Klasma: Romanced.

 Neela had never been on a date. Never had the chance to get close enough to someone to allow them to take her on a date. Julius had tried, a while ago, but she never understood his intentions and treated him as just an acquaintance that could ensure her protection against wishes. At the time, she didn't understand how insidious her curse was and how quickly her odd feature (or the mark of the curse) would reveal her true nature to fellow witches. She didn't understand how instantaneously her rejection would be upon meeting new people and therefore was ill-equipped to fight on her own despite the tremendous power she held within her. Julius came to her rescue and offered her protection in exchange for her help to protect his pack.  how could she imagine that he would grow "feelings"? especially when it was not clear to him either? How could she imagine that it was more complicated than what he later claimed? It was love, but also lust -for her power, for her curse, for her "untouchable" status- and also a power trip.  He wasn't truly invested in her nor did he genuinely care for her feelings and desires. He wanted a weapon he could control, own, use... someone he would subjugate and a beauty to conquer, almost virginal which was typically his taste. She had known a man before him, one was enough to rid her of all the anxieties and clumsiness of a first time and prepare her for him; Julius Caellius the conqueror to show her the true wonders a man could make a woman feel. Did he woo her? No. Did he take her on a date? No. He did, however, force a kiss on her one night, which prompted her to slap his face, him to growl and turn into a werewolf baring his fangs and all, and her being scared of him, enough for her to leave.  It was surreal.

So she had never been courted, never been on a date, and was both nervous about her date with Klaus and excited about the idea that someone would try to woo her and earn her affection. It made her feel... desired and that feeling was so new, it almost knocked her off of her feet. She put her hand over her chest and gave a sheepish smile at her reflection. Did she believe it? Not quite. Klaus had stood her up once, albeit it wasn't his intention to do so, that pain still stung and the resulting anger still lingered somewhere in her heart. This time he would be there, well, he was there since they were in the same room getting ready for the date. He wouldn't stand her up this time. It felt.. surreal. She worked on her hair, making it into a loose curly bun that sat on top of her head. She put on some makeup, a beautiful white dress, and white sleepers. She was stunning, a true vintage beauty. Something so ethereal that anyone who would look at her would be confused about her existence. but she was there. She was excited and she was getting ready for Klaus and herself. As she neatly applied her lipstick, Nëela felt her cheeks burn harder when she smelled Klaus's perfume. He smelled good and she was tempted to glance at him but they promised not to look at each other so the reveal would be more meaningful. He smelled good and she felt safe. for the first time in centuries, she felt that nothing would happen to her as long as she stayed with Klaus. How much of this was true? probably nothing but she relished in that feeling and in how right the whole process of getting ready for a date felt.  She deserved it, after all, some attention, not for the power she had but for the person she was. She deserved it, didn't she? to be looked upon as a beautiful woman and a wonderful company. She deserved it, didn't she? to be loved for who she was? the messy, complicated, aloof but clingy and touch-depraved witch?  Didn't she? Didn't she? 

Doya: Personnal vows

Doya: Personal vows 

// Just thinking about a potential future. Those are Oya's vows. The first and only time she would be able to speak her heart. 

xxx

"I'm not great with words. You know it. I know it. we don't believe in words because they have deceived us for so long. Yet, I feel that this is the moment where I can tell you everything I have in my head. It's a moment I've always dreamed about but never allowed myself to. I uh... The Oya you met was hellbent on finding the Asambosam who killed my family. She was ready to die in her quest for revenge. The Oya you met was lonely and desperate. I have a soft spot for her because she was unable to see the truth. She was unable to think of herself as being loveable or being able to have a family. The Oya you met was hurt and she needed a place to heal. You were this place for her. You nursed her back to health. You saved her from her recklessness. You protected her and helped her find a reason to stay. 

I'm not great with words, but I'm trying. The Oya I am today is different, Dean. She's comfortable in the life she built with you. She has a family with Castiel and Sam. She has a home with the Bunker. She has a home in you. We've been through so much over the years. We've been tried, we've been tested, we've almost lost everything and we've almost lost each other but we didn't. We always fought everything together. We've always faced anything together. That's what made me realize that I had all I wanted in my life. I had it with you. I found my home in you. You loved me, with my habits of buying you ugly aprons when I work a case alone. You loved me, despite the nightmares I suffer from at night. You loved me, with my scars, my fears, and all the shameful things that happened to me or that I've done. You loved me, without any question, any doubt, or any condition. You loved me, Dean. And I love you. 

I love you. I love when you have that little crease on your forehead as you're thinking about a plan. I love when you're focused on a case and when I watch you fight. I love when we're just the two of us, in our room and I get to hold you in silence. your heart is filled with love. It's filled with hope. It's filled with determination. You have a heart of gold and I just couldn't resist it. I never stood a chance. Ahah...Today, all I can think of is just how happy you make me. I thought my heart was barren, and that happiness and joy could never grow but I was wrong! We were both hurt by life and fate. We were both hurt and yet, we managed to build something great. We managed to build a life for ourselves. I want to share mine with yours, I want to share it until my last breath. I want to be yours, Dean. I am yours already, but I want the world to know that I am yours. So... I'm taking you here, as my soulmate and I will make sure that we stay happy, the way we are already."

A vintage touch: "One hot night."

 // A little something with the two of them sleeping next to each other.  

xxxx

Arrow House, 1 AM:

Mary couldn't sleep. The night was one of the hottest they had known and despite their attempts at keeping the room fresh, Mary could feel her brown curl stick to her face, the sweat that made her nightgown cling to her curvaceous frame. Her green eyes were looking at the ceiling when she heard a slight shift on the bed. Tommy wasn't sleeping either, so she turned around, and laid on her sides while his cerulean eyes set upon her beautiful face.? He looked at the beauty spot above her upper lip and looked at her plump lips. Suddenly, all Tommy wanted to do was to kiss her, so he cupped her cheek. She gave him a soft smile and shifted on the bed, closing the distance between the two of them.  His big blue eyes stared at her intently, as if he wanted to see her soul and read all the secrets that were hidden there. He wanted to know how she was feeling if she was happy if he was doing things the right way. He didn't know she went to visit Johnny Dogs and Curly and she hoped that he wouldn't know the truth until she was ready.

She leaned into his touch, a smile gently graced her features, and she kept her eyes on him. She didn't mind the heat, not when she could stare into Tommy's eyes and feel safe. They were used to not finding sleep from time to time so it didn't bother them to be awake and look at each other in silence. The silence was comfortable. She couldn't hold back a warm smile and gently brought her hand to the back of his hand. She had been trying to surprise The Shelby by learning everything she could about horses. She loved animals and she picked up Tommy's love for horses. He was either riding a horse, either taking care of the horses back in the mansion's stables, or...He was still in contact with May Carleton, the beautiful horse trainer he met a while ago. Mary had never been around horses before and she wanted to properly know how to care for them but never had the opportunity to do so until a couple weeks ago. 

