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Affinity
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All consuming, they dance and roar their hunger into the sky, drawing burning patterns of distortion in the otherwise still air. The exhaust of carbonating wood fills her nose, the smoke thick and heavy with musky oak and ash as she inhales, eyes transfixed on the spastic flicker of red-orange-gold flames as they writhe; she watches and thinks distinctly that the fire wants escape, its crackle of heat and destruction like a plea of release in her ears.
Face curious, her jade eyes glow amber as she reaches one elegant and dainty hand into the intense flames, keeps it there until her skin begins to shrivel and turn black, smiles. Peter watches with a somewhat horrified fascination as she brings her hand out of the fire, almost gags at the unrecognizable appendage as she sets it in her lap, stares as it heals and corrects itself resting on the denim of her jeans.
Golden curls spilling all around her face, Claire continues to smile that sad little smile he's associated with her since the night destiny threw them together, the firelight bright in her eyes, on her skin, all around her.
"I don't know why," she says quietly, lips parting just so. "but it's always been you." He doesn't know what she means by that, doesn't know why she let her hand burn away like she did, doesn't reply to her soft confession, and instead just sits near her silently.
Peter still can't turn away from her, and, entranced, wonders if she was addressing the flames or himself.
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- hazel