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 Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:40 pm
Aria -
Seren was in the joint kitchen, with a turkey breast in the upper oven, a small pie in the lower oven, a small thing of gravy in one pot on the stove, and the other pot had stuffing. She was humming to herself as she prepped the small meal for herself and Rhys, looking forwards to this. A Thanksgiving with things to be thankful for. This was a wonderful thing, and she couldn't stop feeling excited.
She hoped Rhys would get here soon... It would be easier to bring things back to their room, so they could eat in privacy, with his help. She wondered what he was doing right now, a smile crossing her face as she thought about the person who was what she was most grateful for this year. She hoped all of her friends were having a good Thanksgiving, for those who celebrated, but this year... this year was just her and Rhys. Maybe next year they could do something for more.
Pao -
His timing was probably a little curious as he showed up soon with a box of whipped cream and a bright smile on his face as soon as he saw her in her element. And also because the kitchen smelled amazing, which shouldn't have been a surprise because this was his Seren cooking and all, but it still impressed him a great deal.
The brunette made his way over, setting the box down along the way before curling around his girlfriend, sighing happily and sounding incredibly content with his lot in life. She was the person he was most grateful for this year as well, and today just felt like the holiday to give her an extra reminder of that fact.
"Hey, baby," he finally said after a moment. "I finished setting up a little table for us back in the room. Nicked it and a couple of chairs from the lounge, as usual."
Aria -
The moment he came in, she gave him a bright, loving smile, her eyes lighting up happily to have him back at her side. She watched him carry the box in, a curious expression on her face. "Are we allowed to steal one of those?" She asked with interest, because whipped cream on pumpkin pie was always good.
The moment he was curled around her, she turned her head and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, before turning back to stirring the gravy, not wanting to risk any clumps or burning. "Sounds awesome, love. I'm looking forwards to eating." She really was, too. The last time she'd 'celebrated' Thanksgiving, it had been at the cafe she'd worked at. They'd had a staff meal behind the scenes, and it was nice, but it was nothing like the family Thanksgivings she'd always heard other kids talk about.
She really, really wanted to experience that, to be honest. A Thanksgiving in the company of someone who loved her. And she was finally going to get it.
Pao -
"Even if they say 'no' I was planning on taking one anyway."
He chuckled, glad to hear that she was looking forward to eating as opposed to just having a meal for the sake of having one for health reasons. He knew it was a daily challenge for her and always did his best to be quietly supportive of her efforts, but at least for today he didn't feel it was something he had to worry about at all. Even if she didn't finish her meal, Thanksgiving leftovers were supposed to be make one of the greatest sandwiches. He'd only heard of this because of other post-Thanksgiving sandwich stories, of course. He'd never actually celebrated the holiday; there wasn't a lot to be grateful for before Seren came along.
"Same, but I always am when it's your cooking and it's just you and me, so I mean." Smiling, he turned his head and returned her kiss from just a moment ago, then looked down at the gravy pot first before looking around to see what else she was making. "Never sat down for a real Turkey Day meal before. Is this all traditional stuff?"
Aria -
She laughed at his words, and gave him another cheek kiss at the idea of taking the can, permission or not.
She sighed as she leaned in a little, resting her back against his warm chest, enjoying the feeling of him close. He was such a wonderful presence in her life, in so many ways. Comfort, kindness, love, gentleness... so many things he provided to her, and it amazed her every day. She was always grateful for him, but today, her gratitude was even higher, because she was thinking about it, and how much she gratitude she owed him for changing her life. That was what Thanksgiving was about, right? Thinking about the things one was grateful for?
She couldn't help but laugh at his words, her eyes bright with joy at his words. "Next year, though, maybe we could do a thing with friends... I know Melvin was doing something as a big group event, but I wanted to have this one with just you... Next year, though, maybe we can have something with, like, Joy and other friends. Maybe just commandeer the kitchen here, cook a full turkey, and all, then settle in." His question, though, had her brows raise. "Yeah, it is. It's not ALL of the traditions... For one thing, what's traditional can vary depending on area... But gravy, stuffing, turkey, pie, and cranberry sauce are pretty much traditional. Other things can include mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole... and so much more. The closest thing I ever had to a traditional one was at work, at the cafe. They were always open until 3, then we had a staff meal for those who didn't want to rush home to families."
Pao -
While she spoke he watched her from out the corners of his eyes, wondering yet again how he managed to find a girlfriend like her. Hell, even if they didn't wind up dating she was one hell of a great person, but he was grateful all the more because she chose to love and be with him for...reasons he didn't fully understand but, all the same, was grateful to her for having. She was the first real and good thing in his life, and if there was ever something he was thankful for it was definitely for her and everything she brought into and changed in his life.
"We can still do an after-Turkey Day thing with other people tomorrow," he thought, chuckling, "like maybe lunch or something? Hash out plans for next year, too, while we're at it." When she started answering his question he made an 'o' with his mouth as she explained, then nodded a little bit before giving a lopsided smile. "Yeah, I usually just worked Thanksgiving 'cause holiday pay meant extra to make things a little easier after the holidays. After joining up with Deus, still never had much reason to celebrate, but this year's different."
He gave her a gentle squeeze then, fully smiling as he turned his head for another kiss to her cheek. "I've got you...and a helluva lot more reasons to celebrate, but it's mostly you."
Aria -
She slipped the gravy off the stove and poured it into a dish, then added some liquid to the stuffing, as he spoke, smiling quietly. "Yeah, that sounds nice too. Just thinking ahead, for next year." She nodded quietly, and sighed. "Yeah, double time on a holiday, and usually those who came to the cafe tipped well but... Some of them were entitled little shits who made snarky comments about 'tipping shouldn't be necessary.' and such nonsense, as if it were the servers' fault that living wages were not what servers got."
She sighed and shrugged a little. "But my coworkers talking about it was how I learned about a lot of the other traditions people had experienced." She sighed again, and then the lower oven beeped, so she gently bumped him back with her butt, so she had room to open it. She pulled the fresh baked pumpkin pie out, and set it on a nearby trivet to cool. She glanced at the timer for the turkey breast, and then began to stir the stuffing again.
His last words, though, made her beam over the shoulder at him, eyes bright with her love for him. "Same, and you're my biggest thing I'm grateful for."
Pao -
"See, never worked food service because people can generally be entitled raging asshats, and not even just during the holidays. I'd probably be too punchy for that kinda work all year round." He hugged her again though, for the added bit of comfort for the both of them, and laughed lightly when she bumped him back. He bit down the urge to comment and, when she was finished, simply went back to where he'd been earlier.
"And you're mine, naturally," he chuckled as he tightened his hug around her just a little bit. "Not sure I could ask for a whole lot more good in my life long as you're with me."
Aria -
She sighed softly and shrugged. "Food Service was what would hire me back home, when I wasn't even 16, so it was what I could get into." She shrugged, and sighed. "And I was... too used to swallowing my anger." She leaned into him when he came back to her, eyes closing for a moment, just taking comfort from the way he held her. She stayed silent for a long moment, too, as she pulled the stuffing off the stove, and put it into a serving dish too.
Finally, though, she turned and kissed him slowly, softly, just letting how much his words, and him, meant to her through for a long moment, then whispered "As long as I have a choice in the matter, I will always be with you, love."
Pao -
He kissed her back, hoping to convey all his love for her through the lingering gesture. He nodded, smiling a bit at her words as he carefully pulled her away from the stove as he was still mindful of her safety while they shared this little moment. "Honestly, even if you didn't I'd still force my way back to you."
And he kissed her again, one hand coming up to caress her cheek lovingly. It was a long moment before he finally let her go to catch his breath, though he didn't fully pull away. "I love you, baby."
