Holy mother of pearl…
"Raven…?" I barely breathed.
"Hello Chellé." His soft voice was so tender.
Shock flooded over me. I willed my brain to believe what my eyes were seeing. For all I knew he was a ghost. With a couple of blinks, my gaze slowly traveled over him.
He looked exceptionally polished. He was dressed in pressed black trousers. A cotton white button down shirt was tucked into his belt. The sleeves were cuffed up to his elbows, the top button left undone. His dark brown knee high boots were gleaming. He'd even tamed his hair with a wind swept look. It had grown since I'd last seen it.
Wow… you clean up real nice, Raven…
"I thought you were…" I choked out the words.
"I apologize for being unable to forewarn you of my impending absence. I was sent out on assignment, and could not tell you for precautionary reasons." He gently replied.
I stared back into his eyes for a moment. All the emotions I had suppressed for so long were suddenly bursting at the seams. The swollen feeling in my chest started hurting. His friendship being brutally torn from me had me remembering how much I treasured him. It had me drowning in happy gratefulness.
By the gods, I missed you, Raven…
My body felt called to his. I fell into him. Immediately he wrapped me in the hug I so vividly remembered. His steady heartbeat flowed into my ear as I placed my temple to his chest. My hands clung to his shirt. I feared that he'd some how evaporate right out of my arms. I didn't want to let go for anything.
Admit it Chellé, you have a thing for him too.
I soaked up the familiar comfort of his warm embrace. It felt like I had melded into him. My heart finally began to flutter around my ribs.
"I missed you." I said quietly.
"I missed you terribly as well."
That made my heart skip.
"Lunch is boring without you."
His chest rumbled with his quiet hum.
"At least now you may enjoy all the potato chips to yourself." He said thoughtfully.
"They're not as tasty when I have no one to share them with."
His soft chuckle jostled his ribs against my ear. That made me smile. Slowly the warmth of his hands began to rub my back. Reluctantly taking his cue, I stepped out of his arms. I looked him over again. His stare was doing the same.
"You have sometime to go get some noodles with me?" I beamed at him.
His head tilted as his smile softened.
"For you, I have all the time in the world." He gently replied.
Ugh, you're so adorable.
I gestured down the hall and he fell in step. Everything within me started bubbling out. I didn't realize I would have so much to say. He took it all in stride. His questions were as endless as my words. It felt so good to talk with him again.
I couldn't hold down a laugh as he ate his noodles. His expression kept changing from curiosity, to surprise, to enjoyment.
"How have you not had these noodles yet? You've lived here for ages!" I snorted.
"I simply enjoy finer tastes. Although, your choices leave me pleasantly surprised." He smiled through a bite.
"Sheesh, you're a couple hundred cycles old and…"
"Three hundred and thirty two." He gently interrupted.
I chuckled, "Well fine, you old geezer. You've had all this time and never thought to try noodles?"
He simply shrugged, his smile still on the corners of his lips. I shook my head and refocused on my bowl. I picked the last of the noodles from the broth with chopsticks. Taking the warm bowl in my hands, I put it to my lips.
Get in my belly, you gloriously delicious magical liquid!
I set the bowl back down. Licking the last of the broth off my lips, I searched the table for a napkin. His hand appeared with one its grasp. I looked up at him in thanks as I took it to wipe my mouth. His stare was slowly traveling my face.
"What? You didn't think I'd drink that all with a spoon, did you?" I said as I raised an eyebrow.
"No. I simply found your face of anticipatory excitement to be fascinating." His voice was amused.
I laughed. I patted my belly as I patiently waited for him to finish eating. It was near impossible to choke down another laugh as I watched his eyes slowly run over the bowl of broth before he hesistantly picked it up to drink it.
Sheesh, so cute.
I grabbed his empty bowl as well as mine to take to the noodle chef. With a nod of thanks, I handed them over. I stepped out the door that Kagorn already had open for me.
"Are you going to retire?" He asked.
I glanced over to the horizon. There was still orange in the sky. I grinned back at him.
"Nah, I usually go visit Mgyal right about now." I said as I started walking.
His smile tipped up, "Ah, the House of Spirits."
"Yup, ain't nothing like a good dwarven vodka."
His gaze flicked at me with curiosity.
"I did not take you for one to prefer such strong spirits."
"It calms the brain and settles the nerves." I replied with a light laugh.
He looked me over.
"It's been one of those lunar cycles in the ward." I shrugged.
The bartender had the memory of an elephant. Mygal jokingly teased Kagorn for his century long hiatus as we sat at the bar of the island's most popular Brew House. Kagorn seemed both amused and embarrassed. They both caught up with each other. My mind had to imagine what they were saying, since they were talking in Ku'Vat. I couldn't help but have another shot on top of my usual two. I was feeling good. Kagorn stuck to some sort of native fruit juice.
