Dust to Dust | ✓

17 || While You Live On

Felix's eyes opened to a gentle wash of early morning sunlight across his face, the barest kiss of warmth on his skin. Like waking from a long dream, his sense of the world slowly pieced itself together as his eyes roamed the room. Soft pillows beneath his head, a warm blanket across his body, wood panels over his head... his face twisted in confusion. The forest was the last thing he remembered.

Weakness pushed against his limbs as he fought to lift himself up. Each movement strained every part of him, and his muscles burned like they were being ripped apart. More of his memories trickled in—the darkness, the feel of cold fingers in his wound pulling him apart at the seams. Or was that a dream? It was hazy, like the fire that broke through the darkness, like the vision of a girl calling his name, begging with him to wait. He promised he would, but he promised many things. Or was that a dream as well?

Eventually, he gave up the effort and rolled over with a sigh. The breath caught in his throat, however, the moment his gaze settled on Aiko's sleeping face mere inches from his own.

Her warm breath tickled his nose, lips parted ever so slightly. Wild mahogany curls splayed around her head, which was propped up against her arms. A thin blanket was draped over her shoulders and he assumed she had been there for quite some time. She was seated in a chair at his bedside, leaning over the bed and sleeping soundly. Peacefully. A stray curl slipped from the rest and fell in her eyes. He pried his hand out from under the blankets and tucked the curl behind her ear again. Her skin was warm beneath his fingertips, but not unbearably so. It no longer bore that burning heat of the Core's flame.

"Aiko," he whispered, half in wonder and half in disbelief as he brushed his thumb across her cheek. Muddy fog clouded his mind, so thick that he could barely scrape together a coherent thought. Maybe she too was nothing more than a dream.

With a soft groan, she stirred, cupping his hand against her cheek with hers. The cold metal of her signet ring pressed against his bony fingers and he winced at the sensation. Her eyes fluttered open, their usual pale brown turned to a brilliant gold in the sunlight. The moment they landed on his face, a tiny smile curled her lips and her cheeks flushed. "Long time no—"

He shoved himself upright and scooped her into his arms, breathing in her scent of cinnamon and folding into the warmth of her body against his. Tears pricked his eyes, but he blinked them away and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Her curls were soft as he threaded his fingers through them. No, she wasn't a dream. She was the real Aiko. His throat tightened and it took several tries before he could finally force the words out from the tip of his tongue.

"I'm sorry."

As her arms slid around him, he felt her fingers curl into his tunic. She nuzzled into his embrace with a contented sigh. "Not the greeting I was expecting, to be honest. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"No." He pulled away and held her at arm's length, holding her gaze. "I'm sorry for the things I said. I wasn't being fair to you."

She blinked, pure and utter bewilderment shimmering in her eyes. "Are you talking about before...?" With a snort, she reached for his hand again. "Felix, that was forever ago. I forgot about it, but thank you."

"But I was—" He stopped suddenly, staring at her and his hand on her shoulder, clasped in her own. A phantom chill settled in his shoulder as he turned to her other side. He was certain he was holding her in both arms, certain he could feel her beneath both hands, but in fact his gaze landed on nothing at all from his left side. Hollow dread dropped like a heavy stone to the pit of his stomach. "Aiko," it came out as barely more than a whisper this time. "Why don't you explain what happened?"