Aria -
She sighed into the kiss, and held him tight, smiling a little at the way he took care of her in the big and little things, at all times. Her fingers curled in his shirt, just holding it for comfort. His words made her brows lift, and she smiled softly up at him, not commenting that she had meant it in a more permanent sense, not wanting to ruin the mood. "I always want you with me, so I am glad..."
The second kiss had her eyes closing again, letting herself get lost in it, and the feeling of his hand against her skin, knowing that this moment was another one of those that mattered more than she could say. "I love you too, Rhys."
Pao -
Her words had him smiling softly before he kissed her again, and he would have happily kept right on kissing her for a bit longer if the timer for the turkey hadn't gone off. When it sounded though, he pulled away on a little laugh. "Turkey's ready I guess," he said as he let her go and gave her space to attend to the food she was cooking.
He, in the meantime, moved over to the box of whipped cream cans. He picked it up and moved it over to the refrigerator so he could stick all but one inside--they had their own pie, after all--and then he took the box over to where she'd prepped the food and loaded the box up carefully so they could haul it all back to their room without any trouble.
Aria -
She sighed as he pulled away from the kisses, but turned and grabbed the mitts again. She pulled out the turkey, and moved it onto a plate as well, which she covered up with a lid to carry it back, then handed it to him to pack up too. She then hurriedly washed all the dishes they were not bringing back to their room, and then grabbed a bottle of sparkling apple cider (nonalcoholic, out of respect for Rhys' preferences, of course), and some glasses, plates and utensils.
She packed all of that in a smaller box she'd found in a pile of recycling, so that the cider wouldn't cool off the hot food, and took the whipped cream, putting IT in the second box as well. "You ready to go, baby? I think we have everything we need." She hoisted up the smaller box, and beamed at him with a warm and loving gaze.
Pao -
He was all packed so he gave her a nod before picking up his box and heading for the door, gazing lovingly back at her as he held it open for her (which was quite a challenge with his hands full, but he made it work). "This should all still be nice and warm by the time we get to our room, right?" he asked, glancing down at the contents of his box.
Aria -
"It's not that far from here, so yes, especially since we packed the hot things and the cold things separately." She slipped through the door, and began to walk towards the dorms, not in a rush, but wanting to get back so they could begin sooner, rather than later. Her hair was swinging behind her with every step, her energy high for the moment.
Pao -
It wasn't hard to keep pace with her once they were on their way, but he was mindful of his steps because he had basically all of their food so if he tripped and fell then their first Thanksgiving dinner together would be over before it actually got started. "Cool," was his only reply, and then he kept his focus on where he was going until they made it safely to the main doors.
Once they slipped inside the rest of the trip for their room was a breeze, and he shot her a bright, beaming smile as he stepped aside so she could unlock the door.
Aria -
She popped the keys out, and got the door unlocked, and open for him to get their dinner inside. Once they were both in, she set her box on the bed and began to set the table with the dishes she'd borrowed from the kitchen. "Mmm if we wanna keep doing this stuff, we definitely need to get our own dishes, or at least some paper plates and stuff, so we don't have to haul them back and forth." She mused aloud.
She then walked over to help unpack the actual food, before sitting down at the table, smiling up at him with bright eyes, waiting for him to join her.
Pao -
"More for our list," he said as he set his own box down. It was all served up soon enough, and after he set the box aside he joined her at the table, a loving smile on his face. Glancing down at their food, he took a deep breath as he took it all in. His first traditional Thanksgiving meal, and he was sitting across from the woman he loved, the person he was most grateful for in his life.
"It looks amazing, love," he said when he finally looked back up at her. "Not sure I say thank you enough 'cause you cook almost all of my meals, so thank you. Seriously, I know it's a lot of work 'cause I eat so ********' much."
Aria -
"Indeed..." She watched him settle in, and poured them both some cider, then looked up at him at his words. Her eyes were glittering happily and she blushed, just a touch. "You're welcome, baby." She decided not to put in her usual 'but I love feeding you' stuff, because A. he knew it by now, and B. this was Thanksgiving, it was a good time for this sort of thing. And it did, as always, make her feel very good.
"Thank you for always being willing to try what I make... Especially when I haven't made it before." She reached across the table and took his hand, her eyes filled with love. "And thank you for always being there, always having my back, and helping me."
Pao -
He gave her hand a little squeeze, his smile only getting a bit brighter, in turn, at her words. He leaned down a bit to press a soft kiss to the back of her hand. "You're welcome, baby."
With that he started serving up their plates, starting with hers. He tried to keep her portions about half what he normally served for himself, not wanting to push her too hard but she did say she was looking forward to eating. Once he scooted her a decent size plate he served one up for himself, all the while still holding her hand, caressing the back of it with his thumb.
Aria -
She beamed at him, happy, her fingers gently squeezing his hand in appreciation of his words, and the kiss. He really did always make her feel just so happy, and it was amazing.
She watched him serve, enjoying the feeling of his thumb brushing along her skin, her eyes filled with softness and love. It was definitely fair, she did the cooking, he does the serving... And he was, as ever, careful with her needs. She found herself thinking there could not be a better boyfriend on the planet, in her mind. "Thank you, love. That's perfect to start with."
Pao -
"Yeah?" he looked up, the small bit of concern in his eyes fading to more relief and still complete and utter joy that he was there with her, sitting over their first holiday dinner together. "Well, good." Quickly he finished serving up his own plate, then after kissing her hand just once more he finally let her go so they could eat properly.
"So you mentioned plates and stuff to add to our list, I think we could get those a lot sooner. At least the paper plates. If you wanted to kinda coordinate your kitchen and the plates and all that, the more permanent ones gotta wait."
Aria -
"Yeah." She said, smiling brightly at him, and sighing happily at the second kiss. He was just such a caring man, and it amazed her that he had all of this love and warmth hidden inside of him, locked away by that horrible life he'd dealt with before coming here. She wondered if anyone who did not see him with her would ever believe that he could be like this.
She was picking up her fork, when he spoke, and she hmmm’d and nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. It's why I suggested the paper plates as an option. Simpler clean up, until we actually have a kitchen, and not gonna break by accident if the box gets kicked or something."
Pao -
Truth be told, if she hadn't come along this side of him would have likely stayed locked away. The only reason it didn't was because she did come along and essentially saved him. She helped him see that he didn't need to stay stuck in that horrid past, didn't need to let it keep him from really truly pressing forward in life. And he was so grateful to her for doing that, and loved her all the more for it. He could only hope that he'd somehow done the same for her, at least a fraction of all the things she'd done for him.
"Mm," he popped a bite into his mouth, chewed and swallowed before continuing. "Yeah, saves money in the long run. Another good reason for Costco membership."
Aria -
She took a bite of her turkey, mmm'ing softly, and nodded at his words, then spoke after she swallowed. "Exactly. We can stock up on stuff like that, and other non perishables." She smiled at him, glad they had the same thoughts on this issue.
She watched him, as they ate, her eyes gentle as she thought about the ways he had improved her life, and the list was long. He'd made her feel she could be worthy of love, he made her feel like someone truly thought she was beautiful. He helped her battle almost all of her issues, and he stayed by her side, helping her through the bad moments when they were overwhelming her. He showed her how to be happy, he made her laugh, and he had brought her back from the belief that she should ever let anyone in again.
Pao -
He nodded, and then focused a little more on his plate, occasionally looking up at her or to sip on his drink. When he noticed her gaze he blinked curiously, wondering what was possibly going on in her head. After he washed down his last bite with some cider he blinked at her for another moment before finally clearing his throat.
