driftfleet | Eyuzi System Mingle

Just hurt you a bit, right? [ Zaveid is more than happy to go with the joke, and he's absently paying attention to Sorey's movements.

When he hears the slip, he bolts.

He half falls off the cliff, slipping down and feeling the rocks scrape against his chest, his palm pressing against the edge and his face creasing in a wince. He manages to reach out, though, his hand wrapping around Sorey's wrist, grabbing onto him and tugging, trying to drag him up. The problem is they're too far down - he can't push Sorey up to reach the tip of the cliff and he can't let him go because Sorey will die.

He knows what they need to do, and he feels a weight in his chest shiver, his name unearthing in the back of his mind, a sunflower reaching for the light of day. ]

Sorey! Say my name!

[If Sorey had the foresight to bring Edna this would be a non-issue; he could just command a shelf of rock to jut out beneath him, catch his feet. But instead time hangs, just long enough for Zaveid to grab onto his sweaty hand, only catching him by the knobs of his wrist. He's been at this for too long already, he's going to slip, seconds crawl along like days as Sorey stares Zaveid in the face and-

-and nothing comes out.]

I- [Sorey gasps, tears stinging his eyes, F-Filk lodged in his throat like a ball of thorns, a knot cutting up his insides, and between one second and the next his fingers slip from Zaveid's and the weightlessness takes over him again. He's falling, but it doesn't even register. He's going to crack his head open, bounce his way down all the way to the ravine, the ledges too small to catch him, too sharp to let him be.

You're human, you know, Zaveid's chiding voice echoes in his ears like the whistle of wind, Zaveid's eyes above him, wide open and copper as he reaches and Sorey realizes, quietly, between another pair of seconds in that gap that stretches on eternal, that if he doesn't do something, he's going to make Zaveid watch another of his friends die right before his very eyes.

He'd promised.

He'd made a damn promise.

Sorey sucks in a breath as suddenly the seconds race again, as Zaveid's form shrinks and he shouts it out as if reaching down his throat and tearing out his heart, tears and wind and shame stinging his eyes-]

Filk Zadeya!

[ For a moment, all Zaveid can feel is fear.

Not fear over his name - he lost that a few weeks ago, laying beside Sorey and knowing he felt safe again, knowing he was home, that things were okay. He's terrified, for a moment, that it's not going to happen and the only thing he'll be able to see is Sorey falling and falling and another friend to add to the list, another friend gone and lost because he wasn't fast enough, quick enough, smart enough. His heart aches, and he lets go of the rock himself.

If he can grab Sorey, he can cushion him. That's what he thinks, that's what he decides; his seraph body is hardier than a fragile human.

But Sorey says his name, and Zaveid, oh -

he's flying.

It feels incredible. It feels as though a missing piece of him has come home, as if he's found his way back to some perfect place that he'd long forgotten, and the emotions well up inside of him and threaten to explode. They spread shared wings and fly away from the danger and, he thinks, almost with too much humour, that there's some symbolism there.

His spirit wraps around Sorey and he clings tight; their armatization is beautiful and Zaveid basks in it, like sunlight on his face after winter. He presses every part of his soul against Sorey's and he feels as though his emotions are singing; he's bubbling with his happiness, the thrill, the joy - and the trust, overflowing, wrapping around the two of them like a blanket, Zaveid's faith in Sorey warmer than anything he's felt before.

It's coming home, and he could shiver and faint with it. ]

Yeah! [ It's a gleeful noise, bursting inside Sorey's mind alongside his laughter. ] We did it!

[In those hanging moments between speech and action, the terror surges up and threatens to devour Sorey whole; the emptiness, the raw, ragged hole where his heart had been, the unresisting horror on Zaveid's face when the hellion Sorey had called for him comes rushing back-

And then the wind gusts and it's gone.

In its place surges warmth and kindness, belonging and hope and strength, breathing into him like the first gasp of a newborn, like the soft exhales of his grandfather as he stroked Sorey's hair until he slept. It feels like the breeze rustling the long grasses and flowers in Elysia, like that first lungful of fresh air after spending a full day in the ruins.

It smells like Zaveid stroking his hair, his back, in the sick bay on the Blue Fish as Sorey cried and cried and cried.

Sorey is barely in their shared body, too overwhelmed and wrapped up in the realization that he hasn't hurt anybody, hasn't been hurt, waiting for the hard smack of the ground that'll never come because Zaveid's wrapped himself around Sorey like a protective cowl and driven them away from danger, his old, old heart open and bare and beating for Sorey to see. It's too much, too much relief and care, too much of Zaveid driving out those last shreds of fear with every incredible thing he is and Sorey chokes back a sob at the sound of his laugh, loud and booming like the thunder of a spring storm.

We did it.

Sorey clutches their arms, hugs them tight as their flight takes on a languid roll to put them onto their back, as they drift down gently like a falling leaf, back and forth, back and forth as a mother rocks her child to sleep. Sorey can't stop weeping, can't stop clinging to their arms as if he could hold Zaveid inside of him like this forever.]

