The rest of the walk through the cavern to the Gyre was made in uncomfortable silence, but Jim didn't have the chance to feel guilty when Claire walked by his side, pulling his arm around her shoulders. She hugged herself to his side, ignoring the blood still spattered across him.
"Love you," Jim murmured in a voice so quiet, he knew Claire would be the only one to hear it.
"I'm so proud of you," she replied in an equally as quiet voice, but he could hear and feel the honesty and love in her words. "I know how hard that was for you."
Jim tightened his arm around his wife, grateful for her words and understanding. He knew that he was likely to fall apart later, but for the moment, he had to focus on their current goal.
The Gyre was in poor shape, but it was still able to make the run. It was a tight fit with three and a half trolls and four and a half humans. Claire shuffled around awkwardly, trying to make herself as small as possible, which really wasn't possible at all. In the end, Jim braced her between AAARRRGGHH! and himself, the giant troll wrapping a protective arm around her. It had been months since Jim and Claire had been subjected to a Gyre ride, but one agonizingly twisty and bumpy ride later, they were quickly reminded of why it was one of their least favorite modes of transportation.
"I feel ya, sister," Toby groaned, rubbing his stomach and watching as Jim held Claire's hair back as she hurled into the lava pit.
"Hate Gyre," AAARRRGGHH! moaned sympathetically, the ground shaking as he stumbled dizzily.
"But it is the most efficient mode of transportation," Blinky said brightly, holding up a finger as if to punctuate his point. "...and you can't say that it's not exciting!"
Claire heaved again, and Jim glared at the six-eyed troll in exasperation.
"Kid's probably doing some more summersaults," Human Jim laughed softly, his expression concerned and a little green.
"How ever you're going to make it up to future me, it better be good," said Younger Claire, elbowing her boyfriend playfully.
Jim chuckled as Claire stood up, panting and wiping her mouth with the back of her arm. "Whatever you want."
"Don't tell me that," Younger Claire teased. "I might ask for a bathtub of gauc."
Her older self laughed breathlessly, and gave her younger self and her boyfriend a sly look. "No, no gauc."
"I thought you loved gauc?" Human Jim asked with a confused look between the two Claires.
Claire smirked, laughing slightly. "I do... but I love your tongue more."
Human Jim and Younger Claire turned bright red, almost disappearing into the color of the surrounding magma. Toby fell into another fit of laughter, bracing himself against a very confused AAARRRGGHH! Blinky cocked his head to the side, his six eyes winking out of sync.
"I was under the impression that modern humans no longer participated in acts of cannibalism? Is it used as a form of retribution between mates?"
"No, that's not what she—" Human Jim began, cutting himself off and rubbing a hand down his face in exasperation. "Never mind."
Jim smiled, shaking his head in amusement before leaning over his mate's shoulder and hugging her from behind. Offering a gentle lick to the underside of her chin, he quietly repeated, "Whatever you want."
Claire smirked, but shook her head. "I owe you a birthday present first."
"Ugh, I hate birthdays," Human Jim mumbled on instinct, and his girlfriend laughed, elbowing him playfully again.
