museboxingring | There was a split moment to think.

There was a split moment to think.

It was another day just like how it has been. Connor did his rounds in the town and his job on campus, not in that order.

He was probably going for a few days, hardly speaking to people and it wasn't really on his own volition. When he was at work, he was like a locomotive, he would be running and trying to accomplish what he could with any amount of energy he had. Whatever time he had to rest, it was to assess what had been done and what should be done next.

Research, and what not.

These times were bad, the very town up in arms about the insects and the horrifying rip in the sky.

It was like a nightmare, a nightmare that decided to be real.

Connor had just returned to his dorm, a place he actually wasn't in much these days. He was covered in remnants of the shadow bugs, as he was fending them off from harming citizens.

He remembered his discussions with people, and he had tried to send off citizens to safety. He was trying very hard.

So what next? What could he do now? He had not heard from that mysterious man yet about the bombs, but surely whenever he was ready, he would be back in action to find action. This was the sort of thing you had to be ready for; those were bombs.

---

He unlocked his door to the dorm only to find it empty, which was okay. Desmond was surely busy too.

He decided he was to wash his face, suddenly feeling tired. The many days of working were finally getting to him, and he felt that it hit him hard. He turned on the faucet to splash the cold water on, and it felt a little better. Now he got a better look though, and he truly looked tired. Perhaps he needed to get his robes cleaned and go find something to eat. He needed to rejuvenate somehow.

It was already late evening, what else could happen?

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It didn't take her long. It wasn't as if her typical garb was complicated, as it wasn't. It was a less fitting tunic and far looser. In fact, as she examined herself in the mirror, she wouldhave said she swam in it. But maybe he'd like that. It was so hard to tell. Sometimes he wasn't the easiest to figure out.

When she finally had the courage to leave his bathroom, she held her clothes in a tidy, folded pile between herself and her arm. "Connor, I wouldn't say it suits me, but it's intriguing. I mean, it may look good, but your clothes look far better on you."

She found him after setting her clothes aside on the desk reserved for him. Then she approached him, lifted her arms, and even slowly turned do he could see her from all angles. "What think you?"

Connor always thought Eirik looked very slender. She was probably average in height for a woman, maybe some odds taller than average. But looking at her wear his tunic made her seem so much smaller than she actually was.

She could fit maybe another one of her in there, being generous.

"Intriguing" was perhaps the word, but he still wouldn't say she looked silly. It just perhaps put proportions into perspective.

"It is far too large for you," Connor truthfully remarked, though he looked pleased. This sure was an experiment. "But we have both expected that. You are the first to wear those other than me."

He finally got up, came to close proximity to her person, much like she did when she came to freshen him up a bit. He straightened the wrinkles around her slender shoulders, just so it could rest more comfortably around her delicate clavicle. "Is this the first time you wore such things? Are you at least comfortable?"

Slender was a good word for it. Eirik from head to toe had been the centre of many beauteous rumours in Magvel. Even people she'd never met or heard of seemed to have heard about her beauty in both appearance and spirit. But vanity was never a part of things. Sometimes Eirik thought her eyes were too wide or too large, and sometimes she thought her hair didn't fall 'just right.' But those were idle thoughts and insecurities, most of which just lived in a house in her mind.

She chortled when she heard him, knowing he was completely right. Of course it was far too large for her. And when he continued, she felt genuinely touched. Like many things, Eirik got to travel this pathway before anyone else. It was hard not to be completely flattered by the concept. He was always giving her privileges he wouldn't give to anyone else.

Eirik didn't move or shrink back when he reached over to fix how it laid against her. Instead, her chin tipped up and she kept her blue eyes upon his face. Then she nodded, "Well, like this, yes. There was the incident with the hot springs some time ago, but I was a boy for that. As a girl, I've never worn a boy's clothes. Ephraim used to tease that we should wear each other's clothes and pretend being one another. We never actually did, though. He and Lyon said I was too skinny to be a boy, and they're right."

Eirik as a boy was something that was hard to imagine, but thinking about the hot springs was an adventure he went down regardless. And so, he thought about a manly Eirik anyway.

She, or "he", would've still stood proudly and be strong. Then Connor's mind went to how her mannerisms would translate to being a man as opposed to a woman. There were many ways it would translate well, and ways it would translate terribly.

Of course, Connor was no exception, he was turned into the opposite sex as well.

"Would it be strange of me to say that I was there and I was turned into a woman?" Connor remarked, blocking out the memory of his father there. Blocking it entirely.

"I was hardly recognizable. I imagine you would have the very likeness of your brother."

