Alex looked towards the bottle on the table. He could remember when the table was cluttered with bottles. Most of them half or completely empty. Now there was only one. His consumption had decreased over the months since Sana had moved in.
He headed towards the bed after ditching his clothes in a pile on the floor. Some things didn’t change to easily. Clothes could be dealt with in the morning. For now he was tired after his latest job. He slid into bed beside Sana and pulled her close. Wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.
The alcohol had once been to help him deal with the nightmares. The memories of the things he had survived growing up. Reasons why he slept with a blade carefully tucked within reach.
Now? Now he had Sanagi. There was something comforting having her close. Something about the way she made him feel did more for him then the booze ever had. It wasn’t a perfect fix but it helped a lot. Some day he’d have to deal with those nightmares. For now he’d take having Sana right there in his arms.
He’d passed out facing away from her. It was unusual for them, but he was exhausted and she had been reading a book, having gotten to sleep in. So, he’d put his back against her side to let her read and so they could still touch while he got the rest he needed. He was so much more loving and considerate than people realized. She was curled up behind him now, tracing his back tattoo softly with her fingers. It was textured differently than the skin under it, both the scarred and healthy parts. She traced it, she even traced a few of his scars, but mostly, the tattoo.
The scars had brought them together in some ways… the tattoos meant so much to him. Just like everything else that was a part of him, she committed it all to memory. All the things that reminded her of him when he wasn’t here. All the small things that let her piece him together in her mind. She’d gotten to help mind the one on his face when he got it recolored. She was proud of him for working to break free of so much pain.
Really, he’d just… needed to know someone loved him. That someone could care about him without wanting anything from him but himself. Others had helped pave the way, helped make up for his scars, or give him new ones… Anata tried particularly hard at that part. Even Aeri had done her part, inspiring him to recolor the tattoo along with letting him feel… well anything.. She wondered if he liked tattoos on others. She’d never really asked.. maybe she should.
Her purple hues traced his tattoo along with her fingers for quite some time before they started to close. Eventually, when she was too tired to keep committing every ridge and valley on his back to memory, she snuggled up close to him, her tiny frame attempting to be the big spoon tonight. She breathed softly on the edges of the tattoo, kissing his shoulder blades before pulling herself tightly to him and whispering, “I love you.” She’d sleep well tonight.
Alex was tired of finding new healers. It wasn’t even his fault either. He swore every time he turned around, one of his healer friends was suddenly too occupied to deal with his various injuries. Not that he couldn’t deal with his own wounds. He’d been doing it on an off for years already.
Then he managed to find a flyer for a clinic that was opening soon. What luck! Now he just had to hope the healer was the woman’s name on the flyer. He wasn’t ready to let some guy touch him. Even if he was injured. Too many bad memories.
Of course he soon found out that was the case when he had to go to have some bullet wounds cared for. A woman just like he had hoped. Small in stature but gentle in touch. He was glad to have someone to get the bullet out of his shoulder. That one was a little tricky to deal with on his own.
If only he knew where this lucky find would end up leading him. Sanagi was a lucky find indeed.
A plate with fresh fish was placed down in front of her by a man pretending to be grumpy. By now she realized he wasn’t half the asshole he wanted her and Shadow to think he was. Tyranny looked over her meal of fish at the black cat across from her and pondered, not for the first time, exactly what happened when he lost that piece of ear but he wouldn’t tell her. Must have been pretty bad… They’d been thru some stuff together already though so maybe he would one day. As she licked fish off her whiskers she considered Alex again, eating there with Sanagi, making her smile. He’d brought Shadow home which had surprised her and while she had originally thought he would just take advantage of her person, he hadn’t. He’d even saved her life and the fish… was a regular thing.. And he’d jumped in the water after that… exuberant boy cat, too. Maybe he wasn’t terrible. She was sure this little group wasn’t a normal family but Sanagi really was the only one of them with parents so Tyranny supposed it seemed right she was the one who mothered them all.. and that in turn they fight tooth and claw for her. The kitten turned and gave a good last lick of the plate before going to run against Alex’s leg in final, grudging approval of the man. She was rewarded with a bit of a scratch… like she thought… pretend grumpy. Then the scratches stopped and the cursing started. She looked up to see that as usual Shadow had to ruin it. He’d taken her distraction as an opportunity to steal fish from his person’s plate. Boys.
