and…he wanted to follow after her, now and always. And so he allowed her to lead him across the room, moving past the couch and each and every chair, only stopping once she’d reached the bed. There, she released his arm, a sudden weariness in every line of her body as she crawled across the rumpled covers to sit with her back against the wall (and briefly presenting him with an excellent view of the backs of her thighs and the smooth curves above them). Once settled, she patted the spot beside her with a tired smile, and the fondness and gratitude in her gaze, as well as the total lack of any self-consciousness or embarrassed color in her cheeks left G’raha feeling slightly ashamed of himself for the direction his thoughts had briefly taken. With a smile to match hers, he climbed after her, matching her pose, his back to the wall, legs stretched out straight in front of him, and once he was there, she’d cuddled in close, looping an arm through his as she rested her cheek atop his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she murmured, and he could hear an unspeakable relief and appreciation resonating deeply throughout those two simple syllables. And then for a while she was quiet, and G’raha didn’t press her, merely reaching over to lightly rest his free hand atop the one still grasping at his arm. He’d actually started to wonder if she’d fallen asleep when she spoke up again:
“There’s...so much that I want to talk with you about. So many things that I want to say...that I should say, no matter the risk. But now that you’re here--that we’re here--I’ve realized that most of all, I just wanted your company.” His smile widened, and he fought to keep a flush from coloring his cheeks as she turned her head to nuzzle her face into his shoulder, which meant that he could feel her lips move as she added, quiet but certain, “Wanted you to be close.”
At that, he couldn’t help stealing a glance over at her, and he felt as though his heartbeat stuttered on finding her biting her lip, a faint blush on her cheeks as she gazed up at his face. His eyes followed the delicate movement in her throat as she swallowed hard, then added a little hesitantly:
“...Whatever that might mean.”
For a long, breathless moment, they simply looked at each other, G’raha’s eyes going wide, his cheeks gradually growing red to match Sizhu’s.
Then, before he could think further, much less overthink, G’raha moved away from her--though only so that he could half-turn on the bed to face her more fully and, just as he had wanted and waited to do for so long, reached out his hand. The tips of his fingers lightly grazed that unspeakably soft skin as he briefly traced the curve of her cheek, the clean line of her jaw, brushing downwards to curl beneath her chin with immeasurable gentleness.
“...Forgive me if this is not the case, but...I do not think I have misunderstood you,” he murmured, his voice sounding lower, more husky than usual. Sizhu had gone still when he’d made contact, a light shiver going through her as his hand paused there under her chin before tipping her face upwards towards his own. She watched in rapt attention as he drew in an unsteady breath before leaning in closer, scarlet eyes focused on her slightly-parted lips, and she leaned in slightly as well, letting her own eyes drift half closed as the warmth of his breath fanned across the lower half of her face-
Only for him to waver, visibly wince, and then helplessly bump his nose against hers with an affectionate sort of longing desperation before starting to pull away, a soft, yearning sigh leaving him as he sat back.
But Sizhu would have none of that.
Her lips pressed together in a firm, determined line, she followed after him, startling G’raha enough that the arm supporting the majority of his weight buckled beneath him, and without the wall behind him to brace himself against, he ended up resting on his elbow, more than halfway towards laying himself out flat on his back. Which left him gaping up at the Warrior of Light as she paused, watching his face carefully before moving forward again, until she was braced over him, one knee on either side of one of his legs, her hands resting on either side of his waist, her arms a loose cage around his body. She didn’t touch him, didn’t do anything so bold as straddle his hips or press herself against that slightly-bent leg that she was kneeling over--not yet. Because regardless of how he’d touched her face so tenderly, the way he’d sighed with such longing, he’d still pulled away, so she couldn’t be certain he wanted this--wanted her--and she had no intentions whatsoever of forcing anything he didn’t want on him, not now or ever.
And although words weren’t really her strongest suit, Sizhu knew with unswerving certainty that the easiest, best way to find out…was to finally be brave, to set aside her nervousness, and simply ask.