"I seem to recall many people endured similar, yet temporary, fates," Eirik replied with more ease than she expected herself to hold.

Connor as a woman. Probably very beautiful and equally statuesque. Probably akin to his mother, who Eirik thought was a cold woman and yet succinct and to the point. With a calm composition, a female Connor likely would have been quite the leader. But to be fair, he was already a man with all of the qualities necessary. Stern when he needed to be, but of heart to counter everything firm in him.

"I told you before. My brother and I are twins. In some way he looks more like our father and I, our mother. It is very easy to see that he and I are related. And we... act the way I imagine twins would act. Although I have never met other twin siblings before." For they were a rare occurrence, and some seemed to think that Fate had a hand in the Renais twins. "You are right, however. I was the very likeness of Ephraim." A bittersweet sting tapped her heart.

Connor knew that, that was a thing he would never forget, that Eirik did have a twin brother. He had heard so much of him, after all. They spoke of him numerous times, and Connor was sure he made apparent that he held respect for men like Ephraim.

If he met Ephraim, awkward as the meeting might be, Connor would uphold that respect. Family was family, and Ephraim was particularly treasured family; even though he learned how they butt heads on an issue, and they don't usually butt heads. But even so, there was respect there always. It was a bond Connor felt could be envied by most.

Connor also had no siblings...yet.

He smiled, "Yes, you have told me many tales of your brother. And I have told you he sounded like a great man."

She smiled. There was a kind of sisterly pride whenever she heard someone else praise him. Eirik could compliment and flatter her twin until she was blue in the face, but it meant something more when someone other than her did so. She was biased, however, and perhaps one could say it was like a narcissism. The relationship between twins being what it was and that Eirik had little trouble admitting Ephraim was more oft than not most important to her.

"I hope when you two meet, if you do, that you will both think so of the other. That would bring me a great deal of joy." And relief, but she didn't want to say the last of that.

"And yet, my brother is not you," she found herself reassuring Connor. "You are both strong men of will and of heart. I admire you both, care for you both. And envy you both with all of the affection I can muster."

Familial pride was expected, and hearing of her, ever so growing, praise made his insides flicker some more. That butterfly feeling he got often whenever Eirik flattered him. A feeling he was used to, but came up and made him feel fuzzy all the same.

She always made him feel so tender inside. Surprise to no one.

"Surely, the opportunity will arise," he told her. After all, they each invited each other to their respective homes. Somehow, it had to happen, if they could be so easily drawn to here, why not there? Where there was a will, there was a way; that was how the saying went. Maybe they would stand out, but they could always work it out. Timelines have changed here after all; Eirik could've married Innes and he some other woman. But then this all happened, and it wasn't something Connor planned on falling back on.

When it came to space-time, Connor left the logistics to those like Gordon who found an interest. Connor only cared about the cause and effect.

Act upon what happens, and don't let what you couldn't control harm you.

"But know you are one with a stronger will," he decided to reflect back, feeling a good mood arise even further. "And I will not take 'no' for an answer to that."

And stubborn, as a mule, always.

If she did not know him so well, she might have been put off with how to the point he was. But Connor had this way of making sure she wasn't underestimating her own abilities. She never really thought she did, but she understood that the standards she held for herself were based on what she thought a competent ruler ought to be like. Truth be told, from an objective eye, Eirik could sometimes be unnecessarily rough when it came to her personal capabilities. A habit that was difficult to break and mostly originated from past 'failings,' yet people like Connor could help her curb just such a thing.

And if not curb, then it was nice (if not flustering) to hear his kind comments.

"Well, then. I suppose if it is not up for discussion I ought to just blindly accept your generosity." But she was smiling and it was a grand smile, on the very verge of baring teeth. It never quite made it that far, yet it was close.

Her hands lifted again to gather up her hair and pull it over one shoulder, as if wearing it over both had become too heavy. Then she reached over to him, loosely wound her arms up over his broad shoulders and tipped up her chin just enough to brush her cheek affectionately against his. Their height differences could have been worse, but he never had to lean down too much to embrace her and she never had to make him break his neck just to give him a kiss.

"You invited me to stay the night and yet you don't seem tired at all. Maybe I should wear you down with talk of royal politics." And she wasn't serious. At all.

Modesty was sometimes infectious, but Connor and Eirik both were quite humble. But of course, being on the other end, Connor felt Eirik didn't need to be humble. Mainly because he had so much faith in her abilities, another boundary of trust.

Sort of also like now, in which both were stripped some of their usual armor. Not exposed as they were previously, but since then, both of them seemed to no longer be afraid of the tender touches.

Very tender apparently, as Eirik displayed.

