A fool, because he had thought for so many years that he wasn't allowed this - still sometimes believed this. A fool, because he had spent so much of his time struggling to accept that he was wanted in this world; that he had a purpose in this place and this time for himself. As Celsus, he had dedicated much of his life to protecting and caring for others, but as Fritz he had lost his place and stumbled and fallen - only to now be picked up by something marvelous, something he had never expected to find.
It felt unreal. It felt like a dream.
Reality was better than a dream, though. Cordelia's touch was feather light, gentle and careful, because she knew how much this meant to him and she knew how much he still struggled with everything and anything. He needed to talk to her about this, but it felt like his mind couldn't form the right words to do so just yet.
Fritz's hand came up, and, very very gently, very lightly, he traced his knuckles down the side of Cordelia's cheek, his eyes tracing her face, drinking in the sight of her.
"Thank you," he said, and something caught in his throat. "For...what you are. For who you are. For...this."
Skye Starrfyre