"Hey..." -She cooed to him.-

"Hey..." -He crooned- "The heat is properly killing me." -He joked a little before he leaned forward so their noses could brush against one another-

"The heat is killing me too.." -She whispered before she rubbed her nose to his- "Yet, you're still very close to me. Despite the heat."

"Despite the heat..." -He crooned, his thumb gently stroking the cheek of the young woman. She was beautiful, in the dim light of the bedroom. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her face, taking in the curves of her plump lips, the lovely beauty spot on top of her left eyebrow. He loved the way she was looking at him as if he was the most beautiful thing in the world-

Johnny dogs visited Arrow's house to see Tommy and Mary asked him to teach her about horses. She wanted to know all there was to know about them so she could take better care of the horses of Arrow House but also go on rides with Charlie instead of waiting for Tommy to be available. He questioned her because he could feel that she wasn't being fully honest with him and the young woman ended up admitting that she wanted to know how to ride horses so she could also go on rides with Tommy. She wanted to share something in common with Tommy, something that could help her connect better with Tommy. Horses calmed him and she wanted to be able to calm him in moments of need. Johnny was moved by her request and asked her to meet with him twice a week. He would take her to Charlie Strong so she would learn how to mount and proper care of a horse and he would teach her on her way there the fundamentals. 

It was taking its time, but she knew how to ride by now. She learned how to feed them and was now learning how to groom the horses. She wanted to be perfect, to have the knowledge needed to be a good companion for Tommy. She wanted to see the smile on his lips when she would suggest they'd go for a ride. Her heart started to beat faster, to the point that he could notice the change in her breathing. His eyes narrowed and he lifted a brow, questioning her in silence about the sudden change. She pressed her forehead against his and whispered. 

"I'm okay. Don't worry." -She gently cupped his cheek with one hand and she stroked his cheek.- "It is just a very hot night." -He pushed one of her heavy curls off of her face and smiled at her. She was telling the truth, which reassured him.- "Is it wrong that I want to kiss you right now?"

"Why don't you try and find out, eh?" -He crooned and cupped the back of her neck to keep her in place. She pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss, purring in between their lips as she gave him a tender kiss.-

He returned it in kind, not knowing her little plan or anticipating the way her little gesture would touch him. Mary was nurturing, She cared for Tommy in a way that he had never been cared for. She wanted him to feel loved, to know that there would be someone who would have his back no matter what. Little did she know that while she was planning something cute for the two of them, there had been people who didn't have their best interest in mind. Michael was one of them, but her mother -whom she wanted nothing to do with- was also fomenting plans to ruin her daughter's life and make her leave the UK. They were unaware and happy in their little bubble and that was all that mattered.

-TBC-

Doya: By the sea

Doya: By the sea

A/N: Just a lovely moment between Oya and Dean, by the sea and with beers. Still during the Thomas” case.

XXXX

“I like the sound of the ocean...I don't like the beach, but I like the sound of the ocean. Is it weird?” -Oya asked as she sat on a bench with a beer in her hand-

“Not at all.” -Dean replied as he stood in front of her, his beer in his hand.- “I don't really like the ocean, as a matter of fact, I hate the beach too, but I get that you like the sound of the waves crashing on the shores.” He raised his beer and drank to that.-

“Yeah... I guess the human mind is really weird..” -She chuckled and chugged some beer.- “Dean, have you ever wanted another life? Something different from what you have now?” She asked, with both arms laid on her legs.

“I have...I even experienced it but it wasn't for me. Have you?” -She shrugged. She knew he was talking about his time with Lisa and her son. Yes, he had tried the apple pie kind of life and it didn't work for him. He was meant to be a hunter after all.-

“I haven't...I have?” She scratched the back of her head. “In my country, we were who we were, it wasn't a big deal. I see it now, that we were more tools than actually accepted by our people, but at least we could have families, strong communities... we were still somehow valued and seen...I was engaged.” She furrowed her brows. “And for a while, I thought I had it all. I thought I had it good, you know? Engaged, maybe even a mother very soon, happy... but it was all an illusion. As soon as I wasn't useful to Fabrice, he just dumped me... my community crumbled, my family was slaughtered. I couldn't have the apple pie life I wanted.. it wasn't meant for me.”

She sighed and leaned her head back so she could chug some beer down. Her eyes quickly turned empty as she was wondering if it was what she wanted. Kids had always been something she wished she had someday, up until she drank that potion that made her barren. She knew she wouldn't be able to have any and gave up on this dream as soon as her mind was filled with revenge and guilt. Over time, the desire to procreate just vanished as she lived in the USA. A hunter's life here was crap, there was no sustainable future for a potential child there, and back in the days, there was even no one to share this dream with. So she gave up on kids.

She accommodated to her new situation, she even enjoyed her life as it was. Seeing Sarah and her family, listening to Joshua, and his desire to have his own family shook the hunter who questioned herself. Was she really okay with the life she was leading with Dean? He was a dad already, twice. He was not a “good” dad too...in his own words, he screwed up with his kids like he screwed up with plenty of people in his life. It wasn't meant for him. Would he try to do differently if given the choice? Oya believed he would. Would he try differently, if she became pregnant? She knew he would. But the question wasn't even in the air because she was unable to have children. A spell was a spell... consequences were permanent and she made her peace with it. Oya didn't want kids..anymore. She wasn't the same person she was a decade ago.

Dean gave her the life she wanted to live. A life with a solid partner, someone who would always be there with her. Someone who cared for her, someone who loved her. He was her family, alongside Sam and Castiel and she didn't need more to feel complete. Dean was there, always. He was there when she had nightmares, he was there when she needed comfort and he let her in when he needed some. He let her love him. He let her be in his life. Dean hunted with her, and by Chuck, Oya loved hunting. Hunting was akin to a sport for her. It was all about the style, the difficulty, the fighting techniques she was perfecting. It was about the least casualties possible and saving the most people as well. She didn't mind her scars -except for the one she got from the Asanbosam, she still had trouble with-, for they were a testimony of her hard dedication to her work. Being able to hunt with the best hunter that ever excited was a privilege and a chance for the woman, so why would she complain?

“..........You said you were happy with me.”