Oh, so, this was happening sooner, with even smaller introductions by each time.

It meant they were getting more courageous, the reserved ones, more courageous with every visit.

"You would want me tired?" Connor asked her, mildly bemused, as he planted another kiss to her forehead.

"Only if you wanted to be?"

Because she didn't really know how he felt. In a way, it was like the guardian and ward relationship all over again. They protected one another when they could. When the other would allow them to, anyway. Sometimes that was quite the struggle, almost on par with the way sweet steel sang in war.

"I think in normal relationships, this is the point that I should be rubbing your shoulders or your feet. Something akin to that. I admit that I am at a bit of a loss. I have never stayed in your room, after all. Is it really all right for me to?"

Connor looked on to her curiously, feeling like that did make some sense. Touch and all that, this was a barrier broken many a time. There was something about the back however that was particularly sensitive. It was and angle where many people would try to sneak up to attack him, or forcibly touch without his permission. To those who he didn't trust or those who decided to run in to surprise him were usually met with a suplex. On the battlefield, even worse. Of course, this caused him to feel bad about flipping Norris that one time. But he was so happy about his marriage proposal that he felt no wound or scrape. Connor, though, never had someone massage him. Not ever. It made him feel warm thinking of it; as he usually did with tender touching from Eirik.

Still though, he felt a little odd saying something was to fall into a "normal" relationship. They weren't normal.

"And we are no normal relationship," he replied. "If you would like, I could massage your back."

She probably has had a lot of people doing that as part of princess pampering, or not, he couldn't make an assumption like that. He had no right.

No normal relationship. Of course. Never had been. Never would be. Normal was not the word to use for her or Connor. Already they were abnormal to begin with as individuals. Put them together and the world had two very not normal people with not necessarily normal lifestyles or ideals. And yet, something about his words made the princess eye him closely, as if she didn't quite know what to say. And she didn't.

"I..."

Not to say that she wasn't accustomed to people brushing her hair, dressing her, bathing her. But those were servants and handmaidens and attendants. A royal kind of life was completely different from one that wasn't. Eirik didn't know too well how a normal person lived.

"If... you wish to," she began carefully. "You do not need an excuse to touch me, Connor. It would be difficult for you to offend me considering our relationship with one another. You are not a prince vying for my affection. That is already yours. You may do as you would like to."

He wondered if he embarrassed her just a bit, because she went right back into speaking diplomatically. Or at least somewhat. Connor wasn't always aware how awkward he was, but he still felt it sometimes. Especially when words didn't come to him right away; like now.

She also hesitated, and he blamed himself for that.

He held his hands together like he usually did, and considered his words. Connor could feel himself stumbling just a little, and then suddenly that side of him would come out. He raised a brow and looked sort of like a doe in headlights. A little nervous, that very rare shy side of his.

"I just...I thought I should always ask permission."

She smiled. "You have never been a man from my world and yet it sometimes surprises me how like them you are. You really do treat me like a princess." It wasn't insulting. If anything, it was a pleasant surprise.

"I respect that you respect me, for many men would probably not have the consideration to." Eirika moved to lace her hands together with some thought, "I am simply saying that when it comes to you and me, I would like for you to feel natural. I am not above you and you do not need to be so nervous around me. I would like it most if you felt comfortable."

He tried to not frown, because the very thought of someone disrespecting Eirika made him feel a bit off. Be it because she was a woman or what have you, Connor wouldn't find it acceptable. He would feel like that to any woman; after all, some of his friends and allies were also women.

He wasn't uncomfortable, he was just trying to be careful. That was okay, wasn't it?

It felt natural to him, but after a moment's thought, he felt like he got where she was coming from.

"I feel like this is just you telling me I must relax and not worry so much," Connor said in a bemused way. "I am comfortable, truly...I merely want to treat you the very best."

As she heard him, the curve in her mouth grew. He really knew her well, didn't he? She could worry easily and he could pick it out of her just as easily when she did. He merely wanted to treat her the very best ~~LIKE NO ONE EVER WAS~~. There was no crime in that, and tradition sometimes stated that such a consideration was precisely how every man should have treated a woman. No. There was nothing wrong with that.

Eirik nodded, "I hear you and I understand. I think you treat me impeccably well, so take heart and have confidence, Connor. You are wonderful to me." And I wish to be wonderful to you in return, except she didn't say it because she didn't need to. Because he likely already knew. "Just keep doing what you're doing."

"Well, good," he said to her, with a smile of his own. He had that very brief feeling of relief. Whenever she was happy, well, it just made him feel at ease. No other way to explain that really.

