#signet

“Hey, gorgeous.”

The crack in his hoarse voice had you striding immediately forwards to pull him into an embrace, though you smiled against his neck. Even tired and drained, of course Bodhi would greet you with some light-hearted flirting. You buried further into his arms, gladly accepting some of his weight as he slumped against you, his own arms wrapping tightly around your waist. He inhaled deeply, as though grounding himself in your familiar scent, and you realised you were doing the same.

You let his comforting presence slowly wash away the anxiety that had been weighing you down for the last few hours, before eventually stepping back. Bodhi didn’t let you go far though, keeping his arms locked around you as you tenderly brushed his curls away from his forehead.

“Hey, handsome,” you replied at last. He smiled at that, but it quickly turned into a grimace when he tried to lift a hand to your face. He dropped it back to his side with a wince.

“Sorry love,” he said, “my arms feel like noodles right now. Carr made me channel until I couldn’t lift them anymore.”

Gently, you stepped out of his hold and pulled him to sit at the edge of your bed.

“Let me help,” you said, giving him a quick kiss before carefully removing his flight jacket and the tight black shirt underneath. He watched with fond amusement as you shamelessly admired his naked torso, your eyes following the swirling rebellion relic up his toned arms before skating down his muscular chest and abdomen. Fuck, it was unfair for him to be this attractive.

With a slight shake of your head, you redirected your focus, motioning for Bodhi to lie down. He did so slowly, stretching out on his stomach with a low groan. A moment later, you climbed onto the bed as well, moving to straddle him, your knees bracketed on either side of his waist. Warming your hands with your own signet, you began to massage the muscles in his upper back and shoulders, knotted from hours of channeling. 

Bodhi was quiet at first, merely letting out grunts or sighs as you worked at particularly sore spots. Perhaps it was your soothing movements, or the fact that he didn’t have to look you in the eye while he talked, but after a while, Bodhi was opening up in a way he rarely did. Certainly not with anyone but you.

“I just don’t get it,” he was saying, the words muffled by the blanket his face was buried in. “Everyone else gets these cool, useful signets and I’m left with something so… boring. I always thought I was going to become a powerful rider. Xaden’s right-hand, his general. But countering is like the absence of power.”

You frowned as you listened to Bodhi disparage himself, unconsciously digging your fingers deeper into his muscle until he hissed. 

“What are you talking about?” you asked, genuinely confused, “You’re the most powerful one of all of us.”

The boy tensed beneath you before turning slowly onto his back, his hands coming to settle on your hips to hold you in place above him. 

You couldn’t help but smile once he’d rolled over, his soft curls falling messily over his honey-brown eyes. Exhaustion still lingered there, and his jaw was still tight, but he at least seemed a fraction more peaceful than when he’d first come knocking on your door half an hour ago. 

“How do you figure that?” he asked softly. “You are a fire-wielder for Dunne’s sake. Xaden shadows can choke a room full of people and Garrick can put someone on their ass with a single rush of air. I mean, gods, Imogen could wipe all our memories and we wouldn’t even know! Compared to all of that… Countering is nothing.”

It broke your heart to see Bodhi like this. He was usually so calm and composed. So self-assured. And while you knew he didn’t mind being in Xaden’s shadow - following his older cousin's orders without complaint - it couldn’t be easy. He dedicated himself to being dependable, capable and strong. But sometimes he needed a gentle reminder that he was enough just as he is.

You leant forward, supporting your weight on your left hand by his head as your other cupped his cheek, coaxing his gaze to yours. He needed to see your confidence in him. Your unshakable belief in him.

“Countering is one of the most powerful signets there is, because you can go up against anyone. Sure, my fire might be able to melt an ice-wielders’ weapon, but shadows beat fire every time. Garrick might be able to blow an impressive stream of air, but he’s practically defenseless against an earth wielder, and Imogen’s limited by touch.” 

Bodhi looked as though he was about to argue, but you gripped his face tighter in warning.

“You are limitless, Bodhi,” you said firmly. “You can go up against anyone and render them useless, whether they’re a first-year metallurgist or General Melgren himself. I’d say that makes you the most powerful wielder on the Continent.”

A beat of silence. Bodhi just looked up at you, his lips parted slightly and those alluring dark eyes swirling with too many emotions to name. 

Maybe you’d said the wrong thing. Maybe you’d missed the point he was trying to make.

Sighing softly, you let go and began to pull away. But Bodhi moved like lightning, one of his hands moving to hold your wrist in place. His other hand tightened on your hip, his fingers splaying against your lower back. 

“I- Do- Do you mean that?” he whispered, so quietly that you had to lean even closer to catch it. 

You skimmed your thumb over the smooth skin of his cheekbone, marvelling that this gorgeous man was yours. You wished he could see himself the way you saw him.

“Yes,” you whispered back just as quietly. “And even without your powerful signet, you are one of the strongest, bravest, most skilled riders in the quadrant… You’re incredible, Bodhi Durran.”

His eyes fluttered shut at your words, and the hand on your hip slid around to your lower back, pulling you even closer. You happily moved forward until your forehead rested on his, and his eyes opened again at the touch, full of so much adoration and reverence it made your breath catch.

“I love you,” he breathed.

Your heart soared, but before you could respond, he surged upward, covering your mouth with his. His lips were soft but insistent against yours, and you hummed in contentment as he released your wrist to slide his hand through your hair, tilting your head to give him even better access.