“And I mean it. I am. The apple pie kind of life, for me, is the life I am leading with you Dean. I thought, yeah, for a long time I thought that eventually, I would want to have kids or that maybe I wanted the white picket fences kind of life Sarah has... but I was wrong. I don't need any of this as long as I'm hunting with you. As long as I'm with you. I don't need more. I have a family who loves me, people who would go to hell and back if that was for me. I am with people I can sacrifice my life for...shit...” She looked at him and smiled a wet smile. “...I wouldn't want it any other way, okay?” She shrugged and drank her beer. “I have my dream life...this is my life, the apple pie life..” She added before he grinned at her and walked closer. He sat on the bench near Oya and patted his thigh so she could sit on his lap. She rolled her eyes but ended up sitting on his lap. Face turned towards the beautiful sea before their very eyes.

“ I guess that means you don't want another life than the one you have right now.” She gently poked his shoulder and nodded. “Ouch, how violent you are!”

“I didn't hurt you Dickhead! Quit crying.” She poked his shoulder again before she wrapped her arm around his neck and watched as he took a sip of his beer.

“Alright, Bitch, I won't protest.” -He chuckled and set his emerald eyes onto her hazel ones. Oya was beautiful right now, relaxed, happy and he could tell by her body language that she wasn't pretending. She felt good by his side, she felt right on his lap. He sighed and leaned his head against her chest, burying his face in her bosom while she let her hand run over his dirty blonde hair. “Why did you ask that question?”

“I wanted to know if you were happy with me. I felt that maybe I wasn't offering you what you needed.” She started before she planted a kiss on top of his head. “ I just wanted to make sure you knew you had a home in me too... You have somewhere to return to, someone to come home to...I want to be sure that you know that Dean...You're not alone anymore, you never will from now..” She said as she planted another kiss to his forehead while he wrapped his arm tighter around her waist.

“I'm aware of that. I know...You always make sure I feel home with you;”

He added, clearing his throat as he didn't know how to channel his emotions. As a matter of fact, the Winchester realized that Oya simply needed to be reassured. He wasn't excellent at calming nerves, but he would still give it a try. She was giving him more than he wanted, more than he could ever ask. She was giving him the freedom to be himself, and she was giving him the ability to not have to choose between love and work. With Oya things were easy, the easiest they've ever been. With Oya, things just went smoothly and he didn't need to compromise himself, or the life he was leading. He didn't need to pretend. He didn't need to hide. With Oya..; he simply was. She was giving him the comfort of knowing he was loved and no matter what happened, she wasn't leaving. She chose him, and very often let him know that she did, but he realized he wasn't saying it enough. Dean was a man of actions, not a man of words, but from time to time, he acknowledged, that saying a little something was actually more helpful than not. He gently let his hand move from her waist to her back and then lost a few fingers into her thick black curly mane. He massaged her scalp and leaned his head better against her chest.

“Oya, Nzi Mulenge.. please, forgive me if I fucked up your name... O... You're giving me more than I could ever ask for. You've been in our lives, five years now? It's the longest someone ever stayed with me... the longest, and the best..” He cleared his throat and looked up to her face. “I don't want more because I don't need more. I have the best already with me.” He gave her an earnest smile and leaned his chin against her chest. “I have the best there is and ever will...I can't express how much..how happ—happy I am with you. But it's there and I beg of you, O, to look at all the things I do that I can't say. I'm here... I'm here with you.” He managed to say before he leaned his head back against her chest. “Always... and forever.” He ended his sentence and watched as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gently sobbed against him.

“Forever and always...” Was all she could whisper before her sobs took over and she just cuddled with him. She felt relieved, he could tell by the sigh she let out, but she also was happy by the confirmation that he had what he needed and she was making him happy. It was all the hunter needed to feel okay. She needed to know so he said something, by the sea.

-TBC-

Bäahal and Jaime : Johanna

Bäahal and Jaime : Johanna

A/N : It's complicated for the princess

XXXX

The princess was sitting in front of her vanity. She was wearing a simple cotton white gown, thick enough to give her a plumper frame and hide how skinny she became due to starvation. Her purple wet hues were staring up, at the handmaid who was behind her, holding a soft brush usually used on babies to brush away the knots on her silver hair. Johanna was old and proudly celebrated her 68 years of existence with her husband and her three kids a few weeks ago. She'd been serving the Lannister for as long as she could remember and formed quite the opinion on each of them.

She heard the rumors that started from the moment the dragon princess went to the kitchen and had her breakdown. Handmaids and servants had been raving about the whole situation, gossiping any chance they got about the princess and just how « caring » Lord Jaime had been to her. Some wished that he would actually finally be free of Cersei and pursue a romantic life with this very delicate woman. Yes, certainly, she was crying and screaming now but they all knew about the siege and therefore were more understanding of her current behavior. They heard rumors about her, about how kind she was and how she didn't care about etiquette and titles. They heard about the way she protected the common people during the siege and they saw the way she talked to the cats coming in and out of the castle. She was a kind soul. A broken but kind soul.

While very few of them were hoping a romantic development, others were cynical. They didn't trust the Targaryens and the usual hatred and fear clouded their judgment of her. But the attention wasn't really focused on her. It was on Jaime. There was nothing to read here but the loyalty of a knight to his princess. Lord Jaime could never love anyone but his wretched sister. Those snakes were insulting him behind his back, saying that he couldn't find anyone who could love him since he was now missing a limb and the whole country knew he fucked Cersei. They were cruel with the man, those who didn't really know him.

Jaime Lannisters was known to make people feel all types of way about him. Many didn't forget he killed his own king and looked at him with disgust and as a man of little to no shame who was able to do the worst. Others were envious, of his looks, of his charm, of his behavior and the fact ladies still wanted to fuck him. Others were taking their frustration and hatred of Cersei and Joffrey on him. After all, he was the twin. After all, he condoned his son's behavior. After all, he agreed to their despicable ways. They needed to take their anger out on someone and behind his back, what better ways than to kick him to the ground?

His soldiers felt differently. They knew the soldier, and they respected him. They knew he fought for them, for the living when the King of the North walked south from the Great Wall. They respected this man because they knew they could entrust him with their own lives. He was a knight, he was a leader, he was their lord and they were faithful. They didn't forget all he did for his family, for their family and their house. They didn't forget the glorious battles they led either. And they also learned how not to care about his personal life. But the maids? The cooks? All those common people who had nothing BUT time to gossip? They were lashing out at him. And the princess.

Johanna, well, Johanna didn't think like most of them. She'd seen Jaime Lannister a few times and she'd never seen him be this careful with someone else by Lady Cersei and Lady Kyra. Jaime wasn't a people person. He never really cared about others but the ones he chose to love. He always looked after his siblings, but his eyes were only looking at Cersei. The servant even believed that after her death, Lord Jaime would have been so distraught, he would kill himself. And yet... he didn't. She didn't expect to see him alive but was very happy when he returned home. He was far from how the rumors described him. He wasn't starving, He managed to maintain a look, he managed to be clean and he seemed to have kept a bit of strength. Although he appeared very thin than she remembered him to be. As the senior handmaid, she carefully watched after him. She made sure he ate and had his very wishes fulfilled. It wasn't that difficult since he quite soon enough returned to his old knight ways. She assisted in keeping him fed, clean as well as the army they had at home. But more importantly, she watched him go back to who he once was. So, yes, she heard the rumors and heard them loud and clear.