“...You haven’t misunderstood me,” she murmured, voice soft and gaze even softer as she looked at him with a tentative, hopeful smile. “In fact, I...would very much like your help with...” Here she briefly faltered, biting her lip again and looking away, her gaze flicking down to his mouth, dropping even lower to fleetingly glance over the glimpse of smooth collarbone that his scarf had shifted to reveal before wresting her eyes from that enticing sight, forcing them back up to meet with his once more. Her mouth curved in a shy, half-sheepish smile as she went on, “...With...um, c-carrying a burden for me? That is, if...only if you want to?”
Even as a playful proposition, it didn’t totally make sense, Sizhu was well aware of that; and yet, she’d wanted to throw that line he’d given her before back at him somehow, regardless of how silly it sounded when given this sort of twist. He’d been offering her a helping hand, a friendly shoulder to lean on, not...
She let that thought trail off, largely unfinished, feeling herself flush even darker as her mind reflexively filled in that gap for her: his whole body, to make use of in a more passionate manner. Not that she wanted to use him in any way--she recoiled inwardly at the very thought. No, she cared about G’raha Tia far too much to ever want to do anything of the sort, to ever even run the risk of hurting him. She just wanted to be closer to him, in both body and soul...and the best way to do that, the method that made the most sense, that her heart and body and mind all agreed on, was...this: a hopeful, if slightly bashful request for physical intimacy.
After all, that was one of the purest expressions of love, wasn’t it? And Sizhu Jakkya, the Warrior of Light, had realized months ago back on the First that a deep, romantic love was precisely what she felt for the other Miqo’te. The timing still wasn’t the best, considering the various threats that still waited to be faced, the danger of the Final Days looming over all, but...this time, she wasn’t trying to forget anything. This time, they weren’t crouched together in a freezing warehouse in Garlemald; this time they were somewhere comfortable, somewhere safe and private, where they wouldn’t have to rush through things, or worry about interruptions or being overheard.
This time, she wanted to be with him because she loved him. That was all.
...He had been so quiet for so long that she was starting to worry though. Unlikely as it seemed after the way he’d touched her face, perhaps she’d misread him after all. Perhaps she’d come on too strong-
And then G’raha gave a soft, unsteady-sounding sort of laugh, raising a hand to rub at his own face, briefly concealing his expression from Sizhu’s anxious gaze. When he let that hand fall back to his side, however, she found that he was smiling--no, he was beaming up at her, cheeks pink but eyes shining with almost rueful amusement, and more than a little affection.
“ ‘If I want to’...?”
The hand that had so tenderly caressed her cheek before was back, this time lightly cradling one side of her face, very much like he’d done in the warehouse after healing her, his thumb stroking steadily along her cheekbone as he seemed to drink in the sight of her, here, braced over him, and his smile widened as he murmured, a faint rough edge to his voice that she had never heard before:
“My dearest friend...Sizhu. I can assure you that whatever it is you would ask of me, both here and now as well as always, I want nothing more.”
Hope, followed by a boundless, breathless sort of overwhelming joy blossomed in her chest, making Sizhu give a low gasp, and she immediately shifted her weight, raising a hand to mirror what G’raha was doing, gently cupping one of his cheeks as well.
“You mean--you want...me?” she asked, wanting to be absolutely sure, her expression one of delighted disbelief. “The same way that...I want you?”
Only for an entire century, give or take a few years, G’raha thought to himself, but couldn’t quite bring himself to admit aloud. That might be...too much, at least for the moment, so instead he gave a firm, determined nod.
“Yes, I...do believe it to be the very same.” He gave another brief laugh, flustered but struggling not to show it too terribly, which resulted as it often did in a bit of anxious rambling. “I had thought that perhaps...well, particularly after our exchange in Garlemald, I’d hoped, rather, but...I wasn’t certain. And so, to hear you say it, that you want me...that you want me...” His smile wobbled, wavered briefly before growing wider still. “ ‘Tis like a dream come true.”
By then, Sizhu’s eyes had grown bright, shining with happiness and perhaps even a hint of unshed tears, and G’raha found that he couldn’t look away from her, basking in the relaxing warmth of her smile. A smile that moved closer as her eyes dropped to his mouth, lingering there as she leaned in meaningfully, and he let his eyes slide closed as he felt the lightest brush of her lips against his.
