Tangled
Kael was beside her. She didn't remember him joining her, but there he was, stretched out on his side, his face relaxed in sleep. Her heart skipped, and panic mingled with a strange sense of comfort. She froze, afraid to move, afraid to wake him.
Her mind raced. She wasn't sure how to feel about this. The logical part of her knew she should be angry, that this closeness was too much, too soon. Yet she couldn't deny the warmth radiating from him, or the odd sense of safety it brought. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as her thoughts strayed further. She was surprised by how drawn she felt to him.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on his face. In sleep, Kael looked different—softer, almost boyish. The rugged sharpness of his features was still there, but the tension he carried while awake was gone. The faint stubble on his chin and the tousled strands of dark hair gave him an unpolished, human quality that made her chest tighten unexpectedly.
Her nose caught his scent—woods, smoke, and earth—and the familiarity of it stirred something in her. He seemed... trustworthy, though she wasn't sure why. How old was he? His demeanor suggested someone much older, but now, in the soft glow of dawn, he looked closer to her age.
Nova's squeezed her eyes shut as she wrestled with her emotions. It was almost embarrassing how much she wanted to feel his arms around her, to let him hold her just for a moment. The thought made her cheeks flame, and she to banish the feeling, but the longing was there.
She didn't understand herself. She didn't know if this was part of what she was becoming, or if it was just... her. Either way, it left her confused.
Kael stirred beside her, pulling her out of her thoughts. Her heart leapt at the movement. He hadn't intended to dose off, not this close to someone else. Years of restless nights had taught him better, but being near her had put him off his game. Her presence, her warmth, it was disarming in a way he wasn't prepared for.
Kael stretched lazily, pretending to still be asleep, and shifted closer. Without a word, he draped an arm over her in an almost instinctual movement, his body curving protectively around hers. For a moment, he let himself enjoy the softness of her presence, the faint, nervous way she tensed under his touch.
Nova froze, her mind racing again. He's not awake, she thought desperately. He doesn't know what he's doing. Her cheeks burned brighter than ever, but she didn't pull away. The sensation of his arm, the security it brought, was almost unbearable. Embarrassment warred with a strange, undeniable sense of belonging.
Kael's lips twitched into a faint smirk, but he kept his eyes closed. He could feel her trembling slightly, like a nervous rabbit caught in the open. Her innocence was endearing, almost amusing, and he wasn't above teasing her just a little. Still, there was no malice in his actions—only a quiet, unspoken comfort that he hoped she would feel.