« Your hair is still gorgeous, your grace. »

« …..Thank you. » Bäahal looked at her with some apprehension on her face. She didn't quite know what to do with her but was accustomed to her presence. Johanna decided to be the only one to care for the poor thing after she saw how terrible some of her aides were.

« You've made a lot of progress, princess. I am very glad to see that you're starting to request your food and you finish your plate. »

« I am trying. » she said, looking down again. Her fingers were clenched together as she still couldn't relax completely near this woman. Johanna knows she wasn't feeling comfortable with her. She stopped brushing and gently stroked the cheek of the princess with the back of her hand. Bäahal lifted her shoulders and tried to hide her face, feeling awful and ugly since she lost a lot of weight, but the servant kept touching her. « Please, don't... I am... »

« Beautiful. Trust me, your grace, we've never seen such beauty our whole lives. »

« I am not... I was exotic, on my prime. A curiosity to people who never saw someone like me. People watched me dance, touched me when I didn't want to... used me. » She swallowed a lump and looked at the floor so she couldn't look at the servants face. Johanna gently put her hand on her shoulders and looked at their reflection.

« Please, your grace, look at your reflection on the mirror and let me tell you a story. »

Bäahal lifted her face up and stared at her reflection. She was slowly getting back in shape after all. Her cheeks were less creased, she could feel her legs get stronger because she went on long walks with the knight.

« When Lord Jaime heard you were under siege and probably dead, he didn't waste a second. He hastily went to see lady Kyra and asked her to leave and rescue you. He told you that he was worried, but he didn't tell you how much he was. I saw him. I've known Lord Jaime for years, your grace. » that information made the Targaryen blush but she was listening, her eyes were staring at the woman who was standing up behind her. «  He would have flown to you if he could. He would have cut through giants if he could. That was the man I saw on the day we learned you were in danger. He was restless, impatient, irritated at how long it took for him to leave but extremely worried about you. I was curious back then, at why Lord Jaime who never ever worried about someone else but his family, was worried like that about you. I wondered for as long as it took for you to come to Casterly Rock. » She resumed brushing the hair of the princess.

« And now... do you understand ? » Her voice was laced with curiosity and anxiety as she didn't know how Johanna would respond to her. She swallowed a lump and saw her face blush harder at the mention of Lord Jaime. His face popped into her mind, his smile especially refused to leave her brain.

« yes, I do. I look at your eyes and I see your kindness. I see your heart and honesty. You are genuine... innocent even. It's refreshing. When I look at you, I see determination. I see a fire that makes me want to follow you to the pits of the underworld. I see a gentle soul who fears to hurt others but who keeps ongoing. I heard what you did when you were under siege. I heard about your mission and how much you helped perfect strangers. I see how worried you are about my boy... you're in love with him, aren't you ? » the words made her yelp and she covered her lips with her warm palm but it made her shiver.

How could this woman pierce through her this easily ? How could she see what Bäahal was desperately trying to keep to herself ? Her eyes shifted from left to right and she bit her bottom lip, refusing to address Johanna and answer.

« Lord Jaime sees that when he looks at you. He sees how delicate you are, how endearing you are.. he sees the woman you are and never, ever, would he try and use you. He could be selfish, he could be awful, but he would never use you. » she put her hand on the princess' heart. « He sees you for who you are and trust me, he's not blind. »

« He doesn't think he deserves someone to be kind to him... » Was all the princess could say. The conversation they had that other day at Highgarden still stung hard, so Bäahal refused to recall that moment. Her voice was bitter, laced with sadness and frustration.

« He doesn't know it yet. He's a clever man. Lord Jaime is...you have to understand that when he's ready, he will be able to kill a dragon to keep you safe. Do you understand? »

«I do... » -He did push Bran off of a window. She knew that he would be able to give everything he had to protect her and make sure she was alright. However, she deliberately chose to not think of what Johanna was saying. She was mistaken because she believed there was a chance that lord Jaime held feelings for her. The knight was a friend, nothing more. He didn't want anything else, he didn't want anything else FROM HER. So why would she hope he did? « He's very devoted, loyal, intense... Lucky is the woman he is in love with. I told him I wanted him to find someone who would truly care for him. He deserves no less... » she sighed and looked down at her thighs. « I could give him the whole world if he wanted... » she trailed off and then looked at Johanna with a soft smile. « Can I request braids for today ? »

« Yes you can your grace, you can . » those last words didn't fall on deaf ears. Not one bit.

(TBC)

DOYA: Only home when you’re here.

DOYA: Only home when you’re here.

A/N : (to Dean)  I promised something sweet, these two have been through a lot and I want to celebrate them. I want to celebrate /us/ and I think that you would like what I made.

(To All) I think they deserve a little bit of love,  I was in such a bad mood lately that I needed to lift my spirits up. I love these two like you wouldn’t believe, and I wanted them to be happy, and name names, so here you are.

XXXX

Men of Letters bunker, Friday evening, 10: pm

Oya walked into the bedroom she shared with Dean, wrapped in her bathrobe and with a towel in her hands. She was trying to dry her hair when Dean jumped off of the bed and wrapped his arms around her waist. The tiny hunter lifted her head to look at him and grinned. He bent forward and planted a kiss on the top of her head. Oya chuckled and yanked her head back so she could have a better look at the dirty blonde hunter who was towering her.  He grabbed the towel and started to help her dry her heavy black locks gently. She purred as it sent shivers down her spine and wrapped her arms around his strong waist.

“I’m home.” –Was all she said-

“I know.” -Was all he replied–

She had been away for more than a week and had barely talked with Dean and Sam. They always rolled their eyes when she texted them because she constantly checked on them, but as soon as she stopped they started to miss it. Maybe it had to do with it being a habit, maybe it had to do with them enjoying having someone who cared for them, again. They missed her and her near-silence quickly worried the two seasoned hunters. Dean had missed her the most. She always teased him, with a text or a picture and the explicit description of what she had in mind. She was always vocal with Dean so, not hearing from Oya felt like an anomaly. It wasn’t natural, something was missing. The dirty blonde hunter couldn’t keep his excitement contained and wrapped his arms around her waist. She pressed her body against his and felt his grip on her waist grow tighter. The hunter lifted her petite frame without a warning, eliciting a groan from the woman who instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He placed his arms underneath her legs so her plump robe-covered ass would sit comfortably and lifted a brow as he noticed her mischievous grin.

“What?”