“I love you, G’raha Tia,” she murmured against his mouth, so close that he could practically taste those sweetly-whispered words on his lips as he gave a low, shuddering gasp, his eyes going wide with wonder that she would be so bold as to say it so plainly--and then she was kissing him, chaste and gentle yet purposeful and firm, without the slightest bit of doubt or hesitation in the way her lips moved against his. He kissed her back eagerly, with every bit as much tenderness and passion, his hand sliding sideways to bury itself in her hair as he leaned in closer, his whole body drawn towards her like an oppositely-charged magnet.
Time went soft-edged and blurry for a while, and neither could say how long they kissed before burning lungs forced them to break apart.
“I...! I love you as well,” G’raha managed to breathe in between dragging in ragged gasps of air, letting his eyes fall closed again as they rested their foreheads together. “Desperately so...from the very bottommost reaches of my heart, unto the very highest of heights...beyond space and time, and all sense of reason-”
His words were cut off, ending in another gasp as Sizhu finally grew tired of holding herself up off of him so carefully and completely, and simply let herself sit down on his thigh, which left her very much straddling it. It also freed her other hand, which she immediately lifted to his face as well, cradling both his cheeks as she leaned in for another kiss. This kiss was deeper, passionate and hard enough that it pushed him backwards ever so slightly as she unwittingly leaned more of her weight into it. G’raha leaned into it as well, though with gravity on her side, it was something of a losing battle; before long, he gave a rather comical wobble beneath her as he nearly lost his balance, and she broke off the kiss with a bright little laugh before shifting her weight backwards off of him, only to let her hands drop to his shoulders. A moment later, they slid down onto his chest, and she pressed her palms flat against the lean muscles there admiringly--then pressed harder with a gentle but meaningful force that the scholarly Scion gave into more than willingly.
“Maybe...you should rest, Raha,” she said softly even as he laid back, her face tellingly flushed as she looked down at him, stretched out on his back on her bed, his lips red and kiss-swollen but his hair still far too neat. Her fingers practically itched to slide into those red locks, brushing through them, tangling themselves in those silky strands...and she suddenly realized that there was no reason to resist, to deny herself that particular pleasure any longer, so long as G’raha himself didn’t mind. She started to move forward, then abruptly noticed how suggestive her position was, and while that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering the fact that she did want him, in every meaning of that phrase...it somehow still felt a little too fast, too reckless and rushed. They’d only just kissed for the first (and second, and third) time, and she wanted to take things slow, to really and truly cherish him, no matter how much her body screamed for her to do otherwise. Thus, rather than moving upwards to straddle his hips, Sizhu rather hurriedly shifted herself off of G’raha completely, choosing instead to sidle up to him, stretching herself out on her side next to the other Miqo’te.
“It’s been a long day...for both of us,” he murmured in agreement as she settled in. “Perhaps both of us should rest.” Sizhu gave a small nod, then suddenly couldn’t resist that previous urge any longer: reaching up with one hand, she brushed part of his bangs back out of his face, then continued to stroke his hair--gently at first, but before long her deft fingers had plucked out all his hair clips one by one and were threading themselves through his hair, fiery strands running through her fingers like rivulets of brilliant new copper. Judging by the contented smile on his face--and was he very quietly purring?--G’raha enjoyed the attention, letting his eyes fall closed as she dragged her nails lightly over his scalp, thoroughly mussing his once-neat hair, completely pulling it out of its braid, letting those surprisingly long, glossy strands pool around his shoulders.
When she was satisfied that his carefully-coiffed hairstyle was suitably messy, Sizhu reached out her other hand, burying both of them in his loosened locks as she leaned in to press her lips against his once again, and G’raha met her kiss with his own, soft yet fervent.
As before, there was nothing hurried about it, each press of their lips ardent and lingering, a slow learning and deliberate exploration of each other’s mouths. Eventually their attentions shifted slightly--G’raha soon learned that the place where her jaw met her neck was a decidedly sensitive spot for Sizhu, and took full advantage of that knowledge, while Sizhu discovered that tracing his Archon marks with her lips and tongue made G’raha shudder with delight, as well as that he enjoyed a careful brush of her sharp, prominent Keeper of the Moon canines against his throat every so often.
