Vulnerable
She hates to appear weak.
Ever since Savyna was a child, she was taught to endure the hardest of blows. To stand tall and powerful, even if your feet bleed from standing on them for more than a day. It gave her the discipline that rewarded her the highest rank in the Imperial Army, but the glory didn't last long once she stepped down from Operation Sweep.
Almost nobody was around long enough to see she was in pain, and she distanced herself if anyone came close.
But Gibari never turned away.
He was patient, and she was grateful for the time he gave her. She never directly talked about what was on her mind to her husband, since she wasn't one for words. She didn't need words. It was like... her actions and mild hints did the talking for her.
There were the nights they made love.
The scent of sea water and sweat grass on his skin and sweat was on her. His rough lips caressed her neck and skin, each kiss growing more passionate as he laid more on her body. She felt his hands moving at her back, massaging behind her as each touch began to feel more like paradise. She felt the hands move to caress her breast, feeling a twitch of discomfort as the grip tightened, but she wanted this to happen. Each thrust and grunt made her wildly mad. She could hear him call her name, and her his name. She wasn't sure if she wanted more, but as each second past, it didn't seem like it would end.
He felt his head buried in her hair.
Ohh...
She had right where she wanted him.
He kept on pushing into her, the force mildly painful, but she didn't want the rhythm to stop. Shallow, short breaths were heard. This time, the figure above her thrust into her with more strength. A loud, clear yelp sounded.
For a moment... it seemed like there was more than their bare bodies against each other. It was like... he was looking into her, not just at her naked flesh.
He saw her pain.
She shared how lonely she was, that she wasn't invincible and she can bleed. She shared a lifetime's worth of insecurities to him that no one else would know. There were loads of insecurities and doubts that just knotted inside of her.
But it was alright... He would still be there for her at the end of the day, and help her untie the knotted bits inside of her.
Tears strummed down her cheek, the wrappings of the bed over her bare frame. Soft sobs sounded from her throat. The tears didn't overflow, but they came at a slow pace.
He knew her more than anyone else could in a lifetime.
And it was alright.
He could feel his warm frame embracing her own body, the tears still streaming on. It was like the tears she didn't cry were pouring out for lost time after all these years.
"It's okay..."
He loved her.
"It's okay. Shhh, don't worry... It is okay to cry..."
"I love you." she breathed.
And perhaps... he didn't love her because of her strength.
He loved her because of her vulnerability.