There was a split moment to think.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

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?

Comments

[mohawk_tomahawk]

He didn't really expect for Eirika to take this so lightly. What did it mean then? Was she happy with it all? Did she except him in THAT way; in an intimate way? She reached over to him and rested her body against him, like it was a natural thing to do. Eirika also then gave him that look that suggested nothing less than love and acceptance.

No, he didn't really expect that at all.

But he wasn't displeased by it, none whatsoever.

Connor wrapped his arm around her, on reflex. He rested his head against hers in response to her getting close to him. Again, only natural.

Have we...accepted this, then? We have reached a whole new height I could not predict we could. I wonder how much you even understand this. But what happens now?

Truly, Eirika was a saint and an angel; Connor always felt blessed. His heart relaxed and his eyes grew soft once more. He hummed happily as he thought up a good response, if only he could piece how he felt so simply for her to understand.

"You were never a child," Connor softly reminded. "You were always remarkable, and infectious on me as well. I do not think I have ever felt this much at peace in a long time. You have given me that."

[heartofarapier]

He liked flattering her. She liked him flattering her. So she didn't bother to stop him, or correct him, or argue, or whatever it was she might have been inclined to normally do in such a situation.

It was easy for her to touch him. Usually. And it helped that she usually did so reverently. Connor never said what he liked and she was far too conservative to ask him for details, but she imagined he'd tell her when he wanted her to stop, or if he wanted her to do something else. At least she certainly liked thinking so, but she could never say for certain.

The curve in her mouth grew and she reached up with a hand to trace a couple of fingertips over his cheek, the high cheekbones, and the strong sculpting of his jawline. "I am happy, then. Most happy. For you have also given me peace in return. I couldn't ask for much more, Connor. These days with you, the burdens in my heart feel not as heavy as they once did."

And she was comfortable. As if a line of propriety really didn't exist between them. How could it, with the way things had progressed? For what he'd allowed her and what she'd given in return, it was only natural to be so willing. In her opinion.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Eirika always touched him respectfully, because she was sensible and she knew him and how he acted by now.

Connor closed his eyes and took in a calming breath through his nose, inhale and exhale. The fingers tickled his cheek just slightly but it was mostly just relaxing to him. It felt wonderful, and his sensory nerves were reacting well to it.

There was no propriety anymore, was there? This didn't bother HER anymore, and it didn't bother him. She laid next to him, and he held her. Two bodies keeping each other comfortable and cozy; warm feelings attached to the actions.

So perhaps then it was okay that Connor simply turned his head enough to give Eirika a kiss tenderly on her lips. That just felt like it would do better than his words, once again.

[heartofarapier]

He kissed her and the world fell away, as it often did when he performed such seemingly small gestures of affection. Eirika liked his attention, whether it was good or bad, as long as his eyes were on her. Of course the situation got all the more sweeter when in place of his eyes, he used his hands. She had quite the love affair with his hands, though she had a difficult time sometimes admitting to it to anyone other than herself.

Still, he kissed her and she thought it was perfect.

In no hurry to withdraw and move on elsewhere, massages forgotten, she took a hold upon his chin, broad and defined as it was, and she repaid him in kind. There was no shame in smiling about it either. She liked kissing him and she liked being close to him and if he thought she didn't... Well. She'd have to find a way to convince him otherwise and somehow getting cosy seemed like a good start to what seemed to be some promising free time between them.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

When she kissed him back, any insecurity wiped away, if any existed in the first place.

It just so happened, that soon enough Connor would've wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Maybe he wasn't the best with affection, but he kept wanting to give it. He wanted to make Eirika happy, that was a reason why he wanted to keep this relationship with her. Her happiness meant so much, above his. He wanted to give her the joy she gave him, a man who lived so much of his life alone.

She never made him feel like he was alone, not anymore.

He loved her, and he wanted her to know that. Remind her of that everyday.

He just kept kissing her, passionately. The rest of the world just wiping away, again.

[heartofarapier]

So that was how it was going to be. She could live with it, even if it was only temporary, which her mind had convinced her would be the case.

Take what it is we have now and think not on tomorrow, for thinking will end our joy.

It wasn't a very regal way to approach the situation, but it was the only way she could think to handle it. She saw what an excess of thought did, and he did as well. Neither of them liked it much. Sometimes it was permissible to ignore the rest of the world and indulge in one another. For as selfless as both of them were, it'd seemed that every once in a while they could agree that it was acceptable to indulge in one another.

And he was thrilling to indulge in, even if she couldn't say it. (And even if she was capable of it, she wouldn't have.)

He could have kissed her until her head felt light. She let him, even. And right about the time where she was pleasantly dizzy, as if the world couldn't stop spinning, she freed herself. At least her mouth, but settled for brushing the tip of her nose over his cheek and against his jawline. Soft kisses followed, created a trail against the length of his neck. Fingertips twitched and after many moments of hesitance, trickled over him tentatively.

I don't think you necessarily understand the implication of these intimate feelings, Connor. But maybe that's for the best.

After all, if he truly thought about it, he'd end up being the one to destroy their joy. They couldn't have that.