Scars to Your Beautiful (New)

An Unexpected Happening

ROOK POV

It took me three weeks of studying, designing, planning, and deciding which buildings I would renovate before I got approval to begin the project. After that, it was finding a structure that would serve as a warehouse and workshop for my work. And instead of riding back and forth between the outpost and village, Indra insisted that I be given temporary lodgings in one of the guest generals' suites.

The day I left the village to head to the bunker with a team of wagons and helpers, I got a surprise. Ava would be joining me at the gongeda for the duration of the project and setting up a shop to do tattoos for the residents and those stationed there. It made me happy to know we wouldn't be apart, even if, by my estimates, it would be no longer than a month. But it also helped ease my anxiety, knowing that there would be someone there I was familiar with since the Tondc villagers had rotated out.

Of course, there was also a practical reason behind Ava's accompaniment. Ava had learned over winter and the previous weeks that I tended to forget about stopping when I worked on something. Taking breaks, eating, sleeping...it all became inconsequential to me. So, to ensure that I didn't starve or collapse, Ava would be there to remind me.

It had been weird at first. Having someone there to pull me out of my work and ensuring that I took care of myself. I'd never had that before, not even when I was learning under Jake. I mean, there were a few times he'd drag me out of the shop, and I'd have dinner with him and Clarke. But that was the extent of it. Otherwise, I was left to fall asleep over my work and only woken up when or if someone noticed, or I'd wake myself up. No one cared enough to consider the well-being of a thirteen/fourteen-year-old.

But Ava. Ava did. She'd press against me on the cold winter days and lovingly wrap her arms around me as I lost myself in my tinkering. Or when the delicious aroma of whatever she'd cooked wafted across my nose, reminding me it had been hours since I'd last eaten. Her rapt attention and non-judgment as Ava softly cajoled me into revealing my fears and doubts. And the comforting embrace she'd wrap me in when my nightmares niggled their way free, leaving me a sobbing, shivering mess.

Ava was showing me that she cared about me. For me. By not only following me to the outpost but, more importantly, by caring for my well-being. She was showing her love by taking care of me. And I was floored by that realization. Because no one had ever rearranged their life to take care of me.

Except perhaps Nyko. I'm not sure that man ever left my side the entire time I was under his care.

And I admit, I cried the moment I realized it. Right there, in the middle of the bunker amidst the stacks of inventory, I broke down, realizing someone loved me. I knew right then that one day soon, I would make Ava my wife.

After my meltdown and affirmation, I doubled down to get everything I needed carefully packed and loaded onto the wagons. I wanted nothing more than to get back to Ava and find a way to show her how much I was in love with her.

But even so, it took us two days to pack everything up and bring it to the surface. Luckily, I had found a lift that still worked that went straight to the ground, and the area surrounding it had been clear. It made the work faster than bringing the crates and tools through the maze of hallways and up through the grove.

On our return to the gongeda, we quickly got everything offloaded into the warehouse and locked up for the night. Though I loathed to hold off for even one night on getting started, there was something more important I needed to do.

And that was going home to my hopefully, soon-to-be wife.

"Ava," I immediately called out the second I was through the door.