“You look as if you’ve missed me.” –She teased. Dean dramatically rolled his eyes and deeply sighed, which made her chuckle- “Ahahah, what?”

“Do you want me to state the obvious or what?” –He grunted, which had her move her face forward for a kiss to his cheek and pulled away as soon as she could-

“The obvious?” –She pretended she didn’t understand, only to see him exaggerate his features a little more. “Ah, you meant, “that” obvious. You totally missed me and you are too proud to say it, am I right?”

“I can say it. I just don’t want to see that stupid grin on your face if I do.” But he couldn’t keep his act together. Oya was looking at him with this beautiful smile on her face that had him lose all seriousness.  He felt his heartbeat harder and he looked at her with his intense green eyes. “I have missed you.” He whispered. Her hazel eyes averted from left to right before she cupped his cheek and gently pressed her lips to his.

“I have missed you too. I couldn’t wait to be home.” She whispered to him before she smiled at him again.

“Are you home now?” –It was a rhetorical question. One she replied with a simple nod-

The two of them never spoke fully for both didn’t believe in words. They both knew that lies could be uttered without a single thread of truth and therefore didn’t want to hear things. They needed to “know” things and most of the time, their mutual affection and love were expressed through their actions. Dean knew Oya loved him when she called him first and asked for help. He knew she loved him when she trusted him enough to speak of what weighted on her mind. He knew she loved him when she brought her ugly aprons back from her last case. He knew it because it was the proof Oya thought of him when she was away and she wanted to please him. He knew it when she hummed songs to him, in order to soothe the hunter and let her fingers run through his blonde hair.

She loved him, she was deeply in love with him and he truly felt it.  He didn’t need more and neither did she.  Oya knew Dean loved her when he welcomed her in “team free will.” She knew he loved her when he comforted her at night when she was plagued with nightmares and he took the time to reassure her. She knew he loved her when he cooked for her because he knew she loved his food. She knew he loved her when he told her to “stay with him” and accepted to share his room. Both were broken, both didn’t trust easily and yet he was trusting Oya with both his life and his heart.  Dean knew he could confide in her, he could tell her what he feared the most, he could tell her about his never-ending nightmares. He could tell her about his trauma because he knew she’d understand and he knew she’d stay with him.

Her hazel eyes lovingly stared at the emerald orbs of the hunter. She let her fingers stroke the back of his neck while the other stroked his shoulders. Oya wouldn’t tell Dean about the sleepless nights she spent because he wasn’t by her side. She wouldn’t tell him about how exhausted she was because of the case. She wouldn’t tell him about the nightmares she had and those alternate realities she dreamed of, realities where he would be dead or he would leave her because she wasn’t enough. She wanted to forget about it and focus on them together. So her hands sunk into his skin and she pressed her lips to his, in a more demanding way.

“I am at home. I am always home when you’re here… /only/ when you’re here.” -She said, biting her bottom lip- “I’m not sure you understand what I mean…” She said, furrowing her brows as doubt crept in her mind.

“I actually do. I feel home when you’re here too.” He said, flashing his infamous grin. “I’m home.” He said, gently pecking her lips before he watched her lift her brows as shock washed through her. “/only/ when you’re here.”

He replied in a soft whisper before he carried her to the bed.

-TBC-

Pride x lips: nothing else matters

[pride x Elpis] 

Pride belongs to no one. He never did, not even when he was still

Under Hades control. Elpis always fancied the idea that maybe when they were together and nothing else mattered, for those mere hours he would be hers. He had her 2000 years ago when he claimed her. The minute he had a taste of her, Elpis belonged to him. She belonged with him. Today, all they had was a distant memory of what had been and what could never be. Pride is different, and so is she. But always, remained her desire to be with him. To belong with him. 

She could only have his attention for a while. She is aware of that, of the short-lived moments when nothing and no one else matter but them. It goes beyond sex, beyond this intimate moment where their bodies and minds would connect. It  was a moment where both their souls would merge. When they would become one. Short-lived as it is, it means the world to the goddess because then, all she went through was worth the pain. When she exist in his world, when his eyes burn purple flames only for her, when her name is on his lips... nothing else matters. 

PrAsma: Kiss me

A/N: Today I was in need of a little levity and I noticed that I haven't written enough non-conflictual situations with my poor babies. They existed, those good moments between the two of them and they still exist, but I am not very good at telling those good bits:o Lou gave me a little push for today so this little sugary thing came out of it:D cause one way or another, she loves that bastard and he does give her enough reasons for her to keep on loving him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

« Stay still Pride. Just a couple minutes more and I'll be done with your portrait. Okay ? »

He was posing for her, at her request. She was able to grab hold onto him during a break he took from his Underworld business and decided that she wouldn't let go of him unless it was an urgent matter. Pride noticed how alive she was as if he'd lit up a flame once he got home. He didn't quite know the impact his absence had on the human and couldn't really appreciate the joyful behavior she displayed on his return, but he wasn't dense. She very obviously felt relieved when she was in his presence and the joy she displayed was genuine and heartfelt. He wasn't used to being greeted with such enthusiasm and without a hidden agenda. Asma was simple, she was relaxing. She was predictable to some extent. She never asked for more than she already had, for him to be next to her and sharing mundane activities so she wouldn't be driven mad by the imposed solitude due to her situation.

She never asked for more than his arms wrapped around her smaller human frame and for maybe his eyes to stare into hers. She knew what she had signed for from the very beginning. She knew she was standing in between a goddess and a deity but she didn't care and it probably had to do with him influencing her despite his best efforts to keep her the way she was. Asma grew feelings for him and owned them despite him not giving them back. He never said he loved her and she knew he couldn't because there was Elpis in between them. She knew he could never say them back because he couldn't understand her emotions or the human concept of feelings. He took.. and took.. and took until there was nothing left. He was vanity made flesh after all and she fed it to him.

Asma fed his ego, his vanity by loving him so much that there might be nothing left of her. She consumed herself with the cruel fire of love and one could ask her why she wanted to keep going despite him about to ruin her? How could she love a thing that posed as a man whose only purpose was to destroy mankind and the rest of the pantheon of gods? How could she? How could Elpis even? Such a bright goddess whose purpose was to bright light around her and yet who lost her ways for love. Asma didn't have the answer, but she knew that deep down, Pride was more than he posed as. She knew there was something inside of him worth loving. It wasn't just because of Elpis and the memories of them together she projected inside of her. It wasn't just because he saved her from a certain death. She felt it somewhere while staying with him, that there was something inside she could love and could at least appreciate her existence. She felt it so it must have been there and she chose to believe it was. He wasn't a « thing » or a « creature » in her eyes. He was him. He was someone she grew close to and she fell in love with. It didn't matter if he wasn't human, she could care less knowing he was from another world or a god. She wanted him, all of him.

