✞𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔰𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔫✞

"Felix. Between the two of us, I tend to believe I'm the scarier one." She teased him as she smiles softly. A gentle laugh leaves her chest as she took a second.

"I know a bit of religious text... And I have heard of the great battles the angles had to endure.... I just never believed it to be true when I was younger. But to hear it from you my love ..it changes that view a bit."

She brushed her hand through his locks, brushing the hair back from his face as she got a better look.

"Please don't hide your pain from me or that storm of emotions inside. I am here for you, we're here for you my love .." she waves to her and the twins as she smiles more.

His breath hitched as she brushed the hair from his face. Her touch was a benediction, a gentle erasure of the celestial markings he could still feel burning beneath his skin. When she spoke of the texts, of the great battles, a profound sense of relief washed over him. She wasn't running. She wasn't repulsed. She was listening. "It changes everything to say it aloud," he admitted, voice thick with emotion. "To have it not just be a ghost, but a story shared." He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes for a moment as he absorbed her presence. "For so long, it was a burden. A secret shame. But with you... it feels like history. Something that happened, not something that defines me."

Her declaration—that she and the twins were here for him—was a spear of light that pierced the longest, darkest night of his soul. He opened his eyes and looked down at her stomach, his hand splayed against it as if trying to connect with the life within. The kicks he felt were no longer just a sign of their vitality, but a testament to their purpose. They were his anchor. His new duty. "You're right," he said, his voice steadier now, filled with a newfound conviction. "It's not my war anymore." The words felt momentous, a final severing of a chain he hadn't even realized was still attached to him. The warrior could finally rest. "My duty now," he continued, his gaze meeting hers again, "is right here. It's to you and them. It's to make sure the world you bring them into is one of peace, not celestial fire and sorrow."

"I love you...I love you Felix..." She whispers out between the kisses. Gently leaning her body closer to his as she gasps softly.

His words left such a healing touch to her soul. To be this wanted, to be this sought for and to know he'll fight for her however longer he wishes.

It felt like a dream, her Sienna didn't wanna wake up anytime soon either. She'll be with him forever, as long as she can be.

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was slow, deep, and full of unspoken promises. It was a kiss that wasn't just about pleasure, but about partnership, and a future they were both ready to build together.

3 years later

The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of their home, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The sound of small, running feet and two sets of infectious giggles echoed from the living room. Felix sat on the floor, his back against the sofa, patiently trying to build a tower of colorful blocks with a pair of tiny, determined toddlers. A little girl with his piercing eyes and a wild mop of Sienna's dark curls, and her brother, who was a perfect mirror image with Felix's blond hair and Sienna's warm, brown eyes.

"No, no, Papa! The red one goes on top!" the little girl commanded, her voice a bossy but adorable lilt.

"Uh-huh! And the blue one goes here!" her brother added, slamming a blue block onto the wobbling structure and sending the entire tower clattering to the floor.

Both children erupted into identical fits of laughter, throwing themselves into their father's arms. Felix caught them easily, pressing loud, sloppy kisses to their cheeks as he looked over their heads at Sienna. She was leaning against the doorframe, a soft, knowing smile on her face as she watched their beautiful chaos, one hand resting gently on the slight swell of her stomach. A quiet promise of the third little miracle that would soon join their mayhem.

A gentle smile returned to her lips. Sienna was content and happy he was at least letting her try to help. This was the only way they could bond together and be so close.

Sienna took a second as she sighs, getting to her feet as her shoes crunched the rocks underneath her. And slid as she helped him up to his feet, their shoulders brushed together as she smiles.

The deadpan delivery lasted all of two seconds before the corner of his mouth betrayed him. Then she was standing close. Too close. Close enough for him to catch the familiar scent of her shampoo mixed with spring air and sunlight. Close enough that his thoughts became noticeably less useful. Felix opened his mouth to reply. To tell her twenty minutes was fine. To remind her not to rush.

To say... something.

Then she pressed her lips to his cheek. Again. And just like before, his entire train of thought derailed. He stood there staring after her for a second longer than necessary as she hurried away across the park.

The afternoon breeze stirred his blonde hair, a petal drifted past, somewhere a bird chirped. Meanwhile, Felix looked like a man trying to remember how consciousness worked. He slowly lifted a hand to the cheek she'd kissed. Not because he meant to. Because his body apparently made decisions without consulting him now. Ridiculous. The manager at the bookstore once watched him stare down an armed robber without blinking. Yet somehow Sienna had reduced him to this.

