Wings Of Fate

Dazed

After a while, Eugene's sobs had quieted, and his breathing had evened out, the weight of exhaustion finally overtaking him. Riven felt the subtle change as Eugene's body relaxed in his arms, the tension slowly melting away. He looked down at Eugene's peaceful face, noticing the tear tracks on his cheeks and the faint furrow of his brow, even in sleep. The sight pulled at Riven's heart, and he gently smoothed Eugene's hair, wishing he could erase every painful memory from Eugene's mind.

Carefully, Riven shifted and rose, intending to lay Eugene down on the bed without waking him. As he tucked the blanket around Eugene, making sure he'd be comfortable, he started to pull away, but a gentle tug on his wrist stopped him.

"Riven..." Eugene's voice was soft and laced with drowsiness, his fingers curling around Riven's hand to keep him close. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at Riven with a small, vulnerable smile. "Don't go... stay with me."

Riven's heart swelled at the request, and without a second thought, he nodded, letting Eugene pull him down beside him. He settled onto the bed, feeling the warmth of Eugene's body beside him, and let out a soft sigh as he relaxed.

Eugene turned toward him, wrapping his arms around Riven and resting his head against Riven's chest. His grip was tight, almost as if he feared Riven would disappear if he let go. Riven wrapped one arm around Eugene's shoulders, holding him close, and with his other hand, he gently traced circles along Eugene's back, offering comfort in the simplest way he knew.

They lay in comfortable silence for a few moments, and Riven thought Eugene might have drifted off again when he felt a faint squeeze from Eugene's embrace.

"Thank you, Riven," Eugene murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "For being here... for not giving up on me."

Riven tightened his hold, his own voice soft but filled with sincerity. "You don't have to thank me, Eugene. I want to be here, with you. I'm not going anywhere."

Eugene let out a small sigh, and Riven felt his body relax even more, like he was finally allowing himself to believe in Riven's words. Eugene shifted, burying his face in Riven's chest, and his voice was muffled but filled with a quiet vulnerability. "I feel safe with you."

Those simple words hit Riven harder than he expected, and he found himself blinking back a sudden surge of emotion. He held Eugene a little closer, his hand gently running through Eugene's hair. "I'll keep you safe, Eugene. Always."

Eugene's breathing grew slower, his grip on Riven loosening just slightly as he fell into a deeper sleep. Riven stayed awake a little longer, simply watching over him, feeling the steady rhythm of Eugene's breaths and the warmth of his body beside him. There was a sense of peace in the moment, a fragile kind of intimacy that Riven cherished deeply.

As he lay there, Riven felt Eugene shift in his sleep, one of his hands coming to rest on Riven's chest, right over his heart. The simple, innocent gesture filled Riven with a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. He placed his hand over Eugene's, letting their fingers intertwine as he closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax fully.

Eventually, sleep claimed him, and they lay tangled together under the soft glow of moonlight, both finding comfort in each other's presence, healing in the quiet safety of the embrace they shared.

At the sharp knock, Riven stirred awake, instantly on alert. He looked down to see Eugene still fast asleep, his face peaceful despite the faint shadows under his eyes. Riven felt a pang of protectiveness but shifted away gently, careful not to disturb him.

He opened the door, and there stood Kai, smirking with a calculating glint in his eye. "Hey, I need some help moving supplies into the storeroom," Kai said nonchalantly. "Why should I waste money on laborers when I have a strong, wild fairy as my guest? You could do the work of ten slaves with half the effort."