@huolonqâ  âşÂ  admittedly yang has gotten better at accepting renâs absence when missions call. itâs their job ; the nature of this life theyâve both decided to live , but sometimes itâs still difficult. she prompts lotus to sit up where theyâve lain on couch , sunshine crown once on renâs chest listening to heartbeat. yang cups their cheeks , thumb stroking o â er beauteous draken scales by magenta hue. â ... come back to me , okay ? promise ... youâll come home , pretty boy. â  âşÂ  unscripted.
for years now, ren had lived under a stormcloud of pessimism they disguised as realism. they had always prepared themselves for the worst case scenario. ren had never been one to rely on something as flimsy as sheer faith, not with a mindset that relied on facts, and statistics, someone who needed to see to believe. once upon a time the lotus wouldnât have been able to make that promise, some part of them still believed they shouldnât. they couldnât guarantee some mystic altercation wouldnât pull them apart, stretch the invisible red thread between them to breaking point, but in spite of that their motivations were different now, their self preservations skills had so much more meaning than simple survival. they had a home to come back to, and even now they were loath to leave the sanctity of she - novaâs arms for their departure. they would catch lingering scent of golden dust, and burnt coconut and ache for return of draken touch in a way they hadnât before. after so long in the midst of a storm, theyâd tasted sunshine, and loathed to know what it would be like to exist without it.
ren had all of tonight before they would embark on their mission tomorrow morning, and had meant to organise a date, or a romantic dinner, or anything that meant a nice memory to hold onto until they could come back. rain ruined their plans, and their favourite restaurant was booked. this felt like more than enough though, sitting atop sofa and carding absently though sunshine gossamer. this was perfect. ren loved the rain, loved thunderstorms. there was no need for the sun when they had yang right here. melodious tones had always carried the undercurrent of laughter, but she seemed solemn in touch, reverent almost. parting was always such a melancholy affair, but perhaps they just werenât in the mood to give in to their brooding ways. lotus tilted their head affectionately into her hands, swivelling face enough to press kiss to the inside of her wrist. not once do amaranthine eyes leave hers, shining now as brilliantly as forest green jewels around them.  â  i will.  i have to.  â  they had the courage to make these vows now, and the determination to see them through. ren had always been stubborn. they hadnât had the faith before, but her optimism must have rubbed off on them, more than sheâd realised. their own hand weaved into yangâs hair, cradling the back of her head as lotus leant to press their foreheads together.
â  there is not one day apart from home where i do not think of coming back to you.  â
