Coming back to herself enough to lean into him isn't easy, right now. And it means he can feel the trembling she's trying to push away. She breathes out through her nose, shutting her eyes, head on his shoulder.
She doesn't have to hide how she feels to him; he could have guessed it anyway. But he still holds her tightly, as if he can actually keep her safe here. "I'm going to fucking protect you, T. In the best way I know how to, okay? I know - it fucking sucks. And it's scary, but I won't leave you like that. I swear on the raven, on the magpie. I won't."
"Just... an hour, it only lasts an hour," she mutters, voice strained. She shuts her eyes for a second, but only sees the gray walls of Zero. They snap open again, her heart-rate increasing. This is ridiculous, she's never even been locked in there. Never been more than a few inches inside.
"Yup. Where else am I supposed to go?" he wonders gently. Lightly. "Except to stare at your fucking sleeping face for an hour? And then, after, we can complain about it so much."
"I'd play for you, if you want to try. I saw you dancing to Pavane, I know the melody for that." Her fingers on his arm move, miming the fingerings of the opening.
"As long as you don't laugh when my flute squawks like a duck." She pushes herself up from the table, and goes into their room to fetch her flute, already putting it together as she comes back.
"I'm going to ask for a nicer one sometime, this one got smashed a little."
She shrugs a shoulder, wetting her lips before playing an experimental few notes, then moving into the first notes of one of Jon's songs for a second.
Okay, she can do this.
"I'd rather see what's available at the next port. He doesn't like requests for me. And make sure you ask for exactly what trees Hunter wants, or Himself'll probably give you trees already cut for lumber or some bullshit."
He tries to remember his moves, the way he had raised up on his feet, but it's slower, clumsy, and he ends up trying to do a turn, stumbling, and laughing as he lands on a pillow.
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"I'm scared," she makes herself admit aloud, voice low. It feels so selfish, to be afraid just for herself. Just for how something will affect her.
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"You'd stay the whole time?"
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"Want to sleep in the yard tonight? I can let out the fireflies."
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He huffs. "Fuckers."
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"I'm going to ask for a nicer one sometime, this one got smashed a little."
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"But do you want me to ask his fucking highness for one? I haven't bothered him in a long time. And I still need to get those trees for Hunter."
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Okay, she can do this.
"I'd rather see what's available at the next port. He doesn't like requests for me. And make sure you ask for exactly what trees Hunter wants, or Himself'll probably give you trees already cut for lumber or some bullshit."
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"Okay, okay! I guess some things don't transfer!"
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"Looks like you remember enough to start practicing though."
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