We said our farewells, Mgyal grinning at us as Kagorn held the door for me. The alcohol was making everything in my body feel pleasantly fuzzy. There was a bit of headiness in my brain as I stood in the street staring at the night sky.
"May I escort you home?" His gentle question had a tinge of longing in it.
I looked over at him. His face was drawn in concern. I grinned at him.
"Pfft, I'm not that drunk." I snorted.
"That was not what I was inferring." He quickly replied.
I gave him the once over.
Why the heck not?
"Alright, alright, if you insist."
His hand took mine and placed it on his elbow. The heat of his skin melted into my palm. Even with the calming effects of alcohol, my heart skipped.
I didn't think you meant this kinda of escort, but I'm not gonna complain.
Shamelessly I leaned into him as I lead him to my house. The softness of his shirt rubbed against my cheek. I could feel the heat of him through it. There was a pleasant silence between us. It seemed to transfer a deeper, happy calm within me.
The walk felt too short. My heart began to sink with every step up to my landing. It suddenly scared me to think that it may be another long stent before I saw him again. I paused at my door, unwilling to dig out my key.
I faced him and got lost in his intent stare.
"I really enjoyed tonight with you." My heart filled my words.
"And I with you as well. I am glad to see you still find my company just as favorable as I find yours." He softly replied.
I stood there, unsure of how to say goodnight. My brain was fighting itself, I didn't know if I really wanted to say my farewells.
As I hesitated, his stance shifted. I watched in curiosity as he pulled a small coin purse from his back pocket. He took out what he wanted and put it back. Taking my hand, his warm palm slipped along mine. When it pulled away, all that remained was a gold coin.
What in the name of…?
When I looked up at him with a frown of confusion, his eyes were full of smiling sparkles.
"I know you have been saving up for your residency hearing. I wish to help you expedite the process…"
It hit me like an anvil. Shock stunned my brain into silence. Words wouldn't come. My jaw suddenly felt slack. All I could manage was to weakly try to shake my head.
I can't accept this, I can't…this is too much…
His head tilted as his face became more serious.
"…I have also arranged for one of the Elders of the Elven Council to represent you. She has superior skills in the detail of law. Even though I doubt you would be rejected, I wish to eliminate all outliers."
His voice had gone so soft.
Dizziness rocked my brain. The shock turned into heavy emotions that became overwhelming. A wave of gratefulness and humility crashed over me as I looked back at the coin. My hand barely found the molding of the doorway to brace myself as the strength in my legs give out. Stinging tears of happiness started to fill my eyes. Every time I blinked, my vision got blurrier.
Damn you vodka!
The hot droplets started falling when I looked into the tenderness of his gaze. I pressed the coin to my chest. My body didn't resist when he moved to hold me in his arms. The sobs buried themselves into his chest.
My long awaited goal was finally being realized. It was all within my grasp. He'd laid it right in my hands.
The heat of the coin seemed to be radiating out from my palm as I desperately clutched it.
He let my crying come to exhaustion. His fingers begin to lightly massage into the muscles of my back. I attempted to collect myself. Parts of his shirt were soaked with my tears. Taking a big breath through hiccups I met his gaze again. The soft smile was accented with the crease of worry on his brow.
"Thank you so very very very much." My jaw kept chattering as I spoke.
"You are always welcome. It is the least I can do to repay you for the time and care you invested into my recovery. Your friendship has become deeply invaluable to me." He whispered.
I let a stupid smile run across my face.
"Yours is really important to me too." I hiccuped.
His stare moved across my gaze.
"I am sorry for upsetting you." He said, his voice became forlorn.
"You didn't upset me. You've just made me really really happy." I couldn't help but giggle.
"Humans cry when they are sad as well as happy?" There was confusion in his question.
"Well, females do. I'm not really sure about males." I breathed a laugh.
I attempted to wipe some of the tears off my face with the back of my hand. His hands left my back. I found his fingers doing it for me. I surrendered to his touch. Their gentle brushing along my skin sent my heart into a race. I got lost in the way his attentive gaze followed his fingers as they traveled along my cheeks. His glowing eyes refocused on mine when he was done. My heart started bounding along my ribs. A smile spread along his lips.
By the gods you're so handsome.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" I stuttered.
"If you wish." He quietly replied.
"Of course I wish." I said emphatically.
He softly chuckled.
"Then I will call on you at the end of your shift."
Well, aren't you all fancy official now.
With a deep breath I nodded. It was difficult to separate from his gaze. Something kept drawing me in. I used all the effort in my brain to tear away. My fingers fumbled with the key in my pocket. When I finally got the door open and stepped in, I turned to still find his stare still burning. I stared back until the door clicked shut.
My mind was still in a daze. Slowly opening my palm, I looked at the coin in the dim light of my entry way. It just barely glittered. I didn't know how long I stood and stared, but it felt like it was melting right through my hand and into my heart.