#tahyo

“What is that?” Millie has followed the scent from the bathroom, where she was finishing up a shower, to the candy apples Ezra is making, soft sea colored eyes flicker with interest and Ezra smiles, kissing her softly in greeting before answering. “Candy apples…” “Candy… apples?” His eyes soften even as he moves to take her hand, leading her with him to the fridge where the first batch are hardening, picking the biggest apple from the tray, presenting it to her gently, coaxing her into taking a bite. “Candy coated apples…” She’s silent, nipping small chunks from the apple, her smile small, shyly warm. “Why are you making… apples?” “I thought you might like them… and the family tends to bring them for Halloween parties, when we have them.” Millie’s smile is silent then, the apple slowly finished even as Ezra watches her with interest. She’s been quiet lately, almost a little timid, but now, smiling as she crunches though sugar coating, she seems to finally be at peace. It's almost three weeks later, with Tahyo tucked around her, that he learns her secret, the small cascade of badly stored apple sticks giving it away. Millie shivers, of course, retreating into the corner with such sad eyes he can’t help moving to tuck hair, golden-brown, from soft eyes, his voice gentle. “How many have you had?” “I don’t… know.” “Well, perhaps we should make some more…” There’s a moment, small really, that makes his heart ache, the sudden pang of pain and sadness in her eyes vanishing even as she moves to kiss him, her voice small, warm, but slightly shy. “Can you teach me?” “Of course, my Maus.” She wrinkles her nose then, smacking his arm a little and drawing a laugh. “Who made them?” His question is soft and Millie’s eyes widen, Tahyo’s chuckle soft. “Well, good for Ezra I suppose. Someone has to feed our Maus.”

Weeks of peace living with Tahyo had lead to this, Merry nestled safely against him even as she struggles to relax. His soft warmth eases her, she admits, even if she’s not sure why. He’s the first man she’s let touch her in years but here, now, held so gently, she knows she made the right choice. He smiles down at her now when she shifts, curling her chin against his neck, slotting her body over and against his, sighing softly when she rests her nose in soft hair, his gentle grip at her back rewarded with a sleepy sigh and murmured ‘Love you’ before she finally sleeps. She’s never been exactly confident, but here with him, she’s relaxed, she can sleep and finally heal.

“Bunny?” Tahyo’s arms loop tighter around her even as Barbara ‘Bunny’ Dean nestles into him. She’s speechless, the scratches at her throat still raw and clearly painful but she smiles as she nestles into his arms. “Alright.” He’d question it, usually, but this, here, with her, had always felt right and he smiles at her soft sigh of contentment. He’d never really meant to end up the caretaker of a load of forest bunnies, much less to end up with a Bunny girlfriend, but he can’t bring himself to mind when Bunny nestles deeper into his arms and presses her lips to his neck. She’s delicate, he realizes, a timid little thing even now. She hates being apart and he can’t blame her when she just keeps being hurt. She’s asleep by the time he considers what to do about dinner, choosing instead to scoop her into his arms, murmuring soft words when she whimpers, soothing her back to sleep even as he slips her into bed, curling around her when whimpers come again. “Shhh, I’m here, my little Bunny.”

“Merry?” A hand touches her bare back, her body responding by relaxing a little at the heat of Tahyo’s touch. He’s here, she’s safe, she’ll be alright. “Tahyo…” The name is a breath and his hand drops as she shifts into his arms, pulling him closer, his hand resting lightly on her back again where she tucks herself against him, eyes slipping closed at his warmth. “I was so… I got lost…” “I know.” His voice is soft, warm, almost husky. “Are you alright?” “I am now you found me.” Merry murmurs. The familiar warmth of his touch on her back has always been welcomed. He does it every time he senses she’s nervous or upset, it grounds her. She’s silent as she soaks up his warmth then speaks softly. “Take me home…. Please.”

Lupa Wolfe would never admit liking the feeling of gore on her bare skin, she didn’t used to, but when she catches people hunting wolves in her home woods, she can’t help enjoy the feeling of tearing them apart, padding barefoot down to the quiet waters at the edge of her home, she is quiet as she cleans herself, of course, looking up only when twigs snap behind her, her smile sharp at the sight of an equally gore-covered Tahyo watching her. “They asked for it…” His laugh is a rumble even as he slips into the lake that borders his own home and land, the two side by side but inches apart as he washes himself clean. “I’m sure they did.” This, the quiet understanding of two quiet but trusting souls, feels nice. Lupa would never admit she had missed being cared about but she had to admit, Tahyo’s quiet inspection of the few wounds she had gained feels right. His eyes narrow when she turns to inspect him in return, her laugh soft. “Easy Tahyo, I don’t bite… well, not unless asked.”

Anne/Tahyo/Belle Moodboard

Tahyo/Lupa Moodboard

Bunny flinches at the strange noise from outside, cowering deeper into Tahyo who wraps himself all the tighter around her, combing a tender hand through messy hair, his lips finding her ear, warm and sweetly kind. “It’s just a wolf…” A whine escapes Bunny and Tahyo sighs. He’d kill the creature if he could for spooking his gentle bunny. She’s so easily frightened, even now, her eyes squeeze close at another shattered howl and Tahyo growls low in his throat, startled by Bunny’s soft giggle at the sound. He always will protect her, he’d promised it, but he can’t help finding that giggle charming even now. “Good girl Bunny, just relax for me.” He speaks softly, allowing his growl to rumble in the words, charmed by the way she nestles closer with a happy little sigh. She might be easily frightened but she’s his.