Wanting easier access to those tempting collarbones he’d had on such prominent display back in Garlemald, Sizhu started tugging pointedly at his scarf, which had by now gotten fairly tangled up around his neck and shoulders--enough so that it took the two of them working in tandem to get it unwound with any sort of speed. When it finally came free, Sizhu took a moment to admire the view, then sat up enough to carefully drape that scarf over the bed’s oversized stone headboard before nuzzling her face into that narrow bit of newly-revealed skin.
Neither of them seemed in any particular rush to remove any other articles of clothing though, either from each other or from themselves; both were simply enjoying the warmth of being close, content to be tangled together on Sizhu’s bed, fully clothed and in positions that were still fairly innocent, all things considered. For a time, they paused to simply hold each other close, taking comfort in the warmth and solidity of another person whose heart fluttered then beat strongly in time with their own; with her head resting on his shoulder once more, Sizhu simply gazed up at his face, eyes tracing those handsome, familiar features carefully over and over again, and G’raha returned her gaze steadily, his own eyes drinking her in, shining with happiness and obvious adoration. Both were quiet, neither feeling a need for words at the moment when their eyes and expressions spoke worlds, a placid slow blink given and returned conveying everything they could have wanted to say and more.
After a while, their hands did start to wander slightly, though each watched the other’s face close and carefully, alert for any adverse--or particularly approving--reactions. One of G’raha’s hands slid up beneath the side of her tunic, fingertips lightly tracing along the edge of her ribs, hesitated, then seemed to lose the confidence needed to travel upwards, slipping further to the side and around her back to run along the curve of her spine instead. Sizhu, somewhat more bold, slipped her hand directly up the front of his shirt, fingers brushing along the noticeable ridges of his abs, her expression rapt and admiring as the movement of her hand tugged his shirt up, baring a fair portion of his stomach to her eyes. She felt a sudden, sharp longing to press her mouth against those visible muscles, to outline them with her tongue, to gradually kiss her way lower, until her lips found that just barely-visible yet deeply intriguing dusting of vibrantly red hairs leading downwards, into his trousers-
Shaking away that overly-lustful thought, instead Sizhu moved in to press her mouth against those clean-cut, gorgeous collarbones that had nearly driven her mad with temptation back in Garlemald. G’raha gave a soft, breathy groan as her teeth scraped lightly against the thin skin stretched over those narrow bits of bone, his breath catching--and breaking--audibly when her mouth closed around one of them, suckling at it gently. He shuddered hard as she continued to apply that steady pressure, his fingers digging into her back as his breath began to come in quiet, open-mouthed pants, and when he moved to press his hips into hers, Sizhu lost her head somewhat at the currently still-subtle but obviously-increasing evidence of how much he wanted her.
Her mouth came off his collarbone with a wet, softly-audible pop, and she pushed herself up on one elbow to kiss him again--and this time, it soon grew far more forceful and heated on both sides. Before long, Sizhu found herself pushing him onto his back and first leaning over him, then impulsively climbing on top of him, as she’d been too shy to do before. Taking it slow or not, she wanted this, wanted him...and if he wanted this and her as well, as his body indicated that he did, then they’d learn together just how far they both wanted to take this tonight.
It was undeniably thrilling, being on top of him, and Sizhu immediately decided that she liked it, liked the view of him beneath her, liked the feeling of his hips moving between her thighs, liked the sensation of catching at his wrists and pinning them beside his head as she leaned down for another deep, lingering, and this time rather messy kiss. Her hands shifted upwards as she continued to kiss him, however, her fingers gently threading through his, turning it into a mutual, intimate-feeling clasp rather than simply keeping his wrists pinned in place. There might be a place and time for that, something in the back of her mind chuckled rather darkly, but for now, especially for tonight, she wanted soft touches and gentleness shared between them.
For his part, G’raha seemed to feel the same way, his fingers readily intertwining with hers, and he’d given not the slightest bit of resistance, nor voiced any sort of protest when she’d pushed him onto his back and climbed on top; rather, his hands had come up to grasp at her hips, his palms periodically slipping down to caress the smooth, bare skin of her thighs in a way that felt both hungry and encouraging. At times his thumbs even paused to run along the bottom edges of her tiny, frilly little sleep-shorts, dipping beneath them a bit daringly--but never quite too daringly.