« I am sitting still Asma. I have been for quite some time now, aren't you finished? »

« I am now.» She said with a soft smile on her lips before she put the brush aside and ran her hands over her pink locks. He watched as she stretched her limbs and walked towards him. She was done and probably had been done for quite some time already and simply wanted to keep him next to her for some time. He tilted his head to the side and let her come to him. Her hands stroked his shirt-clad chest while his fingers grabbed her waist. He was sitting on a high stool, towering the human even more but she didn't mind. Her eyes were intensely looking at him, at those majestic blue orbs that kept changing with his emotions. She learned how to decode them. She knew when they were filled with anger, with contempt and satisfaction or with lust. She knew when he was concerned about her or when he felt a sudden urge to be tender with her. Maybe tenderness was the most she could get from him and for the human who thought he would never look twice at her, it was quite the accomplishment. He cared and it was more than she could afford so of course, it gave her hope.

« Are you? » His infamous grin crept on his lips, making her heart melt and her knees weak. Asma nodded quietly and moved her hands upwards so she could wrap them around his neck. He pulled her up, forcing the human on her toes as his hands wrapped around her waist and secured her in this position, against his frame. She kept staring at him, her fingers mind-absently stroking the back of his neck and his shoulder, causing goosebumps to cover his skin. Pride shivered and pulled her closer to his frame, pressing her supple flesh against his toned one.

« I am. » Asma whispered, not really willing to interrupt such an intimate moment when there was nothing between them to interrupt. « You seem relaxed?» She suggested, semi-asking a question to make sure he wouldn't throw a fit or anything would come up and ruin the short time they had together. He pondered her words, knowing full well there was no rest for a sin and he couldn't possibly tell her the dangers he was trying to protect her from or the fact he nearly died a couple of times due to rebellious siblings.

« Things seem to work in my favor today, so yes I am. » He said as he stroked her soft cheek with the back of his hand. Asma shivered and looked down at the floor for a minute. He was larger than life and in a moment like this one, when she was close enough to look at him straight in his eyes, Asma realized that she really was a small thing compared to him. She was mortal, weak and filled with emotions she couldn't always understand or control. Her eyes shifted from left to right, her lips trembled and she finally felt his fingers push her face up so she could look at him again.

He didn't want to see her worry about his business in the Underworld, or fill her pretty head with ideas of her potential death like at the beginning of their 'relationship'. She wasn't questioning him like she used to and didn't look like she was afraid anymore and an Asma who wasn't afraid was actually an Asma whose company he enjoyed a lot. The golden highlights of her eyes seemed to glow a little more and she gave him a sheepish smile. His gaze was intense as he studied her face for a second and wondered why on Earth he grew this attached to this mortal. He couldn't say. Of course, it was easier for him to pretend he wasn't attached to her and it only was because Elpis inhabited her but he couldn't help but think that it had everything to do with her, being herself. He cupped her cheek with his large hand and leaned a little bit forward, so his face would only be inches from hers. Her heart started to beat fast and she put her hand over his. Pride felt how anxious she suddenly got and furrowed his brows.

« What's wrong? »

« Nothing. It's just. » She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. « I'm intimidated all of a sudden. » She admitted to him, as her fingers gently stroked the skin of the back of his hand. 

« Why is that? Are you afraid of me? » He wondered, his brows furrowed as he didn't know what she meant. She shook her head.

« No. » He cupped her other cheek, his azure gaze never leaving her face. Asma shrugged and kept rubbing the back of his hands. She looked so tiny compared to him and filled with doubt. Asma bit at her bottom lip, unable to get the words out of her chest. Pride noticed she was hiding something and curious about what she didn't tell him, Pride insisted a little bit. She always needed a little push. « Maybe. When you're angry I am afraid of you. But I am not, not now... I am not afraid of you. » She said as she finally looked into his eyes. She let a sigh escape from her lips and held onto his hands. « It's just... sometimes I don't know how to express myself...I don't know if you understand just how much I am in love with you Pride. It beats me, it really does. I don't understand how it is possible and yet it is... and yet I am in love with you... and yet I want you. Now, tomorrow, yesterday. » She bit her bottom lip harder, stress building up inside of her to the point of having trouble breathing. She loved him but she knew her words meant nothing and it hurt, so she bit her lip until it bled so she wouldn't cry in front of him. Pride watched her, his intense dark blue eyes were staring at the blood trickling down her chin and he set her left cheek free so he could clean it up.

«You're right about something, I don't understand why you feel that way for me. You don't know what I am. You don't know what I can do. You don't seem to understand that I am not human Asma. I would never be. »

« I don't want you to be. I don't need you to be Pride. » She said, releasing her wounded lip from her teeth. He cleaned it up with a touch and straightened on the stool.

« What do you possibly want then? » People always gave to receive something in return. Asma didn't seem to want anything specific. She never asked for him to say the words, to return her affection for her and yet never failed to whisper to him « I love you » here and then whenever they became intimate or whenever they could sleep next to one another. She always claimed her love and he could tell by the way she painted him that she thought the world of him. It could have been devotion and in a way, she was devoted to him, genuinely so. Pride was curious because while she didn't voice her demands, he did catch the frustration in her face, the anxiety, and the sadness. He knew she did want something, dreamed about it but until she expressed it openly to him, the Sin couldn't tell what it was, he couldn't really guess. Or maybe he could but didn't want to guess. It would force him to question himself about his own feelings.

« Kiss me, please. » She managed to say while her hazel eyes stared at him. « I just want... I just want to feel you.. touch you, hug you.. kiss you. I just want to feel. I just want to feel that. I just want to feel... I think. I think. » She felt her eyes fill themselves with unshed tears. She didn't know how to convey her emotions or let him know that what she felt for him was so strong she couldn't contain it. She wanted him to feel things the way she did, to realize just how much she was willing to give him, but what if he already knew but didn't want any of it? She tried her best not to cry, thinking that it was giving away too much of her heart and she might have been vulnerable to him but Pride, somehow, knew she needed just a little nudge to feel reassured so he would give it to her.

« Asma. Asma, it's alright. Just breathe it in. Come on, breathe. » He said as he patted her cheek and pushed himself off of the stool so he could stand up and she could put her feet flat on the ground. She did as he said but couldn't prevent herself from crying a couple of tears.

