adelphoi | (no subject)

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[ she's cold.

like the last time alisaie woke in one of these pods, at first, that cold is all she can feel. it sinks deep into her flesh, clings to her bones, and though she does not feel faint or hypothermic when she stumbles out of it, she nevertheless feels deeply chilled. her mind and memory feel fogged, and as she stands amidst the rows of pods she is confused, disoriented, until -

like a heavy weight, the realization crashes down.

alisaie does not think, she only moves, sweeping past the endless rows of pods as quickly as her trembling, aching legs will carry her, her heart beating wildly in her throat. she must get home. she must find them.

how long as it been? memory flashes in the back of her mind, images of home, of where she has been and what she has been doing and gods, the entire time she had forgotten this place, she had forgotten her home here, and peo, and prompto. a cold hand squeezes her heart tightly, painfully, as years of longing begin to set in at once, for though she had not remembered him then, she remembers him now, and all the time that has passed since last she set eyes on his beloved face. she's desperate now, to throw herself into his arms, but moreover she is.. afraid. how long has she been asleep? what if he is sleeping as well, no longer here? what if he has moved on? panic clutches her insides relentlessly.

but she does not need to get home. when alisaie turns the corner to the exit, he's there - she would recognize that hair anywhere, even if it looks a little less ostentatious than usual (and a little darker?), and her heart, that had been pounding hard, now stills. ]

Prompto -

[ his name feels so sweet on her tongue, riding on a rasping breath, but it's only the briefest of moments before she's moving again, surging into his arms, her hands clasping his jaw to pull him into a hard, needy, desperate kiss. ]

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[ Her answer to his kiss is crucial, and for those few moments that she doesn't react, his heart is pounding, railing, sounding like a drum in his ears that she must surely be able to hear. What if this isn't the answer she wants? Should he have explained first? Is it asking too much, too soon to kiss her now? But then she's responding in kind, her arms winding around his shoulders and holding him near, and something like a dam loosens between them at last, spilling forth brilliantly.

His relief is palpable in the way he sighs into the kiss, his fingers threading into her hair, while his other arm winds secure and fast around her waist. The world falls away, and it's easy to forget that they are sitting on their kitchen floor, late in the afternoon, in the outskirts of Wyver. All that matters is that they are together, and that this kiss is deep and warm and perfect.

There is no doubt in his heart or mind in that moment. This is right. This is where they belong, both of them, and he will never be afraid to fight for this again.

He doesn't break this kiss off, but he does murmur against her mouth as he continues to kiss her, some of his words lost between them, some of them a little clearer. ]

I love you. [ A kiss. ] I love you. [ Another kiss. ] I love you. [ And yet another, long and lingering, as he breathes with her, infinitely connected. ]

[ he cannot understand how sweet those words sound to her, how she has ached to hear them, really hear them - not the hollow shell of them repeated by rote, not angrily spat, but true and full and fierce. she breathes them in as he speaks them like she cannot live without them, soft, quiet sounds are lost between their mouths, and alisaie feels dizzy and disoriented, lost in a warm, cradling fog.

she laughs, she cannot help it. there's a giddiness in her belly that flutters and flips, and hot tears fill her eyes, spilling down her face, wet against his cheeks, but still she's laughing, breathless and soft and intensely relieved. at last he is not saying what he feels he should say, he's not trying to fill the space or grasp at something he does not fully understand - he's come back to her with all that familiar warmth and love and sweetness. ]

I was so afraid..

[ she whispers, her mouth dragging over his, her nose bumping and nudging his own affectionately, sweetly. she cannot get enough of him. ]

I-I was so sure.. that you were gone..

[ And he can't get enough of her, the warmth of her body and her kiss and her breath so achingly familiar that he finds more tears to cry, though this time they are only tears of joy, of relief, of love after fearing a thing so precious lost. This doesn't fix what he did, or erase the hurt that he caused her, and he still has a ways to go to make up for that. He knows. But this is an important first step, the most important first step, and he will not rush it, but savor everything about it. ]

I know. [ He murmurs, low and soft, privately. It's been so long since they've been able to do this, share such an intimate space, and it's a thrill all over again, to be so close to someone, to know them as well as he knows her. ] I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you, but I did.

[ And he'll own it. He won't make excuses. He is done making excuses. ]

But I could...never not love you.

[ It just shouldn't have taken him so long to figure out how to tell her that. Shivering, he kisses her again, his eyes fluttering shut so he can sink fully into the feeling of it. ]

[ she falls silent again for a few more long moments to appreciate the kiss, and it lasts, it lasts for what feels like hours. she presses to him and explores his mouth as if it is something new to her, because in many ways it is. he still tastes the same, he still feels the same, but the shape of his mouth has changed a little as he's grown, and so has hers, and there's the scratch of his stubble that is a new and different sensation to grow accustomed to as well.

but gods, he smells so good, he feels so warm and strong, and kissing him is like a dream.

by the time she breaks to breathe again her mouth feels raw and almost sore, but it's a lovely feeling, and she can't pull her mouth from his even to smile, and speak again. she shakes her head. ]

I hurt you, as well. I'm sorry, Prompto.