Then Sizhu surprised them both by moving over him, giving a slow, intentional, yet also tentative grinding roll of her hips against his, drawing out a keening little whimper from both G’raha and herself as well...and it seemed that for G’raha, that inadvertently teasing motion was finally too much.
In a blur of movement so quick that even Sizhu’s sharp nocturnal hunter’s eyes failed to catch all of it, he rolled them both to the side, well-muscled arms flexing as he heaved her up off of him and placed her flat on her back instead, neatly reversing their positions. It was quick and just slightly rough, yet still careful and nowhere near violent, and the welcoming softness of the bed beneath them cushioned what little force there was considerably.
A thrill of excitement rushed through Sizhu at how suddenly he’d flipped them over and taken control, not to mention how the sight of Raha crouched over her, one muscular thigh pressing up between her legs meaningfully high, made her whole body feel like it was on fire, skin burning delightfully everywhere he touched her. Oh, and the look he was giving her, that smoldering, almost hungry gaze, tempered with genuine warmth and affection, was nearly enough to make her melt on the spot. She’d liked being on top, that much was true, but this, being caught beneath the lean planes of his lithe body, this was every bit as good and enjoyable.
He lingered there for a long moment, just looking down at her, taking her in, enjoying the loose sprawl of her limbs beneath him, the way her silver-white hair spilled across the blankets like a glorious cascade of silken moonlight, the passionate heat mingled with unwavering love and soul-deep trust shining in those amethyst eyes. It left him breathlessly happy, unable to resist leaning to kiss her again, a wide smile that she could feel curling along his mouth even as he pressed it against hers with a welcoming, contented hum.
Now that he had taken the lead, G’raha seemed to take everything even more slowly, gradually kissing his way down her neck, lingering on that sweet spot below her jaw and the pulse in her throat before continuing onwards, taking a lengthy detour to mimic what she’d done to his collarbones before eventually making his way down onto her breastbone. One of his hands had slowly drifted along the flat expanse of her stomach, again skirting along the edge of her ribs before tentatively cupping one of her breasts through her tunic, giving a gentle, experimental squeeze. The way her eyes darkened as she bit her lip and just noticeably arched into that touch spoke silent volumes, and his hand and mouth both slowed, nearly going still before he eased back enough to watch her face as he boldly slipped that hand back down, then up, this time underneath her tunic. The unsteadiness in her next breath was audible to both of them, but she very pointedly didn’t move away as he lightly brushed the backs of his fingers against the underside of one full breast, so G’raha continued, reaching farther upward still to drag the pad of his thumb around one of her nipples in a slow, sensual circle.
“Raha-” she moaned at that, arching into the touch even more obviously, pressing her hips upwards against his in a needy, thoroughly wanton manner. “Mm...feels--so good...I...I want...!” More, she wanted more--no, not just more, but all of him, just as he’d promised when she’d first sought him out, catching up to him on his way to the library‒
G’raha gave a shiver at the raw, throaty quality of her voice, drawing in a shuddering breath as his eyes took in the sight of her beneath him, shaking and pliant and willing, wanting him, wanting everything he had to give her, his mouth, his hands, and something else even beyond that--a gorgeous, glorious vision that he had never truly expected to experience for himself. ...And yet, while he longed for her as well, still he gave a sigh and paused, bowing his head slightly to hide the overwhelmingly tempting sight of her from his gaze. As he paused, Sizhu also went still beneath him, her breath coming hard but her eyes intent on his face, waiting for him to say whatever was obviously on his mind.
“...While I must admit that I do want you--desperately so, as I believe I said before...I also believe that it would be...wisest for us to wait for a better time to take things any farther than we already have tonight.”
For an instant, Sizhu wanted to protest--after all, she’d already waited for a ‘better time,’ and if this wasn’t it, then when and where was? And yet, as her pulse slowed and her blood cooled slightly, she knew that he was right. The trembling in her body wasn’t just eagerness--it was nervousness as well, her uncertainty not at all about the depth or sincerity of her feelings for G’raha, or the dedication or honorableness of his intentions towards her, but simply about taking such a big step when they’d only just confessed their feelings to each other tonight. No, she realized, she wanted to wait. She wasn’t quite ready for this either.
