𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐂 || 18+ 𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚡 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝙵𝙼𝙲

┉┈◈†𐌷𐍊𐍂†𐌸-𐍆𐍈𐍁𐍂◈┈┉

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

She'd felt this pain before, more times than she could bear. She couldn't understand why, after everything, she felt it for him. He caused so much destruction, so much loss.

Maybe it was his softness towards her. Like a gentle flowing river softening the edges of a jagged stone. But with how battered the walls around her heart were after losing crewmates, after she thought she'd lost Tük'hala, that river had the effect of ocean waves crashing against a crumbling cliffside. It left her heart bare, in desperate need of comfort—wherever she could find it.

The tears finally stopped for now, a temporary pause as numbness set in. She was seated with Michael knelt before her, a medical pack at his side as he looked over her injuries. His gentle touch and low voice soothed her, and she was able to answer his questions about her pain while he disinfected the wounds on her arm and on her fingers where her nails were ripped back. Once she was properly bandaged up, he sought consent before examining between her legs with a sterile glove.

The others were already turned away to give her privacy once the ash-covered skirt of her dress was pulled up. Tük'hala sat beside her, running his claws carefully through the tangles in her hair. He kissed the top of her head, murmuring loving words of praise into her ear. His love cut through the numbness, a balm to her bruised heart.

Eventually, Michael stood, disposing of the glove after her dress was back in place. "No tearing and no excessive bleeding to be worried about. Lots of rest is essential, I can't stress that enough. Avoid strenuous activities for at least twelve weeks, and be sure to take in a lot of nutrients and fluids."

Tük'hala grunted in acknowledgement with a serious expression, and she knew from the look in his eyes that he would ensure she followed these instructions with no exceptions. A surge of warmth filled her that was enough to overshadow her previous grief. She couldn't help but stare at him. Her mate. If this was a dream after all, she hoped she could stay in it with him forever, in this world where the heart in his scarred chest was still beating.

As if pulled by some force, his face turned and their eyes locked. Suddenly, it was just them. The ceaseless hum of the shuttle and everyone in it faded to the background. There was something different about it than just the gaze of a lover. This felt profoundly more. It was her soul meeting his in a cosmic connection—an irreversible bond that now finally clicked into place in a way that felt like there had never been a time without it.

It seemed distance really did make the heart grow fonder. The slow progression of the incomplete Litvekda was made faster from the aching way she yearned for him when he was gone. That had to be it. Because she never thought it could be possible to love someone this fiercely with every cell in her body, with every breath in her lungs.

Their soul-deep stare held for a long moment. Until it was broken by the flit of his eyes down to her lips. Like he couldn't control it.

Cute.

In the same fashion, she found herself unable to control the slow smile that dimpled her cheeks. He was drawn to the movement, his eyes completely soft and open as he helplessly mirrored the expression. The way his fang peeked out in that heart melting grin sent her pulse racing.

She was going to say it, damn it all. She was going to tell him what he'd always known she would confess someday. He'd been right, infuriating as that was. Though... she didn't think she really minded it all that much.

Charlie opened her mouth, taking in a breath that would fuel the fated words.

But their intimate bubble was shattered when the shuttle shook almost violently. She gripped Tük'hala's arm, her wide eyes looking to the others. They didn't seem alarmed, more like irritated to be thrown askew.