"I love you, too, baby," were the words that came out of his mouth, hazarding a guess at what she was thinking about. It could have been anything, really, considering their conversation, but he decided to take a shot in the dark this time and really hoped that he was right.
Aria -
She had been eating, that whole time, as she thought, so her plate was mostly empty by the time he spoke. She blinked, startled out of her mental rambling, and gave him a bright grin, and a soft laugh. "And that is what I was thinking about, how much that fact has changed my life, and the many whys of why I love you." She said, softly, a hand sliding up to brush some hair off of her face.
She took a sip of her cider, and finished her plate, then studied the food thoughtfully, trying to decide if she wanted seconds, or to move straight onto pie. Both were tempting options, to be honest, but she wanted to wait a minute or two, to be sure how her stomach felt.
Pao -
He gaver a wink, smile bright and relief coming over him since he managed to guess mostly right, before he got back to his plate. He polished it off and went for a half plate of seconds, wanting to make sure he had plenty of room left for pie. He noticed she had paused but didn't comment, instead going back to her answer from just a few moments earlier.
"Y'know you've changed my life, too, right? In all the best ways possible, too."
Aria -
After a moment, she got herself a bit more stuffing, and another small slice of turkey, before pulling her plate back to her. She took a small bite, smiling softly, and then looked up at his words. She smiled, warm and loving, her hand sliding over to squeeze his in a soft, loving way, before she went back to eating.
"Good. I'd hate to think it was one sided, all these wonderful, amazing good changes that have come." She said, soft and earnest, because she wanted to be sure his life was made as much better as hers had been.
Pao -
He was mid-bite when she spoke, and he had to shake his head, brows furrowed slightly. "No way," he said after swallowing. "Just you being around, before we even started that sort-of-dating phase, changed a ton of stuff for me. And not just my food."
He smiled at that, of course acknowledging that that was definitely something, but it wasn't the only thing. "Just having someone to talk to that wasn't Zephira or strictly work type s**t was a huge thing. And you were...around and you let me into your space, too. Made me feel like someone actually cared to be around me in their spare time."
Aria -
She was eating again when he began to speak, and his words had her looking happy, so very happy, even if she couldn't talk, because her mouth was full. When she finished the bite... And the plate... She replied. "I'm really, truly glad to know that. I don't have words to express how important it is to me to know that."
She settled back in her seat, sipping her cider, and then added "And good. Because you were cared about, and I wanted to be around you, all along. Different levels of caring, over the time, but still there, from pretty early on." She didn't comment on the fact that she thought Joy might have been willing to do the same, if she had any clue that Rhys might have been lonely, but he had kept that inside. She sometimes wondered if, back then, he kept it so deep that even he didn't realize how lonely he had been.
Pao -
He could really only smile back, this time with an added hint of pride at her finished second plate, and quickly polished off his own plate before saying, "I think I kinda started missing you--barely figured that out that's what it was when I was thinkin' about it a little while back--kinda early on, too? First movie night, I think?"
He sipped at his cider again, really giving it some thought. "I guess after I got used to being around you, was just weird when you weren't there and I wasn't doing anything. Kinda...empty?" He squinted. "Maybe?"
Aria -
She sipped at at her cider, thoughtfully, nodding as she considered that statement. "That why you kept snagging my pillow when I took a bathroom break?" She asked, in a gently teasing way, her eyes soft with love for him. "I honestly found it rather adorable, when I came back the first time, to find you cuddled up to my pillow in your short nap."
She shrugged and then reached over to pat his hand. "I'm glad you did get used to me being around so much. Sometimes I worried that I was being annoying, or pushing in too much, honestly."
Pao -
The teasing had his cheeks turn a light shade of pink, but he shrugged. "Maybe? Didn't know it back then, obviously."
"You did, kinda," he thought to point out as he took her hand, twining his fingers with hers. "When you came lookin' for me that one night. If that night didn't happen, doubt we would've gotten anywhere near this far. So," smiling, he gently squeezed her hand.
"That we made it to today is thanks to that sorta-push, which was you and your big heart worrying about a guy you went on duty with a couple times." He pulled her hand up to his lips for a gentle, very loving kiss. "So, again, thank you, baby. For that night, and almost every day and every night since."
Aria -
She smiled at the sight of the faint blush on his cheeks, because it was so much less common for her to make him blush then it was for him to get her to do so.
His words made her slightly frown at first, because she didn't like that he seemed to be saying she had pushed too much... Because she had never wanted to push him too far. However, the rest of his words changed the frown into a smile that grew, the more he spoke. Her fingers were gripping his, just a little shy of too tight, by the time he kissed her hand.
"You had already managed to convince me you were someone I wanted to know, by that point, and know as well as you would let me. And people don't just disappear, after all, for no reason. But I'm glad I did, and that it let us get here." She found herself wondering about why he had been in that state, that day, because he'd never told her. However, she figured she'd hold it off until a non Holiday, because it just wasn't a holiday feeling inducing topic, she suspected.
Pao -
He saw her frown gradually change into that bright and beautiful smile of hers that he so absolutely loved, and her words had him kiss her hand again, nodding a bit when he set their hands down on the table again.
"I'm glad you did too, lookin' back. Would've never guessed you'd change my life the way you have so far, or that I'd fall for you as hard as I did--and I seriously ********' fall for you over and over again it's kinda crazy, or that I could actually be as happy as I am when I'm with you."
Aria -
The kiss made her eyes sparkle happily, but his words... That had her getting up, and moving around the table to his side so that she could lean down and kiss him.
She held the kiss, long and sweet, for a good few minutes, before she quietly broke the kiss to gaze into his beautiful green eyes. Finally, she said "Just as I never would have guessed how much you would change mine, simply because you won my trust with the offer to have my back anytime."
Pao -
He kissed her back, guiding her down onto his lap for the few minutes they shared that kiss. When she pulled back he lovingly returned her gaze, smiling as he thought back to that night he first gave her that offer not realizing it would have such an impact on her.
He wrapped his arms around her, making sure she was comfortable in his lap as he kissed her again, slow and sweet and for another few minutes or so. "Funny, this all started from kinda seemingly small things that just...snowballed." He reached up, carefully combing back a few loose strands, smile soft. "Sometimes I still can't believe I get to wake up next to you almost every morning..."
Aria -
She settled into his lap, more than happily, because being close to him was always one of her favorite things, and in moments like this, it was even better. She was breathing slowly after she had spoken, and snuggled up to him, smiling.
That second long kiss had her eyes closing tight, getting lost in the warmth and the feelings of love and happiness that flowed through her in these moments. She needed to catch her breath after that kiss, and nodded quietly as he spoke, smiling at the way he handled her hair... Another one of those small gestures of how much he cared. Finally she spoke, softly. "But in the end, it's often the small things that do that, add up to the most important big things."
Pao -
His focus had inadvertently gone to her her hair, gently running his hands through it as his smile turned just a little bit sweet. "It is the small things," he murmured in reply, eyes flickering to hers and briefly getting lost in the gorgeous blue. "I guess a little extra true for me, 'cause if you hadn't invested as much as you did..."
The brunette leaned in for a kiss then, before continuing. "It's insane thinkin' about how much I would have missed out on if you didn't take those first steps to make us, this, happen."
Aria -
She sighed softly, enjoying the sensations on him stroking her hair in that way. Normally she was the one caressing his hair, but it was definitely just as nice for her when he did it. Her eyes stayed closed and she rested her head against his, gently. "I've always been very determined when I decide to do something. For awhile, I didn't think you'd see me as more then..."
She paused, considering her words, and how he treated most relationships. "More than a buddy, closer than most but no more... But I wanted your friendship, if nothing else. I couldn't let that go."