“I agree,” she murmured, unable to stop herself from raising a hand to gently caress and cradle one side of his face once again in a movement she suspected would soon become familiar, if not reflexive. “Uncertain as things are, and dangerous as the coming days will undoubtedly be...yes. You’re right, we should wait.” A flicker of wry humor crossed her face, her mouth pulling sideways into a rueful smile as she added, “ ‘Because we might die tomorrow’ isn’t a good reason to do something like this...and you mean so much more to me than that, Raha.”
The smile he gave her in return was tender, endlessly devoted and full to the brim of unfaltering conviction.
“And you, me, my dearest friend...my dearest love.” The corners of his mouth quirked in a chaotic whirl of emotions as he briefly ducked his head again, but he couldn’t help continuing, something shy and vulnerable, yet still ardent and devoted in his gaze as he lifted it to meet hers once more. “...I have waited more than a hundred years for this, for you. I can stand to wait a while longer. At least until you find a way to save our star yet again, as I have not the slightest trace of doubt that you will.”
Sizhu returned his smile, her thumb continuing to lightly stroke across his cheek with open affection. “As always, your faith in me gives me such hope...I thank you for that, Raha...my most cherished, irreplaceable friend and companion, and my own dearest love, as well.” A twinkle of mischief entered her eyes then, her thumb dipping down to brush along the edge of his bottom lip as she went on, a playful sing-song purr in her voice, “But~ If you keep your hand there, I’m going to get confused about these mixed messages you’re sending~ And I might just have to push you over onto your back again to have my revenge~”
G’raha’s eyes flew wide at that, his startled gaze dropping to the telling bulge beneath her tunic, where his hand still firmly grasped her breast, and his face flushed a fierce vermillion. And yet, instead of jerking it backwards as if burned, as Sizhu had expected...he swallowed hard, but didn’t immediately withdraw his hand. Instead, something mischievous, almost rakish, flashed across his face, his eyes falling half-closed in a truly sinful smolder as he repeated that slow, circular motion from before, this time ending by giving her nipple itself a light, teasing flick that drew a startled gasp from the other Miqo’te.
“...’Tis plain you meant what you said as something of a threat, but...I think that perhaps I might rather enjoy whatever it is you’d decide to do to me.”
With a teasing wink that held some of the strongest echoes of his younger, pre-Tower self that Sizhu had seen in ages, the red-haired Scion finally withdrew his hand, though he didn’t rush to do so even then, letting the pads of his fingers trail down over the soft skin of her toned stomach until they reached the waistband of her shorts, running teasingly along the edge of those as well.
“Oh, you’ll definitely enjoy it, I’ll make certain of that,” Sizhu half-growled at him playfully as he tipped himself over to collapse on his side, sprawling out on the bed next to her once again. G’raha flashed her a bright grin, and she couldn’t resist leaning in to cover that smug expression with a hard but teasingly-brief kiss that left him laughing aloud as he leaned after her in turn, eagerly seeking another, longer kiss.
When they finally broke off that kiss to breathe, a wordless agreement passed between them, and both began to settle in, G’raha pausing long enough to hurriedly slip out of his outer clothes and turn out the lights before they both crawled beneath the blankets, working together to find a comfortable position for them to curl up in. Once there, and after a few more soft, shorter kisses and quiet murmurs of affection, Sizhu wrapped an arm around his midriff, snuggling up to him and pressing her forehead against his chest as he looped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close as their legs tangled together.
The promise of further trouble in an unknown tomorrow loomed large and heavy overhead, stifling and stressful and usually enough to make her toss and turn for a while before drifting off to sometimes fitful, sometimes restful sleep.
But here and now, wrapped in Raha’s arms with his comfortingly warm and solid figure close beside her, Sizhu felt utterly content, calm and pleased with everything that had happened tonight. Her heart felt quiet, at peace in a way it hadn't been in a long time, and as she listened to his heartbeat and breathing slow and even out, sleep came to her quickly, deep and serene.
