The Love We Deserve - Azriel x OC

Socks, what a thing to miss

Screaming. That's all I could hear.

Screams that begged for help, for relief and I couldn't get to them. my hands reached, legs unable to move through the mass of bodies dragging me, and that taste. Metallic on my tongue with every breath.

Pain burned through me like a brand, forcing me to my knees as I crawled towards faces seared with pain. They would be coming any second now. I had to be fast.

Angel!

That's who they called.

Angel here! Over here Angel!

The urgency made me grit my teeth, forcing the cry from my mouth with vigour, nails clawing at dirt as my body was dragged in by hands, so many hands. And I felt them tearing at my flesh, pulling down at my shoulders as the light of day faded, fingers dancing in the sky like a celebration.

Gasping, I bolted upright, hand darting under the pillow for my dagger only to come out empty handed. Pillows hit the floor with the haste of my search. And then I paused.

This was a bed.

My eyes drank in the room I was in. luxurious with silk sheets, clean. Painted the colour of the forest in summer, hues of green and dark amber accented the space and as my chest rose and fell quickly, I remembered.

Feyre was fae. And this was their home.

My eyes widened at the figures stood patiently by the door, cheeks tinted red as I realised, they had paid witness to my frantic scene.

They looked like shadow, two females almost identical. Both pretty and waiting.

We stared at each other, and I felt bare without a weapon, happy that I was at least still dressed in my clothes.

One of their heads tilted towards an attached door and my ears picking up on the sound of running water, standing from the bed curiously. I watched them wearily as I opened the door, to an ensuite, a luxury I had never seen before. The bath was huge, clearly built to accommodate the occupants of the house and their wings. As I dipped my fingers into the water, I realised with a surprised joy that it was warm. I don't think I could tell you the last time I had bathed in warm water. Long before the war, long before I had probably met Feyre. It hadn't seemed a necessity, but now I longed for it.

The fae had moved into the room after me, waiting patiently with kind faces and I realised they were here for me.

"I can bathe myself, you don't have to" but they shook their heads and I sighed inwardly.

The clothes peeled off me and with every layer that I tried to keep neatly on the floor, my body lightened. It was the release I had been waiting for.

I felt their eyes as I stood there, nude. The tracing of the lightening scar that ran from the top of my left shoulder, down my arm, across my ribs and curled around to my back. Of all the scars I had gained, that was the one that stood out the most.

"a spell. I'm not sure which but it left that in its wake" I explained to their silence, covering my breasts modestly before I was coaxed into the tub.

They let me soak in there until I pruned. Cutting the ribbon that held my apparent black hair and letting it flow into the ever-pristine water. It never seemed to dirty, no matter how much blood and dirt they scrubbed off of me, the water remained clean.

I saw the surprise in their faces at my hair, the black washing away to reveal pure white curls that hadn't seen day in years. They were quiet, and I was happy for the silence. Well, apart from the birds outside and the trickle of water whenever a cloth was dipped into the bath. It was different and so so peaceful.

My hands ran over my face as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The females had dried me too, despite weak protests. My hair curled above my breasts, green eyes tracing the small beauty marks that littered my skin. The cleanness of it all.

I didn't recognise myself. The girl I was accustomed to seeing was in here somewhere, locked away deep inside and in her place was the medic I had grown into. The little warrior, as Cassian had put it.

My fingers reached up to trace over the lightening pattern, something inside me settling at the small touch, the acknowledgement. I was still alive.

They dressed me in a black long-sleeved jumper made of the softest material I had ever felt along with some black trousers and socks. I had missed socks. I tucked the jumper into the trousers, pulling a pair of black boots onto my feet and wiggling my toes inside, feeling the smile that crept onto my face.

Socks, what a thing to miss.

The fae females, if that's what they were, guided me out of the room and down a hall where we reached a set of downward stairs, opening into a livingroom.

They didn't follow as I began the first few steps, and I turned back to face them.

"Thank you" I bowed my head to both of them, seeing the flush on their cheeks before they disappeared. Interesting.

It didn't take me long to find someone, Feyre and Rhysand looked like they had been waiting for me with a practised relax pose that made it look anything but.

"you're awake!" Feyre beamed happily, taking in my clean hair and softer features "how do you feel?"

"clean" lips tilted up at the joke and I took a seat in the chair Rhysand gestured to. "how long have I been asleep?"

"3 days" he answered, violet eyes catching the way my fingers ran over the sleeves of the jumper.

"thank you" my cheeks tinted slightly in embarrassment "for housing me, and the clothes."

"we have more than enough room, and more than we use so it's no trouble. Truly" he smiled, and before I could blink a plate of food appeared on the table in front of me, along with a glass of which looked like some sort of smoothie. My shoulders relaxed upon realising it was just food, shooting my gaze between the couple.

"the house is magic" Feyre explained with a grin "it always knows what you're in the mood for"

"fascinating" I muttered, looking towards the ceiling "thank you?"

A gust of warm air wound around me, blowing my hair and I chuckled quietly, tucking it back behind my ears.

Feyre and Rhysand talked to me whilst I ate my plate of fruit and bread, one of my favourite meals for a morning. I also discovered the smoothie was blended banana and mango, which tasted divine.

"I'll find work" I denied their offer to live here for nothing, despite their protests "there must be something I can do here, deliveries, baking, anything"

"you bake?" Feyre's eyebrows rose with surprise, and I pressed my lips together.

"I can learn. Can't be that hard"

Rhysand grinned at my words, shaking his head in disbelief.

"if you wish to work, we will find something. But you do not owe us anything. As far as I am concerned Feyre considers you family, therefore by extension, you are also mine. You are free to live as you please in our court."

I took a long breath, nodding gently, tentative smile gracing my lips. Free to live.

"thank you" I bowed my head low, the action nowhere near enough to express my gratitude to the two of them. "I wish I had more to give"

Feyre surprised me by wrapping me in another hug and I rested my head against her shoulder with a small sigh, holding her tight.

"fate is an odd thing" she mused and I couldn't help but agree, brushing her hair back from her face.

"yes it is. But I'm glad it's taken care of you"

She smiled softly, nodding.

"yeah it has. Would you like a tour of the town?"

"if it's no trouble, I would like that very much"