Pao -
He snorted at that, grinning wide. "Really? Never noticed that about you, babe," he ribbed, tone light but obviously sarcastic. And then he kissed her again to wordlessly apologize before letting her continue. When she was finished he couldn't help but kiss her again, lingering a bit this time before leaning back and sort of shrugging.
"I think the first time I noticed you was when you gave me that ointment for the scar on my arm. Not sure if you ever figured this out, but bending over and giving a guy buddy that kinda view...if that guy friend doesn't notice you he's either gay or blind."
Aria -
She rolled her eyes at his sarcasm, but kissed him back, obviously not offended by it. She held him close, enjoying each kiss as it came, her expression soft and happy. His shrug, after the second kiss, made her blink a little, wondering what he was shrugging about.
And then her brows came together at his words, confused a little. "That... kinda view? What view?" She clearly wasn't picking up on what he was talking about, still entirely unaware of the little show she had accidentally given him that day. "I remember the day I gave you the ointment, sure... My biggest concern at the time was avoiding you wondering why I had so much, when I'd barely been here, since then I'd have had to either lie to you, or dance around a subject I wasn't ready to talk to anyone about... But I don't recall any... views?"
Pao -
Her confusion only amused him more, and he was tempted to demonstrate but was too comfortable with them the way that they currently were sitting to want to move. "So I was sitting over there," he nodded toward the wall just nearby where he'd hung his towel to dry during that visit," and you said you had ointment so you went to your desk over there." He nodded toward the desk.
"See how they're across the room from each other, nothing blocking the way? And you bent over to get the ointment for me out of the drawer and I had an unobstructed view of that gorgeous a** of yours."
Aria -
She looked at the wall, nodding, remembering he had sat there, despite a more comfortable offer of sitting on the bed, then at her desk too. She blinked slowly, looking between the two, listening to his words, and then turning quite red at both the realization of what he meant by 'that kinda view' and the fact that he called her a** gorgeous. She knew he liked her looks, but every time he made a comment like that, it still made her blush.
"Ah... I um. I had no idea..." She finally said. "I honestly had no clue you'd... even begun to notice me in any non-buddy fashion, frankly..." She paused, and considered this, for a long moment. "I think the first hint I got that you even noticed anything was... the day you brought me the package with these" She reached up to tap her hair clips. "In it... And even then, I wasn't really sure..."
Pao -
He gave a bright and incredibly amused smile when she blushed--he loved how adorable she looked, as well as the fact that he was able to get that kind of reaction from her at all--and gently cupped her face. "Well I did, and up to when you asked me to kiss you I kept trying not to think those thoughts ''cause," and he shrugged, "y'know, just how I am with people in general."
When she pointed out her clips he pulled on a thoughtful expression, trying to remember what was going through his head at that time with regard to his attraction to her. "I think...by then I kinda always had to remind myself to think those thoughts later 'cause I couldn't afford you finding out kinda thing? Also didn't wanna potentially risk...whatever..." because he wasn't sure how to refer to it even now, "we had."
Aria -
She saw the amusement on his face, and might have buried her face against his neck, but his hands on her face pre-empted that. She bit her lip as he spoke, her brows lifting, and she nodded, a little. "Yeah. It's, honestly, part of why I thought I had no chance with you, for so very long..." She said, softly.
She reached up, and brushed her fingers along his cheek, remembering the many times she had thought of him, and how many times, when they were together, she had found herself wishing he would find her attractive, see her as a potential someone for more than just friendly hanging out. Now she had it, and it was wonderful, but she could very well remember how many times she'd been convinced her desires and love was all in vain. "It was... challenging, at times, keeping in the way I felt about you, honestly."
Pao -
"Well," he said, her touch paired with the current conversation bringing the lightest shade of pink to his cheeks. Given how close she was she probably wouldn't miss it, but he didn't really care at this point. "You've always been good at beating the odds, babe." Gently he pulled her closer, meeting her somewhere in the middle to press a soft and loving kiss to her lips.
"And no ********' kidding," he said when he eventually broke the kiss. "I wanted to hang out with you but also couldn't do anything about what I was thinking...feeling...except maybe put an arm around you during those scary movies or some s**t like that." Rhys was smiling, mostly, when he said all this, and he ended it with another little kiss.
"Glad we don't gotta hide it anymore, though. Again, all you." A pause, and he grinned. "And that ********' cake."
Aria -
She gave a slight smile at the hint of pink on his cheeks, enjoying that, once again, she wasn't the only one feeling the need to blush because of things that had happened. His words brought the pink color back to her own cheeks, however, and she kissed him back, a soft sigh escaping her. "Well, I think the important odds have been beaten, since I'm here, now..." She murmured, after the kiss, a soft smile on her lips.
Her brows rose when he commented on the scary movies. She honestly had thought he was just being friendly during that, since she was watching the movies with him. It never occurred to her that he might have, in a way, been enjoying the excuse to hold her during the movies. "Oh!" Was all she could say, at first, to that, as she thought about it. And her brows went up a little more. "Well that puts a whole other perspective on the next morning, and how awkward it was. I thought it was just me panicking, or being worried, over that situation, to be honest. I thought you were just uncomfortable."
She smiled at his last words, laughing over the comment about the cake. "That cake... Yeah. I honestly did not expect that result, that day... But was so glad I got it."
Pao -<********. Me." He had to look away, snorting at the memory. "I was uncomfortable, but only 'cause of morning guy issues, babe. There was this kinda delay, I think? When I realized you were right there and you moved, holy s**t I about ********' lost it." While he went through his very animated recollection of that morning, his hands had left her cheeks and settled on her waist, again holding her securely against him.
He finished, the pink on his cheeks just a little bit hotter now. "So when you said you wanted me to kiss you, no way in hell I would'a said 'no'."
Aria -
Her brows rose at his words, curiously, her expression one of surprise. "If I hadn't moved, what would you have done?" She finally asked, fascinated by this look into his side of that morning that had been a memory she was unlikely to forget. "And why would my moving make you almost lose it?" That was a little confusing to her, though she had some potential suspicions as to what it might have been. She smiled a little when he held her close, her arms sliding around him as well.
She couldn't resist it, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to each of his pink cheeks, because he looked adorable, blushing like that. "Well, that's very good to know... I'd been wishing, for some weeks, that I had the courage to just try and kiss you myself, honestly. The first time I found myself struggling against the urge to kiss you, frankly, was that day when I made you crepes... After all that groaning, which, frankly, was one of the most unexpectedly erotic moments in my life... I mean, babe, you honestly sounded like you were having an orgasm..."
Her cheeks went red again. "But then, you curled around me and looked straight into my face... I still am not sure why you did that... and you were so close. I almost leaned forwards and kissed you, then and there... But I was still so scared of being rejected that, instead, I stomped on that idea, hard."
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:41 pm
Pao -
He thought about it for a second. "Might have just stayed still, honestly? As for losing it, I meant more in an embarrassed kinda losing it 'cause I wouldn't have any other kind of explanation if you noticed it." And by "notice" he mostly meant "felt."
The kisses to his cheeks darkened the pink slightly, but Rhys smiled softly at her as he listened. His brows went up, a little surprised she said weeks. "So we danced around this for a while?" He sounded amused as he gave her a little squeeze, listening as she spoke and successfully managed to turn his cheeks more red now. "That bad? Sorry...is it still that bad now?"
""I remember that! I did it 'cause I wanted to see your face? Was the easiest way without moving. Not sure why I didn't wanna move though...can't remember." His smiled went lopsided as he tried to recall what he might have been thinking back then. Then he blinked and refocused on Seren. "So what about cake day had you feeling not scared anymore?"