The next morning, G’raha was the first to awaken, drifting slowly into consciousness suffused with a rather nebulous sense of deep satisfaction. His body felt completely and utterly relaxed, as warm as if he were wrapped in a heartfelt embrace‒
At that, his eyes snapped open, the events of the previous night coming back to him in a rush--and sure enough, when G’raha turned his head to look beside him, there she was: the Warrior of Light, deeply and trustingly asleep, one relaxed arm draped loosely across his middle, the faintest of tiny, content smiles gracing her lovely face.
His Warrior of Light.
The thought momentarily stole his breath, that she was his and that he was hers in equal measure, and he swallowed hard as he reached out a not-quite-steady hand to gently caress one smooth, grey-striped cheek. Would that he could stay here in this moment forever, with nothing more pressing at hand than gazing upon her, watching over her as she dreamed...and yet, duty called. The other Scions would‒
‒Oh gods, he thought, eyes flying wide and body tensing as that thought came to mind, the other Scions, they were staying here in the Baldesion Annex also. Which meant that the odds of one of them seeing him leaving Sizhu’s room were‒
Sizhu woke to G’raha stirring, though careful as he was not to disturb her, she only came fully awake when the bed dipped then sprung back into place as he left it. Blearily, she stuck a hand out from the cocoon of covers he’d carefully wrapped around her, head rising from the pillow and eyes sliding halfway open as she found the warm spot his lingering body heat had left behind, but no...
“...Raha?”
His head jerked up sharply on hearing her speak his name, her voice soft and still rough-edged from sleep and far more arousing than he should find it, surely--and when the sight of her upright, bed-mussed form met his eyes, he had to look down and away again quickly, hurriedly focusing on making certain that he put on his trousers properly. To think that he had spent the night so intimately intertwined with his hero, a beautiful woman who loved him just as he loved her…and who really was wearing far too little for his swiftly-flagging self control to handle it with grace this early in the morning. Those cute, frilly shorts really didn’t leave much at all to the imagination, and the way her oversized tunic had shifted to display a largely-bare shoulder and a generous amount of cleavage was even more‒
“Yes?” he all but squeaked out, then gave a self-conscious cough and swallowed hard, his next question coming out far more smooth and collected. “Ahem. What is it?”
Instead of answering right away, Sizhu gave a little moan as she raised her arms in a sleepy stretch, and G’raha’s eyes, which had attempted to return to her, were quickly lowered to his still-bare feet and the floor again, bright color blooming along his cheekbones.
“Why are you up so early?” she asked at last, dropping her arms and blinking across the room at him owlishly. “Did something happen?”
G’raha had to give another little cough before replying, “N-no, not as such... I was simply...concerned about how it might look if I were to be seen leaving your quarters at this time of morning.”
Sizhu tilted her head, violet eyes now fully alert, and brimming with curiosity and questions like usual. “How might it look, then?” G’raha’s flush darkened, and though he opened his mouth to speak, the other Miqo’te beat him to it. “As if we’re together? As not just friends...but lovers?”
Ears flicking nervously, G’raha gave her an imploring look, then a minute nod, by which point Sizhu had clambered out of the bed, bare feet silent on the stone floor as she closed the space between them, coming to stand in front of him. One hand caught at his wrist, gently stilling his fidgeting, while the other reached up to tenderly brush a lock of messy red hair back out of his face, her fingertips lightly skimming across his forehead, over the arch of bone above one eye.
“...Aren’t we, though?” she murmured, calm and practical, and though some part of him wanted to protest, the majority of him was overwhelmingly happy to hear her say such a thing. Being able to be with her wasn’t anything he’d ever expected, wasn’t something he had ever truly dared to hope for in all the long years he’d spent plotting and planning how best to save her. It felt impossible that someone as amazing, as inspiring and incredible as the Warrior of Light would have any interest in someone like him--after all, regardless of the rarity of the bloodline he’d inherited, when it came down to it, he was still little more than a simple scholar and historian, albeit one with access to considerable, powerful resources. Still...it was true that he and she had weathered their share of trials together; mayhap that was her reason. One day, when he felt braver (and when she wasn’t quite so scantily clad), he would have to ask her why it was that she wanted to be with him. But for now‒
“Yes.” The word left him in a breathy, urgent exhale, and he couldn’t help the radiant smile that spread across his face as he looked down into hers. “So long as you still want me--gods, yes.”