[ It's been long enough that Zaveid had forgotten the feeling of slipping with Sorey like this, of joining the parts of themselves together to make a body far bigger and greater than what they were apart. There are wings and the surging, wonderful explosion of strength, feeling the wind gust around them, soothing their rattled nerves with the gentle caress of something warm and gentle. It's a matronly touch, and Zaveid lets himself relax, leaning against the pieces of Sorey with his own being, relaxing and coming home.

That's what it feels like. Home.

Months without Sorey in his life. Months and months and years where it was them and Rose and another Squire, where she had been his Shepherd and he had longed for that familiar laughter. Years going by before he woke up on a fleet and remembered the horror, the agony, the pain, the hurt - all of it coming back and ripping him from his happy nostalgia, the desire to fly to Sorey's side and never let the boy go. He doesn't want that feeling again; he doesn't want the distance, doesn't want the separation. He wants to feel this comfort, this warmth, for the rest of his life.

Zaveid wants, more than anything else, to foster this bond, this trust, this joy and contentment. He doesn't want to let Sorey go back to feeling afraid or uncertain, he doesn't want any kind of thoughts of shame or guilt. They both did the worst things during that period; hellionisation took the autonomy from Sorey's hand, but Zaveid had been himself when he had twisted the wind. He was the murderer, the thoughts tucked deep in the depths of his heart and mind. He had to forgive himself - Sorey had earned his forgiveness already.

The overwhelming feeling, more than anything else, beyond any doubt he might have had for the most split of seconds, is love. It burns brighter than the sunlight around them, desperate and warm and encompassing everything that Zaveid feels and can't possibly hide. It flicks memories that he can't control, nostalgia colouring his features; children running in front of him, laughing and playing, left for a pair of humans to care for and love. A tiny seraph in a too-big shirt with Zaveid's too-big hand ruffling his hair. One smaller than that with teeth that could nip his fingers off being dragged around as Zaveid teaches him to push and pull pendulums with the wind.

It's the love of a father having a place to put that love after years of nothing, and Zaveid doesn't have the heart to feel ashamed even if he can't put it into words. It's there for them to feel and touch and pick at, but that's for another time. Right now, he thinks, right now, there's something more important than that. ]

Hey, c'mon. It's alright. [ Zaveid doesn't have the capacity to do anything to physically comfort Sorey, but he hopes the way he speaks, the way that his spirit, his soul, entangles with Sorey is enough to warm him, to comfort him, to offer him something to soothe his tears. They could slip away from one another, break the armatization, but he doesn't want to do that just yet. He wants to enjoy the moment, the solidarity, the warmth for as long as he can. ] I knew you could do it, Sorey. I trusted you.

[ It's unspoken, too, the words that might follow it; I always trusted you, even when you couldn't trust yourself.

It might have flickered, but it never disappeared. ]

I know, [Sorey finally manages to choke out, voice thick and wet; he knew Zaveid trusted him. He knew that Zaveid was just giving him space, just being kind by giving Sorey space (like when he'd first joined them), but it just means so much that he- That when it really came down to it, Sorey could say his name. That he did. It was what Lailah had been terrified of; that he wouldn't be able to call on them when he was in danger. It's part of the reason why he forced himself with Mikleo, with Dezel, even though he hadn't felt ready. He knew if he got hurt or died because he couldn't call them, they would feel guilty, they would take responsibility. There had been no need to call on Zaveid's name so Sorey had taken the coward's way out and let it lie.

Oh, he'd been so wrong. He'd needed this, they'd both needed this, so terribly that it's not until they'd armatized that Sorey realized how shattered things had been between them. His tears are just as much for loss as they are for relief, just as much shame as they are contentment. Zaveid's thrumming pride isn't helping either, strong and bright and pumping blood and mana both through their veins like a concoction.

Sorey tentatively flexes their wings, the blades clicking gently like windchimes as he spreads them out, lets their span catch the wind and hold them aloft.] I'm...I'm sorry you had to wait so long. I'd wanted to be sure, but I... [It had been a mistake.]

[ Zaveid doesn't mind. He gets it, maybe more than he says he does - he understands Sorey's reticence, his quiet fear when it came to joining their souls together. They had almost been polluted in the worst and most dangerous ways possible for a seraph and a Shepherd and it had taken time enough for him to feel as though he could be around the human without fearing for his life. They're back to where they were, now - better, even - but that doesn't mean that everything is going to be okay. it doesn't mean that it's perfect.

It's getting there.

Of course, he can't help the way he feels and it burns bright even as they move together, wings opening and wind moving against them like a gentle call. Zaveid basks in it, in feeling his limbs stretch out, in giving control over to Sorey even as he settles down, almost a picturesque kitten as he digs for the warmth and the happiness he can find. It's a unique feeling, being tied to someone like this, offering his Name and his soul hand in hand, and he decides he missed it. Just like he missed Sorey.

Humming quietly, Zaveid ignores the urge to shake his head. ] If we'd rushed it... Nah. It wouldn't have worked right. [ Which is true. There's no way it would've worked properly like this, he thinks, if they'd pushed before. ] Guess I should've expected it would take us almost dying to come back together again. I never was good at being good.