[ he saw the ugly parts of her that she does not like him to see, and while the fight felt natural and raw and almost necessary in some ways, she still feels guilty for having hurt him, for having flung such poisonous barbs with the intent to hurt him. it was unkind, and to him.. ]

I should have been more patient, I know..

[ It's an exquisite kiss, one that seems to last for hours, and yet even by the time they part it doesn't seem like it's been long enough. They will need time to mend, but also to make up for all the lost years between them. They have so very much catching up to do, and there's not enough time in a day for him to give her all the kisses she deserves, all that he wants to give her.

When they break apart, he doesn't open his eyes, instead just listening to the sound of her voice, her precious, wonderful voice, that he feared he might never hear again. Why had she come back? Had something...pulled her to him, even though he hadn't contacted her to come?

She's always known his heart so well, after all. ]

I...I never should have made you wait that long to begin with. Getting here after being home just...I dunno, shook me up, I guess. A...a lot happened back there while I was gone.

[ Far more than he's told her. He'll tell her everything, of course, in due time, but there's something he should tell her before the rest, much as it might make his heart ache to do so. ]

Noct...he...he's gone. Gave his life to bring back the light.

[ he keeps his eyes closed, and so she takes advantage of it, pressing soft, gentle kisses to his brow and his nose, over his cheeks, nuzzling at his ear and jaw, but when it becomes clear that he has important things to say she sits back again, her arms looped around his shoulders. the only thing she wants more than to kiss him right now is to talk with him, to listen to him, to hear everything that has been in his heart, to hear about how he has lived his life these past ten years.

it does not seem as if he has a happy story to tell.

alisaie's face falls, her expression soft and sad, her brow creased in concern, and she can feel the sinking in her breast as her heart grows heavy. noctis..

while she certainly can't claim to have known noctis even slightly as well as prompto had, she nevertheless knew him. they were friends. he married them, so many years ago. to hear that he is gone.. gods, how prompto must be feeling. how long ago was this? how many months or years has he walked on without his best friend beside him? he is strong, so much more strong than he would ever give himself credit for, but grief is one of the worst feelings in the world. no doubt he is bearing it far better than alisaie would.

gently, she tips her head forward to touch her brow to his. ]

Oh, Prompto..

[ she breathes, carding her fingers through his hair. ]

I am.. so sorry.

[ it isn't enough. such small words could never be enough. but it is all she can say. ]

[ Maybe her words don't change anything, but it's still a relief to him to hear them spoken. He has ached to share this with her, but he didn't quite feel...right doing it, until he had given her his answer, like he would be asking for too much. Now, however, the walls that had been erected between them begin to fall, and things behind to feel familiar once more. Such as her kisses, soft and sweet, against his face, and in spite of everything, one corner of his mouth tugs up into a smile.

He loves her so much. Why did he ever put off telling her so? But they can only move past that now. ]

It...it's how it had to be. He...defeated Ardyn, and then...he gave his life to destroy the Starscourge once and for all. After ten long years, we finally got to see the sunrise.

[ A soft exhale as he bumps his nose to her own, nuzzling to her cheek, inhaling the scent of her skin and reminding himself just how much he has to be grateful for right now, with her. ]

That's...the last thing I remember before I woke up here again.

[ So, that answers her unasked question. It was recent, very recent, and all told, he really hasn't had a chance to properly grieve yet. That's on him as well, but even so, it feels good to finally acknowledge it, like washing out a wound that has been festering for far too long. ]

[ it's so easy to be thoughtlessly affectionate with him, to bump their noses together, to kiss his skin and receive his kisses in return - even after a handful of years it feels easy, and simple.

though her heart still breaks for him, and for noctis, and eos, for their loss. in the end it seems to have brought about the necessary end, and alisaie is not unfamiliar with the idea of a necessary sacrifice, but nevertheless it makes her heart ache. for several long minutes, alisaie simply maintains her silence, honoring the moment, allowing them to simply.. feel it. mourning is a long and painful process, alisaie knows it far too well, but at the very least he need not bear it alone any longer. she will be here, for him, however he needs.

at last alisaie tips her head forward to rest her brow to his. ]

Wherever he is, I've no doubt that he is at peace.

[ Prompto has no doubt of that, either. Noctis chose to follow the path laid out for him, to make that necessary sacrifice, and in the end, it was always his choice. If had had done otherwise...it would have been hard to blame him.