Aria -
"Ahhh gotcha." She smiled a little, understanding now. Oh yes, she could definitely understand that. It was one of the nicer things to being female, she supposed... She didn't have such a blatant tell, when she wanted to hide things of that nature.
She kissed his nose, and laughed softly, nodding a bit. "So it seems. I just had no way of knowing you even considered me attractive, let alone anything else... especially with the way you talked about not finding anyone on the island interesting in that way, at least early on, I wasn't gonna risk it." She remembered when he was in the hospital, and he'd commented on that issue, and that had made her sad, but she'd hidden it. His question, though, earned him a small kiss. "Well we haven't actually done crepes since, and we should... But also I'm used to it and Ii get to come home to you and... well. It's not such a problem now."
"Why did you wanna see my face, though?" She was curious about that. "I mean, I was just making crepes..?" Well, and hiding that she was reacting to his noises, but he didn't know that part. His question had her blinking at him, in surprise. "I mean... Well, it came after the day you brought me my clips, so I'd gotten a confused MAYBE hint... And then... You weren't hiding that you noticed me so much, that day. I saw you looking, staring, heard how you reacted... And then you said that bit about 'sharing something else with you' and I had to seize my chance."
Pao -
"I did say I wasn't looking though, didn't I?" he blinked, thinking back to that conversation. "'Cause I wasn't, not even after we met and all." It didn't matter too much one way or the other given they were together now and everything, but it was always interesting to look back on the little details. The little kiss earned her a smile and a lingering little kiss back, as well as a playful wink. "Gotcha."
Her next question had him humming softly for a moment before he answered, "Something felt off when you smiled and talked? I wanted to see your face clearly for some kinda sign, but you were fine."
He pulled her a little closer again, eyes on hers as he listened to her answer. "Hard not to notice you that day, babe," he said, "just saying." And then she finished and he leaned in for another series of small kisses, smiling bright when he pulled away. "Honestly? A part of me was hoping you'd ask for something like that, didn't think you'd actually ask though."
Aria -
"Yeah, which was enough to make me think I had no chance, for the longest time." She gave a soft shrug, and leaned into him, eyes on his face. The kiss made her sigh happily, and she murmured "And I have you, so we're even." Before kissing him again, soft and gentle, lingering for a moment or two.
She laughed a little, blushing some and sighed. "Probably because I was fighting my reactions to the sounds you were making. I was fine, in the sense of health, and all. I was just a little tense from... well, wanting." She wasn't even going to lie about it, since she no longer needed to worry about it.
She smiled a little and shrugged. "I am glad... I admit, I had hopes that if there was any chance you'd notice me for sure, it would be that day." She blushed some and kissed him back, softly, her arms around him. "Only a fool would not have taken the chance you offered with your comment, and I try not to be a fool."
Pao -
"You're pretty good at not being a fool," he grinned, heart skipping at the way she blushed. "And yeah, I'm all yours and you can have me whenever you want." He kissed her again, before quickly adding, "Outside work hours, mostly."
With just one more kiss he turned away to look for the box he'd been carrying earlier, thinking a little bit about "wants" and recalling that they had a pumpkin pie and a can of whipped cream with their names on it.
Aria -
She blushed a little more and kissed him softly, sweetly, and lovingly, glad to know he felt she was good at that. His second comment made her laugh softly. "Indeed, and I yours. You're always welcome to what you wish, love... outside of duty, of course." Her tone was lightly teasing, and her eyes gentle.
She watched him looking around, and chuckled, guessing what he was looking for. She gently stood up from his lap and went to get the pie and the whipped cream, then the dessert plates and a knife to cut the pie, before setting them on the table, and settling back into his lap.
Pao -
When she stood he turned to see what might have happened to make her get up, so when he saw her get the pie he couldn't help but watch her quietly from where he sat, gaze filled with all his love and the joys she brought him every single day. He kept his eyes on her the entire time, up until she sat down and, once she was comfortably settled he pulled her into another slow, lingering kiss. It was always hard to describe how he felt when she took care of him in the many ways that she did, but when she did he always remembered why he was so incredibly grateful for her in his life.
"Love you, baby," he murmured, barely pulling away for a little breath.
Aria -
She kissed him back, arms tight around him, wondering what brought it on but reveling in the feeling of his lips on hers, and how much happiness he brought her every day. She sighed softly when he broke the kiss, and whispered back "I love you too, Rhys."
She then leaned back up and kissed him again, her eyes closed, losing herself in this moment with him. When he wanted to have the pie, he could break the kiss and let her know. Until that moment, she was going to keep enjoying the feeling of kissing the man who held her heart.
Pao -
When she kissed him again he decided to pretty much leave the pie to its fate of waiting until this died down, which wasn't likely anytime soon if he had a say on the matter. Which he did, so the pie was doomed.
He leaned in, pouring out as much of his love as he could into the kiss they were now sharing. Playfully he nipped at her lower lip, smiling when he opened his eyes to catch her reaction. It was just a tease, another wordless question as to whether or not she wanted their night to progress a little further now or wait until later.
Aria -
She sighed softly at the n**, her lips curling into a smile, and a hint of a pleased blushed crossing her cheeks. Her eyes opened after it, though only part way, so she could gaze through her lashes at him. If he wanted to continue, they could have pie later... After they dealt with whatever other appetites might be crossing his mind, and perhaps even hers.
As such, she slipped her fingers up the back of his neck, the nails brushing along his skin, and then up and into his hair. She whispered against his lips "Another thing I'm grateful for... You manage to find clever solutions to things, so that we can enjoy our life together quite... fully."
Pao -
Her fingers trailed tendrils of a growing warmth behind them, sending a shiver down his spine. When she ran them through his hair again he leaned in further, eyes closed as he smiled, lips brushing against hers as he replied, "Could say the same about you, love."
When he kissed her again he shifted his hands a little bit, one around her back while the other he slipped under her knees, and after making sure he had a secure hold on her he got them up and off the chair.
Aria -
She grinned against his lips, when he shivered, pleased by the reaction as always. She loved seeing how responsive he was to her, and learning what made him respond. She could not, perhaps, test some things, yet, but what she could, she would. Her brows rose at his response, though. "Not sure what I've done on this issue, but I shan't argue."
And she kissed him back, though the feeling of his hands moving had her brows lifting, and then she sighed, happily, when she realized what he was doing. She slid her free arm more fully around his shoulder, trying to help with balance.
Pao -
Help with balance was good, and he simply thanked her with another n**, smiling as he pulled back so he could see where he was going. It was thankfully a short distance to the bed, where he gently lay her down. He straightened up then and looked on lovingly at his girlfriend as he slipped out of his jacket--one less step later would make things easier, after all--once again realizing how lucky he was to wake up with her at his side every morning.
Aria -
She made a soft mmm at the next n**, and grinned up at him once she on the bed. She carefully kicked her shoes off, and wriggled out of her own jacket, her eyes on him the whole time. He was such a wonderful, beautiful man, and he chose her, chose to let her in. It was just so amazing to her, that all her efforts had paid off, even the ones she had not intended as anything more than friendship. And now, here she was, with a boyfriend who made her life amazing.
She held her arms out to him, waiting for him to join her on the bed, wanting him close again.
Pao -
When she held her arms out he smiled, soft and loving, and happily joined her on the bed once he got his shoes off. He slipped an arm around her to pull her close, forehead resting lightly against hers as he hovered his lips just above hers.
"Still sometimes hard to believe I get to share my life with someone like you, y'know that?" he whispered, eyes closed as his thoughts lingered on the fact that she chose him, of all the people on the island, to love and to be with. And to think it'd all started out with the very innocent premise of having duty together a number of times. Not to mention the timing...if she'd woken up while he was still in Mexico, that might have been some other guy she ran into in the pod room, and then where would they be?