I can't believe you threw yourself after me- No, that's a lie, I can. [That had been terrifying. Even if Sorey hadn't already resolved to call Zaveid's true name, that would've done it right there. Now he knows how Velvet had felt, yelling at him to get down off the cliff earlier. ~~Even though he'd just gone right back up once she left.~~]

I was gonna soften your landing! Mikleo would've killed me. [ And, of course, he'd much rather have died himself than put Sorey through... All of that. Much better that he gets hurt than his Shepherd. ] Doesn't matter, though, since we're okay.

Mikleo is used to me doing dumb stuff, he'd just wait until I came back and then kill me again. [Treating his own fall lightly helps him be less shaken about the whole name business, which is obviously the real shock of this whole ordeal.]

You think he wouldn't have killed me at the same time? Makes it easier, doesn't it? [ Zaveid scoffs gently, but it's more to tease than to actually scold. He's too busy brimming with joy and energy and he can't quite concentrate on the idea of anyone actually being mad right now. This is too good. ] I kinda missed the wings.

Just kinda? [Sorey begins to stir a little bit, more present in their body as he regains a little more of his courage. He's still hesitant, still unwilling to take full control from Zaveid, but he does slip in just enough to flex their wings just to listen to the click of the blades in the air. It's a beautiful sound, like wind chimes but with an undertone of power, that thrum of old, time-worn strength that Sorey forgot is always in everything Zaveid does.]

Maybe more than a little. [ It feels good to flex, to stretch muscles he hadn't even realised he'd missed, and he makes himself a little more comfortable as he relaxes around everything that he is feeling. It's warm and comfortable and he basks, like the sun is on his face. ] Don't tell me you didn't miss it.

I missed you, [Sorey answers softly. He's had wings with Dezel but it's not the same; flying with Dezel is like- flying with Dezel is all cutting speed, sharp turns and dives. It's like escaping the grip of the earth, but flying with Zaveid is like moving the sky itself.]

Sorey... [ He breathes out, and he lets himself relax against Sorey's spirit, settled comfortably. It's warm and nice, he thinks, and he adores it, appreciates how far they've come. They've been to the edge and back and now they're back together. ] I missed you too, y'know.

I know. [Sorey knows he's the one that held this up, but right now he can't feel anything but gratitude; for Zaveid's trust, for the fact that nothing went wrong, maybe even in himself for giving in when it really counted.] And I- [Uh oh, here come the tears,] I'm j-just...just so happy...that I've met you, all of you...! [Presses their hands to their chest as he curls up and starts crying in earnest. Now he's overcome this obstacle with all of them. He finally feels like he's actually starting to fix things.]

Jeez, Sorey... [ He can't hold them together when all he wants to do is wrap himself around his Shephed - and he slips away from the armatization, moving so that he can tug Sorey into his arms instead. He holds on tight, his own emotions bubbling up a little too much, his eyes closed tight as he lifts a hand to stroke through brown hair. ] I'm happy too. No matter what happened, this... Yeah, it's been pretty damn good.

[Sorey sways a bit when they separate but Zaveid is already there, pulling him into his arms. Sorey goes to him gratefully, burying his face in his chest and clutching at his back as his shoulders shake. It makes sense that Zaveid would be the one to give him this sense of accomplishment, this sense of relief, after everything that's happened.] You always do so much for me, for all of us...thank you, Zaveid, thank you so much...!

[ Zaveid makes a soft, sad noise, and he simply holds Sorey closer, just for a little while longer. It's easy to do this, to wrap around him and hold him close, to stroke a hand against his hair and comfort him - it's what he knows. He knows how to take care of people, even if he's rubbish at showing it, even if it's been years and years and years. ] I don't do that much. [ He really doesn't think he does. Reaching out, he holds him gently. ] I do what you need.

[That startles a little laugh out of Sorey, damp and strangled but genuine nonetheless. He pulls back just enough to scrub a wrist across his eyes and beam up at Zaveid.] Mikleo has called me pretty needy. You do a lot more than you give yourself credit for.

[ Aww, look at this kid. Zaveid softens, ruffling at his hair gently. ]

I do enough. [ And that's what he thinks, at least; that's enough. He nods his head, expression soft. ] You alright?

Yeah...yeah, I'm, [rubs at his face a little harder,] I'm great. Are you okay? Do you wanna fly some more?

Good. [ Zaveid pauses, as if the urge isn't there, and then he leans close, grinning. ] Let's do it.

[Sorey beams, and this time when he says Zaveid's name it comes easily, flows from his mouth like he's been speaking the ancient tongue since he was born, and when they take to the air it's like being set free after decades of servitude.]

[ Hearing his name again fills him with a kind of joy that's impossible to express, and he leans into the armatization with a contentment that he's sure Sorey can feel. This is like coming home, he thinks, and as their wings spread he feels as though he could stay here, like this, and remain happy for as long as he was given the opportunity. ]

Eyuzi System Mingle

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