But no, he had embraced his fate, serving as an inspiration to them all, a beacon that he can look to whenever he loses his way.

He takes in a deep, shuddering breath, leaning his brow heavily against her own when they meet. ]

...You bet he is. I...uh, did see him back up in the pods, after I woke up.

[ So...that was a bit of a shock, even if he already knew that the dead could return to this place. It's another thing entirely when it's your best friend. ]

Still...whether I ever see him again or not, it'll...it'll be okay.

[ Even if they never see any of them again it's okay, because they have each other. ]

[ he's come a long way.

years ago, prompto would have broken down entirely just to hear that noctis had gone back into stasis, alive, but now he is strong enough to accept his death with calm and responsible dignity. alisaie certainly would not be standing so tall were their positions reversed, and while he was going through all of this, mourning the loss of his dearest friend, she was only making his life difficult, she left him -

it stings, and it shames her, and she will have to make amends, she will have to apologize, but not now. he won't want to hear it now. but she won't forget. ]

Yes, it will.

[ she says, softly, both hands smoothing back through his hair, her thumbs coasting over his cheekbones. ]

I love you.

I love you, too.

[ He repeats back quietly, reverently, his hands lifting to cover her own and press the warmth of her palms against his jaw. He's so very lucky to have her, and now that they've come back together at last, he can truly begin to heal. They can both begin to heal.

After a moment he ventures to speak again, though his tone has shifted somewhat, something of his usual timbre returning to his voice. ]

Y'know...I really was gonna call you.

[ He would have caved soon enough, but her returning at the time that she did may have made it easier on them both. ]

A-and...you can come back anytime you want! But if you still need anymore time...it's okay.

[ He asked for way too much time from her. So if she needs some in return, he understands. ]

[ a soft, breathless chuckle passes her lips, and alisaie shakes her head. ]

You needn't explain yourself to me.

[ whether he had planned to call her or not, whether he would have chased her down at their old apartment.. it does not matter. she would have forgiven him either way. but he offers her now an option, it would seem - to stay, or to go, and while alisaie knows what her heart wants without question, she does not know if it is the right choice. does he still need more.. time? more space?

sitting back from him, alisaie's hands drop to his chest. ]

Peo misses you dearly. If nothing else, he should stay.

[ it's unfair to the poor pup - he'd missed them both so terribly, and now they pull him every which way, like as not he has no idea where home is, and the separation and tension between the two of them has had him nervous, sad, and on edge. he needs to decompress, to be soothed. ]

As for me, I.. I do not know what is best. Do you need time, still? What would you have of me?

[ she does not want to leave him to ache and grieve alone, but that may be what he needs. ]

[ The question has scarcely left her lips before he answers: ]

I want you with me.

[ His response comes so quickly that she may think he hasn't thought about it enough, but the truth is that he doesn't need to think about it. He knows what he wants now, and the last thing he could ever want is for her to go back to staying somewhere apart from him. He scarcely wants to let her leave his arms, let alone their house.

A moment after he's spoken, however, he leans in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, and then, speaking against them: ]

Will you come home?

[ Home. ]

[ home..

his choice of words is not lost on her, and immediately alisaie feels a great swelling of warmth in her heart, a relief so powerful it threatens to fill her eyes with tears. she would have gone on without him out of necessity. her heart has been broken with grief many times, and moving forward alone would have been incredibly, impossibly difficult, but she would have had no choice. the prospect terrified her.

but they have grown back together. despite a ten year gap his heart had returned to her, and she can move forward with the confidence that, if this same terrible thing were ever to happen again, he would come back to her still. they had been tried and tested, their hearts strained and pulled apart, a wedge driven so deeply between them that she was sure they would never recover, but when push came to shove, when it mattered.. they found one another again. no matter her frustration and heartache, seeing him suffer so badly had reminded her of all that she holds dear, of how precious he is to her.

a soft, cracked sound breaks against his lips, her smile trembling, her voice tight with emotion. ]

Home..

[ she echoes, and closes her eyes, tightening her grasp around his shoulders, pressing as near as she can. ]

I would love nothing more.

[ Home. With her here again, and their relationship mending, it will truly become that again. Something has been missing these past few weeks, but no longer. This is home, their home, the one that they built together, and the one they will rebuild in.

She presses in near, and he welcomes it wholly, his arms winding around her back and holding her to him so as to not allow even the idea of space between them. They might regret sitting on the kitchen floor like this for so long later, but for now, he couldn't care less. He just wants to hold her close, for her to be everywhere around her, to recall every little detail about her and their shared life. ]

...Good answer.

[ A soft laugh passes his lips, quiet but incredibly joyful, and then he kisses her again, warm and full, healing and necessary. ]

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