“Of course I still want you, Raha,” she answered with a soft laugh, her fingers running lightly up his still-bare arms as she stepped in closer to enfold him in a warm embrace. “After all we’ve been through together, that isn’t going to change overnight. In any case, I don’t care who sees you leaving my quarters, whatever the time of day or night.”
A flush of pleasure washed over him at that matter-of-fact statement--she wasn’t embarrassed to be with him, to be seen with him, for it to be known that they were something more to each other, something intimate--but although he both welcomed and returned her embrace, he still found himself stammering his reply.
“A-ah, well...if you don’t care if our friends know, then neither do I, I suppose... Ahem.” He heaved a soft sigh into her hair before adding, “...Although I must admit that I had hoped to avoid the...imminent flood of good-natured jokes, likely to be made largely at my expense...”
Without fully breaking away from the embrace, Sizhu stepped back just enough to angle a bright smile his way.
“Oh, I fully expect Thancred, at the very least, to give us both hell for it. But last night was more than worth any amount of teasing...and so is being with you, in general.”
Going up on her toes, Sizhu planted a firm kiss on his cheek, then nuzzled his nose with her own before finally pulling out of their embrace. G’raha watched, bemused, as she quickly gathered up his tunic, scarf, and boots--the few remaining articles of clothing he hadn’t managed to hastily scramble into--and pushed the lot into his arms; then she slipped around behind him, settling her hands on his shoulder blades as she pointedly guided him towards the doors, chirping out in a half-playful tone as they went, “But for now, I have to wash up and change, so-- out! We can get breakfast together at the Last Stand once I’m ready!”
Without any further explanation, she pushed him out into the hallway, closing the doors firmly behind him, leaving G’raha standing there all alone--though not before she leaned out to give him a cheeky wink that mimicked the one he’d given her last night and murmured a soft promise of, “See you soon, Raha~”
For a long moment, he simply stood there, barefoot and half-dressed and moony-eyed, gazing unseeingly at the door he’d just unceremoniously exited and thinking only of the incredible woman behind it. His hand went to the cheek she’d kissed, a longing, slightly dreamy-sounding sigh whispering out of him as his mouth curved in a blissful smile.
It was the sound of firm, measured footsteps that shook G’raha out of his pleasant thoughts (and a really quite wholesome daydream of spending the day together with Sizhu), and he realized with a sharp start that he was standing in front of her door, still only half-clothed, the disheveled state of his hair alone a thoroughly damning detail, and Twelve be good, even if they had both said that they didn’t really care if the other Scions knew, he couldn’t help it, part of him did care somewhat--not that he was ashamed, of course, he could never be ashamed of being with someone as wonderful and all-around incredible as Sizhu. No, it was…he simply wasn’t certain that he was as of yet adequately prepared, that he was mentally and spiritually fortified enough to...to bear up under the inevitable and amiable but doubtless still quite intense ribbing that he knew would be his eventual due from the other Scions. They’d all known her longer, of course, so it was only fair, and he would accept whatever taunts and threats came his way with steadfast poise and good grace.
...Eventually. But not now, not on this particular morning, half-clad in thoroughly rumpled clothing and still lingering outside her doorway. Thus, as those footsteps continued their relentless and panic-inducing approach, G’raha darted a few doors down the hallway, taking refuge in his own room just in time, though he didn’t doubt that whoever it was that had come around the corner had seen him vanishing into his room in quite a hurry.
Dumping his clothes onto the nearest chair, G’raha made a beeline for the sink, desperate to splash some cold water on his face, at the very least, though he could probably do with a quick washing-up himself before setting his hair and clothes to rights and venturing out to meet Sizhu for their promised breakfast at the Last Stand.
Breathing out another contented sigh even as the icy water hit his face and dribbled down the front of his undertunic, G’raha found himself smiling, broad and beaming and undeniably besmitten.
See you soon, Raha~
Grinning even wider (and daftly enough that he accidentally ended up with a mouthful of water, setting himself coughing and sputtering), G’raha Tia splashed more water up into his face, then started cleaning himself up in earnest.
Breakfast together. Soon. He almost couldn’t wait.