« It's not alright.... I long for you to tell me I matter to you. I long for you to tell me that when you kiss me, it's not Elpis you kiss but me. I am full of desire for you and it's burning me from inside and there is nothing I can do for that. I love you Pride. I do.. and it's hurting me you know. »

« I know. » He said, his throat tightening while he still cupped her cheeks. « I also do know that you are not disposable. You're not just Elpis vessel. I know that. » He didn't know what she was, not yet, it was too soon. He already had to process that Elpis existed and he had been robbed of millennia with her and now that he had found her, he grew attached to her vessel. To which extent he couldn't say. But he knew that he wanted her alive and he wanted her well. He loved when she was happy, was able to right all the wrongs were done to her and enjoyed her presence. He might have been falling in love with her instead of the goddess or all of that was just a huge misunderstanding and confusion because she looked exactly like his goddess, save a lot less godly like Elpis was. Asma shut her eyes tight, so she wouldn't look into his and stiffened at the sensation of his digits sinking into the skin of her face to hold her tighter. It made her shut her eyes tighter as she refused to open them to look at him.

« What am I to you Pride? What am I if not just her vessel? Am I your pet ? » he scoffed and shook his head.

« No. Of course not! You're not my pet. »

« Then... what am I? » She asked, opening her eyes to stare at him again, her voice strangled with a sob that refused to escape from her throat.

« I don't know.... yet. » He decided to admit. It wasn't much but it was enough for the pink haired artist to realize that maybe, there was a tiny chance for her to become something more than just his devotee. He groaned, annoyed at feeling uncomfortable in front of her. The sin told her the truth. He didn't know what she was to him or what he felt for her. All he knew was that at this moment, he didn't want her to be worried or sad. He didn't want them to part with her thinking even less of herself than she did at this moment. She made her demands clear, she wanted to be kissed so he would kiss her.

« I see... I understand. » She said, opening her eyes again while fresh tears kept on rolling onto her cheeks. He wiped them out with the back of his hands and planted a kiss on each of her eyes. « I understand really, you can.. you can let me go. I'll be in my room. » she felt like he would deny her a kiss and was mentally preparing herself to go back to her room so she pushed herself away from him and tried to leave but he grabbed her hands and held them tightly. Asma looked up at him again, confused as to why he was acting this gently towards her but he gave her a smile.

« You wouldn't leave without your kiss now, would you? »

« Are you ?... » She didn't finish her sentence as he bent forward and pressed his lips against hers. It was a soft kiss, almost just a peck as he pulled away from her, only a few inches so she could look at him again. It sent a shiver down her spine and she cupped both of his cheeks for a second one. She pressed her lips against his for a harder kiss and then pulled away. She was panting, eyes almost glowing as she didn't quite know what to make of this.

Everytime Pride kissed Asma, it sent shivers down her spine. For a minute she forgot everything that made her sad or worried. She forgot everything that made her wonder and unsafe. She forgot how dangerous her life became.. how empty without her dog Rosie it was when Pride left their home. She forgot that she was a vessel and a living breathing goddess was trapped within her. She forgot that by the end of her journey, Pride might leave never to return. She only focused on how he made her feel. She focused on him, on how good he felt against her, on his taste in her mouth and his warmth. She focused on how much she didn't want to spend another day without him. Her heart raced inside of her ribcage, her stomach felt like a billion butterflies tried to escape from it. She couldn't stand so he held her tightly. He smiled at her and pressed his lips to hers once again, this time allowing his tongue to lick against her entrance so they could deepen the kiss for a proper make-out session. She allowed it, closing her eyes to relish in the moment while he lifted her above the floor and slowly walked towards the table he laid her on. She moaned in between their kiss and when he broke it, she smiled at him, coyly so.

« Kiss me again...and again.. and again. » She whispered as he wiped her tears off of her face.

« You don't need to ask for a kiss Asma. » He said with a chuckle, nuzzling her neck while she let her fingers slid into his thick luscious hair. He rested his forehead against her shoulder, sniffing her delicious soft smell -Fresh grass and wet ground like Elpis- and kissed the sensitive skin there. « I do want to kiss you most of the time. »

« I felt the need to. It's the only moment I get to feel like I matter. When you kiss me like there is no tomorrow. » She admitted, stroking his shoulders and planting a couple of kisses on his neck.

« You matter to me. Despite what you might think. You do matter to me as yourself, not as a vessel. » He pointed out, which made her heart stop and her lips tremble. « Why do you look so sad now Asma? Are my kisses that bad? » He teased her, knowing full well his kisses were perfect. She shook her head and chuckled softly. « Then what is it? »

« I matter to you...I never thought I did.... but I do. » She said pressing her lips against his before she leaned her forehead against his chest.

« Yes, you do. » He said, petting her hair before he wrapped his arms around her chest to embrace her completely.

« I don't think you understand Pride. It's you.. every time I have to think about my life and what I'd choose to be happy, it's you I choose. It's always been you. It will always be you. I want you. I love you. I choose you. » She said before she hugged him again. « Obviously you don't. I get it...you will never.. but.. when we kiss, I get to pretend you choose me and if that's all I can get from you then so be it. You make me feel alive, you make me feel..so much. So, to know that I matter to you as well. My heart is happy.. and scared but mostly happy, so... so yes I matter. »

« You very much do. » He said in a chuckle before he leaned his chin on top of her head and kept the embrace for a while.

(TBC)

pride and Elpis: I choose you

Pride and Elpis: I choose you

A/N: I wanted something sweet and nice and lovely so here it is, even if it's not exactly what's happening between the two of them. I kept it short because it sincerely is all that came to my mind but I hope it makes sense and I hope you like:)

xxx

« Elpis. » -His voice broke the silence that settled in their little corner-

Pride didn't care about people. He never cared for anyone's feelings and wouldn't even think about them for he wasn't built for it. He was a SIN, a lethal weapon made by the king of the Underworld, Hades. He was meant to slay gods and destroy pantheons. He couldn't waste time trying to figure out what others felt and even less how he could help them feel better. Elpis challenged him. He noticed that when she was feeling down, her soft and warm aura became cold and distant. It was a striking difference, may be hard to notice for most but not for him. Elpis aura was something he wasn't used to. In the Underworld, there wasn't especially anything warm and soft. There wasn't kindness, there wasn't love so for him, Elpis was rare. She was precious. Her aura was the most noticeable and variations were easily perceptible for the sin. Ayasha and Ishtar discovered her relationship with Pride and they were trying to make her change her mind about him. They simply were « talking » but it was violent enough to shake the goddess to her core. She was sad, painfully sad and uncertain about the way to go.

« Pride....You shouldn't... » She didn't finish her sentence and simply closed her eyes.

Around her was cold and empty. Usually, animals always came around her to share a loving moment with the goddess where she would talk to them and pet them but not today. Not ever since Ayasha and Ishtar started to talk to her. Usually, it would be so warm and so vibrant around Elpis that the Flaura would also grow wherever she went. After all, she was the daughter of Gaea and therefore she was in tune with nature. It nearly decayed around her. Slowly but surely flowers were losing their petals, the grass became pale and rotten, the weather itself was gloomy. Pride noticed. What once would have been meaningless details became his priority. She was suffering in silence and it bothered him. The sin realized he didn't want to see her that way, he abhorred seeing her in pain and was missing her smiles and laughter.