Bonds. Connected by a thread of fate. No matter the distance. We will always find each other again.
Sometimes the connection between two people is the most unlikely thing you would think could happen. That they don’t fit together. But somehow it works. They fit. Like the missing pieces of a bigger whole. That the one half fits into that broken and jagged half so perfectly to make a whole.
Alex couldn’t help but fall for the small raen healer. She didn’t see him as beyond help. She believed he could change. Be better then he was. For her he was willing to fight to make that true. For Sanagi.
“You’re mine. I love you, Sana.”
Sometimes it takes that one bright and shining soul. The shining light that can break through the darkness and take that person by the hand. Guide them from the darkness and the pain. Let them heal and smile once more.
She had been hurt and used. The memories clearly still haunted her. Yet she was still the sweet little bird who had flown to his side when he made a mistake and gotten injured. Whose smile made him want to offer her the world if he could. Just to see her continue to smile. To keep his sweet rose from withdrawing back into the pain. To see her true worth. Especially in Valen’s eyes.
“Such a pretty flower, You shouldn’t hide away.”
To find that something the soul longs for. To truly live again. As that thread of fate is pulled and tugged. Sometimes gently. Sometimes shoved and pulled. As if the hands of fate are truly at work.
Lance wasn’t looking for someone. Had pretty much given up hope on such an ideal at his age. Duty. He lived for duty to the High House he served. Then in walked an angel. He could have sworn Halone herself had sent this woman to him. A tug towards the lady who offered her kindness and help to quiet the pain. Still he remained guarded yet. So afraid to let anyone close to him after all that had happened. Maybe he really did need a shove by Halone.
“Kyna, I shall do my best. I hope you will continue to help me through this.”
Sometimes that is all one truly needs. A hope. A guiding hand. To find a bond so very needed. A bond that gives them strength and steel. Makes them stronger rather then weaker. A bond that they would fight tooth and nail to protect.
Silent wings. Silent songs. A calling neither answered. Yet a small hope began to bloom as the dragon began to find herself craving the next meeting with the small miqo’te woman. So many people she couldn’t trust with the truth. Yet Bodge… Bodge she could trust. Bodge was the first person she had trusted since Roselle.
“Bodge friend, would you like some berries?”
Yet no two bonds are exactly alike. Each one is unique. Each one is special. As that red thread of fate brings them together. No matter the distance, they will find each other.
Destiney had been cautious at first. Not sure she wanted to love again. More then once she had been shot down, left feeling unworthy. Then along came the wolf to steal the maiden’s heart. She handed it over to him so willingly. Found herself wanting nothing more then to stay by his side. To have a family with him.
Alex sighed softly as he looked at his gear and ran a hand over the guards for his hands. Remembering the other night. The way Sana had looked in the coat made by the same man who had crafted his own armor.
Hell he still remembered the first time he truly fell for her. It was still hard to believe that she could love someone like himself. They were heading towards a year now though. It seemed so close and yet still so far. Even with all they had been through over the time they had been together.
Fixing his injuries without too many prying questions. Not admonishing him for what he did. Actually listening to the truth he rarely told most. Not even running from him when he had tried to scare her off for her own safety. Not looking at him like the broken creature he often felt like…
Still she tried to make him see his own worth. Making him feel like maybe there was some hope… Even for someone like himself.
L’ania. Ulan. Arik. Ilan. Lancefer. Most importantly Sanagi.
Perhaps he wasn’t as hopeless as he once thought. Giving a wry chuckle before running a hand over his face. A lot had changed in a little over two years. For once… He had friends. He had someone he loved. He had a chance at happiness. If he could let go of the fear.
His thoughts drifted to Sana again. To just them together for her nameday. To the sweet tenderness of her tending to his wounds. Sleeping with her snuggled close to him. Seeing her smile. Having perfectly normal meals together. Treating him like he was a valid person and not just a monster.
Sana always seemed to make everything okay. No matter how stupid he acted. Her light chased away the darkness. She somehow always made everything okay.
Alex tipped his head back as he closed his eyes. He was alone. He felt no shame in letting the tears run down his cheeks right now. “Please… Let me stay by her side. Let me have this one thing if nothing else.” A quiet plea to the gods that he swore hated him and made him suffer for so much of his life.
Spirit of the Warlock 