[Being with you is enough. That’s what Alia wants to say, wants to find the words to reach out through the cautious wariness in Alina’s tear-streaked face, to banish it like a handful of spice on a high wind, dispersed into air, into nothingness. It isn’t enough to chase away the grief, the darkness she’d caught a glimpse of in Alina’s mind, lurking like a great, rumbling beast beneath the surface – Alia wants to rend it to pieces, wants to destroy it with her teeth and her rage and her love, all of it bloody, all of it messy, all of it monstrous.
For now, though, she watches Alina cross back to the bed, slip beneath the covers in her soft, silky nightgown, eyes bright in the darkness, tucked beneath the blankets and staring at the still-empty sheets. The way she braces herself, takes slow breaths, the way her pulse beats in the air – she knows disappointment, she knows loneliness, and the steeling of her slender body is an oft-repeated act. Alina anticipates the worst, so she won’t be as hurt, as thoroughly destroyed when it happens.
Suddenly Alia can’t pull her tear-stained nightgown off fast enough, hair tumbling around her shoulders as she does, as she leaves the white fabric bunched and crumpled on the ground. The blue nightgown is pulled on – backwards, at first, Alia distracted by stumbling after Alina to the bed, wrenching the fabric around and shoving her arms through the sleeves even as she flops down onto the empty sheets. Slightly breathless, flushed, seeking out the warmth of Alina’s body that haunts her own like a ghost, both arms slipping out and seeking to tug the other girl close once more.]
Thank you. [Soft, snuggled close, knees bumping Alina’s beneath the cocoon of covers.] I’m – I want to stay. [Alia reaches up, smooths back the tangle of dark hair, pets it, like soothing a fearful pet, a tearful child, spooked by a thunderstorm – there, there, you’re safe, you’re okay, I’m here, I’m here.] You can sleep, I won’t go anywhere.
no subject
For now, though, she watches Alina cross back to the bed, slip beneath the covers in her soft, silky nightgown, eyes bright in the darkness, tucked beneath the blankets and staring at the still-empty sheets. The way she braces herself, takes slow breaths, the way her pulse beats in the air – she knows disappointment, she knows loneliness, and the steeling of her slender body is an oft-repeated act. Alina anticipates the worst, so she won’t be as hurt, as thoroughly destroyed when it happens.
Suddenly Alia can’t pull her tear-stained nightgown off fast enough, hair tumbling around her shoulders as she does, as she leaves the white fabric bunched and crumpled on the ground. The blue nightgown is pulled on – backwards, at first, Alia distracted by stumbling after Alina to the bed, wrenching the fabric around and shoving her arms through the sleeves even as she flops down onto the empty sheets. Slightly breathless, flushed, seeking out the warmth of Alina’s body that haunts her own like a ghost, both arms slipping out and seeking to tug the other girl close once more.]
Thank you. [Soft, snuggled close, knees bumping Alina’s beneath the cocoon of covers.] I’m – I want to stay. [Alia reaches up, smooths back the tangle of dark hair, pets it, like soothing a fearful pet, a tearful child, spooked by a thunderstorm – there, there, you’re safe, you’re okay, I’m here, I’m here.] You can sleep, I won’t go anywhere.