Aria -
She slipped her arms around his shoulders again, smiling up at him, eyes bright with her happiness to have him here, with her, in her arms. She was about to press her lips to his hovering ones when he spoke, so she waited for him.
His words made her lips curve into a brighter smile, and she whispered back "It amazes me, too, that someone as wonderful as you could possibly be the someone out there waiting for someone like me. I know you don't see what it is I see in you, but what I see shines so brightly... You are as beautiful as any star I have ever seen, inside and out, and unlike the stars... I can touch, and hold you."
She leaned up to kiss him, after finishing those words, not aware of what was on his mind. All she knew, at the moment, was where she was right now, and as far as she was concerned, it was the only place she ever should be.
Pao -
Rhys could only smile at her words, a hand reaching to gently caress her cheek when she kissed him again. Between the two of them she had always been the more articulate one, and he was perfectly fine with that.
It was a little while later when they were finally cuddled up under the sheets, spent and sated. He was absently tracing shapes against the small of her back, a heavy and incredibly satisfied sigh escaping him as his thoughts wandered back to his old life, once again comparing and contrasting and wondering how in the hell he went from hell to this kind of bliss in such a short amount of time.
Aria -
She lay against him, eyes closed in her enjoyment of his warmth and their well spent time. She leaned her head to press a loving kiss to his cheek, as she slowly opened her eyes to gaze at the beautiful man she had gotten so lucky as to catch the eye of. "Mmm my reasons for being grateful just keep getting bigger." She said, in a tone that was half teasing and half serious.
He was just such a wonderful man, in so many ways. A considerate lover, a caring heart, always gentle with her, and free with how much he showed his affection. She never thought she would ever find a man so wonderful in her life.
Pao -
He smirked at the tease, brow going up in slight amusement as he glanced down at her. She was the only one he'd gotten so comfortable being around so quickly, and so the teasing was always welcome. It was, to him, another form of affection from the woman he loved. "Hope that's not some kinda hint that it's not ever big enough," he murmured as he leaned in for a proper little kiss.
She was the brightest star in his life, and at this point he was confident (if maybe a bit shy) in admitting that she was his one and only. She always made him feel so loved in so many ways, as well. Her understanding and consideration for him was one, her patience for him nothing short of unbelievable. He couldn't have imagined this for himself way back, before Deus. Or hell, even after joining up.
Aria -
She laughed softly, her eyes loving and gentle as she kissed him back. "Of course it's no such hint, my silly love." She kissed him, her fingers caressing his cheeks softly. "You are just right, in my mind." She kissed him again, and then lay back, gently stretching, her muscles loose and relaxed. "In more ways then the one you were jesting about, really."
She smiled at him, her eyes curious as to what was on his mind, but not asking, not pushing. She knew she could, they were well past the point where she hesitated to ask in concern for messing things up. It was just that, in moments like these, she just preferred him to tell her his thoughts when he wanted to.
Pao -
"Okay, just checking."
Her words got him a little pink in the cheeks though, and he watched her stretching with an equally loving gaze. It took a second for him to catch the little bit of curiosity in her eyes once she settled down again, to which he blinked and reached up, playfully tapping the tip of her nose. "Just ask me, baby. What's up?"
Aria -
She chuckled softly at the pinkness in his cheeks, and brushed his lips with her fingers, a gentle touch.
His question made her laugh, fully, though, and she continued to stretch as she spoke. "Just wondering what was on your mind, lover. Just figured you could tell me, or not, on your own time. I figured if it was important enough, you would tell me, love." She sighed softly, and smiled warmly.
Pao -
Playfully he nipped at her fingers, nose affectionately crinkled up at the gesture. Oddly enough it was these little things that sometimes made him feel so especially close to her.
The sound of her laughter melted him on the spot though, brightening up his expression all the more as he leaned toward her for a soft and loving kiss. "It's important to me?" he started while laying back as well. "'Cause I was thinkin' about you and all the reasons I'm thankful to have you here with me."
Aria -
She laughed at the n**, amused, and gently flicked her fingers on his lips, before pulling her hand back, to rest on her own belly, her eyes soft with love.
She smiled and kissed him back, then tilted her head, watching him as he spoke. His words made her smile warmly, and she said quietly "I could never have the time in the world to list all the reasons I am grateful to have you here with me, but grateful I truly, truly am." She reached down to lift his hand, and give it a soft kiss.
Pao -
He "mm'd" quietly when she kissed his hand, smile warm as he watched her for a long moment before mimicking the gesture, pressing a soft kiss to her hand as well. "Same, love," he murmured quietly before kissing her hand again. "I'm not so good with the words though so I'll probably be repeated 'really' and 'very' and all those kinds of words while I'm listing all those reasons."
He smirked at his own joke, gently tugging her toward him. "Y'know, 'cause 'all the time in the world' and a long time."
Aria -
She shivered at the kiss, her smile just getting wider, and softer, with each word he spoke. When he tugged her in, she was softly chuckling at his silliness, and went with his pull more than willingly. She turned on her side, to face him, her free arm going around him. "That's a long time, and I intend to be there for every moment of it that the universe lets me."
She wasn't going to promise more than she could give, after all.
Pao -
When she settled against him he moved to kiss her again, smiling and giving an amused huff at her words. "Again. Same, love."
Rhys held her quietly for a while, happy to let a comfortable silence fill the room as they lay in each others' embrace. It wasn't until he remembered the pie that he finally turned his head to look at the table they abandoned just short of dessert--the food kind.
Aria -
She smiled a little at his words, always enjoying these moments of mutual confirmation... It helped her deal with her internal insecurities that, no matter how hard she tried, would always be at least a little there.
She leaned to kiss him, and found her lips pressed to his jawline, which surprised her, because he turned his head. She lifted hers to peer where he was looking, then realized he was considering the pie. "Ahhhh. Feeling hungry for food, again, love?" She asked, softly, her eyes going back to his face.
Pao -
When he felt her lips on his jaw he turned to face her again, blinking at her question before realizing why she'd asked. "Nah, just remembered the pie we never got to," he replied, leaning to make up for the kiss he missed on accident. "Sorry."
And then he grinned and kissed her again. "Would never say no to food though, especially not food cooked by your. Or after a little workout like we just did."
Aria -
She mmmm'd softly into the kisses, and smiled warmly, then carefully slipped out of bed. She began to slice the pie, and glanced over her shoulder at him. "Whipped cream, babe?" She asked, as she set a slice on one of the plates. She got hers prepped while she waited for his answer, still smiling.
Pao -
"Extra on mine, please," he replied, sitting up and leaning against the headboard as he watched with a loving smile and incredibly appreciative eyes. She was always quite a sight to behold no matter how many times he'd seen her like this, though this might be the first time she served up food in her current state of undress.
Aria -
She laughed softly and nodded, putting a generous dollop on her slice, and even more on his. She glanced at the whipped cream, and gave an amused look, but set it aside. She then grabbed the forks, and carried the plates over to the bed settling down besides him and handling him his plate. "Hope it's good, babe."
Pao -
He took the offered plate with a bright smile, particularly when he saw the generous helping of whipped cream. "Thank you, baby," he said as he took hold of his fork and got his first bite ready, obviously not at all noticing her amused look from earlier.
"And I don't doubt it will be since you made it." Rhys beamed over at her before finally taking a bite. Turning to his plate, he did his best to suppress a quiet groan as he quickly started on his next bite.
Aria -
She smiled and said "Of course, lover." His second comment left her blushing red and smiling brightly. She watched him take that bite, and his reaction had her beaming, and she finally took a bite of her own.
