|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 11:16 am
Iki'ryo's stomach practically dropped when his friend questioned their relationship status. For a single, traumatizing moment, he felt absolutely trapped -- what could he say? What was Ashriel hoping to hear? What did he want him to say? They were only friends? They were family? They were . . . something else? The stallion honestly had no idea how he was supposed to respond. His wings flared just a little, and he tried to figure out how he was going to handle this. . . . On the one hoof, he didn't know what Ash wanted, and in his panic he certainly didn't catch that softest of whisper. On the other hoof, he didn't want to lie to him, didn't want to confess something that would scare his friend away.
Oh, what a fool he was.
"... Is that. . . all you want to be?" He questioned softly, words taking on a serious edge, their little game of silliness suddenly forgotten. This was important, and whether or not Ashriel meant for it to be serious, Iki'ryo was fast at a loss. Maybe it was time to confess what he felt. Maybe it was time to stop hiding his love. "Because I could be far more than your dearest friend," he stated, leaning down so he might nuzzle his friend. ". . . . I'd like to be more."
There.
It was said.
It was done.
There was no going back and the large stallion was fair certain everything would be ruined. Ashriel would be horrified. Maybe, just maybe, if Ash seemed to take it poorly he could laugh it off as some bad joke. But it wasn't a joke, and it wasn't funny, and he didn't want anybody else to have what was rightfully his. Ashriel was his best friend, his only friend, really, and he would not let anybody else have him.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 12:17 pm
Had Ashriel just heard his friend correctly? He could scarcely dare believe so, after all of the nights he had spent quietly pining over his dear flameheart. "Oh flameheart, do you really mean that?" he asked, breathless hope resplendent within the words. Iki'ryo had nuzzled him as he said the words. Surely he must have meant them. Surely he can't have been teasing. "You weren't teasing? You did mean that?" The young angeni could hardly believe what his ears told him, but they had never deceived him. Nor, in fact, had Iki'ryo. "Tell me that you meant it."
It wasn't a joke, and it wasn't funny. It was the world, hanging by a glittering thread. That thread might lead him there, but he might also be led astray. The only sight in the world that he had longed to see was his dear friend's face, but even that was denied him. All he could do was nuzzle against the stallion, and hope to glean his intentions from what he found. Even that was imprecise; Iki'ryo had ever possessed a stoic nature, and might not readily display any expression that Ashriel could feel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:28 pm
Iki'ryo couldn't believe what he was hearing. His dear Ashriel was actually confessing that he wanted him to mean what he'd said; that he wanted to hear those confessions! The stallion's tail, which had earlier been tugging at his friend's leg, now wrapped around it in a more tender fashion. He lifted a wing and wrapped it around his companion, their game of silliness forgotten in this life-changing moment. Now that he'd confessed his admittance, his desire, he couldn't stop himself from saying more.
"Ash," he started, black eyes watching the stallion that was nestled so close. "Of course I mean it. I've always meant it. . . you've always been my best friend, my only friend. But I . . . I fell in love with you years ago. I don't want you to have any more friends. I don't want you to be with anyone other than me. I love you, Ash. For now and for always." Such a tender confession was rare for the stallion, and meant only for the others ears. He would not be so gentle to anyone, much less so vulnerable. Still, the deed was done, and he needed Ashriel to know.
Hopefully, he hadn't gone too far.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 11:38 pm
Ashriel listened to the sound of Iki'ryo's voice, soaking in the warm inflections that filled it, and the comfortable intimacy of the stallion's hold upon him. There was nothing that Ashriel would not do for this stallion among stallions, this stallion who, it seemed, was (and always had been) his own. He was delighted beyond all that was reasonable to discover that his flameheart had truly been his flaming heart for years now. "My heart," Ashriel said, his words filled with a pure, vibrant joy. "Oh, my dearest, beloved heart. I have always been yours."
He need not hide it any longer! "I don't need anyone but you for a friend. I have never needed anyone the way that I need you. The way that I truly do love and adore you." He thought of the times that they had fought together, side by side, the times that they had adventured throughout the Kawani lands, righting wrong where they went. "We make a formidable team, and I will happily be your partner... for the rest of my life, if you wish." It was perhaps not the most romantic of admissions, of proposals, but it suited him. Ash could not be anything but the warrior that strove to rid the world of evil, one quest at a time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 3:28 pm
Iki'ryo could hardly believe what he was hearing! Surely, surely, this had to be some sort of dream. It was, of course, a dream he knew well. How long had he thought of this moment, that he need not hide his feelings, that he could cast aside all insecurity and truly be in love? He'd spent years hiding his thoughts, being cautious of his words and phrases, not wanting Ashriel to know an inch of how much he adored him. Iki'ryo was not easily intimidated...but he had feared Ashriel finding out above all else. To be turned away, to ruin their friendship, to be spurned-- that alone could drive Iki'ryo to his doom.
But there would be no doom, no heartache, no loss. There would be no tears, or accusations, or regret. All there seemed to be now was a mutual love and fondness, and the silver winged stallion. So it was, the black eyed, fire-maned male kept close, gazing down at the blind, red-maned, warrior with all the fondness he could muster. He knew Ashriel could never see the affection in his gaze, could never truly know it, but that was all right. He was certain if he felt it strongly enough --and he did-- that he could feel it. "I do wish such a thing. I will never stop loving you. I will never get over you, or move on. We can travel the world together, for now and for always, for as long as you'll have me." Ah, unlike his father, the stallion's crazy was not in the form of destruction or death. No, Iki'ryo was entirely possessive, and somehow, Ashriel accepted it . . . or at least forgave him if he noticed at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:25 pm
This was a day that Ashriel truly had not believed would come. Yet here that very day was, and he could not have been happier. Although parted from his family for the time being, he was not alone. He would never be alone. "Iki'ryo, I will never tire of you. Never." In all truth, Ashriel felt it far more likely that Iki'ryo would grow bored of being his eyes than that his own heart would cease to beat for the stallion. "So you had better get used to me." His heart soared, a surge of exultation makings itself known.
"I love you, my dearest of companions. My knight." For Iki'ryo would always be that. "Let's go save the world." There were so many less fortunate than they, so many who found themselves yet in the grasp of evil. Ashriel would not stand for the innocents to suffer under such malevolent dominion. They would be partners together through life, and he would never leave Iki'ryo. He reached up to nuzzle the flaming stallion, his touch gentle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:29 pm
((I think we can call this a wrap?))
Iki'ryo cherished this moment. He had never thought that his dreams might come true, that the spirits might smile down on him -- some son of a cursed freak. Instead, they hadn't just smiled down upon him, they had blessed him beyond compare! They had given him his true love, not just with some minor interest, but with as deep a love returned. He would have never guessed that Ashriel could have been pining for him as well, that he cold have been as sought after. Ah, but now that he knew the truth, he would not ever let his love for Ashriel go unknown.
His best-friend in all the world was well and truly his. They would be both friends and great loves, and the world would need strike him down before he ever thought of parting ways. Though his blind friend could not see his face, he could know well his heart. "I never want to get used to you," he stated, giving the other a careful nuzzle. "Everyday you mean more to me than the last. I will never grow tired of your company, and I hope you shall never grow tired of mine. I'll follow you wherever you go, fight for you whenever it's needed. You may save the world, but you have already saved me from a lifetime of loneliness and heartache." So it was wit great regret that the stallion moved a few inches away. He kept his tail wrapped about the other, as well as his wing, but he made it so they might more comfortably walk.
Preening could happen later.
"Let's go be heroes."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
