#zori

Countryside Russia.

Spring turning into summer.

Zori listened to the insects and birds chirp through the tall grass and limber trees surrounding her. She sat on a wooden chair, which sat on plain cut stone beneath her.

Patiently watching water drip down through a pipe made of wood, into a metal bucket she'd placed.

Once the water stopped dripping, she got up, took the pail, and went back down the path.

The forest shone with a myriad of yellows, greens, and other pale colors all around her as she traversed the stone path weaving through the forestry. Old broken down fence posts guarded either side of the path, and every once in a while, a wooden post with an empty jar hanging from it stood between them.

Zori finally reached the foot of the mountains, brushing a curtain of moss aside, and stepped into a wide, open lush meadow.

Flowers swayed, all furtive and gentle, from a light breeze; so did the tips of her navy blue hair. She fixed the brim of her grayish blue cap, smooth fabric under her fingers, and then walked forward into the grass. Her pale pink eyes trailed the long walk cut through the grass ahead, and butterflies and flowers that accompanied her.

She passed fairy rings and clusters of mushrooms, as well as bits of old junk she had yet to dispose of or collect. The water sloshed in the bucket with every step.

It didn't take long to reach the water from here, but Zori was still determined to get it in a decent amount of time; that's why she flinched as the bucket swung a bit, spilling a few drops onto the toe of her black hightop shoe.

She just continued walking. She'd had a year to get used to things like this, far out in the wilderness.

At last, on a slight hill in the center of the meadow, there stood a house, not too small nor too large.

Brown wood and smooth metal as well as straw padding on the roof. Large open windows covered by curtains made of woven fabric, a pale indigo shade. The porch was wide enough for a couple chairs and table, and the front door was only two steps away, dark brown with a brass handle.

Entering the house, Zori stopped in the front, noticing Koa sitting in one of the chairs by the fireplace.

"Koa?" Zori approached them, worried.

Koa opened their eyes, looking a tiny bit startled; they relaxed immediately upon seeing it was Zori. "Zori! You're back."

"I am," Zori murmured, setting the water down on a coffee table and moving to stand by them. She tilted her head at the way they leaned back in the chair. "Are you alright..?"

"Oh, you know," Koa spoke, without looking at her, "...Still a bit iffy from what happened yesterday. But I'm doing much better!" They gave her one of their bright smiles.

Zori wore an upside down frown, crouching down in front of them; she gently placed her hands on their face. "<<Mahal ko. I'm worried. Normally, you wouldn't be sleeping if you felt good.>>" Her Tagalog came out both soft and firm.

"I-" Koa clamped their mouth shut, looking away as they mumbled in Russian, "{{Don't worry too much about me, okay? Just being here is healing enough}}."

"I'll pretend I believe you," Zori replied in English, sighing. She stood up, picking up the bucket to go to the kitchen.

Soft music played from a radio, faint and staticky. She heard it more from where she put the bucket down next to the sink. Zori let out a breath through her nose, going over to the radio to stare at it before picking it up and walking back to the room.

Koa sat, holding their face with one hand. They withdrew their hand once they heard the music, watching in slight confusion as Zori set it down on top of the fireplace.

"What's that for?" Koa asked, voice hushed.

Zori smiled. "For you, of course." She made the volume a bit louder, before turning and kneeling in front of Koa.

The shapeshifter blushed, just watching the girl kneeling in front of her, hands on the armrests.

Zori stroked her hand over theirs, tilting her head up at them once again. "Do you want anything?"

"I want to sleep," Koa admitted.

"Mmh. So the music's good?"

"{{Can...Can you get me a blanket}}?"

"Alright," Zori murmured, getting up slowly. She turned, outstretching her hand; a dark jade-colored blanket appeared clasped in her hand. She shook it out and draped it over Koa, who seemed surprised.

"You didn't have to put it over me-"

"I wanted to," Zori responded, calm. "You seem sleepy."

Koa's eyes fell half-lidded. "That's.." They leaned back, sighing, shifting under the blanket. "At least get under it with me."

Zori smiled again, lovingly. "I was hoping you'd invite me, heh."

Koa let out a small laugh, before lifting the blanket so Zori could sit on their lap. Their laugh that could soothe anything wrong with her.

Zori lay against them, holding their cheeks in her hands again, giving them a soft look. Koa smiled, a little flushed and much more sleepy-looking. Their arms were woven around Zori's waist.

"I'll be here when you wake up," Zori murmured.

"Mm.."

Zori let her eyes fall half-lidded, as Koa's eyes fell shut, and they seemed to melt a bit into the chair. She kept her hands on their cheeks, stroking once with her thumb. A heartbeat later, Zori's mouth opened to begin talking about things, sweet nothings and wishes and stories, things she'd seen during her little time outside.

The music whirled out softly, and Zori kept talking into the quiet, keeping her voice low as her eyes gazed at her lover drifting asleep in her grasp.

With each new thing spoken, Koa's breathing slowed, till they were sound asleep. Zori smiled, pausing before kissing them on the lips, slow and soft. She felt happy at being able to kiss them in a place that was comfortable and safe and peaceful together. Whenever she wished.

Yesterday, they had gone to town. Men hollered at them, tried jeering and joking in the ugliest way, as men do; Koa had to stop Zori from attacking them, and it was hard for the two of them to leave right away, in that crowded area. Zori apologized, feeling ashamed at snapping, and Koa had to reassure her at least five times that it was alright, that they deserved it. The whole day went on feeling sour and tiring, them having to go through crowds that swallowed the town with noise and arguing and rough shoulders pushing against you, till the two of them could go home.

Zori sighed, stroking their hair with slow movements of her hand, calling them sweet things in Tagalog in a hushed voice. They seemed to be much more at peace, sleeping with her comforting them like this. She felt glad, and her smile softened as always.