Her eyes lit up, and she looked extremely pleased that she'd succeeded. She ate her slice in happy silence, then set her empty plate on the bedside table.
Pao -
He set his empty plate on the nightstand as well before leaning back against the headboard, quietly sighing his contentment. Gently he reached for her hand, giving it a little squeeze as he brought it up to his lips for several soft kisses.
"Not cold, love?" he asked as he lowered their joined hands to rest over his heart, looking over at her curiously.
Aria -
She shivered from the kisses, and then lay back, so that her back and head rested on his legs, smiling up at him from there. "Not yet. If I get cold, you can warm me up, yeah?" She teased lightly, but just lay there on his lap, comfortable. She just admired him, enjoying the feeling of his heart beating under their hands.
Pao -
He grinned at that. "Of course," he replied, softly as he gave her hand another squeeze. It was an interesting vantage point, but the view was no less beautiful than any other time he set his eyes on her. He was maybe a little sensitive whenever she shifted though, which was only evident in the way his cheeks gradually warmed again.
Aria -
She gave a soft, happy laugh, her eyes glittering up at him happily. She tried not to move too much, because she was comfortable and happy here, and in no rush to do anything, in particular. "I swear to whatever gods may be out there, the day you decided to let me into your life was the day Became the luckiest woman alive." She murmured as she gazed at her beautiful love and lover. "I still can't believe it, at times."
Pao -
"We're like two peas in a ********' pod," he chuckled, bringing her hand back up to his lips for a little kiss as he looked down at her, all his love for her in his eyes. "Honestly, I always feel like the luckiest guy in the world whenever I think about the fact that you chose me and put up with all the s**t from my past..."
They were still working through that one, too, which brought him back to utter amazement at her patience for him.
Aria -
She laughed softly and squeezed his hand gently. "I never believed in fate, or people being made for each other, or anything like that. Not til I met you. Now? Now I wonder, at times, because I can't imagine anyone more right for me than you, ever." She sighed and added "And of course I chose you. You're amazing and wonderful. As for putting up..."
He got a slight frown and she continued "I don't 'put up' with it. I work with you on it, because you deserve to have someone who understands and is willing to help you."
Pao -
He chuckled at her frown, again giving her hand another kiss as he smiled apologetically down at his love. "Sorry, the whole idea of having someone who understands me and is patient for my sake is still...kinda sinking in, I guess? Old habits."
"As for fate, I dunno. It's a lot of crazy coincidences that kinda started us up if fate wasn't a thing, so. Either way, I'm the happiest man in the world so I don't really care so much who or what pulled us together. Just glad we made it to where we are now.”
Aria -
She went back to smiling at him, her other hand sliding up to caress his face. "I just don't like it when you say that stuff. It sounds self denigrating, and you shouldn't be doing that to yourself. You really are a wonderful person, and I want you to see that."
She sighed and shrugged at the part about fate. "Yeah. I can't say, either way, what made it possible, for sure. Whatever it was... We're here now, and we belong here." She smiled more, and then shivered, and sighed, before sitting up, and shifting to lie next to him, under the covers now. "Mmm that was comfy, but it was getting a touch chilly."
Pao -
He gently tugged her closer when she finally settled beside him again, happy to help warm her up a little bit. And also happy that she was closer still, so he could properly give her a kiss. "Yeah...I'll work on it," he sighed, gently resting his head against hers as they lay there, cuddled up again. It was his favorite place to be, really, in bed with Seren in his arms.
"We do belong here," he soon chuckled, finding the phrasing extremely fitting. "And to think we actually have Deus to thank for us meeting at all."
Aria -
She kissed him back, snuggled right into him. She had no shame about leaching a little spare heat from her boyfriend. Indeed, he'd done it a fair amount in Siberia, so it was her turn to get warmed up. His words earned him a smile full of her love and support for him. "Thank you, baby. I can't show you how you look to me, but I can at least encourage you to look at yourself in a brighter light." She kissed him again, softly, eyes closing for the moment, enjoying being where she belonged.
"Mmmm so we do. I wonder what they make of it, really." She said, laughing softly, though her eyes remained closed. She was glad she had nowhere else to be tonight.
Pao -
He smiled into the kiss, grateful for her words but also wondering if she had any idea that he had very similar thoughts about how she saw herself versus how he saw her. They really were, very curiously enough, well-matched in such a way that made him genuinely wonder about the whole fate aspect of life.
He reached up to brush her hair aside a little bit, eyes focused on that little gesture for a moment. "I doubt they really give a damn as long as we do our job," he snorted, as amused by the idea as she seemed to be. "Which we do--damn those overnight shifts."
Aria -
His short silence had her opening her eyes again, looking up at him with a smile on her face, wondering, as ever, what went through his mind in those short, thoughtful silences. She wasn't showing her curiosity, this time, only the love she felt for him. She just was thinking about the many things he could be considering.
She leaned into the touch of his hand on her hair, enjoying how good it felt. "Mmm that feels so nice..." She murmured softly. If she thought he had a clue how to do it, she'd be tempted to ask him to braid it for her, because she just loved how it felt when he touched or played with her hair. She then refocused and sighed. "You're probably right. If they do care, perhaps it's in a sadistic 'Let's see how we can ******** with them' way, which might explain those ongoing overnights."
Pao -
He smiled as she leaned into his touch, though eventually his hand moved down to cup her cheek and gently pull her in for a kiss. A bit lingering this time, because kisses felt nice too, and it took a second for him to really pull away. "I'd believe that," he finally commented, "if the higher-ups got bored or something and just felt like messing with us a little. Most of the time it's mostly harmless, so not a whole lot to complain about except maybe the hours."
And then, as though he was being pulled away for another dreaded overnight, he nuzzled into her hair.
Aria -
She kissed him back, getting lost in the joy and happiness that always filled her when he kissed her. She was lost enough in it that when he spoke again, her eyes blinked a little in confusion, taking a little bit to catch up to what he meant. When she did, she laughed softly and said "Ah, yeah. As long as it remains at that level, at least it's something manageable, even if it's not much fun."
She sighed, and her arms tightened around his waist, for a moment, just holding him there, like she worried he was about to be called away, then she relaxed and smiled.
Pao -
He relaxed when she did, laughing lightly into her hair when he realized how childish that might have been of him to do. Not that he worried about her judging him or anything like that, though. He just sort of noticed, and amused himself in the process.
"I guess I'm probably not such a tough guy to you anymore, huh?"
Aria -
She hadn't even considered the possibility of it being childish, so there was no judging. It wasn't like he didn't nuzzle into her hair regularly, after all, so in her mind, it was just something he did when he held her like this, just as she snuggled up to him, and tucked herself as close as she could be.
"Mmm what do you mean?" She asked, at that, confused by the question. Did he think she did not see him as a strong man?
Pao -
"Mm..." he thought on it a moment, fingers absently tracing lines on her shoulder as he tried to think of how to explain it. "Like when we first met, I don't seem like that guy to you anymore? I kinda always figured people saw me as a 'tough guy with little feelings' sort."
Which he put that front up on purpose, to keep others at bay. It obviously didn't work on Seren, and Joy was slowly nicking away at that wall of his as well.
Aria -
She blinked slowly, as her skin got little goosebumps from the pleasant feeling of his fingers running along it. She considered how to reply to that, a little confused. She had never really seen him as that, which might seem strange to him.
Finally, slowly, she said "To me, you were always strong? Tough in that sense, I suppose, and you're still that, to me. But even though you were trying to keep me at arm's length, like you wanted to do with everyone, I never saw you as having little feelings... More as..." She paused again, once again considering how to explain it. "As having a great deal of control on your feelings and what you let people see."