A long sigh escaped him. "One day," he informed the empty air with all the gravity of a prophecy, "that woman is going to be the death of me."

He watched until she disappeared beyond the trees. Only then did he finally glance down at the journal still tucked beneath his arm. Earlier that afternoon, he'd written:

I still don't know if Earth feels more like exile... or home.

For a moment, he considered crossing that sentence out.

Her eyes shimmer for a moment as she thinks, "I like the idea of it too.... It's probably the closest thing I'll ever get to Heaven." She quibs softly, she took the plates as she walked over to the island.

She gently paced back and forth, putting their drinks over as she grabbed the toast as well and settled it to their dishes.

She felt the flutter of nervousness creep back, even though they were just as intimate moments before.

"I think...I really could get used to this... The idea of being here with you everyday. The idea of being together..." She eyes him as she smiles. "I know you're my partner in this now... But Felix.. do you think it's time we finally move in together?" She asked softly as she finished getting their breakfast set.

He was so lost in the moment, so completely consumed by her, that her question caught him off guard. He froze, his eyes widening as he processed her words. Move in together? The thought was so profound it made his head spin. He had never considered such a thing, never even allowed himself to dream of a future that didn't involve him being alone. But with her... it didn't seem so impossible. It seemed right.

He looked at her, truly considering her words, before a slow, soft smile touched his lips. He reached out to cup her cheek. "Sienna... I would love that. More than anything." He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. "I want to wake up with you every morning. I want to fall asleep with you every night. I want to build a life with you. A real, human life."

Her eyes would widen slightly as she watched the smile spread across his perfect features. His golden eyes meeting hers and for a moment, she only could focus on him. Her heart fluttered after the pause, ‘a lot’. Just like her, it wasn’t a love confession or some grand gesture of affection but it was clear that they both knew what the other meant. When he stepped forward, she’d twitch slightly but again, no where to run. His hand would reach up and grab hers, pulling it away from her mouth so her face was completely exposed. The soft circles he drew against soft skin would ground her into the moment. Her eyes wouldn’t leave his face- drifting down to his lips, then back up to his eyes as if searching for something.

Her head would tilt slightly at his joke about a fire extinguisher. Alura knew it wouldn’t stand a chance against her but the gesture was still very sweet and silly. The tension would ease slightly between them and a small polite grin would pull at her lips. “Yeah, I’ll try.”

“For you.”

Her tone was light but sincere- there was a hint of something more than just kindness. Love. Alura agreed easily, there honestly wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for Felix anymore. Now that he’s told her he likes her and that he wants her around? It felt like a door opening to a new world that felt like home.

So what now?

Her question hung in the air as Felix considered it for a moment, his thumb still gently stroking the back of her hand. What now? Now that they'd finally admitted, at least to themselves and each other, that there was something more between them than friendship?

"Now," he spoke softly, "now we take it one day at a time."

He gently released her hand, only to cup her face in his palms. "We don't need to figure everything out right away. We don't need to make grand declarations or promises we can't keep. We just... be here."

A small, genuine smile touched his lips as he looked at her, taking in the exhaustion that shadowed her features, the vulnerability in her golden eyes, and the way she seemed to be holding her breath as if waiting for something to happen.

"But right now," he added, his tone gentle but firm, "you're exhausted. You've been traveling, carrying heavy burdens, and you've been worrying about things you shouldn't have to worry about alone."

He stepped back, still cupping her face before reluctantly letting go. "So right now, you're going to rest. Proper rest, not just passing out from exhaustion. There's clean sheets on the bed, and I'll make you something to eat. We can talk more tomorrow, after you've had some real sleep."

His expression softened as he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "And Alura? You don't have to be worthy of this. You don't have to earn it. It's just... yours. Whatever this is, it's yours. All you have to do is accept it."

The wind breezes through them, welcoming the nip of excitement for the both of them. As if something more was pleased with the connection they've finally made and are flourishing together.

"That's actually a sweet sentiment. I do appreciate taking in moments... Everything in life needs to be savored and cherished. Even a moment you create with someone."

She leads him further along, towards a set of high-end buildings. That tower through the streets, it seem like, the more they moved along it was windows for all they could see. Glass panels stood out, that futuristic details were obvious.

She walks him to a beautiful tall standing building. The bits of details that stood out, the way the doorman opens it up for them. She walks into an elevator as she pressed the floor up.

A simple sigh leaves her lips as she smiles to him. This was nice honestly, "You can stay the night too if you'll wish...."

