#beeeeh

To the outside world, Somnus took the message with calm and collected demeanour. He thanked the poor messenger, gave a slight bow and did not give away any kind of emotion.

His face remained the same on the ride home. A somewhat distant look in his eyes. Leander was not with him on this mission. It had not even been something important. And somehow, Somnus was oddly grateful for that. Because if Leander had been at his side, he could not have hidden his feelings like this. He would have broken.

Like this, he could ride back. He could give orders. He could appear calm and quiet. He could uphold that reputation he had carefully built up.

He could face servants and guards. He could organize the travel back to Lucis come evening. He could ask Leif for a favour in this.

He could make it back to the privacy of their chambers.

And only there.

Only when Aerith immediately approached him and wrapped her arms around him… only then could he sink to his knees.

Aerith knew him. She would have seen through his mask right away. But facing her, it slipped off of him anyway.

 It felt like his chest was torn open with all the suppressed feelings he had held onto for the past hours. His hands clung to her as if he was adrift at sea and sought for any kind of stability, holding on. He was crying, loudly. Mourning them. Mourning the lost opportunity of having said goodbye. Not fully understanding yet that they were gone…

It was so hard to breathe. To think. To grasp for anything.

But he had her.

And she gave him that anchoring point. Her whispers. Her hands soothing over his back. Her sweetness. Her warmth. Her love.

She was what he needed in that moment.