Bridging Destinies

Chapter 42: Digging Into Ease

Namjoon watched Felina as she sipped the tea. He knew she was either speaking with someone in her mind, or watching the paths. Her inattention was a clue he knew well. Her movements were more careful and her mind seemed thousands of miles away. It was different from when she was lost in thought, as her eyes lost focus during both events. There was a tell-tale difference. When searching the paths, her countenance changed, her eyes becoming more glassy in their unfocused state, as if she was lost to the screen of a movie. When speaking to someone in her mind, she appeared unfocused, yet brief emotions would flit through her eyes, as different expressions passed over her face, and all in silence, as if reading a story held before her. When lost in thought, it was different, as if she was traveling through a field of flowers, or deep forests, hiking through her mind, alone.

Felina moved from her mental focus as if breaking the surface of the water, after a deep dive, as she cupped the warmth of the vessel of tea between her palms, "This is good." She said to him, looking into his eyes, "Thank you again." She grinned at him, over the drink, "Is the mess well cleaned?" She asked him, teasing lightly.

Rolling his eyes, Namjoon shook his head with a smirk and turned back towards the couch. He moved the laptop out of the way and sat down, leaning back, "Ya. It wasn't a bad one. Just messy." He told her and gestured to her to come sit with him. She accepted his gesture and strolled over to him, sitting back on the couch. He carefully took the cup from her and set it on the table in front of them, then pulled her back into his arms, so that she leaned against his body, her back to his chest. He held her there, his chin in the crook of her neck, and asked her, guessing, "Who were you talking to?"

She faintly grinned at his accuracy, which she assumed he based off of her body language, and settled into his hold, "I was speaking with an elder from home. I have been told to stay here and that if I need to venture out, to be cautious." She said.

"Cautious?" He asked her with a frown, "I know it worries you, but is it really that bad?" His question was rhetorical, "I guess the feelings you are getting are not exactly vague, then. Or maybe vague, but urgent?"

Felina lifted herself temporarily from his hold, and he released her with her movement. She reached for her cup of tea before settling back against him delicately. His arms wrapped back around her waist, reflexively, as she settled further into him. Caressing the warmth of the vessel between her palms, as if to soothe herself, she slowly took another sip of the calming liquid. She sighed in pleasure as she positioned the tea in her lap, holding it so it would not spill, "It can be bad." She explained, "And yes, there is an urgency to it." She said lightly, keeping the tone of the sense of unease she felt in her gut from her words, "Anything can be really. The paths are always changing. I think I have mentioned this before," She paused in her words, silently considering them, "Or maybe I didn't, but each choice of each person will change the paths, and some are more likely than others. For now, there is a shadow on the paths that hide them from us, at least partially, and not everything is apparent. This is why it has been so hard to know what will happen." She trailed her fingers over his forearm as he held her against him and he hummed at her touch. "For now, we can lay low, until you have to return to work again and then you should be safe enough moving from building to car and back again, yes?"

Namjoon tightened his arms around her and nuzzled her neck, "Yes. I will be okay. I will have drivers and bodyguards and will be with my band or working most of the time. but will you will stay here?" He questioned. When she nodded, he hummed again, this time as if in relief. He was silent for a time and when he spoke his voice was deeper, a lump seeming to gather in his throat, "I don't want anything to happen to you." He spoke softly into her hair as he continued to cuddle her close to him.

Shaking her head faintly she assured him, "I will not lie to you, Joonah. Something could happen, but it may not. Mother willing, all will be well, and I will be able to stay with you for the rest of your life, as long as you will have me." She continued to stroke her fingers along his arm, "Regardless. My kind do not die easily." She laughed softly, assuring him again.

At her words, Namjoon seemed to hold his breath, then let it out in a rush, the movement of air from his lungs, causing her hair to move briefly in the surge. "Good." He said, "You aren't allowed to die on me, either."

Felina laughed lightly at his statement and shook her head. She set the mug of tea to the side back on the table beside them and turned around in his arms, so that she was lying with half her torso leaned against his. She looked into his eyes, levelly, stating, "I'm not likely to die, either, Joon-ah. I have lived centuries in other dangerous circumstances, and I am still well and living."

He gazed back at her, his eyes moving from one side of her face to the other, as if studying her eyes and countenance for truth or comfort. He frowned lightly, asking, "Have you ever come close before?"

"A few times." She admitted, "But you have been over every part of my body. I do not even scar. There are no traces of such things, yes?" Gazing back at him, she frowned too, moving her hand to smooth the crease that was developing between his eyes. He closed his eyes on a quick sigh as it escaped through his nose, then opened them again. With a gentle look into his face, she moved up and lightly kissed his mouth, "You are far more likely to die before I do, Joonah." She told him softly, "Do not worry. Please?"

His face contorted with frustration but he nodded as he continued to look into her eyes, "I will try." He moved his hand into her hair, digging his fingers deep into the strands as he cupped the back of her head, holding her steady. Applying just enough pressure, he moved his face closer to hers, as he encouraged her to move closer, as well. Felina moved with him, knowing what he wanted, as he murmured, "I don't think I'm always going to be good at it, but I don't think I have much of a choice, either." He said, as he looked from her eyes to her lips and back again.

"We all have a choice, but the choices often feel binding, I know." She touched his face lightly with her fingertips, "If I may make the choices easier for you, I will." She told him, matching his voice and energy.

Nodding, he gazed back down from her eyes to her lips again, using his other arm to bring her even closer than she had been, previously, "Just." He began and then paused, continuing after several breaths had passed between them, "Stay with me, because I do want you with me for a long time." He explained as he moved his mouth closer to hers and slowly took her lips in a deep kiss, exploring her mouth gently, in a loving caress.