It was a collision of worlds that somehow made perfect sense. The vast, open space with its panoramic windows felt like a piece of his sky brought down to earth, a modern interpretation of the celestial expanse he longed for. Yet it was filled with her—the warmth of the cream shades, the deep, soulful teal that whispered of the ocean, the delicate lace that softened the sharp edges of the modern architecture. It was a sanctuary.

It was where the sky and the sea had finally met.

He stepped in slowly, his gaze sweeping over the space, taking in the art and trinkets she'd mentioned. It was a collection not of objects, but of stories, a life lived with intention and beauty. He felt a sense of awe, not for the luxury of it, but for the soul that had shaped this space.

The more he spoke though.. the harder it was for her to rationalize other reasons in her head. In the back of her mind, she knew Felix meant what he said. He did care about her- if he didn’t, he wouldn’t go through so much trouble to make her feel safe. The way he held her cheek- that wasn’t something someone did just because was it? In that moment Alura tried to think back on situations she had witnessed between other- movie scenes that she had seen and other forms of media. No, Felix wanted her to stay and he’s choosing this.

There was relief when he admitted to there not being anyone else. A relief she hadn’t realized would come after unknown tension. The slow realization of her own feelings made her heart race in her chest and her face heat up more. Her eyes would widen just as she was about to pull away, his arms wrapped around her to pull her in. Her whole body tensed and her breath hitched at the sudden contact but she didn’t fight it. Instead, it was as though she melted in his arms. Her own hands reaching around his torso and hugging him in close- her face pressing into his chest as if to hide the embarrassment.

“Are you sure? You worked so hard for all this by yourself. I can’t just.. mooch off of you.” She’d then finally look up at him and her face said it all- the realization of something and the way the blush ran across her cheeks up to her ears. The second he pulled away she’d quickly step back, not making it very far as the counter behind her stopped her from moving any further. Her eyes refusing to look at him and her hand instinctively covering her mouth. This was definitely an ‘oh shit’ moment for her- she liked him and she didn’t want to leave and that, terrified her.

“I.. I can’t Felix. There’s better people out there, more stable people who have more going for them and aren’t a walking fire hazard. Pretty girls.. cute boys.. just-“ she’d cut herself off and her brows would furrow. Alura couldn’t bring herself to say the last part, ‘someone better.’ The back and forth in her mind was torture- feeling like a sea of murky water clouding her mind and filling up her lungs.

There was only a small pause before she’d finally say three words that’d replaces her agreeing to stay,

Her words about not wanting to mooch off him made his chest tighten. "You wouldn't be mooching, Alura. This isn't about charity or obligation. It's about... wanting you here."

He could see the internal struggle playing out across her face, the way she argued with herself even as she stood in his arms. It was so typically Alura—always pushing away the very thing she seemed to want most. He was about to say something more, to try to ease her fears, when she suddenly pulled back, stumbling into the counter behind her.

The words that followed caught him completely off guard.

I like you.

Felix froze, his gray eyes widening slightly as he processed what she'd just said. It wasn't a confession of love, not exactly, but it was more than he'd ever expected to hear from her, more than she'd ever allowed herself to admit before. He could see the panic in her eyes, the way she seemed to be holding her breath, waiting for his response.

A slow smile spread across his face, genuine and unguarded. "I like you too," he replied, his voice soft but clear. "a lot."

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and gently took her hand in his, his thumb stroking the back of it in a reassuring gesture. "And I don't care about better people or cute boys or pretty girls. I care about you. About the person who helped me when I had nothing, the person who... makes this apartment feel like a home."

"And as for being a walking fire hazard... well, I've got a fire extinguisher under the sink. We'll manage."

The last part was said with a hint of humor, an attempt to lighten the mood, to ease some of the tension he could still see in her shoulders. "So... what do you say? Will you at least try? For me?"

She was silent for only a beat of the heart before the question left her mouth, “do you want me to stay?” There was disbelief in her tone but also some hope. Alura knew Felix wasn’t a liar but the way those words came out was like she was assuming he was. Still, despite the mixture of emotions, they didn’t come out unkind.

When his hand reached up to trace her jaw she’d tense slightly, her cheeks tinting in color and her hands loosely balling into fists as she refused to look away. Her lips would part slightly as she’d let out a shaken breath. There was no sense in hiding anything from him anymore- she couldn’t leave him wondering any longer. “I didn’t tell you because I wouldn’t think you’d approve. I went because I don’t want to hold the sun anymore.” Those words felt heavy. Alura lacked any knowledge of why she was chosen or how the whole embodiment worked- there had to be a way to get ride of it. She was human in appearance but was her souls really that of a mortals? She had no idea. But if Azriel was dead.. then, why is she still here? And if things had gone according to her wishes, would she really have returned? Would she have had the guts to face Felix as someone who looked the same but was entirely different?