Connor was well on his way to relaxing, now taking in that relief to heart. Since they were now retired for the evening, it was about time they simply enjoyed their company. Let the past and the previous nerves leave.

Until it became the time to talk about "that time".

But that wasn't this very moment. Connor motioned to the sofa again, finding that his body now needed that rest. "Perhaps I could still offer that massage?"

It wasn't an excuse to touch her. She knew that, because he didn't need one. It didn't mean the words weren't readily trying to crawl back into her throat. Some people could be kings and queens of compassion or war, and Eirik was rapidly becoming the soon-to-be queen of denial and protests. But if she could opt for not reacting in such a way, she had to at least try, which meant not saying the things she already had. No sense in having a repeat conversation.

Her eyes followed to where he motioned and she moved to sit on the edge of the sofa and she offered him a very subtle nod. "Of course. How would you like me?"

To sit, Connor. She only wanted to know how he wanted her to sit. Or if he wanted her to sit at all.

Which was probably why he outwardly suggested this at all. They've crossed the barrier and had this conversation, so now there was an attempt to salvage those time and forge something else.

Connor wasn't sure, but he could feel his hands twitch, and he was sure it was his own nerves that he had to quell. He could tell she was trying to quell her own usual reflexes too as she simply, and again, diplomatically made an offer. They were both really trying today, that threshold was on the verge of being crossed again.

"Do you have any pain?" Connor just went out to ask. "I could do what I can."

He didn't actually answer her, so she remained as she was and instead shook her head at his question.

"Not especially, no. Tense perhaps, yes, but only because sometimes I sleep oddly or inappropriately." And sometimes that was due to season. Every now and then it had to do with the lack of dreams and the overabundance of nightmares. In short, there were plenty of reasons for why Eirik didn't sleep well at night and there wasn't much she could do about that except simply to do the best she could with what she had.

And none of that was Connor's problem. Not that he wouldn't try to take on all of his problems and hers simultaneously.

"Shoulders and neck I think," she admitted as she rose her hands to gently press fingertips at the nape of her neck, testing for the sensitivity. "Otherwise I imagine the rest of me is likely tension free."

That was actually one of the reasons he took to sleeping in the same bed as her, out of concern mostly. The nightmares that plagued her set off so many alarms when he saw it in person, and it wasn't like he slept like a baby either. Sleep was just to recharge batteries, and he had to do it, no matter what nightmares or trauma happened. Then they started to share their sleep with each other, and it was an odd sense of true peace when he slept. But that related to how they felt about each other now. It came to show where they stood whenever they decided to spend the night together, another one of those testament things.

It was so that when that trend started, he felt like he was really savoring something.

To think about his past self sometimes, not letting anyone come this close.

Always funny to think about. There was something "magical", if that was the word, to wake up next to someone who you loved so dearly.

In the most welcoming tone he could even muster, he gestured to her. If I could relieve anything she had tonight, then this night would not have been wasted.

"Then come," he said. "Let me help with that. I could do what I can."

"Well, since I'm sitting, you should be coming to me," Eirik replied easily with half of a smile. "Unless you were speaking of your bed and not your couch."

Because truth be told, he hadn't said where he wanted her. Whatever the reason was for that, she didn't know either, but felt it wasn't particularly necessary to ask. Connor often got caught up in his thoughts and consequently didn't seem to always catch when she addressed something for him.

Her eyebrows lifted inquisitively and she waited patiently for his verdict. His couch or his bed. It wasn't an ultimately difficult decision to be made. At least not in her opinion.

...

There was just a brief moment of silence before Connor decided on what to say. Eirika was very direct with that statement, which at first doesn't sound much. If only because Connor and Eirika were direct people by nature.

But that was so direct and laid down flatly, and about a very sensitive subject.

He could've sworn he swallowed his tongue to his stomach. He didn't move, not yet. Connor now felt like it was his turn to be direct, in response to her being direct.

"Eirika," he said, with a serious tone, "About that one night..."

Her eyebrows lifted. Which night? Maybe he meant the one where he pulled her onto his bed after he'd been missing for those few weeks. She could understand that. Crossing one leg over the other, she leaned back and found herself patiently waiting for him to continue.

"...What is it?"

Because she couldn't begin to guess and the tone of his voice set the very stage for what seemed to be a very serious discussion. One that she could feel her nerves threaten to spark up. And she didn't even know what he was trying to point off. Therefore it was far easier just to not jump to conclusions and let him say things in his own time.

There was a split moment to think.

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laaaaaaaaaaate

No worries.

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snorts

bless you

no no bless YOU

ahchew

gives tissue

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