« Elpis...Of course, I should. » He figured out that she didn't want to see him and he shouldn't have come but this was what she needed. She needed him and Pride knew it. He sat next to her frame, prompting her to sit as well to give her a semblance of control. Her hair cascaded onto her shoulders and on the grass, like pink streams of water and her eyes that once glowed were faintly glowing. « I should and here I am. » He spoke slowly, inches away from the goddess but unsure about whether or not he should touch her.

« We shouldn't see each other.... » She repeated, her eyes barely looking at him. « I don't know what to do. I don't know what's right anymore. » She looked up to his face, to his bright blue eyes she loved so much. I'm in between a wall and a rock...and I have to choose between my family or you. » Her lips trembled and she looked away once again. « I don't want to do that. » She whispered.

Pride was furious. He realized that her family was stressing his beloved out. She was scared, terrified even and he knew that the pressure her family was putting on her was hurting Elpis. They didn't approve of their relationship and while he understood their reasons -after all, he was their enemy- he didn't accept the situation. Elpis came into his life and turned it upside down, not enough for him to do a complete 360 but enough for him to welcome love in his life. She never saw him like a weapon. She never thought his fate was to be his father's tool. He was his own person and seeing so much confidence, trust and care in her eyes were something he would never accept to be derived from. Yet her light was fading away and while Pride made mental notes about laying waste to her family, what he wanted most was to comfort her. He didn't think about it, it just came through suddenly. A powerful urge to make her pain go away and replace her frown with a smile, one of those he loved so much. He cupped her cheek with his large hand and tilted her face up again so she would stare at him. Her golden orbs searched for his cerulean ones and she gave him a faint smile.

« I choose you. » Her eyes grew wide as he spoke those words. She didn't know what to make of them and kept staring at him with a questioning gaze. He cupped her other cheek with his hand and leaned his forehead against hers in an effort to give her some well-needed affection. She exhaled and grabbed his wrists with both of her hands. She wasn't as pale as she was when he found her and her eyes slowly but surely found their glow back.

« ...What ? » Her voice broke as she spoke. Her sobs were interspersed with gasps as she tried to understand the words he just said. Elpis couldn't believe her ears so she asked again, but Pride didn't flinch and instead, he cupped her cheeks tighter and rubbed her nose with his. She chuckled in between sobs and shook her head.

« I choose you Elpis. Despite the odds, despite Hades, despite your family Or mine... I choose you. » His voice was firm and she could tell he was determined to keep his word. Her heart was filled with a joy she couldn't describe but it was his chest that felt lighter as if he'd gotten rid of a heavyweight he didn't know he was carrying. He chose her, despite everything against them and for the first time in a long while, he actually said the words. In such an uncertain time, the elder goddess needed reassurance. She needed to make sure that Pride did feel something for her, strong enough for her to fight for them.

« Despite. » She trailed off and stroked his wrists with her hands before she chewed at her plump bottom lip.

He smiled at her, which again, was rare enough to be noted. It made her smile and slowly shook her worries away. Pride's wasn't into big claims about his feelings for Elpis. However, he always made a point in showing her how much she meant to him. He always made sure she knew she was his everything and he would tear the world apart to protect her. She saw it when he rescued her from Ares. She saw it later when she was attacked by survivors of the Egyptian Pantheon who sought revenge on Pride and his siblings. Pride always found her, he always protected her and always made sure she didn't soil her hands with blood from their enemies. He endured her anger, her outbursts at him and always noticed when she was upset and tried to fix it. No other soul made him compromise the way she did. No other soul made him want to be better and to always bring a smile to their face. No other soul but her. She mattered and while at times, it flew past his head that she needed reassurance about « this », he always made sure she knew. Elpis was still shocked by his words and couldn't help but gasp and smile as she tried to compute them.

« Despite... » She repeated again, this time looking at him straight into his eyes as she wanted confirmation of his words. Pride chuckled and kissed her forehead before he pulled her into a tight embrace.

« Despite the odds against us Elpis, I choose you. I know you're not sure whether or not I feel for you the same way you do. I do. I told you once and I'm telling you now. I share your feelings for me. I want a future where I will rule with you by my sides. »

He admitted out loud. Her heart skipped several beats and she held him tighter. He petted her pink locks and kissed the tip of her head. Yes, Pride wanted to rule. He wanted to be king and he wanted her as his queen by his sides. He couldn't think of a future without the primeval goddess, He couldn't think of a future where he would be deprived of her undying love, loyalty, and affection. He couldn't think of a future without her laughter, her singing voice, and warmth. As he held her tighter against his frame, Elpis grinned softly, thus positively impacting the flora around them, bringing back its color and its life. Animals once again started to gather around them while she, herself, regained her colors.

« I will rule by your sides as a queen if you'll have me. » She said in a solemn voice as she pulled away from his embrace and took his hand.

«Of course I will. Besides.... » He grinned and brought her hands towards his lips to kiss them gently. « Who else would drag me on Earth so we could have a little walk? » It was a feat nobody but Elpis was able to pull out. Superbia hated Earth, humans and all of that crap that existed there, but Elpis was fascinated by humans and regularly spent time there. They even found their special spot, away from civilization, almost in pristine condition since no man had set foot there. They would meet there, hidden from both his siblings and hers and free to explore their relationship.

« You /hate/ Earth. » She said in a chuckle while her lips met his in a coy kiss.

« Not when I walk it with you. » He grinned at her, relieved that she was feeling better. « You make it tolerable. » He said as he pulled some hair behind the goddess ear. She grinned at him

« You make life tolerable. » She whispered while she pressed her forehead against his once again. « I...I choose you too. » She finally said, her golden eyes glowing brightly as she spoke. His eyes softened as he heard her. Pride realized that despite what he might have thought, knowing she actually felt the same way felt good. His hand stayed on her cheek and his smirk turned into a smile.

« You do? » She nodded quietly.

« Yes, I do. I love my family but I am in love with you and I want to build a future with you. My future King.» She said with a soft smile before her lips found him again.

« We will have that future. I will build it for us, I swear. I love you. » He rarely said the words, because he wanted the moment he'd say them to count and mean something. Her eyes glowed brighter as she listened to him and a coy wet smile due to tears rolling down her cheeks graced her features. He cleaned her face off of her tears and smiled at her as she wrapped her arms around him and nodded frantically.

« I love you too. » Elpis managed to reply and pressed her lips against his. Her worries were gone and the promise a bright future filled her heart with joy. She had found in the whole universe, someone to call her home.