#millydira

As Milly got up and walked through the house to refill her glass of water for the night, she noticed a door left ajar: Elendira's. It was no secret that Elendira had trouble sleeping ever since Livio talked her down from Millions Knives' servitude. Ever since they all began to live together, everyone watched the woman damn herself to a state of perpetual melancholy. Milly was proud of herself, though. She had managed to make some real progress with Elendira, to the point of the older woman willingly spending time with her!

She descended down the staircase with a pep in her step. Maybe soon she'd be able to find out why Elendira had trouble sleeping. When they all found out that Livio got night terrors, they found an Earth herb that he was able to smoke every night to get better rest. Maybe the solution could be that simple for Elendira!

"That you, Milly?"

The sudden voice behind her in the dark of the kitchen made her jump a yar out of her skin with a squeak. She turned around, wielding her cup in her hand as if it could do anything in a fight.

"Oh… hey Elendira." Milly let out a relieved sigh before smiling warmly at the blonde. "You startled me so bad!"

Elendira rubbed her arm shyly. "Sorry. I thought you heard me walk in."

"No, I was busy thinking about you, actually!" When she saw Elendira's cheeks flush a bright red, she realized how she'd sounded. "Like how close we've gotten!" That didn't seem to help any.

"Well… that's nice, I suppose…"

"So, what were you up to?"

Elendira looked over at the side door of the house, just past Milly. "I was just about to get some air and do some stargazing."

"Ooo, can I join you? I'll make tea!"

She stared for a moment before nodding, and Milly reached for the kettle.

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The herbal teas in their mugs emitted steam into the night air as they sat on the steps of the back porch. For a while, they both sat without a word, sipping every now and then as they watched the freckled night sky.

Milly's voice eventually disturbed the silence, calm and warm. "I used to sit with my mama at night and watch the stars, whenever I couldn't sleep. She used to say that every star is another world, with someone staring out just like us. After the Earthlings showed up, I realized just how true that is. Someone just like you, in another life, is watching the sky too."

Elendira mulled over that for a moment quietly. "In another life…"

In another life, would I have been someone better? Would I have chosen peace from the beginning? Or… would I have been worse? Would I have killed the Doublefang? Furthered Lord Knives' dream? Or would I have done what I assumed I'd do, and…

The next thought crawled up from deep in her gut and lodged itself in her throat. The stars blurred in her vision, and tears fell from her eyes for the first time in a very, very long time. Her hands shook in her lap. At least, until a warmth came over them. Elendira looked down and found Milly's hands enveloping hers, and tears falling onto more sun-kissed skin.

"I'm sorry, I…"

Milly was quiet in her interruption. "No need. Do you wanna talk about what's bothering you?" She quickly placed the mugs somewhere out of the way and scooted closer to Elendira. They were shoulder against shoulder now.

Elendira felt the warmth seep into her body, and whatever beast that had burrowed in her throat began to retreat. Her eyes burned with the nonstop flow of tears. "I…" Her voice gave out, and she tried again. "I think… in another life, I would've died the way I felt I deserved to. The way I sometimes still feel I deserve to." She expected some kind of well-intentioned argument from Milly, who unfortunately was still listening. So she continued. "I almost didn't choose to stand down when I fought Livio. I almost chose to keep going until the bitter end. But now I'm suddenly here, serving no one. Aimless. I wasn't supposed to end up comfortable and I wasn't supposed to be able to choose peace like this. I feel out of place. And… you." She turned to look at Milly, still anchoring herself on the warmth of their joined hands. "You've been so kind. Kinder than anyone else I've ever met. I think if I met you earlier in life, I'd be somewhere else entirely. I'm so grateful to you, and… and in my heart, I want…" She lost her steam and ducked her head. She had so much left to say, but… not the courage to say it.

She felt Milly lean in closer, and urge her on. "What do you want? What does your heart want?"

Elendira's face warmed once more. "I'm afraid to say."

"Never hold back in matters of the heart." To drive her point home, Milly held Elendira's hand to her own chest. Elendira honed her senses in on the pulse thumping slowly under her touch. Calmly. A sea of calm washed over Elendira's shoulders in turn. "So what does it want?"

Elendira raised her chin, and found her face iches from Milly's. The herbal scents of their tea passed between their shared breath.

"To be selfish with you. I want to take everything you'll give me, and I want this warmth you give me to last forever. That's what my heart wants, for as much as I don't deserve that kind of paradise."

Milly hummed happily, her eyes twinkling in the light. "Well, even if you think you don't deserve it, you can have it. As long as you stay here, I'll keep you warm. Promise."