#sighhhhh

the world was too much this morning, the weight of their responsibilities, the weight of masking, all of it, it was just too much for them.

so, they felt paralyzed, unwilling to leave the one safe place they had in their palace: their bed.. well, more aptly, his arms.

Zaros gathered them in his arms carefully, slowly sitting up, soothing them softly as they protested.

“we don’t have to get up completely yet, but let’s go half way, alright, my earis?” small steps, if everything was too much, he’d make the transition easier, break it down so it didn’t overwhelm them.

they didn’t give a verbal reply, instead opting to bury this head against his shoulder, seemingly hiding their face.

“we can stay here as long as you need,” he pressed a kiss to the top of their head, he knew they loved when he did that. shifting his hands from around them, he ran them over their back and shoulders, finding where they were most tense before carefully massaging them.

A small smile pulled at his lips as he felt them finally begin to loosen up, and after a while longer of massaging, with some encouraging words and kisses, they peeked out from against his shoulder, it took everything in him not to giggle at how messy their hair was.

“there you are,” he pressed a kiss to their forehead, “are you ready now?”

they nodded, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. to which he happily reciprocated, bringing a hand to cup their cheek.

they eventually pulled back, though it was clearly reluctant.

“i love you…” the words were almost shy still, as if they still weren’t used to saying them aloud, it made Zaros’s heart almost burst.