𝔅𝔶 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔦𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔰!

He swung again and again against the makeshift enemy, vision bleary, but his focus unwavering. Behind his eyes, Aoife's yelp of pain and the sight of her being cornered repeatedly played like a cursed vision. He hadn't been guarding her flank, she got cornered, and could have paid dearly for his mistake if it wasn't for her quick wits and a well placed dagger into the mage's ribs.

It had almost happened again. She could have been taken. Killed…

The straw-packed wooden stake formed a different shape. Crepuscular dark robes formed around it, and at the top grew a twisted grin. Somewhere on the breeze, past the distant snaps of the burning wood on the campfire and the chitterings of the nighttime wildlife, a droning horn resonates. The dew on his brow turns to ice as his mind flashes back to memories of the countless raids he had been apart of in Dagon's name. It was the sound of the horn they would blow when the killing and pillaging was done. The sound of victory, signaling to Dagon himself to gain his favor, or so they were led to believe. Hoisting his sword upright, he uses the momentum of his turning body to power the blade towards the top of the dummy, cleanly lopping the top part away from the rest. The laugh dies away as the broken piece falls to the ground. He stares at it, wondering why he's so close to tears.

"Kai?"

He flinches, pointing his sword and sighing when he saw that it was only Aoife. "What are you doing still up? And what are you wearing?"

Aoife glances down at the simple shift she wore as if double checking that it was still there. It was sleeveless, and a shade of white that had obviously aged to a more ivory tone. "First, I could ask you the same thing. Second, I was making more poultices. And third, Sylgja was kind enough to let me wash up in her house. She gave this to me, seeing as my dress needs washing."

"Did any of the men see you?"

"Who cares if they did?"

"Because there isn't much to it, lass."

"I know there isn't. That's why I came to see you…" she insinuates slyly, leaning his sword against the wooden pole. She had just picked up his hands to lay them upon her when he slides them out of her grasp and picks his sword back up. Her arms cross themselves out of diffidence. "Kai—"

"It's nothing personal. Just… need to keep my distance for a while," he says, recommencing his practice.

"Is this about earlier? We've talked about this—"

"I'm not saying I'm feeling bad for myself. I'm just being cautious. I'm not myself." He drops his voice, along with his sword arm. "Besides… I obviously don't know my own strength."

Aoife rolls her eyes in the dark, a smirk growing. "Last night I very much enjoyed your strength…"

"Aoife, I'm serious."

With a quiet huff she quickly faces him and grabs his sword, freeing it from his grasp and tossing it aside into the grass. His mouth opens as he's about to react, but he isn't given the opportunity. Boldly gripping his gloved hand, she places it around her neck. Light from the campfire leaks through the trees, revealing the reds of his irises as his eyes widen in fear. She maintains their stare, holding fast to his hand when he tries to withdraw it. Kaidan's mouth becomes dry as she squeezes his fingers and forces a grip. The mixture of leather and metal against the softness of her delicate neck stirs something strange inside of him.

"See?" Her voice is soft, just above a whisper. She forces a harder grip to drive her point home. "You couldn't hurt me if you tried."

"No…" he agrees timidly, "but I scared myself today," he confesses at the same volume, barely wanting to even utter it.

"I know," she returns simply. "I could tell."

"I've been hearing voices… seeing shadows that aren't there…" Being open with the truth felt good, and he knew it was better to tell her than to let it fester inside of him. A hard lesson to learn but one he was getting the hang of nonetheless.

"I have too," she tells him. His eyes soften as he raises the hand around her neck to cradle her cheek instead. With his hands armored, the difference in size between her face and his hand was a stark one, but he couldn't deny how much he loved it. It was a precious thing, getting to hold the face of someone so strong. To be able to be the one to hold her when she let her defenses down and allow herself grow small. To be let. To be chosen.

"It isn't… Dagon?" He whispers it, but just barely, not wanting to risk it. He felt like a superstitious old man. To his relief, she shakes her head.

"No, my love. It isn't the same as what haunts you," she tenderly informs him, "but it is something. I dare not consider what, but it'll have to wait. For now, we stay close to one another."

"Aye," he swipes his thumb over a space he knew some faded freckles lived, the fear in his heart melting away the longer he stares at her. Here lied 'home'; packaged conveniently behind two colorful eyes and a wild heart he knew beat for him. He only hoped she knew just how much his beat for her.

"You know…" she continues, nuzzling into his hand and stepping closer, "it's possible for my bedroll to fit two."

He lets himself smile. It's hard not to. "As much as that tempts me, I'm going to camp here tonight."

"What? Propped up against a tree?"

"Yes."

"But—"

"I don't want to chance you if anything else was to happen. And I don't want to chance these folks seeing me like that either," he reasons, glancing up and checking past the trees. Everyone was in their respective homes, but that could always change. In the meager light, he barely makes out her saddened face.

"But I want you next to me…"

"Aye, I do too. But…" He gives a little sigh, kissing her forehead. "Humor me tonight, love. Alright?"

"Fine," she concedes, guiding his face down and giving him a long kiss; kissing his forehead, too, before letting him go. "Stay warm, won't you? It's cold."

Passing some no-obligation tags to @cresu @friend-of-giants @heavy-metal-dick @the-radic0le @flycasual @skyrimhusbandmaterial @blue-dartwing @sassybakalesbian @juliette-has-a-pencil and YOU 🫶 if anyone wants to share their goodies. If not, I'm giving everyone a digital hug and I will see y'all next week!