dokja's right to watch thoma go, to keep a pulse on what's going on around them. the battle is still raging as intensely as ever, and they still have a long way to go before they're safely back in godsblood.
but rand finds his attention narrowing to the man whose head now rests on his shoulder, the motion wholly unexpected. a hug, now of all times...but isn't that only right? now, of all times, because light only knows what will come tomorrow, will come in an hour, will come in the next minute. he knows the worth of finding comfort where and when you can, and doesn't abel of all people deserve that? he winds his arms around abel, mindful of hurting him, but not so gently as to not feel present. it's as rand said: he's here, he's got him, he's safe now.
(and the Power thrums beneath conscious thought, makes a part of his mind and soul feel entangled with the world around them, aware of the smoldering hay beneath their feet and the beats of the dragon's wings stirring the air above and makes it seem impossible to him that he wouldn't notice an ambush. they can afford this moment.)
bond of legacy or no, hasn't rand spent his whole life before horos gauging peoples' feelings without the benefit of magic? and it isn't a hard guess now, nor is abel hiding anything. abel's choked voice makes his heart clench, but reassurance comes so easy. and so sincere, heady as the joy of reunion is. they made it here and stopped the burning, didn't they? what can't they do now? ]
I know, [ he says, a hand rising to the back of abel's head, and, cheerfully, ] you're usually embarrassing.
[ he shakes his head at the last question, but of course abel nightroad would ask that. of course, even — especially — under the circumstances. ]
Are you kidding? I've never been better.
[ and honestly? even — especially — under the circumstances, it feels like the truest thing he's ever said. ]
no subject
dokja's right to watch thoma go, to keep a pulse on what's going on around them. the battle is still raging as intensely as ever, and they still have a long way to go before they're safely back in godsblood.
but rand finds his attention narrowing to the man whose head now rests on his shoulder, the motion wholly unexpected. a hug, now of all times...but isn't that only right? now, of all times, because light only knows what will come tomorrow, will come in an hour, will come in the next minute. he knows the worth of finding comfort where and when you can, and doesn't abel of all people deserve that? he winds his arms around abel, mindful of hurting him, but not so gently as to not feel present. it's as rand said: he's here, he's got him, he's safe now.
(and the Power thrums beneath conscious thought, makes a part of his mind and soul feel entangled with the world around them, aware of the smoldering hay beneath their feet and the beats of the dragon's wings stirring the air above and makes it seem impossible to him that he wouldn't notice an ambush. they can afford this moment.)
bond of legacy or no, hasn't rand spent his whole life before horos gauging peoples' feelings without the benefit of magic? and it isn't a hard guess now, nor is abel hiding anything. abel's choked voice makes his heart clench, but reassurance comes so easy. and so sincere, heady as the joy of reunion is. they made it here and stopped the burning, didn't they? what can't they do now? ]
I know, [ he says, a hand rising to the back of abel's head, and, cheerfully, ] you're usually embarrassing.
[ he shakes his head at the last question, but of course abel nightroad would ask that. of course, even — especially — under the circumstances. ]
Are you kidding? I've never been better.
[ and honestly? even — especially — under the circumstances, it feels like the truest thing he's ever said. ]