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[flamekthunder]

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[starshower]

[She needed that kiss, and as her hand closes around the charm to hold it tight in her hands, she slides an arm around his shoulder to pull him back for another one, soft and sweet.]

Now I'm curious what you'll end up picking for me.

[flamekthunder]

Hm... Maybe a rabbit?

[He doesn't part from her, instead letting his lips brush against hers as he speaks in a quiet, low voice.]

[starshower]

Still a rabbit?

[She doesn't sound surprised at all by the choice, and he'll feel her smile against his lips, her hand coming out of the water to caress his cheek.]

Even without the wolf to match?

[flamekthunder]

Even without.

[He'll lean into her touch before smiling a bit.]

A rabbit with a strong punch and kick.

[starshower]

[She bops him gently on the cheek with her knuckles for that.]

Wonder if I should get a dragon scale on it for good luck, too.

[It makes her so relieved to see him smiling. She knows there is still a lot to process, but this is a step in the right direction. They're both getting better at not letting their grief consume them and spiral them further into the depths of it these days.]

Maybe... a blue one?

[flamekthunder]

[The smile widens just a little more.]

I think so. Would match better.

[starshower]

I think so, too.

[Her eyes meet his at that, and her gaze lingers, like she means to memorize the blue hues of them all over again.]

Then we'll go in a few days when you're feeling better.

[She sets the dragon charm back into the box for now and takes it from him so that she can place it on the ground at the edge of the pool beside them.]

The glass shop that I found here has all sorts of things that we could maybe look at and take home. Maybe a gift for Lyria, too.

[flamekthunder]

[A small nod as he would also like to gift Lyria something, though... That reminds him...]

She was there, too, right? And Joshua?

[From what she told him earlier.]

Where are they now?

[starshower]

[She gives a little nod.]

Yeah. You were... quite the foe.

[And her smile turns a bit sheepish. She's not sure if he remembers everything about it, but to answer his question first—]

Safe at home. Eria promised to take care of Lyria until we got back.

[flamekthunder]

[A small breath of relief...

...]

Is it safe down there?

[starshower]

Down in the town?

[Tifa gives a little half shrug of her shoulders.]

From what I've heard, it's getting better. Depends on where you go. But the café and home are the safest places to be right now for them. Mirabelle and her fae friends are taking care of things.

[flamekthunder]

I see...

[A small, low exhale as he closes his eyes and runs a hand over his brows before he reopens them to stare at the black scales that still cover it.]

I'm sorry you've had to go through all this.

[starshower]

[Her hand takes that one that runs over his face and she closes both of her own around it.]

What did we say about apologizing for these things? It's not like it was your fault... And I've had my fair share of bad days where you took care of me.

[flamekthunder]

[He can't help but smile a little sadly at that, his eyes meeting hers.]

You rubbed off on me.

[A light tease before he squeezes her hand.]

I am glad...and grateful that you are here with me, Tifa. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't.

[starshower]

[She's going to be just a little selfish and lean in for another kiss, all of the words she will say conveyed already through it, but when she parts, her eyes glisten just a little with the beginnings of tears again.]

Do you remember our vows? When we got married?

[flamekthunder]

How could I ever forget?

[His voice is quiet and soft as a hand reaches up to cup her cheek, the water warm as it trickles down between the.]

[starshower]

You couldn't.

[She smiles at him—the kind that reaches up into her eyes and crinkles them and her nose.]

But I said that I would be there for you, in every way. Whether you're having a good or bad day. I don't plan on breaking that promise any time soon.

[flamekthunder]

[His smile is warm before it sombers a bit.]

I only wish I wasn't the one who always had to test you with those "bad days."

[With a sigh, he leans against, her nuzzling into her neck as he closes his eyes and breathes in her scent and lets her warmth envelop him more than the water.]

But I do mean it... If I hadn't met you and had your love... I'm not sure how much more difficult it would have been.

So thank you.

[starshower]

[She doesn't want to say what she thinks when he says that, if only because this is a moment she doesn't want to ruin or dampen with such a stupid thought... A thought that she doesn't want to breathe life into more than she already has. That maybe it was because of that love that all of this has happened... but she knows that couldn't be further from the truth.

And everything he says chases it away as quickly as it had come anyway, and her arms wrap around him to keep him close, and she nestles her face into his hair.]

I know for sure it wouldn't be as easy for me... All the times when you've picked me up and reminded me what I've got. And all the times when you've set me back down and told me to stop for a while.

[His care and his love for her saved her more times than she cares to admit.]

And when I came back from home, you were the only thing that felt real to me. You grounded me again. Helped me get back on my feet when I felt so... defeated.

[flamekthunder]

[Hearing her words does reassure him a bit, his arms going around her to hug her tightly.]

Just like you are my support...I will always be yours.

[And while she may not think it fair, he's actually glad she's never turned into a noctaere. Glad that while she's had her share of suffering, it's never gotten as bad as this. Of course...he worries if being around him won't actually feed into hers and be a source, which is another reason why he resents how he once again turned.]

But you really are the strongest woman I know...and everyday I feel grateful and lucky to have you.

[starshower]

[She can't help it. Everything else be damned, she is going to kiss her husband for that, and with a soft splash, her lips will suddenly be on his. And while it is slow and sweet, there is a hidden, fiery passion hidden beneath the deliberate move of her lips, a promise of things to come once they have both recovered, because gods know they both need it. For now, she is content to show him how grateful she is through this when words don't feel like enough.]

And you're the strongest man I know.

[To have gone through all of that and still come out on the other side wanting to do what's right... She can't think of anyone more resilient.]

Guess that's what makes us such a good team, yeah?

[She leans back from him then, looking him right in his eyes.]

No matter what happens, I'm always going to love you. Just always remember that, okay?

[He could turn a thousand times—god forbid—and she would still be there to save him and to pick him back up and love him until her very last breath.

And her lips part again, as if she wants to say something more, but she hesitates...]

[flamekthunder]

[The kiss surprises him—but he accepts it wholeheartedly and returns it in kind. There's only a slight wince from the soreness his body feels when he leans more into her, but he just ignores it.]

I will.

[Once upon a time he would have questioned and have those uncertainties, but she has proven time and time again that she would persevere. He of course won't take it for granted, but he knows he can rely on her love and her.

But he notices her hesitation, and after waiting a moment to see if she would speak for herself, he slowly opens his mouth.]

What is it?

[starshower]

[She isn't hesitating because she doesn't want to say it. More that she is too shy to, and she isn't sure how.

So she just comes out and says it anyway.]

When all of this is done, and we can stay here...

[When they've figured out the mystery of the tethers...]

... What if we renewed our vows?

[flamekthunder]

[His eyes widen a bit before they soften and his smile warms. Now it's his turn to first respond with a kiss before answering—]

Of course.

[—his voice quiet and soft against her lips.]

We can renew them as many times as you want...even make new ones if you wish.

[starshower]

[He doesn't even need to say a thing. His eyes and his kiss say it all but hearing him say it makes her heart flutter and fill so much more with love and appreciation for him, all of it spilling out into the kiss that she returns in equal kind.]

Renew them, make new ones... A little bit of both.

[She can't stop smiling against his lips.]

A lot's happened since then. Feels like it's been longer than it has, but there's so much more that I wanna say to you.

[A small laugh.]

And I think Lyria would love to be there for this one.