unburdened

chapter 63

(Because today we celebrate the man bun!!!)

The bell above the door jingled at her departure, like an important announcement that had to be made. When it's last echoes faded, he sat there alone in a sea of people.

He sat for a few moments and realized rather than freeing him to think, Lyra's absence only made him lonely.

I've got to move he decided. He paid the bill and stepped out the same door, his departure heralded by that same bell.

He looked at the empty side streets and took off running, his arms and legs pumping, his feet uncomfortable in the expensive dress shoes.

He entered the local park and ran the track, dimly lit by street lights and their reflection from the lake. Soon he settled into a stride that busied his body and quieted his mind.

Thoughts tumbled and fell into place. Some churned and remained, keeping him uneasy.

He ran until his body ached and he was covered in sweat. He stopped and bought water and walked to cool his body down. Finally, he texted Roi.

He had not found peace here. He should have known all along where his peace would be. It was time to go home.

Lyra had arrived to the apartment and turned on some soft music just to mask the silence.

She stood in the doorway a moment, remembering the anxiety she had felt this morning and the relief the day had brought.

She hung her new coat up and put it away, but not before hugging it closely.

She did the same with her new clothes and slipped into a hot bath. She worried about Jungkook, but looking back on the day she perfectly understood his need to sort through his thoughts.

After a good long soak, she slipped into her favorite pajama pants and oversized sweater. She headed to the couch, meaning to read until he came home, but the soft couch and warm, fluffy throw lulled her into sleep.

She awakened as the door opened. She sat, still groggy, as he came in the door and kicked off his ruined shoes and threw his coat on the hook. His jacket followed.

He came to her as she watched and without a word lay down on the couch, curled on his side and put his head in her lap.

She moved to curl her legs under her, then settled, she began to play with his hair.

He sighed so deeply that she thought surely, he had been holding his breath. She was not far from wrong.

He closed his eyes and hummed in pleasure as she gently tangled her hands in his hair, threading through the curls, massaging his scalp.

There was no oppression in the silence now, only peace. They spoke in sighs and hums of pleasure; no words were needed. She knew he would talk when he was ready.

For a long time, she cradled him, giving him shelter and comfort for his raging thoughts.

She dropped her hands to his shoulders and felt the rigid tension he still held there.

With an idea dawning, she whispered to him and gently moved his head. He groaned as she left, curled up on the sofa, eyes still tightly closed.

She made her way into the bedroom and was gone for several minutes. She feared when she ready he would be asleep, but she wanted to do something special for him.

When she returned to the living room he had stretched out on his back, ankles crossed, hands folded behind his head. He was staring at the ceiling. Something still would not let him rest.

She leaned over him and gave him a sweet kiss and was rewarded with a smile.

“Come with me,” she invited.

He groaned as he sat up, his muscles grown stiff from the run. He obediently followed her, but stopped her right outside the door to her bedroom.

“Baby, tonight….I don’t think…..” he did not know how to say it, his big eyes pleaded for her understanding.

“I know,” she whispered, drawing him into the room with her.

He was surprised when she took him into the bathroom. The tub was huge and filling with steaming water. She had candles lit all around the room and the lights were dimmed. She had placed a big stack of plush towels next to the tub.

He smiled at her, his weary body already aching for the warmth of the water.

“Rest baby,” she said gently, “go ahead and get in. I'll be right back.”

He nodded and quickly stripped, sinking into the water before she even left the room. She smiled as she heard his deep groans from the next room. She knew that would hit the spot.

JK hissed at the warm water. It felt so good against his skin. He found the bubble oil he picked out for Lyra when she first came home. Home, that was exactly what this had become. He sighed as he scrubbed away the sweat and grime of his run. He felt the tension in his body begin to ease.

He looked up as Lyra came back in the room. She was balancing a huge bowl and a bottle of wine with a glass.

“What’s this?” he asked, surprised.

“This,” she said putting down the wine and kneeling beside him by the tub “this is noodles. Remember? I promised.”

She handed the bowl to him and turned to pour the wine. She missed the glint of tears in his eyes as she turned away.

He did remember. He remembered the first night in the car and her promise and the drunken night he told her how much he regretted all  they had missed.

He remembered all of it and everything it took to get them to this place.

She stood and placed the wine glass on the edge for him and gave him a gentle kiss.

He grabbed her hand as she turned.

“Stay.” He only said that one word and she heard every nuance of it, plea and command.

She nodded and he grinned, that boyish grin that could coax her into damn near anything.

He moved up to make room for her behind him. She smiled as he dug into the noodles. He had demolished them before she settled in. He took the wine and shared it with her as he leaned back into her arms.

They sipped wine and kissed, buoyed by the warm water and sweet drink.

😢😢😢😢😢
One more chapter with them!! This chapter always makes me cry!!