#aidel

she’s here to grant antler wishes with her antlers

Coric, excited: Take it all!

Del, confused: I thought you're invaluable?

Aidan, confused but touched: ...oh

"I wish I could do something," Aidan blurts out, tears glistening in her eyes. They flutter a bit as she breathes in and out. "I just want to be able to do something, I want to be there, I want--"

Her words are halted by her sobs and tears finally streaking down her cheeks.

They fall non-stop, and her hands shake too much to properly wipe them.

Del takes in her state, making sure she was not about to have a panic attack. He notices how hard she tries to breathe steadily, but her sobs would overwhelm her again and again.

Slowly, he reachs out his gloved hand to caress her cheek with his thumb. He lightly presses his hand on the side of her face, making her look at him with held-back tears. She tries very hard to hold in her sobs, drawing in sharp breaths again and again.

"You know what you can do," Del says, his eyes soft. His expression is so soft as he scans every inch of her face. "I'm right here," the sergeant whispers, a small smile breaking out on his face. His eyes lock onto Aidan's own eyes, before inching closer to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.

He doesn't break from it. He feels Aidan's hands reaching to his back, as if holding onto him.

And she is.

"Please be strong," Del whispers. Aidan could feel his lips' motions as he said those words, her eyes now shut and her tears now scarce.

"I will," she whispers back. Her hands pulling onto him before burying her face onto his shoulder.

She heaves out a relieved breath feeling Del's hands wrapping around her.

Like, look at that man? He's got the same face as everyone else on here. But he makes really good coffee and he speaks so softly if he's just talking to one person! How am I in love with him???

He also notices I don't like eye contact and has never looked for my eyes since.

Aidan, noticing his neatly trimmed beard but especially his luscious long hair: ... it's a big pleasure seeing you again, my beloved sergeant.