Pao -
He listened quietly, fingers still tracing as he took in her words, considered them for a long, very silent moment before pulling away just enough that he could more easily look down at her, the depth of his love for her plain in his eyes. He couldn't understand it, how even then she could read him better than anyone else he'd ever known, but he didn't need to in order to know that hr absolutely loved her for it.
"I...don't really have words to respond to that," he huffed, amused by his inability but hoping she understood what he meant by that. "Except by maybe saying again how thankful I am that you're the one that managed to break past those walls of mine. And that I love you more than I thought I could ever love anyone..."
Aria -
She looked back at him, eyes gentle with her love for him, a love that went as deep as can be for her. If he had asked for more explanation, she simply would have said that she recognized it from years of doing that herself, back home. The only difference was she had decided to try a different approach on Deus, where none of them had known her family, so she was willing to give the people a chance.
She laughed softly and leaned up to kiss him, pausing with her lips just next to his. "I am thankful of it, too. I love you more than I ever thought one person could love another, and have done so for some time..." And then finished her words with the kiss.
Pao -
Rhys leaned into the kiss, surprisingly emotional at her added confession near the end there that he was fighting back maybe a tear or two. Or maybe more than that, but they didn't fall. It was still something he was grasping to understand to its fullest, that someone loved him and actually saw him as a person as opposed to a meal ticket or whatever else people back in his hometown saw him as.
When he pulled away after a moment it was with a shuddered breath as he shut his eyes tight despite the one little teardrop that got past his defenses. "******** -
She sighed when he broke the kiss, then blinked, seeing the tear on his cheek. She reached up to gently, softly brush it off his cheek, her eyes soft with understanding. It was hard, sometimes, dealing with how amazing and wonderful what they had found in each other was, especially when they were both used to a world that had treated them like s**t. Now, they had found each other, and they each had someone who saw them as worthy of love and caring, and it just... was overwhelming.
"I love you, baby." Was all she could think to say, her fingers back on his cheek after she'd brushed it away, trying to give him the strength he always gave her in similar moments that she'd had.
Pao -
Her brushing it aside only summoned a few more, one after the other soon in a somewhat steady stream as he stopped fighting finally. He kept his eyes closed though and just leaned into the comfort of her touch, eventually resting his forehead against hers.
"Love you, too," he said back, voice as shaky as he thought it might be but he didn't care because he had to say those words right back to her. It was almost as raw as the first time he'd said those words to her...only this time instead of shaky and uncertain he couldn't have been more sure of anything in his entire life.
Aria -
She hadn't expected the flow of tears, but she also did not try to make him stop. Instead, she shifted, pulling his face into her shoulder, because she thought it might be easier to, as they say, have a shoulder to cry on. She knew he wasn't upset, but tears of joy and happiness, or relief, or whatever it was that triggered these ones were still sometimes overwhelming and hard to cope with.
She ran her fingers through his hair, a gentle and comforting gesture, smiling softly at his words. She did not speak, just letting him cry until the emotional triggers let him relax. Instead, she just made a soft, wordless crooning sound, trying to provide as much comfort to him as she could.
Pao -
He welcomed the shift, happy to bury his face into her shoulder and let her comfort him until he finally managed to calm down. Which took a while longer than he would have liked...
"Sorry," he sniffled, adjusting so his voice didn't come out all muffled. "******** just..."
Aria -
When he pulled back enough to speak, she tilted her head to gaze down at him, as unusual as this position might be for them. His words had her eyebrows raising, and she shook her head.
"No need to apologize, baby. How many times have the things you've meant and said to me caused me to be overwhelmed by the emotions I was feeling? How many times have you held me through them?"
Pao -
"Haven't been counting," he replied with a little chuckle as he wiped away at his cheeks. "Never plan on ever counting. You know I'm always here for you, babe." When his cheeks finally didn't feel quite so damp he leaned up for a kiss, as much for comfort as it was a way that he could express the love he had, would always have, for her.
Aria -
"My point, babe, is you've done it so often for me... Why would you need to apologize? I understand. You can let go with me. I will never think less of you for it." She kissed him back, holding him close and trying to express her own love for him, how much she supported him, and how much she understood how hard it was to let go.
Pao -
When he pulled away he couldn't help but chuckle, all his love for her in his eyes as he met her gaze. "Don't tempt me," he joked, reaching up to caress her cheek lovingly. "I know I can let go with you, Seren. May just be a guy thing to not want to cry in front of the woman I love."
He pulled her in for yet another kiss, smiling into it. "To kinda hold on to that 'I'm strong and can protect my woman' image?"
Aria -
She smiled at the caress, and sighed softly, her eyes a little sad. "I wish our culture didn't make it out like giving in, and crying, made you weaker. It doesn't." She kissed him back, smiling too, but still wishing he did not feel he had to keep all of that inside, just to be strong and tough.
His next words made her sigh again. "I know you're strong, and I know you can protect me. You've shown me that, so very well." And she could protect him, too, but that wasn't something to bring up, since he seemed to be feeling fragile in his masculinity along with the rest. "Being able to let go doesn't shatter that." Her eyes were soft and loving. "I dunno... I think it makes me think you're even more strong, when you do... cause you have the strength to be able to let go, and still keep going after."
Pao -
"I know," he said after a beat, brows scrunched together. "I mean I get that it doesn't, but I'm just used to keeping a front up..." He shrugged finally, not wanting to be too redundant. "Another thing I'll work on...thankfully with you." He smiled then, leaning in just for the sake of being that much closer to her.
"You're not going anywhere, right?"
Aria -
She smiled a little at that and gave him another kiss, almost a reward for allowing himself to not have to hide himself away from her like that, even if it would take time. "Alright. I just don't want you feeling you have to keep it in with me. Especially for my sake." She smiled back, perfectly happy with how close he was.
His question earned him a very quizzical look. "I have no plans to go anywhere, whether you mean in the immediate sense or the long term. I'm where I belong. With you."
Pao -
He smiled at his reward, nodding as he tucked away the reminder to do his best to not keep his emotions to himself when it was just the two of them. He already knew he didn't need to hide anything from her anymore, it was just a matter of getting used to that fact.
When she replied with such a look he couldn't help but chuckle as he leaned forward the last little bit to kiss her, finally. "Was rhetorical, baby," he said after a moment, "but still good to hear."
Aria -
She laughed and shook her head at him, her eyes amused. "Babe, you gotta be more clear, then. I took you literally. You are such a goof." Her hands slipped up to cup his face, as she shifted to snuggle even closer to her man.
"But a goof I will never ever let go of, because my world would be dark and bleak without you in it to make me smile and laugh."
Pao -
He gave a soft laugh as she cupped his face, a hand reaching to cover one of hers as he shifted a bit to let her snuggle in a bit more. It sometimes amused him to wonder why, with all the snuggling they did, the universe didn't just let them occupy the same space.
"A goof who wholly belongs to you," he said softly, "and who's world would be just and dark and bleak without his beautiful star to shine her light on even the darkest parts of his life."
Aria -
She smiled at the feeling of his hand on hers, her eyes mostly focused on his, but sometimes traveling along his face just to admire the features she loved so much. She probably had them memorized by now, but she still loved to admire them and memorize them over and over.
His words had her eyes going back to focusing fully on his, and his words made her lips turn up in a bright smile, her cheeks going very pink in her happiness. She pulled him into another kiss, her eyes closing as she let the words ring in her mind, because they made her feel so very good.
Pao -
He smiled at the sight of her blush, happily getting lost in the kiss. It was always so easy, after all, and if he didn't need to stop to take a breath he wouldn't ever want to stop. Still, it was a long moment before he had to, though his lips still stayed just a hair's breadth away from hers.
"Best Thanksgiving ever," he whispered, smiling.
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