Her heart ached when he finally confessed that he worried she wouldn’t return. As if there was anywhere she’d rather be- as if there was anywhere she truly belonged. “I don’t belong anywhere. I promised you I’d return.” She’d finally look away- a habit she had when she was thinking or.. when the blush on her cheeks got too hot for her to ignore. “I’d always return.. eventually.” She’d then let out a long sigh as her body relaxed. “I kept wondering if you made friends or perhaps met a pretty girl at your work. I thought you’d be okay if one day I stopped visiting.” Which is something she always assumed with everyone she met.

"Of course I want you to stay," he replied, cupping her face in his hands, gently stroking her cheeks. "You're not temporary. You've become... important to me." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I would rather have you here sometimes than not at all. But if I'm being completely honest, I'd rather have you here more often."

He listened as she explained her reasons for leaving, her confession about not wanting to hold the sun anymore weighing heavily in the air. The thought of her carrying such a burden, of feeling trapped by something so fundamental to her very existence, sent a pang of sympathy through him. He understood better than most what it was like to be defined by something you couldn't control.

"I know I said that," he said softly, gray eyes searching hers. "But I was wrong. We're not defined by what we were. We're defined by what we choose to be now." His expression grew more serious. "And I choose to be your friend, to be here for you, whatever that means, whatever challenges it brings."

When she admitted to worrying that he might forget about her, that he might build a life without her, Felix felt a surge of botu affection and frustration. How could she not see? How could she not understand that she had become an integral part of his life, that the thought of building anything without her felt incomplete? "I could never forget you, Alura," he said. "And as for meeting someone else..." He let out a humorless laugh. "There's been no one else. You're the one person I can truly be myself around."

"But what do you mean feel it? What specifically are you asking my dear?" She eyes him gently as a hand ran over his chest. Trying to ease his thudding heart, to ease his soul even as she traced circles over his shirt.

"....Why are you truly up? What has made you wake up, crawl out our bed and to write in your journal...." She stated out the facts.

He truly believed she was asleep, but no. She was awake during portion of his nightmare. Portion of his cries for help- but she couldn't wake him. As if something worse had him in an iron grip.

Sienna knee she didn't know much of his time above. Just the time he has crafted with her here on the ground. Of course she was curious, but she wasn't gonna force him to open up more.

Her hand on his chest was a grounding weight, and he found himself leaning into it, his own heart slowing its frantic pace to match the soothing circles she traced. He let out a long, shuddering breath, the sound of a soul releasing a burden it was never meant to carry alone. He looked down at her, at the unwavering patience and understanding in her gaze, and knew he couldn't hide behind half-truths and evasions. Not with her. Not anymore.

"I..." he started, his voice barely a whisper. He looked away for a moment, towards the window where the city was beginning to stir, a world of concrete and steel that was still so alien to him. "I had a dream. A memory. It's hard to tell the difference some nights."

He finally met her eyes again, and in them, he saw not just his reflection, but his future. It was the strength he needed to continue.

"It was a battle," he confessed, the words feeling foreign and heavy on his tongue. "A long time ago. Before... all of this." He gestured vaguely, encompassing the room, the city, their life together. "There was fire, and falling. And someone I... I loved. Someone I was supposed to fight. I failed. Or maybe I succeeded. I'm still not sure."

The old, familiar ache of ambiguity settled in his chest, the torment of a choice made in an instant that had echoed for an eternity.

He tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer, his other hand still resting protectively on her stomach. "Sometimes, when the dreams are like that... it feels like I'm not entirely here. Like a part of me is still back there, still fighting, still falling. And I worry that they can feel it. That our little ones can feel the storm inside me. That I'm tainting this perfect thing with my past."

He looked down at his hand on her belly, his thumb stroking the fabric of her nightgown. "I get up to write it down. To take the sharp edges of the memory and dull them with words. To lock the monster back in its cage so it can't touch you. So it can't touch them." His voice cracked on the last word, and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, letting it wash over him and cleanse him.

"I'm sorry I woke you," he murmured into the soft strands. "I just... I wanted to protect you from it." But in her arms, he knew the truth. She wasn't someone to be protected from his storms; she was the one who taught him how to weather them.